Zero Minus Ten

By: Raymond Benson

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

In ten days, Hong Kong will pass into the hands of the Chinese - and 007 is on his way there to undertake his most dangerous and thrilling mission yet.

In the Australian desert, a nuclear bomb explodes. There are no survivors and no clues about who has made it or detonated it.

In England, two police officers are shot dead when they apprehend a cargo vessel in Portsmouth dock. Vast quantities of heroin are later found on board.

And in Hong Kong, an explosion rips through one of the colony's famous floating restaurants, killing the entire Board of Directors of EurAsia Enterprises Ltd, a multi-billion dollar shipping corporation.

The People's Republic of China is about to resume control after a century and a half of British rule - and the colony is a powder keg waiting to explode. The tension reaches breaking point when a solicitor from one of Britain's most prestigious law firms is killed in a car bomb at Government House.

These apparently random events are connected - and Bond must find out how and why. From the heady casinos of Macau to the seedy strip clubs of Kowloon, 007's investigations bring him into conflict with ruthless Triad gangs, a power-hungry Chinese general - and a beautiful night club hostess called Sunni Pei.

All inquiries seem to lead to EurAsia Enterprises Ltd - and its assassinated owner. James Bond is about to come up against one of the most formidable adversaries of his career.

©1997 Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Benson's first go at 007 - quite enjoyable

I have read various of John Gardner's James Bond novels. Some were very good, though he ended off with the same old recipe. In Raymond Benson's first James Bond novel, he does what I thought could not be done anymore - he blew life into the recipe.

Staying true to Ian Flemming, he seems to take more freedom not to include all of John Gardner's changes to the Bond scene, though he keeps enough to ensure continuity.

Placed against Gardner's last novel "Cold" "Zero minus Ten" is more believable. By using the handing over of Hong Kong to China as a setting, Benson merged fact and fiction in a very entertaining and original way.

One thing that is a bit strange to me, is how smitten James Bond with the Bond girl Sunni Pei. It is important for the story-line, but I felt it was a bit overdone.

Be that as it may, Benson succeeds to "update" Bond. I enjoyed his eye for detail. There must have been quite a bit of research into making Bond believable.

With the solid narration of Simon Vance, it would be quite wrong not to give this novel 5 stars. Good story, good performance and quite original for James Bond.

As good as Fleming.

The best non-Fleming Bond book bar none. Narration by gold standard Vance. Really enjoyed the story.

To much detail

Like the overall story, however some parts go into to much and to long un important details.

True to Bond

True to Bond and Ian Fleming. Looking forward to the next one. Recommended to all fans.

Action-Packed and Entwined with Hong Kong History

Zero Minus Ten is one of the best of the "non-Fleming" James Bond novels and is expertly read by Simon Vance.

This book feels like the novelization of an unused Daniel Craig Bond script. Lots of brutal action that is very visually described, featuring a James Bond that is physically very powerful. The locations are described well (Hong Kong, Macau, and the Australian Outback.) The right amount of leisure and travel-writing occurs with games of Mah-Jong and an Australian Walkabout.

Definitely worth a listen for any James Bond fan.

Worst Bond Novel I’ve Listened to

I’ve read or listened to every Fleming novel and several Benson novels. This was by far the worst. After listening to all but two hours of this book I just couldn’t go any further. Didn’t feel like a bond novel. Very dry. Soft plot. No character.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Eh......

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Entertaining, but a bit too cliche. Great execution on the part of the narrator. Plot was cheesy even for a Bond book.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable.

Written in the style of Flemming, excellent descriptive narrative, a pleasure to listen to from start to finish.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful