Coronet Books British paperback edition. Scorpius is the title of a James Bond novel by John Gardner which was first published in 1988. It was Gardner's seventh Bond novel and the 22nd Bond book (including short story collections) overall. It was first published in the United Kingdom by Hodder & Stoughton (the first original Bond novel not to be published by Jonathan Cape) and in the United States by Putnam. Paperback editions followed in 1989.
Plot summary
In the novel, Bond is assigned to investigate a cult called The Meek Ones that has begun committing terrorist bombings, assassinating British politicians and causing major collateral damage as the country's election approaches, by the use of brainwashed cult members. Aided by a comely Internal Revenue Service agent from the United States, Bond squares off against the leader of the Meek Ones, Vladimir Scorpius.
Considered one of the more violent of Gardner's Bond novels, it is also remarkably prognostic in its depiction of increased security and paranoia under a terrorist threat; in many ways the Meek Ones can be compared to Al-Queda.
The novel is also notable for featuring the second marriage for James Bond - albeit unofficial and under duress.
|
