Quote:A self-made millionaire is known to British Intelligence as a notorious arms dealer whose bloody acts have earned him the name Apocalypse, and James Bond must prevent him from returning to a reunited Germany. Reprint.

From Publishers Weekly
With this, his 13th James Bond novel, Gardner surpasses Ian Fleming's total output by one, but he continues to lag immeasurably behind Fleming in panache. Much has changed for 007 in the aftermath of the Cold War. For starters, he has a steady lover, former Swiss Intelligence agent Flicka von Grusse, who, aside from a few lethal flashes, becomes just another damsel ready for distress when Bond's around. Bond is in command of the Double-Oh section, now called "Two Zeros," whose members have turned in their licenses to kill for the pleasure of "dealing with cases concerning breach of international law and treaties." Here the villain is Sir Maxwell Tarn, who aims to be the next Hitler. Once on the case, Bond pursues a foolhardy and dangerous course, meeting semi-disastrous results and returning to ask his overseers whether he might try, try again-a wish that, sensibly, they are reluctant to grant. At one point, the ineffable M, threatens: "If you fail, Bond, I'll see you out of the Service for good." Bond fails, of course, but nothing is heard from M, who takes to his sickbed. Judging by this pale, by-the-numbers series entry, one hopes that the old boy will recover soon and make good on his threat.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Yes, folks, James Bond is alive and well. This is Gardner's thirteenth novel starring the handsome, tough, romantic hero 007 since he took over the series after the death of Ian Fleming in 1964. In Seafire, Gardner again mixes sex and violence in exotic settings--this time a picturesque village in Germany, the Israeli desert, Puerto Rico, and the streets of London. Working with 007 is the lovely Fredericka von Grusse, formerly of Swiss intelligence, who was introduced in Never Send Flowers. The plot involves one Maxwell Tarn, a billionaire, and his wife, who are missing. Sir Maxwell, who disappeared while under surveillance, is evil--dealing in illicit arms and munitions. Bond, "Flicka," and the Double-0 section of the SIS must find out what really happened to Tarn. The outcome is never in doubt, but it's a rollicking ride all the way. George Cohen