James Bond, Britain's gift to the sado-sexual school of crime fiction, and once again the cold chills -- and hot thrills- of his activities are balanced off by the deadly and, presumably, authentic background detail on his old opponent -- SMERSH -- the official Soviet murder organization. As Kronsteen, the Champion Chess Master, and a woman execute the plan that he be "killed with ignominy", they use Tatians as a lovely lure and the brutal Grant as their weapon. Aboard the Orient Express, out of Turkey, Bond contends with his adversary in his first (and last?) appearance. Violently virile.
