Poor Production

Multiple times there are mistakes where a section is repeated. Apparently no one quality checked the final product.

The story and performance itself is fine.

8 people found this helpful

Production problems

What did you love best about Colonel Sun?
You can't go wrong with Kingsley Amis and Simon Vance's reading was flawless. However, entire passages were repeated as if (mind you I say "as if") it were a record skipping a groove. Jarring. At least four instances that I noticed. Otherwise an excellent story. I know that I will listen to this again.

4 people found this helpful

An excellent James Bond continuation novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who's already read all the Ian Fleming James Bond novels and is looking for more. Amis really manages to capture Fleming's style and pace and attention to detail without copying him, and the result is one of the best post-Fleming continuation novels about the character. He clearly loves Fleming and Bond (one need only read his James Bond Dossier or The Book of Bond to realize that), but also can't quite help indulging in just a bit of parody. But the parody is very subtle (so subtle that in sending up Fleming's xenophobia, Amis actually comes off as even more xenophobic), and in keeping with the sense of humor Fleming had about his own material anyway.

Basically, there is Fleming, and then there are the continuations. None of the continuations are as good as the real thing, but for what they are, there are some excellent ones to be found. Colonel Sun has always been one of my favorites, and revisiting it after many years as an audiobook I find it still holds up as such.

What did you like best about this story?

The pace is great. Amis's Bond story moves very quickly. Bond feels like the same character Fleming wrote about, and the Bond Girl, Villain, and Ally are all great characters true to some of Fleming's best as well.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

Vance is a totally competent narrator, and I like the sense of continuity of having the same person who reads the Fleming novels take on the continuation novels.

Any additional comments?

The audiobook is unfortunately a bit poorly edited. On several occasions the same exact passage is repeated twice. It's annoying, but definitely not detrimental to the listening experience.

3 people found this helpful

Same...

As mentioned by most of the other reviews, there are several sections that repeat. It's annoying but not unbearable. Otherwise, ★★★★★

1 person found this helpful

A strong addition to Bond lore

the performance was one of the best, the story was spot on, the narration blended well with the original Ian Fleming style. very impressed - enjoyed this book

more amis read by vance plz.

Dear Audible we desperately need more kingsley amis read by simon vance plz and thank you.

Intricately exciting and well dramatized

Simon Vance dramatizes Colonel Sun in good fashion. It is only the character Ariedne that his performance is noticeably weak. Additionally, the recording has a few snafus where I counted three passages were repeated. As I read the book simultaneously with the Audible recording, it did not interrupt my reading. But this is an intricately exciting story with some entertaining characters accompanying and opposing Bond. The novel started fast and the pace never let up. It is a worthy volume to the Bond thriller series.

Love bond

Not as good as Ian Fleming but still great story line and in true fashion to bond

Junk Title

Anyone who gives this title more than 3 stars didn't listen to it. There are several points where sentences repeat, BUT CHAPTERS 15 THROUGH 20 ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS 5 THROUGH 10. Then at 21 the story takes up again. Would have annoyed it if so much wasn't missing. Will be requesting a refund.

Both story and narration were great

Of all of the reviews of all the non-Ian Flemming books, this one was rated the highest.

I concur.

This one closely resembled James bonds creators vision.