You Only Live Twice (with interview) Audiobook on Audio CD, Audio Download, buy now from AudioGO

James Bond seems unable to function after the death of his wife. But his superior, M, is determined to restore 007 to the effective agent he used to be. He sends him on a mission to Japan, to the mysterious 'Castle of Death' and into the lair of an old and terrifying enemy. For Bond and Blofeld this will be their final encounter. Only one of them can survive. Includes an exclusive bonus interview with Martin Jarvis.

‘You only live twice. Once when you are born. And once when you look death in the face.’

Is it the end for James Bond? His wife’s been murdered, he’s drinking too much and is going to pieces. What will M do with a 007 who keeps messing up his missions? M’s hardly sympathetic either: ‘Fire him!’ he says brutally, before deciding to give Bond an important - but impossible - assignment.

Is Bond up to it?

Narrator Martin Jarvis certainly is in this complete audiobook of You Only Live Twice, which sees Bond in Japan.

Martin Jarvis (James Cameron’s Titanic, Just William) skilfully deals with the many characters and accents as you would expect from the Olivier of audiobooks and helps to paint a vivid picture of Japanese culture.

Jarvis adds an extra dimension to the ensemble in Fleming’s novel, such as Bond’s two larger-than-life allies: Tiger Tanaka, the formidable and inscrutable head of Japanese Secret Service, and the Australian, Dikko Henderson. Jarvis voices the many nationalities astutely and makes each character easy to discern. Jarvis also helps make Bond's love affair with the Kissy Suzuki particularly real.

This is a classic Bond novel: there's Far East exotica and ruthless death at every turn.

The engrossing narrative makes this an exciting audiobook for any fan of the films or books to listen to (even if it is refreshingly politically incorrect).

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