Tricky assignment - but Boyd is rather brilliant

WILLIAM Boyd will be pleased to have the successful launch of Solo behind him. Few of 007’s missions against those sinister mega crooks – Dr No, Goldfinger, et al – could be as fraught with jeopardy as the invitation to pick up the dangerous mantle of Ian Fleming. As in the best classical quests, the rewards are mouthwatering but the penalties for failure excruciating.

Consider the perils he faces: we know Bond was born in 1924, which would have him pushing 90. Contemporary writers need to put him back into his prime – but do that, and you encounter another set of snares.