John Gardner attempts to revive James Bond in "License Renewed" …, an earnest simulation of an original story as it might have been written by the late Ian Fleming….

To his credit, Mr. Gardner has not aimed for a laugh rating, as others have. One can see the meticulousness of his craft as he tries to recreate the atmosphere of understated electricity and suspense that is the hallmark of Fleming's novels; in the thought processes, nuances of speech and descriptions of its characters; in the breaks in the narrative and the deft switching of scenes; in the climax; in the footnote-like quality of the final chapter.

Bond's enemy this time is Anton Murik, an outcast nuclear scientist…. Mr. Gardner's villain is a true altruist; he really doesn't want the $50 billion ransom for himself; he really wants to make a contribution to mankind's well-being, even if he must eliminate mankind...