On Her Majesty's Secret Service

If you wonder why James Bond remains popular 61 years after his creation, listen to David Tennant's narration of this work. In this eleventh in the series, Bond finds true love, battles the evil Blofeld, and skis down a Swiss Alp at night with villains chasing him. What more does one need? David Tennant, evidently. Though we should have known that portraying the tenth Doctor Who would prepare an actor for the 007 mantle, Tennant's ease in playing everyone from the suave British spy to a Sicilian mobster, Eastern European thugs, and five women (four English and one Russian) boggles the ear. Add a pleasant up-tempo delivery of the narrative and attuned pacing (whiz-bang in a fight, seductive in bed)--and it's "Bond, James Bond." A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Ever suave, ever cool in the face of danger, Agent 007 ages well in this vintage 1964 spy-tale, delivered with sophistication by Robert Whitfield. Of course, Mr. Bond endeavors to disrupt the elaborate machinations of Blofeld, icy nemesis of the Free World. Blofeld reappears in Bond's life after extensive plastic surgery but no reduction in elegant, brutal malice. This is evil with style. Blofeld has the good sense to hire multinational assassins to guard his Alpine luxury lodge and research lab. The guinea pigs? Ten gorgeous women, naturally. Bond is in his element all the way, as is Whitfield. Excellent packaging and a great read. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine