Summary- A group of terrorists known as the Scales of Justice have kidnapped a man named Joel Penderek. They claim that he is the Russian man, Josif Voronstov, who became a Nazi who took part in the mass Jew killings at Babi Yar. The Scales of Justice want the Russian government to try Penderek (telling them he is Voronstov) for war crimes. Until they agree to do so, the Scales of Justice are killing Russian politicians, and conducting their own "trial". The Scales of Justice, however, want two British SIS members to shoot the trial. James Bond poses as one of these men, and so does Peter Natkowitz, who is a member of the Israeli Secret Service, the Mossad. The Mossad have the real Voronstov, and want to stop the fake trial. Bond ends up in Russia filming the fake trial. He discovers that a General Berzin is using the Scales of Justice for his own plans to stop Perestroika (Russian peace with Western nations), bring back Communism, and become president of the USSR. Also, he has three nuclear missiles, which he plans on giving to Iraq. He wanted the two British men to film the trial because they are going to be framed
for giving the nukes to Iraq. Iraq could then bomb the U.S. or other U.N. countries if Desert Storm occurs. Bond, with some help, manages to stop the plot and sink the nukes. My Grade D+ This is the worst Bond I have read to date. There are several reasons for this. The first is that Gardner seemed too political. Bond novels usually shy away from real-life history. This novel focuses on Nazi war crimes and Desert Storm, both of which are very real. I am not saying this is a bad thing. In fact, I could see why this very aspect could make it some Bond readers' favorite. However, it just wasn't my taste Also, action is very lacking in this plot. It seems that most of the novel is taken up by meetings. There is a lot of talk in this book. Best Moment- The best moment in this book is when Bond fakes his own death. "His" corpse is actually buried, and he is given a tombstone. It says: "Here lies the body of a gallant British officer, thought to be Captain James Bond, Royal Navy. Died for his own cause, January 9, 1991. Bond has had his obituary run (in You Only Live Twice), and now he has a tombstone.
