Spy Another Day can be summed up in three words: Silly, Schlocky fun. It is nonsensical, and has no ruminations on life, no deeper meaning, but it is very good fun to read and if you are a Bond fan (as I like to consider myself) the numerous references will make you laugh.

You don't have to be a hardcore Bondian (is that a word?) to enjoy the book, though. Some parts are just funny anyway and some of the Bond jokes are so obvious that you don't even need to have ever seen a Bond film to get them. The whole thing has a gentle mocking tone to it, not the viciousness of some parodies. It does at times stray a little close to being savage, which I didn't like, but mostly it was just a loving homage to the films.

This book is a sequel to an equally engaging and funny film parody entitled 'Night On Terror Island'. Both books concern our main characters Kip and his sorta-kinda-maybe girlfriend Beth as they enter a film via a magic projection machine.
Guided by the mysterious and at times sinister Mr Lazarus, they must collect a piece of valuable memorabilia from the film and get home before the end credits roll at the risk of being stuck forever.

It's a simple set up which does exactly what it intends to do while having a great amount of fun doing so. Mr Lazarus is mysterious and elegant, and definitely the most interesting character in the whole affair. Beth and Kip are fairly amusing and have just enough to them not to be bland though they aren't hugely interesting. Jason Corder and the characters of the film are fun parodies of the originals and are very amusing.

All in all, a very enjoyable parody of Bond and a worthy successor to the equally funny Horror spoof 'Night On Terror Island' that preceded this.

3/5

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