Basil’s War: Get to Know Stephen Hunter’s Bond-Like, World War II Character

 by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – September 3, 2021

 

In recent times, it’s obvious that most people have come to know James Bond thanks to all or some of the 24 (official) Bond movies, with another (No Time to Die) on the way. Bond recognition has not, for the most part, been about Ian Fleming’s original books written in the 1950s and early Sixties. But I’ve long been of the opinion that to fully appreciate Bond, you need to read the books as well as seeing the films.

Keeping Bond in mind, perhaps it’s best to get to know Basil St. Florian now by reading Stephen Hunter’s Basil’s War before the character hits the silver screen or a streaming service. Do I know of any deal with a studio? No. But after reading Basil’s War, it seems like a natural leap from the pages of a book to the screen for the fun and fascinating St. Florian.

 

Hunter tells a ripping-good tale featuring a handsome, witty, ironic, alcohol-swilling British spy during World War II, who isn’t crazy about authority and beds assorted women, including Vivien Leigh. Basil St. Florian really does feel like James Bond, but at work in World War II rather than during the Cold War.

 

The story is a taut mystery, with Hunter deftly taking the reader along with St. Florian on a mission whose true nature is only gradually revealed.

 

For good measure, the author serves up some interesting secondary characters, and not just those on St. Florian’s side but even more so among his Nazi opponents.

 

And finally, like Ian Fleming did with James Bond, Hunter uses the advantages of a book to reveal background on and inner thoughts – including doubts and how decisions are made – of St. Florian. This provides the reader with greater character depth than is really possible with movies or television.

 

I advise people to read Fleming’s books to get a fuller sense of who James Bond is. They should do the same with Basil St. Florian by reading Stephen Hunter’s outstanding Basil’s War – before the character might land in Hollywood.

 

 

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Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur.  Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

One of the best ways to enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club.  Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at  www.DisneyBizJournal.com.