<p>The London Gazette announcement was brief: “BOND, JAMES, Commander RNVR, relieved of current duties at the Foreign Office. Promoted to the substantive rank of Captain and returned to active service forthwith.” </p>The return of James Bond to the Royal Navy marks the intriguing backdrop to John Gardner’s thrilling next adventure featuring Ian Fleming’s celebrated hero.<br /><p>Bond takes a refresher course and keeps up his flyling hours by doing a conversion course on Sea Harriers. And eventually he learns that his mission is to serve on the Royal Navy’s major aircraft carrier, HMS Invincible, as minder to a phalanx of of top brass British, American and - in this era of glasnost - Russian admirals, who are on board for a NATO exercise. </p>But why? Can a dangerous hijacking by airborne troops using hang-gliders on a Japanese tanker, some time before, be connected to Bond’s current mission? <br />