James Bond 007, A View to a Kill is one of four "James Bond 007 Deluxe Talking Storybooks" published in North America in 1985 by Kid Stuff Records & Tapes, under license from Danjaq and Glidrose Publications. The book was a tie-in product based on the film of the same name. The paperback book and its accompanying cassette tape was written and produced by John Braden.
Plot[]
The book begins with James Bond returning to London with an indestructible microchip he recovered from the body of 003 in Siberia. Believing its manufacturer, Max Zorin, to be in league with the Soviets, Bond infiltrates his country estate posing as country sportsman, "Mr. Sinjin-Smythe". From his balcony, the Bond spots Zorin passing a mysterious girl (Stacey Sutton) a cheque for $5 million. The following day, the spy meets with Zorin to discuss buying a thoroughbred horse. Unbeknownst to 007, Zorin uses a computer and hidden camera to ascertain his true identity. The villain suggests taking a potential horse for a steeplechase ride. After Bond calms the drug-frenzied horse, Zorin drops the act and has May Day bludgeon him. They attempt to drown him in his Rolls Royce; but he regains consciousness and uses air from the car's tires to breathe.
Bond follows Zorin to San Francisco and spies on the villain's offshore oil rigs; noticing that water is being suspiciously pumped into the pipeline (which runs to Silicon Valley). He investigates at San Francisco City Hall, where he meets Stacey, who is revealed to be an oil heiress working against Zorin. That night, they return to examine the maps and determine the oil lines lead to an abandoned mine. Zorin and May Day arrive, set fire to the building and trap the pair in an elevator. They escape and, stealing a fire truck, set off after the villains. Infiltrating the mine, they discover Zorin is planning on destroying Silicon Valley using an artificial earthquake. After making a failed attempt to kill them by flooding the mine, Zorin escapes by airship with Stacey. Bond dangles from the craft, as the villain attempts to knock him into buildings - culminating in an axe brawl atop the Golden Gate Bridge. Zorin slips and falls to his death; with his men perishing in the exploding dirigible shortly afterwards. The book ends with Bond, on the bridge, asking Stacey out to dinner in Chinatown.
