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Solo

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description Solo Overview

Solo is a 2013 James Bond continuation novel by British author William Boyd, written with authorization from the Ian Fleming estate. Set in 1969, it sends Bond to the fictional West African country of Zanzarim during a civil war, initially on a mission intended to end the conflict. The novel uses Fleming's literary version of Bond rather than a particular film interpretation and is aimed at readers of historical espionage fiction and the original Bond novels.

help Solo FAQ

Where and when is William Boyd's Solo set?

Solo is set in 1969, when a 45-year-old James Bond is sent to the fictional West African country of Zanzarim. Its civil war is a clear fictional echo of the Biafran conflict during the Nigerian Civil War, as outlined on [William Boyd's book page](https://williamboyd.co.uk/product/solo/).

Was Solo authorized by the Ian Fleming estate?

William Boyd wrote Solo as an authorized continuation novel with the approval of the Ian Fleming estate. It was published in 2013 and is a period Bond story, not a film novelization.

Who are Efua Blessing Ogilvy-Grant and Kobus Breed in Solo?

Efua Blessing Ogilvy-Grant is Bond's local MI6 contact, while the Rhodesian mercenary Kobus Breed becomes a major obstacle. Their relationship forces Bond to question the official story behind the war.

Does Solo stay entirely in the fictional country of Zanzarim?

The mission does not stay inside Zanzarim: after a violent reversal, Bond follows the trail to Washington, DC. There he discovers that Breed is tied to heroin trafficking, turning the assignment into a personal revenge investigation.

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