casino royale 2008 book penguin publication date

The next day, while investigating the exhaust ports, a controlled landslide nearly kills Bond and Gala. Drax's henchman Krebs is caught by Bond while he snoops through his room and is put on house-arrest by Drax. Bond also meets a beautiful agent called Gala Brand, working as Drax's personal secretary.īond investigates the murder, assuming the suspicious activities were attempted sabotage attemps.

After making peace with losing £15,000 to Bond, Drax introduces his all-German scientific crew who are bald but have unique mustaches. M orders Bond to infiltrate Drax's missile-building organisation on Romney Marsh on the coast of England. Therefore, because the rocket's engine can withstand higher heat, the Moonraker can use more powerful fuels, greatly expanding its effective range.Īfter reporting suspicious activities at the Moonraker site, a Ministry of Supply official working on the project is killed in a murder-suicide. It can withstand the ultra-high combustion temperatures in its engine thanks to the use of columbite, which Drax has a monopoly of. Essentially, the Moonraker rocket is an upgraded V-2 rocket using liquid hydrogen and fluorine as propellants. Later, Bond confirms Drax's deception and manages to 'cheat the cheater' - aided by a cocktail of powdered Benzedrine mixed with non-vintage champagne - winning £15,000 and infuriating the out-smarted Drax.Īs it turns out, Drax is the backer of the ' Moonraker' missile project being built to defend the UK against its Cold War enemies (c.f. Although M claims indifference, he is concerned why a multi-millionaire and national hero, such as Sir Hugo would cheat at a card game. MI6 Chief M asks James Bond to observe Sir Hugo Drax, who is winning a lot of money playing bridge at M's favorite club, Blades.

Casino royale 2008 book penguin publication date