This has always been my least favourite of the books. It's as if the short story format concentrated all the negatives in the books. I don't recommend it unless you are a completist and can't help yourself. Even then, make yourself a strong cup of tea and be prepared to throw it across the room every so often.

On the other hand, should you wish to play a round or two of Kyriarchy Bingo... ( )

My second book about the mysterious Modesty Blaise and her right-hand Willie Garvin.This one is actually a collection of short stories.

Here we follow them as they go to East Berlin, fight against mysterious international industrial espionage group in the middle of Finland, fight a group of high-society robbers, clash with bandits in the middle of Mexico and finally help a lady in distress.

All stories are great, action packed. I can only say I am looking out for more Modesty Blaise books.

Highly recommended. ( )

Six short stories, all extremely familiar to me - I've read this at least half a dozen times, but never owned it before. A Better Day to Die - interesting take on a fanatically non-violent priest, who knows of Modesty and hates what she does (but manages to remain sympathetic by not hating her); they and the school-girls he's escorting run into guerrillas/bandits, and his stance is severely tested. He's annoying - or at least his attitude is; Modesty's concerns at the end are amusing. And a passing mention of Garcia, one of my favorite Network people. The Giggle-Wrecker - Sorry, I don't agree with Willie on this one. Modesty's plan for getting Okubo out of East Berlin is funny, but not that funny - and the fact that it's a scam makes it funnier, not spoils the joke. The fellow is very nicely handled.... I Had a Date with Lady Janet - I love this one. I think it's the only story that's entirely from Willie's point of view (he gets a few scenes third person focused on him in various books, usually when he's trying to rescue Modesty from somewhere), and it's fascinating. Seeing more of Lady Janet is a bonus. And the many ways Willie and Modesty manage to screw up are amazing! It's a good thing the villain is less than top-drawer - if they messed up that badly against, say, Gabriel they _would_ be dead. A Perfect Night to Break Your Neck - Caspar is a _pain_ from the start; Steve is wonderful (I love the fight!) and Dinah is great. I like the way Modesty clearly figures it out earlier and keeps quiet about it, and her guilt trip at the end. The kiting is neat - I wonder how closely it resembles hang gliding (which they've also done)? And a very neatly engineered happy ending. Salamander Four - This isn't the only time Modesty crosses Salamander Four - they show up in several books, and several strip stories. These particular embodiments of the group are pretty pitiful. I love Alex - especially when they come in and he doesn't even notice them. Nice guy, much more interesting in his desire for non-involvement than Reverend Jimson in his desire for non-violence. The Soo Girl Charity - this one I really don't like. He's plain nasty, from how Modesty gets involved to what he did to Soo; she's - well, basically incomprehensible to me. Especially with her last revelation. I'm glad Modesty can laugh about it. There are several stories here that are supposed to be funny or have funny endings, but mostly I don't get the humor. I still enjoy the stories a great deal, they just don't strike me as something to laugh about. Whatever. Soo Girl is the least interesting of these, and A Better Day to Die is not much better, but I love the other four. ( )

A collection of Modesty Blaise short stories, and a fine bunch they are indeed. "A Better Day To Die" is a straight tale of resistance against a band of rebels in Latin America, given depth by the Reverend Jimson's harangue against Modesty's violent ways, and her reaction to him. "The Giggle Wrecker" is the lightest of the group, with a fine humor in the tale of getting a stubborn bacteriologist smuggled across the Berlin Wall. "I Had A Date With Lady Janet" is told through Willie Garvin'e eyes, and so tells a great deal more about his makeup in a short space. "A Perfect Night To Break Your Neck" features my favorite guest characters, the Colliers, and is also a tale lightly told. The other two stories are less remarkable, but equally well-written. ( )