Understrike, John Gardner — 1st Edition

£38.50

Understrike, John Gardner — 1st Edition

Name: Understrike, John Gardner — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4017
Price: 38.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Frederick Muller Limited, 1965

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [x], 198.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original red cloth boards remain vibrant, with the silver-stamped titling to the spine bright and completely unrubbed. The binding is firm and square, presenting with negligible shelf-wear to the extremities. The text block edges show typical, age-associated browning, though the interior leaves are generally crisp and clean. The unclipped dust jacket (retaining the 18/- net price) remains visually striking but exhibits some edge-rubbing, minor creasing, and shallow chipping. The jacket's inner flaps correspondingly bear significant adhesive staining from old tape repairs.

Catalogue Note: First Edition, first impression. A highly representative example of 1960s British Cold War espionage fiction, this volume constitutes John Gardner's second novel featuring the cowardly and reluctant secret agent, Boysie Oakes. The book is presented in its striking original dust jacket, designed by Mayne Butler, which perfectly captures the era's saturated, hyper-masculine spy aesthetic.

While Gardner achieved substantial later acclaim as the official continuation author for the James Bond literary franchise, his original mid-century creations remain a distinct focal point for genre collectors. Standard reading copies of this edition are reasonably common on the secondary market; however, examples retaining their original dust jackets are increasingly desirable.

Following his unlikely survival in The Liquidator, the lethargic, blundering, and perpetually terrified British Special Security agent Boysie Oakes is back. When a routine assignment to the United States wildly unravels, Boysie finds himself unwittingly thrust into the centre of 'Operation Understrike,' the high-stakes test-firing of the devastating TREPHOLITE missile from a state-of-the-art sub-aqua craft, the USS Playboy. Dragged on a frantic, cross-country chase from New York to San Diego with his bibulous Chief pushing from behind, Boysie must evade the lethal Soviet operative Vladimir Solev, navigate the romantic entanglements of the beautiful Chicory Triplehouse, and somehow survive an assignment he never wanted in the first place. A classic, tongue-in-cheek send-up of the 1960s super-spy phenomenon.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Gardner

Book Publisher: Frederick Muller Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Thriller & Suspense

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 198

Book Publication Year: 1965

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Boysie Oakes

Country/region of manufacture: Letchworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.