RealReporting.in

By Suresh Gopalaswamy

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Modesty Blaise and her able -assistant,Willie Garvin, became cult heroes with having sold over a million copies worldwide. And Penguin knows this. Which is why as a lasting tribute to the immortal fantasies of a middle-aged generation, it has reissued the entire series as a single-block offering - a bouquet certain to get today's youngsters hooked on. Willie Garvin has unusual abilities. He can fix anything, is an expert with any weapon. And in many ways can outdo his boss. But it is Modesty's strength of character that defines the relationship. She an orphan who has had a rough childhood, becomes the leader of a crime-syndicate called the Network, and retires early after making a fortune. Modesty is attractive and possesses unflappable poise. Apart from being an expert at martial arts, she can also perform emergency surgeries, fix breakfast, carve precious stones, go hang-gliding and generally tackle any task with elan and expertise. But it is her ability to handle the opposite sex that sets her apart. Her romantic encounters are full of enthusiastic flair. But she can handle rape or other undesired sexual episodes with detachment. In short she is far ahead of her times then and how. No wonder then that she incomparable Willie Garvin - he worships her.   Each of the 13 books is a page-turner and the reader is hooked from the very first line. 
O'Donnell's quirky humor is an engaging presence throughout the narrative. There is the formidable Mrs. Fothergill - muscular, about 40, incredibly strong and fast. Lucifer has precognitive powers that enable him to forestall any move an opponent makes. Then there is Reverend Uriah Crisp — the hammer of God — a psychotic man of cloth who is also a marksman par excellence. Lok and Chu, the strange twins who hate each other but have to remain joined by a steel chain and can fight as a single well oiled unit with four hands and four legs. Although every one of these is stronger, faster and more talented than either Willie or Modesty, they are defeated by ingenious devicesand plans that Blaise and her lieutenant come up with.It took forty years for the men who made movies to acknowledge the presence of a lady boss who can out-shoot or out-think any man. And love with equal parts of dignity and enthusiasm.