 Based on the first of the Boysie Oakes novels by  John Gardner (VIII) (qv), published in 1964. There were seven  more: Understrike (1965), Amber Nine (1966), Madrigal (1968) Founder  Member (1969), The Airline Pirates (1970), Traitors Exit (1970) and  Killer for a Song (1975). After that Gardner took over writing the  James Bond series from the late Ian Flemming (qv).