In Fleming's novels, Bond is a broken man after Tracy's death. In "You Only Live Twice", he has begun drinking heavily, which has affected his work; M is forced to acknowledge that he is no longer fit for service. However he decides to give Bond one last chance and assigns him to an intelligence-related diplomatic affair in Japan. This in turn leads to a duel to the death with Blofeld in the climax of the novel, and Bond is finally awarded his revenge. In the aftermath, however, he is left with amnesia.