i remember reading colonel sun,it must be over 30 years ago now.i borrowed it from my great aunt,who if i remember correctly called colonel sun himself 'a pig of a man'.mind you, she used to call her old moggie 'a pig of a cat'when it killed a bird.anyway the only bit i can remember was bits of the torture and i would certainly call him worse things than a pig.i've always thought that this was out of print but having looked on google it seems to be out again,i'll have to try and pick it up somewhere.
another book i only got the chance to read the once was john gardners icebreaker which i loved but unfortunately i gave it to someone going on holiday who dropped it in a swimming pool and i never seen it again.again i don't remember much about it except for a wonderful hijack scene, foiled by bond of course,which i have always thought would make a great scene in a bond movie.
as for flemings novels,by the sound of it i may be the only one,but i love the spy who loved me,in fact i might go as far as to say it's my favourite bond book.
come on,i can't be the only one,hands up who else likes it.
also i'm sure i read somewhere that ian fleming refused permision for the novel to be turned into a movie.any ideas why?
as for flemings novels,by the sound of it i may be the only one,but i love the spy who loved me,in fact i might go as far as to say it's my favourite bond book.
come on,i can't be the only one,hands up who else likes it.
also i'm sure i read somewhere that ian fleming refused permision for the novel to be turned into a movie.any ideas why?
My hand's up. I answered this in another thread recently but here goes again:
The critical reception for TSWLM was dreadful, with many attacking the book as little more than pornography. In addition, it didn't sell as well as the others. Fleming's reaction was to tell his publishers that there was to be no paperback edition and to tell EON that they could use the title of the book but nothing else. This could be seen as his way of letting the book quietly die. After his death a paperback was published after negotiation between the publishers and his heirs.
I have only in the last couple of weeks started to read the books, I had read Casino Royale before and had always intended to read them but never did.
I picked up CR and decided to read the first chapter to see how it differed from the recent film, I couldn't put it down. I only have From Russia With Love and Dr No and have since read them too.
I am in the process of buying the other books off amazon.
My favourite of the 3 I have read is From Russia With Love.
I was expecting the books to be outdated and old fashioned when I started. I have been blown away, they seem to me that they could have been written recently (with the exception of some words and phrases).
I am glad I have never read them before as now I get to enjoy them for the first time, as opposed to the films which I have seen hundreds of times
1- On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- Casino Royale 3- Licence To Kill 4- Goldeneye 5- From Russia With Love
I'm a relative newbie to the literary Bond -at least in the respect to reading the books in detail. A friend of mine introduced me to Bond at age 10. His father also had all the Bond books, we used to leaf through them from time to time.
I'm now reading them in order, starting of course with CR. I'm just polishing off "Diamonds Are Forever" so I'm only a few books into the series, I won't vote for a favorite yet as I have no idea what really lies ahead of me.
However, I will say this. "Moonraker" may have seemed to take a bit to get going. Mind you, I enjoyed the behind the scenes descriptions of Bond and M and it was great to get a feel for their relationship but the book was a bit sluggish after the card game. However, once Fleming decided it was time to amp up the action and tension I could not put the book down at all. Fleming seems at his best when describing these tense situations for Bond and Bond's gut feelings/reactions towards those very situations. It feels as if the man (Fleming) is painting with his words. I could envision everything I was reading and for the last 25% of that book I was completely hooked. A novel hasn't had that affect on me for some time now.
I can't call "Moonraker" my favorite as I have too many more Bond books to read. However, I can say it's one of the better books I've ever read.
Im reading them in order and i am up to Thunderball. Im suprised though that no-one has mentioned the collection of short stories in For Your Eyes Only! I really enjoyed them. It kinda gave more of an insight into the smaller assignments that Bond was given to do.
I enjoyed, strangely, Quantum Of Solace, which was just a story being relayed to Bond at an ambassadorial dinner party. Superb!
I also agree that the 'Dinner At Blades' chapter in Moonraker was fantastic and probably the finest chapter written by Fleming! -{
personally my favorite was Live and Let Die, i liked moonraker, diamonds are forever is underrated in my opinion its a great book, you only live twice is a nice book too
I have come to regard the Fleming Books as indivudal chapters in a great saga. As Fleming changed as a person each book takes a slighly different tone and perspective.
I like LALD, MR and think FRWL is Flemings best book! I am less happy when Blofeld is introduced. I prefer novels that are not direct continuations.
I have always found TWTGG a good read, but worry that it was "punched up" by someone other then "The Master".
I read many of the continuation novels but have always felt they were "zombie" Bonds, produced to keep the brand alive. The original charecter of JB was so much a product of Fleming's personal POV, with out him the"soul" of Bond is gone.
As M says in CR'06 "Any thug can kill" and any writer can do up oo7. Some can do better than others, but without IF they are at best a "homage" IMO.
My first choice is CR because I read before seeing the film spoiled any of the elements of the story. It is the only novel I read prior seeing the film and it was a completely new discovery. My second choice is FRWL, which is a great spy story complete with a cliffhanger ending. Third place is a tie between MR and DAF. Both are great stories full of colorful characters. MR gives some insight into Bonds day-to-day life, which I liked, and DAF has a lot of stuff in it that was not used in the films so the novel was still fresh.
"A blunt instrument wielded by a Government department. Hard, ruthless, sardonic, fatalistic. He likes gambling, golf, fast motor cars. All his movements are relaxed and economical". Ian Fleming
I guess I would have to say the trilogy of On Her Majesty's Secret Service,You Only Live Twice and The Man with the Golden Gunas a unit, and From Russia With Loveand Casino Royaleas standalones.
I still wish Eon would tackle the trilogy as written someday, with the same actors as Bond and the other recurring characters, even as a period piece, although I doubt that will happen. OHMSS was done faithfully, but to no avail, since it didn't continue what was a continuing story.
Sweepy the CatHalifax, West Yorkshire, EnglaPosts: 986MI6 Agent
My first choice is CR because I read before seeing the film spoiled any of the elements of the story. It is the only novel I read prior seeing the film and it was a completely new discovery. My second choice is FRWL, which is a great spy story complete with a cliffhanger ending. Third place is a tie between MR and DAF. Both are great stories full of colorful characters. MR gives some insight into Bonds day-to-day life, which I liked, and DAF has a lot of stuff in it that was not used in the films so the novel was still fresh.
I'm with you with CR and never expected it to be an official film and this was in 04'!
I always thought that Royale was a great plot and should get the official film treatment. I guess, fortunately, I read the Bond long before the film was muted and I loved it. One of my favorite Bond books! The movie, all be it movie-ised, did it sufficient justice I thought!
Just read this forum and Lazenbys great critique of YOLT is most welcome.
I regularly re-read all the Bond novels in order and agree that in terms of atmosphere, style and character YOLT is far and away Flemings most accomplished novel.
Of the others I prefer Casino Royale because again it draws on character and not on action; Fleming allows Bond to fall in love with Vesper and her eventual demise is shocking, as is Bonds callousness at her betrayal.
Live and Let Die is a nightmare vision of sweaty negroes and Caribbean voodoo. It has tremendous atmosphere, in Harlem, Miami and Jamaica and Fleming positively drools over his descriptions of food and wine, naked bodies, fights with octopi and beautiful sandy beaches. Its negative is the slighty condesending attitude towards the black characters.
From Russia With Love was an experiment for Fleming as the novel is split into two halves, allowing us to see the villians at work before the denoument is played out in Istanbul. It has Flemings strongest female characters in Klebb and Tatiana and some of his sexiest passages of writing (the seduction scene, the gypsy fight) Darko Kerim is a magnificent creation, one of Bonds best allies.
Finally OHMSS gets my 5th vote as it is probably Flemings most up to date and believable story, still relevant today in this terrorist climate. It doesnt have much action, but it starts mysteriously and, like the film, when it does finally explode into life its as unstoppable as the boneshaker on the bobrun. Its only fault lies in a long section where M, Bond and a team of scientists discuss the threat SPECTRE poses, it really slows the action down at the exact point you want it to speed up.
One criticism I have of almost every Fleming novel is his inability to end his books well. In almost every one he reaches a sudden and often unsatisfactory conclusion, wrapping up the story in a few pages, when it takes him sometimes 2 - 3 chapters to get the story going.
From Russia, With Love is my favourite James Bond novel. It has a perfect blend of action and character.
I love the finale, too. When Fleming wrote From Russia, with Love - people had no idea if Bond was dead on not. It was well and truly left up in the air. With the books not selling in the quantities they used to, and running out of ideas, Fleming threw everything into the book. If From Russia, with Love was not successful, he probably would have been left dead.
It was also John F Kennedy's favourite Bond novel.
1. You Only Live Twice-Absolutely amazing! Not only is this my favorite Bond book, but it is my favorite adult book. Absolutely incredible detail of Japanese history and culture. If you want to see how talented Fleming was, read the first chapter. The man brings drama and suspense to Paper, Rock, Scissors!
2. Goldfinger-Again Fleming creates drama and suspense in the otherwise mundane. Great card scene; great golf scene! I never thought I could be intrigued so much by a golf game.
3. Live and Let Die-So many great elements that it seems like half the 007 films took from. The line "He disagreed with something that ate him" is well worth it. I couldn't believe there was such a major impact so early on in the series.
4. Diamonds are Forever-While the film is among the worst, the book is incredible. What a great look at how the diamond industry (may or may not) works. Bond really goes undercover in this. Tiffany Case is actually a good character. The levels of the ring going up are believable. It's like a good season of "24" where you think you have the top only to reveal you're nowhere close. It's a pretty great story.
5. From Russia With Love-Every bit as good as the film. Fleming really did like his trains. Another great cultural insight.
I really enjoyed all the Fleming books, however Golden Gun left a lot to be desired. It was pretty clear that Fleming did not finish it. I liked the ending to the film better. After reading it twice, the end of the book still doesn't add up. What's up with that snake?
And to anyone who hates "The Spy Who Loved Me" I really enjoyed that story. It is a very different perspective and a really good thriller. Sure, it's not much of a spy story with a major threat, but it does get us into the man Bond is. He is an intuitive Alpha male, and that really comes out. Such a great plot that I wish would go into a movie (not neccesarily a Bond movie, but it would be a great thriller).
Moonraker is also great. They all are. Read them all in order because he ties them together so well.
And I can't believe I left out On Her Majesty's Secret Service. That goes in there as like 1a.
Comments
another book i only got the chance to read the once was john gardners icebreaker which i loved but unfortunately i gave it to someone going on holiday who dropped it in a swimming pool and i never seen it again.again i don't remember much about it except for a wonderful hijack scene, foiled by bond of course,which i have always thought would make a great scene in a bond movie.
as for flemings novels,by the sound of it i may be the only one,but i love the spy who loved me,in fact i might go as far as to say it's my favourite bond book.
come on,i can't be the only one,hands up who else likes it.
also i'm sure i read somewhere that ian fleming refused permision for the novel to be turned into a movie.any ideas why?
My hand's up. I answered this in another thread recently but here goes again:
The critical reception for TSWLM was dreadful, with many attacking the book as little more than pornography. In addition, it didn't sell as well as the others. Fleming's reaction was to tell his publishers that there was to be no paperback edition and to tell EON that they could use the title of the book but nothing else. This could be seen as his way of letting the book quietly die. After his death a paperback was published after negotiation between the publishers and his heirs.
My Favourite Bond Book has to be Licence Renewed. A traditional Bond style Epic.
I picked up CR and decided to read the first chapter to see how it differed from the recent film, I couldn't put it down. I only have From Russia With Love and Dr No and have since read them too.
I am in the process of buying the other books off amazon.
My favourite of the 3 I have read is From Russia With Love.
I was expecting the books to be outdated and old fashioned when I started. I have been blown away, they seem to me that they could have been written recently (with the exception of some words and phrases).
I am glad I have never read them before as now I get to enjoy them for the first time, as opposed to the films which I have seen hundreds of times
I'm now reading them in order, starting of course with CR. I'm just polishing off "Diamonds Are Forever" so I'm only a few books into the series, I won't vote for a favorite yet as I have no idea what really lies ahead of me.
However, I will say this. "Moonraker" may have seemed to take a bit to get going. Mind you, I enjoyed the behind the scenes descriptions of Bond and M and it was great to get a feel for their relationship but the book was a bit sluggish after the card game. However, once Fleming decided it was time to amp up the action and tension I could not put the book down at all. Fleming seems at his best when describing these tense situations for Bond and Bond's gut feelings/reactions towards those very situations. It feels as if the man (Fleming) is painting with his words. I could envision everything I was reading and for the last 25% of that book I was completely hooked. A novel hasn't had that affect on me for some time now.
I can't call "Moonraker" my favorite as I have too many more Bond books to read. However, I can say it's one of the better books I've ever read.
I enjoyed, strangely, Quantum Of Solace, which was just a story being relayed to Bond at an ambassadorial dinner party. Superb!
I also agree that the 'Dinner At Blades' chapter in Moonraker was fantastic and probably the finest chapter written by Fleming! -{
I like LALD, MR and think FRWL is Flemings best book! I am less happy when Blofeld is introduced. I prefer novels that are not direct continuations.
I have always found TWTGG a good read, but worry that it was "punched up" by someone other then "The Master".
I read many of the continuation novels but have always felt they were "zombie" Bonds, produced to keep the brand alive. The original charecter of JB was so much a product of Fleming's personal POV, with out him the"soul" of Bond is gone.
As M says in CR'06 "Any thug can kill" and any writer can do up oo7. Some can do better than others, but without IF they are at best a "homage" IMO.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
And the three weakest in my list were TSWLM and OATLD.
I still wish Eon would tackle the trilogy as written someday, with the same actors as Bond and the other recurring characters, even as a period piece, although I doubt that will happen. OHMSS was done faithfully, but to no avail, since it didn't continue what was a continuing story.
I'm with you with CR and never expected it to be an official film and this was in 04'!
I regularly re-read all the Bond novels in order and agree that in terms of atmosphere, style and character YOLT is far and away Flemings most accomplished novel.
Of the others I prefer Casino Royale because again it draws on character and not on action; Fleming allows Bond to fall in love with Vesper and her eventual demise is shocking, as is Bonds callousness at her betrayal.
Live and Let Die is a nightmare vision of sweaty negroes and Caribbean voodoo. It has tremendous atmosphere, in Harlem, Miami and Jamaica and Fleming positively drools over his descriptions of food and wine, naked bodies, fights with octopi and beautiful sandy beaches. Its negative is the slighty condesending attitude towards the black characters.
From Russia With Love was an experiment for Fleming as the novel is split into two halves, allowing us to see the villians at work before the denoument is played out in Istanbul. It has Flemings strongest female characters in Klebb and Tatiana and some of his sexiest passages of writing (the seduction scene, the gypsy fight) Darko Kerim is a magnificent creation, one of Bonds best allies.
Finally OHMSS gets my 5th vote as it is probably Flemings most up to date and believable story, still relevant today in this terrorist climate. It doesnt have much action, but it starts mysteriously and, like the film, when it does finally explode into life its as unstoppable as the boneshaker on the bobrun. Its only fault lies in a long section where M, Bond and a team of scientists discuss the threat SPECTRE poses, it really slows the action down at the exact point you want it to speed up.
One criticism I have of almost every Fleming novel is his inability to end his books well. In almost every one he reaches a sudden and often unsatisfactory conclusion, wrapping up the story in a few pages, when it takes him sometimes 2 - 3 chapters to get the story going.
None the less I would reccommend them to anyone.
I love the finale, too. When Fleming wrote From Russia, with Love - people had no idea if Bond was dead on not. It was well and truly left up in the air. With the books not selling in the quantities they used to, and running out of ideas, Fleming threw everything into the book. If From Russia, with Love was not successful, he probably would have been left dead.
It was also John F Kennedy's favourite Bond novel.
Seperate from these, my most reached for would be FRWL, DN, and MR.
From Russia, with Love
Casino Royale
You Only Live Twice
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Doctor No
2. Goldfinger-Again Fleming creates drama and suspense in the otherwise mundane. Great card scene; great golf scene! I never thought I could be intrigued so much by a golf game.
3. Live and Let Die-So many great elements that it seems like half the 007 films took from. The line "He disagreed with something that ate him" is well worth it. I couldn't believe there was such a major impact so early on in the series.
4. Diamonds are Forever-While the film is among the worst, the book is incredible. What a great look at how the diamond industry (may or may not) works. Bond really goes undercover in this. Tiffany Case is actually a good character. The levels of the ring going up are believable. It's like a good season of "24" where you think you have the top only to reveal you're nowhere close. It's a pretty great story.
5. From Russia With Love-Every bit as good as the film. Fleming really did like his trains. Another great cultural insight.
I really enjoyed all the Fleming books, however Golden Gun left a lot to be desired. It was pretty clear that Fleming did not finish it. I liked the ending to the film better. After reading it twice, the end of the book still doesn't add up. What's up with that snake?
And to anyone who hates "The Spy Who Loved Me" I really enjoyed that story. It is a very different perspective and a really good thriller. Sure, it's not much of a spy story with a major threat, but it does get us into the man Bond is. He is an intuitive Alpha male, and that really comes out. Such a great plot that I wish would go into a movie (not neccesarily a Bond movie, but it would be a great thriller).
Moonraker is also great. They all are. Read them all in order because he ties them together so well.
And I can't believe I left out On Her Majesty's Secret Service. That goes in there as like 1a.
Live and Let Die
Moonraker
Diamonds Are Forever
From Russia With Love