Have any of you actually read a James Bond Novel?
Tiffany Case 007
Posts: 1MI6 Agent
I began reading the Ian Flemming novels about James Bond in the 1960's. I have read every Bond
novel.
I remember when they started making the first James Bond movies. They were so popular and everyone looked forward to the next one.
Sean Connery was perfect as James Bond. He fir the discription and personality, although the little comic remarks he made occasionally were
off character.
When Roger Moore took over the role, I was continually dissapointed in his performaces. He played the role entirely to camp for my taste.
The movies just sillier and sillier. I was so glas when he got to old for the role.
George Lazenby was alright and better than Moore. I would have liked to see him in a few more films.
Timothy Dalton was very good and began to
come back to the personality of the true Bond.
I didn't like how they moved the character into the present day however, as the Bond novels were all set during the cold war era.
Pierce Brosnan was also good in the role, however him came off a bit to Cary Grant like.
The newest installment of Bond just doesn't
move me any. I feel the actor Clive Owen would have been many times better as James Bond.
I did see the last Craig film as Bond...finally. wasn't impressed at all. I have no plans to see any future Bond films. It just is to painful to see what they have done to such a great character as james Bond.
novel.
I remember when they started making the first James Bond movies. They were so popular and everyone looked forward to the next one.
Sean Connery was perfect as James Bond. He fir the discription and personality, although the little comic remarks he made occasionally were
off character.
When Roger Moore took over the role, I was continually dissapointed in his performaces. He played the role entirely to camp for my taste.
The movies just sillier and sillier. I was so glas when he got to old for the role.
George Lazenby was alright and better than Moore. I would have liked to see him in a few more films.
Timothy Dalton was very good and began to
come back to the personality of the true Bond.
I didn't like how they moved the character into the present day however, as the Bond novels were all set during the cold war era.
Pierce Brosnan was also good in the role, however him came off a bit to Cary Grant like.
The newest installment of Bond just doesn't
move me any. I feel the actor Clive Owen would have been many times better as James Bond.
I did see the last Craig film as Bond...finally. wasn't impressed at all. I have no plans to see any future Bond films. It just is to painful to see what they have done to such a great character as james Bond.
Comments
I don't think any Bond actor has resembled the literary Bond. None of them looked much like Hoagy Carmichael, anyway. Which isn't a bad thing, as Hoagy's looks are rather dated.
I like the films updating. If they remained in the 50s/60s, I think they would have a certain twee quality that would grate. Shades of Rock Hudson and Doris Day.
I find it part of Bond's charm that he transcends the ages; because the character remains the same regardless. An somewhat flawed character, with a warped sense of morals and honour, doing his duty for Queen and Country, in accordance with his conscience, rather that some private vendetta or victimhood.
"Better make that two."
The question being posed sounds like those who have, have accompolished an astonishing feat, wheras for most that is the basis.
I 'd understand something like [ Have you ever jumped off a cliff whilst skiing - and being shot at'?
Hands up now...
I have.
A series of books were made about it followed later by a series of films. Sadly the films didn't live up to the books, it is just painful to see what they have done with such a great character as me B-)
you certainly could have skiied today,what with the weather
Your top 5 is basically the same as mine but in a different order.
Looks like we're gonna get along just fine
Sorry you don't care for Craig's Bond. Don't worry, he won't last forever!
And...yes. I have actually read a James Bond novel. And I think you should, as well! :007)
My advice: Check out Casino Royale, by Ian Fleming. You can probably score a paperback copy somewhere for fairly cheap.
Good to have you as a member, and we hope you stick around. There's a lot of friendship, knowledge and fun to be had here B-)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
You should give them a try. I doubt you will be disappointed. If you don't want to invest the time it takes to read one you might try the audiobook version.:)
Colonel Sun was excellent. Wish Kingsley Amis (nee Robert Markham)had written more.
The Gardiner books arn't bad. The best Gardiner probably comes close to the worst Fleming. As one reviewer put it 'if Fleming is the Savoy Grill Gardiner is McDonalds - enjoyable enought when you are eating it but instantly forgettable afterwards.'
Too influenced by the movies. Quite good at coming up with interesting girl's names, but weak on the villians.
Raymond Bension is better than Gardiner but takes to many liberties with the characters invented by Fleming. Makes too many changes to what Bond fans take as established facts - for example gives M (the old M)a wife and daughters.
For me Dalton is the closest to the Bond described by Fleming, both physically and the way he protrays the character.
Would encourage any Bond fan to read the books. THEY are a bit dated with the technology and attitudes but still a damn good read.
I got into Bond at 12 watching TSWLM ( just told everone how old i am ) Honestly I had never seen anything like it,so started to look for old books and have since read them all many times.
I like the fact that they are now a little old fashioned as they seem to draw you into an older world.
Moonraker, his third novel is a simple plot but a real boys-own story a modern Biggles or 39 Steps, But I love to read about 50s' Rockets Driving fast Bentleys being sick after crawling out off a landslide at Dover.
The discription Of Drax is brilliant i can see him in my minds eye now plotting the distruction of London.
The later novels are more complex but they all have great plots ( except the spy who loved me for obvious reasons, Bond only appears in the last third of the book )
The modern Books are good in the same way a man dieing of thirst will drink anything, but the Bond of the books belongs forever in the 50's and early 60s', Thats why i enjoyed Devil May Care so much, The ending just drags a little,
Fleming wrote in three acts, quick to the point, and always exciting.
I would encourage every Bond fan to read aleast some of them.
I always picture Sean Connery, yet never really imagine the locations as being the same as the films.
I had a go at the Young Bond books after hearing a lot of hype about them (mainly here if im honest lol), only to be disappointed. they just didn't suit me and i will stick to the originals.
Moonraker is brilliant. My favourite Bond book by far. But my least favourite film.
The books are completely different for me to the films, evoking an entirely different emotion. I also feel it's like an indulgence to travel back in time to the fifties and sixties where Bond eats a four-course meal, drinks two bottles of wine or half a bottle of spirit and climbs behind the wheel of his Bentley which he thrashes down country roads apparently no worse for wear.
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