best Novel to read as a first time Bond Reader...

Distorted HumorDistorted Humor Posts: 66MI6 Agent
in James Bond Literature
Ok, I enjoyed the films, but never got around to reading the novels, in most cases, that is fine, but around here I better get to reading.

What is the best novel to start out with?
1 - GE, 2 - DN, 3 - CR, 4 - GF, 5 - FYEO, 6 - TLD, 7 - SF, 8 - FRWL, 9 - LALD, 10 - TSWLM, 11 - LTK, 12 - OP, 13 - YOLT, 14 - TB, 15 - MR, 16 - TWINE, 17 - OHMSS, 18 - TND, 19 - DAD, 20 - TMWTGG, 21 - AVTAK, 22 - DAF, 23 - QoS

Comments

  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    I'd say Casino Royale, Live and Let Die and Moonraker, all by Ian Fleming. Start at the start, I'd say. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Read them in Order, otherwise you will miss Plotpoints and certain other things.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    The great thing about reading them in order is that you can see Fleming's writing style develop and grow in stature. The early novels are sparse and urgent; the later ones have a more relaxed, richly detailed style in what Raymond Benson, in 'The James Bond Bedside Companion', describes as the 'Fleming Sweep'.
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,541MI6 Agent
    Casino Royale... without a single doubt!
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    The best way to start is obviously with CR like many people have said. However, you could also start with a novelisation of one of the newer movies like LTK or GE.
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,484MI6 Agent
    I've always struggled with CR a bit.

    Dr No is an easy read.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Napoleon Plural wrote:
    I've always struggled with CR a bit.

    Dr No is an easy read.

    Reading through the Spy who loved me at the Moment, it's quite slow.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I've only ever read TSWLM Once. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • raptors_887raptors_887 CanadaPosts: 215MI6 Agent
    Charmed & Dangerous wrote:
    The great thing about reading them in order is that you can see Fleming's writing style develop and grow in stature. The early novels are sparse and urgent; the later ones have a more relaxed, richly detailed style in what Raymond Benson, in 'The James Bond Bedside Companion', describes as the 'Fleming Sweep'.

    That actually kinda sucks IMO. I'm halfway through Casino Royale right now and I love how it gets right to the point. There's no overly long descriptions about a room or anything. Its all just about the story at hand. Every novel should be like that.
    1: Casino Royale 2: Goldeneye 3: Skyfall 4: Octopussy 5: Goldfinger 6: Tomorrow Never Dies 7: The World Is Not Enough 8: The Living Daylights 9: From Russia With Love 10: The Spy Who Loved Me
  • MustonMuston Huncote, Leicestershire Posts: 228MI6 Agent
    Agree that CR is the best to read as a starter. Though another easy, yet great read is Amis' Colonel Sun. I was amazed how good it was.
    "Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
  • James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
    Casino Royale at the start seems the obvious choice but I skipped it till later finding it boring and struggling to relate it to the films, it's still a great novel though.
    I went to Moonraker, but I suggest reading the From Russia With Love and Dr No books first which I feel are the best.
    They all good :)
    “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
    -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
  • 00-Agent00-Agent CaliforniaPosts: 453MI6 Agent
    I like the idea of reading them in order, that is what I did. I found that I enjoyed CR and Moonraker the best, in part because they were not spoiled by the films. I read Casino Royale prior to the movie coming out. I doubt I would have enjoyed it as much had I already seen the film. If you don't read them in order I would go with Moonraker because it is so different from the movie.
    "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
  • PPK packerPPK packer Posts: 45MI6 Agent
    Read them in order.

    It's how they were written.

    I'd also work through the paragraphs in order, starting with #1. :))
    "No man is any good who has no enemies..." Major-General Percy Hobart.
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