I have Four Bond Books to choose from, Help?

James Suzuki

So, I'm getting back into reading the novels. I own quite a few Bond novels that I haven't got read yet and I don't know which one to read first. I'm in the middle of You Only Live Twice at the moment which I am loving to bits but afterwards I want to fire right into another one.
1. Christopher Wood's James Bond and Moonraker
2. John Gardner's novelization of License to Kill
3. Diamonds are forever
4. Nobody lives forever

Which one shall I read next Bond Book fans? I know many people will go straight to the Fleming novel, Diamonds are forever but I want to read your opinions on the other novels.

Muston

Go for Diamonds Are Forever I'd say. It's one of Fleming's I remember enjoying. I don't see much point in reading Gardner's License To Kill, as it's Dalton that makes that story work so well, so you'd be better off just watching the film.

Charmed & Dangerous

Definitely read Fleming first - the others all followed but, IMO, Fleming can't be beaten.

Peppermill

Sorry I can't give an original answer but I'd go for Fleming too.

Thunderpussy

Although I don't want to sound like a Heretic, of the Four
listed I'd go for either DAF ot the C Wood's Moonraker.
Both C Wood's novels ( Spy & Moonraker) are very good
reads. Infact I'd say he writes very close to Flemings style,
and better than many who've followed.

Muston

I've just ordered Woods 'James Bond and Moonraker' for 89p on Amazon. Thunderpussy, I hope you're right :007)

Sir Miles

Muston wrote:

I've just ordered Woods 'James Bond and Moonraker' for 89p on Amazon. Thunderpussy, I hope you're right :007)

For once, he is B-)

superado

Yes, the Christopher Wood novelizations are definitely must reads, mostly for the novelty and curiosity factors. As others said, it is a neat experience to see a good approximation of Fleming's writing style, updated beyond his own lifetime to the late 70's, in contrast to how the two movies were outlandishly done (which he provided screenplay treatments). IMO, his writing acts to neutralize the overall fantastic flavor of those movies that in a manner of speaking, redeems them.

I am enjoying DAF now and I think one needs to deliberately separate any conception from the movie in order to enjoy the book, or otherwise there's the tendency to nurse a bias that the hokiness of the movie must have been directly influenced by the hokiness of the book. Also important is to appreciate the time and place setting; ***SPOILER ALERT*** ...for example, the Vegas of the book is a much earlier version of the Vegas in the movie (and more so if compared with today's Vegas) and likening the book with the movie based on that would be like apples and oranges. Then there's the horse racing town of Saratoga and in my earlier readings of DAF in my mind I couldn't help but picture a drab, rural setting like the TV show, Green Acres. Lastly, the portrayal of American gangsters does seem hokey at the surface but to better appreciate this, it's good to know how extensive Fleming's research was in the subject matter and how much of what he wrote is based on facts of gangland history.

I myself haven't read Gardner's novelization of LTK despite it's availability at my local library, which I am now considering. I did read the novelization of GE also by Gardner and vaguely remember it, except that the reading did not add anything new to the GE experience if you can call it that save for minor differences since novelizations are typically based on the script vs. what was eventually filmed...unlike the Wood books that just broke open a new world for each of those stories.

Muston

superado wrote:

Yes, the Christopher Wood novelizations are definitely must reads, mostly for the novelty and curiosity factors. As others said, it is a neat experience to see a good approximation of Fleming's writing style, updated beyond his own lifetime to the late 70's, in contrast to how the two movies were outlandishly done (which he provided screenplay treatments). IMO, his writing acts to neutralize the overall fantastic flavor of those movies that in a manner of speaking, redeems them.

I am enjoying DAF now and I think one needs to deliberately separate any conception from the movie in order to enjoy the book, or otherwise there's the tendency to nurse a bias that the hokiness of the movie must have been directly influenced by the hokiness of the book. Also important is to appreciate the time and place setting; ***SPOILER ALERT*** ...for example, the Vegas of the book is a much earlier version of the Vegas in the movie and more so if compared with Today's Vegas and likening the book with the movie is like apples and oranges. Then there's Saratoga and in my earlier readings of DAF in my mind I couldn't help but picture a drab, rural setting like the TV show, Green Acres. Lastly, the portrayal of American gangsters does seem hokey at the surface but to better appreciate this, it's good to know how extensive Fleming's research was in the subject matter and how much of what he wrote is based on facts of gangland history.

I myself haven't read Gardner's novelization of LTK despite it's availability at my local library, which I am now considering. I did read the novelization of GE also by Gardner and vaguely remember it, except that the reading did not add anything new to the GE experience if you can call it that save for minor differences since novelizations are typically based on the script vs. what was eventually filmed, unlike the Wood books that just broke open a new world for each of those stories.

Good post there Superado

I've always today (despite earlier saying that it adds nothing to the experience) brought a copy of Gardner's LTK, though I've really only done this because the cover has a pick of Dalton on it and will probably sit on my book shelf as a novelty.

James Suzuki

Thanks for the feedback guys. Now, just out of interest, what is Nobody lives forever like?

Silhouette Man

As the others here have said, always go with His Master, Ian Fleming first - so that means read Diamonds Are Forever first - it's one of Fleming's more literary offerings.