I have to admit, Solo is one of my least favourite Bond books, I know many like it but
I found it incredibly slow.
Role Of Honour :
Gardner's fourth Bond novel, which I read very quickly. Given it moves along at a
Very fast pace. In many ways it almost feels like a rewriting of Licence Renewed.
With Bond operating mostly in Britain, only really going overseas in the last part
Of the story.
The story is good standard thriller stuff and it is a fun read but it left me appreciating
His earlier stories and Icebreaker which I feel is much superior to this one.
The very last chapter seems to be a nod to the end of Fleming's Casino Royale ?
So now it's on to Nobody Lives Forever.
Forgot to add this is where Bond finally gets his new permanent weapon the Asp9mm.
Thanks to YouTube, I finally got to see how the triangular gun sight worked. )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I got my last few Gardner's from EBay. They were used paperbacks, I didn't
Mind as I only wanted to read them, not collect the books. From memory they
were very cheap only a few quid each. ( that was only a few years ago )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I'm about to start reading the Gardner's. Do I have to read them order ?
You don't have to read them in order, but it's best if you do...
Thanks Sir Miles
A pleasure...there is a natural progression to the novels, so reading them in order is probably best...Scorpious was the first one I read - I had no idea that new Bond novels were being written - but I have read them all in order since -{
So far about half way through " Nobody lives forever" and I'm really enjoying it.
Oddly I read this last year, so I'm very familiar with it, but I did remember a point
I keep forgetting to mention.
At one point Bond is attacked by a huge vampire bat , I wonder if this was a reference
To " The unauthorized biography " ( I haven't read it in a long time) which ends with
Bond going off to investigate an old enemy who is producing such creatures ?
If I'm remembering correctly.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
So far about half way through " Nobody lives forever" and I'm really enjoying it.
Oddly I read this last year, so I'm very familiar with it, but I did remember a point
I keep forgetting to mention.
At one point Bond is attacked by a huge vampire bat , I wonder if this was a reference
To " The unauthorized biography " ( I haven't read it in a long time) which ends with
Bond going off to investigate an old enemy who is producing such creatures ?
If I'm remembering correctly.
I think Irma Bunt was creating giant rats in Australia.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
) I knew it was a giant something ! ) thanks SM, as I said I haven't
Read it in years. Might visit it again after all the books. -{
Although Bat/Rat I was only one letter out )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
I think I'm right anyhow! )
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Whilst I enjoyed most of it, it is certainly not up to the standard of the excellent books that preceded it.
I enjoyed it up until after the Las Vegas bit, then it just seemed to go a bit silly with the cowboy town and the train etc.
It did pick up again on the cruise ship at the end, but I was glad to get it finished to be honest.
I did not feel that way with CR, LALD or MR. So whilst DAF was ok, it was not great.
Just started Goldfinger, which I know is excellent because I read that about two years ago
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
I think a lot of people find DAF something of a disappointment after the first three. That is only natural, but the writing and little "Fleming essays" are fine throughout. -{
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
I'm torn with DAF, yes I do prefer other books but it has some brilliant
Set pieces. -{ The jockey getting the horrible facial, Bond taking a
Beating, and the ending on the ship, are all very exciting.
I actually enjoy the section in Las Vegas, in the mid 50s, as it's almost
Travelling back in time, Fleming's description is that good. -{
Tiffany Case is a superb heroine, described as a young Bacall, and nothing
Like what we got in the film. She also has a strong effect on 007 as they move
In together, Fleming also uses the line " we have all the time in the world" and
Ponders retiring to Japan, ( later someone else did retire there ) ). Oddly for me
In J Gardner's first Bond novel, he describes the love interest as looking like a
Young Bacall, but doesn't reference T Case ? I guess Bond's memory was going. )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I'm torn with DAF, yes I do prefer other books but it has some brilliant
Set pieces. -{ The jockey getting the horrible facial, Bond taking a
Beating, and the ending on the ship, are all very exciting.
I actually enjoy the section in Las Vegas, in the mid 50s, as it's almost
Travelling back in time, Fleming's description is that good. -{
Tiffany Case is a superb heroine, described as a young Bacall, and nothing
Like what we got in the film. She also has a strong effect on 007 as they move
In together, Fleming also uses the line " we have all the time in the world" and
Ponders retiring to Japan, ( later someone else did retire there ) ). Oddly for me
In J Gardner's first Bond novel, he describes the love interest as looking like a
Young Bacall, but doesn't reference T Case ? I guess Bond's memory was going. )
Yeah, I really enjoyed the Vegas bit, then after that it went downhill, but picked up slightly during the ending on the ship.
It does have some good moments as you say TP, but overall I was a bit underwhelmed. I will certainly re-read it, but not for a while I think.
I also find that it sometimes on your age when reading the Bonds, as a Teen I
Hated some of the short stories like QOS or OP, yet now I'm a bit older ( only a little)
I found rereading them, that I actually enjoyed them and could appreciate the great
Descriptive writing skills of Fleming.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
I also find that it sometimes on your age when reading the Bonds, as a Teen I
Hated some of the short stories like QOS or OP, yet now I'm a bit older ( only a little)
I found rereading them, that I actually enjoyed them and could appreciate the great
Descriptive writing skills of Fleming.
Very true. I recall my first reading of DAF was a real slog as a teenager. I kept on hoping that the filmic versions of Wint and Kidd would turn up to liven things up a bit! )
But as you rightly say TP, as well get older (and supposedly wiser!) our tastes often change even if the novel in question does not. -{
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
With the likes of QOS, as aTeen I was still a kid, so I couldn't identify with it, but after
I'd lived a little had a few relationships. Some ending well, some not so well, I could
Understand the story,In fact I think it's a great piece of observational writing from
Fleming. -{ much more about the fragility of relationships and how love can easily
Be twisted to hate.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
8.5/10
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
I found it incredibly slow.
Role Of Honour :
Gardner's fourth Bond novel, which I read very quickly. Given it moves along at a
Very fast pace. In many ways it almost feels like a rewriting of Licence Renewed.
With Bond operating mostly in Britain, only really going overseas in the last part
Of the story.
The story is good standard thriller stuff and it is a fun read but it left me appreciating
His earlier stories and Icebreaker which I feel is much superior to this one.
The very last chapter seems to be a nod to the end of Fleming's Casino Royale ?
So now it's on to Nobody Lives Forever.
Forgot to add this is where Bond finally gets his new permanent weapon the Asp9mm.
Thanks to YouTube, I finally got to see how the triangular gun sight worked.
Mind as I only wanted to read them, not collect the books. From memory they
were very cheap only a few quid each.
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
You don't have to read them in order, but it's best if you do...
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
A pleasure...there is a natural progression to the novels, so reading them in order is probably best...Scorpious was the first one I read - I had no idea that new Bond novels were being written
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
It's best that you start with License Renewed, and then make your way through the lot -{
I got all the Garder Nov last early last year
I tend to waver between a few...Icebreaker, Role of Honour, Nobody Lives Forever & No Deals, Mr Bond...
Oddly I read this last year, so I'm very familiar with it, but I did remember a point
I keep forgetting to mention.
At one point Bond is attacked by a huge vampire bat , I wonder if this was a reference
To " The unauthorized biography " ( I haven't read it in a long time) which ends with
Bond going off to investigate an old enemy who is producing such creatures ?
If I'm remembering correctly.
I think Irma Bunt was creating giant rats in Australia.
Read it in years. Might visit it again after all the books. -{
Although Bat/Rat I was only one letter out
Whilst I enjoyed most of it, it is certainly not up to the standard of the excellent books that preceded it.
I enjoyed it up until after the Las Vegas bit, then it just seemed to go a bit silly with the cowboy town and the train etc.
It did pick up again on the cruise ship at the end, but I was glad to get it finished to be honest.
I did not feel that way with CR, LALD or MR. So whilst DAF was ok, it was not great.
Just started Goldfinger, which I know is excellent because I read that about two years ago
Set pieces. -{ The jockey getting the horrible facial, Bond taking a
Beating, and the ending on the ship, are all very exciting.
I actually enjoy the section in Las Vegas, in the mid 50s, as it's almost
Travelling back in time, Fleming's description is that good. -{
Tiffany Case is a superb heroine, described as a young Bacall, and nothing
Like what we got in the film.
In together, Fleming also uses the line " we have all the time in the world" and
Ponders retiring to Japan, ( later someone else did retire there
In J Gardner's first Bond novel, he describes the love interest as looking like a
Young Bacall, but doesn't reference T Case ? I guess Bond's memory was going.
Yeah, I really enjoyed the Vegas bit, then after that it went downhill, but picked up slightly during the ending on the ship.
It does have some good moments as you say TP, but overall I was a bit underwhelmed. I will certainly re-read it, but not for a while I think.
Hated some of the short stories like QOS or OP, yet now I'm a bit older ( only a little)
I found rereading them, that I actually enjoyed them and could appreciate the great
Descriptive writing skills of Fleming.
Very true. I recall my first reading of DAF was a real slog as a teenager. I kept on hoping that the filmic versions of Wint and Kidd would turn up to liven things up a bit!
But as you rightly say TP, as well get older (and supposedly wiser!) our tastes often change even if the novel in question does not.
I'd lived a little had a few relationships. Some ending well, some not so well, I could
Understand the story,In fact I think it's a great piece of observational writing from
Fleming. -{ much more about the fragility of relationships and how love can easily
Be twisted to hate.
Which, QoS or DAF? I prefer DAF.