Your favourite/best Bond reference books?

Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
in James Bond Literature
Having been a Bond fan since seeing DAF in '71, I've collected quite a bit of Bond related stuff - among which are many good (and some not so good!) reference books.

My favourites (and best in my opinion) which I regularly return to are:

The James Bond Bedside Companion by Raymond Benson - perhaps the first really detailed large format book on every aspect of the Bond phenomenon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-James-Bond-Bedside-Companion/dp/1852832339

Dressed to Kill - shame it hasn't been updated since Goldeneye in '95
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dressed-Kill-James-Bond-Suited/dp/2080136186

The book of Bond by "Bill Tanner" - very, very funny.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Book-Bond-Every-Man/dp/B001R4GYC6

What are your favourites & best in your opinion? -{
"How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."

Comments

  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,068Chief of Staff
    I agree with your list, C&D, and would add

    The James Bond Dossier by Kingsley Amis
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/James-Bond-Dossier-Kingsley-Amis/dp/022460032X
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    The James Bond Bedside Companion by Raymond Benson is a fantastic book. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    Hey Barbel,

    The James Bond Dossier I'd forgotten about but yes, it is a great addition. -{ Took me ages to get a copy at a reasonable price but I tracked down one on eBay a few years back.

    Have either of you read O.F. Snelling's "James Bond, A Report"?

    Btw TP, love the new photo :)
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,068Chief of Staff
    Yes, I liked the Snelling book too though the Amis one goes a bit deeper.
  • mpoplawskimpoplawski New Jersey, USAPosts: 128MI6 Agent
    All great books, I have them. Just can't find the "Tanner" book. I have looked for years now.
    Bond: "But who would want to kill me, sir?"
    M: "Jealous husbands, outraged chefs, humiliated tailors . . . the list is endless."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,068Chief of Staff
    Well, it depends how much you're willing to spend-

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0670179248/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

    http://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/the-book-of-bond-every-man-his/publisher/cape/sortby/1/

    I've had my copy since the 60s so only paid the cover price!
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    I have the Raymond Benson Bedside Companion as an audiobook and it is a great 'read'. Also I really like James Bond the Legacy by John Cork.
    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
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    My favorites are:
    (1) JB Bedside Companion
    (2) JB's London
    (3) Dressed to Kill
    (4) Ian Fleming's James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies
    (5) James Bond: The Man and His World
    (6) For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond (hated this at 1st, but it's growing on me)
    (7) 2 "Making of" books by Charles Helfenstein (TLD & OHMSS)
    (8) IF Bibliography (I'm still working my way through this book, very very slowly)
    (9) 3 books I have about Fleming in WWII (2 by Cabell and 1 by Rankin)
    (10) IF Bio by Lycett (this book works like a reference for me)

    From the too much information to post dept: The litmus test of determining why these are my favorites, is that they've been in the bathroom with me more than once, except for the IF Bibliography. Anyone want to borrow a book? :))
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • Mark HazardMark Hazard West Midlands, UKPosts: 495MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Well, it depends how much you're willing to spend-

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0670179248/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

    http://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/the-book-of-bond-every-man-his/publisher/cape/sortby/1/

    I've had my copy since the 60s so only paid the cover price!

    There's also the paperback version, no fancy reversible cover though. Although I can't find anyone selling it at the moment - perhaps I should dig my spare out to sell.
  • 002002 New ZealandPosts: 558MI6 Agent
    I find it hard to question the greatness of Kingsley Amis's "The James Bond Dossier". My copy is the 1967 Pan reprint and, despite the tiny print, it remains a fascinating (academic) read every time I pick it up.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Most Copies on Ebay are rather expensive though :#
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Kent007Kent007 Posts: 338MI6 Agent
    As someone who is currently doing my dissertation on the Bond books, I've been surrounded by Bond reference books recently.

    I'd say my favourites are Matthew Parker's book on Goldeneye, The Politics of James Bond by Jeremy Black and For Your Eyes Only by Ben MacIntyre.
    "You are about to wake when you dream that you are dreaming"
  • SpoffSpoff Posts: 244MI6 Agent
    I am currently reading Licence to thrill: A cultural history of the James Bond films by James Chapman.

    It's very good
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    mpoplawski wrote:
    All great books, I have them. Just can't find the "Tanner" book. I have looked for years now.

    http://www.thejamesbonddossier.com/ is basically an online version of the book.
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    Really like The James Bond Archives. It's big and expensive, but has great photos I've never seen.
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • mpoplawskimpoplawski New Jersey, USAPosts: 128MI6 Agent
    Has anyone read "The man who saved Britain - a personal journey into the disturbing world of James Bond" by Simon Winder. A really fun book. Maybe not a true reference book, a great read.
    Bond: "But who would want to kill me, sir?"
    M: "Jealous husbands, outraged chefs, humiliated tailors . . . the list is endless."
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    1) IF Bibliography by Jon Gilbert
    2) IF biography by Andrew Lycett
    3) Goldeneye by Matthew Parker
    4) The James Bond Dossier by Kingsley Amis
    5) James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 by John Pearson
    6) The Book of Bond by Tanner (Kingsley Amis)
    7) Ian Fleming's Commandoes by Nicholas Rankin
    8) For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond by Ben McIntyre
    9) IF Biography by John Pearson
    10) Ian Fleming & James Bond by Comentale, Watt and Wilman
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    I'd add that I think O.F. Snelling's book Double O Seven James Bond: A Report (1964). It is quite special as it was the first book written on the literary Bond and as such it gives a great view of 'Bondmania' as it was happening in the mid-1960s.
    "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
    Heres one -

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Guide-Drinks-James-Bond/dp/1446687880
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    Silhouette Man wrote:
    I'd add that I think O.F. Snelling's book Double O Seven James Bond: A Report (1964). It is quite special as it was the first book written on the literary Bond and as such it gives a great view of 'Bondmania' as it was happening in the mid-1960s.

    I have an old paperback copy (was it ever even published in hardback?) but have never actually read it. I'll have to move it closer to the top of the pile.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,917Chief of Staff
    mpoplawski wrote:
    Has anyone read "The man who saved Britain - a personal journey into the disturbing world of James Bond" by Simon Winder. A really fun book. Maybe not a true reference book, a great read.

    Yea...I've read that one...enjoyable enough -{
    YNWA 97
  • 20514762051476 Posts: 3MI6 Agent
    Kent007 wrote:
    As someone who is currently doing my dissertation on the Bond books, I've been surrounded by Bond reference books recently.

    I'd say my favourites are Matthew Parker's book on Goldeneye, The Politics of James Bond by Jeremy Black and For Your Eyes Only by Ben MacIntyre.

    Just downloaded your dissertation, will have a go at it shortly
  • perdoggperdogg Posts: 432MI6 Agent
    Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation (James Bond) Paperback – 1965.

    http://www.amazon.com/Flemings-Incredible-Creation-James-Bond/dp/B000BCXX10
    "And if I told you that I'm from the Ministry of Defence?" James Bond - The Property of a Lady
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 38,068Chief of Staff
    The Domino Effect wrote:
    Silhouette Man wrote:
    I'd add that I think O.F. Snelling's book Double O Seven James Bond: A Report (1964). It is quite special as it was the first book written on the literary Bond and as such it gives a great view of 'Bondmania' as it was happening in the mid-1960s.

    I have an old paperback copy (was it ever even published in hardback?)

    Yes, I have a copy.
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,421Quartermasters
    One that I refer to quite often is The Bond Files by Andy Lane and Paul Simson.

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Bond-Files-Andy-Lane/dp/B000HWYVE2

    It has detailed summaries of all the Bond novels and films up to and including TWINE, as well some other bits and pieces like comic strips etc. A nice, useful little book.
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