How important is it to read to book in order?

Comments

• Napoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent

  July 2012

  I'd suggest you read Live and Let Die, as Felix Leiter is in that one and he pops up in DAF, and you may want to know the backstory regarding him, as he is a significent role in that book.
  
  Live and Let Die is the 2nd Bond book, so it makes sense.
  
  But otherwise, yes, you could skip to DAF and miss no massive continuity I think. Not sure DAF is really one of the better novels, but it is quite readable nonetheless.
  
  Otherwise, you should read From Russia with Love before Dr No,
  then it should go Thunderball, OHMSS, You Only Live Twice and The Man With the Golden Gun as these do have some chronology.
  
  Books like Moonraker, Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me, don't.

  "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."
  
  Roger Moore 1927-2017
• Loeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters

  July 2012

  You can read them in any order and not really 'miss' anything. In fact, On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the first one I ever read, and it's near the end of the series. My next was Moonraker...and then at some point I accumulated all the volumes and read them in order.
  
  My own preference is to read them in order, and every few years I start with CR and do just that.

  Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
  "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
  "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond Ever^TM
• Thunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent

  July 2012

  When I first got into Bond, I had to buy the books from Used book shops/markets etc.
  so I didn't read them in order and don't think it spoilt my enjoyment of reading them.

  "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
• mpoplawski New Jersey, USAPosts: 128MI6 Agent

  July 2012

  Granted you can read the Fleming novels in whatever order you want, but, I strongly, strongly recommend reading them in strict order. They do have chronological threads running through them and refer back or build on each other. Bond's Beretta being replaced with PPK in Dr. No is a good example of this.

  Bond: "But who would want to kill me, sir?"
  M: "Jealous husbands, outraged chefs, humiliated tailors . . . the list is endless."
• The Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent

  July 2012

  I read the odd one here and there and then eventually sat down and read the whole lot in order and I think it does make a difference. The story lines don't necessarily continue on - although there are references to previously missions in some books - but there most definitely is character development that you miss if dipping in and out. If you're planning on reading most or all, I highly recommend reading them in order.
• Peppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent

  July 2012

  Since you started with Casino Royale I would advise you to read them in order, but as said before, you could read them in random order as well. The first novel I read was YOLT (in Dutch), to be honest I was too young to really get it.

  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
• chrisno1 LondonPosts: 3,601MI6 Agent

  August 2012

  "How important isw it to read the book in order?"
  
  Very important. Please read them in order.