I have Four Bond Books to choose from, Help?

Comments

• Muston Huncote, Leicestershire Posts: 228MI6 Agent

  March 2013

  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.

  "Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
• Charmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent

  March 2013

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

  "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
• Peppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent

  March 2013

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

  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
• Thunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent

  March 2013

  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.

  "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
• Muston Huncote, Leicestershire Posts: 228MI6 Agent

  March 2013

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

  "Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
• Sir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff

  March 2013

  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-)
  
  

  YNWA 97
  
• superado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent

  March 2013 edited March 2013

  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.

  "...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.....
• Muston Huncote, Leicestershire Posts: 228MI6 Agent

  March 2013

  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.

  "Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
• James Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent

  March 2013

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

  “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
  -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
• Silhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent

  March 2013

  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.

  "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).