I love Gala Brand - what a woman! Policewoman trained in self-defense, goes undercover on Drax, wears a "shocking pink" skirt on her outing with Bond, resists him, endures torture, rewards Bond with a kiss for freeing them, and throughout remains faithful to her real love.
You can never go wrong with Moonraker, I keep meaning to re-read it one of these Days but it will have to wait for a while as I'm currently going through the Gardner Books -{
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
Thunderball is my favourite Fleming novel, the 'Fleming Sweep' as Raymond Benson called it is best seen here as the pace never let's up. The sparse prose (sorry my daughter is studying English A level so I think a bit has rubbed off on me ) ) and tight plot make it zip along.
Bond is finally a really fleshed out character and Fleming's first description of Domino in her straw hat and the way Bond tries to pick her up are brilliant, just part of this standout novel, with the underwater stuff, the Shrublands scenes and the casino scene highlights. -{
Only into Chapter five, and so far it seems a lot like a Tom Clancy Novel. The Fight Scene between Bond and the two Thugs in Paula's Flat is very Detailed as always.
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
Fleming's ninth Bond novel is a little different from what has come before. Written in the first person
as the leading lady Vivienne Michel. The shortest of the Books the basic story is the past life of Vivienne
and her travels to "The Dreamy Pines Motor Court" were she meets a couple of gansters who are there
to burn the place down for insurance and she'd get the blame ( Her body to be found in the building ).
Bond arrives to change their plans.
This is the only Fleming Novel I've only read once ( Now Twice ) ), Not one of my favourites But as
always an enjoyable read. The part where Bond arrives it does pick up and the Thugs are suitably Menacing.
aspects of "Horror" have obviously been carried over on to the screen as Jaws.
Fleming only allowed the title to be used by eon.
The reason as to why Fleming wanted to do such an unusual story for Bond might be ( From wikipedia )
The reception to the novel was so bad that Fleming wrote to Michael Howard at Jonathan Cape, to explain why he wrote the book: "I had become increasingly surprised to find my thrillers, which were designed for an adult audience, being read in schools, and that young people were making a hero out of James Bond ... So it crossed my mind to write a cautionary tale about Bond, to put the record straight in the minds particularly of younger readers ... the experiment has obviously gone very much awry".
A treat for Me for May, as OHMSS is a favourite of Mine since I first read it as a Boy under the covers at night. )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Gardner's sixth Bond Outing returns to the Feel of Icebreaker, with Double Crossings and multiple Twists and Turns. His previous two Novels, Role Of Honor and Nobody Lives Forever felt very Episodic and would have been better as one large Novel.
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
Just minutes ago finished Devil May Care. I started it some time back, but picked it up again this week. It wasn't an obsessive page-turner like Fleming, but I found it to be a good solid story with a few real highlights to it. I enjoyed the sense of the era, too. Some very predictable parts though, but even then, nicely written. I liked it. On to Gardner next. I'll see how he compares with Faulks.
My review of LR, would be slightly biased. As I remember all the excitement of having a
new Bond story after such a long time, with nothing. ) I though Gardner did a good job
of giving us a slightly older Bond. Although he was obviously influenced by the movies as His
books have far more gadgets than Fleming's, but all believable ( If not real )
My only complaint with Gardner, Is his later Books seemed very similar to earlier stories, and
His love of double/triple agents I found tiresome at times. IMHO he began to write more like
Alistair MacLean than Ian Fleming ( Not that he was even trying to copy Fleming's style, as Faulks
did ).
I think I still prefer his work to the Novels from the other continuing writers ( Except, Col Sun -{ )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Finally managed to pick up a Copy of Solo (Paperback) from my local Waterstones. Was going to leave it till last but I saw it half Price -{ One thing that has bugged me about it is that there is no Chapter Listing ?:)
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
OHMSS :
Fleming's tenth Bond novel, It's funny to think that when Fleming was writting this, The first
Bond film Dr No was being filmed near his home.
I'll not dwell on the plot as it's well known. For Me this is the ultimate Bond novel, a truly Great
story, with interesting characters and a blend of villains and action. Once again Fleming adds to
Bond's character Making him even more human ( falling in love ) and for me at least
as with Goldfinger the Movie adds a few touches that Improve the story. For instance having
Blofeld kidnapp Tracy and hold her in Piz Gloria, rather than have her saftley tucked away during
the attack ( as in the novel) as this adds to the tension and excitement.
OHMSS is my favourite Bond novel ( and Film ) Bond once again is not superhuman but a Human
Intelligence agent, alone and up against superior odds but still manages to gain the upper Hand.
OHMSS is the second Book in what is known as "The Blofeld Triliogy " TB, OHMSS & YOLT. ( even
though he's hardly in TB at all ).
Looking forward to reading YOLT in June, Only a few months ago, I heard the bbc radio 4 radio
adaptation of it.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
Twitter: @FlemingsBond
Bond is finally a really fleshed out character and Fleming's first description of Domino in her straw hat and the way Bond tries to pick her up are brilliant, just part of this standout novel, with the underwater stuff, the Shrublands scenes and the casino scene highlights. -{
Only into Chapter five, and so far it seems a lot like a Tom Clancy Novel. The Fight Scene between Bond and the two Thugs in Paula's Flat is very Detailed as always.
Fleming's ninth Bond novel is a little different from what has come before. Written in the first person
as the leading lady Vivienne Michel. The shortest of the Books the basic story is the past life of Vivienne
and her travels to "The Dreamy Pines Motor Court" were she meets a couple of gansters who are there
to burn the place down for insurance and she'd get the blame ( Her body to be found in the building ).
Bond arrives to change their plans.
This is the only Fleming Novel I've only read once ( Now Twice
always an enjoyable read. The part where Bond arrives it does pick up and the Thugs are suitably Menacing.
aspects of "Horror" have obviously been carried over on to the screen as Jaws.
Fleming only allowed the title to be used by eon.
The reason as to why Fleming wanted to do such an unusual story for Bond might be ( From wikipedia )
The reception to the novel was so bad that Fleming wrote to Michael Howard at Jonathan Cape, to explain why he wrote the book: "I had become increasingly surprised to find my thrillers, which were designed for an adult audience, being read in schools, and that young people were making a hero out of James Bond ... So it crossed my mind to write a cautionary tale about Bond, to put the record straight in the minds particularly of younger readers ... the experiment has obviously gone very much awry".
A treat for Me for May, as OHMSS is a favourite of Mine since I first read it as a Boy under the covers at night.
Gardner's sixth Bond Outing returns to the Feel of Icebreaker, with Double Crossings and multiple Twists and Turns. His previous two Novels, Role Of Honor and Nobody Lives Forever felt very Episodic and would have been better as one large Novel.
Fleming had reached his Peak here, classic Spy Story and a real Page Turner.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
the rules of a game, then set up a fantastic tension filled event. -{
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
new Bond story after such a long time, with nothing.
of giving us a slightly older Bond. Although he was obviously influenced by the movies as His
books have far more gadgets than Fleming's, but all believable ( If not real )
My only complaint with Gardner, Is his later Books seemed very similar to earlier stories, and
His love of double/triple agents I found tiresome at times. IMHO he began to write more like
Alistair MacLean than Ian Fleming ( Not that he was even trying to copy Fleming's style, as Faulks
did ).
I think I still prefer his work to the Novels from the other continuing writers ( Except, Col Sun -{ )
His nightfinder goggles -{ ) used in a Bond film.
again I've only read it once, so it might be better for me, a second time.
end of the month.
Fleming's tenth Bond novel, It's funny to think that when Fleming was writting this, The first
Bond film Dr No was being filmed near his home.
I'll not dwell on the plot as it's well known. For Me this is the ultimate Bond novel, a truly Great
story, with interesting characters and a blend of villains and action. Once again Fleming adds to
Bond's character Making him even more human ( falling in love ) and for me at least
as with Goldfinger the Movie adds a few touches that Improve the story. For instance having
Blofeld kidnapp Tracy and hold her in Piz Gloria, rather than have her saftley tucked away during
the attack ( as in the novel) as this adds to the tension and excitement.
OHMSS is my favourite Bond novel ( and Film ) Bond once again is not superhuman but a Human
Intelligence agent, alone and up against superior odds but still manages to gain the upper Hand.
OHMSS is the second Book in what is known as "The Blofeld Triliogy " TB, OHMSS & YOLT. ( even
though he's hardly in TB at all ).
Looking forward to reading YOLT in June, Only a few months ago, I heard the bbc radio 4 radio
adaptation of it.
(And I can hear John Barry's music in my head while reading it, even better!)