Just read TSWLM for the first time...
Firemass
AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
*spoiler alerts*
My expectations were the "woman" portion of the story would be a drag,
but it would all pay off when Bond showed up. Infact, it was just the
opposite.
I really admired Fleming's ability to write from the
perspective of a young woman growing up and trying to find her place in the world.
Living in different countries, having failed relationships (Derek, Kurt, bastards!) I was almost going to say that Fleming has a surprisingly strong feminine side, except he still believes
in his "semi-rape" theory. At any rate, this story could be applied
to practically Bond girl past or present. It's fun to think of a Bond girl's
perspective as Bond, a whirlwind of action, suddenly appears and then vanishes again.
However, the heroine was hardly mixed up in an adventure of world domination,
but rather a lowly insurance scam. And with only a couple of thugs to deal with, it seemed hardly a challenge for a man of Bond's talents.
When Bond did finally enter the story he turned out to be a rather
large disappointment. For the strong silent type, Bond talks way too much and rambles on to
Viv about Spectre and his previous mission. Asks her if she heard of
Operation Thunderball. etc None of which had ANYTHING to do with their current
situation. Meanwhile, Sluggsy and Horror are carefully watching them
from across the cafeteria.
Bond also ends up being incompetent and apologetic.(The two worst qualities)
Starting with the scene where the two thugs are carrying TVs and Bond has them at
gunpoint. Bond screws it up and says "Sorry, Viv. I made rather a
hash of that" Viv is disappointed with Bond, Bond is disappointed
with himself, and I also was let down.
"Why didn't you just shoot them down? They were sitting ducks with
those sets in their hands"
Bond replied "I've never been able to in cold blood. But at least I
ought to have been able to blast that man's foot off."
Bond's reluctance to kill is also discouraging. He makes reference to
shooting the guns out of villains' hands which is total crap. Ask any
police officer and they will tell you "Shoot to Kill" is the only way.
Later, "Sorry again, Viv! My reactions don't seem all that smart
tonight. I'll do better."
After that, "I nearly got us both killed again. I'm sorry, Viv. I must
be losing my touch. If I go on like this I'm going to catch trouble."
and finally, "Anyway, I'm sorry, Viv. It ought never to have happened."
Fleming's Bond is supposed to be darker, cold-blooded killer than in
the films right? So far I'm not getting that impression.
*Watch Connery blast Professor Dent in Dr. No. "That's a smith &
wesson and you've had your six"
*Roger pumps Stromberg full of lead from across the dinner table.
"...Now it's my turn"
*A young Russian soldier happens to interrupt Roger interrogating
General Orlov at gunpoint. Rog whirls around and shoots him square in
the forehead with absolutely zero hesitation.
*Brosnan executes Dr. Kaufman at point blank range. "I'm just a
professional doing a job" "So am I"
*Brosnan executes a woman he loved Elektra King. "Dive!" *bang* *dead*
My expectations were the "woman" portion of the story would be a drag,
but it would all pay off when Bond showed up. Infact, it was just the
opposite.
I really admired Fleming's ability to write from the
perspective of a young woman growing up and trying to find her place in the world.
Living in different countries, having failed relationships (Derek, Kurt, bastards!) I was almost going to say that Fleming has a surprisingly strong feminine side, except he still believes
in his "semi-rape" theory. At any rate, this story could be applied
to practically Bond girl past or present. It's fun to think of a Bond girl's
perspective as Bond, a whirlwind of action, suddenly appears and then vanishes again.
However, the heroine was hardly mixed up in an adventure of world domination,
but rather a lowly insurance scam. And with only a couple of thugs to deal with, it seemed hardly a challenge for a man of Bond's talents.
When Bond did finally enter the story he turned out to be a rather
large disappointment. For the strong silent type, Bond talks way too much and rambles on to
Viv about Spectre and his previous mission. Asks her if she heard of
Operation Thunderball. etc None of which had ANYTHING to do with their current
situation. Meanwhile, Sluggsy and Horror are carefully watching them
from across the cafeteria.
Bond also ends up being incompetent and apologetic.(The two worst qualities)
Starting with the scene where the two thugs are carrying TVs and Bond has them at
gunpoint. Bond screws it up and says "Sorry, Viv. I made rather a
hash of that" Viv is disappointed with Bond, Bond is disappointed
with himself, and I also was let down.
"Why didn't you just shoot them down? They were sitting ducks with
those sets in their hands"
Bond replied "I've never been able to in cold blood. But at least I
ought to have been able to blast that man's foot off."
Bond's reluctance to kill is also discouraging. He makes reference to
shooting the guns out of villains' hands which is total crap. Ask any
police officer and they will tell you "Shoot to Kill" is the only way.
Later, "Sorry again, Viv! My reactions don't seem all that smart
tonight. I'll do better."
After that, "I nearly got us both killed again. I'm sorry, Viv. I must
be losing my touch. If I go on like this I'm going to catch trouble."
and finally, "Anyway, I'm sorry, Viv. It ought never to have happened."
Fleming's Bond is supposed to be darker, cold-blooded killer than in
the films right? So far I'm not getting that impression.
*Watch Connery blast Professor Dent in Dr. No. "That's a smith &
wesson and you've had your six"
*Roger pumps Stromberg full of lead from across the dinner table.
"...Now it's my turn"
*A young Russian soldier happens to interrupt Roger interrogating
General Orlov at gunpoint. Rog whirls around and shoots him square in
the forehead with absolutely zero hesitation.
*Brosnan executes Dr. Kaufman at point blank range. "I'm just a
professional doing a job" "So am I"
*Brosnan executes a woman he loved Elektra King. "Dive!" *bang* *dead*
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Comments
that to really get to know Bond you have to read the books, and by reading them in order
you can see Bond develope as a character.
While I'm happy to agree with you...Fleming DID discuss the 'filmic' Bond character with McClory and Whittingham, and they agreed that the Bond from the page needed refinement for the screen...that was part of McClory's argument during the court trials, that he (McClory) had a bigger influence on the Bond character of the films and, therefore, owned the 'Bond film-character'....anyway...we digress...
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Yes, I believe Fleming didn't like Connery right up until the point when he saw the film, when he started to change his mind. By the time he wrote Bond's obituary in YOLT, he even gave Bond a Scots background, so must have been impressed.
basically gave Bond his own background, to a point.
Yes, it complicates an already complex book. Fleming doesn't get enough credit for his "literary tranvestism"--for the most part, he convincingly writes in a female voice. But it's that maddening "semi-rape" bit that rudely breaks the illusion, and it gives lazy critics an excuse to dismiss several thousand convincing sentences because of one bad one. Why Fleming chose to include it is a mystery (and what is "semi-rape" anyway?).
But if one looks at TSWLM as a whole, it's the closest Fleming ever came to writing a feminist book. I'm not surprised to hear that when it was published it was reviled by male critics but more often praised by female ones. In her book The Devil with James Bond! (https://archive.org/details/devilwithjamesbo008995mbp), Ann Boyd calls TSWLM "a devastating parody of the misuse and manipulation of sex." It doesn't take a keen eye to find that the manipulators and misusers are all men. Vivienne is an independent, intelligent woman trying to make her way in the world, but even the intelligent men she meets are exploitative bastards.
There's even some veiled autobiography--Vivienne's ghastly loss of virginity in the movie theatre is based on Fleming's own sexual experience, which suggests that Derek, Vivienne's young and callow boyfriend, was a critical self-portrait of the author.
True, but I enjoyed hearing about Bond's Canadian adventures, especially since they continue the Spectre saga from the previous book, Thunderball. I also like the idea of Bond finding it relaxing, even therapeutic, to confide in Vivienne, especially since his story is a violent and nasty one.
That's actually intentional. Fleming said he was trying to de-glamorize Bond and make him a less heroic and less attractive figure. Notice at the end of the book how the Policeman warns Vivienne about having any warm feelings for Bond, whom the Policeman describes as a cold figure who lives more in the world of criminals than ordinary people.
Nor should you. Fleming's Bond is more human than film Bond, and he is also less cold-blooded. In the books Bond's only two cold-blooded kills are described in Casino Royale. After that Fleming seems to have backed off from the idea of Bond as an assassin. In From Russia With Love we're told "Bond had never killed in cold blood," which flagrantly contradicts the story of how he got his 00 number! In FYEO, Bond's nerves act up when his finger is on the trigger. In "The Living Daylights" Bond jeopardizes his assignment by refusing to kill, and in The Man With the Golden Gun Bond can barely bring himself to kill Scaramanga, despite getting several excellent chances. He refuses to shoot Scaramanga in the back and when Bond finally has Scaramanga at his mercy, he ludicrously delays the execution out of squeamishness. Through the course of the books, Bond grows more incapable of his 00 duties and loses his nerve. His job is to kill in cold blood, yet he can no longer so.
Regarding the Scottish question: Fleming's paternal grandfather was Scottish, and the family maintained an estate in Scotland. However, Bond is always referred to or regarded as English in all the books before OHMSS. After that his Scottishness is emphasized. Perhaps Connery's casting encouraged Fleming to tap their shared ethnic roots.
One last thing: if any of you have accounts at Goodreads, consider visiting TSWLM's page (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18455.The_Spy_Who_Loved_Me) and giving it a rating and clicking "like" on any reviews you find particularly good. The book could use your help.
Twitter: @FlemingsBond
Thank you for the very kind words!
True. The attempted assassination of M and the knighthood are definitely the two best scenes in TMWTGG. Given Connery's working class background, perhaps Fleming had him in mind as a "Scottish peasant." But the bit about not wanting to pay more at hotels and restaurants is pure Fleming. I wonder if he would have declined a knighthood too...
A wonderful post, Revelator, many thanks. Always a pleasure to read your well thought-out and researched posts.
Still... the very first reference to Bond as an Englishman comes from a Frenchman (page 2 of CR), and that continues consistently throughout Fleming. Bond is regarded as English, which happens to all Brits when abroad (personal experience) - some bother to correct, some like Bond don't. I grant that Fleming, not the most consistent of authors, may have slipped up from time to time.
Not sure I quite agree with his comments on 'semi rape' - but I get the sentiment that some woman do fantasise about 'being taken' (not quite the same thing, I know) - and judging on the recent portrayal of Fleming on Sky 1... It does seem to be a bit of a theme of his.
Anyway... a good book, and very interesting/brave that he wrote a novel from a woman's perspective!