When did you last read a Bond novel, or are you reading one now? (Page 1 of 2)

I've got in the habit of buying a lot of them and got getting around to reading them, Iv'e owned and read Moonraker (fleming), Goldfinger, For special services and license renewed. I own but haven't got around to read license to Kill Novelization and Colonel Sun. I just bought James Bond and Moonraker by Christopher Wood, i am very excited in reading it but I'm in the middle of OHMSS then YOLT which I got from the local library.

Cool, I look forward to probably reading it after Moonraker, that will be about December though. Would I be correct in saying that Kingsley Amis writing style is the closests to Fleming out of all the contuination authors?

Having read all of Fleming's years ago, I never really thought about Bond in literature until I read Faulks' Devil May Care when it came out, which didn't make me want to go out and find more Bond continuation works. I then got into Ludlum's Bourne books (which I have to say I do love) but last year against my better judgment I read Jeff Deaver's effort. Not sure about what others think but I hated Deaver's Bond and really don't think Bond in moden day works in a novel. However, with watching Skyfall I'm really up again for reading more Bond so I have bought Colonel Sun on my Kindle. I am also planning on buying James Gardner's first Bond book to see what it's like.

I finished Colonel Sun for the first time a couple of months ago and loved it. By far the closest in style to Fleming's work (although I must confess to never having read anything of Wood or Benson). I re-read the original Fleming books last year in chronological order and loved them all over again. I suspect I will be re-reading them every 5 years or so as for the most part, they really are that good! They also make great holiday reading. I read Gardner's novels when they were first published and enjoyed them, although haven't re-visited them since. I rather enjoyed Faulks contribution and agree with Muston's comment that Bond works best when not set in the present day, but was rather disappointed with Deaver's contribution to the series.

Reading From Russia with Love again, after reading them all first in the 70's as a teenager, and re-read most of them since. They really stack up well as a good thriller and dont appear dated to me. To be honest, I'm more of a literary Bond fan, as opposed to a film fan. Haven't seen many of the Brosnan era fils. In fact, watched DAD last night and thought it dated and mediocre. CR and Daniel Craigs Bond portrayal got me into the films again, after not really enjoying the films after Connery. Booked in to see Skyfall with my son and daughter on Saturday night, really looking forward to it.

Agree 100% with that. Dalton is my fav Bond and Licence To Kill is I think the most underrated of the franchise so far.

Agree 

Muston, yes Gardner's Boysie Oakes novel's are worth reading - not worn quite so well with age - he started them as a kind of anti Bond hitman for hire -it was difficult to track down all the books and short stories before the advent of www but you should be able to find them in this modern age.

for me has to be ICEBREAKER - it was the first non fleming book I read and at the time was quite impressed with the uk cover - a skull with the letters of the title in metalic shiny ice blue - just reminds me of my youth - still have that edition

I'm just re-reading Thunderball again.  Ain't Kindle great for us travelling folks.

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Well I just finished Christopher Wood's novelization of TSWLM, and it was a good read. I liked his style, very Flemingesque, and he kept it all moving very well. The changes from what ended up onscreen were mainly good, although I prefer Stromberg's demise in the movie. Overall a worthy book for any Bond fan, though I will admit that i was seeing some scenes from the movie in my head towards the end... I rarely read novelizations of movies because, well, there's the MOVIE to watch, but this was different enough in tone and some details that I can recommend it.

Now on to License Renewed...

I think that's my favourite Fleming book. OHMSS was the most personally involving, though.