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Which Bond novel are you currently reading?

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  • socaljon3socaljon3
    Posts: 27
    Okay I'm aging myself here a bit, but I was wandering if anyone recommends any of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." novels (I've heard that "The Vampire Afair" may have been the best)? I was a bit young to see the first few Bond's at the theater, so I had to wait until they came out on TV in the later 60's or early 70's. I was able to enjoy the Man From U.N.C.L.E. TV series early on, which was inspired by Bond, and I understand that Ian Fleming consulted the TV series. Anyway, I've got about 5 more Fleming Bond novel's to go, then I'll likely tap into the "Young Bond" novels. But after that I'm not sure which direction to go, so I was thinking about giving U.N.C.L.E. a try.
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    Just finished "The moneypenny diaries: secret servant", I missed out on them when they were released due to my somewhat reserved stance. And now I must admit that I have been very wrong I have had more fun with the first 2 installments of this series than with the last two installments of continuation writers of the Bondtales.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,999
    Moonraker

    MR feels like it takes longer to hit it's stride, but all the better for it. And why have EON not used the ending?

    Next: Diamonds Are Forever

    1. Moonraker - Ian Fleming (1955)
    2. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (1953)
    3. Live And Let Die - Ian Fleming (1954)
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    Nearly at the end of the new Reacher book (good, not great. But I'll bet my life savings it'll be better than the new film). So I'll read YOLT soon.
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    One third into On Her Majesty's Secret Service, came in the mail a couple of days ago. I'm enjoying it even more than I remembered.
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    MajorDSmythe wrote:
    Moonraker

    MR feels like it takes longer to hit it's stride, but all the better for it. And why have EON not used the ending?

    Next: Diamonds Are Forever

    1. Moonraker - Ian Fleming (1955)
    2. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (1953)
    3. Live And Let Die - Ian Fleming (1954)

    Indeed. Although I hope it isn't used for B24. Craig-Bond deserves at least one happy ending.


    P.s I'm surprised you got Moonranker ahead of Casino Royale, Major...
  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    Currently reading Benson's "High Time to Kill."
  • MrcogginsMrcoggins Following in the footsteps of Quentin Quigley.
    Posts: 3,144
    Just starting zero minus ten for the first time in years
  • mdo007mdo007 Katy, Texas
    Posts: 259
    I'm reading Live and Let Die and Carte Blanche side by side.
  • mrnate8mrnate8
    Posts: 65
    I have yet to read any non-Fleming novels yet, but are any worth bringing to the big screen?
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,827
    Colonel Sun, at least.
  • JimThompson45JimThompson45
    Posts: 803
    mrnate8 wrote:
    I have yet to read any non-Fleming novels yet, but are any worth bringing to the big screen?
    Colonel Sun and Icebreaker both seem like they'd work with a big screen adaptation. License Renewed might, too.

  • mdo007mdo007 Katy, Texas
    edited November 2012 Posts: 259
    JimThompson45 wrote:
    mrnate8 wrote:
    I have yet to read any non-Fleming novels yet, but are any worth bringing to the big screen?
    Colonel Sun and Icebreaker both seem like they'd work with a big screen adaptation. License Renewed might, too.

    If people are wondering why non of Gardner or Benson Bond novel ever got screen adaptation. This article filled the answer:

    http://www.thebookbond.com/2007/11/craig-says-eon-doesnt-own-gardner.html

    Makes me sad because EON may run out of original titles name for future Bond films. However some of the idea, plot, and references from Gardner and Benson book did appear on film. Gardner's License Renewed did have influence on Bond films:

    The World is not enough: Anton Murik's plot of a nuclear disaster with the aid of an infamous terrorist (Franco Oliveiro Quesocriado) is the basis for Electra King having Renard to do a nuclear meltdown.

    A view to a kill: Anton cheating at horce racing was one of the characteristic for Max Zorin.

    The Living Daylight: Anton's obession with weapon is similar to Brad Whitaker.

    Gardner's Role of Honour share a similar ending to A View to a Kill

    Tomorrow Never Dies and Benson's Zero minus Ten had similar plot and they both came out in 1997. There are differences between the 2 like in Zero minus Ten, the bad guy is different from Carver (motive, and behavior), also unlike the yellow journalism used in the movie, it involved nuclear weapon to start a war between China and UK.

  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited November 2012 Posts: 13,999
    royale65 wrote:
    MajorDSmythe wrote:
    Moonraker

    MR feels like it takes longer to hit it's stride, but all the better for it. And why have EON not used the ending?

    Next: Diamonds Are Forever

    1. Moonraker - Ian Fleming (1955)
    2. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (1953)
    3. Live And Let Die - Ian Fleming (1954)

    Indeed. Although I hope it isn't used for B24. Craig-Bond deserves at least one happy ending.


    P.s I'm surprised you got Moonranker ahead of Casino Royale, Major...

    Oh I enjoyed CR, and I don't think it'll slip down the list too far, but this time I just enjoyed MR a little more.

    And i've started DAF last night.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    I've started reading YOLT. It's different, but it's good so far.
  • JimThompson45JimThompson45
    Posts: 803
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I've started reading YOLT. It's different, but it's good so far.
    That's another one that really takes people who only have the vision of Hollywood Bond in their minds by surprise, I find.

  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    JimThompson45 wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I've started reading YOLT. It's different, but it's good so far.
    That's another one that really takes people who only have the vision of Hollywood Bond in their minds by surprise, I find.

    I think it feels different to the other books too.
  • JimThompson45JimThompson45
    Posts: 803
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I think it feels different to the other books too.
    How so?

  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited November 2012 Posts: 12,837
    JimThompson45 wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I think it feels different to the other books too.
    How so?

    Well he's always been less of a superman in the books I've read but it seems like he's really been losing his touch since Tracy died. He's always drunk and gambled, etc, but in this one he really seems like he's past it at first. M was thinking about firing him too.
  • JimThompson45JimThompson45
    Posts: 803
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    Well he's always been less of a superman in the books I've read but it seems like he's really been losing his touch since Tracy died. He's always drunk and gambled, etc, but in this one he really seems like he's past it at first. M was thinking about firing him too.

    To me, that's one of the strengths of that book; it highlighted that Bond wasn't a Superman, that he'd been all but broken when Blofeld killed his wife.

  • Vauxhall_CrossVauxhall_Cross Banned
    Posts: 15
    Half-way through LIVE AND LET DIE. Should finish tonight.

    Gotta love how Fleming opens the novel: "There are moments of great luxury in the life of a secret agent. There are assignments on which he is required to act the part of a very rich man; occasions when he takes refuge in good living to efface the memory of danger and the shadow of death…"

    I'm devoting the month of December to the Fleming's Bond. Next up is MOONRAKER.
  • TimothyDalton007TimothyDalton007
    edited December 2012 Posts: 42
    Vauxhall_Cross wrote:
    Gotta love how Fleming opens the novel: "There are moments of great luxury in the life of a secret agent. There are assignments on which he is required to act the part of a very rich man; occasions when he takes refuge in good living to efface the memory of danger and the shadow of death…"
    Fleming did have a knack of creating a great opening; I'm currently re-reading Casino Royale, which has one of the greatest opening lines in 20th century fiction: "The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "

    Classic.
  • Lancaster007Lancaster007 Shrublands Health Clinic, England
    Posts: 1,874
    After a four-book break from Bond I'm back with For Your Eyes Only. Love these short stories. From A View to A Kill is a cracking spy story and I love Fleming's economy in writing these stories, and of course Thunderball and OHMSS are next up. Brilliant.
  • JimThompson45JimThompson45
    edited December 2012 Posts: 803
    Re-reading Carte Blanche.

    Also just started re-reading Pearson's James Bond: The Authorized Biography. It's quite entertaining, I think.
  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    Currently reading "The Facts of Death."
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited December 2012 Posts: 11,189
    Just finished listening to the new audiobook of FRWL read by Toby "Gustav Graves" Stephens.

    He actually does a really good job and he reminds me what a great book it is. Having read it twice I've always preferred the film slightly because its more subtle, but the book is still great. I love how the first 10 minutes of the film (the planning of the operation and the introduction of the antagonists) take up the majority of the novel.

    Stephens does put a few "Bond-ism's" into his narration - which some may not like but I really enjoyed. Like when Bond greets Klebb in the hotel room at the end, Stephens emphasises the "my name is Bond...James Bond", it had me shout a YEAH in the car (luckily I was on my own).

    Also when Klebb is about to strike Bond with the shoe she says "farewell Mr Bond". Stephens's delivers the line in a Russian accent which really echo's the movies.

    He makes Grant sound a American at times but I think it works.

    I LOVED his portrayal of Kerim Bay but JESUS did they tone him down in the film.

    A line that made my mouth open:

    "all women want to be swept off their feet. In their dreams they long to be swung over a mans shoulder, taken into a cave and raped!"

    Lines that made me think "this guy is a dude"

    Bond: "you must come to London some day"
    Kerim: "never" said kerim definitely. "The weather and the women are far too cold" (whats changed in 55 years?)

    "I fear the experience was too much for the girl. When I released her she had hysterics. Im afraid she had decided that my lovemaking is altogether too violent"

    Its interesting how somewhat bland and plain the literary Bond is compared to a lot of the other characters featured in the books.
  • LeiterStrombergLeiterStromberg
    Posts: 75

    I always wondered how Bond could be so casual about his friend holding a gypsy girl prisoner for his own pleasure. Bond might be sexist at times, but that's beyond him.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    After being constantly told that I can't possibly 'get' Bond without reading the books I've started reading Moonraker. A couple of things struck me in chapter 1. Firstly, that Fleming tells us what Bond earns - £1500 salary plus unlimited expenses when on a mission and £1000 from his private income. And Fleming says he can live very well off this. Also, I was interested to discover that there are only 3 doulbe-ohs in MI6.

    Fleming also mentions that Bond has to retire at the age of 45 (no one told Sir Rog) and he speculates about the number of missions he might complete in that time - he thinks he might have to complete as many as 24 (wonder if this will get a nod in Bond 24).

    Also and most surprising of all is that Bond has his own secretary - Loelia Ponsonby - who he shares with 008 and 0011. Whatever happened to her?
  • LeiterStrombergLeiterStromberg
    Posts: 75
    In later books his secretary is Mary Goodnight, who is a field agent in the movie TMWTGG if I remember correctly.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,680
    I'm reading Moonraker at the moment (just finished the chapter 'Policewoman Brand')- and I must say, I'm quite impressed by it so far. The film adaptation is completely different, and like CR, a decent portion of the novel focuses on the card game between Bond and the villain. I got a kick out of some of the material, such as when Bond looked into the cold left eye in the flushed face. He spoke to it alone.
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