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Right back to where it all began. Thank you, Ian.
I remember being very hyped about reading first Croatian 007 book edition.
Live and Let Die
Diamonds are Forever
Fleming disliked the book's reception by audiences and critics. As for the book, writing it came more easily to him than any of the other Bond novels, and several of its passages were close to being autobiographical, which made it something of a personal project. But upon release Fleming was so embarrassed by the vicious, uncomprehending reviews (some critics called it pornography) and reactions from fans ("You shouldn't have done it" one wrote) that he decided the book was a failed experiment that needed to be suppressed. He therefore banned it from being printed in paperback (later overturned) and demanded that only the title be filmed. However, the Daily Express comic strip adaptation retains much of the book's third section.
I read all 3 books but never listened.
I find listening to them so much more helpful to picture the story in my head.
Yes, they certainly are. That's why I love then so much in fact.
Took this on holiday and finished it really quickly! It's my least read Fleming but I really enjoyed it this time.
It's not as polished as it could be but I believe Fleming passed away before he could give it that last bit of extra detail.
As a result Bond's character acts a bit odd at times and some of the plot developments are a bit sloppy but Felix Leiter makes a welcome return and Scaramanga is a nasty and ruthless character. Fleming's backstory for him involving the Circus Elephant is incredibly well written. As is the scene where Scaramanga shoots the two Birds in the Bordello when he first meets Bond.
This seems to be an ongoing theme for me, the novels that are more faithfully adapted into films make for the least interesting read. Books like Zero Minus Ten/Moonraker/TMWTGG have been enthralling while the others have been enjoyable but somewhat unexciting.
Yes it is. I heard good things about his version. It will be the first time I have listened to it.
Sure, a companion book would be welcome. He wrote 4 good novels, which do build on each other.
Again Gardner begins strongly and fades away spectacularly. However, Icebreaker isn't a patch on For Special Services. This is the first of Gardner's novels where Bond is more of a passenger, passively observing as events unfold around him. This is especially an issue for me in the second half because for the second novel in a row Gardner rushes through a finale. One glaringly problematic chapter is ten pages of lazy, static exposition between 007 and the Bond girl that reveals nothing.
The pattern emerging is an intriguing premise, promising opening, solidly described action sequences often with genuine suspense, ham-fisted dialogue and predictable characters. Reading these is making me appreciate Horowitz' handling of the Bond character - Gardner has been sloppy with the character before but Icebreaker really does 007 a disservice. Gardner goes a step further by betraying the long established behaviour of M. And for those who have read my previous instalments of the Gardner reviews will know how cringe-inducing the author's utilization of female characters is to me. In particular the dialogue between them and 007. Paula Vacker and Rivke Ingber are no exception - although the latter's behaviour beggars belief considering her character's apparent special forces training.
For Special Services had a good premise and some intriguing characters that could have been very good with more careful crafting, Icebreaker on the other hand doesn't really have anywhere to move and the second half is a dirge with the exception of a well described torture scene that requires nothing more than suffering from our hero. It also lacks a decent villain, in fact it is Gardner's least defined villain so far. I suspect having to pump out book after book every calendar year means that there are some fallow periods in Gardner's extended tenure of Bond penmanship and Icebreaker unfortunately is the first that bares the hallmarks of this.
Running ranking:
1.) For Special Services
2.) Licence Renewed
3.) Icebreaker
Major Boothroyd will return with... ROLE OF HONOUR
Once we're through with the MI6 Flemingathon (+ Colonel Sun) I would love to continue with the Gardners (at least the first 8 or so), many of which I haven't read for a good few years or then some. I have no idea how many would join me. Probably @Dragonpol I should think. I wouldn't dream of asking you to slow down your personal Gardnerathon, but I hope you'll join me with some input when I do embark on that. Life is insanely busy for me for the foreseeable future (which I consider a good thing), but I'm hoping Summer 2018 might be a good time to launch into that—and a good Bondian way to pass the time until B25.
I read LR and FSS pretty much back-to-back but it took me a while with IB. I usually read at least two or three non-Bond books between the Gardners so I suspect I'll probably get through Role of Honour before you start but I'd definitely join in a discussion and as I mentioned you'd probably catch up to me very quickly at the rate I'm reading them!