Which Bond novel are you currently reading?

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  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    I did a big re-read of all the Bond books (and I mean *all* - Fleming, Amis, Pearson, Woods, Gardner, Benson, Faulks, Deaver, Boyd, Horowitz, the Canadian Licence Expired one plus various fan fiction novels).

    So I went right back to the beginning and started again with the audiobooks which I am very much enjoying. I finished the Fleming and Amis and am not onto the other original timeline continuation novel Devil May Care. Next is Solo and then finally the Pearson “Bond Biography”.
  • edited August 2018 Posts: 17,753
    jobo wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    And to reiterate, even the weakest Fleming (for me DAF and GF) are magic and better than just about anything else.

    Don't get me wrong, my opinion of DN is only within a "Fleming context". It was very enjoyable, but far from LALD for example, or FRWL.

    I think everyone who bothers to post on this thread do it because we are in love with Fleming's novels. I wouldn't doubt that a second!

    That is not to say we cannot be critical. True love after all is being aware of your lover's weaknesses and still except them. ;)

    Very true! DN was alright, but for the most part average at best, IMO. Looking forward to read the rest of the novels. I can't believe I've yet to read them, even own a copy of them. One reason is the availability of the novels in bookshops. I've yet to see a single Fleming novel in a bookshop (EVER), actually.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    jobo wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    And to reiterate, even the weakest Fleming (for me DAF and GF) are magic and better than just about anything else.

    Don't get me wrong, my opinion of DN is only within a "Fleming context". It was very enjoyable, but far from LALD for example, or FRWL.

    I think everyone who bothers to post on this thread do it because we are in love with Fleming's novels. I wouldn't doubt that a second!

    That is not to say we cannot be critical. True love after all is being aware of your lover's weaknesses and still except them. ;)

    Very true! DN was alright, but for the most part average at best, IMO. Looking forward to read the rest of the novels. I can't believe I've yet to read them, even own a copy of them. One reason is the availability of the novels in bookshops. I've yet to see a single Fleming novel in a bookshop (EVER), actually.

    They are sold everywhere whenever there are reprints, but that s it.
  • Posts: 7,507
    jobo wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    And to reiterate, even the weakest Fleming (for me DAF and GF) are magic and better than just about anything else.

    Don't get me wrong, my opinion of DN is only within a "Fleming context". It was very enjoyable, but far from LALD for example, or FRWL.

    I think everyone who bothers to post on this thread do it because we are in love with Fleming's novels. I wouldn't doubt that a second!

    That is not to say we cannot be critical. True love after all is being aware of your lover's weaknesses and still except them. ;)

    Very true! DN was alright, but for the most part average at best, IMO. Looking forward to read the rest of the novels. I can't believe I've yet to read them, even own a copy of them. One reason is the availability of the novels in bookshops. I've yet to see a single Fleming novel in a bookshop (EVER), actually.


    You should order the whole set online. It is very much worth it!

    There are some great ones to come. TSWLM is controversial, but I actually regard it as one of the best in terms of suspense - ones you have survived through the first part that is... ;) And the Spectre trilogy is pure gold of course.
  • Posts: 17,753
    jobo wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    And to reiterate, even the weakest Fleming (for me DAF and GF) are magic and better than just about anything else.

    Don't get me wrong, my opinion of DN is only within a "Fleming context". It was very enjoyable, but far from LALD for example, or FRWL.

    I think everyone who bothers to post on this thread do it because we are in love with Fleming's novels. I wouldn't doubt that a second!

    That is not to say we cannot be critical. True love after all is being aware of your lover's weaknesses and still except them. ;)

    Very true! DN was alright, but for the most part average at best, IMO. Looking forward to read the rest of the novels. I can't believe I've yet to read them, even own a copy of them. One reason is the availability of the novels in bookshops. I've yet to see a single Fleming novel in a bookshop (EVER), actually.

    They are sold everywhere whenever there are reprints, but that s it.

    Little reprint books in the bookshops around where I live. They seem to focus on new books only, which is a shame.
    jobo wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    And to reiterate, even the weakest Fleming (for me DAF and GF) are magic and better than just about anything else.

    Don't get me wrong, my opinion of DN is only within a "Fleming context". It was very enjoyable, but far from LALD for example, or FRWL.

    I think everyone who bothers to post on this thread do it because we are in love with Fleming's novels. I wouldn't doubt that a second!

    That is not to say we cannot be critical. True love after all is being aware of your lover's weaknesses and still except them. ;)

    Very true! DN was alright, but for the most part average at best, IMO. Looking forward to read the rest of the novels. I can't believe I've yet to read them, even own a copy of them. One reason is the availability of the novels in bookshops. I've yet to see a single Fleming novel in a bookshop (EVER), actually.


    You should order the whole set online. It is very much worth it!

    There are some great ones to come. TSWLM is controversial, but I actually regard it as one of the best in terms of suspense - ones you have survived through the first part that is... ;) And the Spectre trilogy is pure gold of course.

    I know I should! I've usually ordered a selection of three books at a time, and will probably do the same with the rest of the books, as well.

    Might order Thrilling Cities too eventually, as I've always enjoyed how Fleming writes about locations, food, etc.
  • Posts: 17,753
    A few chapters into Forever and a Day now. So far, so good. Interesting to have a bit of Norwegian WW2 history referenced in the early pages of chapter two. Reminded me of the history classes back in school, and one of my favourite teachers, who made the most boring bit of history facts seem interesting.
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    Plowing thru the gardners now
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,534
    After unfortunately having to take a two month long break in the middle of it, I was finally able to finish The Authorized Bio of 007 tonight. Personally, I really enjoyed it. It's a shame we didn't see a follow-up with Bond going after Bunt. I actually liked this more than Colonel Sun as that novel suffered from a painfully slow middle section. I'd probably need to read it again.

    Next up is Devil May Care. Followed by Solo, Trigger Mortis, Forever and a Day, and the first two Gardner books. If we're in for an even longer wait for Bond 25 than previously thought, I need something else Bond related to tide me over. This has proved to be a good way so far.
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,534
    What's the general concensus on Devil May Care?
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    Not awful, not terrific. (My opinion but seems to be the overall view too.)
  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    It’s inoffensive. I don’t have the hate for it that others do. I enjoy it, but it doesn’t approach Fleming.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Remington wrote: »
    What's the general concensus on Devil May Care?

    Very poor. Stay clear.
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,534
    Thank you.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    It's not good, but it's not half as bad as others make out to be.
  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    It's not good, but it's not half as bad as others make out to be.

    I agree.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    It is half as bad as I make it out to be, and that is pretty damn bad.
  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    What is it that people don’t like about it?
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I liked the beginning, but after that it just has practically nothing interesting to offer. Same as most fan fiction.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Remington wrote: »
    What's the general concensus on Devil May Care?

    The only continuation novel that I completely disliked.

    The Spectre of the books?
  • Lancaster007Lancaster007 Shrublands Health Clinic, England
    Posts: 1,874
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Remington wrote: »
    What's the general concensus on Devil May Care?

    The only continuation novel that I completely disliked.

    You prefer Jeffery Deaver's hideous offering over DMC? Have to say Carte Blanche is the only one that I have donated to my local library after reading.
  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    Yes, Carte Blanche is the one novel I would never re read. I found Devil May Care highly readable.
  • edited August 2018 Posts: 17,753
    Have Devil May Care in my bookshelf, waiting to be read. After reading these comments, I wonder if I ever will read it…
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,534
    I'm about halfway through Devil May Care. While it obviously doesn't compare to Fleming, it's very readable IMO. Then again, I'm easy to please.
  • Posts: 7,507
    Birdleson wrote: »
    I never finished CARTE BLANCHE, so that is no ringing endorsement, but that was a case of losing interest. It did out and out offend and piss me off the way DEVIL MAY CARE did.


    Now I am curious. What was offensive about? (Haven't read it myself).
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,534
    @jobo I can't speak for @Birdleson, but I didn't like how they toned down Bonds character. He seemed more PC.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,629
    Do the comics (namely Dynamite) count? When it's a story line connection? If so, I'm reading Case Files, from Dynamite. It's the closest thing we've had to 007 short stories in a while.
  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    I would love another collection of short stories.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,629
    I would love another collection of short stories.

    Try Case Files, the Dynamite people get James Bond more than the average EON screenplay writer and IFP continuation author.
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,534
    Well, I finished Devil May Care pretty quickly. I fail to see what was so terrible about it. I enjoyed it all the way through.

    What's your opinions on Solo? I haven't heard good things about it.
  • Posts: 4,622
    Remington wrote: »
    @jobo I can't speak for @Birdleson, but I didn't like how they toned down Bonds character. He seemed more PC.

    Yes, the Bond character is barely recognizable.
    Carte Blanche is the one Bond continuation novel that should be tossed.
    The others are all readable enough.
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