›

One Bond Book

stagstag In the thick of it!
in General Discussion Posts: 1,053
If you were only ever allowed to read/re-read one (Fleming) Bond book which one would it be & why?

Comments

  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    OHMSS
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited September 2016 Posts: 18,348
    It would be Moonraker (1955) for me as it was the first one I read over the summer of 1997 and I still think it's Fleming's best written and thrilling James Bond novel.
  • IGUANNAIGUANNA
    Posts: 1,296
    That's a tough question, I think taken as a whole they are greater than the sum of their parts.
  • Major_BoothroydMajor_Boothroyd Republic of Isthmus
    edited September 2016 Posts: 2,722
    Phew...

    Possibly 'Dr No' because it's the first Bond novel I read at 13.
    Or 'From Russia With Love' because it's my favourite Bond novel.
  • ThrasosThrasos
    Posts: 1,469
    I appreciate the thread, since I've only read a few in my lifetime--the only one in the last several years being Casino Royale, just before the film came out. I bought Thunderball at a discount but haven't read it yet. I know the books have things the films don't, so I'll follow this thread with interest.
  • Some_Kind_Of_HeroSome_Kind_Of_Hero
    Posts: 6,844
    It would have to be one of my top three: Moonraker, Thunderball, or You Only Live Twice. I've been going through all the novels chronologically again and am on Diamonds Are Forever now. I'll post my answer here when I've gone through them all.
  • MilovyMilovy
    edited September 2016 Posts: 676
    The ones I've read most are Casino Royale and Moonraker - 3 or 4 times each. So I like those ones, obviously. But I don't know if I need to read them again, due to over-familiarity!

    To be honest, I think Fleming was better at short stories - but which collection to pick? The titular stories in Octopussy and The Living Daylights are my top Fleming short stories... but that collection is really only 3 stories plus a curiosity ("007 in New York"). For Your Eyes Only, on the other hand, contains 4 solid Bond stories and an interesting experiment ("Quantum of Solace").

    I can't pick. So I'll cheat: apparently there was something called "The Complete James Bond Short Stories" published a while back. I don't even own it. But it'll do. ;)
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Hmm. Moonraker or Goldfinger. Tough choice. Flip a coin?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,348
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    Hmm. Moonraker or Goldfinger. Tough choice. Flip a coin?

    Always Moonraker.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Then I say Goldfinger, just to get some balance.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,348
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    Then I say Goldfinger, just to get some balance.

    The "flip of a coin" was a nice little reference to the Goldfinger novel as well.

  • KaijuDirectorOO7KaijuDirectorOO7 Once Upon a Time Somewhere...
    edited October 2016 Posts: 189
    YOLT. Must be my interest in Japan or the melancholy-depression mood. Plus the "It's personal now" vibe with Blofeld.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,348
    KaijuDirectorOO7 wrote: »
    YOLT. Must be my interest in Japan or the melancholy-depression mood. Plus the "It's personal now" vibe with Blofeld.

    That's a very good choice too to be honest and it would probably be my second choice after Moonraker.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,511
    The Man With The Golden Gun…. Not that it’s the best, but the Bond in this is the one who’s experienced all of these adventures and now, he feels as if he’s literally limping into this story. His heart beats strong, but it feels as if the shell the heart resides in is breaking.

    I just love this novel…
  • Reflsin2bourbonsReflsin2bourbons
    Posts: 264
    I think it might be From Russia with Love or Moonraker, two of the best instances of the Fleming Sweep moving the plot and drama forward
  • FoxRoxFoxRox
    Posts: 12,525
    FRWL I suppose, as I have it ranked as my favorite Bond novel, but DN and MR are at least as great for re-readability. Can’t go wrong with any one of those.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,181
    Moonraker is my favourite, but if I could only re-read one I think I'd pick Casino Royale. Where it all begins.
Sign In or Register to comment.