MI6 Community Novel Bondathon - Reborn!

Thunderball

I finished my fourth Ian Fleming book, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. I absolutely loved it and so far it is my favorite. When the question comes to novel vs. film, I’d say I prefer novel. The only things I prefer in the film over the novel was the greater presence of Tracy, a much better assault on Piz Gloria with Tracy in the middle of it, and a better proposal scene. With the book, Piz Gloria seems more threatening, Irma Bunt more grotesque, Bond’s escape more perilous. The three previous Fleming novels I read were Thunderball, Casino Royale and Moonraker (the first two I first read back in 2006, CR I reread months ago when I also read MR) and while I loved those, OHMSS was the most enjoyable to read, at least so far.

Here’s my Fleming ranking so far. I’ll try to remember to update it after I read more.

1. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
2. Casino Royale
3. Moonraker
4. Thunderball

Tomorrow I start You Only Live Twice.

vzok

I love the beautiful illustration by Fay Dalton of Bond fighting the giant squid in Dr No. It really makes me visualise how the scene might have played out in the movie.

MaxCasino

vzok wrote: »

I love the beautiful illustration by Fay Dalton of Bond fighting the giant squid in Dr No. It really makes me visualise how the scene might have played out in the movie.

EON can always come back to it.

Thunderball

After YOLT, I really want to read FRWL and DN. I’ve heard so much about them.

Revelator

From Andrew Lycett's twitter:

"Delighted today sees publication of updated reissue of my Ian Fleming biography - complete with new foreword.

Be careful when looking for it on Amazon as a basic search currently brings up all sorts of old editions.

Here is a dedicated link

Enjoy!"

American readers can get this edition from Book Depository (not to be confused with Book Suppository).

Revelator

More Fleming biographical goodness, this time from Queen Anne Press:

"Coming soon, Ian Fleming - The Notes by John Pearson.

"Here are the notes that John Pearson made in 1965 while researching The Life of Ian Fleming. They chart not only Fleming’s life – with fascinating details that never made it into the finished biography - but John’s own journey while investigating his subject. As such they form less a series of aides memoires than a book about writing a book. Compelling, insightful, irreverent and written in John’s inimitable style, they make an outstanding read. Never before published, they are available in two limitations:

"A Regular Edition numbered 001-150 – £125
A Deluxe Edition lettered A-Z, signed by the author – £275
376pp. Royal. Typography by Libanus Press. Covers by Prof. Phil Cleaver, Etal Design. Introduction by Fergus Fleming.

"We expect the Regulars to be available mid April. It will take a further three weeks to bind the Deluxe. In both cases, pandemic permitting. To register interest please email [email protected]"

£125 is a pretty steep price, but this is the same publisher that issued the impossible-to-find Talk of the Devil, so Queen Anne has me by the short and curlies.

Dragonpol

Are you going to buy a copy of this, @Revelator? I must say that I'm thinking about it...the regular edition anyway.

Revelator

Yes, I'm planning to buy the regular edition if my income is in decent condition by the time May rolls around. However, one of my roommates is moving out by at the end of April, so I have to find a replacement--during what must be the worst possible time of the year--or else forgo non-essential purchases.

Revelator

Birdleson wrote: »

I know someone looking. She has a very limited budget though. What’s the rent?

$1120. Not bad for San Francisco but high almost everywhere else alas.

Revelator

Birdleson wrote: »

That may fit. Do you want me to mention it. Early 20s.

Yes, please do. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Here's the Craigslist ad.

matt_u

I'm midway through Fleming's novels. Gotta say I pretty much enjoyed all of them. Ian Fleming was a man who loved the finer things in life and that is evident in his writing style. His descriptions always amaze me and he's such a great visual writer which leads to easily transports the reader into the life of Bond. Plus, he's incredibly good building momentum and keeping the suspense at the highest. I also love the continuity within the books, with small nods popping up from previous stories and characters returning in and there. Great stuff. Plus, I really like Bond as a character because he's portrayed as a real man with lot of feelings and emotions and not just a blunt instrument. From this perspective, the books makes me appreciate this current film era even more.

I just started Goldfinger so this is my current poll of Fleming's first six novels.

CASINO ROYALE: Great introduction to the universe of Bond. Loved Fleming's description and details within the game, loved the tension he was able to manage during the chase and the torture. The tragic love story has a funereal feel from the beginning which makes everything more melancholy. A very quick read - maybe even too much - but still cool. Engaging.

LIVE AND LET DIE: This was probably the most fun read I had. The book is like a runaway train, visually compelling and extremely violent. An amazingly dangerous adventure with a picaresque feel, exotic vibes, inventive action with a plot moving at a break neck speed and obviously sharks! Mr. Big is very menacing, while Solitaire is the only low point of the book. Pretty forgettable (like in the movie). Thrilling.

MOONRAKER: Easily Fleming's best. The first section at Blade's is by far the most superb and incredibly tense piece of writing of the whole bunch. A villain with a stellar characterization, the best Bond girl - a smart woman with a real evolution that even leaves Bond in the end - and a really cool and dangerous menace behind all. The car night chase after Gala was kidnapped from London to the base is just too cool. Perfection.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: To me it felt like an attempt to make something more mature and grounded. The descriptions have never been so filled with details, the way Fleming visualizes America with kind of written polaroids was fascinating. The book felt a bit like a downer plot wise, with some turns of situations that felt a little forced and convenient but still a fun read. I really loved Tiffany and her esplosive personality. Fascinating.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: This one basically has it all: beautiful women, Russian spy’s, gadgets and a brilliant espionage plot set through different cultures and a speeding train. The fact that Fleming chose to not have Bond in a big portion of the book, focusing with so much detail and tension on the enemy SMERSH, shows you how powerful of a writer he was. By far the most erotic one. Iconic.

DR. NO: Unfortunately it didn't resonate that much with me, probably because the story was pretty basic and neither Honey nor No seemed that interesting. Perhaps Fleming's sticking to a rather comfortable formula started to wear thin on me. Anyway there's a lot of good stuff in it - nice settings, ingenious traps and situations, arguably the coolest liar so far and some characters returning - even tho the entire thing felt sometimes too pulp and fantastical. Anyway a cool and quick read. Comfortable.

So for now that's my poll:

1. MR
2. FRWL
3. LALD
4. CR
5. DAF
6. DN

Thunderfinger

Good job, @matt_u . Looking forward to your thoughts on the rest.

Thunderball

Just finished reading You Only Live Twice. What a trip, what a peculiar ending. I enjoyed it, though I definitely liked On Her Majesty’s Secret Service more. I have plans to read FRWL and DN next.

Edit: My ranking of Fleming’s books so far is like so:

1. OHMSS
2. CR
3. MR
4. TB
5. YOLT

My current placement of YOLT may change. I’d like to reread TB at some point first.

MaxCasino

matt_u wrote: »

I'm midway through Fleming's novels. Gotta say I pretty much enjoyed all of them. Ian Fleming was a man who loved the finer things in life and that is evident in his writing style. His descriptions always amaze me and he's such a great visual writer which leads to easily transports the reader into the life of Bond. Plus, he's incredibly good building momentum and keeping the suspense at the highest. I also love the continuity within the books, with small nods popping up from previous stories and characters returning in and there. Great stuff. Plus, I really like Bond as a character because he's portrayed as a real man with lot of feelings and emotions and not just a blunt instrument. From this perspective, the books makes me appreciate this current film era even more.

I just started Goldfinger so this is my current poll of Fleming's first six novels.

CASINO ROYALE: Great introduction to the universe of Bond. Loved Fleming's description and details within the game, loved the tension the was able to manage during the chase and the torture. The tragic love story has a funereal feel from the beginning which makes everything more melancholy. A very quick read - maybe even too much - but still cool. Engaging.

LIVE AND LET DIE: This was probably the most fun read I had. The book is like a runaway train, visually compelling and extremely violent. An amazingly dangerous adventure with a picaresque feel, exotic vibes, inventive action with a plot moving at a break neck speed and obviously sharks! Mr. Big is very menacing, while Solitaire is the only low point of the book. Pretty forgettable (like in the movie). Thrilling.

MOONRAKER: Easily Fleming's best. The first section at Blade's is by far the most superb and incredibly tense piece of writing of the whole bunch. A villain with a stellar characterization, the best Bond girl - a smart woman with a real evolution that even leaves Bond in the end - and a really cool and dangerous menace behind all. The car night chase after Gala was kidnapped from London to the base is just too cool. Perfection.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: To me it felt like an attempt to make something more mature and grounded. The descriptions have never been so filled with details, the way Fleming visualizes America with kind of written polaroids was fascinating. The book felt a bit like a downer plot wise, with some turns of situations that felt a little forced and convenient but still a fun read. I really loved Tiffany and her esplosive personality. Fascinating.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: This one basically has it all: beautiful women, Russian spy’s, gadgets and a brilliant espionage plot set through different cultures and a speeding train. The fact that Fleming chose to not have Bond in a big portion of the book, focusing with so much detail and tension on the enemy SMERSH, shows you how powerful of a writer he was. By far the most erotic one. Iconic.

DR. NO: Unfortunately it didn't resonate that much with me, probably because the story was pretty basic and neither Honey nor No seemed that interesting. Perhaps Fleming's sticking to a rather comfortable formula started to wear thin on me. Anyway there's a lot of good stuff in it - nice settings, ingenious traps and situations, arguably the coolest liar so far and some characters returning - even tho the entire thing felt sometimes too pulp and fantastical. Anyway a cool and quick read. Comfortable.

So for now that's my poll:

1. MR
2. FRWL
3. LALD
4. CR
5. DAF
6. DN

Great reviews! May I make a recommendation? After you’re done with Goldfinger, would you maybe try Anthony Horowitz’s Trigger Mortis? It has Fleming material and takes two weeks after Goldfinger.

matt_u

Thunderfinger wrote: »

Good job, @matt_u . Looking forward to your thoughts on the rest.

Thanks. Given the quarantine it won't take than long.

MaxCasino wrote: »

matt_u wrote: »

I'm midway through Fleming's novels. Gotta say I pretty much enjoyed all of them. Ian Fleming was a man who loved the finer things in life and that is evident in his writing style. His descriptions always amaze me and he's such a great visual writer which leads to easily transports the reader into the life of Bond. Plus, he's incredibly good building momentum and keeping the suspense at the highest. I also love the continuity within the books, with small nods popping up from previous stories and characters returning in and there. Great stuff. Plus, I really like Bond as a character because he's portrayed as a real man with lot of feelings and emotions and not just a blunt instrument. From this perspective, the books makes me appreciate this current film era even more.

I just started Goldfinger so this is my current poll of Fleming's first six novels.

CASINO ROYALE: Great introduction to the universe of Bond. Loved Fleming's description and details within the game, loved the tension the was able to manage during the chase and the torture. The tragic love story has a funereal feel from the beginning which makes everything more melancholy. A very quick read - maybe even too much - but still cool. Engaging.

LIVE AND LET DIE: This was probably the most fun read I had. The book is like a runaway train, visually compelling and extremely violent. An amazingly dangerous adventure with a picaresque feel, exotic vibes, inventive action with a plot moving at a break neck speed and obviously sharks! Mr. Big is very menacing, while Solitaire is the only low point of the book. Pretty forgettable (like in the movie). Thrilling.

MOONRAKER: Easily Fleming's best. The first section at Blade's is by far the most superb and incredibly tense piece of writing of the whole bunch. A villain with a stellar characterization, the best Bond girl - a smart woman with a real evolution that even leaves Bond in the end - and a really cool and dangerous menace behind all. The car night chase after Gala was kidnapped from London to the base is just too cool. Perfection.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: To me it felt like an attempt to make something more mature and grounded. The descriptions have never been so filled with details, the way Fleming visualizes America with kind of written polaroids was fascinating. The book felt a bit like a downer plot wise, with some turns of situations that felt a little forced and convenient but still a fun read. I really loved Tiffany and her esplosive personality. Fascinating.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: This one basically has it all: beautiful women, Russian spy’s, gadgets and a brilliant espionage plot set through different cultures and a speeding train. The fact that Fleming chose to not have Bond in a big portion of the book, focusing with so much detail and tension on the enemy SMERSH, shows you how powerful of a writer he was. By far the most erotic one. Iconic.

DR. NO: Unfortunately it didn't resonate that much with me, probably because the story was pretty basic and neither Honey nor No seemed that interesting. Perhaps Fleming's sticking to a rather comfortable formula started to wear thin on me. Anyway there's a lot of good stuff in it - nice settings, ingenious traps and situations, arguably the coolest liar so far and some characters returning - even tho the entire thing felt sometimes too pulp and fantastical. Anyway a cool and quick read. Comfortable.

So for now that's my poll:

1. MR
2. FRWL
3. LALD
4. CR
5. DAF
6. DN

Great reviews! May I make a recommendation? After you’re done with Goldfinger, would you maybe try Anthony Horowitz’s Trigger Mortis? It has Fleming material and takes two weeks after Goldfinger.

Thanks! Yeah I know about TM but I genuinely can't wait to read Thunderball (which is my 3rd favorite Bond film) so I think I will stick with Fleming. :)

Dragonpol

Revelator wrote: »

Yes, I'm planning to buy the regular edition if my income is in decent condition by the time May rolls around. However, one of my roommates is moving out by at the end of April, so I have to find a replacement--during what must be the worst possible time of the year--or else forgo non-essential purchases.

Good. I hope you're able to get a copy of it. I'm going to try and get it too. It just sounds too good to pass up!

Also, I hope you find a replacement roommate soon! :)

Agent_99

I'm sort of absent-mindedly reading the graphic novel of CR again (I needed to look something up and now it's in my eyeline a lot), and:

- I know CR so well it could be my Fahrenheit 451 illegal book colony book
- it's just so GOOD

Revelator

So, for anyone interested in hearing more about the publication of John Pearson's Ian Fleming - The Notes, I emailed Queen Anne Press yesterday to express interest in purchasing the regular edition.

Today I received a short response from Fergus Fleming (Ian's nephew!), who thanked me and said I was on the list and that QAP will be in touch when the book is ready. Needless to say (but worth saying anyway), I am delighted.

This is a rather extravagant purchase to make in such trying times, especially since I might have to pay more rent than usual next month, but that is why God made the credit card.

Actually it was Satan, God's estranged protege (aka the artist formerly referred to as Lucifer), who devised the credit card but I thank him nevertheless. I will even make a human sacrifice if he can persuade Queen Anne Press to republish Talk of the Devil.

Dragonpol

Revelator wrote: »

So, for anyone interested in hearing more about the publication of John Pearson's Ian Fleming - The Notes, I emailed Queen Anne Press yesterday to express interest in purchasing the regular edition.

Today I received a short response from Fergus Fleming (Ian's nephew!), who thanked me and said I was on the list and that QAP will be in touch when the book is ready. Needless to say (but worth saying anyway), I am delighted.

This is a rather extravagant purchase to make in such trying times, especially since I might have to pay more rent than usual next month, but that is why God made the credit card.

Actually it was Satan, God's estranged protege (aka the artist formerly referred to as Lucifer), who devised the credit card but I thank him nevertheless. I will even make a human sacrifice if he can persuade Queen Anne Press to republish Talk of the Devil.

Thanks, @Revelator. I just emailed them this morning to register my interest in the Regular Edition. And of course I agree with you on republishing Talk of the Devil at a more affordable price!