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How many Bond novels have you actually read?

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  • marketto007marketto007 Brazil
    Posts: 3,277
    I've read all of the Fleming books and the short stories, as well as two from Gardner, two from Benson and Sebastian Faulks's "Devil May Care".

    xxx

  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    Just finished CR. WOW! This is literally the best book I have ever read! And that last line!
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    slyfox wrote:
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    slyfox wrote:
    I've now read CR and LALD (and AVTAK). Time to move on to MR next...

    Looking forward to it having seen its held in high regard by many here.

    I'm a bit in and so far I love it.
    Bond speaking about how he only gets a few jobs a year and the rest is spent reading files and learning about what is going on in the spy world was great and I love to see Fleming writing it like it is in the real world. I also love the story behind Drax, and the red mustache and blue eyes does seem quite menacing. Beats the hell outta LALD, that's for sure.

    I'm underway now into MR and absoluteley loving it. You make a good point about the deskwork and few jobs a year part. Fantastic examples of Fleming. I love the down-to-earth realness of this novel so far and even nice little touches like Bond going down to eat in the MI6 canteen.

    All these touches do is anger me more, that they will likely never make it into the films. Now, from Skyfall onwards, with Craig, it seems like the perfect time to put them in.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    DB5 wrote:
    Just finished CR. WOW! This is literally the best book I have ever read! And that last line!

    I'm so happy to hear that! I though the same when I read it. CR is just a brilliant novel all around. And it isn't just a fantasy spy novel, it gets you thinking. Like the beautifully written Good v.s. Evil passage near the end. And seeing Bond get mentally and physically broken to the point where he considers resigning is powerful. Definitely one of the best books I've ever read.
  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    OBrady- Yes, you were absolutely right in recommending CR! Just started FRWL this afternoon, already about five chapters in. Definitely a different beginning, all about Grant and SMERSH, no Bond yet. But that's what's making it interesting.
  • Nightfire88Nightfire88
    Posts: 11
    I've only read Devil May Care. I thought it was ok but pretty forgettable.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited April 2012 Posts: 28,694
    Nightfire88 wrote:
    I've only read Devil May Care. I thought it was ok but pretty forgettable.

    Oh no. I read it in 09 or thereabouts and didn't think much was bad about it. That was until I got to know Bond better and read the Fleming novels. It lacks the Fleming appeal, but I will reread it to see what all the negative fuss was about.
  • nezanrfnezanrf
    Posts: 13
    I read them all.

    About 20 years ago I started with Fleming in german. Gardner's novelization of Goldeneye introduced me to him. But the german editions were sold out and the internet just starting. It took me a couple of years to collect and read all of Gardner's books. The novels by Benson, Faulks and Deaver I bought directly on the net. Benson was Ok, Faulks not my type and Deaver reminded me too much of his other novels.

    The early Gardner novels I liked best.

    Perhaps I should restart and read all the novels in chronological order.

  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    I'm actually reading Moonraker as an English assignment for school. My teacher said that we could pick any novel for outside reading and it had to be at least 200 pages, so I got her permission to read Moonraker! Now I actually want to read for school! Hahaha.
  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    Well I started FRWL Monday afternoon and I'm already more than a third of the way through, which is very fast reading for me. So I'm trying to decide which novel to read next. Is it necessary to read LALD before DN? I know both are set in Jamaica, and both involve Strangways and Quarrel. For people who have read both books, what do you advise?
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited April 2012 Posts: 28,694
    DB5 wrote:
    Well I started FRWL Monday afternoon and I'm already more than a third of the way through, which is very fast reading for me. So I'm trying to decide which novel to read next. Is it necessary to read LALD before DN? I know both are set in Jamaica, and both involve Strangways and Quarrel. For people who have read both books, what do you advise?

    LALD wasn't too good IMO. I haven't read DN though.

  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    DB5 wrote:
    Well I started FRWL Monday afternoon and I'm already more than a third of the way through, which is very fast reading for me. So I'm trying to decide which novel to read next. Is it necessary to read LALD before DN? I know both are set in Jamaica, and both involve Strangways and Quarrel. For people who have read both books, what do you advise?

    You don't need to read them chronologically, though the Strangways and Quarrel story arcs have far more impact if you read them in order. I think both are good reads and LALD is far superior to it's cinematic counterpart and in fact bares little resemblance to it (there is as much of the original story in the cinematic LTK as there is in LALD). Though be warned Fleming's attempt at 'hip' negro speach is just awfull (and was hilariously parodied in the J*mes B*nd novel Alligator). DN is the better of the two books and is very similar to the screen version, though IMO the book is far superior...and not just because Honey is completley naked when she first meets Bond on the beach. :)

    Anyway regardless of which one you choose I'm sure you'll enjoy the read!



  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    LALD wasn't too good IMO. I haven't read DN though.

    I'm still on my everlasting journey through LALD, but today I got through over half the book on a long car ride.

    I have to say, I'm loving the train ride with Solitaire. I feel as though CR's train scene with Vesper took many ques from this part of the book. Their dialogue, and later their passion for each other is enjoyable, and easily visual for the reader. Fleming's writing and description is uncanny.

    I'm really beginning to enjoy it, lets see how it ends up.

    Side note: I think 'The Silver Phantom' , 'Allumeuse' , and 'Valley of Shadows' would be brilliant future film titles.

    I also enjoyed Mr. Big's quote: "Those who deserve to die -- die the death they deserve."
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited April 2012 Posts: 6,380
    Samuel001 wrote:
    slyfox wrote:
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    slyfox wrote:
    I've now read CR and LALD (and AVTAK). Time to move on to MR next...

    Looking forward to it having seen its held in high regard by many here.

    I'm a bit in and so far I love it.
    Bond speaking about how he only gets a few jobs a year and the rest is spent reading files and learning about what is going on in the spy world was great and I love to see Fleming writing it like it is in the real world. I also love the story behind Drax, and the red mustache and blue eyes does seem quite menacing. Beats the hell outta LALD, that's for sure.

    I'm underway now into MR and absoluteley loving it. You make a good point about the deskwork and few jobs a year part. Fantastic examples of Fleming. I love the down-to-earth realness of this novel so far and even nice little touches like Bond going down to eat in the MI6 canteen.

    All these touches do is anger me more, that they will likely never make it into the films. Now, from Skyfall onwards, with Craig, it seems like the perfect time to put them in.

    I agree. I just read MR again--coincidentally, the day before the North Korean failed missile launch into the sea!--and was amazed at how great it was, and how *little* of it made its way into the film (other than Drax's name and one line about bridge).

    Yes, I know GE and DAD have borrowed from Drax's scheme but I think a straightforward adaptation of MR (updating the technology, of course) would be fascinating with Craig.
  • UnivexUnivex
    Posts: 6,710
    I´ve only read Fleming´s novels and short stories.
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    Univex wrote:
    I´ve only read Fleming´s novels and short stories.

    What did you think of LALD?
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    A Bond novel related question that's been eating me:

    How many times does Mathis appear in the novels? I'm almost finished with MR but have sadly only seen him in CR.
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 6,021
    All the Flemings (in French, some with two translations)
    Colonel Sun (in french)
    The Wood Novelizations (in french)
    Pearson's Biography (in English)
    All the Gardners (in English)
    All the Pearsons (in English)
    Devil May Care (in English)
    Carte Blanche (in English)
    The Moneypenny Diaries (in English)
    Mascott's James Bon Jr. (in French)

    No Young Bond yet, though.
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    edited April 2012 Posts: 987
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    A Bond novel related question that's been eating me:

    How many times does Mathis appear in the novels? I'm almost finished with MR but have sadly only seen him in CR.

    In Fleming's books he only appears in CR and FRWL but he's name checked in OHMSS and turns up again in some of the continuation novels including Raymond Benson's (spit!) 'Never Dream Of Dying' and Sebastian Faulks ''Devil May care' (though none of John Gardner's).

  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    saunders wrote:
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    A Bond novel related question that's been eating me:

    How many times does Mathis appear in the novels? I'm almost finished with MR but have sadly only seen him in CR.

    In Fleming's books he only appears in CR and FRWL but he's name checked in OHMSS and turns up again in some of the continuation novels including Raymond Benson's (spit!) 'Never Dream Of Dying' and Sebastian Faulks ''Devil May care' (though none of John Gardner's).

    Only CR and FRWL in person! WHAAAAA?! More of a reason why I think FRWL will be another big favorite of mine. Damn...
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    A Bond novel related question that's been eating me:

    How many times does Mathis appear in the novels? I'm almost finished with MR but have sadly only seen him in CR.

    I believe he gets mentioned in one of the short stories in FYEO as well, the one where Bond meanders over his Paris time.



  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    Just finished FRWL. Excellent book, well written as is always the case with Fleming. But as much as I liked it, truth be told I prefer the film version. The way Bond gets away from Grant is far more believable in the film version. Plus you get the helicopter scene and the boat chase scene. You also get the execution of Kronsteen and the ending the Bond and Tanya kissing in the gondola is much more upbeat than the ending in the book. But a good read nonetheless. DN next.
  • Lancaster007Lancaster007 Shrublands Health Clinic, England
    Posts: 1,874
    All of the Fleming's (several times) and have just started to re-read them again. Half way through Live and Let Die.
    Read the first two Gardner novels but didn't like them so gave up! Don't thing I've missed anything. Also read - Devil May Care and Carte Blanche, looking forward to Boyd's effort.
  • CipherCipher
    Posts: 128
    I finished TSWLM recently. The first third is drags a bit - Fleming really can't write in the female voice convincingly and his sexism comes through a lot more. Once Sluggsy and Horror show up it improves as Fleming is back in more familiar territory. The frustrating part for me is when Bond tells Viv about his mission in Canada - Fleming has a story that would have been an ideal first part for the novel but we only get a brief synopsis. I can see what Fleming was aiming for with TSWLM, but unfortunately he couldn't pull it off.
  • dragonskydragonsky
    Posts: 2,491
    Hey fellas i need quick help. So far i've only read DMC cause that is the only book translated in my language. But there is book fair this week so i found the Ian Flaming novels on english. I plan on buying some books tomorow but i don't have money for all of them. What are the top 3 books that you will recomend to me?
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    Casino Royale, Moonraker or On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

    Really, an apart from Diamonds Are Forever or Goldfinger are fine. Those two are often considered the weakest of the Fleming novels.

    Oh and buy a novel, not one or both of the short story collections.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    Finished Moonraker not too long ago for a school assignment actually, I had to write a 5-paragraph essay in class on it. It was pretty awesome, it was nice to see Bond's human side like when he was beat up by Drax or when he and Gala were roasted in the air vents. The firing of the rocket and our heroes taking cover in the shower were extremely thrilling, as well as the car chase through the streets of London. I wish the movie had followed closer to the novel, it would have been a lot better I'd think.
  • dragonskydragonsky
    Posts: 2,491
    Samuel001 wrote:
    Casino Royale, Moonraker or On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

    Really, an apart from Diamonds Are Forever or Goldfinger are fine. Those two are often considered the weakest of the Fleming novels.

    Oh and buy a novel, not one or both of the short story collections.

    I am not sure if they had CR.
    Why not one of the short stories?
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    The short stories are great but you'd be better getting a full proper novel as it's more Fleming that way. You could always do it the other way and start with the short stories if you wanted.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,011
    I have read CR and FRWL. I've wanted to finish up the Millennium trilogy, then pick up a random novel I have - perhaps restart/continue the Ted Bell/Alexander Hawke series - and then buy more Fleming novels to read, including the short stories in QoS.
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