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If you could only take 1 Ian Fleming novel to a desert island, which would it be?

007InVT007InVT Classified
edited November 2013 in Literary 007 Posts: 893
Not to flog a dead horse, but thought this might be a fun thread.

Comments

  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    ONE only?

    Ok, for my money: From Russia With Love.

    (But I bet some folks say Moonraker, too)
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Moonraker - first novel I ever read on my own initiative. It remains Fleming's finest piece. And you were right, @4EverBonded!
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    On Her Majesty's Secret Service. My favourite, and one of the longest, so it will last a while. It will also contrast with the environment, OHMSS being set in Switzerland.
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    To a desert Island? Dr. No of course!
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    Probably GF or MR. YOLT is my favourite but those two I think have the most readability and I imagine I'd be stuck on the island for a while.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited November 2013 Posts: 12,480
    Shoot. Thanks for the reminder, @Sandy. I adore Dr. No and it has my favorite Bond/Bond Girl relationship in it.
    FRWL is a fantastic read, though. I guess I'd have to do one stint on the island with FRWL and one with Dr. No.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    I'd probably take all the short stories (cheating perhaps?) just for the variety.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited November 2013 Posts: 13,355
    Thrilling Cities to remind myself of all the great places where I'm not.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Samuel001 wrote:
    Thrilling Cities to remind myself of all the great places where I'm not.

    A good choice, for sure, but this thread is for the Bond novels only, sadly.
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    Dragonpol wrote:
    Samuel001 wrote:
    Thrilling Cities to remind myself of all the great places where I'm not.

    A good choice, for sure, but this thread is for the Bond novels only, sadly.

    But this is the title of the thread Draggers:

    "If you could only take 1 Ian Fleming novel to a desert island, which would it be?"

    No mention of Bond.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    WillyGalore wrote:
    Dragonpol wrote:
    Samuel001 wrote:
    Thrilling Cities to remind myself of all the great places where I'm not.

    A good choice, for sure, but this thread is for the Bond novels only, sadly.

    But this is the title of the thread Draggers:

    "If you could only take 1 Ian Fleming novel to a desert island, which would it be?"

    No mention of Bond.

    Yes, true, Willy, but Thrilling Cities is a non-fiction travel book, not a novel. Very good book for all that.
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    Fair enough.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited November 2013 Posts: 18,281
    WillyGalore wrote:
    Fair enough.

    I know, perhaps I'm splitting hairs. I'll leave the decision with @007InVT if he wants to expand the title of the thread to that of "book".
  • 00130013
    Posts: 1,817
    The question says which novel, but if it were which book I'll say - without hesitation - Quantum of Solace, that is the one-volume collection of all short stories. It's a wonderful mixture of different tales with different moods and feelings. Some are Cold War thrillers (TLD and TPOAL), another adventure-esque stories (FAVTAK) and some are love stories (QOS) and dramatic pieces (OP and THR).

    But if we restrict ourselves to novels, I'll say You Only Live Twice.
    But the edition I have is the Blofeld trilogy so I'll take Thunderball and On Her Majesty's Secret Service along!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    0013 wrote:
    The question says which novel, but if it were which book I'll say - without hesitation - Quantum of Solace, that is the one-volume collection of all short stories. It's a wonderful mixture of different tales with different moods and feelings. Some are Cold War thrillers (TLD and TPOAL), another adventure-esque stories (FAVTAK) and some are love stories (QOS) and dramatic pieces (OP and THR).

    But if we restrict ourselves to novels, I'll say You Only Live Twice.
    But the edition I have is the Blofeld trilogy so I'll take Thunderball and On Her Majesty's Secret Service along!

    Great selection, there, @0013. You're certainly hedging your bets there!
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    edited November 2013 Posts: 9,117
    4EverBonded wrote:
    ONE only?

    Ok, for my money: From Russia With Love.

    (But I bet some folks say Moonraker, too)

    You bet right 4EverBonded.

    OHMSS came close but MR is cracking stuff with Fleming's best villain, best gambling scene and, for me, also his best ending.
  • 00130013
    Posts: 1,817
    TheWizardOfIce wrote:
    4EverBonded wrote:
    ONE only?

    Ok, for my money: From Russia With Love.

    (But I bet some folks say Moonraker, too)

    You bet right 4EverBonded.

    OHMSS came close but MR is cracking stuff with Fleming's best villain, best gambling scene and, for me, also his best ending.

    I totally agree with MR having the best - and most unexpected - ending.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

    Just kidding. I'd want a longer one, so probably TB.
  • StirredNotShakenStirredNotShaken Toronto
    Posts: 2,402
    FRWL is IMO the best book ever written so... that one of course.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    Probably GF or MR. YOLT is my favourite but those two I think have the most readability and I imagine I'd be stuck on the island for a while.
    Agree, and I would add CR and FYEO to the candidates. I think I would pick GF in the end. What sets it above the rather faithful film is the interesting inner thoughts of Bond throughout.
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Amazing the traction that MOONRAKER is getting of late in all threads.
    I've re-read it and I have to say, it is great.
    Back in the day, it was criticised because it was set uniquely in the UK.
    Now that people are much better traveled, Bond being on terra ferma seems to be perceived as a good thing.
    So, to the question, when I consider my top three - OHMSS, FRWL, MR - I have to turn my back on them - for a desert island, it has to be Dr.No. Location is everything when re-reading Bond.
    CR for France. OHMSS for Switzerland LALD when in USA etc...
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    Having not actually read one to my shame, i would have to go with the original Casino Royale!
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