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Which Bond novel is the least dated?

echoecho 007 in New York
edited May 2012 in Literary 007 Posts: 6,306
I'm rereading DAF and it struck me that it's basically a time capsule of New York and Nevada from the '50s. I can see why they made the changes they did in 1971, and even more if they did it 2012. (Vegas, for one thing, has completely changed.)

As for the least dated, I'm voting for OHMSS. The heraldry subplot is timeless, and the biological warfare threat could not be more contemporary. And while a bit rarefied, the locations could be pretty much the same now.
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Comments

  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    Well because it's set in the present day I would have to say "Carte Blanche." If you're talking about the Fleming novels only how about TSWLM?
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Definitely not LALD. :-S
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    Definitely not LALD. :-S

    Haha everything from the tone, language, currency, locations, and mood is outdated. 0_o
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    JWESTBROOK wrote:
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    Definitely not LALD. :-S

    Haha everything from the tone, language, currency, locations, and mood is outdated. 0_o
    I can't think of anything that isn't. I was reading it and my eyes were popping out of my skull at the stuff that was allowed to be published.

  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    JWESTBROOK wrote:
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    Definitely not LALD. :-S

    Haha everything from the tone, language, currency, locations, and mood is outdated. 0_o
    I can't think of anything that isn't. I was reading it and my eyes were popping out of my skull at the stuff that was allowed to be published.

    It's an excellent novel, just a very interesting flare, I'll say, mixed in. Haha
  • KennonKennon
    Posts: 297
    The least dated would be TMWTGG for my money. It's just a very straightforward duel theme, the subplot an ordinary investment scam that happens a thousand times around the world every day.
  • RC7RC7
    edited May 2012 Posts: 10,512
    Kennon wrote:
    The least dated would be TMWTGG for my money. It's just a very straightforward duel theme, the subplot an ordinary investment scam that happens a thousand times around the world every day.

    Totally agree with this. Always thought this could be made as a great indie film on the cheap and still look good.

  • OHMSS69OHMSS69
    Posts: 2,341
    Thunderball with the timeless threat of nuclear nightmare and blackmail

    OHMSS
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,306
    Yes, I forgot TB. Absolutely timeless.

    I'd love to see the nuclear threat combined with the various unused TSWLM scripts. I've always thought the terrorist takeover of SPECTRE (now QUANTUM?) would be cinematic.

    http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/tswlm_script_history.php3
  • OHMSS69OHMSS69
    Posts: 2,341
    echo wrote:
    Yes, I forgot TB. Absolutely timeless.

    I'd love to see the nuclear threat combined with the various unused TSWLM scripts. I've always thought the terrorist takeover of SPECTRE (now QUANTUM?) would be cinematic.

    http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/tswlm_script_history.php3

    I agree. Would love to have seen the unused TSWLM about terrorists taking over SPECTRE. Have some "young Turks" come in kick out Mr. White, kill the old guard and run with Quantum. I like that.
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    Although Im no expert on the novels I'd say maybe OHMSS. It's theme of Love and Loss is timeless and can be applied anywhere. Plus Blofeld's plot might still have some validity today.
  • commandbond007commandbond007
    Posts: 660
    Casino Royale definately......Financing terrorism activities using casino can more than likely do back then and now today.....

    Live and Let Definately not

    Moonraker yes but have to be updated
    DAF No
    FRWL No because Orient Express is not used and the plot wont work
    Goldfinger No
    Dr.No Possible
    Thunderball yes definately
    OHMSS Yes
    YOLT I dont know
    TMWTGG probably but unlikely
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,187
    The least dated, for me, would be TB. There's still a chance that nuclear material falls into the wrong hands, with the whole world extorted to its knees as a consequence.
  • BentleyBentley
    Posts: 267
    Fellow Agents,
    Isn't the fact that they are all dated a considerable part of the charm?
    Written today as contemporary thrillers would require that Fleming adjust his style in a way that is unimaginable. His basic plot premises would , for the most part, stand up but Flemings attention to detail and branding mark the whole series as definitive products of their time.
    Indeed, the sixty a day smoker would have to spend his entire short life, confined to outdoor non public places whereas in 1953, your doctor would probably offer you a cigarette when he called on you!
    Period pieces they definitely are and they should be enjoyed as such.
    Regards,
    Bentley
  • emilbertilloemilbertillo
    Posts: 153
    The SPECTRE Trilogy would be perfect at modern times. Casino Royale and Goldfinger too, if , say Le Chiffre or Goldfinger are financiers of al-Qaeda or PMCs rather than SMERSH.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Nice thread.

    I'm getting back to this one once I've got through a few more novels.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,125
    Like others, I would say TB too. And in a way, YOLT is not dated at all. Yes, Japan probably changed a lot since the novel was published, but Blofeld's scheme is so otherworldly and irrationally evil that it could be set at any time.
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 5,996
    I'd second Thunderball. We are still living in fear that it could happen.
  • Sir_James_MoloneySir_James_Moloney
    Posts: 388
    I'd maybe go for TSWLM - the story is so small and contained that it could happen just as easily today.Although it's been many years since I've read it.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,125
    Sir_James_Moloney wrote:
    I'd maybe go for TSWLM - the story is so small and contained that it could happen just as easily today.Although it's been many years since I've read it.

    Good one.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    commandbond007 wrote:
    Casino Royale definately......Financing terrorism activities using casino can more than likely do back then and now today.....


    FRWL No because Orient Express is not used and the plot wont work

    The Orient Express is still used, thriving in fact.

    http://www.orient-express.com/web/orex/home.jsp
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    DoubleOhhSeven wrote:
    Although Im no expert on the novels I'd say maybe OHMSS. It's theme of Love and Loss is timeless and can be applied anywhere. Plus Blofeld's plot might still have some validity today.

    Agreed, just finished reading it and the Biological weapons angle is relevant.

    God, I'd love to see that re-made with Daniel Craig.

  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,125
    OHMSS is maybe more believable today than when it was published. I don't think it can or should be remade, but the biological warfare part of the plot could be used again. It's not like they didn't use the nuclear bomb plot device more than once.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,187
    Ludovico wrote:
    OHMSS is maybe more believable today than when it was published. I don't think it can or should be remade, but the biological warfare part of the plot could be used again. It's not like they didn't use the nuclear bomb plot device more than once.

    Secunded. Plus, there are variations to the theme. Toxins, bacteria, a virus, ... I think it's very much grounded in present day reality. Also, it is frightening to say the least. I worked for Jack Bauer. I can see it work for Bond.

  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    Well, I'm going to go with the majority with this and say, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

    Others would be Casino Royale (gambling to pay back money, to not very nice people, who you've swindled; timeless), The Man With The Golden Gun; duel between two tough operatives.
  • NapoleonPluralNapoleonPlural
    Posts: 512
    TB is an odd one. The first 100 pages I think is great, and all that faddish health farm stuff is very contemporary.
    But the nuclear threat seems a bit oddly handled, in fact Bond and Leiter at one point seem more obsessed in a fuddy duddy sort of way about the way their drinks are mixed while dining out. There's no real sense of horror.
    Oh, and Bond banging the health and fitness bird in a bubble car, very odd, and all that talk in the taxi on the way to Shrublands about Tommy Steele and some hooker that they all frequent at the place. Very strange.

    Otherwise, yes, OHMSS and I suggest the film has dated least too, as the fast editing is rather Bourne-like, Lazenby is a young action hero (like most are today) and the locale doesn't date.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    I keep going back to them, but the short stories don't date much, since there is a lack of nuclear plot lines or space missions etc. More plot and dialogue heavy, which to be honest I prefer to the action sequences, which always seem to drag for me, not that I don't adore reading every Fleming novel.
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Bentley wrote:
    Fellow Agents,
    Isn't the fact that they are all dated a considerable part of the charm?
    Written today as contemporary thrillers would require that Fleming adjust his style in a way that is unimaginable. His basic plot premises would , for the most part, stand up but Flemings attention to detail and branding mark the whole series as definitive products of their time.
    Indeed, the sixty a day smoker would have to spend his entire short life, confined to outdoor non public places whereas in 1953, your doctor would probably offer you a cigarette when he called on you!
    Period pieces they definitely are and they should be enjoyed as such.
    Regards,
    Bentley

    Bentley,
    Eloquently put - I'm with you. Fleming's novels should be enjoyed as classics.
    That withstanding, the plots that stand the test are definitely OHMSS, Moonraker & Thunderball.

  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Sir_James_Moloney wrote:
    I'd maybe go for TSWLM - the story is so small and contained that it could happen just as easily today.Although it's been many years since I've read it.

    TSWLM gets knocked quite a bit around here. Do you think this novel improves with age or not @Sir_James_Moloney?
  • Sir_James_MoloneySir_James_Moloney
    Posts: 388
    007InVT wrote:
    Sir_James_Moloney wrote:
    I'd maybe go for TSWLM - the story is so small and contained that it could happen just as easily today.Although it's been many years since I've read it.

    TSWLM gets knocked quite a bit around here. Do you think this novel improves with age or not @Sir_James_Moloney?

    I've currently rereading it as part of my Fleming marathon, @007InVT, so I'll be able to let you know in a day or two!
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