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Which Bond novel are you currently reading?

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  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Fleming makes something as commonplace and tame as cards seem like a battle to the death on a lakebed of fire and lava... Or something like that. :)
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,894
    I had not read any of DAF for about a fortnight, so I finished of the last 4 chapters yesterday. Unlike the previous 3, I struggled to maintain my interest. Later today i'll be starting FRWL.


    1. Moonraker - Ian Fleming (1955)
    2. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (1953)
    3. Live And Let Die - Ian Fleming (1954)
    4. Diamonds Are Forever - Ian Fleming (1956)
  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    Just finished "The Facts of Death" and started "The Man With the Red Tattoo."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,691
    QBranch wrote:
    I'm reading Moonraker at the moment

    What a great novel.
  • Aziz_FekkeshAziz_Fekkesh Royale-les-Eaux
    Posts: 403
    I think I prefer early Fleming to late, but I remember TB being really good. All of Fleming's output is enjoyable, some less so, but his unmistakable prose is spellbinding.

    That being said, I just finished Carte Blanche. I thought it was ok. The ending more than anything redeemed the book for me. I thought the main plot of a
    recycling magnate
    being the villain was a little far-fetched, but then it became a little less believable when we found out who the the real villain was.

    I thought Deaver's prose was great and the plot was pretty easy to follow and genuinely surprising despite the fact that Bond was basically portrayed as a genius; he managed to outsmart nearly every character and somehow come through in the clinch with some miraculous solution to a deathtrap and/or problem. There were some red herrings and parts of the plot that seemed superfluous (the pseudo-PTS with the train really seemed like something that Deaver came up with last minute, had no bearing to do with the rest of the book beyond the Serbian sub-plot, which was actually well-handled). Overall, solid construction of the plot even if it wasn't the most plausible (then again, little of Fleming's plots were linear and plausible).

    The characters were fine. Really loved to hate the Dunne character, then felt some pity when we learned his backstory. One character I really liked was Jordaan; a strong, independent female who for once did not fall for Bond and who frankly was turned off by his charms. Not really sure why Deaver did away with Boothroyd and added in all these new characters, although they did fulfill their purposes and weren't terrible. But that brings me to my next point--why did he modify/add characters, change Bond's longterm affiliation with MI6 (as believable as a black-ops unit is, it's still slightly off-putting creating the ODG, even though I had no real problems with that), and most importantly, why did he alter Bond's past history if he wasn't going to write another book? I this was the first book in a new continuity shepherded by Deaver then I can get behind. But now it seems like the new author is picking up where Faulks (or is that Fleming?) left off and we have to get used to another, familiar, timeline? Bond is bigger than the author or the filmmaker and more respect should have been paid to an established canon if one wants to reboot the literary series, ala film CR.

    Finally, the most important part: did Deaver get Bond right? Yes and no. I for one was appalled to read that Bond was a former smoker and even slightly irritated when Deaver insinuated that
    Bond's parents may have been spies
    . This strikes me as trying to create subplot that previously never existed and had no good reason to ever exist in the first place. Overall though, I thought Deaver did a good job of describing Bond's thoughts and actions in a similar vein to Fleming. He's still a serious pro and damn good at what he does (again, despite the moments where heavy suspension of belief is required to explain Bond's God-like quick wits and actions). My one serious complaint is his unexplained infatuation with Maidenstone. I never care for Bond for that is head over heels over a woman and Deaver's constant reference to her is annoying, to say the least. Again, this is an arc that could be explored in future continuation novels if it wasn't seemingly designed as a one-off. As it is, it's kind of tiresome and unbelievable.

    Like I said, the ending was pretty good and I even felt sorry for
    the Lamb character
    after hating him and then seeing him as grossly incompetent and foolish. The twist caught me off guard and the revelation of the motivations of
    Felicity Willing
    was surprising, if not totally believable. Then again, the plot comes to a satisfying conclusion. I went on for a little bit longer than I wanted to, but overall, the book gets a 7/10 from me. Would really like it if Deaver or some other writer would expand on this new timeline. There's potential for interesting assignments for Bond and good stories centred around "protecting the realm".
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,691
    Am I the only person here that in reading Wood's novelization of The Spy Who Loved Me has a hard time taking the movie seriously in light of this more serious take on it?
  • inukai44inukai44
    Posts: 25
    I'm reading Carte Blanche
  • AliAli
    Posts: 319
    Just started reading through the Fleming books for the first time. Started with CR for continuity reasons and, despite it's very 50's tone, found it fascinating and addictive! I like how much time Fleming actually took with his characters and let them breath, though CR's plot was flimsy to say the least. Haven't been able to find L&LD or MR in the shops so skipped to DAF. So far, so good. But there already seems to be a little less space for character development.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Casino Royale has one of the tightest plots I have ever read.
  • identigraphidentigraph
    Posts: 1,052
    Currently reading Casino Roayle, so far I am really enjoying it. I have previously read GF, YOLT, TB and DR No, I can't say any of those really gripped me and CR seems to be a cut above these so far, I am working on the theory that the earlier books are going to be better?
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited January 2013 Posts: 28,694
    identigraph wrote:
    Currently reading Casino Roayle, so far I am really enjoying it. I have previously read GF, YOLT, TB and DR No, I can't say any of those really gripped me and CR seems to be a cut above these so far, I am working on the theory that the earlier books are going to be better?
    Casino Royale was #1, so Fleming hadn't gone as bizarre or out there (in respect to plausibility) as he would later on. Maybe he was testing the water? Even two books on in MR he goes out there. But like I said, CR is a tight plot. Essentially set around a card game, not much can get over the top. But that's why I love it. Fleming takes something as banal as cards and makes you excited with his powerful descriptiveness and mastery of tension. CR shows that Fleming is the king of creating atmosphere and extreme intensity in a simple setting like a casino. As I dip more into the Bond novels I like a lot of what I see, but I always find CR to be as you said: A cut above the rest.
  • identigraphidentigraph
    Posts: 1,052
    I definitley love the way Fleming sets the scene and goes in to detail about the smallest things.

    BradyM0Bondfanatic7 - what would you reccomend as the next best to CR?
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited January 2013 Posts: 12,837
    TMWTGG Really enjoying this so far. I'd like it if they included the Bond-brainwashed story in one of the films (except replace the Russians with Quantum or somebody).
    identigraph wrote:
    I am working on the theory that the earlier books are going to be better?

    I'm not sure about that. CR was good but I read some of LALD and didn't like it, and Diamonds isn't meant to be brilliant either, although I haven't read that one.
  • youonlylivethriceyouonlylivethrice
    Posts: 117
    The Dreamers by Gilbert Adair (the film adaptation introduced me to Eva Green :x ) and rereading On The Road by Jack Kerouac.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited January 2013 Posts: 28,694
    identigraph wrote:
    I definitley love the way Fleming sets the scene and goes in to detail about the smallest things.

    BradyM0Bondfanatic7 - what would you reccomend as the next best to CR?

    From what I have read so far of Fleming's Bond novels, it would be MR.

    *Fleming again makes a card game intense.
    *His descriptions are just as strong (especially when we get to Blades).
    *We learn more about Bond's work (how many missions he takes and what not).
    *We get to see him go through paperwork and at the shooting range (where if I recall correctly, Bond is outshot?)
    *I like the idea of the villain being a man everyone looks up to, then you see how
    villainous he is.
    *I like that Bond's mission isn't really official, but more about M and his own suspicions.
    *The ending is fantastic,
    another punch in the gut for Bond a la CR, though not as severe.
  • 00130013
    Posts: 1,817
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    identigraph wrote:
    I definitley love the way Fleming sets the scene and goes in to detail about the smallest things.

    BradyM0Bondfanatic7 - what would you reccomend as the next best to CR?

    From what I have read so far of Fleming's Bond novels, it would be MR.

    *Fleming again makes a card game intense.
    *His descriptions are just as strong (especially when we get to Blades).
    *We learn more about Bond's work (how many missions he takes and what not).
    *We get to see him go through paperwork and at the shooting range (where if I recall correctly, Bond is outshot?)
    *I like the idea of the villain being a man everyone looks up to, then you see how
    villainous he is.
    *I like that Bond's mission isn't really official, but more about M and his own suspicions.
    *The ending is fantastic,
    another punch in the gut for Bond a la CR, though not as severe.

    Great novel indeed. My favorite next to "You Only Live Twice".
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    edited January 2013 Posts: 4,422
    Right then, I've been away for a while, so...

    The Spy Who Loved Me

    Ian Fleming done an admirable job of writing from the prospective of a woman, especially in the 1950's, but I cringe when he says women enjoy “semi rape”. A novel attempt to get out of his formula.

    Thunderball

    I wanted to have the "Blofeld Trilogy" uninterrupted, so I moved Spy ahead of this...

    One can tell this was meant for the big screen, what with it's submarine, underwater mayhem and epic scope. Although it seems to be missing something, ineffable... Hmm.

    I also disagree with what Kevin McClory said about Fleming's Bond, not having a sense of humor; I find Fleming's books to be full of subtle humor, DN and GF, in particular, especially in Bond grumpiness and Felix Leiter passages.

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service

    Beautiful, engaging, touching; top marks to Fleming on this one. A top three for me.

    You Only Live Twice

    Humor, a fascinating travelogue, topped off with a brutal revenge climax. A top two for me.

    The Man With The Golden Gun

    This reads like the first draft off a ill man, which it was. It doesn't have the descriptive powers, that we are used to reading from Fleming, and Scaramanga is a vulgar hoodlum, that fails live to up to his early promise. Still it moves with a good pace, and the brainwashing ploy was great.
  • AliAli
    Posts: 319
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    Casino Royale has one of the tightest plots I have ever read.

    Only because there's so little of it IMHO. However, part of it's charm is how few locations are involved and how simple the plot is. And very, very few authors of spy fiction would have been brave enough to include the very long epilogue after LeChiffre is killed.
  • AliAli
    edited January 2013 Posts: 319
    DAF is proving a bit by-the-numbers so far (about 1/3 of the way through) but it's already superior to the movie in that Tiffany is a far deeper and more intriguing character than the ditzy film version.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited January 2013 Posts: 13,894
    Well, that's FRWL finished. The change of structure didn't bother me this time, quite the opposite, in fact. It was odd, because with Bond, I was seeing and hearing Dalton c.TLD, but with other characters such as Grant, I was imagining a mix. I'll be starting DN tomorrow.


    1. Moonraker - Ian Fleming (1955)
    ***2. From Russia With Love - Ian Fleming (1957)***
    3. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (1953)
    4. Live And Let Die - Ian Fleming (1954)
    5. Diamonds Are Forever - Ian Fleming (1956)

  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited January 2013 Posts: 12,837
    My ranking right now would be

    1) Thunderball
    2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    3) You Only Live Twice
    4) Goldfinger
    5) Moonraker
    6) Casino Royale
  • 00130013
    Posts: 1,817
    Although I've read the books a little time ago, my ranking would be something like this:

    Novels
    1-You Only Live Twice
    2-Moonraker
    3-On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    4-From Russia with Love
    5-Casino Royale
    6-The Spy Who Loved Me
    7-Thunderball
    8-Live and Let Die
    9-Goldfinger
    10-The Man with the Golden Gun
    11-Dr No
    12-Diamonds Are Forever

    Short stories
    1-Quantum of Solace
    2-The Hildebrand Rarity
    3-The Property of a Lady
    4-The Living Daylights
    5-Octopussy
    6-For Your Eyes Only
    7-Risico
    8-From a View to a Kill
    9-007 in New York
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited January 2013 Posts: 28,694
    Ali wrote:
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    Casino Royale has one of the tightest plots I have ever read.

    Only because there's so little of it IMHO. However, part of it's charm is how few locations are involved and how simple the plot is. And very, very few authors of spy fiction would have been brave enough to include the very long epilogue after LeChiffre is killed.

    Well...duh. Ambitious plots will always have more holes than those more grounded in reality like CR is. Some of the plot may be "simple", but it is so much more than that that it isn't a very proper description of the text. Fleming put extremely moving and deep dialogue/word composition in that novel. The Good vs. Evil speech Bond gives while in hospital near the latter half is prose at its most eloquent. No hiding behind tired conventions or symbolism. Just raw emotion and connection to Bond as a character. Eat your heart out, Shakespeare.
  • AliAli
    Posts: 319
    Yes, but character study and plot are very different. I still maintain that plot is really very simple. It's the character study that makes the novel work so well.
  • sirseanisbondsirseanisbond
    Posts: 2,189
    Personally I am in the process of re-reading all the novels in chronological order and I'm only on LALD, but it's interesting how as I read, I imagine bond as different actors. Really it's a toss-up between Sean and Roger because in most novels I imagine Sean, but Roger did the film and some of the writing in the novel seems to fit his version of the character better. More one-liners I guess...
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,894
    Finished Dr No this morning. Hmm... it was ok. Not one I can get worked up over, i'm affraid.


    1. Moonraker - Ian Fleming (1955)
    2. From Russia With Love - Ian Fleming (1957)
    3. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (1953)
    4. Live And Let Die - Ian Fleming (1954)
    ***5. Dr No - Ian Fleming (1958)***
    6. Diamonds Are Forever - Ian Fleming (1956)

    Next up: Golfinger
  • mdo007mdo007 Katy, Texas
    Posts: 259
    I just finished Moonraker (Fleming's style of writing really confuse me), I'm reading The spy who loved me and Diamonds are Forever side by side (if you want to know why, I borrowed them from the library and I used up my renewal).
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 5,979
    I feel that, eventually, Eon will ask for the rights to TSWLM, and Glidrose will grant them. The need for more original Fleming will win out.

    Anyone else agree?
  • MaxRebo120MaxRebo120
    Posts: 136
    In the middle of ''You Only Live Twice''. Liking it way more than the movie!
  • DB5DB5
    Posts: 408
    echo wrote:
    I feel that, eventually, Eon will ask for the rights to TSWLM, and Glidrose will grant them. The need for more original Fleming will win out.

    Anyone else agree?

    Eon already HAS the rights to TSWLM, they made a movie with that title in 1977 and theoretically could remake another one with that title (or any of the other 22 titles they've already done for that matter) any time they wanted to. If you mean could they produce a film about a Canadian girl who moves to London, has two affairs, and then gets a job at a seedy motel in the Adirondacks before meeting up with a couple of bad guys and being rescued by James Bond; yes they can also make THAT movie any time they want to. The question is, would audiences pay to see that movie? Remember, Eon does not make Bond films solely to please the aesthetic tastes of a few Bond fans on the MI6 site, they're also slightly interested in making money!

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