Reporting For Duty
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Categories
In this Discussion
Scenes in the James Bond Novels that make you squeamish?
Dragonpol
https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
After the success of this thread when it focused on the scenes and moments in the James Bond film series that made you feel squeamish I thought that it was high time that I created one for the James Bond novels.
For me, personally, there's nothing really that stands out from the original Ian Fleming James Bond novels as reading matter that would make me squeamish. The carpet-beater torture from Casino Royale is a good one but I find it described in a kind of 1950s censored "less is more" tone (that I think actually went over my head when I was younger). Mr Big being eaten by the shark in Live and Let Die is also a good scene but again it doesn't make me squeamish.
No, for me the scene in the Bond novels that makes me most squeamish is actually in one of the Continuation novels (which are fair game in this thread by the way). It concerns the repeated stabbing in the chest by James Bond of a guard/sailor on The Altair boat in Kingsley Amis' Colonel Sun (1968). I recall reading this for the first time on top of my bed. I had to get up and move about just to read this wantonly violent passage. It was really difficult for me to read so I put that scene down as one that really did make me squeamish. No doubt there were some others, but nothing else in the literary Bond affected me as much as did reading that one scene for the first time.
So, I've shared my scene from the Bond novels that really made me squeamish - now I'd love to hear yours! :)
For me, personally, there's nothing really that stands out from the original Ian Fleming James Bond novels as reading matter that would make me squeamish. The carpet-beater torture from Casino Royale is a good one but I find it described in a kind of 1950s censored "less is more" tone (that I think actually went over my head when I was younger). Mr Big being eaten by the shark in Live and Let Die is also a good scene but again it doesn't make me squeamish.
No, for me the scene in the Bond novels that makes me most squeamish is actually in one of the Continuation novels (which are fair game in this thread by the way). It concerns the repeated stabbing in the chest by James Bond of a guard/sailor on The Altair boat in Kingsley Amis' Colonel Sun (1968). I recall reading this for the first time on top of my bed. I had to get up and move about just to read this wantonly violent passage. It was really difficult for me to read so I put that scene down as one that really did make me squeamish. No doubt there were some others, but nothing else in the literary Bond affected me as much as did reading that one scene for the first time.
So, I've shared my scene from the Bond novels that really made me squeamish - now I'd love to hear yours! :)
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
about it, creeps me out. I think that helps to show just how good
a writer Fleming was.
Makes my nose itch.
I thought that was well over the top nasty!
Does anyone else want to add to them?
If so, I'd really love to hear from you!
Not what I had in mind of course, but I know what you mean by that even though I can't say that I agree with that judgement. I was thinking more of specific scenes from the Bond novels and the continuations that make you feel squeamish but I'm sure you knew that.
That's such a well written scene!
Yes, that is quite an unsettling one!
Sorry. I wasn't trying to hijack the thread -- just trying to be a wiseass.
No, that's fine. I understand how many people feel about the Continuations! Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to our community. You seem like a very worthy addition to the literary Bond ranks here. Be sure to stick around! :)
That would be a hard one to film without inviting a 15 certificate. It's one of my favourite books though. For some reason I always thought that George Lazenby would have been very good as bond if this had been filmed.
Agree. Not pleasent.
You know, that's another one that jumped out at me when I first read it (and on re-reads). In fact, I can't believe that I forgot to mention that scene in the OP. I think it's the part where the blood is pumping from her severed arms that really gets me. I think that Gardner really upped the brutality in the literary Bond after Amis' lead example in Colonel Sun. I'm glad he did, lest things become stale and outdated.
I think that was meant for the films thread. Sorry, but I know it is confusing having two very similarly worded threads! ;)
No, it's fine. I had to check myself to see if I was posting this in the Novels thread and not the (understandably) more popular Films thread. Perhaps the scene featured in the novelisation by Raymond Benson though. :)
I wonder could you post that comment in the Films thread for me, @Birdleson? Thanks!
Thank you - I've replied to it!