MI6 Community Novel Bondathon - Reborn!

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  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    @Agent_99 , I enjoyed reading that.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
    Thank you, @Thunderfinger! I enjoyed writing it (as you can probably tell)!
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    Fashionably late to the party, but I'm going to do a ranking anyway as I've been working on the novels since earlier this week. Two down already, on to MR.

    As much as I like CR the film, the novel is just so vivid and attention-grabbing to me, especially in those last 70-80 pages which was when I really took off and couldn't put the book down. I wouldn't have minded the film adaptation going that way; would've been slower paced and without a grand, explosive finale, but still, I thought it was a lot more personal and emotional, the angle Fleming took.

    LALD was fairly solid - didn't necessarily wow me, a bit sluggish in parts (mainly from the time he dispatches The Robber to when Bond and Quarrel are prepping over that week period), but a good cast of characters and some very rich detail made it a joy, as all the novels likely are. Reading through Bond and Leiter's trip through Harlem was so well done that it felt like the closest to 1950's club hopping as I'll ever get to experience.

    2018 Novel Ranking:

    1. CR
    2. LALD
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    @Creasy47 , is chapter five called "Seventh Avenue" in your edition?
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    @Creasy47 , is chapter five called "Seventh Avenue" in your edition?

    I have the Penguin Edition, and it retained the original 'Nigger Heaven' chapter title. I just looked into it, had no clue the chapter was renamed in the American version, though that's not surprising.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    Moonraker

    DAMN, was that a good novel (finished it a couple days back, forgot to post). I went into it knowing my expectations of the film, and I was delighted to find the whole novel felt very contained around Drax's estate and the Moonraker launch site; felt akin to a proper detective mystery, with all the Bond flair and extravagance tossed in for good measure. Comes close to rivaling CR for my favorite thus far, a cracking good time. DAF is next, think I'll start that one tomorrow.

    2018 Novel Ranking:

    1. CR
    2. MR
    3. LALD
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
    A popular choice in these parts, @Creasy47! Glad you had a good time with it; it's my favourite, followed by CR and OHMSS.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    It very well could topple CR for me, I haven't decided just yet. They're both excellent.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    MR fights with GF for being my fav.
  • Posts: 684
    MR fights with GF for being my fav.
    For me it's between MR and TB.

    MR seems to just always edge it.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Strog wrote: »
    MR fights with GF for being my fav.
    For me it's between MR and TB.

    MR seems to just always edge it.

    TB is one of my lesser Flemings, due to the obvious cinematic ambitions perhaps. I prefer the ones that were purely litterature.
  • edited May 2018 Posts: 684
    Strog wrote: »
    MR fights with GF for being my fav.
    For me it's between MR and TB.

    MR seems to just always edge it.

    TB is one of my lesser Flemings, due to the obvious cinematic ambitions perhaps. I prefer the ones that were purely litterature.
    I can understand that. I find TB a cracking thriller, though, as a piece of literature. Maybe it's exactly that it started with cinematic ambition but was translated into literature that gives it a distinct flavor for me? Don't know. Can't ever put it down once I start, that's for sure. Domino might be my favorite of Fleming's female characters.

    Objectively I suppose I really can't name a best book. Especially after my latest read-through of the series (in order for the first time). It's become a sort of landscape with peaks of varying heights and just a few valleys. Sometimes with a fresh read of one novel or another, the peaks change.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I do enjoy TB just the same as all IF. Blofeld s backstory is a riveting read, and one I was happy to see come into fruition in SP somehow, and agree that Domino is an interesting character.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    What novel are we starting now?
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    I read it weeks ago and can go over it this weekend and give my thoughts on it, if that is not out of order for what this thread is doing now.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    OK, so no novel to discuss? All right. I'll be reading From Russia With Love and Col. Sun again this week anyway. ;)
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
    I fully intend to rally and get on to Colonel Sun at some point.
  • Posts: 2,887
    Birdleson wrote: »
    The thread had died.

    "The dead are alive."

  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    Diamonds Are Forever

    Took just a little bit to get going, but once it did, it took off. Loved Bond's journey across the States, his unexpected run-in with Leiter, the mud bath sequence, the characters were sound (Tiffany seems infinitely more manageable in the novels, I'll gladly take a Felix appearance any time, and Ernie made for a great tag-along with Bond, particularly during the entire chase sequence). The finale was excellent; the chase sequence, getting separated from Ernie, the showdown at Spectreville (which I wouldn't have minded Bond spending a little more time at, honestly), and the final throwdown between Bond and Wint and Kidd on the ship is gold. Much more preferable and tense than what we get for the finale of DAF, that is for damn sure.

    2018 Novel Ranking:

    1. CR
    2. MR
    3. LALD
    4. DAF

    Ranking is still "irrelevant" to me thus far because I've loved all four so far. Stayed up late as hell last night getting through the first 40 or 50 pages of FRWL; couldn't put it down, had me hooked already.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Grant is a werewolf.

    Slicing up people during a full moon, I love it. Got to the bit where they even take him to a prison monthly to execute however many subjects are available however he'd like.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    Birdleson wrote: »
    And the absurd curly hairs on his neck and back.

    I believe she even questions his sexuality as she traces and focuses on the hair. I really love just how in-depth they're going into Grant's character. I would've loved to have seen this translated even further on the big screen.
  • Posts: 2,887
    Birdleson wrote: »
    And the absurd curly hairs on his neck and back.

    Including the coccyx, aka tailbone.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    I'd be down to go again. Didn't even get to finish my own novel Bondathon, but would be happy to re-read the ones I already had gone through and keep up with the rest of you guys and gals.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    I got up to and finished FRWL, thoroughly loved my time with them but simply fell out of the habit of reading. Now that I'm back into it lately, we should definitely get this kicked off again.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
    I maybe don't need to read the whole lot again just yet but I'll certainly be interested in what others have to say, and I might well jump in occasionally (what a good excuse to read my Folio Society CR and MR)!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    Count me in as well. I really need to re-read the Fleming Bond novels again and this will hopefully give me the impetus to do so. :)
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,372
    Couldn't agree more with the scheduling and order of books, looks great to me. We could always meet in the middle and give it a flat 10 days to read the book, that should be doable I'd say, or we can stretch/shrink that time as needed if everyone is in agreement with something else. Looking forward to this.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    I'm good with scheduling, if you want me to type one up.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    I graduate in a few weeks, then I can join in.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    I graduate in a few weeks, then I can join in.

    Interesting. What have you been studying, @MaxCasino?
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