92 replies to this topic

[Bon-san]

"From Russia, With Love," is my favorite. Looking back on it during my first read, I didn't think that it would be, since it seems like a while before Bond enters the story. But the beginning description of SMERSH operations and the realism and accuracy of it all is very exciting. I would argue that it could even be considered historical, if Fleming got it right, which I'm sure he did.
But I enjoyed all of the novels. Except that I have never found a copy of "The Spy Who Loved Me," so I have never read it, nor really wish to. I had heard that it was Fleming's least favorite, and taken first person from the woman's point of view. What does everyone else think of it? Should I try to hunt down a copy?

Yes. It's a different approach to a James Bond story, but if you are a fan of Fleming's other work, I believe you will find it rewarding (perhaps even moreso than some of his other novels).

[Turn]

I also put FRWL top and switch the others around according to mood. For me, FRWL is the pinnacle of thriller-writing. Everything comes together. The plot is near-flawless, the pacing perfect, the characterisation surprisingly in-depth, the prose is the most consistently assured. I find it his most satisfying, exciting and coherent book. While parts of others better it, as a whole FRWL seems to me the best of his novels. But I think his best short stories are even better.

My thoughts as well. I'll add that it's quite a feat when a novel can absorb you when the main character doesn't even appear in the first third of the book.

[Andrew]

Except that I have never found a copy of "The Spy Who Loved Me," so I have never read it, nor really wish to. I had heard that it was Fleming's least favorite, and taken first person from the woman's point of view. What does everyone else think of it? Should I try to hunt down a copy?

Personally, I love TSWLM. Sure it isn't a story about Bond but the villians in it are top notch and once Bond enters...oh my!

[Flash1087]

Casino Royale is my all-time favorite Bond novel.

It might just be my all-time favorite book in general, actually.

Live and Let Die and Moonraker are both tied for second (as I couldn't bear to choose one over the other), and Thunderball is third for me.

I never really ranked them farther than that...

[Qwerty]

Should I try to hunt down a copy?

Without a doubt, yes!

[Robert Watts]

"From Russia, With Love," is my favorite. Looking back on it during my first read, I didn't think that it would be, since it seems like a while before Bond enters the story. But the beginning description of SMERSH operations and the realism and accuracy of it all is very exciting. I would argue that it could even be considered historical, if Fleming got it right, which I'm sure he did.

He didn't unfortunately, a British tourist scouted out the address etc and found a three story white building with markets on the first floor and shabby looking windows on the other two floors.

He wrote about this to Fleming, and Fleming apologised, and he in no way meant to be unfactual.

[SecretAgent007]

My two least favorite Fleming's are Casino Royale, and YOLT. CR is more of an extended short story. The climax happens half way through the book. The whole plot structure is rudimentary. I find YOLT the most boring of the Fleming novels/short stories. About a third of it is like reading a travel brochure. Magic 44 is never properly explained, and there isn't enough interaction between Blofeld and Bond.

Having said all that I still like both books, and probably have read each about 50 times.

My favorite one is OHMSS. And a close second is Moonraker, just for the simple fact that it was the first Bond novel that I read.

[Double-0-Seven]

I really enjoyed Live and Let Die, so I would say that one is my favorite. I don't really have a least favorite and I haven't read any of his short stories.

[Matt_13]

Live and Let Die is my favorite, why I don't know. The Spy Who Loved Me bored the living hell out of me so thats my least favorite. QoS is my favorite short story although it had been FAVTAK. QoS is a brutal story in which Fleming most excells in his story telling ability and descriptive powers of the characters and their feelings.

[Johnboy007]

You Only Live Twice is easily my favorite. Perhaps the only time in Bond history that a truly broken, humiliated, and defeated James Bond is effective.

Diamonds are Forever is last. It's not particularly fun, interesting, or thrilling. It is bogged down with nothingness.

Quantum of Solace for best short story. Don't really have a reason, just is.

[ThunderhearT]

Forgive me but, Ive only read Casino Royale

and its an excellent book Yeah Im a light fan but I know more than most people in my town haha.

[Qwerty]

Forgive me but, Ive only read Casino Royale

and its an excellent book Yeah Im a light fan but I know more than most people in my town haha.

I urge you to join the and add some reviews: http://debrief.comma...showtopic=26772

[Shadow Syndicate]

Live and Let Die is the best. The train, the Scubba Diving, and the one hell of an ending that has Mr. Big getting munched on. Plus it had Felix. That always helps

[MHazard]

Okay, an obvious post. What's your favorite and your least favorite Bond book? My favorite is OHMSS and my least favorite is the SWLM. Is there anyone who likes SWLM better than one of the others?

[Qwerty]

Topics merged.

[MHazard]

Now I understand why no one was responding to my post on favorite/least favorite Bond novels. My favorite is OHMSS as it has the emotional growth of Bond, skiing (I'm a skier), leads into the beginning of YOLT, and is just a really good book. My least favorite is Spy Who Loved Me for reasons which should be obvious. I was surprised that more voters picked Diamonds Are Forever as their least favorite book, although it does drag in the Saratoga parts. But, an interesting topic.

[00Twelve]

My fave novel is of course...well, check my sig.

The tension, action, and use of Jamaica's climate are superb. The racial element doesn't bother me. And the vodou threat was played well here, much more eerie than the cinematic version.

As the short stories go, I loved FAVTAK (though perhaps right on par with TLD and Risico), and am still lamenting never having seen that story adapted for film.

Wasn't much on TSWLM. But that's okay...neither was Fleming, in hindsight.

[DLibrasnow]

I picked On Her Majesty's Secret Service, though From Russia, With Love and Moonraker were a close second and third.

[jimbo bond 007]

From Russia With love always sits at the top of my list. Then Casino Royale, Majesty's Secret Service, Thunderball and Goldfinger chop and change in my top five. I think The Man With The Golden Gun was my least favourite.

I don't think Fleming ever really got as close to the perfect thriller again as he did with From Russia With Love. For me it has all the right ingredients and more importantly in the right order and quantity.

Edited by jimbo bond 007, 17 April 2007 - 04:26 PM.

[Blabbermouth]

Favorite: Live and Let Die - love the scenes in NYC and has an incredible aray of characters Leiter, Mr. Big, Solitaire, The Robber.

Least favorite: The Spy Who Loved Me - too little of Bond

Favorite short story: For Your Eyes Only - like the idea of Bond doing M a favour.

[TheREAL008]

My favorite: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. To me, It represents a ten year anneversary of James Bond. The way Ian wrote about Tracy at the beach, to the interview with Marc Ange Draco, and of Bond having to escape from Piz Gloria leave a lasting impression.

With Casino Royale and FRWL as a close second and third.

Least Favorite: The Spy Who Loved Me, simply because it WASN'T a James Bond novel. I don't hate the book but it was too short and the main character was just...well to put in nice terms: an airhead. And any book that had James Bond appear in the ending section isn't a James Bond book but a novel that has a Bond cameo instead.

Favorite short story: Quantim of SOlace, wonderfully writtren

[forever bond]

i like all the novels so far because i have only read CR, LAND,MR,DRF,YOLT,TMWTGG

[Lazlow]

I haven't read too much novels. In Hungary (where I live) only a few novels were published in hungarian, and it is impossible to obtain them. The first one I read was 'From Russia with love', which I borrowed from a library. I've found the others in a book shop, which somehow had some.

My favourite is 'Doctor No'. It was a very exciting story. My other favourite is 'From Russia with love'. I've read it in only three days.

[dalivan]

Novels in order:
1. You Only Live Twice
2. On Her Majesties Secret Service
3. From Russia With Love
4. Moonraker
5. Doctor No
6. Live And Let Die
7. Diamonds Are Forever
8. Goldfinger
9. The Man with The Golden Gun
10. The Spy Who Loved Me

Short Stories:
1. The Hilibard Rarity
2. Quantom of Solace
3. Risico
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. From A View To A Kill

[Mr Twilight]

My ranking of the novels
1. You only live twice
2. On her majesty's secret service
3. From russia with love
4. Casino Royale
5. Dr No
6. Live and let die
7. Moonraker
8. Thunderball
9. Goldfinger
10.Man with the golden gun
11.Diamonds are forever
12.The spy who loved me

Doesn't count the short story collections

My ranking of the short storys
1. Octopussy
2. Quantum of Solace
3. From a view to a kill
4. For your eyes only
5. Risico
6. Living daylights
7. The Property of a Lady
8. Hildebrandt rarity
9. 007 in New York

[Vauxhall]

Was surprised to discover that I hadn't come across this thread before! I chose FROM WITH RUSSIA WITH LOVE as my favourite, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME as my least favourite and QUANTUM OF SOLACE for the short stories. All seem quite popular choices!

[Mr. Du Pont]

I wish it were possible to vote for the SPECTRE Trilogy. I voted for On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but it's hard to separate it from the revenge of You Only Live Twice.

[Pete]

From Russia With Love for me as the best but it's followed closely by Moonraker & OHMSS. My least favourite, not keen on Dr.No but I've never read TSWLM (although it is sitting at home awaiting a read). Short stories, Quantum of Solice = Hildebrant Rarity.

[sharpshooter]

I am usually a 'no preferance' when it comes to Bond novels. They are have equally good elements to them. But, it is currently Thunderball for me. I like the plot layout especially. The Bahamas is 007 country, the ocean, the women, the sun and the casino.

[Scaramanga'74]

From Russia With Love remains the all time vintage Cold War thriller. Fleming was in top form with a host of spectacular characters, unforgettable locale and a tense, edge-of-your-seat plot. This was the first novel to introduce me to the brutally tantalising world of agent 007. Once I entered it, there