682 replies to this topic

[Major Tallon]

In the USA, the first weekend of September commemorates Labor Day, a three-day holiday weekend that marks the unofficial end of summer. Back in 1964, I'd just recently heard the news of Ian Fleming's death. The first two Bond movies had been released, and the name James Bond was getting a lot of attention in the media. In my neighborhood, the paperback book racks at the drug store (the chemist's, for my UK friends) were filled with Bond books.

My family was taking a weekend trip, and I needed something to pass the time. I took my pocket money and bought Thunderball. I've never looked back.

So this weekend, it's Thunderball for me.

[Righty007]

Now reading For Special Services. I read it once years ago but I've forgotten most it.

I'm thoroughly enjoying it especially now that Cedar Leiter has entered the story.

Still on For Special Services.

I need to pick up the pace!

Almost done...

[The spy who loved me]

Not currently...YOLT one month ago. Far better than the film of course.

[Cuish]

Octopussy and The Living Daylights

[Eric Stromberg]

FRWL is on tap for my Thanksgiving holiday read. So far I've made my way through YOLT, TB, OHMSS and CR. They've all been good but YOLT stands out as the most enjoyable.

[00Twelve]

YOLT time again. Pleaseohplease let this be done right with Daniel Craig.

[O.H.M.S.S.]

Live and Let Die.

[Eric Stromberg]

YOLT time again. Pleaseohplease let this be done right with Daniel Craig.

I can't see it happening, but...YOLT done right with Craig would be a 007 wet dream.

[Judo chop]

I am not currently reading a 007 novel. But I am currently drinking one of 00Twelve's homebrews.

[St. John Smythe]

I'm reading Goldfinger now, although I'm only on pg. 11, but having just watched it last night, I was excited to see the opening bit with the explosives in Mexico . . . or whatever country it was supposed to be in the film . . . I've never read it before, so I'm excited.

I just finished Octopussy/TLD - first Bond book/stories I've ever read. I quite enjoyed them both. Octopussy-the-story could never be a proper Bond movie obviously, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story-within-a-story of Smythe - well-paced and thrilling. I absolutely loved The Living Daylights. It was very gritty and cold and Soviet gray, and I was pleased that the movie took the story, pretty much kept it intact, and then expanded on it in a very intelligent way, keeping the same sort of Bond personality that appeared in the story.

It's odd, though . . . I've imagined/am imagining Daniel Craig in every one of these stories, not by choice, but by some sort of sub-conscious reflex. I'm hoping Dalton will sneak in and take over, though . . .

[Jeff007]

Rereading On Her Majesty's Secret Service for the holidays.

[Eric Stromberg]

Getting close to finishing From Russia With Love. "Red" Grant has just gotten on the Orient Express and met 007...

[Perilagu Khan]

Currently reading Spy. Viv is just about to meet up with Kurt Rainer. Woe unto Viv!

Incidentally, Fleming's description of the storm at the beginning of this book is some of Fleming's...er...Viv's best writing. Marvellous stuff.

[Ambler]

Currently reading Spy. Viv is just about to meet up with Kurt Rainer. Woe unto Viv!

Incidentally, Fleming's description of the storm at the beginning of this book is some of Fleming's...er...Viv's best writing. Marvellous stuff.

It's a shame Fleming only wrote thrillers. His writing style was suited to many other genres.

I've just been re-reading Casino Royale. A most interesting book that would amuse the Freudians among us.

[Perilagu Khan]

When you're the sort of genius Fleming was, the genre is almost irrelevant. That said, his Thrilling Cities failed to thrill me.

[Salomé]

Currently reading Spy. Viv is just about to meet up with Kurt Rainer. Woe unto Viv!

Incidentally, Fleming's description of the storm at the beginning of this book is some of Fleming's...er...Viv's best writing. Marvellous stuff.

It's a shame Fleming only wrote thrillers. His writing style was suited to many other genres.

I've just been re-reading Casino Royale. A most interesting book that would amuse the Freudians among us.

I recently read a very interesting article - written by a woman no less - that credits men like Ian Fleming and Hugh Hefner for the sexual liberation of women. I think I actually heard the popping heads of some second and third wavers as I was reading it.

Mind you, it's hard to argue against her premise, even if it's unlikely that this was an intended goal of either man.

[00Twelve]

Just finished TMWTGG again. I've got some conflicted feelings on it. On the one hand, it reads more like the earlier Flemings and that's something I personally don't mind at all. Despite the lack of rich characterization and atmosphere that typified the middle and late stages of the Bond canon, I love the flow and tension of the early novels and parts of TMWTGG read quite similarly.

On the other hand, YOLT needed no follow-up, no happy ending. Bond's a haunted figure that deserves his ambiguous fate. It feels quite a bit bogus for things to appear all back to normal for James with a bright future ahead of him back at Regent's Park, conveniently bereft of his knowledge that he's a father and so on. Also, I know that I'm in the minority as a big fan of DAF, and this story is probably the most kin to that one, if any. Moreso, I'd say, than the other Jamaica-based adventures. Why in the world would we want to see Bond back in that type of adventure after the epic one-two punch of OHMSS and YOLT?

Could the story have been richer and deeper had Fleming lived to finish it? Possibly, sure. I'd wonder, though, if any improvement in the narrative could have justified the unnecessary resurrection after such a superb send-off in YOLT.

Still, it's got me in the mood to watch the movie, which happens only once in a while, so I'm happy.

[Agent Leiter]

I should be reading one.

Perhaps over Christmas break...

[Ambler]

I recently read a very interesting article - written by a woman no less - that credits men like Ian Fleming and Hugh Hefner for the sexual liberation of women.

Frank Colton is the forgotten man.

[Salomé]

I recently read a very interesting article - written by a woman no less - that credits men like Ian Fleming and Hugh Hefner for the sexual liberation of women.

Frank Colton is the forgotten man.

Well obviously there is him as well, though on another level. I think she simply meant to say that Hefner and Fleming helped to create a frame of mind to go along with the contraceptives.

[Righty007]

I'm almost done with Icebreaker.

[BryanHerbert]

I am on the verge of finishing Casino Royale, and i must say that this is by far one of the best bond novels i have ever read. The plot is so well written, and the characters like come alive when you read it. It's a great book. If you haven't read it. Get it.

Edited by BryanHerbert, 23 December 2009 - 10:44 AM.

[terminus]

I got the Union Trilogy the other week and am about to settle into rereading the stories contained within (which I read on their initial releases) and seeing if Blast from the Past holds up.

[St. John Smythe]

Reading Goldfinger for the first time. I'm currently on the golf sequence . . . which never seems to end . . . I have to say it's quite boring. The rest of the book has been great so far.

[O.H.M.S.S.]

After finishing Casino Royale and Live and Let Die, I'm reading Moonraker for the moment. Decided to read them chronologically (did the same with the movies, now the books get there go).

[Agent 76]

Yes. Currently I'm on the third chapter of:

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

[Dr.Fell]

I actually just finished reading Diamonds Are Forever. This isn't one of my favorite novels because the situation is rather mundane and the villians are pretty lackluster. Still this adventure is not without it's highlights. I enjoyed the tough as nails Tiffany Case, some of the inner workings of The Spangled Mob, the gruesome death of the Jockey at Acme Mud and Sulfur, and the entire Spectreville sequence.

I think I may pick up On Her Majesty's Secret Service next.

Edited by Dr.Fell, 07 January 2010 - 04:21 AM.

[DavidJones]

Finished Icebreaker today. Now I'm on Role of Honour.

[Dr.Fell]

I decided to read For Your Eyes Only instead. I just finished the namesake story now I am going to read Risico.

[DavidJones]

I read Role of Honour yesterday. I have to say, this is my favourite Gardner book so far. I thought it was terrific. Does anyone know of fan reviews or anything for it - I'd love to hear what others think of it.

I'm reading Nobody Lives Forever at the moment.

Edited by DavidJones, 10 January 2010 - 03:30 PM.