682 replies to this topic

[quantumofsolace]

Just read DEATHWING. I think it's one of the better non Fleming strips. It has some good action such as the whistle explosives and the DW itself. However, the girl is stupid(as is mostly the case in the strips) and unconvincing in her motivations. The locations are boring (London and New York),the exception being Madeira,but it is used only too briefly. But overall this was more than okay because of some snappy dialogue,a comfortable narrative structure and suitable artwork.

Edited by quantumofsolace, 15 January 2010 - 04:47 PM.

[Cuish]

Moonraker - My second favourite 007 novel after On Her Majesty's Secret Service. While I like the 1979 film as a grand-escapist-not-meant-to-take-seriously kind of film, I really do wish they would hurry up and do this novel properly, especially now with Craig's Bond.

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

Octopussy and The Living Daylights (The Property of a Lady).

[Brian Flagg]

Last night I started re-reading Doctor No. This time around I'm appreciating Fleming's words and the images he paints with them. The first chapter is wonderfully evocative, recreating dusk after a day's work. The second chapter vividly captures the cold, harsh sleet of March in London. The dark comfort of M's office with the rain pouncing off the windows is great. The third chapter, with Bond arriving in sunny Jamaica is reminscent of the best "Bond arriving" in the films, like "Into Miami" from GF and arrival in the Bahamas from CR. I could practically hear John Barry's music playing over the beautiful blue ocean, green valleys, and mountain scenery. It's all hitting me just right.

Edited by Brian Flagg, 18 January 2010 - 07:55 PM.

[DavidJones]

I'm reading No Deals, Mr Bond at the moment.

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

Dr. No, enjoying it to the full.

[Quantumofsolace007]

Seafire...


So far it's pretty good.

If news ever picks up on bond 23 i may re read the short stories (especially the ones whose titles still sit on the unsued colom)

[Genuine Felix Leiter]

Casino Royale. Was sorting out my book shelf yesterday, grabbed my copy, read a bit of The Secret Agent and just fell into it again. Think I'll make this the start of a grand re-reading of Fleming's novels.

Book shelf still isn't sorted, though.

[jrcjohnny99]

I started re-reading all the novels about a year ago, interspersed with other books;
I'm half way thru Goldfinger and throroughly enjoying it;
I've read all the books multiple times before and LALD, FRWL and OHMSS have always been my 3 faves tho Goldfinger gets close...

[DavidJones]

I'm on Dr No at the minute.

[crheath]

I'm reading Live and Let Die right now. I decided I'm going to reread all of the books picturing Daniel Craig as Bond. I disagreed with people who said he was the closest to Fleming's description of Bond before. But I'm halfway through and I've changed my mind.

[Brian Flagg]

Starting Goldfinger this evening; it'll be my first time reading it.

[DouglasJ]

Just finished Casino Royale. I try to make a run through of the Flemings at least once a year. Normally I blow through the lor of them in a fortnight, but I've decided to take my time this time.

[Messervy]

I started re-reading all the novels about a year ago, interspersed with other books;
I'm half way thru Goldfinger and throroughly enjoying it;

Same with me. Re-reading the whole, and almost finished with Goldfinger.
I must say until now my all-time favorites were Moonraker and CR, but I find in Goldfinger lots of qualities I missed the first time I read it. I just positively love the atmosphere: high life (DB III, caviar, gold, etc.) yet actual danger (Oddjob's "massage", the saw, etc.). It's actually the first novel in the series where one can truly fear for Bond's life (I never really feared for him in LALD, DAF or DN, for instance).

[darkpath]

I'm a few pages from finishing Hurricane Gold.

[godwulf]

Reading through the books in order, and currently into Scorpius by Gardner.

Obviously, I haven't gotten to the Raymond Benson novels yet, but I've been thinking about something, relating to Benson being an American. One of the things I've really enjoyed about the Bond books that I've read - in all of Fleming, in Amis, in Pearson, and in Gardner, so far - is the very British-ness of the narration and dialogue...even the occasional word or phrase that I (as a Yank) have to stop and look up. (Like "anorak". About the third time someone in Icebreaker was described as wearing one, curiosity got the better of me.)

It truly does add something - some sense of authenticity, I think - to my enjoyment of the writing. I'm hoping, of course, that the switch-over, after Cold, won't be too jarring.

But back to Scorpius. A bit on the "talky" side, so far - I'm a bit less than halfway through - but there has been some action, though Bond is responsible for very little of it. "Pearly" drives the getaway car, Ms Horner beats up on the bad guys, Danny and Todd battle the intruders...hey, I understand that, strictly speaking, Bond is pushing 70 by this time, but we really don't want to think about that, do we?

Edited by godwulf, 12 April 2010 - 01:47 PM.

[Righty007]

Currently in the process of reading the Gardner novels in order:

License Renewed (1981)
For Special Services (1982)
Icebreaker (1983)
Role of Honor (1984)
Nobody Lives Forever (1986)
No Deals, Mr. Bond (1987)
Scorpius (1988)
Win, Lose or Die (1989)
Licence to Kill (1989)
Brokenclaw (1990)
The Man from Barbarossa (1991)
Death Is Forever (1992)
Never Send Flowers (1993)
SeaFire (1994)
GoldenEye (1995)
Cold Fall (1996)

[Jeff007]

Taking on Brokenclaw right now.

[Major Tallon]

In preparation for the 007 tour of Europe this summer, starting in Venice, it's time to re-read Death is Forever.

[Righty007]

Currently in the process of reading the Gardner novels in order. Just finished Role Of Honour.

License Renewed (1981)
For Special Services (1982)
Icebreaker (1983)
Role of Honor (1984)
Nobody Lives Forever (1986)
No Deals, Mr. Bond (1987)
Scorpius (1988)
Win, Lose or Die (1989)
Licence to Kill (1989)
Brokenclaw (1990)
The Man from Barbarossa (1991)
Death Is Forever (1992)
Never Send Flowers (1993)
SeaFire (1994)
GoldenEye (1995)
Cold Fall (1996)

[Syndicate]

Just finish reading the The Faithful Spy by by Alex Berenson,and was think either Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn, A Most Wanted Man by John Le Caree(Borders and Barnes And Noble don't have the hardcover at bargin price yet) or reread Role Of Honor. I also have Ghost War by by Alex Berenson, just got it t bargin price. But not going to read it for now. Stopping for now, until some other time on his stuff.

For now I went with rereading Role Of Honor. But if I see A Most Wanted start selling at bargin price, I might switch over when I get it.

[Righty007]

I'm currently reading Goldfinger.

Never did finish Goldfinger.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

I'll start with Thunderball soon. Or maybe finish For Your Eyes Only (some stories left: THR, FAVTAK)

[Jeff007]

I'm on Brokenclaw right now. Got through a lot of it on the first day and haven't picked it up in a while now. Time to get back at it.

[Righty007]

Currently in the process of reading the Gardner novels in order. Just finished Nobody Lives Forever.

License Renewed (1981)
For Special Services (1982)
Icebreaker (1983)
Role of Honor (1984)
Nobody Lives Forever (1986)
No Deals, Mr. Bond (1987)
Scorpius (1988)
Win, Lose or Die (1989)
Licence to Kill (1989)
Brokenclaw (1990)
The Man from Barbarossa (1991)
Death Is Forever (1992)
Never Send Flowers (1993)
SeaFire (1994)
GoldenEye (1995)
Cold Fall (1996)

[coco1997]

Started "Brokenclaw" last night.

[Jose]

I think I'm always going to be stuck on the first page of Live and Let Die

[whiteskwirl]

I started reading For Special Services yesterday. I'm about 100 or so pages in. So far it's pretty disappointing. Not very well-written at all, and Bond hasn't been very good at his job. He's too careless. Why would Bond take the elevator at all, given how he's worried about being followed? And of course, the trouble starts once Bond and Cedar stop their reconnaissance and go flirt in their hotel room.

[zencat]

Reading Role of Honor and really enjoying it. So much fun to revisit these books every decade or so. This is my third read and the best.

[Jim]

Reading Role of Honor and really enjoying it. So much fun to revisit these books every decade or so. This is my third read and the best.

Yes, I read it again recently and thought it was corking, much better than I ever remembered - forgotten all about the lovely atmospheric gambling and wining/dining scenes in the South of France at the start-ish of the story; very Bond, much more Bond than I recalled. The computer stuff is now quaint but... oddly prescient. Good fun.