682 replies to this topic

[Righty007]

Currently in the process of reading the Gardner novels in order. Just finished No Deals, Mr. Bond.

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)

[OmarB]

Good show Righty! I myself am going through the entire Bond story in order, some I'm thru Higson, Ian, Markham, I'm taking a break and reading a Tom Clancy this weekend (Splinter Cell) then it's back into it with DMC and then on to Gardner. I always loved getting to the Gardner books, there's just something that clicks with his writing style and his portrayal of Bond to me.

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

Goldfinger.

[Bucky]

just finished "High Time to Kill" of Benson's Union Trilogy, am now reading "Doubleshot".

am thinking about ordering The Moneypenny Diaries novels to read when i finish with this trilogy.

[Carver]

I've read 'Devil May Care' up until about chapter 18, but still haven't finished it. Just fell out of love with reading for some bizarre reason, really should get back into it.

[bondrules]

Reading Dr. No again.

It's so erotic the way Fleming fleshes HoneyRyder on those pages. She is such a cock tease.

[zencat]

Decided to re-read Win Lose or Die. Loving it. I've read it twice before, but I've forgotten so much. Benefit of senility. Everything is new.

[Gogol Pushkin]

I'm going to start reading all the books in order later on. Gonna start with Silverfin by Charlie Higson and work my way up to the Flemings. Has anyone else ever done this?

[OmarB]

Yeah, I'm doing that now. I'm actually up to Gardner ... or at least I will be but I took a break to read a Ludlum to switch it up.

[Gogol Pushkin]

Yeah, I'm doing that now. I'm actually up to Gardner ... or at least I will be but I took a break to read a Ludlum to switch it up.

Yeah, I think you need to take a break in between. My plan is to read the Higson novels, take a break and then go straight into Fleming.

[OmarB]

I hear that man, I needed a palate cleanser after DMC and Ludlum always delivers.

[bondrules]

Finished Dr. No a couple of hours ago. Now revisiting TMWTGG.

[Gogol Pushkin]

Started Silverfin earlier on. First time I've read it in a while.

[Righty007]

Currently in the process of reading the Gardner novels in order. Just finished Scorpius.
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)

[sharpshooter]

I'm reading Casino Royale again. Top stuff.

I like that the story is emotionally real. The best Bond stories are the ones that have a human centre. Bond here is as messed up as all of us, and it's almost like a character study. The last half especially. He has a distinct character arc, and that's something of a rare thing. The Bond that we start with gradually changes, only for him to revert back by the end of the book. After the torture, he values life and considers retirement, wondering if he's on the right side. He lets his guard down for love and is betrayed to the point where he will find it very hard to trust anyone again. And with that, you have the basis for Bond's character.

[Turn]

I'm rereading OHMSS. I'd forgotten just how good it was. Finished the Fork Left to Hell chapter last night and looking forward to finishing in the next couple of days.

[Gri007]

I've just finsihed reading 'By Royal Command' and must say it was the best of the Young Bond. Very gripping and loved how Higson developed the story on the maid. Obviously Fleming probably refered to the 'incident' as Bond losing his virginty to her but with it aimed at a younger audience it would have condemned. But either way I'm pleaseed with what Higson had come up with. I'm looking forward to the 'Fette years' and possably the war years

[Goldfinger007]

Believe it or not, I just started reading DEVIL MAY CARE. I'm on chapter 2 and so far so good.

Plan on re-reading all the Bond novels I own...sometime in the near future.

[Righty007]

Currently in the process of reading the Gardner novels in order. Skipped Licence to Kill for the moment and just started Brokenclaw.
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)

[Automan]

Great idea Righty007, although Im struggling to enjoy Licence Renewed.
Tell me do they get better

[Righty007]

Great idea Righty007, although Im struggling to enjoy Licence Renewed.
Tell me do they get better

In my opinion, if you're not enjoying Licence Renewed then you probably won't like the others. Licence Renewed isn't the best Gardner but it sets the tone for his take on the literary Bond.

I suggest finishing Licence Renewed and then giving For Special Services a shot. I like it better because it's got the return of SPECTRE and Cedar Leiter.

[Darth Prefect]

Listening to Live and Let Die read by Simon Vance / Robert Whitfield.

Technically, I'm in the middle of reading Devil May Care, but I can't seem to finish it.

[Darth Prefect]

Okay, finished LALD (quite good, but Simon Vance just doesn't grab me), so now I'm *listening* to Devil May Care as read by Jeremy Northam. Hopefully, it can hold my attention this time.