I'm going to go back and read many of them again, but I've only read CR-YOLT once each and all in order. So, based upon opinion at the moment...
These are the ones I
REALLY LIKE
-Casino Royale: Really changed much of the way that I look at Bond. Very mundane novel (which I really like). Very simple plot.
-Live And Let Die: Loved the atmosphere and the pirate gold plot.
-Moonraker: One of the ones I liked best. Very, very, cool detective style for much of it.
And one of my favorite titles.
-From Russia, With Love: I feel obligated to put it down, even though I didn't actually enjoy it as much as some others. I've found that the ones that are very different from the films are the ones I really like. Still, better than the film and very good nonetheless.
-Doctor No: My fave Bond film (tied with TB) and one of my fave Bond novels. Better than the film, and I love the mysterious-man-with-the-island plot.
I like how he keeps track of Bond. The Doc sure knows how to handle things.
-On Her Majesty's Secret Service: 10,000 times better than the film. No Lazenby to completely and utterly destroy the dramatic intent of the story, hurray!!! (I even think Rigg was miscast, but oh well *dodges thrown objects*) This book was a real treat. The film never caught me like it could have with a good actor playing.... sorry, I mean an actor playing James Bond. Tracy was even better. Of course Blofeld was much more potent than Mr. Kojak.
I imagined
a Max Von Sydow-type! Just better than the film in every way.
-You Only Live Twice: This novel was hard to follow for me actually. It was kind of.... bizzare. Ya know, just a tad bizzare. Which I just love. I like bizzare symbolic journeys and YOLT was a wonderful novel. And no trashcan-in-space plot.
THOUGH WERE PRETTY GOOD
Goldfinger: I'll admit... I've never much cared for the knock-off-Fort-Knox caper. But at least it made more sence in the film. Nuking Fort Knox is much more logical (barely) than trying to actually rob it. The climax was kinda- bleh as well. I've also never ever liked the "Okay guys, let's pretend we're asleep while the baddies break into the vault" idear.
I dunno, it was cool to see to Bond pass through my hometown (Louisville, KY) though.
For Your Eyes Only:
-From A View To A Kill: Simple, nice. Not my fave.
-For Your Eyes Only: Getting better. I read it at a lakeside home myself. Scared the crap outta me. lol
-Quantum of Solace: Interesting. Although I figured out who the lady before it was revealed.
-Risico: Cool.
-The Hildebrand Rarity: Fave story in the book.
Thunderball: Read like a screen treatment almost, but I liked it. I miss Fiona Volpe though.
Cool plot, and very well explained. Cleared up a couple of things in the film too.
The Spy Who Loved Me: I liked this pretty well. Not one of my faves, but I have nothing against it really. Part Three is the best though. Very well written.
THOUGHT WERE MEH
Diamonds Are Forever: You were excepting someone else?
Not a terrible book, just not a well balanced one IMHO. Tooooooooooo much time in Saratoga. It would have much cooler if it had taken place more in Las Vegas with Bond under Jack Spang's microscope ala LTK. Train chase was interesting though, and the fight with Wint & Kidd.
Edited by Mansfield 005, 11 January 2004 - 11:45 PM.
