183 replies to this topic

[Hotwinds]

I have read the Flemming novels and the first John Gardner novel only.
I am not a big reader.

[David_M]

Fleming:

All the novels
All the short stories
Thrilling Cities. (Might have read "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" as a child, but can't say for sure. Never come across "Diamond Smugglers")

Colonel Sun: Yes

James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Yes

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 12 out of 14, to my astonishment (I just Googled the titles to refresh my memory. All pretty forgettable. Gave up near the end.)

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 2 (too many)
Number of Raymond Benson James Bond short stories: 1 of 3 (Live At Five)

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories: 0

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3

[blueman]

Everything Fleming wrote.

Markham's Sun.

Both Wood novelizations. That's it.


Okay, a couple of the Gardners when they first came out, but I thought they sucked. And, I am interested in the new Moneypenny Diary books, sounds like a cool idea.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 5/12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: OP&TLD
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0/3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: 0
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: 0

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 0

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels:0
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 0

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? 0

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 0
by John Gardner: 0
by Raymond Benson: 0

[Jaws0178]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 6 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 0 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:
Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: N
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: N
Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 12 out of 14
Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 3 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:
by Christopher Wood: 0 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3

[scottish peasant]

Read all Fleming Bond novels - 3-5 times each
Read all Fleming Bond short stories - 3-5 times each

John Gardner Bond novels: 1 out of 14

Devil May Care: Y

Oh, and the comic strip adaptations as well...

[Joe Bond]

Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 7 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 0 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read: 0 out of 3

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: N
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: N

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 0 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 0 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories: 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? N

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories: 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 0 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 1 out of 3

[Blonde Bond]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 11 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 5 of 9


The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: No
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Yes

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 5 out of 14 (I might have read more, but I just cant tell by just looking at the book names from wikipedia)

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 4 out of 6


Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 1 out of 5 (I'm currently reading my 2nd)

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

It is really a shame , But I've read just...

Fleming: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Doctor No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (just QOS, FYEO and Risico), On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Gardner: GoldenEye Novelization.
Benson: The World is not Enough Novelization.
Faulks: Devil May Care

Higson: Silverfin (the only one published in Spanish)

[eddychaput]

A copy/paste of the poll with my answers inserted:


Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 11 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*: 0

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Y
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: N

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 2 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 1 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read: 0

by Christopher Wood: 0 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3

There you go.

[[dark]]

(Get the Monnypenny Diaries over here. I would read them)

In case you weren't aware, The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel has been published in hardback in the US. No word on the other two volumes, though.

[Hitmonk]

I've read all the Fleming Bonds, but some of them many years ago. Had started re-reading them all in the order of publication, but have kind of paused at Goldfinger. Occasionaly dip in and out of them if I want to refresh on anything.

The only non Fleming Bond I've read are the two Wood novelisations, but again a very long time ago. Tend to be a bit of a purist and don't look too kindly on the continuation stuff. Find the idea of things like Young Bond and The Moneypenny Diaries really abhorrent.

[Sir James Molony]

My responses included below -- I've re-read the Fleming novels more than once, most recently in 2007 when I made a "007 in 2007" vow. The others have just been one time reads. I might go back to Higson (esp. Double or Die) and first Moneypenny Diary at some point, but do not feel compelled to reread Benson. Never liked Gardner.

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 1 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Y
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Y

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 2 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 6 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 1 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 5 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 3 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 1 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 2 out of 3


*I'm excluding the other Glidrose owned originals, The Adventures of James Bond 003.5 by R D Mascott and Bond Strikes Camp by Cyril Connolly

[Double-Oh Agent]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Yes
James Bond: The Authorized Biography Of 007 by John Pearson: Yes

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 14 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 6 out of 6
Number of Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 3 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 3 out of 5 (will read the other two when they are released in the U.S.)
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 3 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 2 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3


They're all worth the read.

[Mr_Wint]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0.5 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Yes
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: No

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 14 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 6 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 1 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? No

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3

[ImTheMoneypenny]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 11 out of 12 ( Moonraker is left to read.)

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): Haven't read them yet.

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: No only because I haven't gotten a hold of a copy to read yet.
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: No

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 1 & 1/2 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 1/2 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 1 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 1 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2 (haven't come across them yet to read.)

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 0 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3


Sadly I have a harder time getting into the continuation books. The Moneypenny Diaries aside, the rest I don't really enjoy. Not like Fleming Bond.

[00Twelve]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 1 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: N
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: N

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 5 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 6 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 1 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 0 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 1 out of 3

Really want to read Amis', Pearson's, and Wood's works though.

[Safari Suit]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 (I think!) out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: No, but I have it.
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: No, but I have read a smidgen of it from my Uni library.

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 3 out of 14. Quite impressed. Would like to read more, particularly Icebreaker or Role of Honour, but they are (relatively) difficult to find.

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 1-ish out of 6. Read a bit of one of them once. Wasn't too impressed. Which one has a story involving the making of a movie? Rather liked the sound of that one.
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes. Starts well, but quickly deteriorates.

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 1 out of 5 (Blood Fever)

That's my stop.

[dee-bee-five]

I'm curious as to how people view the literary Bond on this site.
I wonder if people might like to complete this poll?


Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: ? out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: ? out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): ? out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Y/N
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Y/N

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: ? out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: ? out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): ? out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y/N

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: ? out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: ? out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): ? out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: ? out of 2
by John Gardner: ? out of 2
by Raymond Benson: ? out of 3


*I'm excluding the other Glidrose owned originals, The Adventures of James Bond 003.5 by R D Mascott and Bond Strikes Camp by Cyril Connolly

Oh dear, I seem to have read everything. Including The Adventures of James Bond 003.5. I think I'll get me anorak...

[plankattack]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 5 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Y
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: N

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels:6 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels:0 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels:0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels:0 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 0 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3


IO've also read Winder's "Man who Saved Britain," Benson's Bedside Companion, Cork's "the Legacy, and I used to own Steven Jay Rubin's book from way back but I have no idea what happened to it!

[Greene Planet]

5 Fleming Novels
1 Gardner
2 Benson Novels
4 Higson novels
1 Fleming Short

[FLEMINGFAN]

Great topic and very informative as far as connecting the member's viewpoints with their exposure to the scriptures, as well as the other releases.

Happily, I have read them all and look forward to anything new that comes out.

Good or bad, one always welcomes something in the literary canon.

[Revelator]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read: 3 out of 3

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Yes
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Yes

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 14 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 1 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories: 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 0 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:
by Christopher Wood: 0 out of 2
by John Gardner: 1 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3

I also have all the Daily Express comics of Fleming's work (all 12 novels and 8 short story adaptations).
I'm actually shocked to realize that I read all of Gardner's crummy Bond continuations--in my defense, I was in middle school at the time and blame it all on the excesses of foolish youth. What I read of Benson was no better, and though I enjoyed Amis' book I have reached the conclusion that the only literary Bond fiction worth reading is the authentic article. Just as I do not bother with Sherlock Holmes pastiches, because they can never capture the idiosyncratic essence of Doyle, I no longer bother with Fleming recreations.

Edited by Revelator, 16 March 2009 - 08:30 PM.

[jwheels]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Y
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Y

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 14 out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 6 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 1 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 5 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 1 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3

[HildebrandRarity]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 8 out of 9 (I count only eight: the five in FYEO and the three in OP&TLD - what am I overlooking?)

OO7 In New York

It's added in 2008's "Quqntum Of Solace", the movie tie-in offering last year.

I counted that one already. I still count only eight Fleming short stories, not nine:

1. FROM A VIEW TO A KILL

2. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

3. QUANTUM OF SOLACE

4. RISICO

5. THE HILDEBRAND RARITY

6. OCTOPUSSY

7. THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS

8. 007 IN NEW YORK

Property Of A Lady

It was in O&TLD originally so I thought that it was one of your eight.

[tristanjblythe]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:
Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Y
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: N
Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 14 out of 14
Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 6 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 1 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:
by Christopher Wood: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3

[Dainshdude118]

All the Fleming Bond novels and shorts, all the young bond books, devil may care and colonal sun (plus all the laurence/horak comics)

[Bill]

I read all of the Fleming Bond novels and short stories (including 007 in New York). I read most of Thrilling Cities, and have yet to read Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I have not read The Diamond Smugglers, but only because I have never found a copy.

I read all of the continuation novels by Amis, Gardner and Benson. I have read all of Benson's short stories, including the expanded version of Blast from the Past (it is in his Union Trilogy collection.)

I read the first three of Charles Higson's Young Bond novels, and am looking forth to the publication of the fourth here in the US next month. I also read the first of Samantha Weinberg's Moneypenny Diaries. I realize that there are more from both Higson and Weinberg, which were published in England, and simply have not got around to ordering them. I also realize that there are some Moneypenny short stories which were published in magazines but I have never seen them.

I read John Pearson's Authorized Biography, and all of the Wood, Gardner and Benson novelizations. I also read Sebastian Faulk's Devil May Care.

You skipped John Peel's novelizations of the James Bond Junior cartoon, and before any of you scream about their inclusion, let me just say that I read the first book, which is a novelization of the first episode, and it is not bad.

You did not ask for ranking of these books and stories, but, for the record, Fleming was the master, Amis did a nice job, and Gardner was excellent in keeping Bond relevant in the period he was writing without resorting to a reboot. Benson was also excellent, as his stories were written at the time the Brosnan films were released, and he did a bang up job of incorporating some of the new elements of those films into his writing and still serving as the true successor to Fleming and Gardner. His and Gardner's novelizations served the same purpose, and managed to place them into continuity with their novels. Christopher Wood did a superb job of making his noveliztions true successors to the literary Bond.

Recent output has been terrific as far as Higson and Weinberg are concerned. Higson does a great job of fleshing out Bond's background, and Weinberg does as great a job as the excellent Pearson did in making Bond's life "real". The only true disappointment of all of these books and stories was Devil May Care. The one literary Bond adventure for which the word mediocre seems to have been invented.

Bill

[Loomis]

You skipped John Peel's novelizations of the James Bond Junior cartoon

Didn't even know they existed.

[stromberg]

Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 11 out of 12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 0 out of 3

The official Glidrose/IFP Continuation Novels I have read*:

Colonel Sun by Robert Markham/Kingsly Amis: Halfway through need to pick it up again asap (stopped because lack of time, not lack of interest or pleasure)
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: YES

Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 1 3/4 (or so) out of 14

Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: 0 out of 6
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 0 out of 3

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? YES

Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 5 out of 5
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories: 0 out of 2

The official tie-in novelizations I have read:

by Christopher Wood: 1 out of 2
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 1 out of 3