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Who has read the James Bond novels?
Started by
ACE
, Mar 13 2009 04:29 PM
183 replies to this topic
#153
Dustin
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Posted 27 June 2011 - 06:16 PM
Death Is Forever. I had it at the time but could not read it due to work, just browsed a bit as you do when you are curious but not enough to really start it. After a few months I forgot about DIF. Later I moved and afterwards couldn't find it any more in my stuff. Took me a bit to get a copy later and now it's waiting for me on my desk.
#154
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Posted 27 June 2011 - 06:31 PM
To those who have read the lot, what do you do for your Bond fix? Reread? Do you think you suffer more when a new novel isn't up to it?
#155
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Posted 27 June 2011 - 07:28 PM
Finished the Diamond Smugglers about a month ago. Fleming is a really good writer, such an interesting and vivid, sometimes exciting read, even though it 's just a journalistic report. I enjoyed it a lot more than most non-Fleming Bond novels I 've read recently!
#156
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Posted 27 June 2011 - 07:32 PM
I used to reread a lot but came off that in recent years. There are at least several zillion good books - and not just thrillers either. So I try to keep fairly open, read different things and sometimes imagine how a theme or a plot might work with Bond as protagonist or what a Bond book by some other author could read like.
Then there are of course other writers who tickle similar nerves the Bond books do. Check out some of Alistair MacLean's better works or Jack Higgins's. Then there are a few quite entertaining Man From UNCLE books, the books of Eric Ambler, some Desmond Bagley, the odd Allbeury, leCarre, O'Donnell, Hall, MacDonald and so on. None of them is Fleming, of course. But they each have their own qualities and are worth a go if you want to take a look beyond the Bond-horizon.
Then there are of course other writers who tickle similar nerves the Bond books do. Check out some of Alistair MacLean's better works or Jack Higgins's. Then there are a few quite entertaining Man From UNCLE books, the books of Eric Ambler, some Desmond Bagley, the odd Allbeury, leCarre, O'Donnell, Hall, MacDonald and so on. None of them is Fleming, of course. But they each have their own qualities and are worth a go if you want to take a look beyond the Bond-horizon.
#157
Klaus_Hergesheimer
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Posted 27 June 2011 - 07:59 PM
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: 1 out of 6 (Just been reading through all 007 novels in order and am at this spot!)
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
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? Y (In progress)
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels (including short story, A Hard Man To Kill): 0 out of 6
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: .5 out of 2 (Tried to read License to Kill, got bored)
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3
Hope this all helps. As I've said I've been going through the books in order (kinda) since last summer and taking a break from the Benson era to read Carte Blanche currently.
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: 1 out of 6 (Just been reading through all 007 novels in order and am at this spot!)
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
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? Y (In progress)
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels (including short story, A Hard Man To Kill): 0 out of 6
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: .5 out of 2 (Tried to read License to Kill, got bored)
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3
Hope this all helps. As I've said I've been going through the books in order (kinda) since last summer and taking a break from the Benson era to read Carte Blanche currently.
#158
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Posted 27 June 2011 - 10:10 PM
What's this "State of Excitment" at the Lilly I read about earlier in this thread? A collection of Fleming Journalism? Refresh my memory......unless this is a new one on me!.....?!
#159
ACE
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Posted 27 June 2011 - 11:39 PM
An unpublished work of non-fiction Fleming was commissioned by the Kuwati Government to write. The book was Fleming's impressions of Kuwait but suppressed on submission because it wasn't "on message". It's very good, vintage Fleming.What's this "State of Excitment" at the Lilly I read about earlier in this thread? A collection of Fleming Journalism? Refresh my memory......unless this is a new one on me!.....?!
Jump James, even if one has read everything, there's always more to explore: the works of Peter and Nicol Fleming, other practitioners of the genre, the non-Bond works of continuation authors, the writers that inspired Ian, non-fiction work on espionage, history, writing and, erm, just other books! And, of course, the literary equivalent of a warm bath: re-reading a favourite Fleming moment.
#160
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Posted 28 June 2011 - 07:32 AM
Ah-ha. Kuwait, yes. Thank you ACE. 
#161
Odd Jobbies
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Posted 28 June 2011 - 10:18 AM
I've read all of the Ian Fleming novels (a couple twice).
My favourites are MR (high stake gambling on amphetamines at M's private club - gripping).
FRWL (the dossier-beginning and the best ending ever).
OHMSS (definitive).
YOLT (third climactic act and the fourth 'epilogue' act are sublime. Saved, or perhaps doomed, by toilet paper, brilliant!). Apparently Fleming wanted this to be the last book - a pretty cruel cliffhanger!
The opening of TMWTGG is great - pity Fleming couldn't finish it.
What stands out is that there is a real character arc for Bond running through the novels, as he tries to keep believing in his job, but ultimately has to be 'reset' by his enemy, the Russians at the end of the series. This brings him nicely full circle since it was his nemesis that set his ruthless character in the opening book by making him fall for their [blackmailed] spy Vesper.
Each book is a continuation - a sequel. Some are direct sequels (YOLT into TMWTGG). Many start with Bond's recovery from the previous instalment. Sad that this was never really utilised in the movies (only in spirit with their invention of the pre-titles sequence), and it's ironic that QoS is seen as novel in being a sequel...
I've read the Amis book, Colonel Sun. It has a fantastic opening that Fleming would've been proud of, but never really finds that razor sharp story telling thereafter.
I've also read Faulks' Devil May Care: Nearer his own book Pastiche than Fleming. Moments are very gratifying, but as a whole it's more comic strip than the gritty, coffee & killing cynicism that lay at the heart of Flemings tragic hero.
Faulks gets the macabre nature of the Fleming's antagonists, but not that of Bond himself - the notion that while he hates his adversaries, he also needs them - they give him a reason to be; one feeds the other. When Fleming's Bond kills for king and country it's catharsis for his troubles and failings; Those he loves most die violently - from his parents to his loves; when he finds a way out of the game in CR & OHMSS, it's taken from him in a violent way and so he needs violent revenge and the cycle continues. Faulk's Bond was more of an Errol Flynn cavalier hero - not quite as compelling.
I read Pearson biography and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have Deaver's Carte Blanche and can't wait to get stuck in. He's had the advantage of writing it at a time when we have an actor portraying a truely Fleming Bond (pity they softened up the end of Casino Royale - they should've been braver with 'The bitch is dead' line.
Other writers, including Fleming to some extent, must have felt the pressure from the film studio, but moreover from cinema-going public perception of the character to align their Bond with the the current screen incarnation, which has always been a different proposition to that being carved out by Fleming.
However, Craig is most certainly IMO the closest, in his complex, anti-hero performance, to Fleming's original proposition of the character. So not having to align his version of a complex ruthless sanctioned killer with a current softer, simplified family friendly and therefore inferior screen representation gives Deaver the best opportunity to successfully modernise Bond without sacrificing any of the traits and darker nuances that made the character live and breath on the page.
I read one Gardner (Licence Revoked) and frankly it was more cheesy 80's era Moore Bond that Fleming, so i decided not to tarnish things further with anymore Gardner's. I lumped Benson in with that decision, but if anyone can point me to a Gardner or Benson that's of far better quality than Licence Revoked and is Fleming-esque, i'd gratefully give it a go.
My favourites are MR (high stake gambling on amphetamines at M's private club - gripping).
FRWL (the dossier-beginning and the best ending ever).
OHMSS (definitive).
YOLT (third climactic act and the fourth 'epilogue' act are sublime. Saved, or perhaps doomed, by toilet paper, brilliant!). Apparently Fleming wanted this to be the last book - a pretty cruel cliffhanger!
The opening of TMWTGG is great - pity Fleming couldn't finish it.
What stands out is that there is a real character arc for Bond running through the novels, as he tries to keep believing in his job, but ultimately has to be 'reset' by his enemy, the Russians at the end of the series. This brings him nicely full circle since it was his nemesis that set his ruthless character in the opening book by making him fall for their [blackmailed] spy Vesper.
Each book is a continuation - a sequel. Some are direct sequels (YOLT into TMWTGG). Many start with Bond's recovery from the previous instalment. Sad that this was never really utilised in the movies (only in spirit with their invention of the pre-titles sequence), and it's ironic that QoS is seen as novel in being a sequel...
I've read the Amis book, Colonel Sun. It has a fantastic opening that Fleming would've been proud of, but never really finds that razor sharp story telling thereafter.
I've also read Faulks' Devil May Care: Nearer his own book Pastiche than Fleming. Moments are very gratifying, but as a whole it's more comic strip than the gritty, coffee & killing cynicism that lay at the heart of Flemings tragic hero.
Faulks gets the macabre nature of the Fleming's antagonists, but not that of Bond himself - the notion that while he hates his adversaries, he also needs them - they give him a reason to be; one feeds the other. When Fleming's Bond kills for king and country it's catharsis for his troubles and failings; Those he loves most die violently - from his parents to his loves; when he finds a way out of the game in CR & OHMSS, it's taken from him in a violent way and so he needs violent revenge and the cycle continues. Faulk's Bond was more of an Errol Flynn cavalier hero - not quite as compelling.
I read Pearson biography and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have Deaver's Carte Blanche and can't wait to get stuck in. He's had the advantage of writing it at a time when we have an actor portraying a truely Fleming Bond (pity they softened up the end of Casino Royale - they should've been braver with 'The bitch is dead' line.
Other writers, including Fleming to some extent, must have felt the pressure from the film studio, but moreover from cinema-going public perception of the character to align their Bond with the the current screen incarnation, which has always been a different proposition to that being carved out by Fleming.
However, Craig is most certainly IMO the closest, in his complex, anti-hero performance, to Fleming's original proposition of the character. So not having to align his version of a complex ruthless sanctioned killer with a current softer, simplified family friendly and therefore inferior screen representation gives Deaver the best opportunity to successfully modernise Bond without sacrificing any of the traits and darker nuances that made the character live and breath on the page.
I read one Gardner (Licence Revoked) and frankly it was more cheesy 80's era Moore Bond that Fleming, so i decided not to tarnish things further with anymore Gardner's. I lumped Benson in with that decision, but if anyone can point me to a Gardner or Benson that's of far better quality than Licence Revoked and is Fleming-esque, i'd gratefully give it a go.
#162
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Posted 29 June 2011 - 12:45 AM
UPDATE:
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: No
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: No
Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 8 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? Yes
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? Yes
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 3 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
#163
dlb007
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Posted 29 June 2011 - 02:35 AM
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 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): 0 out of 3
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? 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: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3
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 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): 0 out of 3
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Yes
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? 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: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3
#164
chrisno1
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Posted 29 June 2011 - 08:03 PM
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: ? out of 12
12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: ? out of 9
9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): ? out of 3
1 - I've found the other two too expensive on amazon etc, my local library does not help.
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: ? out of 14
14
Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: ? out of 6
6
Number of Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): ? out of 3
NIL - I am a lazy collector and these are too awkward to collect as they only appear with other novels I already own; be different if they published them together.
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: ? out of 6
6
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: ? out of 3
NIL - I am still considering whether these really require reading
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): ? out of 2
NIL - ditto above
The official tie-in novelizations I have read:
by Christopher Wood: ? out of 2
2
by John Gardner: ? out of 2
2
by Raymond Benson: ? out of 3
3
I seem to be a bit late on the uptake. Thanks for the email, hope this is useful.
12
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: ? out of 9
9
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): ? out of 3
1 - I've found the other two too expensive on amazon etc, my local library does not help.
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: ? out of 14
14
Number of original Raymond Benson James Bond novels: ? out of 6
6
Number of Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): ? out of 3
NIL - I am a lazy collector and these are too awkward to collect as they only appear with other novels I already own; be different if they published them together.
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: ? out of 6
6
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: ? out of 3
NIL - I am still considering whether these really require reading
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): ? out of 2
NIL - ditto above
The official tie-in novelizations I have read:
by Christopher Wood: ? out of 2
2
by John Gardner: ? out of 2
2
by Raymond Benson: ? out of 3
3
I seem to be a bit late on the uptake. Thanks for the email, hope this is useful.
Edited by chrisno1, 29 June 2011 - 08:05 PM.
#165
TCK
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Posted 29 June 2011 - 08:56 PM
I've only read all Fleming's novels.
Edit : I'm reading Carte Blanche, but not finished yet, so...
Edit : I'm reading Carte Blanche, but not finished yet, so...
Edited by TCK, 29 June 2011 - 08:58 PM.
#166
univex
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Posted 30 June 2011 - 04:19 AM
Yeah, I´ve read everything Fleming. And my soul from out those fleming pages that lie floating on the floor, shall be lifted, nevermore! Seriously now, never felt the curiosity to read any other post-fleming stuff. But with everyone stating CB is good, maybe I´ll reconsider. What´s you opinion bout CB so far TCK?
Edited by univex, 30 June 2011 - 04:20 AM.
#167
Stainless Steel Teeth INC
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Posted 01 July 2011 - 01:11 PM
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/N
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Y/N
Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 4 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/NCarte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? Y/N
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels (including short story, A Hard Man To Kill): 0 out of 6
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: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3
I do have several of those titles that I have yet to start along with another reading pile... I really need to get away on holiday to start breaking into them all!!
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/N
James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson: Y/N
Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 4 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/NCarte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? Y/N
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels (including short story, A Hard Man To Kill): 0 out of 6
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: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3
I do have several of those titles that I have yet to start along with another reading pile... I really need to get away on holiday to start breaking into them all!!
#168
Bucky
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Posted 01 July 2011 - 06:14 PM
am looking forward to reading Carte Blanche but have been holding off on buying any more books until i get a kindle later this year.
#169
Sir Robert King
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Posted 02 July 2011 - 08:16 AM
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): 3 out of 3
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y
Carte Blanch by Jeffrey Deaver: Y
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 6 out of 6 (including a hard man to kill)
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: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3
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): 3 out of 3
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? Y
Carte Blanch by Jeffrey Deaver: Y
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 6 out of 6 (including a hard man to kill)
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: 2 out of 2
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3
Edited by Sir Robert King, 02 July 2011 - 08:17 AM.
#170
DLibrasnow
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Posted 02 July 2011 - 12:31 PM
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): 2 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: Y
Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 13 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): 3 out of 3
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? N - I own it, I just haven't read it.
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 6 out of 6
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 - JB,TSWLM is my favorite non-Fleming James Bond novel.
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3
I have no interest in reading Carte Blanche.
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): 2 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: Y
Number of original John Gardner James Bond novels: 13 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): 3 out of 3
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? N - I own it, I just haven't read it.
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels: 6 out of 6
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 - JB,TSWLM is my favorite non-Fleming James Bond novel.
by John Gardner: 0 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 0 out of 3
I have no interest in reading Carte Blanche.
#171
TCK
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Posted 02 July 2011 - 01:30 PM
What´s you opinion bout CB so far TCK?
Not finished it yet, as I said, so I can't really judge it. And moreover an aunt of mine recently passed away, so my main preoccupation in recent days wasn't reading Carte Blanche. But, my opinion is that in spite of an enjoyable beginning and a great first part in Serbia, the second one is not as good as the first, for the moment at least. I'm on the eleventh chapter, and more than anything I'm disappointed by Moneypenny, M, the dialogues they have with Bond etc... These chapters disappointed me, and I remain to be convinced. However, the plot and the characters seem interesting. I'm impatient to read the continuation so, and perhaps at the second reading, my opinion will change.
#172
univex
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Posted 03 July 2011 - 12:54 AM
Sincere condolences TCK. And thank you for your views. I have yet to buy CB, never read anything Bond other then Fleming´s books, but maybe I´ll read this one. Cheers my friend.
What´s you opinion bout CB so far TCK?
Not finished it yet, as I said, so I can't really judge it. And moreover an aunt of mine recently passed away, so my main preoccupation in recent days wasn't reading Carte Blanche. But, my opinion is that in spite of an enjoyable beginning and a great first part in Serbia, the second one is not as good as the first, for the moment at least. I'm on the eleventh chapter, and more than anything I'm disappointed by Moneypenny, M, the dialogues they have with Bond etc... These chapters disappointed me, and I remain to be convinced. However, the plot and the characters seem interesting. I'm impatient to read the continuation so, and perhaps at the second reading, my opinion will change.
#173
TCK
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Posted 03 July 2011 - 07:20 PM
Sincere condolences TCK. And thank you for your views. I have yet to buy CB, never read anything Bond other then Fleming´s books, but maybe I´ll read this one. Cheers my friend.
Thank you very much for your friendly message.
Also, as Carte Blanche is my first non-Fleming James Bond book, I wondered how I'll tackle it, and perhaps my problem is here. Perhaps I compare it too much with Fleming's style while I should not...
#174
univex
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Posted 05 July 2011 - 01:08 AM
Sincere condolences TCK. And thank you for your views. I have yet to buy CB, never read anything Bond other then Fleming´s books, but maybe I´ll read this one. Cheers my friend.
Thank you very much for your friendly message.
Also, as Carte Blanche is my first non-Fleming James Bond book, I wondered how I'll tackle it, and perhaps my problem is here. Perhaps I compare it too much with Fleming's style while I should not...
I´m afraid that will be my problem as well my friend. That´s why I never got to read any of the other Bond authors.
#175
Loomis
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Posted 05 July 2011 - 03:55 PM
I have no interest in reading Carte Blanche.
I recommend that you don't read CARTE BLANCHE, for it really isn't worth bothering with, but I'm curious as to why you're passing on it, given that you seem to have given most of the continuation novelists a fair chance (although I'm surprised you haven't got round to COLONEL SUN). Anything in particular put you off CARTE BLANCHE?
#176
OmarB
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Posted 05 July 2011 - 04:51 PM
A poster recommending someone not read CB? And it's Loomis? WTF!
#177
dlb007
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Posted 05 July 2011 - 05:23 PM
I recommend you at least give the adult Bond novels a try. If you go into them expecting Ian Fleming's James Bond then you'll be disappointed. If you go into them expecting a different take on the James Bond character then you'll find them more enjoyable.
I recommend you read them in order. Colonel Sun is a fine read, and as close to Fleming as you can hope to get (though actually, perhaps a bit more gruesome than Fleming); Wood is a close second. I'd have loved to see him fully flesh out an idea of his own. Gardner is a fine thriller writer, and looking back, we're very lucky to have had someone of his ability for so long. The problem with the Gardner novels is that he is better at writing a Le Carre, Deighton type thriller, as opposed to the formula writing of the Bond novels. Therefore, we often get something that's a mixture of the two. Benson is rather awful. His plots are decent and his passion for his work helps you stomach it, but the writing is just amateurish at best. Fortunately, for Benson, there are many authors, many of them best-sellers, who are just as bad. Faulks is up next. He's not a thriller writer, and it shows. To call Faulks a bad writer is rubbish. His literary works are brilliant. His Bond entry is so-so. It's not a classic but it's far from terrible. With Carte Blanche, a lot of people have been complaining, which is perfectly fine and to be expected. First, Carte Blanche is a Jeffery Deaver novel featuring James Bond. If you've ever read a Deaver novel you know to expect the neatly tied up resolutions. The easiest way to digest Carte Blanche and Deaver's Bond is to recognize it's not Fleming's Bond, nor was it meant to be. It is a rebooting of the character. Sure, some elements will remain, but from here on out it's a different character. While this will disappoint several fans (myself included), IFP feel it's in their best interest to have a character similar to what's already out on the market. While Carte Blanche is not my favorite continuation novel, it's surely not the worst. Hopefully, the next author and next novel will be better. Personally, I'd love for Dennis Lehane to write a Bond novel. Unfortunately, I think he (along with many of others that we have named) are far too involved in their own work, not to mention too "elite" for the Bond novel tag.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I highly recommend you read the continuation novels. If you go into the series with an open mind you might just enjoy yourself.
I recommend you read them in order. Colonel Sun is a fine read, and as close to Fleming as you can hope to get (though actually, perhaps a bit more gruesome than Fleming); Wood is a close second. I'd have loved to see him fully flesh out an idea of his own. Gardner is a fine thriller writer, and looking back, we're very lucky to have had someone of his ability for so long. The problem with the Gardner novels is that he is better at writing a Le Carre, Deighton type thriller, as opposed to the formula writing of the Bond novels. Therefore, we often get something that's a mixture of the two. Benson is rather awful. His plots are decent and his passion for his work helps you stomach it, but the writing is just amateurish at best. Fortunately, for Benson, there are many authors, many of them best-sellers, who are just as bad. Faulks is up next. He's not a thriller writer, and it shows. To call Faulks a bad writer is rubbish. His literary works are brilliant. His Bond entry is so-so. It's not a classic but it's far from terrible. With Carte Blanche, a lot of people have been complaining, which is perfectly fine and to be expected. First, Carte Blanche is a Jeffery Deaver novel featuring James Bond. If you've ever read a Deaver novel you know to expect the neatly tied up resolutions. The easiest way to digest Carte Blanche and Deaver's Bond is to recognize it's not Fleming's Bond, nor was it meant to be. It is a rebooting of the character. Sure, some elements will remain, but from here on out it's a different character. While this will disappoint several fans (myself included), IFP feel it's in their best interest to have a character similar to what's already out on the market. While Carte Blanche is not my favorite continuation novel, it's surely not the worst. Hopefully, the next author and next novel will be better. Personally, I'd love for Dennis Lehane to write a Bond novel. Unfortunately, I think he (along with many of others that we have named) are far too involved in their own work, not to mention too "elite" for the Bond novel tag.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I highly recommend you read the continuation novels. If you go into the series with an open mind you might just enjoy yourself.
#178
MarkA
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Posted 05 July 2011 - 05:51 PM
I think you are pretty much along my lines as well. Though you are maybe a little easy on Gardner than I would have been. I thought Carte Blanche was pretty average at best. No better or worse than Faulks effort, but not Bond. All it has proven to me is to reinforce even further what a great writer Fleming was. To be honest the best continuation books come from left field. Despite the fact I hated the concept Charlie Higson did some really interesting things with Young Bond and maybe could write a proper adult Bond novel rather than this stunt casting we have had with both Faulks and Deaver. Plus the Moneypenny Diaries are fascinating too.I recommend you at least give the adult Bond novels a try. If you go into them expecting Ian Fleming's James Bond then you'll be disappointed. If you go into them expecting a different take on the James Bond character then you'll find them more enjoyable.
I recommend you read them in order. Colonel Sun is a fine read, and as close to Fleming as you can hope to get (though actually, perhaps a bit more gruesome than Fleming); Wood is a close second. I'd have loved to see him fully flesh out an idea of his own. Gardner is a fine thriller writer, and looking back, we're very lucky to have had someone of his ability for so long. The problem with the Gardner novels is that he is better at writing a Le Carre, Deighton type thriller, as opposed to the formula writing of the Bond novels. Therefore, we often get something that's a mixture of the two. Benson is rather awful. His plots are decent and his passion for his work helps you stomach it, but the writing is just amateurish at best. Fortunately, for Benson, there are many authors, many of them best-sellers, who are just as bad. Faulks is up next. He's not a thriller writer, and it shows. To call Faulks a bad writer is rubbish. His literary works are brilliant. His Bond entry is so-so. It's not a classic but it's far from terrible. With Carte Blanche, a lot of people have been complaining, which is perfectly fine and to be expected. First, Carte Blanche is a Jeffery Deaver novel featuring James Bond. If you've ever read a Deaver novel you know to expect the neatly tied up resolutions. The easiest way to digest Carte Blanche and Deaver's Bond is to recognize it's not Fleming's Bond, nor was it meant to be. It is a rebooting of the character. Sure, some elements will remain, but from here on out it's a different character. While this will disappoint several fans (myself included), IFP feel it's in their best interest to have a character similar to what's already out on the market. While Carte Blanche is not my favorite continuation novel, it's surely not the worst. Hopefully, the next author and next novel will be better. Personally, I'd love for Dennis Lehane to write a Bond novel. Unfortunately, I think he (along with many of others that we have named) are far too involved in their own work, not to mention too "elite" for the Bond novel tag.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I highly recommend you read the continuation novels. If you go into the series with an open mind you might just enjoy yourself.
#179
Mark_Hazard
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Posted 05 July 2011 - 10:25 PM
Have you read Carte Blanche? N (but I have a copy to read, somewhen).
Have you read the Young Bond short story, A Hard Man To Kill? N
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12 (all of them many times)
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9 (as above)
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 3 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: 5 out of 6 (just haven't got around to continuing)
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 1 out of 3 (but I have the other 2 somewhere)
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? N (not yet, but was not impressed with the first chapter? that I read in a Sunday newspaper magazine (The Times?)
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? N (have a copy to read eventually)
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels (including short story, A Hard Man To Kill): 0 out of 6 (but again, they are n my collection to read)
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3 (as above)
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2 (but I think I have one of them somewhere)
The official tie-in novelizations I have read:
by Christopher Wood: 2 out of 2 (great)
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3
Thanks so much.
*I'm excluding the other Glidrose owned originals, The Adventures of James Bond 003.5 by R D Mascott (read it) and Bond Strikes Camp by Cyril Connolly (got it, to read) as well as the 4 AVTAK Find Your Fate (got some of them somewhere) and the 7 James Bond Jnr novelizations (got some of them too, but not sure if I'll ever read them), newpaper and other serializations of the Bond film stories as well as the comics and graphic novels. I am primarily interested in the readership of the generally available original, official Bond stories
Have you read the Young Bond short story, A Hard Man To Kill? N
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond novels I have read: 12 out of 12 (all of them many times)
Number of Ian Fleming James Bond short stories I have read: 9 out of 9 (as above)
Number of non-Bond Ian Fleming books I have read (The Diamond Smugglers, Thrilling Cities, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang): 3 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: 5 out of 6 (just haven't got around to continuing)
Number ot Raymond Benson James Bond short stories (Blast From The Past, Midsummer Night's Doom, Live At Five): 1 out of 3 (but I have the other 2 somewhere)
Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks? N (not yet, but was not impressed with the first chapter? that I read in a Sunday newspaper magazine (The Times?)
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver? N (have a copy to read eventually)
Number of Charlie Higson Young Bond novels (including short story, A Hard Man To Kill): 0 out of 6 (but again, they are n my collection to read)
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny Diaries novels: 0 out of 3 (as above)
Number of Kate Westbrook/Samantha Weinberg Moneypenny short stories (For Your Eyes Only, James, Moneypenny's First Date With Bond): 0 out of 2 (but I think I have one of them somewhere)
The official tie-in novelizations I have read:
by Christopher Wood: 2 out of 2 (great)
by John Gardner: 2 out of 2
by Raymond Benson: 3 out of 3
Thanks so much.
*I'm excluding the other Glidrose owned originals, The Adventures of James Bond 003.5 by R D Mascott (read it) and Bond Strikes Camp by Cyril Connolly (got it, to read) as well as the 4 AVTAK Find Your Fate (got some of them somewhere) and the 7 James Bond Jnr novelizations (got some of them too, but not sure if I'll ever read them), newpaper and other serializations of the Bond film stories as well as the comics and graphic novels. I am primarily interested in the readership of the generally available original, official Bond stories
#180
Loomis
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Posted 05 July 2011 - 10:37 PM
A poster recommending someone not read CB? And it's Loomis? WTF!
Why should I recommend a book that didn't impress me or provide me any particular entertainment? Would you do that?