15 replies to this topic

[Mr. Noir]

Hello. I apologize if I made this topic in the wrong section, but figured it would be best to put it here since it doesn't just cover one Bond author.

I have all of the Ian Fleming, John Gardner, and Raymond Benson books. I also have Colonel Sun, Devil May Care, and The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker movie novelizations. I know not everyone was a fan of Devil May Care and the movie novelizations, but I already spent money on them so I might as well spend time on them too.

I want to read these all in somewhat of a chronological order even though that can be loose at times and at others perhaps nonexistent. I think this is how I should order them but I'm not positive.

Ian Fleming's series
Colonel Sun and Devil May Care
The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker movie novelizations
John Gardner's series
Raymond Benson's series

Would it be better to read Colonel Sun before or after Devin May Care? What order would you organize these all in? And are there any other Bond books you'd recommend I add to my collection?

Edited by Mr. Noir, 16 March 2010 - 12:56 AM.

[stromberg]

Order is correct. For the Flemings, place the OP&TLD stories after TB, and (if you're geekish enough ) 007inNY and TSWLM between Chapter 5 and 6 of OHMSS. CS first, after that, I'd recommend John Pearson's 'Authorized Biography of 007', then DMC. Everything else in publication order.

Also read the YoungBond series. Don't shy away, they're the best of all the non-Fleming books. If you want to remain strictly chronological, read them first. But if you ask me, I'd say read them after DMC.

Haven't read any of the Monneypenny Diaries, but I know some people who recommend them.

And Welcome to CBn.

[Mr. Noir]

Thank you for the welcome, confirmation, and recommendations stromberg .

[MkB]

I concur with Stromberg!

I would recommend The Moneypenny Diaries, IMO although a sort of spin-off they are the best continuation novels, by far. Cleverly written, and most of all very well-documented.
You could read them after the Fleming series + Colonel Sun + DMC, because that ends the "period literary Bond"; or maybe right after the Fleming series (the story of the Moneypenny Diaries starts around the time of OHMSS and doesn't include elements of the non-fleming novels, if memory serves). But I'd advise you to read CS and DMC first, I think, because you'll appreciate even more how the Moneypenny Diaries are well researched by heir author.

[zencat]

I'm going to suggest a completely contrary idea. Forget any plan. Just read what you want to read in any order you want to read them. Read what you're curious to read. If you've always been curious about Icebreaker, read that. If you've hear DAF sucks and you wonder what people consider a "bad" Bond novel, read that. Just do what you like and let one book guide you to the next. Throw in a Young Bond or Moneypenny at any point you like. If you want complain about DMC so you sound smart, read it. Go with your heart and gut. Order doesn't really matter all that much. Bond is the same Bond from book to book.

[MarkA]

I also concur with above. I do like the Young Bond's but I still cannot believe he is Fleming's Bond. Where as the Moneypenny Diaries I think are by far the best continuation novels and really slot in nicely with the later Fleming's. The Gardner's and Benson's are a hard slog, so I wish you luck.

[MkB]

Go with your heart and gut. Order doesn't really matter all that much. Bond is the same Bond from book to book.

Bizarre as it may seem, I also agree with that Although, I beg to disagree about the "Bond is the same Bond from book to book" part: IMO, Bond is the same Bond from book series to book series (you have a Fleming Bond, a Gardner Bond, etc.).

[Tybre]

If you want some sort of order, I endorse the stromberg plan.
Personally, I went in any old order. Don't remember exact order now but I remember first three I read were LALD, FRWL, and TMWTGG. Obviously I wasn't in the least bit concerned about continuity. I just picked up whichever book sounded most palatable when I had the money for them.

So, really, it's all about how you want to do it.

[FLEMINGFAN]

You should try to read the Ian Flemings in published order so that you can see the evolution, and deterioration, of James Bond.

The QUANTUM OF SOLACE 'complete short stories' is best read between THUNDERBALL and THE SPY WHO LOVED ME.

COLONEL SUN after that and then Pearson's biography and then any of the others in order of their publication, including DEVIL MAY CARE.

YOUNG BOND and, especially, MONEYPENNY are recommended, but just think of YOUNG BOND as an 'alternate universe' of James Bond.

MONEYPENNY and Pearson do fill in the timeline spaces between the Fleming books.

[sharpshooter]

Obviously I wasn't in the least bit concerned about continuity. I just picked up whichever book sounded most palatable when I had the money for them.

Same for me. I already had a basic idea of the continuity arc anyway. If I wanted to read Casino Royale, for example, I read it. It’s no different than having a desire to watch a particular movie.

[Professor Dent]

I personally read the Fleming books in the order of publication. Same with the Benson novels & the first few Young Bond novels. I read the Gardner novels out of order because I read what I could get my hands on at the time. You will have fun no matter what order you read them in. Enjoy!

[Double-Oh Agent]

Order is correct. For the Flemings, place the OP&TLD stories after TB, and (if you're geekish enough ) 007inNY and TSWLM between Chapter 5 and 6 of OHMSS. CS first, after that, I'd recommend John Pearson's 'Authorized Biography of 007', then DMC. Everything else in publication order.

Also read the YoungBond series. Don't shy away, they're the best of all the non-Fleming books. If you want to remain strictly chronological, read them first. But if you ask me, I'd say read them after DMC.

Haven't read any of the Monneypenny Diaries, but I know some people who recommend them.

And Welcome to CBn.

If you want to read The Moneypenny Diaries series in the order they follow the Ian Fleming adventures then you would need to read them this way: On Her Majesty's Secret Service--The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel--You Only Live Twice--The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant--The Man With The Golden Gun--The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling.

I'd recommend starting with Fleming's original series first and then reading the rest of the series in order (inserting Charlie Higson's Young Bond series wherever you want after Fleming). But zencat is right, reading the books out of order is perfectly fine too. (It's how I wound up reading the series.) However, I would suggest reading some books in their correct order such as Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service--You Only Live Twice--The Man With The Golden Gun which are basically a trilogy. Similarly, I'd recommend reading John Gardner's Role Of Honor before Nobody Lives Forever and Never Send Flowers--SeaFire--Cold Fall which also form a loose sort of trilogy that one might be better served reading in that order. And finally, I'd recommend Raymond Benson's trilogy be read in its order: High Time To Kill--Doubleshot--Never Dream Of Dying. Other than those examples, you can feel free to pick and choose. Enjoy!

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

Hello. I apologize if I made this topic in the wrong section, but figured it would be best to put it here since it doesn't just cover one Bond author.

I have all of the Ian Fleming, John Gardner, and Raymond Benson books. I also have Colonel Sun, Devil May Care, and The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker movie novelizations. I know not everyone was a fan of Devil May Care and the movie novelizations, but I already spent money on them so I might as well spend time on them too.

I want to read these all in somewhat of a chronological order even though that can be loose at times and at others perhaps nonexistent. I think this is how I should order them but I'm not positive.

Ian Fleming's series
Colonel Sun and Devil May Care
The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker movie novelizations
John Gardner's series
Raymond Benson's series

Would it be better to read Colonel Sun before or after Devin May Care? What order would you organize these all in? And are there any other Bond books you'd recommend I add to my collection?

If you're going to go chronological, read SUN before DEVIL. DEVIL doesn't address the existence of SUN directly but leaves enough time after the events of GOLDEN GUN so obsessive Bond fans don't have to consider the possibility of parallel universes like comic book geeks. SUN is set less than a year after GUN and DEVIL at least 18 months later.
Be careful with the short stories. If I may suggest, after GOLDFINGER continue thus: RISICO, QUANTUM, RARITY, VIEW and EYES, then THUNDERBALL then DAYLIGHTS. I'd place PROPERTY between SERVICE and TWICE.
If after reading all Fleming, Markham, Gardner and Higson you still feel you need an extra fix of Bond then, and only then, read Benson.
Read Pearson and Westbrook as a completely separate experience. Don't try to shoehorn them into the chronology. These are meant to occur in a parallel universe. Our "real" universe as opposed to the "fictional" universe of the novels. Do yourself a favour and read Mascott along with these. It also may be argued that THE SPY WHO LOVED ME should be read along with these non canonical novels instead of following the main chronology.

[Sir James Molony]

Stromberg has the right idea -- Read Fleming, the Fleming follow-ons (CS and DMC), and then the spin-offs (Pearson's bio, Moneypenny Diaries, and Higson). You'll be able to appreciate how the spin-offs built on the Fleming chronology.

One suggestion for advanced fan wankdom -- Get John Griswold's book "Ian Fleming's James Bond." This is an obsessively researched reference guide to the Fleming novels with useful period details and a definitive timeline (esp. for the short stories).

Before you move on to Gardner/Benson, I also suggest Henry Chancellor's excellent "James Bond: The Man and His World." Amazing insight into Fleming's inspirations (people and places). The chapter on where Fleming came up with names is awesome.

As for Gardner and Benson...well, they never feel like Fleming's Bond to me. Benson's Bond feels especially like the Pierce Brosnon's Bond, which may be good or bad depending on your taste.

Edited by Sir James Molony, 05 April 2010 - 01:33 AM.

[Guy Haines]

Order is correct. For the Flemings, place the OP&TLD stories after TB, and (if you're geekish enough ) 007inNY and TSWLM between Chapter 5 and 6 of OHMSS. CS first, after that, I'd recommend John Pearson's 'Authorized Biography of 007', then DMC. Everything else in publication order.

Also read the YoungBond series. Don't shy away, they're the best of all the non-Fleming books. If you want to remain strictly chronological, read them first. But if you ask me, I'd say read them after DMC.

Haven't read any of the Monneypenny Diaries, but I know some people who recommend them.

And Welcome to CBn.

If you want to read The Moneypenny Diaries series in the order they follow the Ian Fleming adventures then you would need to read them this way: On Her Majesty's Secret Service--The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel--You Only Live Twice--The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant--The Man With The Golden Gun--The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling.

I'd recommend starting with Fleming's original series first and then reading the rest of the series in order (inserting Charlie Higson's Young Bond series wherever you want after Fleming). But zencat is right, reading the books out of order is perfectly fine too. (It's how I wound up reading the series.) However, I would suggest reading some books in their correct order such as Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service--You Only Live Twice--The Man With The Golden Gun which are basically a trilogy. Similarly, I'd recommend reading John Gardner's Role Of Honor before Nobody Lives Forever and Never Send Flowers--SeaFire--Cold Fall which also form a loose sort of trilogy that one might be better served reading in that order. And finally, I'd recommend Raymond Benson's trilogy be read in its order: High Time To Kill--Doubleshot--Never Dream Of Dying. Other than those examples, you can feel free to pick and choose. Enjoy!

I thought I'd add my two'penneth to this thread. I agree with much of this comment, but would add that Devil May Care is set in the 1960s - a year or so after the events of Colonel Sun. So, DMC could be read after CS.

John Pearson's "authorised" biography of Bond starts and ends sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. It ends with with 007 leaving behind Honeychile Schultz (formerly Ryder) to do battle with Irma Bunt, who has fled from Japan to Australia to breed mutant killer rodents - I swear I haven't made this up, and what a story that might have made! So slot this one in before moving on to the John Gardner books.

Also, wasn't Raymond Benson's final original novel "The Man With The Red Tattoo" a direct follow on from "Never Dream Of Dying"? Although The Union isn't in it, a Japanese character who appears in NDOD is cast as the main villain in "Red Tattoo".

Mr Noir, you are being overwhelmed with advice here, but it is all well intentioned! Happy reading!

[Double-Oh Agent]

Order is correct. For the Flemings, place the OP&TLD stories after TB, and (if you're geekish enough ) 007inNY and TSWLM between Chapter 5 and 6 of OHMSS. CS first, after that, I'd recommend John Pearson's 'Authorized Biography of 007', then DMC. Everything else in publication order.

Also read the YoungBond series. Don't shy away, they're the best of all the non-Fleming books. If you want to remain strictly chronological, read them first. But if you ask me, I'd say read them after DMC.

Haven't read any of the Monneypenny Diaries, but I know some people who recommend them.

And Welcome to CBn.

If you want to read The Moneypenny Diaries series in the order they follow the Ian Fleming adventures then you would need to read them this way: On Her Majesty's Secret Service--The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel--You Only Live Twice--The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant--The Man With The Golden Gun--The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling.

I'd recommend starting with Fleming's original series first and then reading the rest of the series in order (inserting Charlie Higson's Young Bond series wherever you want after Fleming). But zencat is right, reading the books out of order is perfectly fine too. (It's how I wound up reading the series.) However, I would suggest reading some books in their correct order such as Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service--You Only Live Twice--The Man With The Golden Gun which are basically a trilogy. Similarly, I'd recommend reading John Gardner's Role Of Honor before Nobody Lives Forever and Never Send Flowers--SeaFire--Cold Fall which also form a loose sort of trilogy that one might be better served reading in that order. And finally, I'd recommend Raymond Benson's trilogy be read in its order: High Time To Kill--Doubleshot--Never Dream Of Dying. Other than those examples, you can feel free to pick and choose. Enjoy!

I thought I'd add my two'penneth to this thread. I agree with much of this comment, but would add that Devil May Care is set in the 1960s - a year or so after the events of Colonel Sun. So, DMC could be read after CS.

John Pearson's "authorised" biography of Bond starts and ends sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. It ends with with 007 leaving behind Honeychile Schultz (formerly Ryder) to do battle with Irma Bunt, who has fled from Japan to Australia to breed mutant killer rodents - I swear I haven't made this up, and what a story that might have made! So slot this one in before moving on to the John Gardner books.

Also, wasn't Raymond Benson's final original novel "The Man With The Red Tattoo" a direct follow on from "Never Dream Of Dying"? Although The Union isn't in it, a Japanese character who appears in NDOD is cast as the main villain in "Red Tattoo".

Mr Noir, you are being overwhelmed with advice here, but it is all well intentioned! Happy reading!

The Man With The Red Tattoo does directly follow on from Never Dream Of Dying but I wouldn't consider it mandatory to read it after NDOD if one is not concerned with chronology. The Japanese character in TMWTRT that you spoke of is mentioned in NDOD but it is not much more than a passing reference and, as such, is not vital to read before TMWTRT.