15 replies to this topic

[RITZ]

I love some of Fleming's opening lines in a Bond novel. Casino Royale is class: "The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning."

Or Moonraker's "The two thirty-eights roared simultaneously."

And a typical Bond trademark from Goldfinger "James Bond, with two double bourbon's inside him, sat in the final departure lounge of Miami Airport and thought about life and death."

YOLT's "The geisha called "Trembling Leaf", on her knees beside James Bond, leant forward from the waist and kissed him chastely on the right cheek."

What opening lines do you like from Fleming/Gardner/Benson?

[kevrichardson]

My favorite Ian Fleming Bond novel opening is from "Oh Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1963) " It was one of those septembers when it semmed that the summer would never end". And with that sentence , it set into motion Bond's hunt for his nemesis Blofeld . And is discovery of a woman who will be come his wife.

[Thunderbird]

You have to look here as soon as possible:

http://www.ianflemin...ine/hooks.shtml

[zencat]

Gotta go with the opening line of Casino Royale:

"The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning."

I love opening "hooks." Here's the opening hook of my own novel:

[Bryce (003)]

I quite like the opening of the DAD novelization.

"A man could easily die out here.

The thought passed through his head as he and his two companion fought the raging surf, desperately clinging to their boards."

[zencat]

That is a good one. Benson has some winners. The opening lines of HTTK and NDOD are very nice.

NDOD:
A tint bead of sweat appeared at the commandant's rigth temple and lingered there, waiting for the moment when it would drop off and trickle down the man's high, scarred cheekbone.

HTTK:
The barracuda surprised them by opening its jaws to an angle of ninety degrees, revealing the sharp rows of teeth that were capable of tearing out chunks of flesh in an instant.

[Dr Noah]

Probably this from OHMSS :_

" It was one of those septembers when it semmed that the summer would never end".

I also love this from Dr No :-

"Punctually at six o'clock the sun set with a last yellow flash behind the Blue Mountains, a wave of violet shadow poured down Richmond Road, and the crickets and tree frogs in the fine gardens began to zing and tinkle."

Though I think the best opening scene is from Diamonds Are Forever with the action seen though the eyes of the insects : -

"With its two fighting claws held forward like a wrestler's arms the big `pandinus' scorpion emerged with a dry rustle from the finger-sized hole under the rock."

[Truman-Lodge]

Well...that covers pretty much every opening line...

How about endings? I like the one from DAF. Naturally, Moonraker, Casino Royale, and OHMSS have great ones. YOLT and TSWLM were also good.

[zencat]

I like the endings of Casino Royale and Moonraker myself. Devastating, both.

[RITZ]

"Yes damn it.....the bitch is dead" - I remember that line well.

How about John Gardner's novels? I don't have all his books - does anyone have any favourite opening lines?

[rafterman]

the opening to Goldfinger is pretty sweet...

[1q2w3e4r]

Thunderball. Classic opening and I like CR and Moonraker's "two thirty-eights" and the opening sentance from Live And Let Die.

[Qwerty]

Of all the Fleming opening lines, I think Live And Let Die has one of the very best:

"There are moments of great luxury in the life of a secret agent"

[Mister Asterix]

I quite like the opening of Thunderball:

It was one of those days when it seemed to James Bond that all life, as someone put it, was nothing but a heap of six to four against.

And not to stroke my own ego too much but I

[Jim]

Like OHMSS, lots.

And Evan's opening is very Flemingy without being devoid of Willnowness / Willnish / Willnesque; as indeed, is the rest of Mightier than the Sword.

[ChandlerBing]

James Bond never knew that sex with two women could be so good.


Wait. Oh, that was a line I would like to see, not one that already has been done. Sorry!