Has Veeky Forums read Ian Fleming?

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Indeed Veeky Forums has
-conclude with Moonraker

That's Sean Connery you moron.

Read a bunch growing up and bought this set lately for a great price. Very comfy escapism.

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And this is Fleming.

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I have not, but I have read about him. The man lived such a comfy and impressive life that even his Wikipedia entry is inspiring.

The Naval Intelligence stuff is all very interesting but what really gets me is his time spent relaxing in Jamaica. Smoking, drinking, reading, and writing in paradise...

I bet his novels are pretty good. Where do I start?

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Casino Royale

Yeah I read a bunch of 007 novels in middle school and high school.

I'd do them in order: Casino Royale is a good start, Live and Let Die is pretty weak, Moonraker is great, and so on. You can get the entire retro set (great covers, complete series) for $40, by ordering the Penguin India books (which are identical to the British version of the set. I got them here:
/www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0140911537/

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Live and Let Die is great, you get to read the word nigger like 600 times.

Anyone ever read the Bond novels by John Gardner and Raymond Benson? Also Carte Blance by Jeffrey Deaver? I wish Eric Van Lustvader write a Bond and Bourne crossover novel.

It would be pretty cool if they made a Bond film that takes place in the 1950s like the books.

uhh ya think??

I can get behind this idea

Just imagine the tropical surf rock soundtrack. It would be so nice.

Thanks for the rec, pal. I'm going to bookmark this now and order it soon, although it will be a long while before I end up reading more than the first book I'm sure. Nice collection.

What percentage are "great" vs "good" vs otherwise?

I enjoyed reading Dr.No. The movie left a lot out. Good pulp, also the warning against the Chigroes is one to keep in mind.

In chronological order of writing. (The novels follow a overall storyline although they're pretty stand-alone if you want.)


>Casino Royale
Great. The love story is surprisingly tough and far removed from the adolescent wish-fulfillment you expect from Bond. The casino setting is done very well (Fleming is at his best writing about things like this that he knew well.)

>Live and Let Die
Good. Sometimes a bit silly but it's colourful and of course there are sharks (Raaa!)

>Moonraker
Good. More downbeat, much less exotic (set in England) but the high-stakes bridge game is the single best set-piece in the series.

>Diamonds Are Forever
Otherwise. Plot's a bit thin, villains are a bit lightweight. (It's OK for an "Otherwise".)

>From Russia with Love
Great. THREE top-class villains, exotic location, train ride, half-naked gypsy girls fighting. Mmmm.

>Doctor No
Good. Fun tropical location, megalomaniac villain, gorgeous child of nature just waiting for someone to unlock her inner nymphomaniac. What's not to like?

>Goldfinger
Good. Lots would say great but it has one awful plot hole (basically the villain has Bond at his mercy and lets him live for a completely unconvincing reason).

>For Your Eyes Only
Good. 5 (IIRC) short stories. Quantum of Solace is surprisingly serious (not really a Bond story).

>Thunderball
Good. More tropical escapism. The whimsical little story the heroine weaves around a packet of cigarettes is one of those incidental touches that shows how good Fleming really was when he simply relaxed and enjoyed himself.

>The Spy Who Loved Me
Otherwise. Quite a readable story if you get into it, but it's not a Bond book.

>On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Great. The villain's plot is really cute, the action (skiing, wheee) is done well, Tracy is a nice heroine. Also I like sad endings.

>You Only Live Twice
Good. Japan is done very well but the let-down from the end of OHMSS carries on into it.

>The Man with the Golden Gun
Otherwise. Both the faults of Diamonds but more so.

>Octopussy and the Living Daylights
Otherwise. Couple of longish short stories.

yes, i've read a couple of the bond novels that i found in my local oxfam bookshop
the books were good company for a long flight
i like that book bond is so different from screen bond

>ywn live in an era when people buy books on a regular basis to read long diversionary exposition about how to choose the perfect cocktail with lunch when in the Mediterranean on a hot summer day with a long night of intrigue in front of you.

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chitty chitty bang bang

consumerist hedonism but with christfaggotry and slapping your wife

yeah i'm gonna spend money on propaganda

He finally settles on an Americano, if I recall.

I have. He's better than I'd anticipated.