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James Bond (Original Series) #1-14
The James Bond Complete Collection: All 14 Original Books Including Casino Royale, Dr. No and Quantum of Solace
The James Bond Anthology celebrates the world’s most famous fictional spy, Commander James Bond, also known as 007. From the first book, Casino Royale, to the last, You Only Live Twice, readers will appreciate the genius and remarkable abilities of Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming. In addition to the 12 full-length novels, this collection also includes two books of short stories (For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and the Living Daylights).1. Casino Royale (1953)2. Live and Let Die (1954)3. Moonraker (1955)[f]4. Diamonds Are Forever (1956)5. From Russia, with Love (1957)6. Dr. No (1958)7. Goldfinger (1959)8. Thunderball (1961)9. The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)10. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)11. You Only Live Twice (1964)12. The Man with the Golden Gun (1965)13. For Your Eyes Only (1960)14. Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966)
3328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
172 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
Ian Fleming
734 books3,331 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ian Lancaster Fleming was an English writer, best known for his postwar James Bond series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his father was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Henley from 1910 until his death on the Western Front in 1917. Educated at Eton, Sandhurst, and, briefly, the universities of Munich and Geneva, Fleming moved through several jobs before he started writing.
While working for Britain's Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War, Fleming was involved in planning Operation Goldeneye and in the planning and oversight of two intelligence units: 30 Assault Unit and T-Force. He drew from his wartime service and his career as a journalist for much of the background, detail, and depth of his James Bond novels.
Fleming wrote his first Bond novel, Casino Royale, in 1952, at age 44. It was a success, and three print runs were commissioned to meet the demand. Eleven Bond novels and two collections of short stories followed between 1953 and 1966. The novels centre around James Bond, an officer in the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6. Bond is also known by his code number, 007, and was a commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The Bond stories rank among the best-selling series of fictional books of all time, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Fleming also wrote the children's story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang and two works of non-fiction. In 2008, The Times ranked Fleming 14th on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
Fleming was married to Ann Fleming. She had divorced her husband, the 2nd Viscount Rothermere, because of her affair with the author. Fleming and Ann had a son, Caspar. Fleming was a heavy smoker and drinker for most of his life and succumbed to heart disease in 1964 at the age of 56. Two of his James Bond books were published posthumously; other writers have since produced Bond novels. Fleming's creation has appeared in film twenty-seven times, portrayed by six actors in the official film series.
Ian Lancaster Fleming was an English writer, best known for his postwar James Bond series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his father was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Henley from 1910 until his death on the Western Front in 1917. Educated at Eton, Sandhurst, and, briefly, the universities of Munich and Geneva, Fleming moved through several jobs before he started writing.
While working for Britain's Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War, Fleming was involved in planning Operation Goldeneye and in the planning and oversight of two intelligence units: 30 Assault Unit and T-Force. He drew from his wartime service and his career as a journalist for much of the background, detail, and depth of his James Bond novels.
Fleming wrote his first Bond novel, Casino Royale, in 1952, at age 44. It was a success, and three print runs were commissioned to meet the demand. Eleven Bond novels and two collections of short stories followed between 1953 and 1966. The novels centre around James Bond, an officer in the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6. Bond is also known by his code number, 007, and was a commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The Bond stories rank among the best-selling series of fictional books of all time, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Fleming also wrote the children's story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang and two works of non-fiction. In 2008, The Times ranked Fleming 14th on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
Fleming was married to Ann Fleming. She had divorced her husband, the 2nd Viscount Rothermere, because of her affair with the author. Fleming and Ann had a son, Caspar. Fleming was a heavy smoker and drinker for most of his life and succumbed to heart disease in 1964 at the age of 56. Two of his James Bond books were published posthumously; other writers have since produced Bond novels. Fleming's creation has appeared in film twenty-seven times, portrayed by six actors in the official film series.
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August 2, 2025
Final-final analysis (should we be so lucky), 4/27/25:
I reiterate what I say below: Read these in book order... Though I guess this technically isn't a reiteration since I'm putting this in front of everything else, and you haven't read what's below yet, so it can't be reiterated unless you're some kind of time lord thing. Shit, now I've mucked up everything, but I can do this; I can do this... Let's see... AH! We'll start over and get a new made-up word to boot.
I preiterate what I say below: Read these in book order, not movie order, especially the Blofeld ones. I expect I would've enjoyed You Only Live Twice more had I read On Her Majesty's Secret Service first, but only a little. YOLT isn't great, but there's a lot of follow-up in that from OHMSS. It would also be fun to watch Bond grow from the sort of naive and idiotic noob making all kinds of rookie mistakes in Casino Royale to the frockin' badass he becomes later.
Oddly enough, two of the books that weren't in the project ended up being faves. I don't know if that's because I knew nothing about them and came to it fresh or if they were genuinely better books. I expect not having the comparison hangup helped, though. Diamonds Are Forever was the first one I read, and I was caught so off guard by how different it was from the movie that I don't think I gave it a fair shake, so I probably ought to reread that one. I'll probably redo the whole series a few years from now, and I'll be sure to do it right then.
Follow-up checkpoint, 11/11/23:
The official project is complete! Reading the novels/stories along with the movies was fun for the sake of comparison, but reading the books in order is definitely the better way to go. Each can stand on its own, but things happen in earlier books that have an affect on later ones, and if you read the later ones first, you're left wondering about stuff like "why the hell does Felix Leiter " You find out in Live and Let Die which is the second book, but that's been spoiled for you if you read Goldfinger, Thunderball, or Diamonds are Forever first, all of which follow Live and Let Die in the book order but precede it in the movie order. Also, there's character development that occurs for the main cast throughout the series, mostly Bond and M, but it gets confusing if you don't read it in order. You Only Live Twice ends on a bit of a cliffhanger which isn't resolved until the next book, The Man with the Golden Gun, but there are two movies between those which have nothing to do with that plot point, so waiting for that resolution is a pisser. The movies are much more independent of each other than the books, so if I were to do this again, I'd read the books in order and watch the movie that corresponded with it out of order. In fact, the only thing I can think of in the movies that tie one to another aside from recurring characters is Bond looking at his wife's tombstone at the beginning of For Your Eyes Only. It's a two second scene which is a nod to On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and that's it. Oh, and Sheriff J.W. Pepper. His appearance in The Man with the Golden Gun might confuse you if you hadn't seen Live and Let Die, but he isn't in the books at all.
My surmisal was correct. Some of these are so different from the movies that all they share is the title like The Spy Who Loved Me. Goldfinger was the one closest to the book, but even that departed from the source material in spots. These are apples and oranges; delicious but different and not fair for comparison.
Moonraker is easily the best book, and I reckon You Only Live Twice was my least favorite, but I enjoyed all of them. According to a lot of rankings, it looks like the four I haven't read yet are highly rated. I reckon I'll find out if I agree sometime next year. I'm actually looking forward to reading them. It's a shame the movies associated with those are "eh." I'll give a final-final analysis after I've read those.
The tee-up, 4/17/23:
I took on another bloody reading project. Alas.
Mama and I watch a movie together once a month and we have different themes each year. 2023's is James Bond. A couple of weeks ago I decided I'd read the book or short story that corresponded with that month's movie, so I have a bit of catching up to do. Since December is always saved for Christmas movies, we have to pick 11 Bonds. Roger Moore is our favorite, so that took care of seven. Obviously Sean Connery won the others, though there are only three of those we really like. Dr. No bores me to tears, and I've tried From Russia with Love a few times, but can't manage to make it all the way through to the end (at least not on my own), so that left Thunderball.
I won't read all the books/stories in this collection, but I need a place to corral all my reviews, and this is as good a place as any. I understand that some of the books are so different from the movies that the only thing they share is the title. A couple are supposed to be pretty similar, and everything else falls between those two extremes. I think this will be fun.
Also, an old Goodreads friend who is no longer with us did this very project several years ago, and I'll enjoy reading her reviews as I go along. I miss talking to her; she was probably the person I corresponded with most on here. She was really nice, and even though we were polar opposites regarding politics/social issues/etc., I always appreciated her insight, and I often enjoyed her reviews of the books we had in common.
Links below go to my reviews. A star rating indicates I've actually written one. They're in the order of the movies, though the books were written in a different order. This kind of irks my minor OCD tendencies, but I'm sure I can get over it if I try. There will also be a link to the theme song in each review and a bonus track for a few of them. (Music is important to me, and all of the bond themes are great.) I'll follow-up with some kind of final analysis when I'm done.
Goldfinger (Book 7): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
Thunderball (Book 9): ★★★★✰
You Only Live Twice (Book 12): ★★★✰✰ (barely)
Diamonds Are Forever (Book 4): ★★★★✰ (3.5+)
Live and Let Die (Book 2): ★★★★✰
The Man with the Golden Gun (Book 13): ★★★★✰ (4.5)
The Spy Who Loved Me (Book 10): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
Moonraker (Book 3): ★★★★★
For Your Eyes Only (Short story from book 8): ★★★★✰
Octopussy (Short story from book 14): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
From A View to a Kill (Short story from book 8): ★★★✰✰
One week later:
Oh, what the hell. In for a penny, in for a pound. Since I'm enjoying these, I might as well read the other four Fleming novels too. Might hit these in 2024. I gotta read them some time since I just bought them. Damn obsessions. I'll do these in publication order since I don't plan on watching the movies in tandem with them, though I might change my mind.
Casino Royale (Book 1): ★★★✰✰
From Russia with Love (Book 5): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
Dr. No (Book 6): ★★★★✰ (4.5)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Book 11): ★★★★★
I reiterate what I say below: Read these in book order... Though I guess this technically isn't a reiteration since I'm putting this in front of everything else, and you haven't read what's below yet, so it can't be reiterated unless you're some kind of time lord thing. Shit, now I've mucked up everything, but I can do this; I can do this... Let's see... AH! We'll start over and get a new made-up word to boot.
I preiterate what I say below: Read these in book order, not movie order, especially the Blofeld ones. I expect I would've enjoyed You Only Live Twice more had I read On Her Majesty's Secret Service first, but only a little. YOLT isn't great, but there's a lot of follow-up in that from OHMSS. It would also be fun to watch Bond grow from the sort of naive and idiotic noob making all kinds of rookie mistakes in Casino Royale to the frockin' badass he becomes later.
Oddly enough, two of the books that weren't in the project ended up being faves. I don't know if that's because I knew nothing about them and came to it fresh or if they were genuinely better books. I expect not having the comparison hangup helped, though. Diamonds Are Forever was the first one I read, and I was caught so off guard by how different it was from the movie that I don't think I gave it a fair shake, so I probably ought to reread that one. I'll probably redo the whole series a few years from now, and I'll be sure to do it right then.
Follow-up checkpoint, 11/11/23:
The official project is complete! Reading the novels/stories along with the movies was fun for the sake of comparison, but reading the books in order is definitely the better way to go. Each can stand on its own, but things happen in earlier books that have an affect on later ones, and if you read the later ones first, you're left wondering about stuff like "why the hell does Felix Leiter " You find out in Live and Let Die which is the second book, but that's been spoiled for you if you read Goldfinger, Thunderball, or Diamonds are Forever first, all of which follow Live and Let Die in the book order but precede it in the movie order. Also, there's character development that occurs for the main cast throughout the series, mostly Bond and M, but it gets confusing if you don't read it in order. You Only Live Twice ends on a bit of a cliffhanger which isn't resolved until the next book, The Man with the Golden Gun, but there are two movies between those which have nothing to do with that plot point, so waiting for that resolution is a pisser. The movies are much more independent of each other than the books, so if I were to do this again, I'd read the books in order and watch the movie that corresponded with it out of order. In fact, the only thing I can think of in the movies that tie one to another aside from recurring characters is Bond looking at his wife's tombstone at the beginning of For Your Eyes Only. It's a two second scene which is a nod to On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and that's it. Oh, and Sheriff J.W. Pepper. His appearance in The Man with the Golden Gun might confuse you if you hadn't seen Live and Let Die, but he isn't in the books at all.
My surmisal was correct. Some of these are so different from the movies that all they share is the title like The Spy Who Loved Me. Goldfinger was the one closest to the book, but even that departed from the source material in spots. These are apples and oranges; delicious but different and not fair for comparison.
Moonraker is easily the best book, and I reckon You Only Live Twice was my least favorite, but I enjoyed all of them. According to a lot of rankings, it looks like the four I haven't read yet are highly rated. I reckon I'll find out if I agree sometime next year. I'm actually looking forward to reading them. It's a shame the movies associated with those are "eh." I'll give a final-final analysis after I've read those.
The tee-up, 4/17/23:
I took on another bloody reading project. Alas.
Mama and I watch a movie together once a month and we have different themes each year. 2023's is James Bond. A couple of weeks ago I decided I'd read the book or short story that corresponded with that month's movie, so I have a bit of catching up to do. Since December is always saved for Christmas movies, we have to pick 11 Bonds. Roger Moore is our favorite, so that took care of seven. Obviously Sean Connery won the others, though there are only three of those we really like. Dr. No bores me to tears, and I've tried From Russia with Love a few times, but can't manage to make it all the way through to the end (at least not on my own), so that left Thunderball.
I won't read all the books/stories in this collection, but I need a place to corral all my reviews, and this is as good a place as any. I understand that some of the books are so different from the movies that the only thing they share is the title. A couple are supposed to be pretty similar, and everything else falls between those two extremes. I think this will be fun.
Also, an old Goodreads friend who is no longer with us did this very project several years ago, and I'll enjoy reading her reviews as I go along. I miss talking to her; she was probably the person I corresponded with most on here. She was really nice, and even though we were polar opposites regarding politics/social issues/etc., I always appreciated her insight, and I often enjoyed her reviews of the books we had in common.
Links below go to my reviews. A star rating indicates I've actually written one. They're in the order of the movies, though the books were written in a different order. This kind of irks my minor OCD tendencies, but I'm sure I can get over it if I try. There will also be a link to the theme song in each review and a bonus track for a few of them. (Music is important to me, and all of the bond themes are great.) I'll follow-up with some kind of final analysis when I'm done.
Goldfinger (Book 7): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
Thunderball (Book 9): ★★★★✰
You Only Live Twice (Book 12): ★★★✰✰ (barely)
Diamonds Are Forever (Book 4): ★★★★✰ (3.5+)
Live and Let Die (Book 2): ★★★★✰
The Man with the Golden Gun (Book 13): ★★★★✰ (4.5)
The Spy Who Loved Me (Book 10): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
Moonraker (Book 3): ★★★★★
For Your Eyes Only (Short story from book 8): ★★★★✰
Octopussy (Short story from book 14): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
From A View to a Kill (Short story from book 8): ★★★✰✰
One week later:
Oh, what the hell. In for a penny, in for a pound. Since I'm enjoying these, I might as well read the other four Fleming novels too. Might hit these in 2024. I gotta read them some time since I just bought them. Damn obsessions. I'll do these in publication order since I don't plan on watching the movies in tandem with them, though I might change my mind.
Casino Royale (Book 1): ★★★✰✰
From Russia with Love (Book 5): ★★★★✰ (3.5)
Dr. No (Book 6): ★★★★✰ (4.5)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Book 11): ★★★★★
July 25, 2025
I grew up loving James Bond. (I know. Most of us did. Even women I have lived with seemed to enjoy watching James Bond marathons.) In 2021, I received an opportunity to purchase and read all the Ian Fleming novels for 98 cents a book. Best of all, I would get to keep these digital copies for ever, to re-read throughout the rest of my life.
I love these books, not just because of the character, but because of the ethos created around this character. However, recent trends seem intent on sanitizing this character from his idiosyncrasies inherent of his (1950) time period / milieu. This collection revises Fleming's work in a way I find deeply offensive to the author's work.
Not that misogyny and bigotry are things to be celebrated, but the reality is that Bond has aspects of his character that lean in that direction, as many men of his day also do. To change Bond's imperfections IMHO make Bond LESS believable rather than more.
I have written a review for every Fleming original Bond book over the course of the years; in case you're interested. The novels follow in order of publication which is different from the release of the movies. The reviews can all be found on my "author i fleming" bookshelf in the order that they were published.
1. Casino Royale (1953)
2. Live and Let Die (1954)
3. Moonraker (1955)
4. Diamonds Are Forever (1956)
5. From Russia, with Love (1957)
6. Dr. No (1958)
7. Goldfinger (1959)
8. Thunderball (1961)
9. The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
10. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)
11. You Only Live Twice (1964)
12. The Man with the Golden Gun (1965)
13. For Your Eyes Only (1960)
14. Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966)
I love these books, not just because of the character, but because of the ethos created around this character. However, recent trends seem intent on sanitizing this character from his idiosyncrasies inherent of his (1950) time period / milieu. This collection revises Fleming's work in a way I find deeply offensive to the author's work.
Not that misogyny and bigotry are things to be celebrated, but the reality is that Bond has aspects of his character that lean in that direction, as many men of his day also do. To change Bond's imperfections IMHO make Bond LESS believable rather than more.
I have written a review for every Fleming original Bond book over the course of the years; in case you're interested. The novels follow in order of publication which is different from the release of the movies. The reviews can all be found on my "author i fleming" bookshelf in the order that they were published.
1. Casino Royale (1953)
2. Live and Let Die (1954)
3. Moonraker (1955)
4. Diamonds Are Forever (1956)
5. From Russia, with Love (1957)
6. Dr. No (1958)
7. Goldfinger (1959)
8. Thunderball (1961)
9. The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
10. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)
11. You Only Live Twice (1964)
12. The Man with the Golden Gun (1965)
13. For Your Eyes Only (1960)
14. Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966)
September 12, 2011
I really loved reading these books. So different to what I was expecting. I'm keeping them in my perminant collection.
***CASINO ROYALE***
I did enjoy my first read of the first James Bond Book. Wasn't what I expected, but I think it has stood the test of time well. I found it interesting that there is no description of Bond! He's a white man with dark hair. No age, or other description. I wonder what I'll learn from the rest of the books, which I have lined up to read next.
***LIVE AND LET DIE***
I did rather enjoy this one too. (Reading my way through the series). I find Bond more human than the films & reading the books really makes want to re-watch all the films. I like the way the books are written in 3rd person, as it allows the reader to get glimpses of other things going on (like The Whisperer...). I am going to enjoy reading them all I reckon!
***MOONRAKER***
I really enjoyed the plot of this book, even tho the plot is completly different from the film (which I enjoyed). I think the books show a more human Bond - who doesn't always get the girl, and infact gets hurt rather a lot (physically like). This book is also interesting as it is set entirely in England.
***DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER***
Another enjoyeable Bond adventure, although by the end of it he had been quite viciously battered - again! Poor guy. Another thing I am noticing (compared to the films) is a lack of Gadgets & Flash Cars! Although he did get the girl this time. And there is a much bigger cast of reoccuring charachters (Like Felix & his own Secretary and Cheif of Staff).
***FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE**
This was a book of two parts. I loved the first part, in which you find out what the Russians are up to, about the individual players - their history and motivation. Then you had the build up of the second part, where the reader is aware of James' fate, but he isn't. What a great read. I love the way Mr Fleming gives you a look at what the baddies are up to.
***DR NO***
Another enjoyable Bond outing. I was quite sad to read about poor Quarrel tho. When reading Bond, you really get the impression that Mr Fleming has done lots of research and knows what he is writing about.
***GOLDFINGER***
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the messes poor Bond got into and the spectacular way he got out of them! Book Bond is much more satisfying than Film Bond, much more human, makes mistakes and doesn't get laid as much. I was a little unsure about the ending - bedding a lesbian. I was quite disapointed with poor Pussy. If she had been written now she would have been much stronger and not jumped into bed with him. But, as this book was written in the late 1950's, I guess it was of it's time. I do find it surprising how little the books have dated.
***FOR YOUR EYES ONLY***
This is actualy a collection of 5 short stories:
1. From a View to a Kill
2. For Your Eyes Only
3. Quantum of Solace
4. Risico
5. The Hildebrand Rarity
I did rather enjoy 5 shots of Bond, I think my favourite was Quantum of Solace, even tho it didn't really feature Bond, it was him being told a story. I find it really clever how Fleming manages to compact the background, build up, and the main event in so few words. Skill!
***THUNDERBALL***
The pace of this book was great (I just didn't have enough time to read it quicker). I loved the build up right until the end. I also love the way Fleming creates such water tight plots and how James managed to make them leak! This book is a bit closer to the films (although, I don't know how close it is to the actual plot of the same name), in that Bond get the very beautiful girl, exotic location, gadgets, murder, bad baddies...
***THE SPY WHO LOVED ME***
This book proves just what a good writer Fleming is. I like the departure from his usual third person style of the Bond Books and the first person isn't even Bond, just a woman who meets him. Genius. His descriptions really set the scene and he is great at building up the tension. I also liked the 3 part structure in the book. Bond doesn't even appear until the third section - but you don't miss his presence. In fact, he shows up at just the right time!
***ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE***
I was really enjoying this book, until the very cruel twist at the end. Poor Bond, having been on the whole journey with him from book 1, I really felt Mr Fleming could have allowed him one piece of happyness. But the journey to get there was very clever. So many strands that all tied up together nicely. Now I'm nearing the end of my Bond quest, I wish there were more...
***YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE***
I really enjoyed this Bond adventure. I loved the Japanese setting. It was almost like reading a guide book on Japan - well researched. I have always wanted to visit Japan - now I really want to go! As I'm 2 books away from the end of my Bond Quest. Starting to feel real sad. What will I do when there is no more...
***THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN***
Again I really enjoyed this outing for 007. So sad that it is the last (full length) James Bond Book. There is one BIG loose end I hoped would be tied up at the end of this book... Kissy! Did she have her baby or what? I guess that may have come up in a future book had Mr Fleming sadly not died so young. On to my final fix Ocopussy and The Living Daylights...
***OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS***
This is actualy a collection of 4 short stories:
-Octopussy
-The Property of A Lady
-The Living Daylights
-007 in New York
They were all rather different, but all well written and unexpected! I have thoroughly enjoyed my advenure with Bond. I'm sad it has ended. Fleming had a gift and it is a shame he didn't get to share more of it.
***CASINO ROYALE***
I did enjoy my first read of the first James Bond Book. Wasn't what I expected, but I think it has stood the test of time well. I found it interesting that there is no description of Bond! He's a white man with dark hair. No age, or other description. I wonder what I'll learn from the rest of the books, which I have lined up to read next.
***LIVE AND LET DIE***
I did rather enjoy this one too. (Reading my way through the series). I find Bond more human than the films & reading the books really makes want to re-watch all the films. I like the way the books are written in 3rd person, as it allows the reader to get glimpses of other things going on (like The Whisperer...). I am going to enjoy reading them all I reckon!
***MOONRAKER***
I really enjoyed the plot of this book, even tho the plot is completly different from the film (which I enjoyed). I think the books show a more human Bond - who doesn't always get the girl, and infact gets hurt rather a lot (physically like). This book is also interesting as it is set entirely in England.
***DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER***
Another enjoyeable Bond adventure, although by the end of it he had been quite viciously battered - again! Poor guy. Another thing I am noticing (compared to the films) is a lack of Gadgets & Flash Cars! Although he did get the girl this time. And there is a much bigger cast of reoccuring charachters (Like Felix & his own Secretary and Cheif of Staff).
***FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE**
This was a book of two parts. I loved the first part, in which you find out what the Russians are up to, about the individual players - their history and motivation. Then you had the build up of the second part, where the reader is aware of James' fate, but he isn't. What a great read. I love the way Mr Fleming gives you a look at what the baddies are up to.
***DR NO***
Another enjoyable Bond outing. I was quite sad to read about poor Quarrel tho. When reading Bond, you really get the impression that Mr Fleming has done lots of research and knows what he is writing about.
***GOLDFINGER***
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the messes poor Bond got into and the spectacular way he got out of them! Book Bond is much more satisfying than Film Bond, much more human, makes mistakes and doesn't get laid as much. I was a little unsure about the ending - bedding a lesbian. I was quite disapointed with poor Pussy. If she had been written now she would have been much stronger and not jumped into bed with him. But, as this book was written in the late 1950's, I guess it was of it's time. I do find it surprising how little the books have dated.
***FOR YOUR EYES ONLY***
This is actualy a collection of 5 short stories:
1. From a View to a Kill
2. For Your Eyes Only
3. Quantum of Solace
4. Risico
5. The Hildebrand Rarity
I did rather enjoy 5 shots of Bond, I think my favourite was Quantum of Solace, even tho it didn't really feature Bond, it was him being told a story. I find it really clever how Fleming manages to compact the background, build up, and the main event in so few words. Skill!
***THUNDERBALL***
The pace of this book was great (I just didn't have enough time to read it quicker). I loved the build up right until the end. I also love the way Fleming creates such water tight plots and how James managed to make them leak! This book is a bit closer to the films (although, I don't know how close it is to the actual plot of the same name), in that Bond get the very beautiful girl, exotic location, gadgets, murder, bad baddies...
***THE SPY WHO LOVED ME***
This book proves just what a good writer Fleming is. I like the departure from his usual third person style of the Bond Books and the first person isn't even Bond, just a woman who meets him. Genius. His descriptions really set the scene and he is great at building up the tension. I also liked the 3 part structure in the book. Bond doesn't even appear until the third section - but you don't miss his presence. In fact, he shows up at just the right time!
***ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE***
I was really enjoying this book, until the very cruel twist at the end. Poor Bond, having been on the whole journey with him from book 1, I really felt Mr Fleming could have allowed him one piece of happyness. But the journey to get there was very clever. So many strands that all tied up together nicely. Now I'm nearing the end of my Bond quest, I wish there were more...
***YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE***
I really enjoyed this Bond adventure. I loved the Japanese setting. It was almost like reading a guide book on Japan - well researched. I have always wanted to visit Japan - now I really want to go! As I'm 2 books away from the end of my Bond Quest. Starting to feel real sad. What will I do when there is no more...
***THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN***
Again I really enjoyed this outing for 007. So sad that it is the last (full length) James Bond Book. There is one BIG loose end I hoped would be tied up at the end of this book... Kissy! Did she have her baby or what? I guess that may have come up in a future book had Mr Fleming sadly not died so young. On to my final fix Ocopussy and The Living Daylights...
***OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS***
This is actualy a collection of 4 short stories:
-Octopussy
-The Property of A Lady
-The Living Daylights
-007 in New York
They were all rather different, but all well written and unexpected! I have thoroughly enjoyed my advenure with Bond. I'm sad it has ended. Fleming had a gift and it is a shame he didn't get to share more of it.
June 16, 2019
I always liked Spy-fi, but I never read James Bond before.
I was very happy when I get this pack as a gift.
I put and my kindle app and started to read in every place.
To my surprise and disappointment, I finished in a week.
After authors like Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy, I became used to big spy books.
In the time I take to get a bus to my dentist, wait to my turn and went back home I read Thunderball.
I'm, not joking.
Those books are shorter than the Narnia ones.
I was really curious to know if there was some big influence on the success of the series since is so fast and easy read.
My experience was full of ups and downs, some novels I loved and some others I was disappointed.
I was pleased to see how the books evolved and understand why Ian Fleming regretted "the spy who loved me" and asked to make a fully original story for the film.
I loved, but I will not recommend to people who can't accept views from other times and cultures.
Ian Fleming died in 1964 and never get close to the way we think today.
I can see some people be bothered by some of James Bond inner thoughts and see as sexist and misogynistic by today standards.
What is Ironic because he was seen as very progressive and praised by his support of the sexual revolution.
His portrait of single women having casual sex in the 50s was polemic.
Most writers in the 50s portrayed women who had sex before marriage as worst than killing babies.
Those are my experiences with this pack.
There was nothing to say about James Bond that we would not know.
Very good.
I was very happy when I get this pack as a gift.
I put and my kindle app and started to read in every place.
To my surprise and disappointment, I finished in a week.
After authors like Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy, I became used to big spy books.
In the time I take to get a bus to my dentist, wait to my turn and went back home I read Thunderball.
I'm, not joking.
Those books are shorter than the Narnia ones.
I was really curious to know if there was some big influence on the success of the series since is so fast and easy read.
My experience was full of ups and downs, some novels I loved and some others I was disappointed.
I was pleased to see how the books evolved and understand why Ian Fleming regretted "the spy who loved me" and asked to make a fully original story for the film.
I loved, but I will not recommend to people who can't accept views from other times and cultures.
Ian Fleming died in 1964 and never get close to the way we think today.
I can see some people be bothered by some of James Bond inner thoughts and see as sexist and misogynistic by today standards.
What is Ironic because he was seen as very progressive and praised by his support of the sexual revolution.
His portrait of single women having casual sex in the 50s was polemic.
Most writers in the 50s portrayed women who had sex before marriage as worst than killing babies.
Those are my experiences with this pack.
There was nothing to say about James Bond that we would not know.
Very good.
November 5, 2017
I`ve read Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love and half of Dr. No. First, these books are great and even though I've seen the movies, these books are much better. Fleming had a style that never grows old. Two, reading these books in order make sense since references are made to previous Bond actions. Read most of these books in the 1960`s and this re read has been enjoyable.
October 18, 2018
Darker than the films -- Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig come the closest to Fleming's conception of Bond -- and relatively short on gadgets, and all the better for it.
January 24, 2018
Consolidating - all, basically, 3.75
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September 21, 2021
There are a few mistakes in the ebook and it is difficult to find your place. However, having all the stories in order and in one place is useful in seeing the development of Bond.
The novels are decidedly non-pc, but there are some interesting tidbits about real cases that are worthy of further research.
The novels are decidedly non-pc, but there are some interesting tidbits about real cases that are worthy of further research.
March 25, 2025
Yes, the James Bond novels of Ian Fleming were written well before becoming a modern Spy flick from Connery or Moore or any actor And yes, that makes the novels a bit dated. Still reading them would have been a pleasure earlier when these movies were on every weekend. I suspect, like Shark-a-nado week the James Bond movies will hit one of the many streams and we'll get to recollect again.
June 7, 2025
An extraordinary experience to read the full collection through from start to finish...especially $1.50
1. Fleming is a terrific writer
2. You realise how values have changed since 50s
3. But many truths are universal, whatever the time
4. I had no idea how close to the film screenplays the excellent early books were
1. Fleming is a terrific writer
2. You realise how values have changed since 50s
3. But many truths are universal, whatever the time
4. I had no idea how close to the film screenplays the excellent early books were
January 20, 2020
Gave up reading this e-book. Getting to some of the pages or chapters was a bit frustrating. Challenge to maneuver through this anthology using my Kindle. So giving up and getting another collection to read.
August 3, 2021
Mammie's favorites and Larry's too. At the beginning of the pandemic we watched all of the movies.
August 17, 2016
Volumul 1 - Caracatita si alte povestiri
Povestirile din acest volum rivalizeaza cu cele mai bune romane din seria James Bond, fiind strabatute de aceeasi tensiune electrizanta si senazuala pe care doar celebrul spion o poate emana. Berlin, Londra, Jamaica... 007 este prezent pretutindeni pentru a rezolva cazuri imposibile pentru un muritor de rand.
Volumul 2 - Casino Royale
La cazinoul din Deauville, James Bond joaca baccara la mize de zeci de milioane de franci. Dar discretele sali de joc, caviarul si sampania reprezinta doar un paravan monden in spatele caruia agentul 007 se infrunta cu unul dintre cei mai puternici si cruzi agenti sovietici.
Volumul 3 - Pe cine nu lasi sa moara
Volumul 4 - Moonraker
James Bond descopera ciudatul si ingrozitorul adevar despre Drax si operatiunea Moonraker. Un adevar care ar putea fi fatal pentru 007, pentru frumoasa lui insotitoare si pentru milioanele de oameni nevinovati.
Volumul 5 - Diamante pentru totdeauna
Furtul unor diamante care valoreaza o avere il arunca pe James Bond in aceasta aventura palpitanta. Agentul 007 face echipa impreuna cu frumoasa Tiffany Case pentru a-l impiedica pe maleficul Blofeld sa foloseasca diamantele furate in scopul construirii unei arme cu laser mortale.
Volumul 6 - Din Rusia, cu dragoste
Organizatia SMERS este o organizatie sovietica de razbunare, tortura si moarte, iar James Bond este hotarat sa-i distruga agentii oriunde ii intilneste. Pe de alta parte insa, SMERS are ochii atintiti asupra lui Bond, iar la Moscova se pregateste o capcana pentru 007.
Volumul 7 - Dr. No
Volumul 8 - Goldfinger
Goldfinger este cel mai lung roman al lui Ian Fleming, si il pune pe James Bond fata in fata cu cel mai inteligent, cel mai puternic si cel mai crud criminal intilnit vreodata de 007, Auric Golgfinger. Si totul porneste de la un banal joc de canasta in doi...
Volumul 9 - Doar pentru ochii tai
Distrugerea unei ascunzatori rusesti linga sediul SHAPE din Paris; asasinarea unor criminali cubanezi in Statele Unite; depistarea unei filiere de heroina in Italia; o moarte neasteptata si brutala in Insulele Seychelles si intre toate acestea o poveste de dragoste si ura in Bermude sunt cinci episoade dintr-o scurta perioada din viata lui James Bond, agentul 007 din Serviciul Secret prezentate in aceasta carte.
Volumul 10 - Operatiunea Thunderball
James Bond a cazut in dizgratie. Viata traita "din plin" i-a ruinat sanatatea si M il trimite, pentru refacere, la un sanatoriu, timp de doua saptamani. Ultimul lucru la care se poate astepta este ca acolo va intinli un adversar mai crud decit organizatia SMERS.
Volumul 11 - Spionul care m-a iubit
James Bond a cunoscut multe femei, dar nici una nu a fost precum Vivienne Michel: o frumusete cu un trecut senzual, dar cu un viitor infricosator, caci este urmarita de personaje terifiante:Sol Horror, un ucigas cu sadice gusturi erotice si Sluggs Morant-spin, demonic, mortal. Un singur om o poate salva pe incintatoarea Viviene,si acest om este, desigur, Agentul 007.
Volumul 12 - In Servicul Secret al Majestatii Sale
Cel mai crud criminal din Europa, Stavro Blofeld, retras in Alpii Elvetieni, isi doreste un titlu nobiliar si nimeni nu poate sa-l opreasca. Pe de alta parte, 007 face cunostinta cu Tracy, care este atit de frumoasa si de tandra, incit statutul de burlac nu-l mai incinta pe celebrul agent. Pentru prima oara, James Bond este indragostit si vulnerabil.
Volumul 13 - A doua sansa
Atunci cand Ernest Stavro Blofeld o ucide pe femeia cu care James Bond se casatoreste cu doar citeva ore in urma, celebrul personaj isi pierde cheful de viata si se transforma, din cel mai bun agent secret, intr-un adevarat pericol pentru colegii sai. Dar M hotareste sa-i mai dea o sansa si sa-l trimita undeva, departe de toate grijile si problemele obisnuite. Asa ca Bond pleaca intr-o misiune imposibila in Japonia.
Volumul 14 - Pistolul de aur
De aceasta data James Bond trebuie sa-si salveze reputatia si sa demonstreze ca nu a tradat niciodata Agentia si interesele Coroanei. Ajutat de seducatoarea Mary Goodnight, Agentul 007 va lupta pe viata si pe moarte cu maleficul Scaramango - barbatul cu pistolul de aur.
Povestirile din acest volum rivalizeaza cu cele mai bune romane din seria James Bond, fiind strabatute de aceeasi tensiune electrizanta si senazuala pe care doar celebrul spion o poate emana. Berlin, Londra, Jamaica... 007 este prezent pretutindeni pentru a rezolva cazuri imposibile pentru un muritor de rand.
Volumul 2 - Casino Royale
La cazinoul din Deauville, James Bond joaca baccara la mize de zeci de milioane de franci. Dar discretele sali de joc, caviarul si sampania reprezinta doar un paravan monden in spatele caruia agentul 007 se infrunta cu unul dintre cei mai puternici si cruzi agenti sovietici.
Volumul 3 - Pe cine nu lasi sa moara
Volumul 4 - Moonraker
James Bond descopera ciudatul si ingrozitorul adevar despre Drax si operatiunea Moonraker. Un adevar care ar putea fi fatal pentru 007, pentru frumoasa lui insotitoare si pentru milioanele de oameni nevinovati.
Volumul 5 - Diamante pentru totdeauna
Furtul unor diamante care valoreaza o avere il arunca pe James Bond in aceasta aventura palpitanta. Agentul 007 face echipa impreuna cu frumoasa Tiffany Case pentru a-l impiedica pe maleficul Blofeld sa foloseasca diamantele furate in scopul construirii unei arme cu laser mortale.
Volumul 6 - Din Rusia, cu dragoste
Organizatia SMERS este o organizatie sovietica de razbunare, tortura si moarte, iar James Bond este hotarat sa-i distruga agentii oriunde ii intilneste. Pe de alta parte insa, SMERS are ochii atintiti asupra lui Bond, iar la Moscova se pregateste o capcana pentru 007.
Volumul 7 - Dr. No
Volumul 8 - Goldfinger
Goldfinger este cel mai lung roman al lui Ian Fleming, si il pune pe James Bond fata in fata cu cel mai inteligent, cel mai puternic si cel mai crud criminal intilnit vreodata de 007, Auric Golgfinger. Si totul porneste de la un banal joc de canasta in doi...
Volumul 9 - Doar pentru ochii tai
Distrugerea unei ascunzatori rusesti linga sediul SHAPE din Paris; asasinarea unor criminali cubanezi in Statele Unite; depistarea unei filiere de heroina in Italia; o moarte neasteptata si brutala in Insulele Seychelles si intre toate acestea o poveste de dragoste si ura in Bermude sunt cinci episoade dintr-o scurta perioada din viata lui James Bond, agentul 007 din Serviciul Secret prezentate in aceasta carte.
Volumul 10 - Operatiunea Thunderball
James Bond a cazut in dizgratie. Viata traita "din plin" i-a ruinat sanatatea si M il trimite, pentru refacere, la un sanatoriu, timp de doua saptamani. Ultimul lucru la care se poate astepta este ca acolo va intinli un adversar mai crud decit organizatia SMERS.
Volumul 11 - Spionul care m-a iubit
James Bond a cunoscut multe femei, dar nici una nu a fost precum Vivienne Michel: o frumusete cu un trecut senzual, dar cu un viitor infricosator, caci este urmarita de personaje terifiante:Sol Horror, un ucigas cu sadice gusturi erotice si Sluggs Morant-spin, demonic, mortal. Un singur om o poate salva pe incintatoarea Viviene,si acest om este, desigur, Agentul 007.
Volumul 12 - In Servicul Secret al Majestatii Sale
Cel mai crud criminal din Europa, Stavro Blofeld, retras in Alpii Elvetieni, isi doreste un titlu nobiliar si nimeni nu poate sa-l opreasca. Pe de alta parte, 007 face cunostinta cu Tracy, care este atit de frumoasa si de tandra, incit statutul de burlac nu-l mai incinta pe celebrul agent. Pentru prima oara, James Bond este indragostit si vulnerabil.
Volumul 13 - A doua sansa
Atunci cand Ernest Stavro Blofeld o ucide pe femeia cu care James Bond se casatoreste cu doar citeva ore in urma, celebrul personaj isi pierde cheful de viata si se transforma, din cel mai bun agent secret, intr-un adevarat pericol pentru colegii sai. Dar M hotareste sa-i mai dea o sansa si sa-l trimita undeva, departe de toate grijile si problemele obisnuite. Asa ca Bond pleaca intr-o misiune imposibila in Japonia.
Volumul 14 - Pistolul de aur
De aceasta data James Bond trebuie sa-si salveze reputatia si sa demonstreze ca nu a tradat niciodata Agentia si interesele Coroanei. Ajutat de seducatoarea Mary Goodnight, Agentul 007 va lupta pe viata si pe moarte cu maleficul Scaramango - barbatul cu pistolul de aur.
February 9, 2011
not as good as some of the other four star books. It is hard to remember which came first, the movie or the reading of the novel.
September 10, 2015
Interesting read for mid-20th C. view of upperclass Brits. Period lit really.
First four books are good, the rest are pretty silly.
First four books are good, the rest are pretty silly.
February 9, 2016
The books are better than the movies. If you didn't like Moonraker the movie, you will enjoy the book. These are timeless.
October 31, 2017
I just love James bond, I've seen almost every movie and the books are better ( as always )
July 5, 2012
I really enjoyed this set of books, so much more grit than some of the films.
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