Thunderbook: The World of Bond According to Smersh Pod

by John Rain

This fully updated edition includes the 25th Bond film, No Time To Die, and also features a chapter covering Never Say Never Again, which starred Sean Connery as Bond but was not an official Eon film.

The Bond films have entertained annoyed, excited, bored, aroused and invigorated cinemagoers (and ITV4 viewers) for more than fifty years. Who hasn’t wanted to kick a big bloke with metal teeth in the groin? Fly a small plane out of a pretend horse’s bottom? Or push a middle-aged man into space? No one, that’s who.

Thunderbook: The World of Bond According to Smersh Pod affectionately examines Bond with tongue firmly in cheek and elbow dug in ribs. Join John Rain as he goes film-by-film through the Bond saga as he points out all the good, the bad, and the double-taking pigeons contained within Bond’s half-century of world domination.

With one chapter for each of the twenty-five films, Thunderbook examines all the moments that are funny, silly, rubbish, nonsensical, bizarre and interesting, with the ultimate intention of celebrating Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and becoming the go-to companion book for the Bond fan at large.

396 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2020

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read plenty of books about James Bond over the years, but there always seems to be a new one to check out. I spotted this one in a secondhand bookshop & gave it a go.
I don't listen to podcasts, so had never heard of Smersh Pod. John Rain takes the reader (previously the listener) through every official James Bond film from Dr No to Spectre & he does it scene by scene. Unless you are a fan of 007's screen adventures this would probably be a pretty dull read!
Rain says some nice things about my favourite Bond film (On Her Majestys Secret Service) & acknowledges that Timothy Dalton's realistic & hard hitting portrayl of Bond preceeded Daniel Craig's one by almost 20 years. Sadly audiences were not ready for this back in the 1980s.
There are plenty of amusing digs at 007's sex life, his gadgets & some of the films more nonsensical plots. I'm not sure if readers ourside of the UK will understand some of his humour as he references plenty of British TV programmes including Phoenix Nights. Play Your Cards Right & Bullseye.
As Bond villain Hugo Drax once said: "You must excuse me gentlemen, not being English, I sometimes find your sense of humour rather difficult to follow."

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book of the podcast about the films Thunderbook is a film by film commentary on all the James Bond films up to and including SPECTRE. Smersh Pod is a fantastic podcast, hosted by the writer of this book, John Rain. It's is rude, funny and doesn't really give a toss about mocking what it is watching. I have genuinely laughed out loud many, many times.

However, this book is a bit too restrained for my liking and a little bit too straight. It's is briskly written but it just lacks that snarkier edge that the podcast has. I feel bad saying that but I think this is a book you would enjoy more if you've not listened to the podcast and are just interested in James Bond.

It's not a bad book at all. I enjoyed reading it. I just wish it was a little more like the podcast.

[Jonathan Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of the Bond movies and have read all the books and there’s always something new to learn about this so this collection, influenced by a podcast, was just for me. Working through all of the films, each chapter essentially narrates the plot but with humorous interjections and observations along the way. It’s a little repetitive in places but very funny in many areas and very astute also.

[John Bleasdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a massive Bond film fan and this book rips them to shreds and I loved it! Despite the hilarious hammering John Rain gives all the films from Dr No to Spectre, it’s very obvious that John is equally a 007 fan and the vitriol rained down on the man with the golden pun is with tongue firmly placed in cheek.

Like the highly recommended Smershpod and Smershpod Royal podcast, that John hosts, that this book originated from, there are many, many laugh out loud moments. John is equally a very funny writer as he is a comical host and the looks I have got when I’ve been out running whilst listening to the podcast or reading the book at home and guffawing loudly have certainly been with a view to a kill!

The book and the podcast might upset some of the Bond purists, but most of us who love Bond also know the films have not been made to be taken that seriously, no matter what the Craig era has tried to change, but are pure escapism, entertainment and fun, rather like this book. You may only live twice but reading Thunderbook, you will laugh a lot!

A notable addition to my library books on the wonderful world of James Bond 007.

[Laurence Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the rather fun SMERSHPod, John Rain goes through the Bond movies in chronological order.

It's all rather simple: the Bond films from Dr. No to Spectre (yes, there'll have to be a new edition for No Time To Die, and no Never Say Never Again or the Niven starring Casino Royale don't get a look in). Rain goes through the plot and - erm - that's it.

OK, I am being a bit reductive. Like most fans of Bond, Rain is joyfully aware of the pleasures of the films as well the pains. While the great set pieces are described with joy and enthusiasm (from Lazenby's hard hitting fights to that damn great dam sequence at the start of Goldeneye), Rain also recounts all those difficult moments of racism and sexism (and ridiculous plotting - though maybe that's not as bad) that we'll generously say 'were of their time'.

Rain likes to indulge in a bit of crassness along the way. Normally this would be a bit off putting, but it works quite well when contrasted with the supposedly subtle innuendos that make up the Bond canon (well, at least before Craig made it all very serious). And while Rain does clearly enjoy tearing apart the moments when Bond falls under his own excess (which he does a lot) he also loves to point the simple joys: an action sequence here, a quip there, the magnificence of a Ken Adam set and - of course - Roger Moore in a safari suit.

It probably won't convert anyone, and this is one for Bond fans. But 007philes (is that a thing? Bondians? Flemingologists?) should find lots to enjoy and laugh at here.

[SJMR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t understand who this book is aimed at. I’m a huge Bond fan but this book is 98% the plot of each film which any Bond fan would already know. There are a tiny amount of insights and facts. Simply reading the production notes on wiki of each film gives you more of an insight. If you are or aren’t a Bond fan then I really wouldn’t recommend this book.

The sleeve and back of the book don’t really give clues as to what this book actually is. It says it will guide you through the films. I honestly thought I would be told lots of behind the scenes information and how the films were made. Not the case. I wouldn’t have purchased it if I know it was literally describing the plot of each film with so many sex references it actually gets boring. We get it, Bond likes woman. But not as much as the author likes talking about Bond liking women.

Also, I’ve never read a book with so many spelling mistakes. Really poor from the publisher/editor.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I asked for this book (birthday gift) mostly because I love the cover art so much. I enjoyed it, but was mildly disappointed. It doesn’t compare to the hyperbolic book blurbs. The main problem is the core content is simply a recycling of plot from each 007 – which anyone reading this book should already know backwards. I was hoping for more comedic commentary – and while it’s there – and range from groaningly obvious the rip-snortingly clever – there’s not enough of it. The plot to commentary ratio is weighed far too heavily in favour of the plot, IMHO. Also, the author makes it patently clear they prefer some films (and 007 actors) to others, by the disproportion attention across the films. Nevertheless, there’s enough to make you chuckle here to make it worthwhile. The 007 films I like most are parodic comedy enough in themselves, but this is a nice enough supplement. And THAT cover!

8/10

[Ed · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read a ton of books about Bond and will surely read more but I’ll need a better hook. This was sold as a humorous look at all the movies but I only laughed out loud sporadically. Otherwise, the jokes were either obviously lame or hyper specific British references that went over my head. The Bond movies are my favorite franchise so If I’m not tearing through a book about it, then that’s the review.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, Thunderbook: The World of Bond According to Smersh Pod is the kind of thriller that makes you hate your own curiosity. Rain, John drops a woman into a rental house with a locked door in the basement and one very nosy neighbor, and the scene where she hears the dishwasher run when nobody's home made me turn on every light in my apartment. Kept me hooked in one sitting, and I'm not proud of the snacks involved. The final reveal is more of a shrug than a gasp. For readers who love a creepy setup. Skip it if the payoff matters more to you than the dread.

[Gary Fowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for any Bond fan. John Rain writes as if you are in conversation with him over a pint in your local. I would have finished this way faster if I hadn’t have laughed so much. Rain’s humourous observations are spot on.

That said though, the whole book could do with one last edit since there are mistakes galore throughout.

[Zadok · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit light on interesting background details and mostly a recap of the plots with barely relevant culture war commentary about Brexit etc shoehorned in often enough to be annoying. (Didn't always get the impression the authors loved Bond as much as stated, but have never listened to the podcast so maybe harsh...)

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't need to know the podcast to love this book. It's a hilarious and informative trip through every Bond film, with derision and affection bestowed generously all the way through. More than one laugh on every page, and loads and loads of trivia, woven into the chapters.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter deals with a bond film,up to and including spector.told in a light hearted fashion,taking apart script and action sequences.some of the humour tends to get a bit samey.also gets bogged down in the bedroom pursuits of mr bond.more a carry on 007.

[Mat Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extended love letter to the James Bond movie franchise that’s well informed, drolly observed and without artifice or cynicism. Fans of the Smershpod podcast will doubtless lap this up.

[Michael Coyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly fine but some glaring errors: Della was alive in License to Kill? Brosnan is British now?

[Sarah Westcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny. Highlights the ridiculous aspects of Bond but does so lovingly. Worth listening to the excellent smershpod podcast too!

[Tom Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny. A must for fans of the movies. A perfect companion to Smershpod, which the author hosts.

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more of a set of summaries of all 25 Bond movies, plus Never Say Never Again, than a piece of humor writing. John Rain is much funnier on his podcast. Still, as a fan, I had a good time.

[Claire Harper-Boniface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun lil companion read whilst rewatching a bond film every Sunday