James Bond discussion

Last summer I had the great pleasure to read the entire Fliming/Bond canon.
So my next consideration this summer are the Gardner, Benson novels. Are they worthwhile? (I have to admit, I'm still "basking in the glow" of Flemings prose from last summer.)

I just unpacked Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver for the library I work in.
Fresh and new.. I am tempted to make it my 1st post-Fleming Bond novel :)
Bit nervous that it's written by an American though..

Melissa, don't bother reading Carte Blanche, it's terrible. It will ruin the Bond reading experience.

I've decided to go with Kingley Amis' 'Colonel Sun'. I am listening to it on MP3 :)

I've finished reading Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis. His style was familiar. I was glad to have read it :)

Melissa,

Similar style to fleming? That would be cool I will have to check it out.

Jack

What about the Gardner and benson novels ?

Any thoughts about those ? Are there any titles that stand out?

@ Jack
I want to avoid making the comparison to Fleming, because I'd be a bad judge. I'm too kind to authors, unless they really botch it! LOL
I shall put it this way - At no stage did I feel as though I was listening to a fraud attempting to be Fleming...

@ Bob
I'm interested in your thoughts about Gardner and Benson. Kingsley Amis was my 1st non-Fleming experience and I'm willing to take Jack's word for it, regarding Carte Blanche. Particularly as there was a big Dubai connection and I live in Abu Dhabi {yuck - I do not wish for the intrusion into my home life :}

Please don't bother with Benson. They're terrible. Really terrible. I've written about why somewhere (my review for Carte Blanche I think).

The later Gardner ones get a bit weird. I think the earlier ones are a bit strange too, but there's some good ones in the middle.

The best, I think, is Icebreaker, though I'd also recommend Nobody Lives Forever; Win, Lose or Die; and maybe The Man from Barbarossa.

Although Colonel Sun is the best continuation novel and the only one that feels like Fleming.

Funny...
I've just issue Carte Blanche @ the library. We had a little chat and she was confident because she likes Jeffery Deaver.
She wasn't sold on Colonel Sun because she can't stand Kingsley Amis LOL.

We're fickle things, us readers ;)

James Bond novels have been a big part of my reading throughout the years. Ian Fleming then John Gardner in the 80s and early 90s, later Raymond Benson, and recently Jeffery Deaver's Carte Blanche which I enjoyed very much. The movies, the new Skyfall, I wonder who will novelize it. I would love to see either John Gardner collection to be selected in the next James Bond adventure, with current updates of the current times.
Just a big fan who misses regularly published James Bond novels.

Yeah me to mate, one of the reasons I started the PRIMAL series was because Bond had disappeared. Although I am not sure 007 and Bishop would see eye to eye on his working for the government. Maybe Bond could retire into the world of PRIMAL. Primal Unleashed

Jack wrote: "Yeah me to mate, one of the reasons I started the PRIMAL series was because Bond had disappeared. Although I am not sure 007 and Bishop would see eye to eye on his working for the government. Maybe..."
That is why I am enjoy every novel you put out like a thristy man in the middle of the desert. I appriciate your storytelling skills Jack.

I think both Gardner and Benson's Bond adventures were fine but these owe more to the film series than Fleming - Devil May Care by Sabastein Faulks was very good, but the best non Fleming Bonds are to my mind - Colonel Sun, Icebreaker and Role of Honour.

I began reading "Colonel Sun" last year and got just a little over halfway through and put it down. Personally, I found Amis' descriptive prose a little too in-depth and plot-detracting. However, may be willing to give it another try once I've worked my way through other post Fleming authors. I recently read Sebastian Faulks and was really entertained by his 'Flemingesque' approach - thoroughly enjoyed the ride! Will commence "Licence Renewed" soon...

Licence Renewed is a fine novel, but is more like the film series than Fleming's original novels. I remember buying the paperback on the day it came out and spending an entire afternoon in the sun reading it. It moves at great speed and works well.

Gary wrote: "Licence Renewed is a fine novel, but is more like the film series than Fleming's original novels. I remember buying the paperback on the day it came out and spending an entire afternoon in the sun ..."

Thank you, Gary! I heard that the idea behind the continuation novels at the time of Gardner taking over Fleming's mantle, was obviously to update them within that period and setting of early 80's pop culture and society. However, I also heard that even though Bond is depicted as somewhat older in years, the novels still maintained a link to the time/events of Fleming's originals.

Thank You, ebooks,


Never quite realized that about the Gardner books. I have a copy of "Licence Renewed" just begging to be cracked open. I think I'll get cracking!

My review of Trigger Mortis, if anyone's interested:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I scored 4 Gardner books at a library book sale. His books aren’t easy to find anymore.

I think Nobody Lives Forever is neat