Last Bond Novel You Read

I suspect the older you get the more you will appreciate Fleming's novels.

Perhaps. I was 19 or so when I read the books for the first time. Now turning 25 and my outlook on life changed since then. Who knows. I suspect that's why I had a new found appreciation for the Moore films recently, I used to hate the LALD film.

Just finished DAF. Yeah, it's very weak. Well written but besides Bond's relationship with Leiter and Tiffany, it's not the most thrilling. I can see why the Spangled Mob were replaced entirely on the film adaption save Wint and Kidd (the film version of them is vastly superior).

MOONRAKER - 4.5 of 5
CASINO ROYALE - 4 of 5
LIVE AND LET DIE - 4 of 5
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - 2 of 5

Also, just read the first couple of chapters of FRWL. I loved it when I first read it years ago, today I love it even more. This is a hell of a rebound for Fleming. The detailed background on Red Grant, General G's rant in the conference room. I always dug the build up chapters. I recall Ambler having mixed feelings of not showing Bond until nearly a dozen chapters in but I think this was a nice deviation from the formula of the last four books. Knowing that Bond is the hunted from the very start keeps the tension alive.

In some ways, FRWL's non-Bond preamble is even better than the rest of the book. Tatiana's meeting with Klebb and General G's conference are delicious Flemingian bits.

As I said on the last novel ranking, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE is a hell of a rebound after the mediocre DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. I'd say the best section of the novel is Part 1 "The Plan". Part 2 "The Execution" isn't AS strong but it's still very good. Kerim Bey is probably my favorite Bond ally in the whole franchise. So Fleming originally planned on ending the series with this, having Bond get poisoned at the end. Would have been a hell of a way to end it and in a way probably fitting given Bond's profession. In many ways the film improves on the novel but I still think they could have done away with the boat chase. I wouldn't mind it going the novel with Bond leaving the train straight to the confrontation with Klebb, but it was smart to at least put in the helicopter attack as a way of making the villains a real threat, that Bond would not get away with it that easy.

MOONRAKER - 4.5 of 5
CASINO ROYALE - 4 of 5
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - 4 of 5
LIVE AND LET DIE - 4 of 5
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - 2 of 5

Currently on DR. NO and already I feel the film should have been closer to the novel in terms of pacing. In the film it takes an hour for Bond to leave for Crab Key, while in the novel he leaves right after the creepy crawler scene, that and the poisoned fruit confirming him that Dr. No had already pulled the trigger and he decides to hunt him down. The additional stuff with Miss Taro and Dent is good, still it drags the film down. I also like that Bond only goes on this mission thinking it has to do with birds but eventually finds out about the toppling of space rockets, the classic Fleming formula of Bond going on a mission that seems mundane but turns out to be even bigger. Plus Quarrel is more grounded, it's a shame they made him superstitious in the film, the "fetch my shoes" and drinking gags.

"I also like that Bond only goes on this mission thinking it has to do with birds but eventually finds out about the toppling of space rockets, the classic Fleming formula of Bond going on a mission that seems mundane but turns out to be even bigger."

Good point.

Honestly, I always thought Tiffany Case alone was well worth the read of DAF. I think she's one of Fleming's best creations. Alot of her dialogue and scenes still go through my head when I think of it and I haven't read the book in six years.

I quite like Tiff in DAF. She's such a well written character. Then again, I also think DAF was quite a good novel - I enjoyed it immensely.

Am currently reading Thunderball, and just finished the chapter "Swimming The Gauntlet". Did anyone else pick the parallels between the shark and barracuda and Bond and Largo toward the end of the chapter? Thought it was a clever way to end the chapter.

Finished DN a week ago, forgot to write of it. Very enjoyable and easily superior to the film counterpart. It's got a nice tone with Bond being immediately spotted by the enemy right when he walks out of that plane. I find Honey to be a lot more sexy here especially, too bad that was lacking with Undress.


MOONRAKER - 4.5 of 5
CASINO ROYALE - 4 of 5
DR. NO - 4 of 5
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - 4 of 5
LIVE AND LET DIE - 4 of 5
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - 2 of 5

I put DN/FRWL very close, but I give the former the edge. FRWL had an excellent opening and continued well into the end but I prefer DN for its exotic location, the mystery, Dr. No and his interest in pain, Bond's journey through the torturous pipeline and even the squid attack is thrilling. Now I do wish CR had been adapted as a film first, therefore DN might have eventually been made with a budget that supported everything in the novel.

Fleming's novels were sexier (raunchier) than could be got away with in the earlier films. Spy was soft-core porn in spots.

Tanya was pretty playful in the FRWL film, I don't see how that could have been hard to do in DN. Instead of a bathtub it may have been just a bed, Bond telling her "take a nap". Her sticking her tongue out. Undress is sexy, but her character should have been more alive.

Took a hiatus then finished GF recently. Yeah, I gotta say the film is a big improvement. Best thing going for it is the characterization of Auric Goldfinger.

MOONRAKER - 4.5 of 5
CASINO ROYALE - 4 of 5
DR. NO - 4 of 5
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - 4 of 5
LIVE AND LET DIE - 4 of 5
GOLDFINGER - 2.5 of 5
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - 2 of 5

Also, too bad we never got this in the flick.

Thinks of cheap punchline about eating pussy, then passes out on the floor....

Is there are link where I can find this guy's complete collection of Bond art?

https://s256.photobucket.com/albums/hh165/purpleramis/?start=all

At another forum he's known by the user name Paul McCartney, but he hasn't been around for awhile. As you can see in some of the photos he met Sir Rog. Would have made a fine member here.

My favorite "artwork" of his is this.





Though this is just as great.

Great, thanks.

We need to use this one at BAB:

Perfect for any j7wild post.

Better than the actual QOS poster.

Actually that whole film would've been better if it was just two hours of Sean Connery battering people with that giant wooden dildo.

M: "Bond, I need to know that I can trust-*WHACK, THUD*
-Cut to Connery holding a giant wooden dildo-
Bond: "In penish I trusht."

In my hungover state yesterday, I decided it was the optimum time to being a re-read of the series, starting naturally with the holy Casino Royale.

Man, I've missed Fleming's prose. It's so snappy and vivacious.

The last time I read Casino Royale I was but 15. The book is even better when one has garnered a greater appreciation of booze and bitches.

Been doing my usual re-read, and just finished For Special Services-now into Icebreaker. I hadn't read Colonel Sun in ages, and it still seems as odd and draggy as ever.

Onto LALD now. So much wacism.

I'm surprised at how quickly I shot through CR. I didn't remember it being that short.

I need to jump back in. The Spy Who Loved Me is next up and I never tried that one.

Spy is definitely unique. It also contains some of Fleming's finest writing.