Bond Reviews

Goldfinger was Ian Fleming's 9th James Bond novel and admitedly, it is not one of the stronger entries. Indeed, Goldfinger is one of those rare cases where the film made from the book is actually better than the book itself. The book's plot finds James Bond investigating the gold-obsessed Auric Goldfinger. The case starts largely as a lark for Bond but eventually involves Bond in a bizarre plot to rob Fort Knox. As opposed to Fleming's best works, Goldfinger's plot often feels as if Fleming made it up as he went along and the book's final set piece and conclusion comes across as rushed and just a little bit lazy. In fact, upon reflection, it becomes apparent that most of the book's twists and turns come less from any cunning on Goldfinger's part and more from James Bond simply making a series of stupid mistakes.

That said, it should also be remembered that Ian Fleming was, even at his most uninspired, a far better writer than most of his contemporaries. As such, even subpar Fleming is usually more entertaining than the best of what other writers are capable of. Especially in its opening chapters, Goldfinger has its moments of true wit and it certainly is enjoyable to follow Bond as he subtly manipulates the man's vanity. While this book doesn't feature Fleming's usual strong cast of quirky supporting characters, both Bond and Goldfinger are strong and memorable enemies. While Bond himself comes across as a bit more ruthless than usual (at times seeming to be an almost borderline sociopath), Auric Goldfinger stands as one of Fleming's strongest creations. Incredibly childish at times while still being fully (and credibly) capable of amassing the world's largest fortune, Goldfinger is indeed a worthy villian and, even if his plan disappoints, the man never does. The book is worth a read just for the chance to appreciate the skill with which Fleming creates a villian who, otherwise, could have been a harmless cartoon. As well, any book that features a character named Pussy Galore can't be all bad.

In the end, Goldfinger is lesser Bond but it is a Bond book nonetheless and those who are familiar with Fleming's work will find much to enjoy. (Those with the right sense of humor will certainly find some amusement in Fleming's theory that lesbianism is the result of women getting the right to vote.) Goldfinger is not the type of book that should serve as anyone's introduction to Ian Fleming's Bond. Certainly, both were capable of more than Goldfinger would (at first) indicate. But with its flaws come several pleasures and it is a must for fans of the literary Bond.

Goldfinger is the first 007 novel I've read, and it certainly will not be the last!
Bond is on this occasion chasing Auric Goldfinger, a powerful gold trader lokking to bring down the value of the English Pound. 007 soon discovers that Goldfinger's master plan to steal $11 billion of gold from the vault in Fort Knox, USA.
Bond is soon caught in the middle of the biggest criminal operation of all time, and is the only man who can stop it. A brilliant book, with detailed descriptions of every aspect of the story, and a fool-proof plot. Only 007 could possibly get so deeply involved in a plan such as Goldfinger's, and with the twists at the end you will not know what is coming next.
A great book, and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the 007 series.

This book was far ahead of its time, ignored for the most part after its initial publication, but selling in the millions after the film's release almost a decade later. Give Fleming credit for enormous creative powers in dreaming up a story that, with its castrating laser beams, deadly Korean bodyguards, obese villains and beautiful women, resonated deeply in the darkness of a movie theater. But Fleming's role in helping create modern blockbuster entertainment is only part of the story. The James Bond books as a series are much darker than the films, and "Goldfinger" is no exception, but it's filled with descriptive prose that's among the best of the post-WWII era. Returning to this book after fifteen years confirms an earlier impression that one is dealing with more than a competent thriller-writer here. Though steeped in the Cold War era, and filled with fantastic plot contrivances, Fleming had a keen eye for irony, humor, and the truthful human observation. JFK, while President of the U.S., declared Ian Fleming his favorite author. In fact, as time goes on, Ian Fleming's gifts shine brighter than ever, remaining to be discovered by a new generation of readers.

I decided to read this book due to a review I read by Catherine Bishop on the All About Romance Web-site. The story sounded intriguing and the review stated the sexuality was burning. The plot was unique in a "cutesy" sort of way and had wonderful possibilities, however I guess I've read too much Linda Howard, Stephanie Laurens, Nicole Jordan, and Dara Joy because the sensuality just left me flat. There's really only one consumate sex scene in this book and it lasts about a minute and a half. There is no romance to speak of at all and the idea of the heroine repeatedly placing sexual phone calls to the wrong number and not realizing she was talking to someone other than her boyfriend was difficult to buy into. I felt the whole tone of the book was adolescent in nature, if you want to read a really "So Called Hot" Contemporary Romance read Michelle Jerott's ABSOLUTE TROUBLE or ALL NIGHT LONG.

After hearing soooo much talk, both pro and con, on this book, I just
HAD to buy it........let me say that I may be just a bit old-fashioned
in some ways, and completely clueless when it comes to "phone
sex" but I would have done exactly what Georgia Adams did if I
was 30 years old (again...) and dating a man for 10 months who has
never "come on" to me!! Her naivete' rather shone through
her attempts at phone sex........as a reader, I knew she didn't enjoy
doing it, but got talked into it by her friend........and she DID
rather enjoy it once she got the hang of it ........ Liked
both Georgia and Ken Medlock, the policeman whose number she
auto-dialed by mistake.........I can see why he didn't have the heart
to tell her he wasn't Rob (her boyfriend).......he wasn't kinky, he
was more embarrassed (and yes, he did enjoy it also).........Sparks
flew the next day when he first met her at the emergency room at the
local hospital, where he brought an injured dog to be treated.........
You honestly have to read this book to form your own opinion... I
thought it had everything - - realistic and likeable hero/heroine
(albeit sexually frustrated ones); lots of mix-ups (reminiscent of the
1930-s screwball comedies); laughs galore; and what more could we ask
for, than a cute doggie?? Oh, and did I mention, steamy (phone) sex
scenes??? This is one romance book I'm sure my two (married)
daughters will be happy to borrow from me..........
Åÿ

This snack of a book is a quick read and lots of fun. I thought the plot was a novel one for a contemporary romance. The heroine is trying to nudge her relationship with her boyfriend into a more intimate relationship and hits upon the plan of calling him for a little phone sex. She doesn't know it, but she's programmed the wrong number into her new phone and inadvertently calls a perfect stranger. The recipient of her naughty call is caught unaware but is willing to play along. Come to find out, he's actually a nice guy. As you'd expect, the rest of the plot revolves around these two soulmates finding one another in person. It's a fresh twist and an amusing read.

It's been said that Ian Fleming was not fond of his book, "The Spy Who Loved Me". Since he placed a note at the book's beginning, claiming someone left the manuscript on his desk, one can guess that this might be true. Whatever the author's feelings were, "The Spy Who Loved Me" is an enjoyable novel, although it does differ from Fleming's other Bond novels.

"The Spy Who Loved Me" is unique for a James Bond novel, in that the story is told through the eyes of a "Bond Girl". Vivienne Michel recalls her travels, her new job at a motel and the danger she encounters one night at the hands of a couple thugs. Enter James Bond, who is more heroic than ever as he fights to be her savior.

In recent years, the Ian Fleming Bond novels have gone in and out of print. Don't hesitate to pick up "The Spy who Loved Me" and the other Bond books before they become impossible to find!

It's been said that Ian Fleming was not fond of his book, "The Spy Who Loved Me". Since he placed a note at the book's beginning, claiming someone left the manuscript on his desk, one can guess that this might be true. Whatever the author's feelings were, "The Spy Who Loved Me" is an enjoyable novel, although it does differ from Fleming's other Bond novels.

"The Spy Who Loved Me" is unique for a James Bond novel, in that the story is told through the eyes of a "Bond Girl". Vivienne Michel recalls her travels, her new job at a motel and the danger she encounters one night at the hands of a couple thugs. Enter James Bond, who is more heroic than ever as he fights to be her savior.

In recent years, the Ian Fleming Bond novels have gone in and out of print. Don't hesitate to pick up "The Spy who Loved Me" and the other Bond books or tapes before they become impossible to find!

I really enjoyed THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. This novel gives the character of James Bond more humanity, integrity and a true sense of gallantry than all the other Fleming novels in a single read.

This book is good if you want some minor facts that have been exhaustively researched. I bought my copy in May of 2002. It makes it seem that the movies are junk and you are wasting your time. A better Bond book is The Essential Bond, by Lee Pfeiffer. This one tells you about gadgets, cars, villians, and the sexy Bond girls. I rate this one 5 stars!!

We have, first of all, truth in advertising: Steven Jay Rubin's THE COMPLETE JAMES BOND MOVIE ENCYCLOPEDIA is exactly what it says it is, providing information on the series' actors, characters, locations and gadgets. It provides reviews of the first seventeen movies, and the history of the rift between Ian Fleming and Kevin McClory.

There is a lot here. So much, in fact, that the book becomes wearisome. Mr. Rubin's entries about the various Bond searches are interesting, as are his reviews (and, no, I do not agree with half of them), but the quality of these are inferior to the same information presented in his much better THE JAMES BOND FILMS. In addition, Mr. Rubin has seen fit to include some trivia that may tickle the diehard fan but is fairly worthless otherwise.

I was also annoyed by the GOLDENEYE updates. We get few stills from the movie, and the review doesn't provide much in the way of commentary.

Still, if you are a diehard fan, or even a low key one, you'll find this book pleasing and often informative.

The Complete James Bond Movie Encyclopedia is truly a great book on the world of James Bond. It has information on all the characters including Goldeneye. It also has information on gadgets, cars, other things and trivial information that is definitely important to anyone who truly likes James Bond. It does not contain everything about bond, and the Goldeneye section in the addendum is less than lacking. Besides that and the fact that it needs to be updated to include TND, everything else about the book is really great.

The BEST out there because it has PRONOUNCIATION guide for every word. Many other useful sections on variations within Latin American countries, common phrases, etc.
Unfortunately, the type is so small the book should be furnished with a high power magnifying glass to read it.
I'm giving mine away.
Ordered the hardcover version with readable type.

This is the best Spanish Dictionary I have ever used. I own four of them and I find this to be the best. 1.The Short history of the language is fantastic. It really explains some things beginner student will want to know. 2. The verb conjugations are necessary. If a dictionary doesn't have this, don't buy it. 3. It uses standard phonetic dictation. I reccomend all students of any language learn how to use the phonetic symbols. They will tell you how to speak the word very clearly. 4. The grammer section is good and brief, more than I would expect from a dictionary. 5. It explains regional differences. This is a must for Spanish since 22 countries speak it and there are regional differences between the regions. 6. It conveys shades of meaning quite well. The English to Spanish translation is very good. 7. The idiom table is very good. I used this dictionary in Mexico, and is the only spanish book I wouldn't be caught dead without while I was down there.

I have this dictionary and also find it has the words I need to look up most times.For its size it has a lot of entries so is useful to carry around.The short history of the Spanish language is for me most interesting and the list of idioms very useful. I would thoroughly recommend this dictionary for everyday usage.

The sixth 007 book finds James Bond recuperating from the near-fatal events of From Russia With Love. M sends his on a seemingly easy mission to Jamaica to find out what happened to the missing station head and his secretary. As one might expect, there's more there than meets the eye, and Bond ends up facing off with one of the more memorable villains of the series. Soon after arriving, Bond's cover is blown and an attempt is made on his life, which is easily traced back to the mysterious guano magnate, Dr. Julius No. Bond teams up with his old pal Quarrel to infiltrate No's private island and poke about. As per usual, it's not long before Bond comes across a beautiful wild girl who will be at his side the rest of the story and end up in his bed. Honey is a truly ridiculous character, part untamed Amazon, part innocent schoolgirl, part nubile supermodel, all male fantasy (more so than usual, even for the Bond books!).

Once the dynamic trio is teamed up, it's not long before they're bumbling their way into the arms of Dr. No's professional henchmen. Bond makes elementary mistake after mistake, achieving something along the lines of his own personal Bay of Pigs in the showdown with the dreaded "dragon". Once in the (inevitable) clutches of the hook-handed Dr. No, things get even more silly. First, the villain reveals his entire nefarious operation to Bond (because he's an egomaniac and needs his audience), which Bond had no previous idea about. Then, after gleefully telling Bond and the girl about how he liked to conduct scientific tests of human "will to live", and conveying them to his own deadly obstacle course, he doesn't even bother to observe his little experiment! Instead, he wanders off to supervise some guano loading operation! This, of course, leaves Bond free to devise an escape (after a particularly groan-inducing battle with a giant octopus), and take revenge in a scene is so bad that it's unintentionally funny.

In the end, this is one adventure where Bond's toughness proves more useful than any brains r training. The descriptive writing is quite good, as Fleming places the reader right into the pristine beaches, smoky nightclubs, and fetid swamps. But it's a shame the plotting and internal logic wasn't tightened up, and the the supporting cast wasn't a bit more interesting. Quarrel is a stereotypically drawn islander, rough, tough, and lovin' the ladies, while Honey is a walking fantasy who has Bond swinging back and forth between father-figure and sexual instructor. One of the weaker books in the series.

Returning once again in the 6th book by Ian Fleming, James Bond is back and he is on his way to battle the evil Dr. Julius No, who describes himself as a maniac. Dr. No is a 6 ft. tall, bald maniac who has claws instead of hands puts 007 up to one of his most dangerous and daring assignments ever.

007 has apparently survived the excrutiating death of being stabbed by the poison shoe of Rosa Klebb. He's back in action and more dangerous than ever. He is sent by M to Jamaica to discover what has happened regarding the dissapearance of SIS agant Strangways and his secretary. 007 soon discovers that somebody doesn't want him to find out why, after a poisonous centipede and poison fruit make their way to Bond's hotel room. the suspect is Dr. No who sells bird-dung on the mysterious island Crab Key. Bond teams himself with a local, called Quarrel and they sail to the island. 007 meets Honeychile Ryder from walking up onto the beach from the water. Together the three search the island, but Quarrel is killed and Bond and Honey are captured and sent to the headquarters of Dr. No. He then tells them that is a Soviet agent that is causing havoc to the USA military tests of their rockets. Dr. No is a sadistic maniac who is obsessed on how much the human body can take. He forces Bond to go through his death course filled with electric shocks, poisonous spiders, heat and a giant squid. Bond surprisingly survives and kills Dr. No by suffocating him under a large pile of bird dung. Bond then rescues Honey and they go to a vacation together.

Dr. No is one of the most thrilling, exciting and adventerous novels of Ian Fleming. It's filled with exotic villians, Dr. No, exciting girls, Honey Ryder and unstoppable excitement!

Being a fan of the James Bond of the movies, I decided to go back to where Bond got his start--in Ian Fleming's novels. Doctor No is the third Bond novel I've read and thus far I think it's the best.

Bond is called to investigate the mysterious death of Strangways on the island of Jamaica. Upon arriving, Bond finds that Doctor No, the enigmatic owner of an island rich in guano, is behind the murder. As Bond investigates No's island with his Jamaican friend Quarrel, he encounters the beautiful Honey Rider and the dangers of dealing with Doctor No.

As I said before, this is so far my favorite of the Fleming Bond novels. The location is exotic and mysterious (Fleming probably chose it because he lived there), Bond is more ruthless than ever, and the thrills are plentiful. Honey Rider is more developed here than she is in the Dr. No movie, and the villain himself is much more sinister and menacing. The pace is much quicker than the other novels, with there being very few parts that drag. By modern standards Fleming is a racist and sexist but his dated descriptions and language don't remove from the story. Some claim the giant squid chapter was too much, but I thought it worked; that chapter was probably my favorite because it reminded me of Jules Verne and all the adventure novels of the past.

I had a few problems, though. The bird guano elements to the book really throw the pacing off and are kind of boring; I found myself skimming the pages when Fleming started describing them. The death of Doctor No is absurd and unintentionally funny; I wanted something more exciting than what Fleming gives us. The characters seem fond of going into really long monologues as well, which can be tiresome.

Overall, though, I had more fun with this novel than the other ones I've read. I'd give it a high recommendation just for its sheer fun. Somehow I can't help but play the James Bond Theme in my head while reading these books.

To a certain extent, it feels unfair to criticize The Man With the Golden Gun, the last of Ian Fleming's original James Bond books. It is generally agreed that Fleming, seriously ill while writing this book, died before having a chance to rewrite his initial, sketchy drafts. The book itself was rushed out by Fleming's publishers and therefore, if it often reads like a first draft that's because it is.

This is the book that finds James Bond returning to MI6 after being briefly brainwashed by the KGB. Needing to redeem himself in the eyes of M (who, in this book's rushed characterization, is at his most coldly unlikeable), Bond is sent to take out international assassin Paco Scaramanga, whose trademark is that he kills with a golden gun. As said, the entire book reads like a sketch of an idea (a short story really) and Fleming's prose and dialouge are (through not fault of his own) rough and unpolished. However, the book does have a few good points that are all the more remarkable when you consider the duress Fleming was under when he wrote it. Scaramanga is a potentially fascinating character, a wonderfully image of James Bond as if reflected in a funhouse mirror. Indeed, it is hard not to feel that if Fleming had lived to write a second draft, Scaramanga would be remembered as one of his most memorable villians, in league with Dr. No and Goldfinger. As well, there is wonderfully elegiac about the book's final chapter where Bond spends a few pages considering his legacy as a secret agent and his future in espionage. Fleming, surely knowing that this would be his final novel, uses the chapter to sum up all that he had written over the past 15 or so years and it serves as a nice tribute for the fans of the original James Bond, confirming everything that made us a fan in the first place. The Man with The Golden Gun isn't a book that accurately reflects the depth of Fleming's talent or the potential of the literary James Bond but it still has a few shiny moments that shows why Bond has endured.

First I have to say, beware of the review by Kevin Johnson below. For whatever reason, his review describes the ridiculous plot of the movie version, not that of the book.

"The Man with the Golden Gun" was the final adventure of James Bond authored by Ian Fleming, and for that reason alone is a classic in the series. While a complete story in itself, it also can be regarded as the completion of an enjoyable trilogy that began with "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and is followed by "You Only Live Twice." That has always been my favorite way to read this book, which I have done every few years.

There are very few books which I am tempted to read again and again as I have with those three. It is fitting that Fleming's last Bond book has Bond returning to the island of Jamaica, which was the setting for two other Bond novels, and was a place that Ian Fleming knew very well, having owned a home there. Like in many of these novels, the setting's ambience becomes as every bit as critical to the story as the characters themselves.

The story is refreshing because of its simplicity. No worlds on the brink of disaster plot here, as in the cartoonish films and Bond novels by other authors. Bond's mission is to assassinate an assassin in an attempt to recover his standing in the Secret Service. And the story unfolds from there.

Those who expect the lack of subtlety of the films will probably deplore this book. But those who have enjoyed the Bond series by Fleming will relish the opportunity to share this last adventure with an old friend. Subsequent authors have never been able to recapture the Fleming magic.

Very Good Book! Own Now and yo'll be the man with the Golden Book! A lot of action and all! I had a hard time putting it down! Own now!

This book is the "official authorized guide" to the world of 007. It's just a pity that the authors are obviously not real Bond fans. The book casually glides past Fleming;s novels and the Bonds themselves and instead does a film-by-film recap. This would be nice were it not for the fact that you often get the sense that the authors were trying to divide Bond fans into 2 distinct camps rather than prasing the series as a whole. My personal tastes were also insulted as brilliant movies like "man With The Golden Gun" and "A View To A Kill" are slammed, mocked, and scorned, while later on they gush and sing the praises of the dull villain Carver from "Tomorrow Never Dies", and stop just short of calling George Lazenby the best Bond ever. I couldn't help getting a sense that this book was written to be deliberatley provocative and irritating, and really that's not what you want in a book called "The Essential Bond".

Although the authors seemed to know what they were talking about (even if they come across somewhat "preachy" by telling us what was good, what was bad, and why John Barry should have won an award for each film), I was very disappointed by...

THE GLARING ERROR!

The book states that Ernst Stavro Blofeld was last seen in Diamonds Are Forever. When I read this, I quickly turned to the section on For Your Eyes Only. John Hollis is credited with appearing as the "bald villain confined to a wheelchair." I can't believe that the authors completely missed the importance of James Bond visiting his wife's grave and then killing the man responsible for her murder!

I still gave the book two stars. The sections on each film seem to be complete with most of the women, vehicles and gadgets that were used in each. Also, the photos are excellent.

If you're a James Bond fan, you'll enjoy the book. Fortunately, it doesn't include the lame Die Another Day. The last film presented is The World is Not Enough.

I don't have the most recent edition of this book, as there have been many. However, I did get a kick out of the reviewer called "The Rectifier" who posted a review in January, 2003 in which he claimed to be "astonished" that the character of Blofeld was not properly identified in the chapter for "For Your Eyes Only". If "The Rectifier" knew what all Bond fans did, he would realize that the character of Blofeld had been tied up in legal rights issues for years. Even in the film's credits, the character is not identified, nor is the actor who played him. The producers have long officially denied the character is Blofeld, even though the joke is that he is "coincidentally" a bald megalomaniac with a cat on his lap. Had they officially identified him as Blofeld, legal problems would have ensued.I wish old Blofeld would make a welcome return to the series, but it appears as though the legal battles will continue to keep him off screens for some time to come.

Yes, I know they already made a film of "Moonraker" which had basically nothing to do with the book, so they're free to use plot elements. But it's almost shameless to use this many plot elements. A space weapon (only it's called "Icarus" instead of "Moonraker"), a "zero-to-hero" public persona for the villain (as well as his being honored by the Queen and not at all what he seems), the villain's blonde secretary who's a double (British S.S. and his secretary), a showdown at a club...I could go on and on. Why waste $$$ on this novelization when you could pick up Ian Fleming's original "Moonraker" at a library or used book store? It's much better, plus you get to see a "Bond Girl" who thinks he's stupid (at least at first, but then SHE dumps HIM). How rare is that!?

Raymond Benson has done a superb job with his own Bond series,combining the modern film Bond with the classic Fleming Bond.(its a shame that it appears that he won't be doing anymore)His novels are all fast paced entertaining reads.His novelisations of the Brosnan series have almost always improved on the movies-adding alot of character moments as well as a great deal of depth and dimension to the villians.This one,however,reads like a great action movie.The pace is relentless as it is basically one giant action scene after another following a shocking beginning where we see 007 as we have never seen him before.Now as a movie this will be alot of fun to see but as a novel it seems to be over much too quickly(I finished it in a day). The character moments Benson usually puts in his own series were few and far between because of the incredible pace of the story . While this works on film you end up missing these moments on the printed page and waiting for a little break in the action.That being said,this is filled with one incredible scene after another.In fact,you end up smiling and cheering just as you would in the movies.The action sequences are all original and exciting and 007 is better than ever...coming through the most harrowing experience he has ever been through on film.If this plays out as written it will easily be Brosnans best Bond film to date.Benson captures the feelings of a "Bond movie on paper" perfectly.This may not have the depth of his original stories but it has all the fun of the movies.
If this is his last Bond novel he has gone out in style.

Raymond Benson has been a Bond fan for years. That being said, Benson took the film's script and elevated the material to a point where it at least has plausibility and some style perhaps out of respect to the memory of Ian Fleming. Also, the focus in the novel is on James Bond, not computer generated stunts (that's rather hard to do in a book any way you look at it). This is a great improvement over the various plot elements and this time out they work. I was pleased that we got something good out of this last Bond movie.

Murder in Mesopotamia may not be as famous as some of Agatha Christie's other works but it is an excellent book none the less. Featuring Hercule Poirot, the story is set in Mesopotamia (i.e. Iraq) at an archaeological dig. Christie's husband, Max Mallowan, was a noted British archaeologist and she spent a great deal of time with him in Iraq. Her familiarity with and affection for her subject matter is clear and infuses the story. The book itself is classic Christie- well-plotted, crisp dialogue, great characters, lots of red herrings and a satisfying conclusion which, as usual, left me stumped. Great fun to read. Highly recommended.

Murder in Mesopotamia is one of the better mysteries written by Agatha Christie. There are many suspects, including Dr. Lidner, Nurse Leatherman, Miss Johnson, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Richard Carey, Mr. Mercado, Mrs. Mercado, Miss Matilan and Super Intendent Matilan.

This story revolves around Louise Lidner, who is killed. This mystery is interesting because it is not what it seems. As Hercule Poirot states, "It is so straight forward." You really get to know every character. One of them whom you grow attatched to and was mentioned above, is murdered. Definitely read "Murder in Mesopotamia."

I read this book for the first time yesterday, and it immediately became one of my favorites. It takes place on a dig somewhere outside of Bagdad. It is told my Amy Leatheran, a nurse who is asked to be a companion to one of the people at the site. The tone and manner of this narrator makes for a fun read. I also liked the perceptions of a young, independent woman, as we don't normally see that in Christie's works. We see Hercule Poirot as a more minor character, which is interesting to me.