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14. James Bond is a literary franchise comprising a series of novels and short stories, first published in 1953 by the British author Ian Fleming. The protagonist of the series, James Bond, is a British Secret Service agent, often referred to by his code name 007. The character first appeared in the 1953 novel Casino Royale; the books are set ...
- For Your Eyes Only (1960) "Never send a man where you can send a bullet." "For Your Eyes Only" by Ian Fleming takes James Bond on a thrilling collection of short stories as he tackles espionage, vengeance, and international crime.
- Thunderball (1961) "It’s just that I’d rather die of drink than of thirst." In Ian Fleming's Thunderball, Agent 007 is sent on a thrilling mission to the Bahamas to prevent a global catastrophe as he battles against an organization hell-bent on nuclear blackmail.
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1962) "Loneliness becomes a lover, solitude a darling sin." In "The Spy Who Loved Me" by Ian Fleming, delve into the thrilling world of espionage as protagonist James Bond uncovers an intricate web of betrayal and lust.
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963) "When the odds are hopeless, when all seems to be lost, then is the time to be calm, to make a show of authority - at least of indifference."
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- 1963
Casino Royale
One of the most famous Bond novels, Fleming wrote Casino Royalein early 1952 at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica while waiting to get married. The storyline deals more broadly with themes of Britain’s position in the world, especially with regards to British agent defections to the Soviet Union and the resultant deterioration in relations with the US. Fleming was originally unsure whether the novel was suitable for publication; however, the book was well-reviewed and sold out in less than a mo...
Live and Let Die
Set in London, the US and Jamaica, Fleming wrote Live and Let Die before Casino Royale was published. Much of the information in the book came from Fleming’s own travels in the US and Jamaica. The novel deals with themes of East-West Cold War struggles, race relations and the struggle between good and evil. It was also well-received by critics, with the first run quickly selling out.
Moonraker
The plot of Moonraker was derived from a screenplay by Fleming that was deemed too short for a full novel. Uniquely for a Bond novel, it is set entirely in Britain, which was a point of criticism from readers who desired more exotic locations. Nonetheless, it was well-received. Thematically, it played on several 1950s fears such as nuclear annihilation, Soviet communism and the re-emergence of Nazism.
Diamonds are Forever
The plot of Diamonds are Forever was inspired by a newspaper article about diamond smuggling. Indeed, much of Fleming’s background research formed the basis for a non-fiction book he released in 1957 titled The Diamond Smugglers. Diamonds are Forever deals with themes of marriage, international travel and the ever-changing nature of life. The novel received positive reviews, then was serialised in the Daily Express newspaper.
From Russia, with Love
When Fleming wrote From Russia, with Love, he thought it might be his last Bond novel. It was inspired by his visit to Turkey on behalf of The Sunday Times to report on an Interpol conference, from which he returned to Britain on the Orient Express. The novel examines themes relating to East-West Cold War tensions and the decline of British power and influence in the post-World War Two era. The novel received positive reviews, and sales were helped by a visit from then British Prime Minister...
Dr. No
Dr. No actually began as a screenplay for producer Henry Morgenthau III for a proposed television show titled ‘Commander Jamaica’. When that didn’t come to fruition, Fleming adapted the screenplay into a novel, with the eponymous villain inspired by writer Sax Rohmer’s ‘Fu Manchu’ stories. The novel was widely criticised in Britain, being dubbed in the New Statesmanas being a novel of ‘Sex, Snobbery and Sadism’. It did more favourably amongst the US market, however.
Goldfinger
The character of James Bond was presented as a more complex figure in Goldfinger, as he is depicted as a somewhat ‘St George’ figure who, as a British agent, must solve an American problem. As is common in Fleming’s Bond novels, he used the name of someone he knew as the villain, with the eponymous character named after architect Ernő Goldfinger, who threatened to sue Fleming for the use of his name. Upon release, Goldfinger became an instant bestseller, and was serialised as a daily story an...
For Your Eyes Only
A collection of short stories featuring Bond, For Your Eyes Only marked a change for Fleming, who had only published full-length novels until then. The collection contains five stories such as Quantum of Solace, with four of the plots being adaptations of television series that were never filmed. The format was more experimental, and one story was written as a homage to author W. Somerset Maugham, who Fleming greatly admired.
Thunderball
This was the first novelisation of an un-filmed James Bond screenplay, and was a collaboration by five people, of whom only three received credit, a controversy that went to court. The novel introduced the character of Ernst Starvo, leader of crime syndicate SPECTRE, who went on to appear in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and You Only Live Twice.
The Spy Who Loved Me
This is the shortest and most sexually explicit of Fleming’s Bond series, and marks a departure from previous Bond novels in that it is told in the first person by a young Canadian woman character called Vivienne Michel, who Fleming credits as co-author in the prologue. Due to reactions by critics and fans, Fleming wasn’t happy with the book and instead attempted to suppress elements of it where he could, such as blocking a paperback edition in the UK. A British paperback version was only pub...
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Fleming wrote On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in Jamaica while Dr. No was being filmed nearby. It was the second in what is known as the ‘Blofeld trilogy’, which starts with Thunderball and concludes with You Only Live Twice.Fleming made a number of revelations about Bond’s character in the book, such as an emotional side; Bond gets married in the book, though his wife is murdered shortly after the wedding, an experience which is thought to mirror Fleming’s grief after his wartime romance wit...
James Bond originated in the novels and short stories of Ian Fleming, and between 1953 and his death in 1964, he had written fourteen books. Since then no less than six other writers have contributed to the series which Fleming started, bringing the total up to forty books, licenced by the Fleming estate. As with the films, and other media, some of these stick far closer to Fleming's original ...
#TitleYearAuthor412022402018392015382013Apr 30, 2024 · Though the James Bond movies have somewhat overshadowed the books they're based on, Ian Fleming's original 007 works are still very much beloved to this day. The first Bond novel was published way back in 1953, with Fleming penning 11 further novels and 2 short story collections in his lifetime. Each depicting a separate adventure, Fleming's ...
Aug 8, 2014 · Here’s my ranking of the six authors to carry on Fleming’s literary legacy: 6. Raymond Benson. Benson, author of the reference book The James Bond Bedside Companion (1984), wrote six Bond ...
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Jul 13, 2020 · 4. Diamonds are Forever (1956) James Bond must go deep undercover in his urgent new assignment: to destroy their millionaire masterminds, Jack and Seraffimo Spang. But the Spangs’ cruel influence is everywhere, from dusty African diamond mines to the frenzied gambling dens of Las Vegas.
