Ian Fleming Books

I was somewhat surprised to learn that the adventures of James Bond had appeared in comic strip format in England. I supposed I shouldn't have been...after all James Bond is certainly as revered a character to the English as Superman is to Americans. That's why I really love Titan books! They have undertaken the daunting task of reprinting all of Bond's comic strip adventures into several volumes, each featuring two or three separate Bond stories. Readers will recognize many of the stories that were eventually adapted into film although there are many more which will no doubt be new to many Bond Fans.

Now, the first time I ever went to a drive-in movie was around 1970 when I was eight years old. My parents load me and my older brothers up in the family station wagon and we went to see a bond triple feature of Dr. No, Goldfinger, and From Russia with Love. Bond films probably were not ideal for an eight year old with their complex plots but even at that age I knew this was a character much different than I had ever seen before. Dr. No remains one of my all-time favorite Bond pictures.

This volume titled "Dr. No" features that story, along with "Diamonds are Forever" and "From Russia with Love". In the bibliography section I would be somewhat surprised again to see that the chronology of the comic strip adaptations differed quite a bit from the film. While the film version of "Diamonds" didn't arrive until nine years after Dr. No, it actually appeared before in the comic strip version.

In Dr. No, Bond is sent to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of two operatives. The mystery seems to center on the mysterious Chinese Dr. No, who owns Crab Key Island where he has made a fortune selling sea bird guano to be used as fertilizer, but Bond would soon find out that the he has far more sinister goals. Dr. No has developed technology that allows him to divert American missiles fired from a nearby missile base, and sending them to other targets. It's a technology that his Russian customers would love to get their hands on. Bond must find a way to escape No's gauntlet of death and stop the mad man, and rescue Honey Ryder all at the same time.

The story has everything that has made Bond so popular over the years: an evil madman, ruthless henchmen, a diabolical plot, and a beautiful yet resourceful damsel. The art of John Mclusky is perfectly suited to these stories as it has a very cinematic feel to them, almost like reading finished storyboards. His art is crisp and his action sequences are deftly handled, not always an easy thing to do within the restrictions of a panel strip. It was just a superb story. This strip originally ran from May 1960 to October 1960.

The other stories are wonderful as well; particularly Diamonds are Forever which I've also always liked as a film. Bond is sent to the states to bust up a diamond smuggling ring and ends up in Las Vegas involved with the deadly Spangled Mob.

These Bond comic strip collections are just fantastic, especially to those of us who have never read them before and most of this material is being re-printed for the first time in decades. The books also contain a number of well-written articles on Bond history. Kudos to Titan Books for reprinting these classic comic strips!

Reviewed By Tim Janson

In July of 1987 I was visiting Washington D.C. when I stumbled upon a copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS comic strip, published by Titan Books. Being a Bond fan I snapped it up as quick as I could. The next day I went back and bought the OCTOPUSSY collection. I'd known that these strips existed but I had no idea that they had been collected in published form (other than THE ILLUSTRATED JAMES BOND, 007 released by The James Bond Fan Club). I found a copy of CASINO ROYALE on Ebay. Then, for over a decade, we had no new releases from Titan.

In the last year Titan has graciously resumed publishing these classic strips. My first purchase was the release of ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. I will post a review there soon. Just yesterday I received GOLDFINGER- and I cannot be more pleased!

The adaptations by Henry Gammidge, with art by John McLusky are fantastic. I've read and reread these novels but some aspects of the story resonate so much better than Fleming's amazing novels.

McLusky had, by this time, really hit his stride with the strip, doing work that was light years ahead of when he began with CASINO ROYALE (which is still worth a peek!). His mastery of shadow and light comes through in some great atmospheric ways.

My introduction to the strips were through Yaroslav Horak's art, which has a distinct, Gil Kane-like style. When I first saw McLusky's work in CASINO ROYALE it seemed very basic in comparison. But now I actually prefer it- and I that's no slight on Horak!

GOLDFINGER also includes the adaptations of the short stories, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, RISICO, FROM A VIEW TO A KILL and the abreviated THUNDERBALL. Along with THE ILLUSTRATED JAMES BOND, 007, I have every Fleming story adapted except MOONRAKER. The upcoming release of CASINO ROYALE is 96 pages compared to the previous 60 page release. maybe it will finally be included.

For my money, GOLDFINGER may be the most satisfying book in the lot. It is 128 pages of James Bond fun. The text articles are all welcome material as well. Well done Titan Books. Feel free to continue publishing the non-Fleming stories as well!

John Gardner's first James Bond novel, "License Renewed" is outstanding, a magnificent achievement which reinvents and updates the incredible literary world created by Ian Fleming. John Gardner has completely re-postured Bond for a much tougher world. The worldly agent that Ian Fleming created is back here to stay. Bond's adversaries are even more dangerous and brilliantly evil as inspired by Fleming's earlier works. Bond in response to these evil doers puts his life on the line and lets it role! The villain, Anton Murik Laird of Murcaldy, is an enduring version of the classic Fleming scoundrel. He is a worthy opponent, for the new daring do Bond.

If people are interested in reading James Bond books this is the one that I suggest they read first. I like this book better than Casino Royale and like all the Bond books it's candy that takes you away from every day life.

This is one of Ian Fleming's best James Bond novels. It is richly textured, well written, clearly defines the Bond character and has survived not only as good literature but a great period piece of NYC's unseen night life of the 50s. Clearly, this is a much worldlier Bond than established in CASINO ROYALE that can easily adapt to any locale or situation. He is both innovative and resourceful. This is a very good Bond novel. I do not really like the cover of this edition.

This Thorndike Press version of this novel is a real treat for the seeing impaired. The large print is a joy and easy to read and the hardcover binding and design is very good too.

As for the novel itself, no one will ever mistake Fleming's works for Hemingway or even Agatha Christie although at some points, Fleming's writing comes close to imitating their styles but when it comes to fast moving and great plots, this novel is probably the best Bond adventure ever written.

The writing is rather juvenile and reminded me of one of the Hardy Boy's adventures that I used to read as a child but if you take this as extremely light reading to pass the time (I read this while recovering at hospital and completed it in less than two days although I spent most of the time sleeping)you will not be disappointed.

This quick page-turner has a number of plot twists and colourful characters such as Bond's father-in-law, the crime syndicate head and his wife, Tracy, his arch nemesis, Blofeld and Ms. Bunt among others.

What's really good about this novel though is that we get to see a soft, vulnerable side of James Bond here. Bond seems to be tired and a little fed up of spying and even considers resigning. He starts to reminisce about Vesper, his love interest from his first adventure in Casino Royale and decides to make a pit stop there, ironically finding the real love of his life there as well!

Overall, we get a much more believable character who is a lot more human than in his earlier portrayals in what would be Fleming's 3rd last Bond novel. If you are a fan of James Bond but not necessarily great writing, this is probably the best Bond adventure that you can get which truly gives you an insight into every aspect of the character. You actually feel his sorrow at the end as Bond becomes more human here.

This novel may actually be a response to Fleming's many critics at the time which even included John Le Carre who complained that Bond was simply a thug who apathetically commits crimes against humanity as a normal course of life. The Bond you see here does not fit this description anymore.

Recommended reading.

Yes, there seem to be seven deadly sins, at least that is what the church of Jesus Christ has said down through the centuries. Now, it is not always the SAME seven on the list, but for the purpose of this amazing little collection you will find them as: envy, pride, covetousness, gluttony, sloth, lust and anger.

These are, if you will, eternal problems of the human condition. The Ten Commandments cover most of them-and key passages in the Old and New Testaments warn us against them. We who study Scripture might be tempted to say, why yet another book on these much examined ills of individuals and societies?

A fair question. What makes the book such a `find' is not so much the list of sins, as it is the people who are given the task of commenting upon them. For this book is presented as a compilation of a series of articles that first appeared in the London "Sunday Times". Ian Fleming (yes, of James Bond fame) invented the idea that well-known authors might wish to tackle each of these big topics, that are ever and always part of the concerns of Christians. So he invited people at the front ranks of great literature to give it a go.

Now, if the fact that the creator of 007 came up with the idea is not intriguing enough for you, (can't you hear him saying, "Sins...Seven Sins!"), well, let me tell you that among the writers in this anthology are Angus Wilson, Evelyn Waugh, Christopher Sykes and W. H Auden. Interested? I certainly was!

Such authors are students of the foibles of our current age, and the same skills that they bring to full-length novels and plays have been, if you will, melted down as in a crucible to examine these sins. Some are presented as essays, while others are actually short stories that illustrate the problem.

Among the most entertaining and insightful is Cyril Connolly on the subject of "Covetousness" in which we find a character who will stop at nothing to obtain the objects he desires. It is portrayed as an addiction, which in fact most of these sins are. Think of the current 12-step self help groups, and you will say, "Hmm, most of them help people deal with one or another of these seven deadly sins."

Is this collection "applicable" to the church? To your life? To the lives of your friends? Certainly. While the approach is individual and varied, the collection as a whole is valuable for the ways in it spotlights the problems and even suggests solutions. None of the sections are weak-all of them tackle the subjects head on. As Christopher Sykes prays at the start of his section on `lust': "May I resist the awful temptation of hypocrisy and coyness." He and the others in this book succeed in doing just that.

Silverfin is just what the doctor ordered if you are looking for a book to interest tween readers - especially boys. The story is exciting and action packed, without being over the top. It was a great read for my 10 year old son and his friends - they read it in a Literature Circle Group at school and immediately begin clamoring for the sequel. We are looking forward to many more adventures from Young James Bond.

"The last thing he saw before he sank back into the black depths of the water was the man's face; only it wasn't a man's face . . . it was an eel's face, a nightmarish face -- chinless, with smooth, gray, utterly hairless skin pulled tight across it, and fat, blubbery lips that stretched almost all the way back to where the ears should be. The front of the face was deformed, pushed forward, so that the nose was hideously flattened, with splayed nostrils and bulging eyes forced so wide apart that they didn't look in any way human. The ghastly thick lips parted and a wet belching hiss erupted. Then the waters closed over the boy and he knew nothing more."

Alfie Kelly, a local boy from a Scottish town, goes missing under mysterious circumstances and people wonder what happened to him. He was going fishing alone and he was never seen again. I mainly read this book because I am a fan of James bond and I thought reading a prequel to his 007 years would be interesting. The plot turned out to be very interesting and original.

Young James Bond is on vacation from Eton, his boarding school, and James hears about Alfie Kelly's disappearance. James of course finds the whole situation entirely suspicious and in true Bond style decides o investigate. James Bond's character is captured as a restless boy who hates rules and restrictions but follows them when he has to. The character of Bond's aunt explains how James was raised to be so world-wise.

My favorite part of this book is something that would reveal the plot so I'll tell my second favorite part. It is when James' uncle Max tells him how a car works and teaches him how to drive. Because James learned to drive so early in life, that might explain why he is such a skillful driver when he is older. The theme of this book, besides seeing what Bond was like as a kid, is that you can't cheat life; money and drugs can't make your life better.

Any fan of James Bond should read this book because although its sad to say, the storyline is better than some of the Bond movies. Also if you have read any of the Alex Rider Adventures by Anthony Horowitz or if you just like action thrillers or mysteries then this book is for you. There could have been a little more action and blood-chilling suspense but overall, this book was very well written.

Young Bond: SilverFin, by Charlie Higson is an action-packed look back to the early days of James Bond.

James starts out at a new boarding school at the age of 13. He quickly makes a couple good friends, but has his share of bullies. When he goes home for break, James and another boy decide to investigate a missing boy from the area. But the missing boy seems to have disappeared on the land of one James' meanest schoolmates.

While the story is written for youth, it's a fast-paced thriller with fun characters and evil bad guys. A few times during the book, science and technology is explained in detail, so it could be considered almost educational as well.

James hasn't become a spy yet, but this is a fun look at his early years and what helped shape him into the man he will become.

Matt Dahlberg
SilverFin
By: Charlie Higson
ISBN:078683866-3

Let The Games Begin

Let The Games Begin
"You boy!"
"Yes sir."
"What's your name?"
"Bond, James Bond"

This action story begins with a boy named James. He is new at Eton, he starts making friends and keeping up with the curriculum. Unfortunately he makes a very bad enemy. Lord Helllebore practically owns the school. So when he has an idea to promote his son George, he does it in a big way. So Hellebore has a competition. James spoils George's chances of winning when James's wins the cross-country competition. On James's trip to visit his aunt he finds Hellebore and gets caught along in a mystery involving a small disappearance of a boy.

I liked this book for several reasons, for one it was a real page-turner. No stops just action that's the way I like a book to come at me. Also every chapter gave one more reason to keep going. Like one time when James was trapped in a room that was the end of the chapter and it made me want to read more. Finally I liked the surprise chase scene at the end. They did such a good job surprising me it hit me out of nowhere. A person who likes action and has some extra time on their hands, would love this book to death.

Are you looking for an action packed book ? Then Silverfin is the one to read. It's about a young boy named James Bond who is in all of Ian Fleming's original stories. Silverfin is set in the 1930's at Eton College and also in Scotland. The two main characters are James Bond and George Hellebore. The story is about a young boy who has to help his friend with his mean father who is a villan. The author Charlie Higson, starts the story out slow and then he speeds it up. I like that because it makes me not want to put this book down,it's so exciting! This book gives readers tons of suspense the whole way. For example when James is in a big fight and then the story transitions to an action sequence with another character in the middle of a different fight. Silverfin is also full of mystery like when James finally figures out what George is really up to and they get into a big fight. I would recommend this book to all James Bond fans from grades 6-9 because the vocabulary is somewhat easy. There is a sequel to Silverfin called Blood Fever. For fans of James Bond and action stories, Silverfin is the one to choose.

Before catching his plane in the morning to go to his winter vacation home in Jamaica, Ian Fleming attends a New Year's Eve Party in London. There he finds himself attracted to journalist Nora Blair DeYoung. However, his efforts towards an evening of delightful romance before hopping his plane fail.

Before boarding his plane, two British intelligence agents order Ian, a World War II naval intelligence agent, but now a reporter, to smear American Oscar Winterberg, who they believe is selling secrets to the Russians. The governments of both the Americans and the British strongly believe Oscar is a Communist spy, though the evidence is flimsy. Ian refuses before leaving for Jamaica. Soon to his delight Nora joins him at his vacation home, but she did not come for fun in the sun as she works for the Americans and wants Ian to join forces with her. His objective is to keep the spy he loves safe while hers is to expose Winterberg.

Though exciting at times, Ian Fleming is just not James Bond even if the premise of this novel and its predecessor DEATH TO SPIES is that the author modeled 007 after his own activities. The story line will hook the die-hard fans, especially those that remember Lazenby and Allen as Bond respectively. The story line is filled with action, but Fleming's motive to assist the peril of Pauline Nora never fully comes across. Still this espionage thriller brings to life the 1950s with its Red Scare so that readers will overall enjoy this 007 lite.

Harriet Klausner

THUNDERBALL is a very interesting Ian Fleming James Bond novel. I found the first two thirds of the novel very well written. The final third of the novel seems to lose all its steam and sinks into literary mediocrity and that's what really interests me. The first third of this novel contains some of the best prose that Fleming ever put on paper. It is rich in detail and thoroughly engrossing. It is a true delight to read and savor. As the novel enters the second the third it still remains engrossing but seems to lack some of Fleming's usual drive and coherency. The final third falls below what could even be considered commonplaceness for Fleming. Fleming seems to have just given up on this project at some point and just finished it out to get it into publication. Yet THUNDERBALL remains one of my favorite Fleming novels. The first third truly is brilliant and I enjoy reading it and examining at what point Fleming became disinterested. At least I was left with the impression that he became disinterested. The Penguin cover with Sean Connery is strangely haunting echoing an era long past.