Has anyone actually read any of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels?

[game-lover]

And if you have, did you manage to read them all or only a couple? In order or no?

If not, would you like to or do you plan to?

Bonus: Anyone first discover James Bond through his books?


Courtesy of another thread which made me visit tvtropes.org for a few hours or so, I got interested in James Bond or more particularly, all the ways people have died. Which led to all the women who've died and such and such. Long story short, I was looking at the movie plot summaries and then the book summaries and the changes in between and then I got to thinking.

Ever since the Harry Potter movies had been coming out, I got into this phase where I always try desperately to read any and every book a movie is based on because I like pointing out all the differences. So I realized that my first intro to James Bond was the movies and I hadn't know there were books at all until I saw one at this library somewhere. Anyway, I've figured that I'll eventually try and read them if I can--once this pesky lost book fine is taken care of and all.

And then I started to wonder, just how many people was introduced to Bond by the books first. Voila, this topic!

 

[Jonluw]

Nope, haven't read the books, do not wish to, and am not particularly interested in the films.

I did read some novel about James Bond's childhood a few years back though. Mildly entertaining, I guess *shrug*

 

[kurupt87]

To have been introduced to Bond through the books before the films you'd have to either be quite old or have purposefully not seen the films until you'd read the books. I doubt you'll find anyone who first met Bond through the novels.

That said, I've read them and so have many others. One reason Daniel Craig's serious and grim Bond is popular is because he is much more like the character of the books than that of the early films.

As an aside, if you haven't read the Jason Bourne books, by Robert Ludlum, then I strongly recommend you do so.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

My Dad has the books and he's read them. I haven't read them though, I don't plan on reading them anyway, I only ever watched the films once or twice when I was younger.

 

[DarkxReaper56]

I watched all of them then started reading the books...I've only read the first 6 or so though

 

[s0m3th1ng]

My dad collected them and I found them in a box in his closet. Read them all when I was 12 and again when I was 22.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Read all of them, though not in order.

When I was about eight I asked my dad if he had anything I could read and he gave me a couple of books, which included Dr No. From there I sort of saw them and read them in tandem. I had read Dr No, Goldfinger and The Man With The Golden Gun before I saw any of the movies though.

I think they're both good for different things, and usually I don't even compare the movies to the books because they're so different in my eyes. It's not a bad thing, just the way it turned out.

 

[FlamingSquirrel]

I doubt there are many people who read the books before seeing the films, TBH. I've read some (not all) of the books - the first one he wrote was Casino Royale, if you want to start chronologically, although the best is probably From Russia With Love (that was JFK's favourite as well!).

Also, Sebastian Faulk's one, Devil May Care, an 'official' sequel published a few years back is also worth checking out.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I started with the movies, but I have read and enjoyed a couple of the books, specifically Diamonds Are Forever and The Man With The Golden Gun. I also have a first (American) printing of You Only Live Twice waiting for me, and I can't wait til I actually have some time to read again. The books are really good, and also quite different from the movies; it's hard to describe it, but the best thing I can say is that each movie took some set pieces from multiple books, a title from one book, and then built a plot around it. There isn't really all that much in common between the two Bond series, aside from the names and occupations of the characters, the setting, and the general topic of Cold War spies.

 

[mercswithmouths]

i have read both from Russia with love and moonraker with the films F R W L was at least close to the book (they changed the ending slightly) but it seems like the only thing they keep the same with moonraker was the name of the main villain

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I've read a few, and I didn't really enjoy them. I wasn't very big on his writing style to be honest, and there are quite a few bits that feel very dated.

 

[Hashime]

My dad bought them all as they came out, I have read most through his collection.

 

[WorldCritic]

Nope, never read any of them, but I do want to.

 

[Elexia]

I bought the entire collection of Bond novels by Ian Flemming and read every one. I actually enjoyed them and I found them more action packed than the movies.

It's surprising the ammount of times Bond gets the stuffing shot, beaten and blown up out of him. At one point between novels he is presumed dead then returns to Britain and attempts to kill M at the opening of 'Man with the golden gun'. It was pretty bloody awesome and a great catalyst for him to prove his worth after extensive re-training to side with MI6 again, by blowing Scaramanga's head off his shoulders... and catching a few slugs himself from the golden gun.

The books portray him as a well-groomed ego in a tuxedo. he has scorn for people with money but doesn't exactly complain when a bottle of Dom and caviar comes his way. He's far more engigmatic in the books and I enjoyed that mystery about him.

The books also avoid the campness from the movies and focus more on the dark world of counter espionage with the occasional woman and absolute evil masterminds.

 

[Sanglyon]

I've read Doctor No, a long long time ago. Don't remember anything about it. (edit) And I had seen the movie before.

If you like comparing books and movies, try "I am legend". Warning, it's rage-inducing.

 

[octafish]

I like how in the books he is little more than a thug in a suit. He isn't sophisticated at all. I still prefer John le Carré's George Smiley and Len Deighton's "Harry Palmer" novels. Much better spy novels than Flemming's.