by Ian Fleming, Rufus Sewell
Decent Bond story. Sent off to Jamaica to investigate a missing agent, which "M" thinks will be a lazy holiday for Bond, he soon finds himself fighting for his life.
Picking up about a year after the events of From Russia With Love, this book finds Bond barely recovered from Rosa Klebb’s kick to his shin (three cheers for Rosa’s poisoned shoe-knife, deflator of egos and humbler of spies). M. wants to ease him back into the field and see if he’s still got what it...
‘Morning, Armourer. Now I want to ask you some questions.’ M.’ s voice was casual. ‘First of all, what do you think of the Beretta, the .25?’ ‘Ladies’ gun, sir.’ M. raised ironic eyebrows at Bond. Bond smiled thinly. What fun! After the last installment of Bond had left me filled with rage fo...
* The sixth Bond book.* Second appearance of Strangways and Quarrel.* Terrific book, from the opening in which Bond must give up his "ladies' gun," his Baretta, and accept the new Walther PPK, through the wonderful last line kicker.* Everything clicks. Quarrel (Bond's good-humored man Friday), Honey...
The sixth book in Ian Fleming's James Bond series, Dr.No, is a solid entry in the franchise. There are elements of the work that are particularly strong, and a few that are especially weak. As always, it's important to remember that they were meant as quick, simple paperback reads, not serious nov...
For the purist who doesn't want spoilers, be sure to read this one after From Russia with Love. I did the opposite for a film class, and it made From Russia with Love slightly less suspenseful. Warnings aside, Dr. No is not the best Bond book ever, but it's not too bad either. Dr. No lives on an isl...
"Smith and Wesson ineffective against flamethrower." True. But that doesn't prevent James Bond and Honeychile Rider from besting the mad and ruthless Dr. No. Best to avoid the Bond series if you're squeamish about creepy, hairy, many-legged scritchy things like tarantulas, centipedes, crabs, and sco...
Was this when Fleming started to phone it in? I have enjoyed several of the earlier Bond novels, but this one was full of purple prose and even more cringe-inducing racism and sexism than usual. I mean, this is James Bond we're talking about, who was a misogynistic dick even when cleaned up for Holl...
While recovering from the previous novel - this is the first of the novels that implies that it follows on directly from the previous one I think - Bond is given a nice simple job in Jamaica. Of course, this is Bond, so the simple job isn't. Cue a frankly crazy story against the evil Dr. No. While t...
So far I've only read three of the James Bond novels, but I would have to say that this is my favorite of those three. It's not quite as icky as Live and Let Die, and the hero seems much more human than in Casino Royale.Lots of good James Bond action: grotesque villains, damsels-in-distress, close c...