Everything you need to know about the James Bond books

Created by British writer, journalist and naval officer Ian Fleming, the fictional character James Bond is not only the most recognizable agent in history, but also one of its most recognizable characters. Fleming described Bond as a combination of all the secret agents he met during the war. The adventures of the charismatic British agent were followed with great interest from day one. The Bond adventures, codenamed 007, reached over 100 million readers worldwide before they hit the big screen. The adventures of James Bond, which first appeared in the novel Casino Royale, published in 1953, became the subject of many films in the subsequent period. Thus, Bond’s fan base has reached incredible proportions. But the James Bond books were just as valuable to fans as the films. Here’s what you need to know about books about the adventures of the legendary British spy…

Casino Royale – 1953.

Casino Royale is one of my favorite James Bond books. The book was written in 1952 while Fleming was in Jamaica. In Casino Royale, Fleming focused on the deteriorating relationship between the United States and Britain as British agents had taken refuge in the Soviet Union. But he was initially skeptical about the possibility of publishing the book. However, Casino Royale sold out shortly after its UK release in 1953.

Live and Let Die – 1954

Although “Casino Royale” was the first book that Bond was introduced to the reader, “Live and let die” was written before! Many of the Bond adventures described in the book were inspired by Fleming’s personal experiences. In this work, Fleming successfully mediated relations between East and West during the Cold War. For this reason, the book was highly acclaimed by readers and critics alike.

Moonraker (Moon Campaign) – 1955

The main axis of the book consisted of topics such as communism, Nazism and nuclear war. Also, the James Bond adventures in this book took place entirely in England. For this reason, it was criticized by readers who wanted to see Bond in more exotic locations. However, he still managed to achieve significant sales success.

Diamonds Are Forever – 1956

The Bond book Diamonds Are Forever was inspired by a real-life article about diamond smuggling. In this work, Fleming masterfully handled the themes of marriage, travel and the constant change of life. The book was later published in the Daily Express newspaper.

From Russia with Love – 1957

After Fleming wrote From Russia with Love, he thought that this could be the last James Bond novel… But, fortunately, everything did not turn out as Fleming predicted. However, “From Russia with Love” also bears traces of the author’s journey to Turkey. Fleming, influenced by the events he saw and experienced during his stay in our country, wrote a powerful story about James Bond. General narrative of the novel II. It was shaped by the weakening of British influence in the world after World War II.

Dr. No (Dr. No) – 1958

Written in 1958, this Bond novel was originally conceived as a screenplay. However, the script was not realized and Fleming published the story in a new format. However, Dr. But was heavily panned in the UK and became one of the least loved James Bond novels.

Goldfinger (Gold Finger) – 1959

“Golden Finger” was criticized in an early issue for painting a rather complex portrait of James Bond. Because James Bond, a British agent, was trying to solve an American problem in this book… On the other hand, Fleming was accused of using his name by the architect Erno Goldfinger, who made a name for himself as a bad man in England at the time. Despite all the negativity, The Golden Finger managed to become one of the best-selling Bond books in the UK.

Thunderball (Lightning Operation) – 1961

Operation Lightning is an unfilmed James Bond script. Published in 1961, the book describes the theft of two atomic bombs by SPECTRE, a fictional criminal organization from the James Bond books, and the events that follow.

The Spy Who Loved Me – 1962

The Spy Who Loved Me occupies a very interesting place among the James Bond books. Because the story in the book is told through the mouth of a second fictional writer, Vivienne Michel, whom Fleming mentions in the preface. It has also been called the shortest and most thought-provoking Bond novel in the series. For this reason, it is known that Fleming tried to prevent new editions of the book due to the harsh criticism he received.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – 1963

In Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the charismatic British agent James Bond also reveals his emotional side to the reader. In the book, James Bond marries the woman he fell in love with. However, his wife is killed shortly after the wedding.

You Only Live Twice (A Man Lives Twice) – 1964

One Life Twice was the last James Bond novel published during Ian Fleming’s lifetime. The novel describes Bond’s transformation into a mournful, aggressive, and vengeful man. Although this depressing story appealed to readers, it divided critics into two parts.

The Man with the Golden Gun, 1965.

The Man with the Golden Gun was published eight months after Fleming’s death. However, most of Fleming’s drafts were not included in the book. The book quickly became popular, but also received some negative reviews.

Source: 1