The complete Bond short-story collection, brilliant, to add to my novels. And a bonus 3fer2 offer at Waterstone's :)

(07/01) A half-way review, after reading 3 typical Bond adventures, but in potted form, and one oddity...the title story! From a View to a Kill, For Your Eyes Only and Risico see Bond, James Bond, in exotic locations, France, Vermont and Venice/Adriatic doing gung-ho boys-own stuff. Women seem to feature more strongly in these than the early novels, although the collection does cover most of Fleming's writing career, so maybe the old roue is showing his true colours? Quantum of Solace is an odd one, a story told in the second person, Bond as disinterested, non-active participant, and nothing much happens even then! The title refers to the loss of love between a young English couple, him on diplomatic duty in the Caribbean, she doing her best to dis-credit him. The 'Quantum of Solace' is a supposed measure of the love/mutual respect/common humanity held between the two, which reduces to zero. This was obviously a handy title and metaphor for a film, but very little grist for a typical Bond plot.

So, onwards to the rest of the book :)

(10/01) Although the quality of these short stories is patchy, I’m really pleased that I’ve read this, as it adds some missing pieces to the Bond jigsaw. In fact, I think I could forgive Fleming almost anything, after all he did invent James Bond! As an aside, the film of the same title is typical 007 nonsense, and bears no relation to the story here! However, Craig is different enough from earlier incarnations to maintain the franchise and keep the audience happy, but still not quite the real McCoy. Maybe a less glossy ‘young bond’ should be made which shows the Commander’s progression from wartime special operations to the ministry of defence and new ‘secret services’ – which might be closer to the author’s creation?

Some of the short stories are complete mini-adventures with action, suspense, high tec espionage (but none of Q’s gadgets) and Bond girls(!); such as A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, and perhaps my favourite, For Your Eyes Only.

Others are a bit odd, either Fleming trying to stretch himself and the genre, or more likely IMHO either incomplete jottings or attempts at a level of sophistication, especially 007 in New York & The Property of a Lady (the former), and ‘Quantum’ itself & Octopussy, examples of the latter.

Time to move on, releasing as part of a book de-cluttering. Looking for a new reader. Enjoy :)

Tony/BookGroupMan

Love Bond books and this is one I don't htink I have read before so will give this a read.

Sorting through my groaning bookcases, I came across this travelling book having something of a snooze - although it may well have travelled in a house move - or two!

My plan for 2023 is to read as many Bookcrossing books as possible, and to get them moving again for others to enjoy too, so this hopefully will not be the last you hear from this book!