Ian Flemings Worst Bond Book?

stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
Which do you consider to be the worst James Bond Book - IFs work not the continuation novels - & why?

Comments

  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,483MI6 Agent
    Diamonds are Forever. Goofy gangsters and Bond bumbling about.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • 002002 New ZealandPosts: 558MI6 Agent
    I have a feeling that most would class The Man with the Golden Gun as his worst but, as that was still unrefined by the time IF died, it may be a little unfair to include that.

    I don't know. Diamonds are Forever is certainly one of his most uneven titles, perhaps even weakest but...

    ...for my money, it's The Spy Who Loved Me as it seems to belong to an entirely different canon with only the cameo of Bond at the end to tie it to the rest of the series...
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    The Spy Who Loved Me. Even Fleming disliked it.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Yep, TSWLM would also be my choice. An experimental idea from
    Fleming. Beautifully written but not a Bond adventure until the last
    Third of the book.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • 00730073 COPPosts: 977MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    Diamonds are Forever. Goofy gangsters and Bond bumbling about.

    Seconded
    "I mean, she almost kills bond...with her ass."
    -Mr Arlington Beech
  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,418Quartermasters
    I would also vote The Spy Who Loved Me. It's an interesting idea, and quite fun reading, but as a Bond adventure it is bottom of the pile for me.

    The Man With The Golden Gun and Diamonds Are Forever are the two that I regard as weaker Bond novels.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    TMWTGG suffered because Flemings Health was suffering.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
    Fleming's worst is still better than most authors best.

    That said, it's too easy to pick TSWLM. It's an uncomfortable book for me to read, as I find the sexual journey of Ms. Michel rather tawdry. I have no objection to the lack of Bond presence, as the last part of the book is quite good.

    On some reflection, while I like most of DAF, I would agree that the main villain is a bit lame. I do like a "bumbling" oo7, it's a nice contrast to the sometimes silly "super" spy of the cinema.
  • GoldHildingGoldHilding WinnipegPosts: 58MI6 Agent
    I have yet to read The Spy Who Loved Me or The Man With the Golden Gun, so I'd have to agree with Diamonds Are Forever. Still not a bad book by any means.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Welcome Goldhilding {[]

    You should take a quick look at this Thread :)

    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/45180/introduction-how-to-use-the-forum/
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,647MI6 Agent
    I like them all but DAF is probably the weakest of the series.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • DEFIANT 74205DEFIANT 74205 Perth, AustraliaPosts: 1,881MI6 Agent
    I actually quite liked reading The Spy Who Loved Me. It wasn't one of Fleming's best, but I don't think it was anywhere near his worst effort either.

    I love them all, so picking a "worst" is actually quite a difficult task. But I agree with most that Diamonds Are Forever and The Man With the Golden Gun are among the weakest.
    "Watch the birdie, you bastard!"
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    After a long break, I am currently working my way through the books once again (not in order though) I must report that YOLT is my least favourite.

    I believe Fleming may have been running out of steam by this point. I don't know how many more Bond books he had left in him. While I don't think, had he lived, TMWTGG would have been his last I feel the would have only done a couple more before calling time.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    He himself said that he ran out of 'Puff' around the Time of YOLT.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    He himself said that he ran out of 'Puff' around the Time of YOLT.

    I didn't know that. Interesting that he & I came to the same conclusion! Can you direct me to anywhere where he said this so I can read what he had to say 'from his own mouth' as it were?
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I think he told one of his Mates that he ran out of Steam by then. He had a major Heart Attack before writing the Novel.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,060Chief of Staff
    Fleming was actually talking about TMWTGG in a letter to his editor, William Plomer. "I really have run out of both puff and zest.”
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I stand corrected :)
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,647MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Fleming was actually talking about TMWTGG in a letter to his editor, William Plomer. "I really have run out of both puff and zest.”

    Indeed, and it is mentioned in Andrew Lycett's Fleming biography.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    It is funny ( and I'm not starting an argument) ;) but I find it surprising
    so many think of DAF as a weak Bond Book, from memory ( although mine
    is going, somewhat) I seem to remember it as a fast paced thriller with some
    great scenes. Yes I agree the villains are weak, but I thought it had a good story.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,647MI6 Agent
    It is funny ( and I'm not starting an argument) ;) but I find it surprising
    so many think of DAF as a weak Bond Book, from memory ( although mine
    is going, somewhat) I seem to remember it as a fast paced thriller with some
    great scenes. Yes I agree the villains are weak, but I thought it had a good story.

    It's one of Fleming's most literary novels for sure. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Definitely his most underrated -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    Whilst not a massive fan of DAF (I much prefer the book to the film though) it is the last one I have gotten through. Although it lagged in places, it was a good listen.

    I'm listening via unabridged audiobook as opposed to reading.
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