what book should i start on

billyd

i have never read any of them so i dont know where to start

Napoleon Plural

Well, most will say Casino Royale, the very first written by Ian Fleming in 1952.

Otherwise, early romps like Live and Let Die, From Russia with Love and Dr No rank highly.

Then there's the Spectre trilogy: Thunderball, OHMSS and YOLT, best saved for later. All these are by Fleming and your best starting point.

What films do you like best? That might also be a good starting point.

The Domino Effect

I would definitely start with Casino Royale. Firstly, it's the best way to understand the evolution and development of the character (and characters) as Fleming does make reference to previous personalities and previous plots. And secondly, it really is a good book in its own right. I suppose there's also the possibility that if you find you don't like the way Fleming writes, you've only read a relatively short one!

Sir Miles

billyd wrote:

i have never read any of them so i dont know where to start

The best advice I can give is...read them all in order... -{

Thunderpussy

When I first got in to Bond. I used to Buy the books from Secondhand Book shops so Read them out of order (Still enjoyed them), But do agree the character develops over the many stories so reading them in order would help.

CmdrAtticus

Yes! Yes! Read them in order. CR established Bond, as mentioned. Keep in mind they are VERY dated. They take place primarily in the 1950's, so doing a little archival research of the time period online (culture, arts, politics, etc - especially in Britain) will help get you into the timeframe. Thankfully though, Fleming wrote with such a sense of time and place and awareness of his environment that like Conan Doyle - if you like Sherlock Holmes - you will feel yourself next to Bond as if you are experiencing his adventures along with him. You may run into to some foreign words (particularly in French and German), as well as unfamiliar British words, so just look them up to broaden your knowledge! I learned a lot of facts and words from the novels when I read them in my teen years that I did not get in school. For example when I read Moonraker, M. orders some "marrow" for part of his meal. I thought, marrow??! They serve bone marrow? I had NO idea it was a type of squash they grow in England. See what I mean?

pyrat

There is a timeline that will be out of sync if you do not read them in order.

Donald Grant

Yes, read them in order starting with Casino Royale. You can better understand how the Bond character evolves in that way.

DG

Colonel Johns

Like Thunderpussy, I first read the books in whatever order I could borrow them or buy them second hand as a teenager. This leads me to agree with the view that it would be better to read them in order.

If you're not yet sure you want to read the whole series, an alternative would be to start with For Your Eyes Only, a collection of five short stories that give a good overview of Bond's world and of Fleming's style. The stories don't really depend on the previous books, nor do they spoil any surprises if you decide to read the series in order later.

Napoleon Plural

Isn't it nice when they get back to you and say thanks guys for all your advice....

Vandrell

I had always wanted to read the Bond books but its one of those things I never got around to until recently.

I was going away on honeymoon when I saw the first three stories (Casino Royale, Live and Let Die and Moonraker) in one book for £7 at the airport. I snapped it up along with Diamonds Are Forever on its own and the next three stories (FRWL, Dr No and Goldfinger) in one book again. I have to say its probably the best £20 I ever spent!

I tried to read Casino Royale when the film came out (got a free copy with the DVD) but couldnt get into it. I had no such trouble this time and whizzed through it in a day and a half before starting Live and Let Die which I LOVED! I always liked the film as it was on TV a lot when i was a kid but the book is soooo much better and still pretty relevant today (Have you seen the price of gold recently?!).

Next up was Moonraker which came as a big surprise! I had heard the film was a lot different from the book (which pleased me as im not the biggest fan of it) but didnt realise just how different it was. I loved this one too and can really see a parallel with SkyFall (The fist two involve SMERSH/Quantum the third goes off course and involves M).

Oh how I wish the film of Diamonds Are Forever was closer to the book! I really didnt think I was going to enjoy that one as much as i did! I got through the first Russian part of FRWL before I got home and i am now slowley trying to finish it.

Anyhow, back to the question. Read them in order.

Lancaster

Hear hear, although I also agree with Napoleon P....if you have a question you are presumably reading the answer...so some feedback always nice!

Vandrell

Going slightly off topic here but I just got around to finishing FRWL. Every time I finish a bond book the latest one becomes my favourite! I loved it! I've always liked the film but found the book to again, be much better.

Reading at work got me into trouble a few times so i was going to have a break before starting Dr No but after the ending of FRWL I dont think I can!

Im now getting depressed about the thought of finishing all the novels! At least I have a few to go yet.

Ben/Sophie

I agree. Read them in order.