All the other characters in his books were named after his relatives, friends, and acquaintances while james bond has most of ians character traits. The first third of this novel contains some of the best prose that fleming ever put on. First edition james bond books by ian fleming rare. In this video i take a look at all the ian fleming james bond paperback 1st editions as published in.
Thunderball is a thoroughly captivating ian fleming james bond novel. Fleming first bond novel, casino royale was released in 1952 and was an instant success demanding 3 print runs. Bond is a british secret agent working for mi6 who also answers to his codename, 007. In particular, im rereading the catalogue of james bond novels published after ian fleming. Ian flemings original series of twelve novels and two short story collections featuring agent 007. Fleming wrote twelve bond novels and two short story collections. Casino royal was partly based on flemings less fortunate gambling experience in lisbon during the war. Which bond movies are not based on ian fleming books.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Commander james bond, cmg, rnvr, is a fictional spy created by the british journalist and novelist ian fleming in 1953. Ian fleming, in full ian lancaster fleming, born may 28, 1908, london, englanddied august 12, 1964, canterbury, kent, suspensefiction novelist whose character james bond, the stylish, highliving british secret service agent 007, became one of the most successful and widely imitated heroes of 20thcentury popular fiction the son of a conservative mp and the grandson of a scottish. First american edition of flemings first novel in his acclaimed bond series. The final third of the novel seems to lose all its steam and sinks into literary mediocrity and thats what really interests me. The character of james bond first appeared in the 1953 ian fleming novel casino royale, which was adapted by eon productions into a feature film in 2006. This, the first of ian flemings tales of secret agent 007, finds bond on a mission to. James bond ian fleming, easton press first edition 14. James bond is a famous character created by ian fleming. The battle begins with a fiftymillionfranc game of baccarat, gains momentum during bonds fiery love affair with a sensuous lady spy, and reaches a chilling climax with fiendish torture at the hands of a master sadist. There are a whopping 40 books in the series, including ian fleming s original 14 novels and short story.
Some interesting facts about james bond creator ian fleming. Given that this book is titled james bond collection id expect the three novels within it to be the first three of the series. How ian fleming began writing his first james bond novel. Ian fleming james bond 007 in pan books 1st editions. Since flemings death in 1964, eight other authors have written authorised bond novels or novelisations.
Ian fleming james bond 007 in pan books 1st editions complete collection. Casino royale james bond original series paperback october 16, 2012. The latest bond flick, spectre, fleshes out more of the superspys backstory, but all you need to know about bond, james bond, is contained in ian flemings 12 novels. He wrote 14 james bond books, all of which were published by jonathan cape in london between 1953 and 1966. An excellent bbc documentary on the creation of james bond in ian flemings first novel, casino royale 1953. British author ian fleming is the creator of the fictional british spy james bond a series he wrote from 1953 until his death in 1964. I found this new treatment of bond both compelling and entertaining. Since fleming s death in 1964, eight other authors have written authorised bond novels or novelisations. List of james bond novels and short stories wikipedia. In the first of ian flemings james bond novels, 007 declares war on le chiffre, french communist and paymaster of the soviet murder organization smersh. And it is one of his best, right up there with moonraker in the thrilling read stakes. Colonel sun is the first james bond continuation novel published after ian flemings 1964 death. Was roger moore really ian flemings first choice to play james bond. He is the protagonist of the james bond series of novels, films, comics and video games.
I found the first two thirds of the novel very well written. Casino royale is the first novel in the james bond series by ian fleming. The first time james bond ever appeared anywhere was in the 1953 book called casino royale. Perhaps ian fleming is being selfdeprecating when he calls casino royale 1953, the first of more than a dozen bond novels and stories he would write in his lifetime, his dreadful oafish opus. Casino royale 1953 ian flemings first book was inspired by an experience he had in estoril during the second world war that he later heavily embellished. There are only two simple rules to identify a fleming first edition. It was published by jonathan cape on 5 april 1955 and featured a cover design conceived by fleming. All the films but two were made by eon productions. Kingsley amis, christopher wood, john gardner, raymond benson, sebastian faulks, jeffery deaver, william boyd. Casino royale ian fleming first edition rare book james.
James bond, often referred to by his code name, 007, is a british secret service agent. I only hope more of ian flemings original stories get a similar treatment. From 19531966, ian fleming was able to publish 12 books with james bond 007, as the main character. Or, perhaps his alliterative turn of phrase is a sincere appraisal of a work that sprung from surprisingly humble origins. Fleming 19081964 finished casino royale over the period of two months in early 1952, while at goldeneye, his tropical. Collecting james bond first editions the cataloguers desk. Ian fleming s original series of twelve novels and two short story collections featuring agent 007. Ian lancaste r flemi ng 28 may 1908 12 august 1964 was an english author, journalist and naval intelligence officer who is best known for his james bond series of spy novels. In addition, he wrote a childrens story for his son, chitty chitty bang bang plus two works of non fiction which have now become famous antique. We first meet james bond while at the casino in royaleleseaux where he has been sent to beat a russian agent at baccarat. Until licence to kill, all official bond films shared titles with novels by ian fleming or short stories, in the case of octopussy, a view to a kill, for your eyes only and the living daylights. On the authors 55th death anniversary, here are 5 of his best james bond novels one must read. The artwork captures the character of bond the way ian flemming intended, a blunt instrument against a cruel adversary. When ian fleming died of a heart attack at the age of 56 in 1964, he had completed 12 fulllength novels and a number of short stories featuring his marquee superspy james bond.
No one knows who wrote this james bond novel mental floss. Before the man became the legend, before the boy became the man. Its surprising that a novel, a word, a song, and a character james bond is so well known for didnt arrive until ian flemings seventh novel in the series. The james bond series focuses on a fictional british secret service agent created in 1953 by writer ian fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two shortstory collections. Follow james bonds teenage years in the 1930s through these young adult adventures by charlie higson and steve cole. Fleming wrote the draft for the novel in 1952 at his goldeneye estate in jamaica while awaiting his marriage. How to identify ian flemings signature the purpose of this page is to provide a definitive guide on identifying the signature or autograph of ian fleming. Fleming wrote about james bond in 12 novels and then 2 short stories. From russia with love, first published in 1957, is the fifth of ian flemings books to feature the superspy james bond. Fleming is responsible for 12 novels and 9 short stories featuring the james bond character. The first james bond book, it paved the way for a further 11 novels and two short story collections by fleming during his lifetime. Moonraker is the third novel by the british author ian fleming to feature his fictional british secret service agent james bond. His final two books the man with the golden gun 1965 and octopussy and the living daylights 1966were published.
And other comic book legends revealed author brian cronin digs into the frequently repeated tale that roger moore. The character has also been used in the second longest running and second most successful film franchise to date, starting in 1962 with dr. Id recommend this book to anyone interested in how the whole bond saga started. A new james bond novel commissioned by ian flemings estate promises authenticity, but only succeeds in reminding us just how great the original books are. On ian flemings death anniversary, here are 5 james bond. Taut, tense, and effortlessly stylish, ian flemings inaugural james bond adventure has all the hallmarks that made the series a touchstone for a generation of readers. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Follow james bond s teenage years in the 1930s through these young adult adventures by charlie higson and steve cole. Ian fleming, the creator one of the most impactful and iconic figures of 20thcentury popular culture in james bond, was born on may 28, 1908 in london.
The first editions of 007 james bond books are amongst the most collectable of modern first editions if signed their value increases hugely. First edition, first impression in an exceptionally bright jacket. James bond first started out as a character in a novel by ian fleming. Goldfinger is the seventh novel in ian flemings james bond series. James bond is a fictional character created by the novelist ian fleming in 1953. James bond 007 is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer ian fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections.
The plot is derived from a fleming screenplay that was too short for a full novel so he added the passage of the bridge game between bond and the industrialist hugo drax. James bond works for the secret intelligence service, simply known as m16. The work set up what became the basic structure for most of the bond books. Goldfinger is a novel to revisit, one of the better of flemings efforts, defining so much about what.
What was the first james bond book written by ian fleming. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of james bond by ian fleming. The first bond adventure, casino royale, appeared in 1953, and it was followed others. The james bond book series would go on to become one of the greatest film series of all time, starting in 1962. The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. Ian fleming the real james bond 50 years after his death, we take a look back at ian fleming the man who created secret agent 007 ian fleming. He has been portrayed on film by the actors sean connery, david niven, george lazenby, roger moore, timothy dalton, pierce brosnan, and daniel craig, in twentyseven productions. The story centres on the investigation by the british secret service operative james bond into the gold smuggling activities of auric goldfinger, who is also suspected by mi6 of being connected to smersh, the soviet. Written in january and february 1958, it was first published in the uk by jonathan cape on 23 march 1959. The character was created in 1953 and he first appeared in the novel casino royale. The book opens with a long detailed description of the history of red grant, a.
62 218 576 933 770 1188 185 711 26 1198 1090 1449 113 1261 1457 1465 746 211 725 841 817 441 602 1579 1547 1481 1446 971 1385 798 1635 1252 1023 882 304 1015 524 1348 1058 642 921