The Best James Bond Books
The author, Ian Fleming.
Ian Fleming wrote 14 James Bond books in all. Not since Sherlock Holmes has a fictional character claimed such a following or seemed so typical of his time. And, like Sherlock Holmes, the character has obscured the author.
Yet the story of Ian Fleming is as fascinating as anything he wrote. A newspaperman and a wartime intelligence officer, a man of sudden enthusiasms, charming and devastatingly attractive to women, he had an inner reserve that very few penetrated. He always resented attempts to identify him with that “cardboard booby” as he called James Bond, but the books turned out to be his undercover autobiography. And in the end, paradoxically, the author was killed by the hero he had created.
Ian Fleming was forty-two when he wrote Casino Royale and began the greatest international hero-worship cult since Sherlock Holmes. It was the turning point of his career, but it had come tragically late. Increasingly, Bond took over his creator who, unable to maintain the pace set by the tough, romantic hero, burnt himself up.
Fleming was fifty-six when he died in 1964, the glittering success he had always yearned for, barely within his grasp.
The James Bond Books
The books are listed in the orders of one book reviewer’s opinion.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
“Hands down, OHMSS is the best Bond book ever written. It has lots of action, good, well-developed characters, and the best ending of any of the Bond books…I won’t spoil it for you.”
From Russia, With Love
“A close second only because OHMSS has a great ending. This book has a good ending too, but if you’ve read OHMSS, you know what I mean.”
You Only Live Twice
“This is the sequel to OHMSS, and it is great. It probably has the best action of any of the Bond books.”
Thunderball
“This is the Prequel to OHMSS, and it is also great. It introduced the world to the best villain ever, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.”
Doctor No
“This is the sequel to From Russia, with Love. It has very well developed characters and one of the most Bondish storylines. The first Bond movie ever was based on this book.”
The Man with the Golden Gun
“This was the last Bond book ever written by Fleming. It is the sequel to You Only Live Twice and the end of that quadrilogy started by Thunderball.”
Casino Royale
“This was the first Bond Book ever written. At the time, Fleming didn’t know that James Bond would be such a hit, so the characters aren’t very well developed, but it is still very good.”
Goldfinger
“Goldfinger, the movie, is the best bond movie out there by far. The book is good too, but it’s not as good as some of the others.”
Live and Let Die
“This was the second Bond Book and its success assured that there would be many more Bond books to come.”
Diamonds Are Forever
“Even though it’s ranked as number ten, doesn’t mean it isn’t good. Diamonds Are Forever is very exciting, but again, it is just not as good as some of the other Bond books out there.”
Moonraker
“This book is definite proof that you can’t judge a book by its movie. The only similarity between this book and its movie is the title…the book is way better than the movie.”
The Spy Who Loved Me
“This is really the only James Bond book that is not good. Fleming wrote it when he was sick and he wasn’t particularly proud of it. When it first came out, he said that he found the manuscript.”