Reading the books in order, I pictured Bond as Tim Dalton at the beginning of the series with him morphing into Sean Connery in later novels.

I still think we need a straight adaptation of the Moonraker plot, especially with current events where they are

I haven’t read all of the 007 novels yet but I have such a deep love for Casino Royale! The premise is so simple but is still incredibly engaging and tense, it was also such a surreal peak into the 50s (more so than successive entries imo) despite it being through the eyes of an entirely fictitious character. It’s cozily antique and I adored it at every word.

I started reading these stories as a teenager after Dr. No came out in the cinema and it was a mixed feeling for me to see the movies start to take more and more license in their adaptations until in some cases the titles and Bond were all the films had in common with the originals.

I’ve got the original editions from the 50’s and 60’s that my grandad bought brand new at the time and that dad wasn’t allowed to read as a kid (they were too violent apparently). Massive dopamine hit - especially reading from something that’s physically 60 years old and pre-dates the movies...

I've been a Bond film fan most of my life but never read the books, yet have always wanted to. This review has spurned me on to finally read them all👍🏻 Great review.

Love the ranking , my all time favorite is on her majesty's secret service

I usually read a Bond book when I take my nephews to their local library and I've just started to read Moonraker. Good to know that I'm in for a good read.

Calvin,you have just done a magnificent job reviewing these novels! These reviews have been so detailed insightful and brilliant that I’m sure you have introduced Fleming to a brand new generation of fans that only know Bond from the movies. I’m sure the Fleming Estate also appreciates what you have done. Now that I’m remembering some of these stories thanks to your reviews,I think there are lots of great sequences and moments that they still have not put into the films!!

You should do top ten bond book covers there are some really cool ones!

I agree, Moonraker is a great Bond novel. I wish more of the novel had made its way into the movie.

My list: On her majesty's secret service Dr No You only live twice Moonraker From Russia with love Casino Royale Thunderball Goldfinger The man with the golden gun For your eyes only Diamonds are Forever The spy who loved me Live and Let Die Octopussy and the living daylights

Sad to hear about Diamonds Are Forever. I was hoping it was wildly better than the film. But it’s great to hear about Moonraker. I’m currently listening to the audiobook on KZfaq.

I think the best-written one is FRWL but my personal favourite is OHMSS

Congrats on finally making it through the Fleming pantheon. The stories change a bit over time and grow with you. It especially helps if you do a yearly reread of the series. Then you go into full fandom mode and reread every continuation novel in order...or maybe that’s just me! Some are great, some are fun, some are insane and some are dreadful.

I was surprised at how good a book Moonraker was. Very possibly because the film was just so fantastical and over the top and well, silly. I was also quite surprised ay how utterly gripped i was with the gambling chapters in it, despite being in no way a gambler myself. I would really love to see a modern film version which is true to the book, more as a curio than anything else.

Live and Let die was so brilliant! I can't believe it was so low!

Now that you've read all the Fleming Bond novels, you sure do have a Master's Degree in James Bond Calvin! I felt the same way after I read all of the novels. All fans of thriller novels should read this series. No one writes a thriller better than Ian Fleming.

Moonraker is also the one I recommend to first time readers. Perfectly crafted story.

From Russia With Love was the first 007 book i read when i was a teenager. I have not read all the books, but i sorted the books i do have into 3 individual trilogies. The SMERSH trilogy 1)Casino Royale 2)Live And Let Die 3)From Russia With Love Evil villain trilogy 1)Moonraker 2)Dr No 3)Goldfinger Blofeld trilogy 1)Thunderball 2)On Her Majestys Secret Service 3) You Only Live Twice

Now I’m really glad I got Moonraker in a Dublin bookshop when I found a shelf of the Ian Fleming Bond books

Leonardo DiCaprio going into Cillian Murphy... that one made me giggle because I'm five, apparently...

Well done. I’ve read and re-read Fleming’s Bond over the years and still find them good fun. I can’t argue too much your analysis and was pleasantly surprised by your #1, which I think is a greatly underrated novel. I think Kingsley Amis said it was his favorite, too, and it had the best written villain.

Great reviews! I also loved Moonraker -- the card game scene itself is so suspenseful I would revisit the book just for that passage!

Top five bond novels most faithfully adapted to the big screen in descending order: 1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2. From Russia With Love 3. Thunderball 4. Casino Royale 5. Goldfinger

A really good exploration of all of the books and a very well thought out list. Thank you. Completely agree about Moonraker. Disagree about Diamonds and Live and Let Die! Oh well! Keep up the brilliant content!

The blofeld trilogy is just sublime for me !

Really enjoyed your excellent review! I started reading JB in high school and am so anxious now to get back into them! Thank you!

Really enjoyed that Calvin. Moonraker is an awesome read and so completely different from the film. Moonraker the film is my guilty pleasure Bond film but it would be very interesting to see how good the book version would be as a film. Keep up the great work.

Great list. The books are terrific. You’re really trying your best with these videos. Especially with the wait for April and NTTD. Good job.

The beginning of TMWTGG would make one of the best pre-credit sequences ever.

TB and GF definitely improve when reading out of order. DAF... I’d put it over TMWTGG, OP and TSWLM. Having said that I do remember it being a tough read... I should probably try again. I agree Tiffany and Specterville are great. I think CR, which is not in my top 4 either, is just perfect book though, no weak parts and just a great tight, tough story. I’m glad you’re promoting Fleming too... a lot of Bond fans are woefully ignorant of the source and as you say correctly, Bond is Fleming and Fleming, Bond. I would go even further to make sure people get it, the World of James Bond is Fleming, the villains, the henchmen, the plots, the cars, the gadgets, the girls... it’s all Fleming. I love the movies but in reality the only thing they “added” was the gun barrel and the title songs/credits... the rest is Fleming (and parody of Fleming).

You should do a top 2 : Vodka Martini, shaken or stirred?

Thanks for making this series I went out and bought a few bond books I didn’t have and have read casino royale and moonraker over the summer and absolutely loved them.

Awesome Video Calvin! I am currently reading OHMSS I have enjoyed it, I bought YOLT so that’s my next read.. however you and many others have really made me excited to read Moonraker after YOLT

I also want to say I have LOVED these Fleming book reviews. You have done an awesome job and I’m sad to see this ‘chapter’ end. I love Fleming’s books and you’ve been honest and heartfelt in your critique and praise. It’s always been crazy to me that I love James Bond and that there’s not just one great book, but multiple great books. I’m looking forward to your continuation novel reads... many I found entertaining but none on par with Fleming. I will definitely read or reread ones you recommend though. 14. Octopussy, TLD 13. The Man With the Golden Gun 12. The Spy Who Loved Me 11. Diamonds Are Forever 10. Goldfinger 09. Live and Let Die O8. Thunderball 07. You Only Live Twice 06. For Your Eyes Only 05. Casino Royale 04. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 03. From Russia With Love 02. Dr. No 01. Moonraker

I just started reading through the books myself, finishing up Live and Let Die, waiting on Moonraker in the mail. Can't wait to read it!

Well done. Thanks. I'm also a big fan of Moonraker and YOLT. Looking forward to your takes on the continuation novels.

I read them all except The Spy who loved me, couldn’t find a copy and decided it wasn’t worth it. What surprised me the most was Moonraker and OHMSS are my absolute favorites. And how Ian Fleming didn’t feel the need to churn out bloated 1000 page bricks and instead has a lean fast focused pacing to its writing, and a kind of red meat masculinity that was a breath of fresh air to me.

I love your videos and this was another one that was fabulous. One small suggestion for future videos: review some of the Bond novels by John Gardner. Though I realize that-to some-they are “non-canon,” they were approved as official by Fleming’s estate and all. I’ve read every single one and (with only a couple of exceptions) they are truly wonderful. Happy to trade notes with you on these if you decide to give them a read. At any rate, keep up the good work!

1. _Casino Royale_ (I can't think of any way to improve upon it.) 2. _From Russia With Love_ (A very close second; I didn't _mind_ spending the first third of the book in the USSR, but I kept wondering why we were meeting so very many Chekists, and when the story would start; it probably would have taken the number one spot if that hadn't gone on so long.) 3. _On Her Majesty's Secret Service_ (What a wonderful journey it takes us on.) 4. _You Only Live Twice_ (I have a hard time separating it from its predecessor, even though they're two very different books they pair up so seamlessly,) 5. _Goldfinger_ (based on the strength of its first two thirds only; the final third is so ridiculous that I'm very surprised it's not much lower on my list) 6. _Thunderball_ (I found Domino to be the most erotic heroine in the series. But I like that she had some real backbone, too.) 7. _For Your Eyes Only_ (not going to do the ranking-within-a-ranking, but I like everything except QoS) 8. _Diamonds Are Forever_ (Tiffany is great, Felix is on top form, especially compared with his last appearance, and I rather enjoyed all the quirky little spots they visited. By the way, _The Diamond Smugglers_ isn't really anything to write home about. _Thrilling Cities_ is all right, and you can see all sorts of elements from this book and that book woven throughout.) 9. _Dr No_ (The elements were all there, but somehow never quite clicked for me.) 10. _Octopussy and The Living Daylights_ ("Property of a Lady" was short enough that one good scene was all it needed. "Octopussy" didn't do much for me. "The Living Daylights" is certainly appealing.) 11. _Live and Let Die_ (The most cartoony book, overall. I do like Mr Big though.) 12. _The Man With the Golden Gun_ (I don't care that there were extenuating circumstances, those can only excuse a bad book, not make it better.) 13. _Moonraker_ (It's so boring, I can't imagine what you saw in it) 14. _The Spy Who Loved Me_ (All I can say on its behalf is that I was able to finish it quickly.)

I bought Goldfinger from what was almost certainly the same second hand book shop in Howarth! Small world!

My favourite is You Only Live Twice. Its really epic unlike a lot of the others.

It was ten years since I read Dr. No, but I still remember so much of it so vividly. It was just a book that totally gripped me in it's storytelling, being exciting from page one through the end. Especially the part in the swamp was just so suspenseful that it was impossible to put the book down during those passages. I can really see how it earned the place on your list (and that I need to read Moonraker).

Great channel and great video - thank you. Really enjoyed this having undertaken a reading of all these novels. I've also slogged my way through the Gardner novels (diminishing returns there) and I've enjoyed the Amis, Faulks, Horowitz and Boyd efforts a great deal. Gearing up for Benson at some point, but not with much enthusiasm.

Having read all the Flemming novels, OHMSS is my personal favorite. I think it would be amazing if EON productions did a series of the original material as period pieces directly adapted from the novels and short stories.

Great job thank you. A couple of surprises in ranking but great it reflects your love of the subject

Just got back from a walking holiday in Snowdonia where I had no wi-fi to find this waiting for me - nothing better to watch as I put my weary feet up!

I have a 1st edition of OHMSS, no dust cover though sadly, so not worth as much as it could have been. I agree with your view that it is a masterpiece. It would be my desert island Fleming book that’s for sure

Casino Royale it the first and the best for me- it got the “Fleming effect”

1. On Her Majest's Secret Service 2. You Only Live Twice 3. Fron Russia With Love 4. Dr. No 5. Casino Royale 6. Live And Let Die 7. Thunderball 8. For Your Eyes Only 9. Moonraker 10. Goldfinger 11. Dimonds Are Forever 12. Octopussy And The Living Daylights 13. The Spy Who Loved Me 14. The Man With The Golden Gun

Good video once again. I'm up for re-reading the novels all of a sudden. Calvin, as an idea for a new video, how about presenting all the films or books (or both) in a chronological/timeline order of how the events happened, either dead certs like Casino Royale (the first) down to where his marriage with Tracy fits in and where he becomes old and obviously past it like A View To A Kill etc, etc?? Any thoughts?

I started reading these in random order as they became available at my library. Of the ones I've read, my favorite is You Only Live Twice, followed by Moonraker. I stopped reading the series as a whole part-way through Diamonds Are Forever. With your encouragement, I may pick the series up once again. Your videos certainly raise my enthusiasm!

Great review. Well done.

Excellent choice of top 5. Totally agree with Moonraker as No 1, it's the one I read once a year.Its got such great set pieces and is so well written. Great work on the reviews!

Thanks for the tips. I never read any of them, but I intend to do that now!

You’re totally right about Moonraker! The first and last thirds of that book are best character and action work of Flemings’ respectively. Keep up the good work and bye for now.

Interested to give these a read now. Only seen the films. Thanks for the reviews Calvin.

Awesome rankings, man! My top 5 is From Russia with Love, Moonraker, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Thunderball, and Casino Royale.

This is certainly a unique ranking, but I can’t judge too hard, Spy Who Loved Me is in my top 5! Great video as always.

10:43 I just finished reading Thunderball out of order with the rest of the novels, and I didn’t find any of that fatigue. That was just my personal experience though.

Greetings from Cochabamba, Bolivia. Very good review. I'm looking forward to you reviewing the other continuation novels. I read all of them, but I haven't read the very last one yet. Though I bought it about 8 months ago. I have so much other reading to do. :-)

Fleming is an excellent writer---one of the most underrated prose stylists of the late 20th Century. He wrote in a "hyper-journalist" style, combined with the metaphorical style of Raymond Chandler (whom Fleming greatly admired) and the travelogue style of Patrick Leigh Fermor (who is quoted by name in "Live and Let Die"). Almost all the Bond books are well worth reading, just for the pleasure of Fleming's lucid, elegant prose. It's worth noting that Anthony Burgess chose "Goldfinger" as an entry in his long essay, "Ninety-Nine Novels: The Best in English since 1939" (which also includes Raymond Chandler's "The Long Goodbye").

I read all these books when I was 11. They were my Grandpa's. Now I have my own set and I'm reading them all over as a 48 yr old. I just finished Casino Royale and I would agree with your assessment of Bond in that novel.

Enjoyable video. I had the still life series in the 1970's and apart from the first hardbacks my favourite covers. I bought all 14 a few years ago, a mixture of modern paperback reissues, one rarish 60's book club edition of The Spy who loved me and a rare hardback edition of Dr No. It took me about 3 months to get through a series of books I hadn't read since for decades, enjoyed the lot. So for what it's worth here's my ranking from worst to best. 14, Octopussy 13, The Spy who loved me 12, The Man with the Golden 11. Goldfinger 10, For your eyes only 9, Diamonds are forever 8, Live and Let Die 7, Casino Royale 6, Dr No 5, You only live twice 4, Thunderball 3, Moonraker 2, On Her Majesties Secret Service 1, From Russia with Love

The short stories including quantum gave a wonderful insight to Bonds character....Quantum for instance his impatience and temper ease as the story hes listening to goes on.

Great stuff. Agree with your top three especially.

I thought I was the only one who loved the Hildebrandt Rarity!

A really entertaining video. I must give the books a try.

I wish they would do a serious film based on "Moonraker" sticking to Flemings novel. It deserves serious treatment.

These book reviews have been a nice way of to fill the hole of no film reviews, I do hope you go through the other bond novels, I’m sure they would make a fun time. And do get back to rereviews of the Bond films.

Sorry, coming in late to your book reviews…. Probably because I just finished a re-read of them for my own video series on both the booze and bullets (guns) that Ian Fleming highlighted in his works. But I love your pov and it mirrors mine. And, dare I say, I actually learned a lot from your reviews even though I just finished reading the novels.

Maybe because I'm a Canadian who grew up in Toronto around the corner from St. James Bond Church (now condominiums!) across the street from where Ian Flemming lived (reportedly) for a short while, but I really enjoyed The Spy Who Loved Me precisely for it's Canadian setting and female voice (which didn't bother me at all). It's an anomaly, yes, but a welcome and surprising one I thought that puts Flemming, Bond and women in a slightly different light. Quite content for others not to as enamored as I was. To each their own. Live and let die, I say. Thanks for your exposition. I enjoyed it. (And, yes, Moonraker is tops with me. I find it the most fun.)

Great stuff!

i gotta say after seeing this i couldn’t agree less with Diamonds Are Forever being at the bottom, i found it so very thrilling and it has for my money the best portrayal of bonds relationship with death with the whole ”nothing is forever except for what you did to me” thing with Wint near the end

This is random to ask, I really love how you got that wall of every bond film and I really wanna know how you did that.

Diamonds are Forever because I loved the Train scene to.... Specterville the old west town. Pity that was never filmed.

This is an original list. Good job man.

Was happy that The Spy Who Loved Me (My favorite) wasn’t last.

I really love these books.

I totally agree with your #1 and the last entry as well. Diamonds actually had me rethinking reading any further and I did just stop. Recently I picked back up with You Only Live Twice and found it good, but not enough to keep reading. Of the books I've read, I think you're spot on.

Good review their sir are you going to review the John Gardner books next some of them are really good your channel is great big thumbs up from south Wales.

Seems like near the same time I was reading all the Bond novels 20 years ago, I also read most of Mickey Spillane's "Mike Hammer" novels and enjoyed them similarly... Different but complimentary - Perhaps a little harder hitting but less clever? Would highly recommend! Love hearing your takes on these!

Nice rankings Calvin, I have all the Fleming novels but have still to read You Only Live Twice, The Man With The Golden Gun and Octopussy and The Living Daylights. So once I've read those I may revisit this post to add my rankings of the books. Now that you've read the Fleming novels and are starting to review the continuation novels, will you review Anthony Horowitz's Forever and a Day and Trigger Mortis that are set in the original Fleming time period of the 1950s.

I love the TWINE casino music in the background!

Quantum of Solace is one my favourite stories. I guess I just like imagining myself in the world of drinks with the Bermuda governor and the Harvey Millers.

Sorry to be stopping by your vlog so late, but I quite agree with your listing. I have a personal sentiment for The Spy Who Loved Me only because I like Bond's late appearance and I have tried to write a screenplay getting rid of the bad dialogue, inserting some new ideas and trying make a narrative V approach where two different stories meet seemingly unrelated, but becoming very related as they two stories merge, but keeping Fleming's story and location and boy, is it daunting. My main problem with Fleming's stylistics is his use of the exclamation point in prose. I'll be reading a perfectly good Fleming novel and say loudlybon the bus when I see one of those, Stop doing that, Ian! Top 3 for me are Moonraker, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, From Russia with Love. Cheers 👍

1. Dr. No 2. From Russia With Love 3. You Only Live Twice 4. On Her Majestiy's Secret Service 5. Casino Royale 6. Live And Let Die 7. Moonraker 8. Thunderball 9. Diamonds Are Forever 10. Goldifinger 11. The Spy Who Loved Me 12. The Man With The Golden Gun

I think you're right about the rankings, but I must confess that I read them all when I was in high school and it was 55 years ago when I graduated.

So I read about 5 or six of the John Gardner Bond books and Sebastian Falks stand-alone. And can tell you right now the post Fleming bond books are all over the place in quality

Thank you for this. I will read your top 5. I would read Casino Royale too, but after watching the movie (which I loved) I don't think it's necessary.

Moonraker's my favorite, too. Completely agree.

Read a few of the books and gotta say From Russia with Love is by far my favourite

Can't wait to start reading Moonraker

That’s a solid ranking, Calvin. Here is mine: 14) Octopussy & The Living Daylights 13) For Your Eyes Only 12) Diamonds Are Forever 11) Goldfinger 10) The Spy Who Loved Me 9) Live And Let Die 8) Thunderball 7) The Man With The Golden Gun 6) Dr. No 5) Casino Royale 4) Moonraker 3) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 2) From Russia, With Love 1) You Only Live Twice Colonel Sun I would put somewhere in the middle of this list. It’s a really good one. Just for kicks, here is my ranking of the John Gardner books (excluding Licence To Kill and GoldenEye): 14) Brokenclaw 13) C.O.L.D. (aka Cold Fall) 12) Role Of Honour 11) Seafire 10) Icebreaker 9) Scorpius 8) Licence Renewed 7) No Deals, Mr. Bond 6) Never Send Flowers 5) The Man From Barbarossa 4) For Special Services 3) Win, Lose Or Die 2) Nobody Lives For Ever 1) Death Is Forever Death Is Forever is easily my favorite of the Gardners and up there with the best Fleming novels (in my opinion).

Hello Calvin, excellent presentation again Sir! I am really glad that you are reading 'Colonel Sun' (Kingsley Amiss writing as 'Robert Markham'). In fact, as I am sure you know, there are persistent rumours (denied I believe by Kingsley, that 'The Man with the Golden Gun' was actually at least a third, written by Amiss, due to Flemings, sadly, poor health at the time. I am intrigued as to your review of 'Colonel Sun' as to me it is the only non-Fleming 'official' Bond novel which, is as good, if not better, than some of the author's own work. I have attempted to wade through some of the other 'continuation' novels by John Gardner etc, but I find them extremely shallow, and much more influenced by the James Bond 007, of the films, rather than Fleming's Byronic hero. I will say, there is a great book, that may interest you 'James Bond: The Authorised Biography' by John Pearson in 1973 - it takes the premise you mentioned, of the '4th wall breaking' part of M's obituary of Bond in 'You Only Live Twice' and runs with it. Though, Pearson does not have the literary talent of Amiss (few do) he weaves a together something pretty impressive. There is even a moment, when the author/protagonist, finally comes face to face, with the man himself (who has some great opinions, on the man/men, playing him on the big screen). The idea is of course that the SIS or MI6, asked Fleming to write Bond's exploits, for propaganda value, and to deeply confound SMERSH. It's a really fun read Calvin, and I am almost certain, you would find something to enjoy. The episodic nature, takes us through Bond's life in Switzerland, his exploits in the war etc. The only other non-Fleming, James Bond novel I could recommend to someone, would be 'Devil May Care' by Sebastian Faulks (another superbly talented author in his own field). Released in 2008, it is written as a direct, not sequel, but continuation on from 'The Man With the Golden Gun'. I must say, I very much enjoyed it, and like 'Colonel Sun' and (parts of) Pearson's 'The Authorised biography....' it actually felt like Ian Fleming. Anyway, these are my only three that come up to scratch - please anyone else, let me know, if there are any more, along these lines, that I should take a look at. Best Wishes Calvin, keep up the great and entertaining work. Ps- If you'd like to review any other Spy films/ novels of the 60's. I would love you to review the 'Harry Palmer trilogy' based on the great Len Deighton novels. 'The Ipcress File' and 'Funeral in Berlin' are both fantastic. 'Billion-dollar Brain' is less so, but still a very good film. Although produced by Harry Saltsburg, I wouldn't really consider them 'Bond Knock-Offs' rather, great in their own right, with a very different type of hero, press-ganged in to the SIS, because of an extremely clever scam he had going on in Berlin, whilst on National Service with the British Army of the Rhine (apologies, I'm a historian, and love these little details). Caine as Palmer is up there with Connery as Bond. Also: John Le Carre, is a better author (and was a real Spy) than both Ian Fleming and Len Deighton, but that's a discussion for another day, and I've already written a ridiculous amount!! :)

Finally going through this book series myself. I've read the first four thus far. It's good to know Diamonds are Forever is a low point (because while it's been my least favorite, I still had some fun with it) and know I'm not the only one who had an absolute blast with Moonraker. Next: From Russia With Love!

After Calvin's reads of all these, it's got me thinking I'd love it if Eon would honour the books' place in world culture, and do a streaming series of adaptations, in order with each set in the time they were written. I know we've had the movie adaptations, but they were generally changed, done out of order, and were made a significantly long time ago. Unlike Sherlock Holmes which gets loads of adaptations, or Agatha Christie's works for that matter, Bond hasn't been sealed in history on screen faithful to the novels, and if only for academic studying purposes I'd love to see it done. The Bond films can still continue, with original stories. Obviously, Craig's run is separate to all before, and who knows if Bond 26 will be in the Craig canon, or a new one, but by putting the Bond novel stories out there, it would allow the films to be their own thing, and not feel they have to use elements from the books. As for who could play Bond in the streaming series, he may be a bit old now, but I think Greg Wise would have been an excellent Bond, and quite close to Fleming's description. He briefly played a Bond like spy in the first Johnny English film, which gave a preview of him in that role. Again, if starting with Casino Royale, you'd possibly need a younger actor, but Wise comes to mind as a good fit. Ditto, Jeremy Northam.

I am still working through the books, very gradually. Generally I have loved them. I was very glad to see you rated Moonraker and Dr No so high - they are excellent. I was surprised you rated Diamonds so low however. I thought that one was on the same level as Moonraker personally. That was some years ago though. Maybe my strong dislike of the film helped me overlook some of its weaknesses.

I agree with most of your rankings. I would put YOLT below Thunderball though.