Had to come back to this after No Time To Die. Apparently YOLT was the first Fleming novel Barbara Broccoli gave Cary Fukunaga to read, so it’s no surprise he lifted the garden of death and a few other elements.

I find it interesting how many fans now a days bemoan that the OHMSS follow up wasn't 'Bond on a revenge mission for Tracy' when this book really isn't that premise. Bond isn't an angry vengeful agent, he's depressed and suffering from PTSD. It's more that via his interactions with Tanaka, Henderson and Kissy he finds himself again and he can recover. He does get the opportunity to get revenge on Blofeld but instead of the expected confrontation with venom, instead it's Blofeld who's lost what little humanity he had and instead of Bond getting his vengeance it's more [as John Pearson's book put it] like putting down a sick animal. While it might be a reach, I quite like how Bond finds what he was looking for with Tracy under another identity with Kissy [stability, retirement, children] yet he is still drawn to turn his back on all of that to return to the spy world-possibly a suggestion by Fleming that Bond would never be able to turn his back on the spy game.

The end of this book was totally bad ass. It kills me that we've never had a real final showdown between Bond and Blofeld in the movies

The end was so freaking bizzare. I got to give Flemming credit for the balls to do that

2:19 It's not often we get an Australian in a bond story, and the first one we get? A drunk fella. How patriotic.

"YOLT" is a favorite of mine, both book and film. I'm much older than you Calvin and when the movie came out (I was alive but too young to see it, saw it in the 1970's), it was fascinating to see modern (for 1967) Japan. Plus, cute Japanese young women. 😉

YOLT is a slow burner, but once Bond is on Kuro Island to go to the Castle of Death it's fascinating and exciting. I also love that Bond is almost like mythological figure to the Kuro Island people with the Six Guardians and he has his destiny to kill Blofeld. Great conclusion to the Blofeld trilogy. PS. Dry lizard powder and toad sweat 🙁

Such an incredible book. It's definitely up there for me! Totally agree with what you say regarding it having its own identity. I remember really enjoying the experience more so than the other books when I last read it. I just very much want the general flavour of this book to be adapted properly in some point in the future! It's so surprising to me that the film series hasn't really touched on this book much because there's so much in there that's just fascinating and could work so beautifully on screen. The Garden of Death would make an incredible set piece. I also can't stop thinking about the idea of Craig's Bond bowing out this way too. There's a true sense of finality about this story that fits Craig's Bond beautifully. I can just picture some kind of epilogue involving Bond truly living as a solemn M reads his obituary. It feels like this is truly where Fleming wanted Bond to go, and I really do feel that the events in this and the next book have the potential to serve as a perfect transition between actors. Plus "You only live twice. Once when you are born, and once when you look death in the face." really needs to be said on screen at some point! :P

I first read this when I was around 14 years old so it seemed a little too adult and sort of depressing to me.However,when I reread it a few years later I grew to really love it!I thought it was beautifully written,filled with melancholy,great imagination and depth.Because of the tragic ending of the last novel,The Bond character here was also fully realized and seemed more human than ever before so it really grounds the wild high fantasy elements to give it a great balance. It also served as a truly exciting and final ending to James Bond’s battle with Blofeld,something we never got to see in the movies!!

Best to, perhaps understandably, lower your expectations for The Man With The Golden Gun. Fleming died whilst writing it. He had finished a first draft, but never completed the second. As such, the book is rather light on the excessive details that Fleming usually contains in his books.

Your review is really spot on, Calvin! I love YOLT and considerate a dark horse and one of the most underrated of the whole Fleming series. It differs in so many ways from the rest of the series, but that is the virtue of this book: Fleming tried something new, and it works brilliantly. It’s a slow build, but the immersion into Japanese culture followed by Bond’s mission to Blofeld’s Castle of death are captivating. Great review, and I’m glad we’re on the same page!

"He drinks to excess at the best of times, never mind when he's depressed..." hahaha

I wish that movies did mention James' depression or grief over Tracy. I know that back when movies were first done I know that producers didn't want to focus on James' emotions. This was more dealt with in Craig's time as Bond. Of course Dalton or Brosnan's Bond's as well. Dalton's Bond over Leiter's injuries and Della's death. Brosnan's Bond over Alec's betrayal.

If you enjoy the Japanese stuff check out _Thrilling Cities._ Fleming's memoir of the trip on which he visited the country. (Personally, I didn't care for Tokyo during my admittedly brief visit eleven years ago.)

You Only Live Twice is my favorite of the Fleming novels. It's different, but also interesting and it has some nice emotional pull to it. I really wish the flimmakers would use the Garden of Death and the castle in a Bond movie, especially with Craig. It seems like such a missed opportunity not to utilize it.

Finally. Another video by one of my favourite and most underrated youtubers of all time. Ill drink a martini to that 🍸 Keep it up, Calvin!

This is my favourite of the Fleming Bond books. Bond's amnesia was a reflection of Britain's forgotten identity at the time after the war and subsequent withdrawal from key foreign lands. Some would argue that its theme is just as relevant today as it was back then.

I think the toad sweat was symbolic. Note how Kissy feels guilt, as if the toad is looking at her knowing she's causing its suffering. Shows the artificiality of the life she's constructed for amnesiac Bond, the lengths she'll go to keep the lie alive, even though she knows deep down inside that it won't last, and that Bond, like the toad, is suffering and caged. Kissy is essentially raping Bond. It's true that Bond thought to himself, before his amnesia, that a fisherman's life would be preferable to his own. Kissy gives that to him, but in the end it can only be achieved in a twisted, pathological, doomed form, with lies and drugs. After all the haunting stuff in YOLT, the final chapter is the most haunting. There's simultaneously real love, real happiness, real salvation, while also sickness and selfishness, and finally Kissy's acceptance that it was wrong to keep him. And I think it would've lost some of its sting if we didn't have that description of Kissy, in a place equally as foreign to her as it is to us, feeling judged by the gaze of a sweating toad.

I would love to see the Suicide Garden adapted into one of the films. It's one of the great entirely unused set-pieces from the books.

After MR and OHMSS, YOLT is my next favourite Bond book. It would have been interesting to see casual fans/the public react to Bond being on the verge of crashing and burning, at the opening of the book, had there been a faithful movie adaption.

Note after world war two sean Connery was send to Japan to help rebuild. He live in Japan for two years he can speak in Japanese when he doing you only live twice he and his. Saw many parts of Japan

I really love the whole blofeld trilogy, I also really like the ending when bond remembers the Russia mission and decided to go find clues about himself, but I agree with you about turning bond's story into books , that was weird.......

Another great review! I like your description of YOLT’s dream like quality. I’ve never read it with that in mind, but certainly will the next time I do. it’s still always been in my bottom half of books, so I look forward to revisiting... can’t wait for the Folio Society edition... along with all the others yet to come. It’s cool you loved it that much, two in a row, so late in the series... it also proves to me that Fleming could’ve gone on writing these for quite a few more years.

The film takes a number of liberties, but it does stay true to Fleming's "Eh, let's spend a lot of time looking at Japan" spirit.

3:58 -ish While Flemming is right about the issue of suicide in Japan, the idea that people would flock to a garden full of poisonous spiders, plants and snakes to die a particularly agonizing death is, in broad strokes, a vast misinterpretation of the culture of suicide in Japan. For the traditional adherents of the old ways--Samurai and the like--the idea of ritualistic suicide was typically done in order to rectify a great dishonor, typically the price for failure from a feudal lord or a dignified end to one's life in the face of a particularly harrowing situation. In this case, while the practice of _seppuku_ was typically an extremely painful one involving self-disembowelment, the idea was to show your dedication to your clan, lord, family or what have you and to die with dignity and honor, rather than allowing yourself to be tortured to death or suffer a truly horrific and dishonorable execution. Often times, a samurai would have a second man with them to quickly end any pain via beheading, though one could opt for a more painful end if they so chose. The entire time, the samurai's primary focus was to show no pain or discomfort. In fact, there are entire techniques described in various texts on methods used by both samurai men and the women in their lives to die while obscuring their faces to anyone who might find them, or ways of keeping one's body from going into embarrassing positions. To die in such a way as described in the novel would be a mortifying way for any samurai or adherent of the samurai culture to go out, as the only way anyone would remember you would be the horrific visage of your corpse after-the-fact. The objective of _seppuku_ is thus, quite literally, "leave a pretty corpse". Now, let's be clear here: Suicide isn't glamorous, and anyone who has such thoughts should seek mental health assistance immediately. But there's more to it in a historical context than simply "die in the most grandiose and painful way possible". If anything, that's completely missing the point.

Better than the already awesome OHMSS? For me, it's a big YES. This time Fleming did his research and paints us a fantastic portrait of the pre-1964 Olympics /1970 Expo Japan, featuring mostly accurate - if a bit simple - data. The trio Bond-Dikko-Tanaka here turn out to be the funniest characters in all the series with their banter. Such magnificient sons of a bitch. Then we have Kissy, who is adorable, and a creepy yet action-packed climax where everybody ends up crazy. Fleming included. A Top-3 along Moonraker and Dr. No, for me.

I have to say Calvin that you seem to be such a really great guy. Probably the nicest person I have seen on you tube. A great energy about you. Keep up the great work.

Calvin, I really love your Bond book reviews!!!

Yay! It's always nice to see a new Calvin video after a long day at work! But enough about me. How are you doing, Calvin?

9:44 "no time to do more with it" triggered me so hard, watching this into 2022. Especially with what comes before. There's a cool comment by Nick Bode here about a possible explanation which made me feel validated.

Ian Fleming was close friends with David Niven, hence his inclusion in the novel.

I agree, the vibe is quite unique and magnificent here and like you said it has a dream-like feel and quality which makes it very beautiful.

I also adored this one. I love the inner journey that Bond is on. The fact that Blofeld's Garden of Death is just what it seems and not a front for something much more sinister is also a great move, as it gives the two characters a symmetry: There's nothing much at stake here unless you're Bond or Blofeld, in which case the personal stakes are through the roof. I wish Bond's death hadn't been a fake-out, or that Kissy really had kept him forever--maybe with Bond having his memories intact and going through some sort of transitional scene where he decides he's honored Tracy's memory by avenging her death and can now let her rest in peace. This is a far better end to the series than either _Octopussy_ or _Golden Gun._ Speaking of which: It's probably too late since I somehow missed this video till it had been out for two weeks, and even if I'd said this the day it went up I have no reason to assume you'd see it. However, for what it's worth, let me recommend that you read _Octopussy_ first and then _Golden Gun._ Neither is a worthy successor to this book nor a fitting conclusion to the series, but with _Golden Gun,_ at least you're ending with a (more or less) proper novel, not a meaningless shaggy dog tale. If you need more justification than that, Maria Freudenstein is already dead at the beginning of _Golden Gun,_ so "Property of a Lady," at least, _has_ to have taken place before that point. (It also _has_ to have taken place before YOLT, and almost certainly must have taken place before OHMSS, because Bond still has his wits about him. And by the way, it's pretty much the only remaining true gem--no pun intended--in the series at this point.)

Great review Calvin

Greatly enjoyed your last two book reviews - most likely because I was in complete agreement with your analysis which mirrored much of my own. LOL. Seriously, I think you were spot on .

Second favourite Bond book after FRWL for all the reasons you mention! Glad you enjoyed it.

Would love to see you review RISING SUN! Both the novel and the movie have things in common with YOLT. With Connery's presence in the movie, it's a no brainer for your channel!

You should take into account that when it comes to the novel version of The Man With the Golden Gun that it was the first Bond novel that was published posthumously following Fleming's death in 1964. Also you should take into account that the book was published based on his first completed draft, which Fleming was reportedly unhappy with to the point he considered not having it published at all, and when his publisher convinced him to take a chance at revising it, Fleming unfortunately passed before he had the chance to.

Great video as always Calvin! Have you considered reviewing the young Bond books? I actually loved them!

It's been almost 20 years since I read this and OHMSS last, but I remember the two being a real one-two punch in the gut and being my favorites! I got goosebumps and thought it was tremendously exciting to see Bond lose it on Blofeld, and even listening to you describe the scene gave me goosebumps again!

I can’t believe that they did the you only live twice movie before OHMSS because it’s such a perfect sequel to it. Perhaps is these were pitched to Connery after Thunderball then he would have been more interested and finished out his tenure with a bang like Craig instead of the dumsterfire that was diamonds are forever

Someone‘s growin up. Lookin good man👍

Calvin, it is one thing to write well. It is completely another thing to write in a way that is easy to listen to. You definitely have a skill for the latter. Please come to Japan soon!

Can't believe I'm finally the first on something. Well, hello! I think you're a very neat person! I like what you do! Nice variation on the "You Only Live Twice" theme song in the background there, by the way. Feels a bit weird hearing it with bombastic horns à la Goldfinger…

Calvin, great review, as usual. I know that you are reading the short stories in the order the collections were published, rather than the order that they were published individually, but you may want to make an exception and read THE PROPERTY OF A LADY before taking on THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (a novel I am quite fond of, despite the criticisms). Without giving any plot points or surprises, there is a very minor character named Maria Freudenstein who is brought up in both, and it is obvious upon reading that TPOAL is her first mention. Is it essential? No, in fact most readers have probably never made the connection, but if you are tuned in, it is quite clever how she is used in the early chapters of TMWTGG.

I've always been quite struck by how these reviews offer an insight into how Fleming writes, just by the plot synopsis alone. Whilst I'm yet to read any of his books (I know, I'm sorry!), I get the impression that he wrote one of two ways: occasionally whilst absolutely schnozzled (if the story for YOLT and chunks of Dr No are anything to go by), and it seems like he wrote the story as he went along, rather than planning out in advance--it does sound like he went to places, did things and decided to incorporate everything into his books. That's not a bad thing if he did, but quite interesting. I'd love to know if that really was the case :)

YOLT is possibly my favourite Bond book, I read it as a teenager and it lead to temporary fascination with Japan. Blofeld's garden of death was a great idea and made a refreshing change from the usual villain plots simply because he stood to gain nothing from it. I would love to see it put on screen even though I'm not sure if audiences would go the whole suicide theme. I understand You're reading TMWTGG so next comes Colonel Sun which is a real slog. Fun fact: EON at one point owned the rights to Bond's son as a result the short lived James Bond Jr series, thus barring authors from using the character in the new books.

Not read this book for years feel the need for a re-read of this one after your excellent review. Wouldn't be surprised if they are referencing this book with Bond 25.

The Man With The Golden Gun novel is a great shame, because Fleming died halfway through revising it so only the first few chapters were up to his specifications, while the rest reads as a rushed first draft (because it was).

seriously, the final encounter between Bond and Blofeld would have worked perfectly either with Connery's, Dalton's and Craig's Bonds.

They should really adapt this book into a film. Either reintroduce Bofeld (or a substitute character, given the notch in Spectre), have Bond marry and his wife be killed and then take this story.

Hey Calvin, I have two Bond rankings suggestions that I'd love to see you do. First, a top 10 Bond film scores, I know you listen to lots of them and would have great opinions about the best ones. The second is a ranking of Bond film directors, there's only been 11 directors in the series so far and I'd love your definitive thoughts on who contributed the best and most to the series. Great videos as always, thanks for repping the Bond franchise!

Just finished reading this one and found it hit and miss. The middle section where Bond and Tanaka have meals together and down endless cups of sake drags a bit and feels simply a mouthpiece for Fleming to explain Japanese culture to us. I also found the tone of these conversations sometimes childish. The third act, however is very special and as you say dreamlike. The Garden of Death is such a great idea, I really hope it gets used in a film (they only took the piranhas and volcanoes into YOLT) and Bond’s escape from it dramatic. Kissy is a great character and the scenes of them together very warm.

brilliant video, i am a recent subscriber and i love james bond as well as my favourite thing ever doctor who! i am really enjoying your content keep up the good work!

You are so charming and handsome...and informative about BOND. I love the movie posters in the background of the past 007 films. Where did you get them? Hope you will review John Gardner's NEVER SEND FLOWERS book. Love the reviews!!

Just thought I would give you a heads-up about it so you can take that into account for your upcoming review of it.

The book is really cool. There is an audio play from the BBC that is pretty good too.

Read Thrilling Cities if you want to experience a great Ian Fleming travel log. I love your videos! You’re truly great. I would LOVE to see you review the other Ian Fleming works - James Bond in New York, Thrilling Cities, The Diamond Smugglers, and of course.... Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang! Keep up the good work.....we love it!

A very interesting book. Ian Fleming actually inserts himself into the novel. He and M put out Novels of Bond's adventures to make him a figure larger than life that could not possibly exist. They do this to try to stop assassination attempts on Bond. Also we find out that Moonraker was totally made up by Fleming and M. Never happened. What's interesting about Moonraker is this is that this is the only time Bond totally falls for a Female that has absolutely no interest in him, but its a made up story in the James Bond Universe. Bunt does survive apparently and shows up one more time in a short story later on. I feel that this book has a similar tone to John Pearson's "James Bond: An authorized Biography". Sometimes I wonder if John Pearson actually had actually ghostwritten YOLT.

Nice review Calvin. I honestly enjoyed YOLT book a LOT more than OHMSS book. I also found it interesting that it seemed like Bond's age was retconned in this book during Bond's obituary part? I thought Bond was in his mid 30s during Casino Royale...? But when I read his birthdate during the obituary part of this book Bond was made a lot younger being only 28/29 years old during the time of Casino Royale...? Am I wrong about this? Casino Royale takes place in 1951 not 1953.

"I'll just copy and paste this." LMFAO

I think it’s pronounced “Four Sevens” not “7-7-7-7”, but I could be wrong. Now, I love ‘You Only Live Twice’, sure it’s a bit travelogue-y, but that was part of the appeal of a Bond story to audiences in the 1960s when air travel wasn’t as accessible. After reading this book, my opinion on the film ‘Diamonds are Forever’ plummeted - I wish it could’ve been more like this. Why didn’t they give us crazy Blofeld & Bunt? Damn Charles JUST A JUMP TO THE LEFT Grey. And why wasn’t his character in YOLT Australian? Will the Bond films ever acknowledge Australia? Why hasn’t he been there yet, it’d be a great setting for a Bond film, I think. But anyway. I feel the attitude towards seppuku is a tad condescending at points (at times it feels a bit ‘those crazy Japanese, killing themselves for failing their exams. What are they like?’) but, as you say, it works for the story. What I find interesting is that Fleming acknowledges racism is a problem here, especially interesting considering his attitude towards other races in other stories. To quote Kissy: “they were all disgusting to me in Hollywood. They thought that because I am a Japanese I am some sort of animal and that my body is for everyone.” And I love the bit where Blofeld tries to justify his plots - that Thunderball was all to bring on disarmament talks, and OHMSS was to bring back community spirit in Britain. That he sees himself as the good guy, though of course he is mad at this point - still, more interesting than ‘I’m evil because I’m evil and I love being mean!’ And yeah, the whole ‘Bond is a real person’ bit. It just reminded me of some of Roald Dahl’s books (‘James and the Giant Peach’ and ‘The BFG’) where it ended with Dahl saying ‘they wrote up their adventures, but published them under a different name. You just read it!’ Even as a kid I was like ‘I’m not an idiot, this is fiction, stop pretending it’s real.’ Hey, funnily enough, Dahl wrote the film of this book. It all comes full circle.

Your reviews are awesome. I read this novel and I thought that it was really good.

You’ve convinced me to read this book. 📖

Set the bar low for TMWTTG. Spoiler alert: it's not a great way for the books to end.

The Japanese culture has a significant focus on the group and what the individual can do for the group. When people feel like they don’t belong or can’t contribute, they turn to suicide.

I love this book. Still wondering why they’ve never used Dr. Shatterhand as a villain.

The Japanese Sony Company existed when Ian Fleming wrote this book. Today they own Columbia Picturs. James Bond never returned to Japan. In the 60s Japan was on the rise, now it is in decline.

When I was reading the book, the name Todoroki stuck with me and I had to talk with my friends who have watched MHA. They were just as intrigued as I was

I too remember the book as a weird read. There are a few things that could be used in a movie at som point. The garden of death for instance. Bond going up against a married couple would be a first as well. The closest thing we have come to that I guess is Renard and Elektra... Obviously Elliot Carver was married to Paris, but she wasn´t in on his evil plan.

Yolt is probably my favorite bond novel after CR, MR and FRWL. And it’s one I revisit the most probably. Also it’s the only bond novel I would like to see Richard Linklater adapt.

You only live twice is my second favourite Bond book. Moonraker just edges it out.

At least Bond got a son out of the situation.

They should have kept Henderson as a drunk Australian in the film.

The next book is a let down, probably because it is mostly a first draft.

I’ve always really liked the film for YOLT because I find Japan isn’t a place we get to see often in American films and it was neat, plus the ninja stuff was cool even if it was cheesy.

007 YOLT sequel, Astral Edge Main charater is not James Bond, but instead Akiko, a 22 yo woman & the Child of Kissy who died during childbirth, the story is about a Unknown meteor landing which contained a Alien Artifact which would put the world into Turmoil if put into the Wrong hands! Akiko, who is Experienced & joined a Spy program has entered it for a reason, to find Bond. Essentially a Megaman ZX successor in the 007 Verse.

Great review as ever. Despite loving the film, I struggle to enjoy YOLT the book if I’m honest. I find it pretty much plotless and essentially a very lengthy travelogue. It’s interesting on its own terms but as a pacy spy story it doesn’t work for me. I’d much rather the Japan travelogue stuff appeared in a less “important” Bond novel as I feel the revenge element of YOLT would have benefitted from having a bit more space and complexity. As it stands, the travelogue stuff is nice but I feel it gets in the way of the plot too much.

Having read all the books myself in the last couple of years after years of thinking of myself as a massive bond fan I realised you can not say that without reading the books as well. What it does show is actually what a cavalier , dare I say slightly cackhanded, job broccoli and saltzman actually did adapting the books. To film you only live twice before ohms makes absolutely no sense !! Also great to see how flemings writing reached new heights right near the end of the series.

Shatterhand is a character in the Winnetou books by Karl May. The novels about Bond that Fleming wrote is so full of racism and fascism.

Im not a fan of the film. Is the book better? Seems like it!

Getting some flashbacks again... 😥

Are you going to read Colonel Sun and Solo?

Read every single bond book up to this point And I am STRUGGLING to make it through this one I’ve tried over and over but I can’t get into It, it’s just so boring and bland, I’ve heard it ends well but I can’t even make it to the end

One of the best movies and one of the best books too

9:06 I spat out my drink!

I've re-read the books a couple of times and I prefer to skip 'The Man With The Golden Gun' entirely and just leave Bond sat on the beach staring at the word 'Vladivostok'.

I am reading this book

Certainly different to the film! Do you prefer the book or movie?

I really wish they could film all the Bond novels as they are written and with the same actor playing Bond and make a TV series out of them and the time would be in the 50:s and the 60:s as Fleming wrote in his books. That would be really awesome to see how the real Bond should be. Unfortunately Hoagy Carmichael is dead so he can´t play Bond. He was Flemings choice for Bond.

Hey Calvin, will you rank every Bond book once you have finished your read through?

It’s the Gospel of John to the Bond series; the most spiritual.

Small fact from what I read japaneses never built castles near the coast because of typhons...

The book version of You Only Live Twice was better than the movie & should have been filmed after, not before OHMSS. Then it might have stayed more faithful to the book rather than being a rehash of Dr. No.

In year 9 I adored this book. I thought OHMSS and YOLT were fantastic books.

great bond book by fleming😊

You HAVE to talk about the changes to Bond that are rumored. What do you feel about Bond now being an African American woman? I honestly don’t know how to feel. One hand all the SJWs will now see it and maybe this will be a great change to get more of an audience but on the other hand they are drastically changing a beloved character to its core. I leaning towards I don’t like it but idk I would love to hear your thoughts

Audio is a bit awkward...the YOLT soundtrack is a bit loud and kind of drowns you out a bit at times.

I really enjoy the movie version of this very underrated way better than thunderball which is just dull.

I did enjoy it alot. Much better than the movie.