Exemplary James Bond Short Stories
595353
I've been working my way through the entire James Bond series in order of publication and have had an uneven ride as the novels have varied in quality and tone.  I've had some trouble getting past the racism and misogyny that appears, but have enjoyed the storytelling overall.  For Your Eyes Only was a nice change of pace; this is a collection of various James Bond short stories and I enjoyed every one of them.

Some of the stories were flat out adventure tales (Risico, From A View To A Kill), others were more character studies (The Hildebrand Rarity, Quantum of Solace), but all of them moved briskly and showed that Ian Fleming was a versatile author who worked well in the short form.  I'm looking forward to reading the six remaining Fleming Bond novels.
4857021
As a casual James Bond fan I was unsure as to whether or not to purchase this bundle.  Certainly I am a fan of the Connery era films, and the first two Brosnan films, and Casino Royale impressed me immensely (though I still think it runs a little long).

Then a friend showed me the new transfer of 'Goldfinger' and I realized that this would be a worthy addition to my collection.  These films have never looked better.  I certainly don't have the ideal set up for films (no LCD TV .... yet), though I do have 5.1 audio and component (re:'colourstream') input on my tv.  The prints are clean with great colour and detail that kicks the previous releases to the curb.  I compared 'Goldeneye' and 'Tomorrow Never Dies' to their previous DVD releases and noticed an improvement in the transfer.  The older films really benefit from the care that Lowry Digital has taken in the restoration process; though you would never quite mistake the older films for something that was produced recently (based on video quality).

While I haven't delved into the comprehensive special features quite as much as I would like, so far they certainly cover everything that one could possibly want to know about the production and release of these films (within reason - the older films lack some features just because of the time they were produced in).

I won't spend time reviewing each film, because you either know the films or you don't, and to an extent they are critic proof.  Though some are certainly worse than others, in my mind at least (I'm looking at you, Sir Roger Moore).

All in all, these sets are well worth the money to any serious Bond fan, and even those who are cinephiles with more than a passing interest in the franchise.
3037295
A very nice collection of short stories by some top shelf writers.  Really like the private eye themes.  I recommend it highly!
1588308
The Bond franchise finds its long-term footing in this third installment, striking a masterful balance between larger-than-life characters, silly overindulgence and skilled espionage work - a tricky combination that doesn't usually work. Where Dr. No and From Russia With Love were deathly serious, concentrating heavily on suspense, Goldfinger is far less afraid to kick back and have a little fun when the opportunity arises. There's definitely a healthy dose of the 1960s at play here, from the fashions on display to the attitudes of those wearing them, but in almost every single instance that results in a stronger, more vibrant cast. Despite their appallingly silly names, Oddjob, Pussy Galore and even Goldfinger himself are thoroughly deep, interesting, remarkable characters with a lot going on beneath the surface. The exploration of each villain's unique nooks and crannies, paired with an intensely curvy, unpredictable plot and the unmistakable presence of Bond himself, provides more fuel than any film could reasonably require. Quick in wit and in pace, it covers a lot of ground with admirable efficiency, leaves us with two fistfuls of memorable moments, and raises the stakes to staggering heights. It's no wonder this is the standard by which all other Bonds are judged.
3276622
Love that the Ian Fleming novels are available this way.  Every James Bond fan should read them, especially this one since it is the first.
1002629
With By Royal Command Charlie Higson brings the Young Bond series in for a picture perfect landing, touching down cleanly and evenly on every aspect of James Bond's past and future life. It's a surprisingly profound, introspective, and somewhat tragic book that takes a leap in quality and maturity from all that has come before. At the same time, By Royal Command is a kinder and gentler Young Bond novel that doesn't have nearly the level of gruesome violence that has become a hallmark of the series, and even contains a love story! It's a surprising book in many ways. Of course, all the Young Bond books have been individualistic and, in their own ways, surprises, so By Royal Command fits perfectly into a series that has never repeated itself.

After the bloody events of the past four books, especially the relentless Hurricane Gold, this James Bond wants nothing more than to live a normal schoolboy's life. He's a 14-year-old with post traumatic stress. But Bond discovers he is fated to be a magnet for danger and death, and his reserves of stamina and strength in such situations have not gone unnoticed by leaders who soon need young men with such reserves. Not only does Bond lose what remained of his innocence in By Royal Command, it's clear the world will soon lose what remains of its innocence as well. The specter of World War II and the Cold War looms large over this novel. By Royal Command is full of sophisticated political and historical references, and the plotting is an intricate web of spy intrigue. Even the youngest readers, having invested in the first four books, will be rapt with attention, waiting for the next revelatory shoe to drop.

So where does By Royal Command stand among the other Young Bonds? For me, it's clearly the best -- which qualifies it as one of the very best James Bond continuation novels, period. For fans who still refuse to read the series based on the concept alone, it'll be hard to justify why they won't at least read By Royal Command, as it depicts a key event established by Fleming (the infamous "maid incident") and IS a spy novel. While it's preferable to have a knowledge of what came before (the book touches on all the past Young Bond novels with several returning characters), By Royal Command can still be read as a stand alone.

While there is talk of more Young Bond adventures at some point in the future, Charlie makes it clear in his acknowledgments that By Royal Command is the end of a five book cycle started in 2005 with SilverFin.

What a spectacular end it was.
232673
After watching the amazing film adaptation this past year I decided to give the Ian Fleming novel a chance.  I'm sure glad that I did, for even though it shows its age through and through it's still a great introductory novel into the world of James Bond.  While some have already noted that the action itself is subdued I feel it bares repeating since this novel is all about establishing character, and with that in mind it does a fantastic job.

In `Casino Royale' we meet British Secret Service agent James Bond, newly crowned 007, as he embarks on a mission full of deceit, murder, torture and high stakes gambling.  Sent to the Casino Royale to turn the tables on the Russian spy Le Chiffre it appears that Bond has one of those `sitting-pretty' type assignments, but things aren't as easy as they initially appear.  First he has to contend with his partner, the beautiful Vesper Lynd.  Bond, while a surefire ladies man, prefers to keep their company strictly bedside and struggles with the idea of entertaining and ultimately trusting her.  Le Chiffre himself also poses a problem in that he is not only smarter than Bond imagined but also much more determined to end up on top then Bond would have given him credit for.

`Casino Royale' may spend most of it's time in the close quarters of the casino floor but it serves up some very interesting background information on everyone's favorite secret agent.  It establishes Bond as a person, not just a pretty face with muscles and brains, but a man stripped to the core with real human emotions and feelings.  `Casino Royale' is the book that sets the foundation for the remaining Bond novels.  His relationship with Vesper plays a huge part in the man Bond becomes and this novel helps the reader come to better understand this iconic character.

While I personally preferred the 2006 Blockbuster to the novel, mainly because the style of writing is dated and moves a little slow, I will say that it's well worth the read.  I myself am now determined to read through the entire Bond series to get a full picture of the man we all love to watch film after film.  This is where Bond began and is a must read for any fan of the films that this immortal character inspired.
826634
The eleventh installment of Ian Fleming's wildly popular James Bond series is considered by many fans as the absolute best.  Without doubt, Fleming wrote this early 1960s thriller at the height of his creative powers and it ranks as one of the greatest espionage novels ever made.

  'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' is the second Bond novel in a trilogy focusing on 007's personal war against Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the head of terrorist group SPECTRE who was first seen in 'Thunderball' and made his last appearance in 'You Only Live Twice.'  It was eventually adapted to the big screen in 1969, featuring a single James Bond appearance by George Lazenby.

 In OHMSS, one of the darkest Bond novels written, 007 has been tracking SPECTRE operations and finds himself at a dead end.  While on the French Riviera, he becomes certain that Blofeld's group has been liquidated and prepares to resign from his duties.  Bond catches an unexpected lead, however, after meeting a young woman during one of his favorite visits to Casino Royale.

 His encounter with Teresa di Vicenzo (known as 'Tracy' amongst friends) leads to a one-night stand and an abduction by her father, Marc-Ange Draco, a Corsican mercenary who has dealt with several European governments.  Bond becomes quasi-friends with Draco, who asks him to keep watch over the clinically depressed Tracy in exchange for locating Blofeld's hideout in the Swiss Alps.  Overwhelmed by snowdrifts, pretty women, and menacing ski lodge workers, 007 poses as a heraldry officer and discovers the early stages of a biological terrorist operation aimed at wiping out the British agricultural industry.

 While never toeing the borders of high literature, OHMSS is a finely-crafted popular novel that offers rare amounts of emotion besides whirlwind action scenes.  The novel's plot is actually slow to develop, building gradually like a percolating coffee pot; but this actually makes room for characters to be explored in unusual depth.  The relationship between Bond and Tracy, focused upon in the end chapters, is well-grounded and has a decent amount of chemistry.

 Fleming's writing style is very approachable, with the exception of brand names and European vacation spots that he reels off constantly; this will be confusing to readers not in tune with early 1960s pop culture.  Knowledge of these items, however, is not required for enjoyment of the story.  OHMSS is well-paced overall, with engaging action sets, humorous narration, and dialogue that is never flat.  Bond fans and readers of espionage/crime novels should find it a great time-killer.

 The current Penguin edition weighs in at 259 pages.  It is printed in easily-readable type with attractive cover art.
2377457
This hardcover edition brings back memories. This is probably Ian Fleming's most interesting and personal James Bond novel. This book precedes "You Only Live Twice" as it sends James Bond on a mission to track down the head of SPECTRE. This is a very well written novel and is very interesting trying to fathom what Fleming had been contemplating for his hero at that time in his life. I found this absorbing novel very difficult to put down once I started reading it as I did with its follow-up. If you do decide to read it I recommend that you read it before "You Only Live Twice." I will go one step further, if you read both of these novels then read "The Man with the Golden Gun" (at least the first several chapters) after you finish "You Only Live Twice." These three novels make up a sort of trilogy. One hint: "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is very close to the movie version. "You Only Live Twice" and "The Man with the Golden Gun" movies have very little at all to do with the Fleming novels in any direct sense of plot and conflict. So don't be discouraged. I have read these three novels several times over. Bond must come face to face with his own demons in these novels.
2947922
After Raymond Benson's Bond stories I was skeptical of reading this one but Mr. Horowitz has done himself proud with this great story.  It's classic Bond - chasing a diabolical bad guy with plenty of action, witticism, and women along the way.  I'm also a fan of Midsomer Murders show as well as his Sherlock Holmes short story and Moriarty.
258633
Craig stays true to the essential elements of the James Bond films while adding his own since of intrigue and a certain human quality.
2150515
I've read and re-read several stories in this collection several times - standouts include: "Train to Lo Wu", "Heaven Lake", and "Secret of Bats". Not only are these stories completely original, and moreso, completely convincing in their delivery, but they are also very easy to read - enough so that I have recommended this book to many who don't often read short stories, and they have all loved it very much. I really can't say enough nice things about these stories - clearly this collection is one of the standouts of the last few years, and is gaining popularity among readers. Some have remarked how there's not enough about Hong Kong here - they've missed the point, I'm sorry to say. Regardless of class, race or gender, these stories deal with subjects to which we all can relate - isolation, compassion, mistrust, love - and each story in this collection resonates as finely as the tines of a tuning fork. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fine writing, effective story telling, and strong subject matter.
2292525
A writer would have to be fairly hubristic to take on the Bond franchise; certainly, Warren Ellis has never appeared to lack confidence. And while Vargr does succeed to quite an extant, there is something almost generic about the short stories contained within.  A snarky non-descript Bond who flaunts authority and never really falls into any of the Bond actor categories (e.g., Connery, Moore, etc.). And perhaps that is the key ingredient missing: the story doesn't take the character too seriously, reverentially, or from canon.  This is a Fleming Bond predating the Brocolli films with all the strengths and weaknesses that entails.

Story: Vargr begins in Helsinki, where Bond tracks down the killer of 008.  This segues into a job involving a drug running operation that was 008's assignment and now falls to 007. But there is a lot more involved than it appears and Bond will be drawn into a world of cybernetics and world domination.

The use of "Ian Fleming" in the title is important to pointing out the inspiration of this book: this is the 1960s James Bond and not the cult of personality movie characters we are more used to in modern times.  The illustration work is almost 1940s noirish: square cut and unremarkable features that are very anachronistic in a modern setting.  I almost wish that Bond was operating in a 1960s milieu rather than the modern setting; it's jarring and unrealistic to see a 'secret agent' running around in a suit and tie straight from Mad Men but in 2016.

The book contains a full story arc and then several sub arcs leading to the main plot. As a whole, there's nothing new here under the sun.  We have a bit of the fantastical that is so important to the franchise but nothing crazy here - there are no steel jawed bad guys or guillotine-bolero throwing butlers.  Also missing are the Bond girls - perhaps again owing to the Fleming slavishness.

Where Warren gets this right is a series of henchmen and underlings with the right touch of madness and method-to-the-madness machinations.  As Bond goes through them and the secret plot is revealed, we get the heart of what makes the 007 stories so fun to read.  Admittedly, though, it does take awhile to get to them and they are dispatched fairly quickly and without much fanfare.  Ellis keeps the action clipped and brutal.

The artwork is, as noted, an odd mix of 1960s and 2016. I can't say it works, necessarily, but imagine that this was the compromise to keep Bond Bond-like.  You can't take the icon out of the suit, I guess. Sequences can be hard to follow but the illustrations are clean and non fussy. 1950s Dick tracy color schemes likely had a lot to do with influencing the art.

In all, I didn't love Vargr. The incongruities in design choices were jarring and I miss the 'fun' of Bond.  There is humor here and some light moments but for the most part, Vargr can feel very dreary (owing to the linear storyline and clean noirish drawings).  But I think those who love the Fleming originals will find much to appreciate in Ellis' story.  Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
1085645
Great book offering rare insights on the professional and personal life of James Bond. The story is pretty good, too.
86295
Excellent short mysteries stories-most of them deal with various art thefts, often in international settings. Some of them reminded me a bit of Stanley Ellin's short stories. If you liked early Hitchcock anthologies, you'll love these stories! One of them, the Monkey King, concerning the theft of a jade statue, was a short story I read in a long gone Hitchcock paperback many moons ago. I've searched for that story for years but didn't know the author, so i was delighted to encounter it here! A couple of tales are rather anticlimactic  but most are pretty good stories and you can't beat the price. I also recommend James Holding's Murder & Mayham Megapack. ( However, I was less enthused with The Library Fuzz Megapack which concerns the adventures of a Library Cop! )
4160624
A great collection of thriller shorts that had me glued to my Kindle. Each one unique with intriguing characters that pulled me into the story. Would love to see these short stories  turned into full-length novels. Wonderful writing style with an ease and flow. Nick Roberts is an expressive, truly gifted writer worth checking out.
3371842
This was written I believe during WWII by the authorI believe when was an English POW in Germany. He was a master of this genre, you know, subtle, yet chillingly good stories of the supernatural.  I loved them all  Highly recommended for those who love ghost stories and stories of the supernatural  which are fiction, yet strangely real. These are in the essential style of MR James, and others of this level and style of suberb writing.