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James Bond - Extended Series #8+14
Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories
Marking the centennial of the author's birth, a comprehensive anthology of short fiction chronicling the exploits and adventures of the suave British agent includes the tales that served as the inspiration for such films as Octopussy, The Living Daylights, For Your Eyes Only, and the upcoming Fall 2008 Quantum of Solace. Original.
279 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
About the author
Ian Fleming
668 books3,040 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist, and commander in the royal Navy during the Second World War. He was a grandson of the Scottish financier Robert Fleming, who founded the Scottish American Investment Trust and the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co.
Fleming is best remembered for creating the character of James Bond and chronicling his adventures in twelve novels and nine short stories. Additionally, Fleming wrote the children's story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and two non-fiction books.
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist, and commander in the royal Navy during the Second World War. He was a grandson of the Scottish financier Robert Fleming, who founded the Scottish American Investment Trust and the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co.
Fleming is best remembered for creating the character of James Bond and chronicling his adventures in twelve novels and nine short stories. Additionally, Fleming wrote the children's story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and two non-fiction books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
April 25, 2020
It came as quite a surprise for me to discover that Ian Fleming wrote James Bond short stories in addition to novels.This is a volume of short stories.
This is a partial review of the book.I've read the title story,Quantum of Solace.It is a story which is not about Bond,but is narrated to him.He makes a remark about wanting to marry an airhostess and is told a story about an airhostess who is not faithful after her marriage and what happens to her later.
Fairly interesting,but this being Fleming,there are certain sentences about natives and coloured people which are off-putting.
Quantum of Solace is also the name of the Bond film from 2008,featuring Daniel Craig.It was the worst Bond film till that point,though the subsequent films aren't all that great either.However,the short story and the film have only the title in common.
There are other stories in the volume which also became earlier Bond films,some in name only.I haven't found the other stories yet.
Three stars for the title story.
This is a partial review of the book.I've read the title story,Quantum of Solace.It is a story which is not about Bond,but is narrated to him.He makes a remark about wanting to marry an airhostess and is told a story about an airhostess who is not faithful after her marriage and what happens to her later.
Fairly interesting,but this being Fleming,there are certain sentences about natives and coloured people which are off-putting.
Quantum of Solace is also the name of the Bond film from 2008,featuring Daniel Craig.It was the worst Bond film till that point,though the subsequent films aren't all that great either.However,the short story and the film have only the title in common.
There are other stories in the volume which also became earlier Bond films,some in name only.I haven't found the other stories yet.
Three stars for the title story.
May 29, 2022
Here we have the complete 9 short story collection before Fleming's untimely death. So how does James Bond fare in short story format? I would say that for the most part it was pretty dang good. I still prefer the longer novels as they seem to be the perfect length for each adventure.
"From a View to a Kill" and "007 in New York", in my honest opinion, are complete trash, especially the latter. What a waste of time! "For Your Eyes Only" and "The Hildebrand Rarity" begged to be longer to provide a more satisfying conclusion. It was a bit of shame as I really liked them.
The stories that shined the brightest were "Quantum of Solace", "Risico", and "Octopussy". QoS wasn't even a spy story, but it was nice to see Fleming write something out of his comfort zone. Risico is as classic Bond as you can get in a short format. Octopussy allowed Bond to take a back seat while we let the villain (I don't know what else to call him) guide the narrative. It was creepy and my favorite from the collection.
"The Property of a Lady" and "The Living Daylights" were nothing special, but enjoyable nonetheless. Those were some of the shorter offerings as well.
"From a View to a Kill" and "007 in New York", in my honest opinion, are complete trash, especially the latter. What a waste of time! "For Your Eyes Only" and "The Hildebrand Rarity" begged to be longer to provide a more satisfying conclusion. It was a bit of shame as I really liked them.
The stories that shined the brightest were "Quantum of Solace", "Risico", and "Octopussy". QoS wasn't even a spy story, but it was nice to see Fleming write something out of his comfort zone. Risico is as classic Bond as you can get in a short format. Octopussy allowed Bond to take a back seat while we let the villain (I don't know what else to call him) guide the narrative. It was creepy and my favorite from the collection.
"The Property of a Lady" and "The Living Daylights" were nothing special, but enjoyable nonetheless. Those were some of the shorter offerings as well.
November 22, 2009
As the title suggests, "Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories" has everything but the novels -- and Ian Fleming did write mostly 007 novels, so this is a relatively brief collection. While the stories vary somewhat in quality, they do demonstrate that Fleming was a talented writer with a good eye for description, a sharp wit, and strong sense of pacing, even in the tighter format of the short story.
I'm not sure what's suggested by this, but the two best stories in the collection, "Quantum of Solace" and "Octopussy," feature James Bond as only a tangential character. And despite sharing titles with two of the 007 films, the movie "Octopussy" is only partly related to the short story, and the film "Quantum of Solace" has nothing whatsoever to do with its namesake story.
In fact, the story "Quantum of Solace" isn't a spy tale at all, but rather focuses on the break-up of a marriage. It's a really good piece, and demonstrates that Fleming, when he wanted to, could write stories deeper and more meaningful than straightforward thrillers. If anyone can recommend stories or novels by Fleming similar to the story "Quantum of Solace," I'd love to read them.
I'm not sure what's suggested by this, but the two best stories in the collection, "Quantum of Solace" and "Octopussy," feature James Bond as only a tangential character. And despite sharing titles with two of the 007 films, the movie "Octopussy" is only partly related to the short story, and the film "Quantum of Solace" has nothing whatsoever to do with its namesake story.
In fact, the story "Quantum of Solace" isn't a spy tale at all, but rather focuses on the break-up of a marriage. It's a really good piece, and demonstrates that Fleming, when he wanted to, could write stories deeper and more meaningful than straightforward thrillers. If anyone can recommend stories or novels by Fleming similar to the story "Quantum of Solace," I'd love to read them.
September 21, 2008
The ultimate bathtub or plane reading book. It goes from the eyes to the brain, but doesn't stay long there. In fact it's pure air with a promise of something else. But that something else doesn't come along.
I was raised with James Bond in the pop culture background, and it's interesting to read the original source. All the short stories here are enjoyable but at the same time it's crap.
The beauty of 'James Bond' is more important than the actual literature by Ian Fleming. But saying that I have only read "Casino Royal" and then this collection. i imagine that the stories first appeared in various 'men' magazines. In between the Brut ads and various whisky advertisments. You can smell the after-shave lotion in these stories. So on a camp level they work well.
I was raised with James Bond in the pop culture background, and it's interesting to read the original source. All the short stories here are enjoyable but at the same time it's crap.
The beauty of 'James Bond' is more important than the actual literature by Ian Fleming. But saying that I have only read "Casino Royal" and then this collection. i imagine that the stories first appeared in various 'men' magazines. In between the Brut ads and various whisky advertisments. You can smell the after-shave lotion in these stories. So on a camp level they work well.
June 27, 2019
Enjoyable collection of James Bond shorts, most of which have been adapted to the film series in title only, some not at all. Many feature Bond in roles not typical of the high stakes spy, or even only peripherally. They paint a typical picture of the gentleman secret agent, with a penchant for the finer things in life, and of course the over the top sexism one could expect from a 60's era Bond.
From a View to a Kill (3.0)
For Your Eyes Only (3.5)
Quantum of Solace (2.5)
Risico (4.0)
The Hildebrand Rarity (3.5)
Octopussy (4.0)
The Property of a Lady (3.0)
The Living Daylights (3.0)
007 in New York (3.0)
From a View to a Kill (3.0)
For Your Eyes Only (3.5)
Quantum of Solace (2.5)
Risico (4.0)
The Hildebrand Rarity (3.5)
Octopussy (4.0)
The Property of a Lady (3.0)
The Living Daylights (3.0)
007 in New York (3.0)
November 23, 2008
I picked up this book because I enjoy the Bond films so much. The Bond of the book world, however, is different in some ways from the Bond of the film world. This Bond, although confident and poised, experiences some inner conflict about the things he must do to serve his country. As in the films, he is a ladies' man. The Bond women are always attractive, with just enough spice to make them interesting bed mates, but in the end, they always end up compliant. I find it an amusing portrayal of what makes an 'ideal' woman, and very one-dimensional. But I won't psychoanalyze Bond.
Bond seems driven not only by his devotion to his country, but by a desire to cure boredom. It seems he'll take up almost any task so long as it engages his mind and gets him out and about.
I found some parts sluggish, heavy on description and difficult to get through, while others were exciting and made my heart race. Overall, the stories are good entertainment, and Bond is a memorable figure. I think anyone who enjoys the films will also enjoy this collection of short stories.
Bond seems driven not only by his devotion to his country, but by a desire to cure boredom. It seems he'll take up almost any task so long as it engages his mind and gets him out and about.
I found some parts sluggish, heavy on description and difficult to get through, while others were exciting and made my heart race. Overall, the stories are good entertainment, and Bond is a memorable figure. I think anyone who enjoys the films will also enjoy this collection of short stories.
January 23, 2020
Bond learns a lesson in humanity without even firing a single shot. Who would've thought that less killing would equal more compassion?
July 6, 2012
These nine stories are more realistic and less fantastic than the novels; there are no depraved villains, no evil global organizations, no elaborate plots to take over the world, no futuristic gadgets. Instead the tales are grounded in the geopolitical context of the late 1950s and early 1960s: Castro's incipient revolution in Cuba, the accelerating collapse of the British colonial empire and, most of all, the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Most of the stories follow Bond as he carries out a discrete MI6 mission, but in three stories ("Quantum of Solace," "The Hildebrand Rarity," and "Octopussy") Bond plays only a minor role in relation to the central action. For readers seeking the full James Bond experience in miniature, the best choices would be "From a View to a Kill" and "Risico," both of which are exciting, tightly plotted, and manage broadly to capture the feel of a Bond novel in short story format.
I'll provide brief notes on the three stories that emerged as my personal favorites ...
"Risico"
M orders Bond to Rome to identify the source of the heroin that's been pouring into England, and to put a stop to it. Bond is told to meet with the shady and mysterious Kristatos, who points the finger at Colombo, a Roman restaurateur. But Colombo is onto both Kristatos and Bond, and neither Colombo nor Kristatos turns out to be just what he seems. The plot takes several twists and turns, moving from Rome to Venice to a ship at sea, and culminates in a dramatic dawn shootout/explosion in an Adriatic port. Some of the plot elements here were used in the film For Your Eyes Only.
"The Hildebrand Rarity"
Ian Fleming displays impressive nature-writing skills, offering vivid descriptions of Indian Ocean marine life in this non-spy story set among the Seychelle islands. Bond has completed his mission, which was to investigate political conditions in the Seychelles for the British Navy, which may need to relocate its forces from the Maldives, where Communists from Ceylon are beginning to stir up trouble (Bond "concluded that the only conceivable security hazard in the Seychelles lay in the beauty and ready availability of the Seychelloises"). Now with a week to kill, Bond agrees to help out on a private expedition collecting marine specimens aboard a millionaire's yacht. The millionaire is Krest, a cruel, arrogant, alcoholic American who berates his guests and beats his pretty young wife; this domestic violence emerges as the core subject of the story.
"The Living Daylights"
A quintessential Cold War spy story. A year before the construction of the Berlin Wall, Bond is sent to Berlin to help a British agent possessing important intelligence to cross from the East back to the West. M has learned that a KGB assassin will be taking aim at the agent, and Bond's assignment is to assassinate the assassin. Fleming creates a very realistic atmosphere and includes many vivid cloak and dagger details. A key element of this story was used in the film of the same name.
Most of the stories follow Bond as he carries out a discrete MI6 mission, but in three stories ("Quantum of Solace," "The Hildebrand Rarity," and "Octopussy") Bond plays only a minor role in relation to the central action. For readers seeking the full James Bond experience in miniature, the best choices would be "From a View to a Kill" and "Risico," both of which are exciting, tightly plotted, and manage broadly to capture the feel of a Bond novel in short story format.
I'll provide brief notes on the three stories that emerged as my personal favorites ...
"Risico"
M orders Bond to Rome to identify the source of the heroin that's been pouring into England, and to put a stop to it. Bond is told to meet with the shady and mysterious Kristatos, who points the finger at Colombo, a Roman restaurateur. But Colombo is onto both Kristatos and Bond, and neither Colombo nor Kristatos turns out to be just what he seems. The plot takes several twists and turns, moving from Rome to Venice to a ship at sea, and culminates in a dramatic dawn shootout/explosion in an Adriatic port. Some of the plot elements here were used in the film For Your Eyes Only.
"The Hildebrand Rarity"
Ian Fleming displays impressive nature-writing skills, offering vivid descriptions of Indian Ocean marine life in this non-spy story set among the Seychelle islands. Bond has completed his mission, which was to investigate political conditions in the Seychelles for the British Navy, which may need to relocate its forces from the Maldives, where Communists from Ceylon are beginning to stir up trouble (Bond "concluded that the only conceivable security hazard in the Seychelles lay in the beauty and ready availability of the Seychelloises"). Now with a week to kill, Bond agrees to help out on a private expedition collecting marine specimens aboard a millionaire's yacht. The millionaire is Krest, a cruel, arrogant, alcoholic American who berates his guests and beats his pretty young wife; this domestic violence emerges as the core subject of the story.
"The Living Daylights"
A quintessential Cold War spy story. A year before the construction of the Berlin Wall, Bond is sent to Berlin to help a British agent possessing important intelligence to cross from the East back to the West. M has learned that a KGB assassin will be taking aim at the agent, and Bond's assignment is to assassinate the assassin. Fleming creates a very realistic atmosphere and includes many vivid cloak and dagger details. A key element of this story was used in the film of the same name.
April 22, 2014
Review first posted on BookLikes: http://brokentune.booklikes.com/post/...
I picked up a bunch of James Bond books from a second-hand bookstore a few years ago, and as some of you may have noticed, I am reading my way through them.
When I picked up the books I knew all of the films - probably better than anyone really should - but I did not know much about Fleming's writing or the stories that underpinned the movie plots.
Because of that, I was unaware that Quantum of Solace is basically a re-issue of the two collections of short stories that were originally published in the For Your Eyes Only and in Octopussy & The Living Daylights.
So, if any of you out there in the BL universe should be in the same situation, here is a brief outline of which stories are contained in which book:
For Your Eyes Only:
From a View to a Kill
For Your Eyes Only
Quantum of Solace
Risico
The Hildebrand Rarity
Octopussy & The Living Daylights:
Octopussy
The Property of a Lady
The Living Daylights
Quantum of Solace:
contains all of the stories listed above and the story "007 in New York"
Some of the stories are instantly forgettable. I have no recollection whatsoever about For Your Eyes Only.
Some of the stories I can remember but mostly because they actually were incorporated into the films. For example Risico provided the basic plot line for For Your Eyes Only. The Living Daylights, the film, does actually base some of its plot on The Living Daylights.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed Octopussy, The Hildebrand Rarity and Quantum of Solace. As far as the films go, despite the titles none of the stories has been worked into a film, yet. So, if you plan on reading any of these, this is going to be different.
And it is the "different" that makes these three stories stand out: All of them are extremely dark. All of them focus on very messed up people. And none of them feature James Bond as the main character. In short they are Bond stories, but they are also delicious, little works of darkness. In fact, they strongly reminded me of some Somerset-Maugham stories but with a more exotic setting.
I picked up a bunch of James Bond books from a second-hand bookstore a few years ago, and as some of you may have noticed, I am reading my way through them.
When I picked up the books I knew all of the films - probably better than anyone really should - but I did not know much about Fleming's writing or the stories that underpinned the movie plots.
Because of that, I was unaware that Quantum of Solace is basically a re-issue of the two collections of short stories that were originally published in the For Your Eyes Only and in Octopussy & The Living Daylights.
So, if any of you out there in the BL universe should be in the same situation, here is a brief outline of which stories are contained in which book:
For Your Eyes Only:
From a View to a Kill
For Your Eyes Only
Quantum of Solace
Risico
The Hildebrand Rarity
Octopussy & The Living Daylights:
Octopussy
The Property of a Lady
The Living Daylights
Quantum of Solace:
contains all of the stories listed above and the story "007 in New York"
Some of the stories are instantly forgettable. I have no recollection whatsoever about For Your Eyes Only.
Some of the stories I can remember but mostly because they actually were incorporated into the films. For example Risico provided the basic plot line for For Your Eyes Only. The Living Daylights, the film, does actually base some of its plot on The Living Daylights.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed Octopussy, The Hildebrand Rarity and Quantum of Solace. As far as the films go, despite the titles none of the stories has been worked into a film, yet. So, if you plan on reading any of these, this is going to be different.
And it is the "different" that makes these three stories stand out: All of them are extremely dark. All of them focus on very messed up people. And none of them feature James Bond as the main character. In short they are Bond stories, but they are also delicious, little works of darkness. In fact, they strongly reminded me of some Somerset-Maugham stories but with a more exotic setting.
September 23, 2016
It was really interesting, now that I've seen some of the Bond movies (Pierce Brosnan & Daniel Craig's versions) to come across the books they were adapted from.
I like reading books with characters that I've previously known.
I only read Quantum of Solace from this anthology and it was odd to me that I expected an action packed piece of writing. On the contrary, it was merely a retelling of another character's story from which we perceive a certain moral: offering an amount of comfort can pay back.
It was a light read, not James Bond centered.
I like reading books with characters that I've previously known.
I only read Quantum of Solace from this anthology and it was odd to me that I expected an action packed piece of writing. On the contrary, it was merely a retelling of another character's story from which we perceive a certain moral: offering an amount of comfort can pay back.
It was a light read, not James Bond centered.
June 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories they varied in intrigue, missions, and continents. In one or two of the stories Bond is only a minor part of the action - but honestly that made it more interesting. Some of the stories include Octopussy, For Your Eyes Only, The Living Daylights, Quantum of Silence, 007 in New York, The Hildebrand Rarity, From a View to a Kill, and others. Many are also movies but their only similarities to the films are the titles, the plots are vastly different. Minus the blatant sexism and racism; the action is always unique and intense, and the stories are compelling and readable. This collection is better than some of the full length novels, I had no idea that these even existed, being published in Playboy, Cosmopolitan, and other publications. A great collection!
September 9, 2023
This was one of the Ian Fleming books I have read. The book was composed of short stories that were truly engaging.
May 7, 2015
In this my first experience with the writing of Ian Fleming, I loved these shorter glimpses into the work-a-day life of James Bond, and was struck by a) Fleming's sexism, and to a lesser extent, his racism/xenophobia, b) Fleming's opinion of Americans and America (which was quite amusing), and c) the stoic, sociopathic nature of Bond, who - for the most part - does what he's told and kills who he must by order of his employer, without a lot of the soapy romance and sometimes silly gadgetry of the films. He's a cold bloodied professional. An expert assassin. The martini-ordering, casino-trolling playboy is all secondary to the mission, and largely absent from these stories.
Bond is much more interesting to me on the page than on the screen, my enjoyment of the big screen adaptations aside.
Bond is much more interesting to me on the page than on the screen, my enjoyment of the big screen adaptations aside.
October 14, 2014
I enjoyed all the Bond books, and read them at a clip in 2008. This one is just a collection of short stories, but if you've read a few full-length volumes ahead of this, the change of pace will be nice.
Some are a bit humorous and flimsy, others are hard-hitting. If you're just sampling Bond, this might be it, or it might be one to skip. If you're going for the series it's of course a must and I'd read it in the order of publication.
I will say that it's nice seeing how different this story is from the film that came out later. Check it out.
Some are a bit humorous and flimsy, others are hard-hitting. If you're just sampling Bond, this might be it, or it might be one to skip. If you're going for the series it's of course a must and I'd read it in the order of publication.
I will say that it's nice seeing how different this story is from the film that came out later. Check it out.
April 18, 2012
That I truly enjoyed these short adventure gems of Mr. Bond in service to Her Majesty came as quite a happy surprise. Decidedly, I am not a fan of the Bond films (although I adore some scenes and marvel at the stunt-fest opening Albert Broccoli committed to film over his years of producing the franchise installments) and have had only limited exposure to Ian Fleming, having read Thunderball as a youngster. (And after nearly fifty-years, that is of no real value at all).
To a greater or lesser degree, each tale has merit and serves to define and expand the character, the life, and times of this exceptional Cold War warrior, but one or two of the stories absolutely illuminate the human condition, especially the eponymous tale. I hope I never forget the central lesson of Quantum of Solace. In the story, Bond complains of suffering through a dull evening (but only internally; he's too wise, polite, and considerate to voice his opinion aloud) in the company of dull people leading small ordinary lives. In the end, after the other guests depart, his host recounts a most amazing tale about people whom Bond had considered too common, too comfortable, too complacent, too unremarkable; in every way, he has pronounced even the attractive older woman of the husband-and-wife couple as completely unworthy of consideration. But in this case, as his host recounts the tale within the tale, Bond is reminded of the human penchant for being far too quick to judge others, and far too harsh in our evaluations. It is too easy to glance at the circumstances of another's life and make a snap assessment. We are often guilty of hastily categorizing others, ascribing dubious qualities to them, making of them a caricature, seeing them as failing in this or that regard, and invariably finding fault; we frequently sell others short. Habitually and without shame or regret, we underestimate the obstacles and challenges others have overcome; we diminish their worthiness and accomplishments, all the while glibly overestimating and overvaluing our own. Obviously, in James Bond’s line of work, underestimating an adversary can have deadly consequences. In our own lives, the results may not be so dramatic, but then again, taken to heart, the lesson can prove invaluable. In the end, Quantum of Solace is a cautionary tale serving to remind us that an evident quantity of comfort is not always achieved with ease, or without struggling with the vicissitudes of life. Each of us who attain it have our own story that may include lessons learned and a high price paid for the accomplishment.
Bond is certainly a larger than life character, but unlike the film versions, on the printed page the outcomes hardly seem inevitable; our hero is neither infallible nor invincible. He suffers the same pangs of humanity as any of us might in his shoes; he feels remorse and is keenly aware that each action has consequences, and each extracts a toll upon his psyche. He is not impervious to the sins he commits in the name of serving and protecting his country and her allies. While Bond exhibits supreme confidence, it is not ego but his training and experience that justifies his approach; he has an unbreakable will to prevail. I'm familiar enough with that turf to recognize that it is a quality lacking in myself, which explains my failed businesses and depleted bank accounts, but that's another story. In each episode, Bond's assignment has him confronting brutality; he must carry out a potentially brutal action or prevent one from occurring. Although sometimes abstracted; the necessary acts are often brutal nonetheless, but can appear as brutality one-step removed, like bombing civilians from thirty-thousand feet, or offer mitigating circumstances, as in killing an assassin before the assassin can kill again. Naturally, there are always surprises, as in The Living Daylights, where Bond watches a beautiful young woman cellist through a high-powered telescopic sight day after day on her way to rehearsal, and is surprised to find himself feeling pangs of heartache and desire that he hadn’t felt since he was a young-young man. He is surprised to feel such things especially under the circumstances, which have placed him with the unenviable task of killing a sniper before the sniper can kill an escapee from East Berlin, crossing with valuable information. He is far more surprised at the critical moment when he sees the identity of the sniper through his scope, and yet it is vital to ‘neutralize’ the shooter.
Each contact Bond has with danger, each brush with death seems to inspire in him an elevated appreciation for life and pleasure. Surviving incredible missions with Bond is living on the high wire; each experience is heightened by uncertainty, fear, and the proximity and threat of death. He imbibes that oft-noted paradox; In Death There Is Life, and Bond not only believes in living, he believes in living pleasurably; believes in giving and receiving pleasure. There are hundreds of reasons to admire James Bond, and hundreds of reasons to desire him as a friend; hundreds of reasons a woman might want him as a lover, but more than anything, you want the man on your side. Having Bond against you may be the last thing you ever want.
The spy genre attracts its fans as does science fiction, horror, romance, and as readers and devotees of every genre, we all carry our preconceived notions to the bookshelves from which we make our selections. Recall the famous anecdote (if only I could remember the context, the speaker and interlocutor in the dialogue), wherein a reader expresses surprise: "This cannot be science fiction!" The companion glances at the book and asks, "Why is that?" Without appreciating the irony the speaker replies, "Because, I like it." Yes, well. Occasionally, we are lucky enough to broaden our horizons by stepping outside of the familiar and plunging into a different reality outside our comfort zone. We readers travel virtually to new realms, and just as a voyager in the physical world, we come back the better for our efforts, if we come back at all.
Okay. I'm willing to admit: Now that my hair is gray and my middle is expanding alarmingly, perhaps James Bond and his ilk serve the same function that the Frank Buck in darkest Africa comic book adventures served when I was seven or eight; not having experienced life at the twin-peak pinnacles of danger and pleasure, maybe I need a vicarious thrill now and then to keep my juices flowing. Fine. Whatever.
Here's the long and short of it: If you haven't tasted the Cold War up close and personal; haven't had your fill of The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, The Kremlin Letter, John le Carré and the like, you could do worse than spend a day at the beach or a night in your favorite chair with Mr. Bond and M.
Now, then. Where are my George Smiley novels?
January 29, 2009
The original James Bond stories are an interesting read if you want to see what the character was originally like. Ian Fleming's written style is very easy, but I have to say, the stories are at points hilariously dated due to overt un-PC comments for today's standards. One great example from the short story "Quantum of Solace":
Bond says he wouldn't mind having a flight attendant girlfriend because "...it would be fine to always have a pretty girl tucking you up and bringing you drinks and hot meals and asking if you had everything you wanted. And they're always smiling and wanting to please. If I don't marry an air hostess, there'll be nothing for it but to marry a Japanese. They seem to have the right ideas too."
The stories are definitely a product of their time and all I can say is that it's good that the films have been updated for the society we live in now. Despite the comments that would be considered vaguely racist or sexist today, the stories are entertaining and easy to get through. Bond is a more human character than earlier films and isn't just a killing machine; in fact, he actually dislikes having to kill anyone. The stories are less action-packed than the movies, yet they still held my interest because they were a little more on the realistic side of life.
Bond says he wouldn't mind having a flight attendant girlfriend because "...it would be fine to always have a pretty girl tucking you up and bringing you drinks and hot meals and asking if you had everything you wanted. And they're always smiling and wanting to please. If I don't marry an air hostess, there'll be nothing for it but to marry a Japanese. They seem to have the right ideas too."
The stories are definitely a product of their time and all I can say is that it's good that the films have been updated for the society we live in now. Despite the comments that would be considered vaguely racist or sexist today, the stories are entertaining and easy to get through. Bond is a more human character than earlier films and isn't just a killing machine; in fact, he actually dislikes having to kill anyone. The stories are less action-packed than the movies, yet they still held my interest because they were a little more on the realistic side of life.
January 7, 2016
The complete James Bond short stories, usually published in the volumes For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and The Living Daylights, collected by Penguin under a new title to tie in with the 2008 film.
Several of these stories represent Ian Fleming using Bond as a vehicle for the more literary, social commentary tales he wanted to tell, which, on the whole, doesn't work brilliantly. There is some fine writing here, though, particularly in the atmospheric 'From a View to a Kill'.
The collection also includes '007 In New York', originally published in Fleming's Thrilling Cities. I hadn't read it before. It's not very good.
Several of these stories represent Ian Fleming using Bond as a vehicle for the more literary, social commentary tales he wanted to tell, which, on the whole, doesn't work brilliantly. There is some fine writing here, though, particularly in the atmospheric 'From a View to a Kill'.
The collection also includes '007 In New York', originally published in Fleming's Thrilling Cities. I hadn't read it before. It's not very good.
October 11, 2011
Don't ask me why I've a soft spot for Bond, but I do. I suspect it's my inner car-geek (mmm car chases) combined with my inner gadget freak. I read my first Ian Fleming long ago while I was in school, but I can't remember which one. I remember being unimpressed at the time. This time around, however, I enjoyed it. The stories weren't as sexist in the ways I'd expected and yet, they were more sexist in ways I hadn't expected. (Same with the racism.) Anyway, fun in a vintage way--in that it provides an insight into Western cultural history of the era.
April 15, 2009
The stories waver between three and four stars...he's obviously working some things out. I must say that my appreciation for the title of the collection, and consequently the recent movie, was increased ten-fold by reading the fantastic short story so named! And so begins my decent in to all things Bond!
July 18, 2020
4.5 Stars for Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories (audiobook) by Ian Fleming read by Simon Vance. This was fun getting to see the inspiration for several great movies. A few of the scenes made it directly on to the big screen.
March 28, 2023
look. this is pretty bad. there's one short story in here that's mostly about james bond being in a taxi which would be fun in a "i wonder what this character does when they're not working!" kind of way but is not in fact fun because he mostly is just a pretty insufferable character on the page?? there is a nonzero chance i'll read more of these but it is mostly because i use the narration to imagine daniel craig in a suit walking around. i think this is also a very interesting case study of notions of (neo)imperial masculinity and English nationalism, which gets really interesting when you think about James Bond being a sort of conqueror à la Walter Ralegh going where Queen Elizabeth II cannot and dirtying his hands so that the symbol of the empire--the MOTHER of the empire--may keep hers clean. however i have real homework to do so i can't get into all of that but if there are any academic articles abt it i would read those. also like. i know they old as hell but this is pretty racist again so i don't like. know why it has 3.77 star average kfkdkekd
October 21, 2021
Not as racist and misogynistic as I thought it would be, so a small win for me :D
March 18, 2021
Classic James Bond, but the sexism and racism from the 1960s will make you cringe horribly. Oh James, do grow up ol chap!
May 9, 2012
It's been a few years since I've read any of Ian Fleming's work, and I'd forgotten how enjoyable of a writer he is. His collection of James Bond short stories was a delight to read though definitely not for everyone.
Fleming's 007 should not be confused with the Bond of the silver screen. Readers looking for gadgets or shootouts or wild car chases will be disappointed. Most of these short stories are suspenseful, but not particularly action-oriented. And, in some, Bond is nothing more than a passing character, a sounding-board for someone else's story. This collection, more than anything, is a series of tales of the human psyche.
Fleming is a master writer, and all the stories were engaging. I will admit that some were harder to get into than others. While "From a View to Kill" (the most stereotypically cinematic entry), "Risico" and The Living Daylights" draw you in from the start, others such as "Octopussy" and the titular entry "Quantum of Solace" took a bit to gain my interest. These are the two entries in which Bond is furthest removed from the central story, appearing by and large in passing, and though Fleming renders flawless and vivid descriptions, I felt as though I was waiting for something to happen during most of their narratives.
Fleming's James Bond is complex, intellectual, a bit of a snob, and he has reservations about the parts of his job that require killing. One of my favorite passages came from "The Living Daylights," where an officer assigned to assist Bond criticizes him for having a drink before getting down to business:
It is hard to imagine the Bond of cinematic fame saying anything silimar, and it is passages like this that made the book particularly enjoyable. It is interesting to see such an iconic character humanized and built layer by layer. I am looking forward to revisiting more of Fleming's works and getting reacquianted with Bond in his original form.
Fleming's 007 should not be confused with the Bond of the silver screen. Readers looking for gadgets or shootouts or wild car chases will be disappointed. Most of these short stories are suspenseful, but not particularly action-oriented. And, in some, Bond is nothing more than a passing character, a sounding-board for someone else's story. This collection, more than anything, is a series of tales of the human psyche.
Fleming is a master writer, and all the stories were engaging. I will admit that some were harder to get into than others. While "From a View to Kill" (the most stereotypically cinematic entry), "Risico" and The Living Daylights" draw you in from the start, others such as "Octopussy" and the titular entry "Quantum of Solace" took a bit to gain my interest. These are the two entries in which Bond is furthest removed from the central story, appearing by and large in passing, and though Fleming renders flawless and vivid descriptions, I felt as though I was waiting for something to happen during most of their narratives.
Fleming's James Bond is complex, intellectual, a bit of a snob, and he has reservations about the parts of his job that require killing. One of my favorite passages came from "The Living Daylights," where an officer assigned to assist Bond criticizes him for having a drink before getting down to business:
"Look, my friend," said Bond wearily, "I've got to commit a murder tonight. Not you. Me. So be a good chap and stuff it, would you? You can tell Tanqueray anything you like when it's over. Think I like this job? Having a Double-O number and so on? I'd be quite happy for you to get me sacked from the Double-O Section. Then I could settle down and make a snug nest of papers as an ordinary staffer. Right?" Bond drank down his whiskey, reached for his thriller [novel]—now arriving at an appalling climax—and threw himself on the bed.
It is hard to imagine the Bond of cinematic fame saying anything silimar, and it is passages like this that made the book particularly enjoyable. It is interesting to see such an iconic character humanized and built layer by layer. I am looking forward to revisiting more of Fleming's works and getting reacquianted with Bond in his original form.
March 12, 2024
I commenced this series of Fleming's Bond short stories from the early '60s with a somewhat cynical eye, expecting the bland bigotry of the times, the inane chauvinism and fatuous sexism of its era, and perhaps the somewhat stale, corny odour of the Moore- and Brosnan-era films. Thank goodness, I thought, for the recent spate of the Craig era films, bringing Bond into the twenty-first century with an eye to, if never quite fully on, the sensibilities of modern political correctness. You can’t, after all, have a Bond film without a couple of gorgeous Bond girls, now can you!? Especially so cheekily named.
But what I found in the opening was story with punch, if no markable style, that fired rapidly from one clipped scene to the next in an almost semaphoric method, setting pace and place and tone and creating moments of tension so quickly that the stuff ordinarily of novels was dropped and only added to the - yes, frankly - familiar thrill. Fleming *could* write, even if style in his first was more a précis of some service committee meeting, full of Commanders, Colonels, section chiefs and other honourifics. It felt real, as borne of experience, and we were efficiently, if briefly, genned up on the need-to-know to get the job done. It was jolly good! It was fun. 'From A View To A Kill' was the best of bunch, for these reasons.
'From A View To A Kill' (1960) started with action and ended with it - as you would expect of any Bond outing. It was not the subject of the film named after it, but a local piece of detective work done with the panache of the organised secret agent. It harked back to the days of thrushes and red squirrels, Russian secret agents and the rounded shape of the BSA, amid woodland bluebells, rose and lilies. It included a couple of service HQ and their commands ('M' was in it only in mise en abyme), and the usual female agent - or 'Bond girl' as they have familiarly entered the canon. It was quick from go to stop, had moments of thrill - that quiet before the storm - and ended satisfactorily. It was satisfactory all the way through. And mostly, it was fun. A bit of an F1 qualifier, at pole position, it set me up looking forward to the rest. Oh, and Bond, as he was written in this, wasn't a sexist chauvinist; he liked women, and a bit of romance.
'For Your Eyes Only', also published in 1960, takes on a more descriptive style, the logistics of the thing being simpler, and is very different to 'From A View To A Kill', except that Bond once again sights his quarry from a tree. M is involved, and some nasty work needs clearing up. Again, there is that air of efficiency, its smooth edges roughened by a twist before the end, and the inevitable Bond girl. It too has atmosphere, and is a neat package. It does, though, have a smattering of that macho sexism - just a smattering.
'Quantum Of Solace', of 1959, has nothing related to the film of the same name, which centres on a revenge story, the secondary plot of 'For Your Eyes Only', if only partially of this. It contains no action, just a related story that has little to do with the Secret Service. It may offer an intriguing angle into Bond (and his brief flares of chauvinism), but it is not an espionage thriller. Good title, though (although the 2008 film's use of it is even better).
'Risico', another 1960 publication, shows - as do many of the films - Bond's occasional incompetence. He is often caught by the baddie and invariably must just survive because of theirs. But there is a twist in the middle of this slightly odd story which might imply that he is not entirely incompetent. Either way, it is an odd one. And once again, Fleming provides so much detail to local geography in a scene that in the end you have no idea which way you are facing, and presume the baddies must come from the left, not the right. Sometimes a map might help.
In 'The Hindebrand Rarity' (Mar. 1960), Bond, between missions, has a week to spare in the Seychelles, when a friend dragoons him into helping a rich collector of fauna to hunt for the illusive Hindebrand Rarity. A murder aboard the yacht delivers a certain rough justice to a man who deems that women are to be treated like slaves, and punished for minor infractions. Moderately entertaining, it exhibits both the brutal callousness of Bond and a curiously sympathetic aspect towards women which runs contrary to his occasional misogynistic expletives. It does, however, show Fleming's knowledge of exotic islands and their coral fauna, which just before the likes of Cousteau and long before our more recent programmes on marine nature, might have seemed very exotic to early readers.
'Octopussy', published in Playboy in 1966, obtains its somewhat reflexive name from the affectionate nickname the subject of the piece admires on the reefs of Jamaica, Fleming's home ground. Bond's part is minimal and involves no action, but the story related to its background is intriguing, credible and fills in a part of Bond's own background - just a little part, which crops up in the later films. The piece was superbly wrought, well written, inventive and absorbing.
It is unsurprising that of this collection, 'The Property Of A Lady' will likely not have been heard of. This is because it is a trivial piece which neither exemplifies action nor tradecraft of the Secret Service. It is written with authority, but that is as much its limitation as its feature of quality. It was written for the 1963 annual review of Sotheby's on their request, and any action takes place within the auction house.
'The Living Daylights' (Feb. 1962) belongs to the familiar phrase 'to scare the living daylights out of them'. The 'them' in this case is the instrumental aspect of the twist that Fleming gives to this small but meticulously handled operation. Bond recognises patterns and exemptions instinctively, but his logical brain only catches up slightly later, in the heat of the moment, or just after - but before any other involved faction does. This is one of the reasons for both his success, his longevity, and his humanity. An interesting spin both on the then-dominant Western chauvinism, it being entrenched in the organisational structure of Western capitalist imperialism - which did not apply throughout the similar structures in Soviet Russia - and the psychology with which agents at the sharp end of operations operate where split-second decisions are the difference between life and death in the heat of the moment. Remember M's instruction to 'Take the shot!' in the opening set piece of Skyfall (2012)?
'007 In New York' (Oct. 1963) was, as the introduction notes, slightly rewritten as less disparaging of the city than its earlier version as 'Agent 007 In New York', and is the most trivial piece of the 9 short stories of the early '60s, being merely about a rendezvous with a former Secret Service staff (not field) agent, now compromised. But it does hold subtle indications of the attitudes of the times, such as the suggestion to use used cars to shore up the shore against coastal erosion (plastics and toxic liquids regardless), and Bond's own private lifestyle, amidst all the talk of dining and shopping, such as the indication that he lived in an apartment or flat. It does, in fact, paint a scene of arrival in New York as particularly hectic, and must have served for such scenes as might appear in the early films - though I shall now have to riffle through all the early Connery and Moore films to find such a scene, won’t I?
But what I found in the opening was story with punch, if no markable style, that fired rapidly from one clipped scene to the next in an almost semaphoric method, setting pace and place and tone and creating moments of tension so quickly that the stuff ordinarily of novels was dropped and only added to the - yes, frankly - familiar thrill. Fleming *could* write, even if style in his first was more a précis of some service committee meeting, full of Commanders, Colonels, section chiefs and other honourifics. It felt real, as borne of experience, and we were efficiently, if briefly, genned up on the need-to-know to get the job done. It was jolly good! It was fun. 'From A View To A Kill' was the best of bunch, for these reasons.
'From A View To A Kill' (1960) started with action and ended with it - as you would expect of any Bond outing. It was not the subject of the film named after it, but a local piece of detective work done with the panache of the organised secret agent. It harked back to the days of thrushes and red squirrels, Russian secret agents and the rounded shape of the BSA, amid woodland bluebells, rose and lilies. It included a couple of service HQ and their commands ('M' was in it only in mise en abyme), and the usual female agent - or 'Bond girl' as they have familiarly entered the canon. It was quick from go to stop, had moments of thrill - that quiet before the storm - and ended satisfactorily. It was satisfactory all the way through. And mostly, it was fun. A bit of an F1 qualifier, at pole position, it set me up looking forward to the rest. Oh, and Bond, as he was written in this, wasn't a sexist chauvinist; he liked women, and a bit of romance.
'For Your Eyes Only', also published in 1960, takes on a more descriptive style, the logistics of the thing being simpler, and is very different to 'From A View To A Kill', except that Bond once again sights his quarry from a tree. M is involved, and some nasty work needs clearing up. Again, there is that air of efficiency, its smooth edges roughened by a twist before the end, and the inevitable Bond girl. It too has atmosphere, and is a neat package. It does, though, have a smattering of that macho sexism - just a smattering.
'Quantum Of Solace', of 1959, has nothing related to the film of the same name, which centres on a revenge story, the secondary plot of 'For Your Eyes Only', if only partially of this. It contains no action, just a related story that has little to do with the Secret Service. It may offer an intriguing angle into Bond (and his brief flares of chauvinism), but it is not an espionage thriller. Good title, though (although the 2008 film's use of it is even better).
'Risico', another 1960 publication, shows - as do many of the films - Bond's occasional incompetence. He is often caught by the baddie and invariably must just survive because of theirs. But there is a twist in the middle of this slightly odd story which might imply that he is not entirely incompetent. Either way, it is an odd one. And once again, Fleming provides so much detail to local geography in a scene that in the end you have no idea which way you are facing, and presume the baddies must come from the left, not the right. Sometimes a map might help.
In 'The Hindebrand Rarity' (Mar. 1960), Bond, between missions, has a week to spare in the Seychelles, when a friend dragoons him into helping a rich collector of fauna to hunt for the illusive Hindebrand Rarity. A murder aboard the yacht delivers a certain rough justice to a man who deems that women are to be treated like slaves, and punished for minor infractions. Moderately entertaining, it exhibits both the brutal callousness of Bond and a curiously sympathetic aspect towards women which runs contrary to his occasional misogynistic expletives. It does, however, show Fleming's knowledge of exotic islands and their coral fauna, which just before the likes of Cousteau and long before our more recent programmes on marine nature, might have seemed very exotic to early readers.
'Octopussy', published in Playboy in 1966, obtains its somewhat reflexive name from the affectionate nickname the subject of the piece admires on the reefs of Jamaica, Fleming's home ground. Bond's part is minimal and involves no action, but the story related to its background is intriguing, credible and fills in a part of Bond's own background - just a little part, which crops up in the later films. The piece was superbly wrought, well written, inventive and absorbing.
It is unsurprising that of this collection, 'The Property Of A Lady' will likely not have been heard of. This is because it is a trivial piece which neither exemplifies action nor tradecraft of the Secret Service. It is written with authority, but that is as much its limitation as its feature of quality. It was written for the 1963 annual review of Sotheby's on their request, and any action takes place within the auction house.
'The Living Daylights' (Feb. 1962) belongs to the familiar phrase 'to scare the living daylights out of them'. The 'them' in this case is the instrumental aspect of the twist that Fleming gives to this small but meticulously handled operation. Bond recognises patterns and exemptions instinctively, but his logical brain only catches up slightly later, in the heat of the moment, or just after - but before any other involved faction does. This is one of the reasons for both his success, his longevity, and his humanity. An interesting spin both on the then-dominant Western chauvinism, it being entrenched in the organisational structure of Western capitalist imperialism - which did not apply throughout the similar structures in Soviet Russia - and the psychology with which agents at the sharp end of operations operate where split-second decisions are the difference between life and death in the heat of the moment. Remember M's instruction to 'Take the shot!' in the opening set piece of Skyfall (2012)?
'007 In New York' (Oct. 1963) was, as the introduction notes, slightly rewritten as less disparaging of the city than its earlier version as 'Agent 007 In New York', and is the most trivial piece of the 9 short stories of the early '60s, being merely about a rendezvous with a former Secret Service staff (not field) agent, now compromised. But it does hold subtle indications of the attitudes of the times, such as the suggestion to use used cars to shore up the shore against coastal erosion (plastics and toxic liquids regardless), and Bond's own private lifestyle, amidst all the talk of dining and shopping, such as the indication that he lived in an apartment or flat. It does, in fact, paint a scene of arrival in New York as particularly hectic, and must have served for such scenes as might appear in the early films - though I shall now have to riffle through all the early Connery and Moore films to find such a scene, won’t I?
May 27, 2013
unfortunately, I had to abandon my copy of this book, but 70% fully read and 30% skimmed revealed, I believe, one very good story full of psychological complexity, and the rest being pretty straight formulaic fiction, including some filler based on Fleming apparently needing to write something and coming up with two or three scuba diving stories that are only incidentally about License-to-Kill #007.
I suppose I could turn this into one of those really clever academic deconstructions of the bond character. eldridge cleaver does a fairly simplistic piece in Soul on Ice, but there is something to be said for Bond as a sort of culture hero, the suave, always-controlled, always-calm type of British colonial leader who presented an alternative to what followed:
i was reading some accounts of the british drawdown of empire in which the retreating british landowners basically outlined their life like this:
imagine you're living life perpetually in a high school, and there's this one kid who always wins; always gets the girls; always aces the tests--but like, he himself, is growing increasingly weary of his own position, and life is becoming this hollow mockery of forms where nobody can act normally. finally one day--thank god--some crazed rebel leader shows up and refuses to act in the same stereotypical ways, and the class ace can now pack up and depart this comedy of errors. but, secretly, a lot of people on some level have nostalgia for like the simplicity of having one final arbiter, and by screaming your way to a more equitable set of affairs, you've also lost the certainty and steadiness of life.
so maybe that's it.
I suppose I could turn this into one of those really clever academic deconstructions of the bond character. eldridge cleaver does a fairly simplistic piece in Soul on Ice, but there is something to be said for Bond as a sort of culture hero, the suave, always-controlled, always-calm type of British colonial leader who presented an alternative to what followed:
i was reading some accounts of the british drawdown of empire in which the retreating british landowners basically outlined their life like this:
imagine you're living life perpetually in a high school, and there's this one kid who always wins; always gets the girls; always aces the tests--but like, he himself, is growing increasingly weary of his own position, and life is becoming this hollow mockery of forms where nobody can act normally. finally one day--thank god--some crazed rebel leader shows up and refuses to act in the same stereotypical ways, and the class ace can now pack up and depart this comedy of errors. but, secretly, a lot of people on some level have nostalgia for like the simplicity of having one final arbiter, and by screaming your way to a more equitable set of affairs, you've also lost the certainty and steadiness of life.
so maybe that's it.
November 21, 2016
James Bond, unlike other characters such as Sherlock Holmes and Father Brown, never appealed to me as much in the short story form. However, I felt the time was right to revisit the James Bond short stories, which in 2008 were collected in one volume called Quantum of Solace to tie in with the film release of that name. On re-reading I found that the stories were compact and highly enjoyable snippets of literary Bond. Since it has been a couple of years since I last read any of Ian Fleming's original works, it was refreshing to revisit his wonderful writing. And even if I stand by my original feeling that Bond is better in novel length stories, these shorts are almost all essential Bond adventures and well worth reading. My favourites are For Your Eyes Only, Risico, From a View to a Kill and The Living Daylights. The only one that I would say is skippable is 007 in New York. Even the titular story, Quantum of Solace, which is not actually a proper Bond adventure is a most enjoyable read. Fleming was an excellent writer, and these nine mini-adventures are certainly proof.
March 4, 2014
I wavered between 3 and a 4 because the very, very good Quantum of Solace, alone, was enough to make it noteworthy. For students of Bond, those who recognize that the short stories, novels and movies are distinct, but interrelated, you do gain a better understanding of the Bond ethos. That makes it worth reading.
August 26, 2016
I've been a huge James Bond fan for 35 years. Both the films and the novels.
This is a collection of the Ian Fleming shorts stories.
All of them are very good, and it gives a good look at the "Book" Bond.
Several of the stories have elements that found their way into the Bond films.
Highly recommended for all Bond fans!
This is a collection of the Ian Fleming shorts stories.
All of them are very good, and it gives a good look at the "Book" Bond.
Several of the stories have elements that found their way into the Bond films.
Highly recommended for all Bond fans!
February 6, 2013
While the movie version may be exciting, I cannot say the same of the audio. Apparently, a lot is lost without visuals and is actually quite boring. 1 of 10 stars
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