Ian Fleming's James Bond: the books vs the films

[Gorn Captain]

I always wanted to read the original Bond books, to see how much the movies deviated from Fleming's concept. Man, it's almost night and day!
I started with Live and let die, a Roger Moore favorite of mine. Well, I'm 120 pages into the book, and there's one scene that's vaguely like a scene in the movie, and that's it! It's like reading a completely different story. I didn't know they changed this much.

Fleming's world view has also dated really badly. If you think the Bond movies are a little bit sexist, this book is not only very sexist, but pretty racist as well. I know it was written in the 50s, but reading this book would make Roger Moore raise two eyebrows!
Let's not get into the frequent use of the n-word, but Bond (and I guess Fleming as well) shakes his head at America for allowing women drivers, and even black women drivers. He describes men who allow their women to drive as "docile". He describes black people as having a sixth sense, just like birds and fish. Huh?
I guess a book like this is a real sign of the times. It makes it a hard read, especially considering that none of these views are relevant to the story. I can't help thinking that had I met Fleming, I would have found him a rather displeasant snob.

I wonder how the rest of the books will be? I have Man with the golden gun and You only live twice ready, and Goldfinger and OHMSS on the way!

[phil]

I would reccomend reading the novels in the proper order. There is much more continuity and character development than in the film series. I love Ian Fleming's novels and the movies but they are two very different depictions of a guy named James Bond. Fleming's novels are definetly a product of their time.

[cjefferys]

Wait until you get to Moonraker. And some of the films are similar to their corresponding novel in name only. Yeah, these books are so much a product of their times, but are still very entertaining today.

[bobws]

It's funny i've been meaning to do this for years now too. However i want to read the novel (in Order of release) and then read the comic adaption of it (thanks to Titan Books in England) and then watch the movie. I'm just about to start with Casino Royale.

[Gorn Captain]

I'm trying to get the novels in hardcover form, so it's a bit of a hunt to get them, especially in the order they were written. Casino Royale especially is a tough one to find in decent and affordable condition. I'm not looking for first editions, though.

What I have found is that, with some adaptation, they would make great Daniel Craig stories without even reminding you of let's say the Roger Moore versions. The book is so different, that it's a whole new story to tell.

I'm now well into Live and let die, and I have to say it's a good spy story and pretty hardhitting. Craig would love it!

[Apositive]

Yes, read them in order. I prefer Fleming over the film series- even if the material is dated- Fleming could write! Also Bond is a human who gets scared, bleeds and is usually subjected to some type of trauma during every mission. This is much more interesting than the some of the silliness of the films.

[Nostalgiabuff]

i only read one, Diamonds are Forever. it was one of the most boring books I ever read. could barely get through it. i would not bother with anymore after that. love the movies though

[Bruce Banner]

I like all Fleming's Bond books that I've read, although I haven't read them all.

I remember reading The Spy Who Loved Me as a kid (the original Fleming book, not the later novelization of the film)... and being surprised that the book was totally different plot wise from the movie.

[kingdom warrior]

I've read all the Fleming Bond books. Love them his Bond is pretty hard,cold and ruthless. The new Bond kinda fall in line with what Fleming wanted with the character although while Fleming was alive he did streamline Bond towards Sean Connery's version.

I think his writing reflected the times he was in. so understanding that you get where he was coming from he also was writing it before he got married a last breath of bachelor hood......funny he was aiming to create a dull name and he thought James Bond who in real life was an American ornithologist. Fleming a fan of his books thought it was the dullest name and wanted to use it for his newly created character....little did he know it would be considered one of the coolest....

[Gorn Captain]

I like all Fleming's Bond books that I've read, although I haven't read them all.

I remember reading The Spy Who Loved Me as a kid (the original Fleming book, not the later novelization of the film)... and being surprised that the book was totally different plot wise from the movie.

I've been warned that Spy who loved Me has just about nothing to do with the film (which was great), and has very little James Bond in it. Let's keep that one for last.
And with all the Bond movies made, there are actually not that many Fleming novels. A lot of the titles come from collected short stories.

[kept back]

I started reading them around the time of For Your Eyes Only/Octopussy and was just shocked that the Bond films had almost no relation to the Bond books. I was amused that I had so much trouble picturing Connery or Moore in the role. In fact the way he was described, I kept picturing the guy that had just played Prince Barin in Flash Gordon as Bond.

What a silly idea. Timothy Dalton as Bond and actually acting like Bond does in the books. Who would want to see that?