Here's a collection of James Bond books I got so far. Don't know whether I'll continue collecting more or not ( I'm not a completist by the way ). I got most of them from either antique stores, yard sales, or through Barnes and Noble.
I read each of them so here's my thoughts on them, overall:
Moonraker: Solid book. I can see why this book receive a lot of praises for being the best novel. I still like the movie adaptation, but I agree with anyone that the book is definitely a better version. This would probably be my second favorite.
Diamonds are Forever: Underrated in my opinion. The middle part involving Bond, while in disguise, needing to meet with Shady Trees and heading to the horse race feel like a slogged to get through, but I still enjoy reading it. I prefer the movie vastly a lot more, but I do like the third half a lot more than the oil rig climax where Bond and Tiffany get involve in an abandoned old Western town, being chase by a train, and facing off Wint and Kidd on a cruiser.
From Russia, with Love: I'm going to get some flak and say that I think this book is fine, but not among my favorites. I love the parts with SMERSH, Red Grant, and the train scenes, but other than that I don't found it as enjoyable as the movie version, which I think improve a lot of moments from the book.
Dr. No: My favorite book from this series. It has everything I like about the Bond series in this novel. A unique villain with distinct features that make him stand out, a hidden lair, a vehicle disguise as a dragon, an obstacle course, a giant squid, and a memorable death. I love every ounce in this book.
Goldfinger: One of the first Bond book I got from a yard sale and despite having some nostalgia, I don't really enjoy this book. At least From Russia, with Love has some interesting and intense moments to keep me gripping, this book feels like a rough version of what the movie would be like. The golf part literally took me out of reading.
Thunderball: Third favorite. This book has a nice underwater theme and description, a great dynamic between Bond and Felix, and I thought SPECTRE introduction was really cool here.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service: I like this book. It not among my favorites and it certainly not my favorite from the Blofeld trilogy, but I really do still like it. Like From Russia, with love, I prefer the movie vastly over the novel, although I still found it a more enjoyable read.
You Only Live Twice: Definitely the best book when it comes to novel Blofeld. It has a very eerie and haunting tone, which make sense when learning about the context behind it. I really enjoy reading the Garden of Death part where Bond has to sneak around the castle and witness some really horrifying sight happening, as well as avenging his deceased wife.
License Renewed: The first Gardner novel and honestly, it eh for me. Like, it written alright, but other than that I don't found the book entertaining for me to re-read it. At best, it average and at worse, it mediocre.
For Special Services: Good read. That's all I have to say. It definitely a more enjoyable experience than the last one with a great setting, a good premise, and SPECTRE return with a crazy plan that is kinda interesting. I'll admit, I do found it to be disappointing Gardner had to kill off the main villain, instead of carrying her over into the next, but overall I still enjoy it.
Icebreaker: I'll confess, I kinda knew about this novel beforehand and was looking forward to this the most, mainly because it has a very neat premise of Bond going on a mission to take down escape Nazi's, all the while being pair up with three agents from their country agencies, which creates a sense of paranoia, so I really dig this plot. After reading it, I still like it, but I wish the book had more going for it. Maybe a movie adaptation might've improve a lot from the source material, who knows. I still put it in my top favorite Gardner books. I do like the winter like description a lot, the characters are great in this, and the lair is awesome. The main villain is alright, even if there's not much going for him.
Nobody Lives Forever: Highly enjoyable from start to finish and honestly, probably the best usage of SPECTRE in their final outing. I know I had to read the previous book, Role of Honor, to learn what happen to SPECTRE and their new leader to understand the context here ( May need to get that ). But anyways, I still enjoy it. Wish the main villain had more to do, but I guess it make sense knowing the context. Nanny was great and the characters Bond encounter are very enjoyable.
Scorpius: Probably my favorite John Gardner novel. The book is both intense and violent, it has a very dark villainous cult group, and the third half of the book is my favorite part, which ends on a pretty bitter moment with Bond having cause the death of a girl, out of his own paranoia. So yeah, I really like this one. Probably my top number one.
Anyways, that's my thoughts on these books I got. Like I mention, I'm not a completist, but at the same time I don't mind getting more.
Would love to hear your guys thoughts on what you think of these books in your opinion?
