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kessler21's review against another edition
2.0
This is not the best Bond book. (#9)
I have enjoyed seeing Fleming's maturity as a writer from book 1 to now. In several stories, I've noticed Fleming trying different styles with his writing. Thunderball seems to be an attempt to create a real love interest and more of a romantic instead of just sexual relationship. In attempting this, the normal James Bond story is pushed to the side, all the action saved for the end and much of the story boring.
I have enjoyed seeing Fleming's maturity as a writer from book 1 to now. In several stories, I've noticed Fleming trying different styles with his writing. Thunderball seems to be an attempt to create a real love interest and more of a romantic instead of just sexual relationship. In attempting this, the normal James Bond story is pushed to the side, all the action saved for the end and much of the story boring.
popsiwinkle's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Hello to Jason Issacs but also sorry to him as his delightful voice is wasted on this turgid Bond. Not one of Flemings best despite it having one of the all time villains first appearance.
catherine_t's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
"The name is Bond, James Bond." In this, the ninth Bond title, Bond's infamous high living has taken its toll on him, and M sends him to the Shrublands health clinic to recover. In true 007 style, however, it isn't long before Bond is tangling with a fellow patient, unwittingly making himself a target.
When mysterious entity SPECTRE steals two nuclear bombs and holds the world to hostage, it's Bond who must unravel their plot. Sent to the Bahamas, he and his CIA counterpart and friend Felix Leiter set their sights on one Emilio Largo, owner of the state-of-the-art yacht Disco Volante. Largo claims to be a treasure hunter, but Bond's instincts tell him this is merely a ruse. Bond and Leiter are running against the clock, because if they don't find the bombs in time, there is going to be a very big boom.
I read Thunderball many years ago--actually, I believe I originally read my grandfather's copy. I think it still stands up as a decent spy thriller, especially if you read it more as historical fiction. Though published in 1961, it's clearly set in 1959, when the Cold War between East and West was really beginning to ramp up. Bond is at the height of his powers, but his author is not above casting a sardonic eye at his own creation.
When mysterious entity SPECTRE steals two nuclear bombs and holds the world to hostage, it's Bond who must unravel their plot. Sent to the Bahamas, he and his CIA counterpart and friend Felix Leiter set their sights on one Emilio Largo, owner of the state-of-the-art yacht Disco Volante. Largo claims to be a treasure hunter, but Bond's instincts tell him this is merely a ruse. Bond and Leiter are running against the clock, because if they don't find the bombs in time, there is going to be a very big boom.
I read Thunderball many years ago--actually, I believe I originally read my grandfather's copy. I think it still stands up as a decent spy thriller, especially if you read it more as historical fiction. Though published in 1961, it's clearly set in 1959, when the Cold War between East and West was really beginning to ramp up. Bond is at the height of his powers, but his author is not above casting a sardonic eye at his own creation.
duparker's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Solid book, but not great. It's got the elements you know and feels more like the movie than many of the early novels. It's less kitchy than most and there is a lot of dead time in the Bahamas, in fact the middle portion is kinda bland. The end is solid and enjoyed to a degree.
sydsnot71's review against another edition
4.0
Thunderball would be a pretty straightforward thriller if it wasn't for the invention of SPECTRE and Blofeld, which adds a certain spice. Even if they're just there to be beaten by Bond they way they're introduced is nicely done.
In your mind's eye you can see this playing out in a Bond film.
It's well-crafted. It has one of the more interesting Bond girls in Domino whose courage can't be doubted.
There's not a lot else I have to add really. It's fine and functional. It's nowhere near being the best of the series and I like Bond's attitude to making your own mind up about people. I like his thoughts on women driver's less.
In your mind's eye you can see this playing out in a Bond film.
It's well-crafted. It has one of the more interesting Bond girls in Domino whose courage can't be doubted.
There's not a lot else I have to add really. It's fine and functional. It's nowhere near being the best of the series and I like Bond's attitude to making your own mind up about people. I like his thoughts on women driver's less.
topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
The ninth James Bond book is one of the longer novels in Ian Fleming’s series. However, the first four chapters are devoted to Bond’s mandatory sentence to a health spa on the orders of ‘M’ who is concerned about Bond’s recent downward trend on his medical report, likely due in large part to smoking 60 cigarettes a day and the consumption of large quantities of alcohol. I don’t know if there was a health trend going on at the time of publication (1961) or if this was some kind of response to readers/critics of the series up to this point. But anyhow, this part reads almost like a complete and isolated short story, much like in the previous volume, [b:For Your Eyes Only|314263|For Your Eyes Only (James Bond, #8)|Ian Fleming|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435945198s/314263.jpg|2542875] which bundled five short stories together. Key characters and plot elements do tie in with the rest of the novel however but I still wonder if that part might have originally been meant for a short story and Fleming simply worked it into this larger novel. Pure speculation on my part, of course.
This novel will largely be remembered for several things in the larger Bond universe. It’s the first introduction to SPECTRE which, in the words of Felix Leiter is “a bunch of really big-time hoodlums – ex operators of SMERSH, the Mafia, the Gestapo – all the big outfits.” It’s also the first time we meet Ernst Blofeld and although we get a lot of description from his point of view, Bond doesn’t actually meet or interact with him in this novel. The main bad guy is treasure hunter Emilio Largo and the Bond girl this time around is Domino, both memorable characters. This novel also has the (so far) unique distinction as the only Bond book to have spawned two movies, 1965’s ‘Thunderball’ and 1983’s ‘Never Say Never Again’.
Overall I thought this to be another fine Bond novel. I’ve noticed a positive trend which should be of some comfort to critics of earlier Bond novels. The blatant sexism and racism of early books has largely dissipated in this one. Less racism because of fewer minorities this time around perhaps. But there are definitely stronger and smarter women. In fact Bond owes his life to two separate women this time thanks to their strong wills and foresight. Felix Leiter is back as is Moneypenny and together they add some humor to the story.
Onwards to number 10…
This novel will largely be remembered for several things in the larger Bond universe. It’s the first introduction to SPECTRE which, in the words of Felix Leiter is “a bunch of really big-time hoodlums – ex operators of SMERSH, the Mafia, the Gestapo – all the big outfits.” It’s also the first time we meet Ernst Blofeld and although we get a lot of description from his point of view, Bond doesn’t actually meet or interact with him in this novel. The main bad guy is treasure hunter Emilio Largo and the Bond girl this time around is Domino, both memorable characters. This novel also has the (so far) unique distinction as the only Bond book to have spawned two movies, 1965’s ‘Thunderball’ and 1983’s ‘Never Say Never Again’.
Overall I thought this to be another fine Bond novel. I’ve noticed a positive trend which should be of some comfort to critics of earlier Bond novels. The blatant sexism and racism of early books has largely dissipated in this one. Less racism because of fewer minorities this time around perhaps. But there are definitely stronger and smarter women. In fact Bond owes his life to two separate women this time thanks to their strong wills and foresight. Felix Leiter is back as is Moneypenny and together they add some humor to the story.
Onwards to number 10…
curley's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
foureyebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
3.5