monicamjw's review against another edition
2.0
I had never read Ian Fleming before and this book of short stories may not have been the best introduction. The writing is very visual, and you can easily see why these translate onto the big screen so well. However, the short stories were unfulfilling.
marlisenicole's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
fancyclown's review
adventurous
tense
medium-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
3.75
atris_lauraborealis's review
3.0
A little (well, a lot) sexist sometimes, but I have to say Ian Fleming does a damn good job telling gorgeously structured, descriptive adventure stories in beautiful locations all over the world. Bond has surprisingly more depth and insight in these few short stories than I've ever seen portrayed on screen.
rachelsread's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lokster71's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure that short stories would work for Bond, but Fleming does some of his best work in these stories. They are 'From A View To A Kill', 'For Your Eyes Only', 'Quantum of Solace' and 'Risico' and 'The Hildebrand Rarity'.
The Bond film franchise has borrowed titles, character names and parts of plots from these short stories, but I'm still waiting for 'The Hildebrand Rarity'. Perhaps Danny Boyle will use that title. Perhaps not.
I digress. I enjoyed all the stories from some degree to another, but liked 'The Hildebrand Variety' least of all I think. I liked 'Quantum of Solace', which didn't really need Bond at all, but then did a nice job of shaking up his world view.
Worth reading though.
The Bond film franchise has borrowed titles, character names and parts of plots from these short stories, but I'm still waiting for 'The Hildebrand Rarity'. Perhaps Danny Boyle will use that title. Perhaps not.
I digress. I enjoyed all the stories from some degree to another, but liked 'The Hildebrand Variety' least of all I think. I liked 'Quantum of Solace', which didn't really need Bond at all, but then did a nice job of shaking up his world view.
Worth reading though.
jdglasgow's review
3.0
I was almost tempted to go four stars on this book but that’s based mostly on the intrigue I felt at the unusual format of this entry in the series—a set of five Bond short stories rather than one continuous tale—and the positive feelings I have for the first story in particular, “From a View to a Kill”, which is easily my favorite James Bond story to date.
In “From a View to Kill”, Bond actually seems somewhat competent. He does some detective work, then dons camouflage and hides until he finds a troupe of baddies with a crazy Dr. No-level fortress hidden in some rose bushes. Then the day is saved by Agent 765, who saves Bond’s ass when he almost gets himself killed and quips something like, “I didn’t want you to be late for our date.” Very cool.
The second story, “For Your Eyes Only”, is almost as good. The opening scene of baddies gunning down an honest family in Jamaica in order to buy their land is pretty badass: the way the guy says “Fine. I’ll negotiate with the next owner, your daughter.” Chills. And this one has a good deal of Bond agonizing over the morality of killing, which I like to see from him even though he always ends up pulling the trigger anyway (“Here I go killing again…”). Last, the way Judy kills the bad guy just as he dives into the pool is very cool.
What I don’t like is what Bond does when he encounters Judy scoping an assassination location, which is the same thing he did to Tilly Masterson in the last book when she was trying to kill Goldfinger… that is to say, he interrupts her, tries to mansplain sniper rifles to her, and basically fucks up her well-thought out plan, resulting in random gunfire and her getting shot. But she ends ready to sleep with Jim anyway, breathlessly exclaiming with apparent seriousness, “I’ve never been to a real motel before!”
In “From a View to Kill”, Bond actually seems somewhat competent. He does some detective work, then dons camouflage and hides until he finds a troupe of baddies with a crazy Dr. No-level fortress hidden in some rose bushes. Then the day is saved by Agent 765, who saves Bond’s ass when he almost gets himself killed and quips something like, “I didn’t want you to be late for our date.” Very cool.
The second story, “For Your Eyes Only”, is almost as good. The opening scene of baddies gunning down an honest family in Jamaica in order to buy their land is pretty badass: the way the guy says “Fine. I’ll negotiate with the next owner, your daughter.” Chills. And this one has a good deal of Bond agonizing over the morality of killing, which I like to see from him even though he always ends up pulling the trigger anyway (“Here I go killing again…”). Last, the way Judy kills the bad guy just as he dives into the pool is very cool.
What I don’t like is what Bond does when he encounters Judy scoping an assassination location, which is the same thing he did to Tilly Masterson in the last book when she was trying to kill Goldfinger… that is to say, he interrupts her, tries to mansplain sniper rifles to her, and basically fucks up her well-thought out plan, resulting in random gunfire and her getting shot. But she ends ready to sleep with Jim anyway, breathlessly exclaiming with apparent seriousness, “I’ve never been to a real motel before!”
foureyebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The short story format was great for Bond. Fleming stretches his creativity to create tightly written stories. They feel more like side missions in between the big adventures. In this collection, Fleming dives deeper into the psyche of James Bond and explores his inner world. My favorite story is probably The Hildebrand Rarity or For Your Eyes Only.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Racism, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Xenophobia
clarkness's review
3.0
I mean, still a lot of casual misogyny and xenophobia, but it was fun to get some minor short stories about Bond. There was even a sort of experimental quality to some of the stories, as if Fleming was trying to find ways for the series to grow in new directions.
flickerofinsanity's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75