Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming ”The Man With the Golden Gun” (James Bond (Original Series) book 13)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

A brainwashed James Bond has tried—and failed—to assassinate M, his boss. Now Bond has to prove he is back on form and can be trusted again. All 007 has to do is kill one of the most deadly freelance hit men in the world: Paco “Pistols” Scaramanga, the Man with the Golden Gun. But despite his license to kill, 007 is no assassin, and on finding Scaramanga in the sultry heat of Jamaica, he decides to infiltrate the killer’s criminal cooperative—and realizes that he will have to take him out as swiftly as possible. Otherwise 007 might just be the next on a long list of British Secret Service numbers retired by the Man with the Golden Gun…

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 1.25/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pēc iepriekšējās misijas Bonds ticis uzskatīts par mirušu, tāpēc viņa atgriešanās ir pārsteigums un uztverta ar skepsi.

Darbība vēlreiz atgriežas pazīstamajā Jamaikā(pirms tam kaut kā tiek paspēts iesaistīt Krieviju). Šķiet, iepriekšējo notikumu kopējā iespaidā Bonds atgriežas pie agrākās izturēšanās. Pie viena varam sastapt arī M un Fēliksu.

Pašas pēdējās daļas atlikšu, jo šī vairāk kā vilšanās. Gan jau nonākšu pie atlikušajām, bet tas vēlāk.

Ja godīgi, tad pilnībā netapa skaidrs, kas par uzdevumu/misiju Džeimsam Bondam šajā daļā veicama, vien, ka saistībā ar drošības nodrošināšanu Francisco “Pistols” Scaramanga.

                                                                                                                                                

Bond is considered to be dead which is why his return in London is surprising and received skeptically.

The plot once again takes place in Jamaica but not without previously somehow involving Russia. It seems that because of the latest events Bond has gone back to what he was before/at beginning of series. Few appearances of M and Felix Leiter.

The last books about James Bond  will be read but later because this one was more like disappointment.

If I’m honest then it wasn’t clear to me what exactly Bond did in this book, only that Francisco “Pistols” Scaramanga has something to do with that.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”You Only Live Twice” (James Bond (Original Series) book 12)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bond, a shattered man after the death of his wife at the hands of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, has gone to pieces as an agent, endangering himself and his fellow operatives. M, unwilling to accept the loss of one of his best men, sends 007 to Japan for one last, near-impossible mission. But Japan proves to be Bond’s downfall, leading him to a mysterious residence known as the ‘Castle of Death’ where he encounters an old enemy revitalized. All the omens suggest that this is the end for the British agent and, for once, even Bond himself seems unable to disagree…

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pēc traģiskās sievas nāves Bonds vairs nav tas pats aģents, kas iepriekš, gan prasmju ziņā, gan efektivitātes. M jau gatavs viņu atlaist, bet kāds pierunā dot vēl vienu iespēju.

Tātad Bonds tiek novirzīts uz tādu kā diplomātisko misiju Japānā, bet še tev! Sakritība vai nē, tur slēpjas Blofelds. Uz beigām pat interesanta konfrontācija starp abiem tēliem ar letālu iznākumu vienam. Toties sākuma/ievada daļā drusku jautri bija klausīties ārkārtīgi nopietnajā ‘’Akmens Šķēres Papīrīts’’ spēle :D

Ja piekasītos, varētu teikt, ka šajā daļā ir vairāk ceļojums pa Japānu, nekā kaut kas cits. Bet tas nenozīmē, ka slikts ceļojums.

Arī ‘’You Only Live Twice’’ netrūkst Bonda meitenes, bet šoreiz vairāk mierinājumam + apstākļi.

                                                                                                                                                

After the tragic death of his wife Bond can’t do properly his job and isn’t the same agent as before. M is ready to fire him but someone else convinces M to give Bond a second chance.

So James is transferred to something like a diplomatic mission but what’d you know! Ernst Stavro Blofeld is there hiding. To the end and interesting confrontation between these two characters with lethal outcome for one of them. Also it was quite funny at the beginning to listen about very serious rock-paper-scissors game :D

‘’You Only Live Twice’’ was more like a travel story in Japan than spy book but that doesn’t mean that it was a bad one.

And it wouldn’t be a complete James Bond book without Bond girl but in this part she’s more like comfort and consolation.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (James Bond (Original Series) #11)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

A Lancia Spyder with its hood down tore past him, cut in cheekily across his bonnet and pulled away, the sexy boom of its twin exhausts echoing back at him. It was a girl driving, a girl with a shocking pink scarf tied round her hair. And if there was one thing that set James Bond really moving, it was being passed at speed by a pretty girl.

When Bond rescues a beautiful, reckless girl from self-destruction, he finds himself with a lead on one of the most dangerous men in the world—Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE. In the snow-bound fastness of his Alpine base, Blofeld is conducting research that could threaten the safety of the world. To thwart the evil genius, Bond must get himself and the vital information he has gathered out of the base and keep away from SPECTRE’s agents.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 2.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Jauni draudi pasaulei no bīstamās grupas SPECTRE, jauna mīlestība Bondam(šoreiz laikam pa nopietno).

Un Treisija(tā Lielā mīlestība) arī kalpo kā aizsācēja jauniem piedzīvojumiem, jo patiesībā viņas lielajām bēdām iemesls ir nekas cits kā SPECTRE ar Ernstu priekšgalā, un, kā gan dižais Bonds spētu nedoties viņai palīgā. Ja iepriekš mēģinājums ar atombumbu izgāzās, tad šoreiz pievilcīgāki šķiet bioloģiskie ieroči.

Jāpiebilst, ka Džeimsa algas lielums šķiet drusku par mazu priekš tik sekmīga aģenta. Tiek veiksmīgāk mēģināts parādīts, ka Bonds nav tikai bezbailīgs aģents un ka varbūt pat labāk nu jau gribētu mierīgāku (ģimenes) dzīvi.

Šur tur var pamanīt M, kas nemaz tik bieži un tik daudz sērijā kopumā nenotiek.

Protams, kā vienmēr, ļaundariem viņu izcilie plāni pajūk pa vīlēm, bet arī pašam Bondam un Treisijai viss nenorit, kā paredzēts.

                                                                                                                                                

New threats to the world from the dangerous organization SPECTRE, new love for Bond (this time it seems serious).

And Tracey (that BIG love) serves as a trigger for new adventures because the true reason for her sadness and trouble is nothing else but SPECTRE with Ernst Stavro Blofeld in lead, and of course the great James Bond can’t resist helping her. This time instead of atomic bomb more attractive are biological weapons.

I have to say that the pay that Bonds receives for his job seems small considering how successful agent he is. In OHMSS Flemings is much better showing other characteristics of Bond, his will maybe to start a family and settle down.

Here and there you can notice M who isn’t such a big character in this series.

As always villains fail to carry out their plans but not everything goes smoothly for Bond and Tracey.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”The Spy Who Loved Me” (James Bond (Original Series) book 10)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

‘He was about six feet tall, slim and fit. The eyes in the lean, slightly tanned face were a very clear grey-blue and as they observed the men they were cold and watchful. His good looks had a dangerous, almost cruel quality that had frightened me. But now I knew he could smile, I thought his face exciting, in a way no face had ever excited me before …’

Vivienne Michel is in trouble. Trying to escape her tangled past, she has run away to the American backwoods, winding up at the Dreamy Pines Motor Court. A far cry from the privileged world she was born to, the motel is also the destination of two hardened killers—the perverse Sol Horror and the deadly Sluggsy Morant. When a coolly charismatic Englishman turns up, Viv, in terrible danger, is not just hopeful, but fascinated. Because he is James Bond, 007; the man she hopes will save her, the spy she hopes will love her …

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Nice and surprising change of POV and narrator, where Bond was almost just a side character. Bond was his usual self and only few emotions from.

In the beginning we have introduction about Vivienne Michel – her backstory – and only after a while something starts to happen. Luckily for Vivienne by mere coincidence James Bond shows up to rescue.

In general I liked her but there were few minuses. One of which was Vivienne’s thinking about herself as lesser than men and in case of men she haven’t got the best experience (saying it lightly).

Villains were not great but also not horrible (neutral) for their role, especially Slusgy.

All in all :D a good change in the series and hopefully it continues or at least gets repeated.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”Thunderball” (James Bond (Original Series) book 9)

177194

Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

“The girl looked him up and down. He had dark, rather cruel good looks and very clear, blue-grey eyes. He was wearing a very dark-blue lightweight single-breasted suit over a cream silk shirt and a black knitted silk tie. Despite the heat, he looked cool and clean. ‘And who might you be?’ she asked sharply. ‘My name’s Bond, James Bond …'”

When a stranger arrives in the Bahamas, the locals barely turn their heads, seeing another ex-pat with money to burn at the casino tables. But James Bond has more than money on his mind: he’s got less than a week to find two stolen atom bombs hidden among the coral reefs. While acting the playboy, Bond meets Domino, sultry plaything of secretive treasure hunter Emilio Largo. In getting close to this gorgeous Italian girl, Bond hopes to learn more about Largo’s hidden operation…

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 2.5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

In the 9th book about James Bond he is facing new enemy and instead of SMERSH it is SPECTRE(the Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion). Controlled and empowered by money and not government of some country – introduction of Blofeld and it is his first appearance in this book. As a villain he was better than few others previously.

A bit more believable Bond girl Domino motivated by revenge for hers brother. But still there are stereotypes like women can’t drive + if she’s talking to another with you can be almost sure to expect certain death.

What I liked was the more or less plausible threat from SPECTRE. Also involving some facts about NATO(that could be one of many minuses for this story).

Here and there we can see participation of Felix Leiter : ) But before and between that poor James Bond is forced by M to think more about his health and habits(smoking, drinking) – understandable.

Ending!? What was that? – mystery to me.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”For Your Eyes Only” (James Bond (Original Series) book 8)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads:

“Bond watched her as she reached the edge of the tables and came up the aisle. It was hopeless. She was coming to meet someone—her lover. She was the sort of woman who always belongs to somebody else. What damnable luck!
Before Bond could pull himself together, the girl had come up to his table and sat down. ‘I’m sorry I’m late. We’ve got to get moving at once. You’re wanted at the office.’ She added under her breath: ‘Crash dive.’”

Sudden emergencies and beautiful girls who aren’t quite what they seem and are the stock-in-trade of James Bond. And when 007 is on the case there’s only one thing you can be sure of—the result will be thrilling. And whether he’s dealing with the assassination of a Cuban thug in America, the destruction of an international heroin ring, or sudden death in the Seychelles, Bond gets the job done. In his own suave and unmistakable style…

Izdevniecība: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums: 1.5/5

Mana recenzija

Pavisam neizteiksmīga daļa Bonda grāmatu sērijā. Bez saprotamas misijas, kā arī vāji ļaundari un Bonda meitenes, ja šoreiz tā var vispār teikt. Piecu īso stāstu kolekcija, kur neviens no tiem nespēja aizraut un īpaši ieinteresēt, un autors atkārto savus niķus arī šajā darbā. Darbība noris siltajā Jamaikā ar pieklājīgā skaitā esošām ainām ūdens tuvumā.

No īso stāstu nosaukumiem divi (For Your Eyes Only un Quantum of Solace) izmantoti filmās, kā arī citas ainas, bet šķiet, lai saskatītu vairāk kopīgā, būtu jāpacenšas. Bez minētajiem diviem bija – Risico, The Hildebrand Rarity un From a View to a Kill.

Ar kaut ko labu/pozitīvu izcēlās vien Quantum of Solace, bet izceļami sliktāks Risico. Savā ziņā taisnības un drusku atriebes tematikas vijums starp visiem īsajiem stāstiem.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”Goldfinger” (James Bond (Original Series) book 7)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads:

Auric Goldfinger, the most phenomenal criminal Bond has ever faced, is an evil genius who likes his cash in gold bars and his women dressed only in gold paint. After smuggling tons of gold out of Britain into secret vaults in Switzerland, this powerful villain is planning the biggest and most daring heist in history—robbing all the gold in Fort Knox. That is, unless Secret Agent 007 can foil his plan.

In one of Ian Fleming’s most popular adventures, James Bond tracks this most dangerous foe across two continents and takes on two of the most memorable villains ever created—a human weapon named Oddjob and a luscious female crime boss named Pussy Galore.

Izdevniecība: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums: 4/5

Mana recenzija

Šoreiz Bonda misijai arī personiskāka interese, ne tikai misijas uzdevums, un sākas ar izpalīdzēšanu, ~atmaskojot Goldfingeru krāpjoties azartspēlēs par spīti savai jau tā esošajai bagātībai. Bet ar to abu saskarsme nebeidzas. Pašu Angliju un slepeno dienestu Goldfingers interesē, jo kāds pamanās dabūt zeltu laukā no valsts un visticamāk pārdod citur par izdevīgāku summu.

Gan kā ļaundaris, gan kā cilvēks Goldfingers ir ārkārtīgi pašpārliecināts visā, ko dara. Tam atbilstoši arī iespaidīgs aplaupīšanas mērķis – zelts Fortnoksā. Tiek savākta iespaidīga ļaundaru komanda, kas obligāti nevar solīt panākumus.

Spriedzīte vairāk prāta un runas spēlēs nekā spraigās action ainās. Kā piemēram Bonda un Goldfingera golfa spēle.

Šķiet šoreiz mazāks uzsvars uz Bonda meiteni. Bet Flemings joprojām nespēj iztikt bez aizkarošām piezīmēm, īpaši pret korejiešiem un lesbietēm u.c.

Bonds kārtējo reizi parāda savas ģeniālās spējas. Tomēr Bonds atklāj, ka nav no akmens un spēj arī kaut ko just.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”Doctor No” (James Bond (Original Series) book 6)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads:

James Bond travels to the Caribbean to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a secret service team. As he uncovers the astonishing truth about strange energy waves that are interfering with U.S. missile launches, he must battle deadly assassins, sexy femmes fatales, and even a poisonous tarantula. The search takes him to an exotic tropical island, where he meets a beautiful nature girl and discovers the hideout of Doctor No, a six-foot-six madman with a mania for torture, a lust to kill, and a fantastic secret to hide.

Izdevniecība: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?

Vērtējums: 3/5

Mana recenzija

Lai atgūtos no pēdējiem notikumiem, Bonds tiek nosūtīts it kā pavisam vienkāršā un parastā uzdevumā, un vēlreiz viesojas Jamaikā. Bet viss nav tik vienkārši, kā liekas, atrodoties Londonas birojā.

Salu, kurā nonācis Džeimss, šķietami nesaistīti un apmēram kā no malas kontrolē pasakaini bagātais Doktors Nē(Doctor No jeb Julius No). Nedaudz neticas, ka viņa patiesas darbības, un, kur tās tiek veiktas, būtu tik grūti atklājamas.

Lielākā Doktora Nē kļūda, kas arī kaitināja, bija ielaišanās nevajadzīgi garā, klasiskā ļaundara monologā pirms pieveikt savu upuri. Bet neiztikt bez brīnumainas labā tēla izglābšanās par spīti jebkādiem šķēršļiem un iemesliem neveiksmei. Netapa skaidrs kādā loģiskā veidā viņš paliek dzīvs.

Ja par Bonda meiteni, šoreiz Honeychile Rider, tad visai grūti atrast atšķirības no iepriekšējām. Nepatika un pārsteidz Džeimsa Bonda attiecību veidošana ar šīm sievietēm. Katru reizi apgalvojot par patiesām jūtām.

Tomēr jāatzīst, ka sākums bija samērā cerīgs, lai arī tālāk līdzīgi kā pirmajās grāmatās.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon

Ian Fleming ”From Russia With Love” (James Bond (Original Series) book 5)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads:

Name: Bond, James. Height: 183 cm, weight: 76 kg; slim build; eyes: blue; hair: black; scar down right cheek & on left shoulder; all-round athlete; expert pistol shot, boxer, knife-thrower; does not use disguises. Languages: French and German. Smokes heavily (NB: special cigarettes with three gold bands); vices: drink, but not to excess, and women.

Every major foreign government organization has a file on British secret agent James Bond. Now, Russia’s lethal SMERSH organization has targeted him for elimination. SMERSH has the perfect bait in the irresistible Tatiana Romanova, who lures 007 to Istanbul promising the top-secret Spektor cipher machine. But when Bond walks willingly into the trap, a game of cross and double-cross ensues, with Bond both the stakes and the prize.

Izdevniecība: Blackstone Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums: 3.5/5

Mana recenzija

Lai gan šoreiz iztiek bez šķietami obligātās kāršu spēles, tad šī daļa no pirmajām piecām, vismaz klausīšanās ziņā, ir labākā, bet arī šajā grāmatā neiztikt bez saviem trūkumiem.

SMERSH izšķīries, ka Bondam beidzot pienācis laiks mirt, pie viena iedragājot britu specdienesta prestižu un parādīt savu pārākumu. Grāmatas sākums veltīts šī plāna izklāstam un ļaundara iepazīstināšanai, kuri pat

Joprojām neiztikt bez rasistiskām piezīmēm, kā arī sievietes, sākot ar Tatjanu, atspoguļotas ar ļoti stereotipisku uzvedību. Tatjanai(Tatiana Romanova) uzdots apmānīt Bondu. Tā teikt ‘’iemidzināt’’, lai viņa nogalināšana būtu droša, bet, cik paredzami, Bondam un Tatjanai rodas jūtas vienam pret otru, kas traucē gan vienam, gan otram katra misijai.

Vēl neparastāk par kāršu trūkumu ir tas, ka Flemings ‘’From Russia With Love’’ noslēdz ar cliffhanger. Bet visai droši, ja jau ir nākamo daļu, ka Bondam galu galā viss beidzas veiksmīgi.