Ian Fleming - Casino Royale: A James Bond Novel

Pros: Excellent atmosphere, vivid detail, and the beginning of the Bond world

Cons: Bond's mission is very simplistic, book isn't very long

The Bottom Line: Excellent read, Bond is introduced and is at his darkest and most violent.

Review: When Ian Fleming wrote a story about a handsome, somewhat eccentric English spy named James Bond, little did he know that this character would take the world by storm. After countless Bond novels and 19 motion pictures (with the 20th in the works), one...

Pros: Cutting-edge fiction for its day. Quality character introspection and scene-setting.

Cons: Deadly-boring card game Baccarat requires tedious twenty-page set-up.

The Bottom Line: Casino Royale is a clever and well-written spy thriller. Ian Fleming's impressive first novel has minor flaws that later entries in the series avoid.

Review: The facts of author Ian Fleming’s life are awash with nearly the drama of his fictional works. As domestic commander of the WWII British intelligence unit labeled "30AU" (as in assault unit), his main mission was to find and claim the German ...

Pros: A first look at a classic character, this book started it all.

Cons: A little short, too many unexplained French phrases.

The Bottom Line: This is a good book for serious Bond fans to check out.

Review: Having been a fan of the James Bond movies, I was curious to see how the books compared to the movies, and what better place to start than with the first Bond book by Ian Fleming, Casino Royale? We are introduced to James Bond, who is summoned for ...

Pros: James Bond's introduction to the world

Cons: Very sexist attitudes, takes it for granted everyone understands French

The Bottom Line: Although the quality of this novel is average, it broke through barriers in the mystery/espionoge genre and Fleming's influence on others is enormous.

Review: The recent release of Die Another Day, the twentieth installment of the James Bond 007 movie series initially produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli (and now the project of the latter's daughter), celebrates the 40th anniversary of the...