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Casino Royale (James Bond (Original Series) #1)

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 17,320 ratings · 1,301 reviews

In the first of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, 007 declares war on Le Chiffre, French communist and paymaster of the Soviet murder organization SMERSH.

The battle begins with a fifty-million-franc game of baccarat, gains momentum during Bond's fiery love affair with a sensuous lady spy, and reaches a chilling climax with fiendish torture at the hands of a master sadist....more

Kindle Edition, 196 pages

Published (first published 1953)

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Dec 06, 2012 Sandy Tjan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, ebook, mystery-thriller

To: M

From : Jane Moneypenny

Subject: An assessment of Agent 007's conduct during operation “Casino Royale”

Dear Sir,

I am aware of concerns raised by certain members of the Service regarding Agent 007’s performance during the abovementioned operation. Therefore, I would like to offer my personal assessment, based on the debriefing reports and my own long familiarity with the subject.

It is true that Agent 007 had somewhat compromised the operation by letting himself getting caught by the Target, oth...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Julian rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century, in-depth-reviews, reviewed, british, favorites

Spoilers

This will be a review of not just Casino Royale, but of the James Bond books in general. I think that there is a good argument to be made, that the Bond books are the most misunderstood books of all prominent books, because the very subtext that accounts for their enduring appeal is buried so deeply that it just passes most people by.

The best way to understand the James Bond books is to understand the heroines of the books. These heroines are often characterized as being glamorous women...more

15 likes · like · see review

Eddie Pfister I usually turn my brain off when someone mentions Nietzsche in a pulp fiction book review but under all the chin-strokey veneer I feel you are right a...more
Mar 16, 2013 03:27am

Julian Eddie wrote: "I usually turn my brain off when someone mentions Nietzsche in a pulp fiction book review but under all the chin-strokey veneer I feel y...more
Mar 19, 2013 09:20am

Alistair Really enjoyed your review. Especially like how you redress the constant negativity shown towards JB in comparison to Le Carre. Also enjoyed the refer...more
May 19, 2013 11:31pm

Oct 04, 2010 K.D. Oliveros rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2006-2010)

Shelves: 1001-core, spy

My name is Bond. James Bond.

This is my first Ian Fleming's (1908-1964) novel about MI6 agent called James Bond. My dad used to bring us, his kids, to 007 movies when we were kids and I can still remember all the expensive cars exploding on the screen, shapely Bond girls in their bikinis, the high-powered guns and James Bond running, being chased by bad guys, escaping death in a millisecond precision.

I am heartened to know that Casino Royale, first published in 1953, was the first James Bond book...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Kelly Leigh rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: espionage-thriller

Very disappointing read as far as this diehard, not even joking, James
Bond fan is concerned. (I should probably point out I'm referring to movies only.) For some reason I never picked up a Bond book, that was until this one. Oh boy, oh boy, oh how I wish I never would have. The chauvinistic, sexist, assholery ways of Bond make him about as desirable as, well, absolutely, positively nothing. I didn't think it was possible to strip away Bond's vast sex appeal, but way to go Mr. Fleming, you manag...more Very disappointing read as far as this diehard, not even joking, James
Bond fan is concerned. (I should probably point out I'm referring to movies only.) For some reason I never picked up a Bond book, that was until this one. Oh boy, oh boy, oh how I wish I never would have. The chauvinistic, sexist, assholery ways of Bond make him about as desirable as, well, absolutely, positively nothing. I didn't think it was possible to strip away Bond's vast sex appeal, but way to go Mr. Fleming, you managed to do it. In spades! And thank God M was cast as a female in Casino Royale - shout-out to the divine Dame Judi Dench, you rock! Back on point. Thank God she was cast, because the M (natch a man, because a female couldn't possibly run MI-6) in this novel left little to be desired as well.

The story itself was fine, if reading about card games turns you on like no other, along with the intricacies of gambling. I'm getting all hot and bothered just thinking about it. Trying, struggling, to push sarcasm aside, there were some redeeming moments within. But besides those, I just couldn't get over my utter disgust of how Bond thinks of women. It was utterly ridiculous. And the most ridiculous part of the entire story, how an intelligent female found a misogynist attractive in the first place. Puh-lease!

On a side note, there was one section that gave me pause. Fleming literally eye-fecked Vesper Lynd when she had her first shining moment, entering the story. In a lascivious way, Fleming/Bond described her outfit from head to toe. Her bust, bum, the shape of the dress, even down to the fabric and color I believe. Yes on the color, not sure on fabric, but he might as well have. And putting aside the fact that I too coveted the dress (having a thing for fashion I do), regardless, it was downright bizarre to go into such detail for an outfit. And plain weird. I mean, not even Bond's outfits/ensembles/wardrobes or whatever were described in such detail. Just take a look-see to your upper left on the book pic. I believe the dress in question adorns the woman on the cover.

Sadly, I will not be picking up another novel in this series. I'll keep watching the movies and pretend this unfortunate book experience never ever happened. Tra-la-la. (less)

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Dec 20, 2006 Jacques Bromberg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: prose-fiction

Fleming's first James Bond novel is better than brain candy, though it is a quick one-sitting read. Notice how the characters are characterized by their ciragettes -- Felix Leiter only smokes Chesterfields, Bond smokes a Turkish/Balkan blend made by Morelands on Grosvenor Street, Le Chiffre smokes Caporals and Gauloises. Curiously, I found Bond's misogyny in the beginning and his sensitivity at the end a little overwrought, but I liked the Vesper Lynd character much more than her counterpart in...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Ryan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Casino Royale, Ian Fleming introduces us to James Bond, but I found Le Chiffre more interesting. Le Chiffre is a disposable villain that Fleming uses to draw Bond out of England and into adventure, but I tried to find out more about him.

Le Chiffre is described as "a displaced person, inmate of Dachau DP camp." The "DP" in "DP Camp" stands for "Displaced Person" -- today we talk about "refugees" and "refugee camps" -- and many such camps were created after the Second World War. We often focus...more

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Dec 03, 2010 Jeanette rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-fiction, spy-fiction

"A dry martini," Bond said. "In a deep champagne goblet. Three measures of Gordon's, one of Vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?"

When I was about ten years old, my mom took me and my sisters to see Live and Let Die. That was my introduction to James Bond. It wasn't the sort of movie we were normally allowed to see, so naturally, we loved it. Paul McCartney's theme song still brings back happy memories wh...more

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Jun 04, 2008 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-listened-to

The literary Bond is far darker than the cinematic Bond. In his debut book this is no more apparent than when he roughly seduces a fellow agent and enjoys the fling for the "sweet tang of rape" that he gets out of her.

Despite and maybe because of the blatant misogyny, James Bond comes off as much more human and interesting than what is seen on the big screen, and it makes you wonder where Ian Fleming might have taken his creation if it hadn't become such a huge commercial success. Still, a good...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Gerald rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Casino Royale was Ian Fleming's first James Bond book. It is remarkable in many ways. First, it has no techno-gadgets. A tire-shredding mesh thrown from the car of the leading bad guys is about as sophisticated as the mechanical tricks get. Bravo. Sorry, Q old man, this one shines brightly without you.

In all his books, Fleming drew on the tradition of Graham Greene, as Le Carre has done since. And he essentially wrote what he knew, mostly described places he had visited. Granted he may have been...more Casino Royale was Ian Fleming's first James Bond book. It is remarkable in many ways. First, it has no techno-gadgets. A tire-shredding mesh thrown from the car of the leading bad guys is about as sophisticated as the mechanical tricks get. Bravo. Sorry, Q old man, this one shines brightly without you.

In all his books, Fleming drew on the tradition of Graham Greene, as Le Carre has done since. And he essentially wrote what he knew, mostly described places he had visited. Granted he may have been basking on the beach and burning his all-too-white, easily freckled skin instead of blowing up missile silos or escaping on jet-powered watercraft. In this book, he trades on his experience at the baccarat table. And if you yearn to learn the game (not that I would advise it!), you will get a full tutorial here, including strategy on when to hold-em, when to fold-em. Nicely done, and a neat example for writers who wish to learn how to liven a narrative simply by adding lots of accurate detail.

Interesting to me, as I had not realized it before, Casino Royale is set in the *north* coast of France, not far from Trouville, near the landing beaches of the Allied troops on D-Day. That region is the vacation home of Parisians during the hot months leading up to back-to-school. (I was there once in St. Malo in early September and I remember getting a great deal on a sweater at Monoprix because all the kids' mothers had already virtually cleaned out the store.) Casino Royale is *not*, as you might expect, in the acclaimed gambling region of the Cote d'Azur (French Riviera) and adjacent Monte Carlo, both of which are busiest in the winter and are much more famous for being the Las Vegas of Europe.

As to sexual politics, of course this Fleming book fails dismally, all in retrospect. The female accomplice Vesper Lynd is the first in a long line of Bond bunkmates that give but don't get happy endings. At one point, Bond muses (in his mind, thankfully) that he would enjoy raping her. I'd say that's about as non-p.c. as you can get these days.

But then Fifty Shades of Grey sold all those books -- to someone!

(less)

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Jan 07, 2009 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: espionage, 2009

The first book in Fleming's James Bond series, Casino Royale launches us straight into the high life at Royale-les-Eaux, there to gamble all the money away from Le Chiffre, an agent of the USSR, who needs the money to get out of his debts and save his life, since the money he initially lost wasn't his to begin with but belonged to a Soviet organisation.

To aid Bond he has his friend Mathis, a new friend in Felix Leiter from the CIA, and the beautiful but reserved Vesper Lynd from Section S in Lo...more The first book in Fleming's James Bond series, Casino Royale launches us straight into the high life at Royale-les-Eaux, there to gamble all the money away from Le Chiffre, an agent of the USSR, who needs the money to get out of his debts and save his life, since the money he initially lost wasn't his to begin with but belonged to a Soviet organisation.

To aid Bond he has his friend Mathis, a new friend in Felix Leiter from the CIA, and the beautiful but reserved Vesper Lynd from Section S in London. Attempts on his life barely put a dent in Bond's stride, but the abduction of Vesper by Le Chiffre leads to torture and worse.

This is only the second Bond book I've ever read - at uni I studied either Goldfinger or The Man with the Golden Gun - I can't actually remember which. It was a good thing to have approached the book from an academic perspective, or I might have felt betrayed by Bond's unabashed sexism. He's quite famous for it, but it's lightly glossed over in the films, which I grew up watching - hence he was my hero. Don't let the sexism put you off - it's ironic but the "Bond girls" are empowered in these stories, able to do and be things that would otherwise be out of their reach. I also get the sense of a hint of humour when Fleming boldly describes Bond's thoughts towards women - not laughing at the women, but at Bond, who in this is blind to the skills, abilities and talents of women - to his detriment. He always manages to under-value them and be surprised.

Because this is the first Bond book Fleming wrote, I expected there to be more about Bond's past, where he came from, what led him to join the secret service. But no. It establishes a character as if he had always been there and we had always known him, so it doesn't read like a first book. I liked that. And it left a lot of Bond to uncover and understand. As straight-forward as he thinks he is, it's deceptive; he's surprisingly complex because of how much we need to know in order to "get" him.

I was delighted to find just how close to the book they had stuck with in the movie - delighted and surprised, especially when it came to the infamous torture scene. Okay so the 50s isn't the 1800s, and Fleming describes around it, enough that you know what is happening without the bald words, but it's such a horrible form of torture to witness I had thought they'd devised it only for the movie. Oh yee of little faith.

There are some lengthy descriptions and explanations, especially of gambling and playing baccarat (which is helpful, because I had no idea what baccarat was exactly), but the writing is accessible and doesn't waste time. There's nothing fancy about the prose. It's a somewhat curious style, and I couldn't help but think that if Fleming were writing today he would be freed from social conventions to write more openly still. He reminds me of a toned-down version of Chuck Palahniuk: a different time and Bond would be swearing and shagging and fighting far more openly, I think. There are certainly hints of it here.

Whether you've seen the movie or not, it's worth it to read the book. I'd love to able to afford those gorgeous new hardcover editions that came out last year, but I'll settle for the cheap paperbacks.(less)

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Aug 24, 2008 Inder rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: A-holes who need some tips.

Recommended to Inder by: Not Steve.

Shelves: 1001-books, summer-reading, 20th-century, fiction, england, read-2008

So. So. Bad. Also - incredibly, over-the-top offensive. Bond wants the somewhat-withholding Vesper because he knows that making love to her will always "have the sweet tang of rape"??

W.T.F.?

Misogynist zingers aside, it's at least 70 pages too long. When it wasn't repulsive and offensive, it was really boring. I'm not saying it didn't have its fun moments, but they were surprisingly few and far between.

Raymond Chandler is quoted on the back as saying, "Bond is what every man would like to be and...more

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May 05, 2013 Nyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: James Bond Fans

Recommended to Nyssa by: Jose Bueno

Shelves: 2013, ebook-purchases, format-electronic, series-in-progress, espionage, political-fiction

Much different from the movie,* Casino Royale was an eye-opening, intriguing read and a great introduction to Bond, James Bond, 007.

What I found to be the most interesting, is the fact that Bond's mysoginistic trait (which is emphasized in the book, where as it is either glossed over or ignored in all of the movies) is more a result of personal necessity, than any sort of malice, or failing on his part. This point is brilliantly illustrated, and becomes quite clear, by the end of the book. I al...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-hardboiled-noir, 2012, spy-vs-spy

I watched my first Bond movie (I believe it was Dr. No) when I was about nine or ten. I know it was probably not very appropriate but those were my parents, the ones who took me to a drive-in showing of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the tender age of six (to be fair they thought I would fall asleep. I didn't). Anyway, I LOVED Bond. This started a life long love of the Bond movies. I adored Connery, Liked Moore a lot, Didn't like Dalton very well, tolerated Brosnan and thought Craig was a br...more I watched my first Bond movie (I believe it was Dr. No) when I was about nine or ten. I know it was probably not very appropriate but those were my parents, the ones who took me to a drive-in showing of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the tender age of six (to be fair they thought I would fall asleep. I didn't). Anyway, I LOVED Bond. This started a life long love of the Bond movies. I adored Connery, Liked Moore a lot, Didn't like Dalton very well, tolerated Brosnan and thought Craig was a brilliant choice. I have seen them all more than twice.

For some reason I never bothered with the books. I guess I thought the movies were so goofy and unrealistic that I would sprain my eyes rolling them while reading. Finally I saw eleven of the Fleming novels at a used book store for a song...Oh, why not?

The book Bond is fairly different from the movie Bond. The book Bond is kind of a giant, sexist asshole. I am also pretty sure he is probably a sociopath. That being said I still enjoyed reading about Bond's exploits. He was less ultra capable in the book, which was nice, and there was no super cool gadgets either. I don't know if they come later or if that is just the movies. Then there was this.

"My name's Felix Leiter," said the American. "Glad to meet you"

"Mine's Bond--James Bond"

"Oh yes", said his companion, "and now let's see. What shall we have to celebrate?"

"A dry Martini," he said, "One. In a deep champagne goblet."

"Oui, Monsieur"

"Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?"

That is just made out of awesome.

The book is pretty good. Probably not quite enough plot for the length of the book and the characters were not as strong as I would hope. On the other hand it moves right along and is entertaining throughout. I will definitely continue reading my way through the Bond novels.

4/5 stars (this is probably a three star book for most people but it gets an extra star because I am a fanboy)(less)

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Aug 23, 2011 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, mystery

I give Casino Royale a low rating because it wasn't by any stretch of the imagination compulsive. I sort of enjoyed it, but I could live without it. Which doesn't mean I'm not going to read the other Bond books -- I am, at least a few, because Bond is this huge cultural thing that I've absorbed by osmosis, but only to some extent. The books are actually my first direct encounter with Bond.

(Yes, I lived to the age of twenty-two years and two days before I ever had a direct encounter with James Bo...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Morgan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As a long time Bond movie fan I came to this book thinking that this particular movie, while good, was awkwardly paced and startlingly afraid of action. Reading the book reveals how slow the material was that the movie had to work with.

The introduction of the characters and the world were great, but when it came down to the meat of the storytelling not much happened, and Bond never did anything to progress the story forward or really do much to accomplish the mission. He avoided get blown up bec...more

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Nov 11, 2008 Kirsty (Blatant Biblioholic) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller

I must be one of the only people who hasn't actually watched a whole Bond movie... I've seen 10 min sections and such like, but never the whole thing. So I figured I needed to change that - but thought I'd read the books first (cuz I have that OCDish need to read any book before watching the movie version). Also it means that I'm seeing the book in a different light to a lot of the other readers.

I wasn't really sure what to expect - I know that a lot of people prefer the movies to the books. I w...more

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May 28, 2008 Madeline rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-movie-is-better, the-list, crap-tastic

Call it a guilty pleasure, this book was just fun to read, mostly because I a) love Bond movies anyway and b) delight in sexist jokes, which made it easier for me to read Bond's anti-feminist rants and just giggle to myself. Here's one of my favorites, when Vesper Lynd gets herself kidnapped by the bad guys and Bond has to take the trouble to chase after them:
"This was just what he had been afraid of. These blithering women who thought they could do a man's work. Why the hell couldn't they just...more Call it a guilty pleasure, this book was just fun to read, mostly because I a) love Bond movies anyway and b) delight in sexist jokes, which made it easier for me to read Bond's anti-feminist rants and just giggle to myself. Here's one of my favorites, when Vesper Lynd gets herself kidnapped by the bad guys and Bond has to take the trouble to chase after them:
"This was just what he had been afraid of. These blithering women who thought they could do a man's work. Why the hell couldn't they just stay at home and mind their pots and pans and leave men's work to the men. And now for this to happen to him, just when the job had come off so beautifully. For Vesper to fall for an old trick like that and get herself snatched and probably held to ransom like some bloody heroine in a strip cartoon. The silly bitch."

Mmm. I love the smell of misogyny in the morning.

In Bond's defense, Vesper doesn't do much too much to change his opinion of women and their overall uselessness. She's supposed to be some kind of radio technician, but never gets to demonstrate any shred of intelligence that elevates her above the average 7th grade girl. Her only good bit of dialogue comes towards the end of the book, when she and Bond are safe and on vacation together:
"The bath had been filled for him and there was a new flask of some expensive pine bath-essence on a chair beside it with his towel.
'Vesper,' he called.
'Yes?'
'You really are the limit. You make me feel like an expensive gigolo.'
'I was told to look after you. I'm only doing what I was told.'
'Darling, the bath's absolutely right. Will you marry me?'
She snorted. 'You need a slave, not a wife.'
'I want you.'
'Well, I want my lobster and champagne, so hurry up.' "

That's about as interesting as Vesper gets. The rest of the time she's busy running around after Bond, being referred to as "the girl" and saying things like, "Do you mind if we go straight into dinner? ...I want to make a grand entrance and the truth is there's a horrible secret about black velvet. It marks when you sit down. And, by the way, if you hear me scream tonight, I shall have sat on a cane chair."

Fascinating.

Bond, for his part, didn't say anything especially intelligent either and made me thank god for Daniel Craig and his writers. I couldn't decide which was more annoying: Bond and Vesper during the assignment when they made banal small talk and Bond speculated on how soon he would sleep with her, or after they survive and decide they're in love and go on vacation together. (and don't look at me like I gave the plot away, you knew it was going to happen.) I think it's the latter - once Bond and Vesper survive the kidnapping, all potential of being cool vanishes as they become the most irritating couple ever. Having to read about them schmooping their way across France, eating caviar, and calling each other "Darling," "My love," and "Dearest" was enough to make me vow never to read another Ian Fleming book again.

Anyway, point of review: movie version = awesome, book version = a delightful misogynist romp. Pick whichever you'd prefer.(less)

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May 18, 2008 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't know if it's where I have already seen the Daniel Craig Casino Royale film or not. When I usually see the film before the book, I love the book so much more because it has way more details. This book I felt didn't. I wanted more explanation about the events and the characters' thoughts and feelings. I didn't get that. I realize that the movie took a lot of liberties especially with the ending but I just thought the book would be so much more. In the book, I never understood why James Bon...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Meg rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011

A random conversation with a co-worker last week led me to pick this up. I've seen plenty of the movies, but never read Fleming before, and I'm enjoying it. It even has some good advice for library conference goers on the very first page:

"James Bond suddenly knew that he was tired. He always knew when his body or his mind had had enough and he always acted on the knowledge. This helped him to avoid staleness and the sensual bluntness that breeds mistakes."

Learn from 007, people!

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May 14, 2011 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-spy

The storyline follows pretty closely with the Daniel Craig movie version. Most interesting is learning about what goes on in Bond's mind. He is not the superficial lothario we've come to know and love on the screen. He's a bit of a complicated mess with emotional baggage who makes mistakes and sometimes is uncertain of himself and his mission. In short, a pretty interesting dude. I look forward to getting to know him in subsequent books.

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Dec 31, 2012 Karen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Another book that I can't seem to get through. It isn't very well written, it feels like a long description rather than an actual story.

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Jul 08, 2010 Max Renn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After so many years absorbing the movies almost by osmosis, the accretion of layer after layer of bond mythos and gesture... reading these novels is a short brutal and pleasurable experience.

based on this first... only Connery and Craig have come close to capturing something in the essence of the literary Bond and i cant really say any film has captured the ambience of Bonds world, something perhaps better suited to Jean-Pierre Melville or 'Elevator to the Gallows' Malle.

Looking forward to more...more

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May 20, 2013 Jason Bellew rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yup this is why I love Bond!!

I have to admit that the Daniel Craig movie kept a lot of the same emotions for Bond. There are a ton of differences but it's the essence of the stories that remain the same. The book takes place all within and around the Casino Royale. Vesper Lynd is introduce and plays the similar type character in the movie. The motativations are pretty much the same, change out a husband for a brother between book and movie, respectively.

I was fascinated that he doesn't shot wit...more

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May 09, 2013 Matthew Fox rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

The first of many daring adventures of James Bond. If any kind of fan of the movies I highly recommend the reading of this novel. This is the James Bond that I wish I grew up with more then the campy films that were created prior to the revamped version of recent starring Daniel Craig which is much more similar to the novels then any other Bond movie.

James is set upon an old Russian operative that had squandered the earnings of a secret organization called SMERSH. If Le Chiffre does not earn...more

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May 05, 2013 Jowel Uddin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2012-2013

Casino Royale Review

Being new to the realm of James Bond and being novice to the spy-mystery genre, I had high expectations for Casino Royale, the first of Ian Fleming's many books covering the adventures of the world beloved spy, James Bond. I am quite happy to say that upon completion of the book, my expectations were definitely met. The book was a great read and keeps the reader in constant suspense, and truly introduces James Bond as a favorable character, to all readers.

The story was ov...more Casino Royale Review

Being new to the realm of James Bond and being novice to the spy-mystery genre, I had high expectations for Casino Royale, the first of Ian Fleming's many books covering the adventures of the world beloved spy, James Bond. I am quite happy to say that upon completion of the book, my expectations were definitely met. The book was a great read and keeps the reader in constant suspense, and truly introduces James Bond as a favorable character, to all readers.

The story was overall quite suspenseful due to Fleming's element of multiple stories stemming from the original objective of James Bond: beating Le Chiffre, the Soviet spy, at gambling. From this seemingly simple objective of James Bond, arises multiple problems including his attraction to his female counterpart, Vesper Lynd, constant bomb plots and kidnappings by Le Chiffre, and his new found villain: SMERSH. Fleming's ability to extrapolate his plot into a multi-story plot is quite interesting and truly noted. Alongside Fleming's ability to extend his plot, Fleming also creates characters that are truly favorable. One slowly grows attached to James Bond, even though Bond is actually a hardened and cold spy. Fleming makes his James Bond a cold yet relate-able spy, who the reader ultimately admires. Vesper Lynd is also loveable and so is Mathis, the French spy friend of James Bond.

Ultimately, Casino Royale,is about the forces of good and evil and the human perspective on good and evil, and how it changes. James Bond addresses this at the end of the book, in a chapter entitled, “The Nature of Evil”, in which James Bond discusses with Mathis whether they are on the right side of the fight. Bond says, “History is moving pretty quickly these days and the heroes and villains keep on changing parts”, within the chapter and this is quite applicable to every walk of life. Is good essentially good and is evil essentially evil? It correlates back to the idea that either you die a hero, or you live as a villain. It's quite true that nearly every day the villain and the hero change positions and Fleming's deep insight into the root and problem of evil, is quite subtly embedded in a book about spies, the Soviet Union, and finding normalcy in a life of secrecy.

Casino Royale definitely tops one of my top favorite lists and I would recommend Fleming's book to readers of all ages, even those like me who are novice to the likes of James Bond.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked up a copy of Casino Royale from the Amazon Kindle Daily deals. I'm not a Bond fan but I enjoyed the Daniel Craig reboots, especially Casino Royale so I thought I'd give the source material a try. Because I've seen the movie a handful of times, I couldn't help but constantly refer to it as I read this. Fortunately for me they are a pretty good match.

Casino Royale is a quick, pulpy read about our favorite British secret agent. It tells of his mission to subvert the efforts of Le Chiffre w...more I picked up a copy of Casino Royale from the Amazon Kindle Daily deals. I'm not a Bond fan but I enjoyed the Daniel Craig reboots, especially Casino Royale so I thought I'd give the source material a try. Because I've seen the movie a handful of times, I couldn't help but constantly refer to it as I read this. Fortunately for me they are a pretty good match.

Casino Royale is a quick, pulpy read about our favorite British secret agent. It tells of his mission to subvert the efforts of Le Chiffre who is effectively an investment banker for several spy and terrorist organizations associated with communism. Le Chiffre has done poorly on investments and is attempting to win back the required money through gambling. James is to gamble against Le Chiffre and ensure the money doesn't go back.

There are several twists and turns that make it the spy novel it is but the novel is really an origin story We know that James is well trained and field tested but his philosophy has not been set. We get to see the infantile Jame who believes in black and white and that he is on the side of white. Later we see James mature as he tells Mathis that there is not black and white but us and them and sometimes us looks very much like them. Finally we a see the cold, brutal James that is necessary for the series, the James Bond for which everything is very personal and yet also a game.

My only complaint about this story (both film and book) is the weird epilogue that is the wrapping up of Vesper's story. I think this part of the story is incredibly important for developing the character for the series but it just seems tacked on to the book. All of the action has resolved. The good guys have won, the bad guys are vanquished. Yet we have 100 pages of James recovering from his ordeal. Again, the series can't be itself without this character building but it seems like it should have been better integrated to the story.

As I mentioned in the beginning of the review, I constantly used the film as a touchstone for this book, it was inevitable. The film and the novel have far more in common that different. If you enjoyed the film, you really should read this book. If you've never see the movie, read this book then go see the movie. If you watched the movie and didn't like the story (nevermind the nonsense about who plays James) this book will not work for you.

For me this was a lot of fun to read.(less)

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Apr 13, 2013 Shannon Appelcline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

This first Bond novel is little slow, but short enough that it kept me interested. I also liked the fact that it had just the faintest trace of "true" spycraft (pretty much unlike the movies, I'd say). Overall, I'd say it was a good book.

like the book's Bond more than the movies'. He's much more reserved, much more fallable, and also less flashy. There's one car chase in the book, but that's pretty much it for action. I actually don't think that the rest of the book has enough going on to carry...more

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Mar 25, 2013 John rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first of Ian Fleming's James Bond books, "Casino Royale" shows us a different protagonist than we are accustomed to seeing. Here we have a Bond who knows how to enjoy the good things in life— fine food, liquor, a well-built car— but as a spy he is a dilettante, naive almost. He is professionally trained and competent, but right from the beginning we see that he makes mistakes. His hotel room is bugged and he doesn't find out until a contact tells him. He is nearly killed by a bomb. His life...more

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Mar 19, 2013 D.w. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, reviewed

I read the James Bond saga in my teen years, a long time ago, and now thought to revisit what I remember hailed as a leading series in the genre.

The past just doesn't live up to the reread. This is a short book, 144 pages. But by the middle of the book it is really over. And to get there we are treated to pages of explanation on Baccarat. Why?

We see an era of Spy work that is ill defined, and certainly in our knowledge of the current way things must be done, Bond is ill equipped at this craft.

He...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Felipe Guerrero rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

La verdad esta muy, muy bueno. La película que lleva el mismo nombre, CASINO ROYALE, tiene muy poco del libro realmente. Por ejemplo todo lo que pasa en el hotel, la persecución del tipo negro que aparece empezando la película y todo eso no es parte del libro, de hecho el libro comienza precisamente estando ya en el Casino Royale, otro ejemplo es el juego. En la película lo que juegan es Texas Hold' em pero en el libro juegan Baccarat, es obvio que jugaron Texas Hold' em por que en este momento...more

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About Ian Fleming

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Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Second World War Navy Commander. Fleming is best remembered for creating the character of James Bond and chronicling his adventures in twelve novels and nine short stories. Additionally, Fleming wrote the...more

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On Her Majesty's Secret Service (James Bond, #11)

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“People are islands,' she said. 'They don't really touch. However close they are, they're really quite separate. Even if they've been married for fifty years.” — 99 people liked it

“Surround yourself with human beings, my dear James. They are easier to fight for than principles.” — 64 people liked it

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Casino Royale (James Bond (Original Series) #1)

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