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Fleming, Le Carré (and Forsyth): British Intelligence.
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Amber
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Feb 19, 2018 09:58AM
You might be interested in this one, then: Devil May Care (James Bond - Extended Series #36): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
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Amber wrote: "You might be interested in this one, then: Devil May Care (James Bond - Extended Series #36): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."It seems to get mixed reviews Amber, though I haven't read it myself. Sebastian Faulks is a good writer. I really liked 'Charlotte Grey', so it has to be worth a go. Thanks :)
Paul wrote: "Amber wrote: "You might be interested in this one, then: Devil May Care (James Bond - Extended Series #36): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."It see..."
I read it. It wasn't great. Faulks does not stay true enough to the character, making him a more passive figure than the active man of action that Bond is at heart. He also tries to shoe horn in a modern geopolitical concern into a time when it doesn't belong (war in the Middle East)
Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Amber wrote: "You might be interested in this one, then: Devil May Care (James Bond - Extended Series #36): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1......"Interesting. What for your money Samuel would be the best Bond tribute novel written by a contemporary author?
Paul wrote: "Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Amber wrote: "You might be interested in this one, then: Devil May Care (James Bond - Extended Series #36): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1......"1) Trigger Mortis By Anthony Horowitz.
2) James Bond Dynamite Comic book series (these graphic novels are awesome, taking the best of Bond and distilling it into a very surprising, very brutal package. Most recently we've had SMERSH return and they come very close in bringing the USA to the brink of war with Europe and destroying NATO with a string of impressive false flag operation culminating in the murder of the US Director of National Intelligence)
3) Carte Blanche (A very flawed experiment but an interesting one, trying to create a contemporary James Bond story outside of the film franchise)
Paul wrote: "Trigger Mortis looks good..."The first truly great continuation novel in the Bond series....and on its own merits a fun, enjoyable well written romp as well.
Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Amber wrote: "You might be interested in this one, then: Devil May Care (James Bond - Extended Series #36): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1......"The war you speak of was meant to be a tool to draw what was left of the UK into the war in VIETNAM... .
I'm not sure about that. I recall Dr Gorner was shipping Vietnamese Heroin into Britain to try tip the end of the swinging sixties into full blown drug addled misery rather than get Britain into Vietnam. As for the war part that was Gorner trying to mount a false flag military attack against the Soviet Union through the Iran - USSR border on the Caspian, using James Bond, a known enemy of international Communism and Moscow as the fall guy so the USSR would declare war on Britain.
Dr. Gorner was being used by the CIA... or at least that's the way I understood it.
One of the Company man was either working with Gorner or for him. He did try to sabotage the effort to stop the false flag attack, murdered the MI6 Tehran station chief and nearly killed Felix Leiter.
I think that was Carmen Silver, who also happened to be as queer as a $3 bill, Sam.
Much preferred Trigger Mortis to either Devil May Care, or Carte Blanche. It's Horrowitz who makes the difference as he mimics Fleming's style (much as he did with his Sherlock Holmes novel).I love the Bond books, and the movies, although with the exception of Casino Royale the two don't usually translate.
What must be remembered about the original series of books is the time period they were written, which often doesn't sit well with readers in the 21st century. Nevertheless, the can still be entertaining, and give a glimpse into the thoughts of a man born a century ago.
After watching the news about the former Russian Intelligence officer Sergei Skripal’s attempted assassination with a nerve agent in Salisbury UK this week, the first thing that came to my mind was George Smiley… In ‘Smileys People’, Vladimir, the elderly Estonian general, is assassinated on Hampstead Heath, London evidently by Moscow Centre agents, Smiley observes… to punish, to intimidate, and to discourage others. Old George clearly knew a thing or two… Brrrr... chilling.
Would anyone like to tell us what their favourite (Fleming, Le Carre, Forsyth) book is and why?
What a good quote...“Eccentricity is one of those English traits that look like frailty but mask a concealed strength; individuality disguised as oddity.”
― Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal
Paul wrote: "Would anyone like to tell us what their favourite (Fleming, Le Carre, Forsyth) book is and why?"I've read more Le Carre than Fleming and absolutely no Forsythe. Out of the three I like Le Carre. His books are just so fleshed out compared to Fleming.
Fleming is more romantic. Le Carre is more realistic.
Le Carre. Intricacy, reality, true trade craft and real subjects that matter. Forsythe would be second. Fleming last.
Paul wrote: "After watching the news about the former Russian Intelligence officer Sergei Skripal’s attempted assassination with a nerve agent in Salisbury UK this week, the first thing that came to my mind was..."Breaking news! The granddaughter of the most hated man in British Intelligence history has decided to write a novel about her old man, an enemy of Britain and a hero of the Soviet Union.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "After watching the news about the former Russian Intelligence officer Sergei Skripal’s attempted assassination with a nerve agent in Salisbury UK this week, the first thing that came t..."Ms. Philby recently visited her Granddaddy's grave in Moscow. She reflects on what happens to the family of traitors to the nation when they leave and when they're gone.
https://charlottephilby.com/features/...
First official trailer of the little drummer girl brought to us by Park Chan Wok. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_c46...
Samuel wrote: "First official trailer of the little drummer girl brought to us by Park Chan Wok. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_c46..."
That looks good v. good. Something to be waited for eagerly...
Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "After watching the news about the former Russian Intelligence officer Sergei Skripal’s attempted assassination with a nerve agent in Salisbury UK this week, the first thing that came t..."That's quite a lot of baggage to inherit... or alternatively quite a rich seam for a young lady writer to mine.
Recently watched this documentary about Philby and the others and it was quite good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFMpC...
Samuel wrote: "First official trailer of the little drummer girl brought to us by Park Chan Wok. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_c46..."
Watched the first episode of this last night and already getting drawn into the world, story and characters. Intriguing.
And a little more about Le Carre's 'The Little Drummer Girl' currently airing on the BBC... https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-...
Paul wrote: "And a little more about Le Carre's 'The Little Drummer Girl' currently airing on the BBC... https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-..."
Well worth watching. Though initially I would have said 'big on period atmosphere, good drama, but light on tension', the tension really built in the later episodes, and the final part wrapped up the story very well indeed.
Paul wrote: "Paul wrote: "And a little more about Le Carre's 'The Little Drummer Girl' currently airing on the BBC... https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-......"
This one turned out to be 'oh so good'. Anyone watch it?
I’m new to this group and obviously to this thread, but after I cast a vote for LeCarre over Fleming, I will add a write-in ballot for Deighton. Browsing Amazon Prime tonight I came across Funeral in Berlin and couldn’t resist the opportunity to revisit Michael Caine recreating Harry Palmer so well.
Barbara wrote: "I’m new to this group and obviously to this thread, but after I cast a vote for LeCarre over Fleming, I will add a write-in ballot for Deighton. Browsing Amazon Prime tonight I came across Funeral ..."Harry Palmer played by Michael Caine, Barbara, is one of my favourite espionage film characters.
Watched a spy film last night with Alec Guinness in, which wasn’t ‘Tinker Tailor’ (reviewed below), but was surely a foreshadowing of his great performance as George Smiley: The Quiller Memorandum. “Ever bought a fake picture, Toby?” says Smiley to one of the final four on the shortlist as the net tightens. “The more you pay for it, the less inclined you are to doubt its authenticity.”
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paul wrote: "Paul wrote: "Paul wrote: "And a little more about Le Carre's 'The Little Drummer Girl' currently airing on the BBC... https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-......"
I did and it is great. So is his night manager series
As I re-read The Fourth Protocol by Forsyth at the moment, as much as the subject matter is so interesting, I'm noticing how much the narrative is slowed by the regular filling in of backstory. It's just a quibble.
I re-watched 'Skyfall' again this week (pretty good) and it made me wonder when the latest Bond film is coming out?
A nice little video summary of John le Carre's life (who died this week) on France 24. Read a number of his novels: enjoyed them all! https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
Really enjoyed reading CCs review of The Little Drummer Girl.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paul wrote: "Paul wrote: "Paul wrote: "And a little more about Le Carre's 'The Little Drummer Girl' currently airing on the BBC... https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-......"
Yes and Yes. One cannot be mistaken if it is a LeCarre work. They are all excellent
My review of 'The Little Drummer Girl'. After watching the 2018 BBC adaptation of ‘The Little Drummer Girl’ with Alexander Skarsgard and Florence Pugh, I made this my next Le Carre novel of choice. It was a richly rewarding read…
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
If you miss John le Carré, his estate just published his last complete manuscript. 
SilverviewIt wasn't his best but still entertaining.
My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4302579893
I have read most of the Fleming novels and while I enjoyed them, I haven't found myself wanting to re-read them. Ditto for the John Gardner novels that continued the Bond adventures into the 80's and 90's. I have enjoyed the Forsyth novels that I have read over the last few years (Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, Avenger, and The Cobra) and I plan on reading The Fourth Protocol before too long.
I have yet to read a John LeCarre novel. Yes, I am sure that I am missing out on some good stuff. But my initial impression of his work was based on the rather plodding 90's movie adaptation of THE RUSSIA HOUSE starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfieffer. When I saw that film in theaters, I kept wondering what all the hoopla was about. And that impression has stuck with me, for better or worse, for the long run.
Granted, I shouldn't judge an author by the film adaptations of his novels. And I expect I will sample LeCarre in the near future to see how much of a gap exists between his writing and what the movie studios did with his books. I just hope that his novels are not as plodding as I have been led to believe.
Woman Reading wrote: "If you miss John le Carré, his estate just published his last complete manuscript. SilverviewIt wasn't his best but still entertai..."
Thanks. I was interested to read about this.
James wrote: "I have read most of the Fleming novels and while I enjoyed them, I haven't found myself wanting to re-read them. Ditto for the John Gardner novels that continued the Bond adventures into the 80's a..."Strangely enough, I quite enjoy watching The Russia House. There are some great Le Carre works waiting for you to read if you can get into his style... slower and richer tension.
James wrote: "I have yet to read a John LeCarre novel. Yes, I am sure that I am missing out on some good stuff. But my initial impression of his work was based on the rather plodding 90's movie adaptation of THE RUSSIA HOUSE starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfieffer. When I saw that film in theaters, I kept wondering what all the hoopla was about. And that impression has stuck with me, for better or worse, for the long run.Granted, I shouldn't judge an author by the film adaptations of his novels. And I expect I will sample LeCarre in the near future to see how much of a gap exists between his writing and what the movie studios did with his books. I just hope that his novels are not as plodding as I have been led to believe."
My library's Overdrive platform has many of the George Smiley books as adapted by BBC Audio with a full cast. They run under 3 hours so they're not reading the actual novels. After reading the novels but not having seen any of the film adaptations, I'd say that BBC Audio nailed the interpretation and their adaptations. I'd recommend trying them out if you don't want to invest a lot of time because the le Carré novels are dense and require careful reading.
The Russia House was actually the first le Carré story I'd seen on film. At that time I hadn't read any of the novels. I enjoyed the film because it was the first to be filmed in Russia, but I recall being underwhelmed by the story. The BBC Audio version is much better at distilling the dramatic tension of le Carré's plot (better than the book too).
My interest in possibly sampling Le Carre's novels was sparked a few years back by the positive reviews and reception of the BBC adaptation of THE NIGHT MANAGER. I have not watched the series since I tend to read the books first before making a decision on whether to watch the television or movie adaptation.Since TNM is a stand-alone novel that is outside of the George Smiley series, I thought that might be a good place to start. But I welcome input from the rest of the group as to what Le Carre novels are good ones to use as a "jumping on" point.
James wrote: "My interest in possibly sampling Le Carre's novels was sparked a few years back by the positive reviews and reception of the BBC adaptation of THE NIGHT MANAGER. I have not watched the series since..."I'd probably jump in at Tinker Tailor or The Little Drummer Girl if I were to start over again.
James wrote: "My interest in possibly sampling Le Carre's novels was sparked a few years back by the positive reviews and reception of the BBC adaptation of THE NIGHT MANAGER. I have not watched the series since..."I've read a dozen of his novels, most of them were the George Smiley books. I'd recommend The Spy Who Came In from the Cold or Agent Running in the Field for those new-ish to John le Carré.
When I read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, it struck me as the quintessential espionage novel. A friend or two have also pointed out how dense and convoluted it appears to casual readers. I'd have to agree because le Carré's novels require paying attention.
The Little Drummer Girl reviewed: 'Set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict of the 1970’s, a terror group is bombing prominent Israelis in Europe to make the world listen and to ‘show the world Palestinian pain’. Enter Kurtz and his Israeli Secret Service team, racing against the military hawks at home to find a more incisive response than the reprisal bombing of another Palestinian refugee camp.'
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“A lot of people see doubt as legitimate philosophical posture. They think of themselves in the middle, whereas of course really, they're nowhere.”― John le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy.
A Good Thriller
Books mentioned in this topic
The Little Drummer Girl (other topics)The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (other topics)
Agent Running in the Field (other topics)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (other topics)
Silverview (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
John le Carré (other topics)John le Carré (other topics)
John le Carré (other topics)
Len Deighton (other topics)
