james bond books in order

James Bond Books In Order

Publication order of james bond books, publication order of james bond (extended) books, publication order of james bond collections, about james bond:.

James Bond is a famous character created by Ian Fleming. Fleming wrote about James Bond in 12 novels and then 2 short stories. The character was created in 1953 and he first appeared in the novel Casino Royale.

Who is James Bond?

The exact age of James Bond is unknown. In the books and movies, it is thought he is in his late thirties but he never ages beyond that. Fleming changes his dates and timelines so often in the books that no one really knows how old he is. In one of the movies, he does mention that he is 80 years shy of retirement age, but this still doesn’t make sense. Not much is known about his heritage or his early life, other than he travelled extensively when he was younger and he learnt many languages.

He was orphaned at 11 years old after his parents died in a climbing accident and he goes to live with his Aunt. Bond completed his education with a brief stint in Eton College but he leaves because of an affair with a maid. He did attend another college and completed time at University. He then joins the Navy and sees action in World War II before entering the secret service. Bond does have a reputation for being a ladies man. He has many affairs throughout the novels and in popular culture, his lady friends became known as the Bond Girls.

In the movies, the role of the Bond Girl is usually given to an actress who is also a model and is incredibly attractive. He does marry one of his Bond Girls in the novel “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, but she is killed on their wedding day and Bond is left devastated.

This set the scene for him to get revenge in the following novel. In some of the short stories, that were written by another author, but are part of the Bond world, Bond has a son. He has the baby with Kissy Suzuki but the child is hardly mentioned until another story where he makes contact with Bond shortly before being murdered.

Casino Royale

In Casino Royale, the readers meet James Bond, he is a secret agent for the UK Secret Service and his code name is Agent 007. He is tasked with travelling to France to bankrupt a member of the Russian Secret Service, Chiffre. He does this under the guise that he is playing against the Chiffre in a high stakes baccarat game.

Bond is undercover as a Jamaican playboy, but members of his team are all around him during the game, making sure he stays alive. The game does not go well for Bond who is bankrupted after the first game. However, CIA agents come to his rescue and give him more money. He eventually wins, despite having people trying to kill him during the game and he gives the money he wins back to the service. The book is not over there though and Chiffre is determined to gets revenge.

He kidnaps members of the team and tortures Bond. Chiffre is killed during the rescue mission and Bond falls in love with a member of his team called Lynd, who becomes the very first Bond girl. Still, the book isn’t over there and the course of true love is not smooth for Bond. It is suggested that people should read the book to find out what else happens to Bond. The book was very successful and sold out in the UK in less than a month. It didn’t do as well in the U.S, the sales were a lot slower, but it eventually became a hit and the rest of the books were written.

Fleming wrote Casino Royale whilst he was in Jamaica with his future wife. He wrote is because he had always wanted to write a spy novel and he wanted something to distract him from his wedding plans. He was staying at the Goldeneye Estate and it took just two months to write.

He showed the book to his girlfriend upon completion, who thought that he should not publish it at all. How his life would have been different if he had listened to her. When Fleming had finished the novel, he showed it to the publishers and they didn’t like it. They rejected it and only looked at it again because Fleming had a brother who was an established travel writer and he suggested they read it again.

TV and Movies

The book has been made into TV shows and Movies over and over, most notably in 2006, when Daniel Craig won the role as James Bond. This movie stays true to the original novel and was the 21st Bond movie to be released, despite it being the film based on the very first book. Even though this movie is the second time that Casino Royale is been made into a film, it establishes a new timeline for the movies and it is not meant to tie in with any of the other movies.

It was the most successful Bond movie of all time and Daniel Craig was congratulated for his role has Bond. His original casting was met with skepticism but after the movie was premiered, people loved him because he didn’t try to copy other Bonds. He completely reinvented the role of Bond, playing him as a much more sensitive character.

Ian Fleming wrote the Bond novels until his death in 1964. Since then, a number of other authors have carried on the legacy at the request of the Ian Fleming Publications. The most recent novel was released on September 26th 2013 and was called Solo.

William Boyd wrote that book and it picked up with Bonds life in 1969. There are other books still to come, about Bonds life. Ian Fleming Publications recently announced that Stephen Cole is going to continue writing the Young Bond series, with the next book planned to be released in late 2014.

Adaptations

The James Bond novels have been adapted for a lot of mediums. They have been made into TV shows, movies, radio shows and even comics. When it comes to the books, other authors pick up certain areas of his life, and some have even written from the perspective of his Bond girls.

5 Responses to “James Bond”

Im the biggest fun of Bond in Europe and Im trying to get all of Bond books. I just bought “Solo” by Wiliam Boyd and I can’t wait to start reading. LONG LIVE TO BOND

I am the biggest, hahaha I drive around in a 007 truck across the USA dedicated to James Bond custom paint job

The notion of Bond’s child is mentioned by Fleming, however briefly. In You Only Live Twice, it’s noted that Kissy Suzuki is pregnant.

Bond was unable to father children. Le Chiffre saw to that, personally.

Au contraire, mon frere. Bond recovered completely from his torture at the hands (and rug beater) of Le Chiffre. That was clearly discussed in the book.

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Reading Lists → James Bond

James Bond Books In Order (Full List)

James Bond is a series of 14 books by Ian Fleming. The first book published in the series is For Your Eyes Only in 1960. Here is a complete list of James Bond books in order.

Last update: January 11, 2024

1. For Your Eyes Only (1960)

"Never send a man where you can send a bullet."

"For Your Eyes Only" by Ian Fleming takes James Bond on a thrilling collection of short stories as he tackles espionage, vengeance, and international crime. Brace yourself for high-stakes adventures packed with Fleming's signature style and Bond's cunning wit.

• 📇 182 Pages
• 📝 45,500 - 54,600 Word Count
• ⏱️ 6 Hours Reading Time
• Read Amazon Reviews →

2. Thunderball (1961)

"It’s just that I’d rather die of drink than of thirst."

In Ian Fleming's Thunderball, Agent 007 is sent on a thrilling mission to the Bahamas to prevent a global catastrophe as he battles against an organization hell-bent on nuclear blackmail. Danger, suspense, and the irresistible charm of James Bond come alive in this gripping espionage adventure.

• 📇 258 Pages
• 📝 64,500 - 77,400 Word Count
• ⏱️ 9 Hours Reading Time

3. The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)

"Loneliness becomes a lover, solitude a darling sin."

In "The Spy Who Loved Me" by Ian Fleming, delve into the thrilling world of espionage as protagonist James Bond uncovers an intricate web of betrayal and lust. Danger lurks around every corner in this heart-pounding spy adventure.

• 📇 198 Pages
• 📝 49,500 - 59,400 Word Count
• ⏱️ 7 Hours Reading Time

4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)

"When the odds are hopeless, when all seems to be lost, then is the time to be calm, to make a show of authority - at least of indifference."

In Ian Fleming's thrilling espionage novel, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", James Bond risks it all as he infiltrates a sinister criminal organization and falls in love, proving that even secret agents are not immune to the power of love and loyalty.

• 📇 359 Pages
• 📝 89,750 - 107,700 Word Count
• ⏱️ 12 Hours Reading Time

5. You Only Live Twice (1964)

"I've found that one must try and teach people that there's no top limit to disaster - that, so long as breath remains in your body, you've got accept the miseries of life. They will often seem infinite, insupportable. They are part of the human condition."

In Ian Fleming's thrilling espionage masterpiece "You Only Live Twice," James Bond embarks on a mission to infiltrate a secretive Japanese organization, leading him to face formidable foes and testing the limits of his courage, cunning, and loyalty.

• 📇 214 Pages
• 📝 53,500 - 64,200 Word Count

6. Man With The Golden Gun (1965)

"One dreams all day as well as all night."

In the thrilling final installment of Ian Fleming's iconic James Bond series, "Man With The Golden Gun," 007 faces his most formidable opponent yet, as he confronts the lethal assassin Francisco Scaramanga in a high-stakes battle of wits and firepower.

• 📇 183 Pages
• 📝 45,750 - 54,900 Word Count

7. Octopussy And The Living Daylights (1966)

"Because people are very careful with the secrets of their own business doesn’t mean that they’ll be careful with the secrets of yours."

In "Octopussy And The Living Daylights", Ian Fleming takes readers on a thrilling adventure through the shadowy world of espionage. With meticulous detail and heart-pounding action, this collection of short stories explores Bond's encounters with sinister villains and the true cost of being a spy.

• 📇 120 Pages
• 📝 30,000 - 36,000 Word Count
• ⏱️ 4 Hours Reading Time

8. Casino Royale (1953)

"Surround yourself with human beings, my dear James. They are easier to fight for than principles."

In Ian Fleming's gripping debut novel, Casino Royale, the enigmatic spy James Bond infiltrates a high-stakes gambling game to outwit the sinister Le Chiffre, in a heart-pounding tale of espionage, danger, and ruthless intrigue.

• 📇 192 Pages
• 📝 48,000 - 57,600 Word Count

9. Live And Let Die (1954)

"The gain to the winner is always less than the loss to the loser."

In "Live and Let Die," Ian Fleming plunges James Bond into a thrilling adventure as he investigates the mysterious Mr. Big, a notorious drug lord operating in Harlem and the Caribbean. With danger lurking at every turn, Bond must navigate treacherous waters to uncover the truth.

• 📇 229 Pages
• 📝 57,250 - 68,700 Word Count
• ⏱️ 8 Hours Reading Time

10. Moonraker (1955)

"And people with obsessions, reflected Bond, were blind to danger."

In "Moonraker," Ian Fleming takes readers on a thrilling espionage adventure with 007. As James Bond investigates a suspicious millionaire's space project, he uncovers a plot that could ignite a devastating global catastrophe. Danger, deception, and action-packed sequences await in this classic spy novel.

• 📇 247 Pages
• 📝 61,750 - 74,100 Word Count

11. Diamonds Are Forever (1956)

"Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other."

In Ian Fleming's "Diamonds Are Forever," James Bond is sent on a dangerous mission to infiltrate the world of diamond smuggling. Thrills and conspiracies abound as 007 navigates exotic locations, femme fatales, and a plot that threatens global stability.

• 📇 230 Pages
• 📝 57,500 - 69,000 Word Count

12. From Russia With Love (1957)

"Hope makes a good breakfast. Eat plenty of it."

Ian Fleming's gripping spy thriller, "From Russia With Love," takes readers on a heart-pounding adventure as James Bond embarks on a dangerous mission to unravel a web of deception, seduction, and betrayal that leads him to the heart of Soviet Russia.

• 📇 259 Pages
• 📝 64,750 - 77,700 Word Count

13. Dr No (1958)

"All the greatest men are maniacs. They are possessed by a mania which drives them forward towards thier goal. The great scientists, the philosophers, the religious leaders - all maniacs. What else but a blind singlenee of purpose could have given focus to thier genius, would have kept them in the groove of purpose. Mania ... is as priceless as genius."

In Ian Fleming's gripping novel, "Dr No," James Bond is assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his fellow spies in Jamaica. Bond encounters the sadistic Dr No, a man with a deadly plan that could change the fate of the world.

• 📇 257 Pages
• 📝 64,250 - 77,100 Word Count

14. Goldfinger (1959)

"I am a poet in deeds - not often in words."

In Ian Fleming's thrilling spy novel, "Goldfinger," James Bond investigates the enigmatic Auric Goldfinger, a wealthy criminal mastermind whose plans to manipulate gold markets and carry out audacious heists pose a threat to global financial stability.

• 📇 264 Pages
• 📝 66,000 - 79,200 Word Count

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

Ian Fleming’s James Bond Books in Order

Lucy Davidson

21 sep 2022, @lucejuiceluce.

James Bond is undoubtedly one of the most famous characters to have ever been created. The escapades of the suave British super-spy have borne 25 highly-popular films fronted by some of the most famous actors in the world, while more than 100 million copies of the James Bond novels have been sold to date.

The brainchild of British author, journalist and former naval intelligence officer  Ian Fleming , the character of James Bond is, in Fleming’s words, ‘…a compound of all the secret agents and commando types I met during the war.’ The literary franchise of novels and short stories were all penned at Fleming’s  Jamaican estate ‘Goldeneye’  during leave from his job as Foreign Manager for Kemsley Newspapers, and are set in a contemporary period during Fleming’s lifetime from 1951-64.

Also known by his code name 007, the eponymous  British Secret Service  agent first came to life in the 1953 novel  Casino Royale,  of which the 4,728 first edition copies sold out in less than a month.

Here’s a breakdown of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books in order, highlighting his novels and short stories.

Casino Royale

One of the most famous Bond novels, Fleming wrote Casino Royale in early 1952 at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica while waiting to get married. The storyline deals more broadly with themes of Britain’s position in the world, especially with regards to British agent defections to the Soviet Union and the resultant deterioration in relations with the US. Fleming was originally unsure whether the novel was suitable for publication; however, the book was well-reviewed and sold out in less than a month after its UK release in April 1953.

Live and Let Die

Set in London, the US and Jamaica, Fleming wrote Live and Let Die  before  Casino Royale  was published. Much of the information in the book came from Fleming’s own travels in the US and Jamaica. The novel deals with themes of East-West Cold War struggles , race relations and the struggle between good and evil. It was also well-received by critics, with the first run quickly selling out.

The plot of  Moonraker  was derived from a screenplay by Fleming that was deemed too short for a full novel. Uniquely for a Bond novel, it is set entirely in Britain, which was a point of criticism from readers who desired more exotic locations. Nonetheless, it was well-received. Thematically, it played on several 1950s fears such as nuclear annihilation , Soviet communism and the re-emergence of Nazism .

Diamonds are Forever

The plot of Diamonds are Forever was inspired by a newspaper article about diamond smuggling. Indeed, much of Fleming’s background research formed the basis for a non-fiction book he released in 1957 titled  The Diamond Smugglers.   Diamonds are Forever  deals with themes of marriage, international travel and the ever-changing nature of life. The novel received positive reviews, then was serialised in the  Daily Express  newspaper.

From Russia, with Love

Covers of ‘From Russia with Love’

Image Credit: Sergey Goryachev / Shutterstock.com

When Fleming wrote  From Russia, with Love,  he thought it might be his last Bond novel. It was inspired by his visit to Turkey on behalf of  The Sunday Times to report on an Interpol conference, from which he returned to Britain on the Orient Express . The novel examines themes relating to East-West Cold War tensions and the decline of British power and influence in the post-World War Two era . The novel received positive reviews, and sales were helped by a visit from then British Prime Minister Anthony Eden to the Goldeneye estate, and an article in  Life  magazine which stated that the novel was one of then US President’s John F. Kennedy’s favourite books.

Dr. No  actually began as a screenplay for producer Henry Morgenthau III for a proposed television show titled ‘Commander Jamaica’. When that didn’t come to fruition, Fleming adapted the screenplay into a novel, with the eponymous villain inspired by writer Sax Rohmer’s ‘Fu Manchu’ stories. The novel was widely criticised in Britain, being dubbed in the  New Statesman as being a novel of ‘Sex, Snobbery and Sadism’. It did more favourably amongst the US market, however.

The character of James Bond was presented as a more complex figure in Goldfinger , as he is depicted as a somewhat ‘St George’ figure who, as a British agent, must solve an American problem. As is common in Fleming’s Bond novels, he used the name of someone he knew as the villain, with the eponymous character named after architect Ernő Goldfinger, who threatened to sue Fleming for the use of his name. Upon release,  Goldfinger became an instant bestseller, and was serialised as a daily story and comic strip in the  Daily Express. 

For Your Eyes Only

A collection of short stories featuring Bond,  For Your Eyes Only  marked a change for Fleming, who had only published full-length novels until then. The collection contains five stories such as Quantum of Solace , with four of the plots being adaptations of television series that were never filmed. The format was more experimental, and one story was written as a homage to author W. Somerset Maugham, who Fleming greatly admired.

Thunderball

This was the first novelisation of an un-filmed James Bond screenplay, and was a collaboration by five people, of whom only three received credit, a controversy that went to court. The novel introduced the character of Ernst Starvo, leader of crime syndicate SPECTRE, who went on to appear in  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service  and  You Only Live Twice.

The Spy Who Loved Me

This is the shortest and most sexually explicit of Fleming’s Bond series, and marks a departure from previous Bond novels in that it is told in the first person by a young Canadian woman character called Vivienne Michel, who Fleming credits as co-author in the prologue. Due to reactions by critics and fans, Fleming wasn’t happy with the book and instead attempted to suppress elements of it where he could, such as blocking a paperback edition in the UK. A British paperback version was only published after his death.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Fleming wrote  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service  in Jamaica while  Dr. No  was being filmed nearby. It was the second in what is known as the ‘Blofeld trilogy’, which starts with  Thunderball  and concludes with  You Only Live Twice. Fleming made a number of revelations about Bond’s character in the book, such as an emotional side; Bond gets married in the book, though his wife is murdered shortly after the wedding, an experience which is thought to mirror Fleming’s grief after his wartime romance with a woman called Muriel Wright ended after she was killed by a bombing raid in 1944. The novel received broadly good reviews in the British and American press.

You Only Live Twice

This was the last Fleming novel published in his lifetime, and is the concluding chapter of the ‘Blofeld Trilogy’. The novel dealt with the emotional change from Bond as a depressed, grieving man, to a vengeful figure, to an amnesiac living as a Japanese fisherman. Fleming also examines the decline of post-World War Two Britain and influence, particularly when compared to the US. While the novel was popular among the public, it received mixed reviews from critics.

The Man with the Golden Gun

The Man with the Golden Gun  is the twelfth and final novel in Fleming’s Bond series, and the thirteenth Bond book in total. It was first published in April 1965, eight months after Fleming’s death. The first draft and part of the editing process was completed during Fleming’s life, but much detail, which Fleming normally added in the second draft, was missing. Though the novel was popular, it was politely but poorly reviewed.

Octopussy and The Living Daylights

Octopussy and the Living Daylights  (sometimes published as  Octopussy) is the final Bond novel written by Fleming. A collection of short stories published posthumously, the book originally contained two stories before more were added in subsequent editions. The two original stories –  Octopussy  and  The Living Daylights – were both adapted for publication in comic strip format in the Daily Express,  and all stories eventually published in the collection went on to influence film adaptations of James Bond.

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How to read the James Bond books in order

With dozens of Bond novels as well as the original Ian Fleming books, scholars have been trying to work out the best way to read 007 for decades. Here's the definitive run-down.

Ian Fleming’s James Bond is a character drawn with fine-point sharpness. He smokes Morlands, made especially for him at a tobacconists on Grosvenor Street in Mayfair. He drives a 1930 4.5 litre Bentley in battleship grey. And if you’ve got a bottle in, he’ll have a glass of Taittinger Blanc de Blancs Brut 1943, thanks.

But while Fleming was very particular about Bond’s cigarettes, cars and champagne, he was somewhat less so about his diary.

Bond scholars have tried to piece together the proper order of Fleming’s stories, and come up with very different answers. On top of the original 12 Bond novels and two short story collections, there are dozens of ‘continuation’ novels. So what’s the proper place to begin, and where do you go from there?

The simple answer, and the way recommended by Ian Fleming Publications’ publication manager Simon Ward, is to start with Fleming’s 12 novels and read them in the order they were published, starting with Casino Royale and ending with the posthumously published The Man with the Golden Gun .

“ Dr No picks up From Russia with Love , for instance – they follow each other directly in the text, from one book to the next,” Ward explains. “It’s essential that you have You Only Live Twice before The Man with the Golden Gun because again they follow on from each other, they are sequels. You’ve got the Blofeld or the SPECTRE trilogy: Thunderball , On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and You Only Live Twice , so they again are all sequential.”

After that, dip into the two short story collections. “I don’t think you have to read them to understand the canon [and] what’s going on,” says Ward. “So in that sense: at your leisure, really.”

Bond scholars separately tried to work out which order the novels were meant to have happened over the course of Bond’s life

There are other ways of reading the Bond saga, though. In the mid-Noughties Bond scholars John Griswold and Henry Chancellor separately tried to work out which order the novels and short stories were meant to have happened in over the course of Bond’s life, as if he were a recently declassified hero of the Cold War whose exploits can only now be related without fear of Moscow taking notes.

They were rigorous, too. Griswold is slightly pursed-lipped about the inaccuracies he perceives in his Annotations And Chronologies For Ian Fleming's Bond Stories ; authorised Bond biographer John Pearson’s choice of 1920 as Bond’s official birth year, for instance, is “not as good a choice as it could have been”.

Both broadly agreed on an order for the first eight novels and five short stories from For Your Eyes Only , which collected adventures published in newspapers and magazines in 1959 and 1960.

-       Casino Royale -       Live and Let Die -       Moonraker -       Diamonds are Forever -       From Russia With Love -       Dr No -       Goldfinger -       ‘Risico’ from For Your Eyes Only -       ‘Quantum of Solace’ from For Your Eyes Only -       ‘The Hildebrand Rarity’ from For Your Eyes Only -       ‘From a View to a Kill’ from For Your Eyes Only -       ‘For Your Eyes Only’ from For Your Eyes Only -       Thunderball

From there, things got more tricky. In 2006 Griswold identified this as the chronological order after Thunderball, shuffling in stories from the posthumous collection of shorts Octopussy and The Living Daylights :

-       ‘Octopussy’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       ‘The Living Daylights’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       ‘The Property of a Lady’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       Chapters one to five of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service -       ‘007 in New York’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       Chapters 10 to 14 of The Spy Who Loved Me -       Chapters 6 to 20 of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service -       You Only Live Twice -       The Man with the Golden Gun

Chancellor, however, had come up with an alternative timeline the year before:

-       ‘The Living Daylights’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       ‘Octopussy’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       Chapters 10 to 14 of The Spy Who Loved Me -       Chapters one to five of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service -       ‘007 in New York’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       Chapters 6 to 20 of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service -       ‘The Property of a Lady’ from Octopussy and The Living Daylights -       You Only Live Twice -       The Man with the Golden Gun

Whatever order you go with, there’s no doubt that Casino Royale must come first.

'Starting with Casino Royale is very important because it gives you the sense of the author and Bond and everything in mid-century Britain'

“There’s a lot of very stark violence in the original Fleming stories,” says Ward, but even by that standard, Colonel Sun is “one of the most brutal of them all”. It all hits a peak with a torture scene which was nodded at in the 2015 film SPECTRE . Colonel Sun tells Bond of a time “when an American prisoner in Korea was deprived of his eyes”.

“And the most astonishing thing happened. He wasn't there anymore. He'd gone, though he was still alive. There was nobody inside his skull. Most odd, I promise you.”

Later writers took different routes. John Gardner was tasked with updating Bond for the Eighties.

“To be clear, that didn’t mean suddenly putting him in Miami Vice -style tailoring,” Ward says. It meant Bond wasn’t “a fantastical cypher”; instead 007 was in the real world, rubbing shoulders with Reagan and Thatcher and tracking down nukes on the eve of the first Gulf War.

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• Food & drink
• How much does James Bond earn?
• Diamonds Are Forever: Locations from the novel
• From Russia, With Love: Locations from the novel
• The Orient Express
• Doctor No: Locations from the novel
• Thunderball: Food and drink from the novel
• Food and drink
• Ian Fleming: early life
• Ian Fleming: European education
• Ian Fleming: the pre-war years
• Ian Fleming: Naval Intelligence
• Ian Fleming: Operation Ruthless
• Ian Fleming: introduction to Jamaica
• Ian Fleming: return to civilian life
• Ian Fleming: the birth of James Bond
• Ian Fleming: the road to James Bond on the big screen
• Ian Fleming: American success
• Ian Fleming: failing marriage
• Ian Fleming: the final years
• Ian Fleming on Desert Island Disks
• The Life of Ian Fleming by John Pearson
• Ian Fleming by Andrew Lycett
• The Battle for Bond by Robert Sellers
• First editions
• Review: Forever and a Day
• Q&A with Anthony Horowitz
• Entire series
• Thrilling Cities
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• The James Bond Bedside Companion
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Home > Books

The James Bond books

Reading the James Bond books in order of publication unveils an evolution of Ian Fleming’s hero.

The world of spy thrillers would not be complete without the iconic character of James Bond. Ian Fleming said he started writing Casino Royale , the first of the James Bond books, in order to take his mind off his impending wedding. In doing so he captivated readers and left an indelible mark on popular culture.

In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of the James Bond books, exploring the genesis of the character, the evolution of the series, and its enduring legacy.

Ian Fleming’s James Bond books in order of publication

Ian Fleming’s 14 James Bond books were first published in the UK by Jonathan Cape and in the US by Macmillan.

Casino Royale (1953 UK/1954 US)

The inaugural James Bond adventure  introduces readers to the suave and enigmatic secret agent as he takes on Le Chiffre in a high-stakes game of baccarat, setting the stage for the iconic series.

Live And Let Die (1954 UK/1955 US)

Bond navigates the treacherous world of crime and voodoo in pursuit of Mr Big, a dangerous criminal kingpin with connections that extend from Harlem and reach deep into the Caribbean.

Moonraker (1955)

The third Bond novel sees 007 on home territory as he investigates a multimillionaire who has funded a missile for Britain designed as an independent nuclear deterrent.

Diamonds Are Forever (1956)

Bond’s mission takes him from smuggling diamond into New York to the glitzy casinos of Las Vegas, offering a captivating blend of intrigue and adventure.

From Russia, With Love (1957)

In a tale of Cold War espionage, Bond faces off against the deadly Russian agent Red Grant and the mysterious SMERSH – death to spies .

Dr No (1958)

The exotic backdrop of Jamaica provides the setting for Bond’s clash with the enigmatic Dr No, a nefarious figure bent on disrupting American rocket launches.

Goldfinger (1959)

Bond takes on the gold smuggler Auric Goldfinger – and card cheat – whose grand scheme threatens the world’s financial stability.

For Your Eyes Only (1960)

A collection of five short stories, For Your Eyes Only  presents Bond in a series of gripping short adventures.

Thunderball (1961)

When two nuclear warheads are stolen by the mysterious SPECTRE organization, Bond is sent to the Bahamas to track them down down and eventually leading to an underwater confrontation.

The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)

The Spy Who Loved Me is unique in that it features Bond from the perspective of a female protagonist, Vivienne Michel, as she finds her life in danger.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)

Bond’s quest to dismantle the villainous Blofeld’s criminal empire, SPECTRE, takes a personal turn as he becomes romantically entangled with his future wife.

You Only Live Twice (1964)

Bond is sent to Japan on a diplomatic mission, only to end up confronting Blofeld once again. The book is an intriguing fusion of Eastern traditions and Western espionage.

The Man With The Golden Gun (1965)

Bond’s faces both personal and professional challenges in Fleming’s final novel as he is sent to the Caribbean to track down the notorious killer, Francisco Scaramanga.

Octopussy & The Living Daylights (1966) This collection originally included two short stories but recent editions contain two more, offering readers a look at other facets of the character.

Fleming was born in 1908 and led a life as intriguing as his fictional creation. Before becoming a renowned author, Fleming worked as a journalist and served as a senior naval intelligence officer during World War II. His experiences in the intelligence community laid the foundation for his gripping tales of espionage. Each book offers a unique blend of action, suspense, and intricate plots. Fleming’s distinctive writing style with meticulous attention to detail and vivid descriptions immerse readers in a world of exotic locations and larger-than-life characters.

Central to the success of the James Bond series is the character’s evolution throughout the books. Initially portrayed as a suave and ruthless secret agent, Bond gradually reveals layers of complexity, making him more relatable and human. From his vices to his vulnerabilities, Bond’s character reflects the shades of grey that define the human condition.

The Bond books introduced a range of elements that have become synonymous with the series. From Bond’s fast cars , exotic locations and glamourous women to his exacting preferences for food and drink, these details contribute to the larger-than-life image of the character. Equally significant are the memorable villains Bond encounters and the intriguing allies and romantic interests that add depth to the narratives.

Through captivating storytelling, Fleming created a character that has become a symbol of suave sophistication, thrilling adventures, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Bond’s legacy continues to captivate audiences, making him a timeless icon in the pantheon of literary and cinematic heroes.

Looking for more info on the James Bond books? Check out the list of articles below:

Related pages

The life of Ian Fleming

James Bond audio books

25 books on James Bond

Other books

The James Bond Bedside Companion 1984, Raymond Benson

Annotations and Chronologies for Ian Fleming’s Bond Stories 2005, John Griswold

James Bond Encyclopedia 2007, John Cork & Collin Stutz

007 James Bond: A Report 1964, OF Snelling

On the Tracks of 007 2008, Martijn Mulder and Dirk Kloosterboer

David Leigh founded The James Bond Dossier in 2002. A fan of 007 since the age of 8, he is also author of The Complete Guide to the Drinks of James Bond . You can order a copy here if you don't own it already.

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James Bond (Original Series) by Ian Fleming

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Order of Ian Fleming Books

Fleming was recruited to the Royal Navy and served as a Commander in World War II. His service in the Navy would later be a crucial part of his James Bond novels. Below is a list of Ian Fleming’s novels – both in publication and chronological order:

Publication Order of James Bond Books

Publication order of james bond collections, publication order of chitty chitty bang bang books, (by frank cottrell boyce), publication order of standalone novels, publication order of non-fiction books, publication order of anthologies, if you like james bond books, you’ll love….

• John Gardner
• Raymond Benson
• Jeffery Deaver

Ian Fleming Synopsis: Britain’s new ICBM-based national defense system Moonraker is almost ready, but things don’t quite sit just right. M gets James Bond to check out Sir Hugo Drax (card shark and head of the Moonraker project) and Bond discovers that the Moonraker project as well as Drax are not exactly what they appear. The 1955 novel Moonraker was adapted to film in 1979, starring Roger Moore as James Bond. It was also the second appearance of 7-footer Richard Kiel (of Eegah fame, naturally) as Jaws.

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One Response to “Order of Ian Fleming Books”

He wrote other books, at least one on backdrop sketches called ‘Thrilling Cities’. Some were unflattering..

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