james bond books in order

James Bond Books In Order

Publication order of james bond 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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All 60+ James Bond Books in Order by Ian Fleming & Others

The adventures of secret service agent 007 are legendary. He has appeared in countless iterations across the decades. Reading the James Bond books in order will reveal to you each imagining of the spy, from the original mind of Ian Fleming to the most recent version by Anthony Horowitz.

Each author who has picked up the mantle of James Bond has lent something unique to the franchise. However, each book retains the taut, tense, and effortlessly stylish atmosphere of the first book.

Bond is admired for his lavish, elegant lifestyle and one-liners — who hasn’t uttered the line, “Shaken, not stirred” or “The name is Bond. James Bond.” at least once? The series is also enticing with Bond’s globe-trotting pursuits.

Keep reading to find out more about all the James Bond books in order.

Who is Ian Fleming?

There is an adage to write what you know, and Ian Fleming certainly did this when he created the character of James Bond. The character has become bigger than Fleming ever anticipated, and the iconic spy certainly shares a few traits with the author.

Ian Fleming was born in London in 1908 and has been described as the black sheep of his family. He attended Eton College but did not graduate from there due to his rebellious behaviour. After working as a journalist and a banker, Fleming was chosen to be the assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence in 1939 with the threat of war looming.

His title, that of Lieutenant in the Special Branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, is a rank he would later give to James Bond. As well, Fleming’s boss, John Godfrey, is thought to be the model for the Bond character M, the head of MI6 and James Bond’s superior.

While Fleming had previously written, it was during wartime that he decided he would set out to write the spy story to end all spy stories. He pulled much inspiration for his iconic spy novels from his role and experience during the war, as well as from his lavish tastes.

Fleming built a home in Jamaica which he called Goldeneye and it was there that James Bond was created. He named the character after the author of a book which he called his Jamaican bible: A Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies. Until his death in 1964, Fleming spent two months every year in Jamaica and that is where he wrote his James Bond adventures.

About the James Bond Series

In total, Ian Fleming wrote 12 James Bond novels and nine short stories. Following his death, the torch has been passed to several different authors penning more than an additional 40 novels.

Kingsley Amis was the first author to write a James Bond novel following Fleming’s death and his addition follows the chronology set up by Fleming.

Next, John Gardner wrote the subsequent 14 novels and two novelizations of James Bond movies, but he didn’t pick up the torch until the 1980s. Consequently, his interpretation of the character is a bit different from the original as it also brings Bond that era. Gardner also wrote novelizations of Bond films.

Then, in the 1990s and early 2000s, Raymond Benson brought his spin to the character. He wrote novels, short stories, and novelizations. Benson kept Bond in a modern setting, but harkened back to Ian Fleming’s flair of writing with his mix of short stories and longer works.

There was then a period where many different authors wrote for the estate and broke with the continuity throughout the series up to this point. This period began with Sebastian Faulks contribution of Devil May Care in 2008. The six most recent books by Faulks, Jeffrey Deaver, William Boyd, and Anthony Horowitz take place in a variety of eras.

Horowitz has written the latest three books and is set to continue on with the series. His Bond books harken back to Fleming’s by being set in the 1950s.

What order should I read the James Bond books?

If you have never read the James Bond books before, you should absolutely read the books in order of publication. This means you will begin with Casino Royale, which is the best introduction to the character.

Reading the books in order of publication also means you will begin by reading the books written by Ian Fleming. This will show you the canon of the original character by the creator, Fleming, before the various iterations of Bond that followed.

What was the last James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming?

As mentioned, Ian Fleming died of a heart attack in 1964 at the age of 56. The last James Bond novel that Ian Fleming wrote was The Man with the Golden Gun, which was published posthumously in 1966. That same year a short story collection was also published: Octopussy and The Living Daylights.

Following these two publications, Kingsley Amis was the first author who began writing in Fleming’s stead. Since then, as we’ve said, numerous authors have written adventures for the iconic spy throughout the decades.

James Bond Books in Order

#1 original james bond books by ian fleming in publication order.

Once again, it is best to read the Jams Bond books in order of publication if you are reading this series for the first time.

According to Ian Fleming Publications, this is the recommending reading order. Most important is to begin with Casino Royale. This is because it will give readers a sense of the author, the character, and the setting of mid-century Britain.

However, there is also the recommendation to read The Spy Who Loved Me out of order, as it disrupts the flow of Thunderball, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and the subsequent books. This is because it shifts from Bond’s perspective to the point-of-view of a femme fatale: Vivienne Michel.

Another recommendation from Ian Fleming Publications is that the short story collections can be read whenever you wish after you read the original first 12 books. That is because the short stories are not necessary reading material to understand the canon.

• Casino Royale (1953)
• Live and Let Die (1954)
• Moonraker (1955)
• Diamonds Are Forever (1956)
• From Russia, with Love (1957)
• Doctor No (1958)
• Goldfinger (1959)
• For Your Eyes Only (1959) (Short Story Collection)
• Thunderball (1961)
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)
• You Only Live Twice (1964)
• The Man with the Golden Gun (1966)
• Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966) (Short Story Collection)

#2 Original James Bond Books by Ian Fleming in Chronological Order

There is a second way to read the James Bond books in order, although, this is not the recommended reading order if you haven’t read the books before. However, that reading order is by following the chronological timeline, which is contested.

Again, this reading order begins with Casino Royale, which is the best place to begin the series, and this list uses the chronological order put forth by John Griswold.

• Casino Royale
• Live and Let Die
• Diamonds are Forever
• From Russia, with Love
• Risico (Short Story)
• Quantum of Solace (Short Story)
• The Hildebrand Rarity (Short Story)
• From a View to a Kill (Short Story)
• For Your Eyes Only (Short Story)
• Thunderball
• Octopussy (Short Story)
• The Living Daylights (Short Story)
• The Property of a Lady (Short Story)
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (Chapters 1-5)
• 007 in New York (Short Story)
• The Spy Who Loved Me (Chapters 10-14)
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (Chapters 6-20)
• You Only Live Twice
• The Man With the Golden Gun

Continuation of James Bond Series

Following Ian Fleming’s death in 1964, the James Bond series was continued by his estate through different authors. As previously mentioned, each author brought something a little bit different to the series. Some continued in the same vein as Fleming, while others brought the iconic character into a new era for a new audience.

The chronology per author is important if you are looking to read the James Bond books in order; however, as with many spy thrillers, each book does focus on one particular mission.

• Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis (1968)
• Licence Renewed by John Gardner (1981)
• For Special Services by John Gardner (1982)
• Icebreaker by John Gardner (1983)
• Role of Honour by John Gardner (1984)
• Nobody Lives Forever by John Gardner (1986)
• No Deals, Mr. Bond by John Gardner (1987)
• Scorpius by John Gardner (1988)
• Win, Lose or Die by John Gardner (1989)
• Brokenclaw by John Gardner (1990)
• The Man from Barbarossa by John Gardner (1991)
• Death is Forever by John Gardner (1992)
• Never Send Flowers by John Gardner (1993)
• SeaFire by John Gardner (1994)
• Cold by John Gardner (1996)
• Zero Minus Ten by Raymond Benson (1997)
• The Facts of Death by Raymond Benson (1998)
• High Time to Kill by Raymond Benson (1999)
• Doubleshot by Raymond Benson (2000)
• Never Dream of Dying by Raymond Benson (2001)
• The Man With the Red Tattoo by Raymond Benson (2002)
• Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks (2008)
• Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver (2011)
• Solo by William Boyd (2013)
• Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horowitz (2015)
• Forever and a Day by Anthony Horowitz (2018)
• With a Mind to Kill by Anthony Horowitz (2022)
• On His Majesty’s Secret Service by Charlie Higson (2023)

James Bond Movie Novelizations

In addition to the books which inspired movies, there have also been several novelizations of the James Bond movies.

• James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me by Christopher Wood (1977)
• James Bond and Moonraker by Christopher Wood (1979)
• Licence to Kill by John Gardner (1989)
• Goldeneye by John Gardner (1995)
• Tomorrow Never Dies by Raymond Benson (1997)
• The World is Not Enough by Raymond Benson (1999)
• Die Another Day by Raymond Benson (2002)

Young Bond Series

Another continuation of the James Bond books in order by the estate is the reimagining of the character for a younger audience. This young adult series was written first by Charlie Higson, then continued more recently by Steve Cole.

• Silverfin by Charlie Higson (2005)
• BloodFever by Charlie Higson (2006)
• Double or Die by Charlie Higson (2007)
• Hurricane Gold by Charlie Higson (2007)
• By Royal Command by Charlie Higson (2008)
• Danger Society by Charlie Higson (2009) (Short Story Collection)
• Shoot to Kill by Steve Cole (2014)
• Heads You Die by Steve Cole (2016)
• Strike Lightning by Steve Cole (2016)
• Red Nemesis by Steve Cole (2017)
• A Hard Man To Kill by Charlie Higson (2018) (Short Story)

The Moneypenny Diaries

There is also another spin-off series set within this world which was written long after Ian Fleming’s death. That is The Moneypenny Diaries series, which was written by Kate Westbrook. It is from the perspective of Miss Jane Moneypenny, who is the personal secretary to James Bond’s boss, Secret Service Chief M, and also Bond’s colleague and confidante.

• Guardian Angel by Kate Westbrook (2005)
• Secret Servant by Kate Westbrook (2006)
• Final Fling by Kate Westbrook (2008)
• Secret Chapters (2020) (Short Story Collection)

Double O Books

The newest series within the world of James Bond is a planned trilogy by Kim Sherwood. The trilogy follows James Bond as well as other MI6 Double O agents including Johanna Harwood, 003; Joseph Dryden, 004; and Sid Bashir, 009.

• Double or Nothing (2023)
• A Spy Like Me (Expected: April 23, 2024)

A Summary of James Bond Books in Order

While there are more than 60 books which feature the life and exploits of James Bond in some capacity, you’re starting point should be with the original Ian Fleming novels. While parts of these books read as a true product of its time in the 1950s and 1960s, this is the origin to 007.

Therefore, below are summaries to the original twelve books and two short story collections so you can add them to your reading list.

1. Casino Royale

British Secret Service agent James Bond, a.k.a. 007, is sent to a French casino in Royale-les-Eaux. His mission? Bankrupt a ruthless Russian agent who’s been on a bad luck streak at the baccarat table.

One of SMERSH’s most deadly operatives has been a prime target of the British Secret Service for years. He is known only as “Le Chiffre.” If Bond can wipe out his bankroll, Le Chiffre will likely be “retired” by his paymasters in Moscow.

But what if the cards won’t cooperate? After a brutal night at the gaming tables, Bond soon finds himself dodging would-be assassins, fighting off nightmarish torturers, and going all-in to save the life of his beautiful female counterpart, Vesper Lynd.

2. Live and Let Die

James Bond is not a superstitious man, but it’s hard not to feel unnerved in the presence of Mr. Big. A ruthless Harlem gangster who uses voodoo to control his criminal empire, he’s also one of SMERSH’s top American operatives.

Mr. Big has been smuggling British pirate treasure to New York from a remote Jamaican island. Then funnelling the proceeds to Moscow. With help from Solitaire, Mr. Big’s beautiful and enigmatic Creole fortune-teller, and his old friend Felix Leiter, 007 must locate the crime lord’s hideout, sabotage his operation, and reclaim the pirate hoard for England.

3. Moonraker

Sir Hugo Drax should be above reproach. He is a super patriot and a war veteran who’s bankrolling Britain’s top-secret Moonraker rocket program. But there’s more to this enigmatic millionaire than he lets on.

When M suspects Drax of cheating at cards in an exclusive gentleman’s club, he sends Bond in to investigate. But exposing the deception only enrages Drax — and now 007 must outwit an angry man with a nuclear warhead.

The mysterious death of the head of security at Drax’s missile base gives Bond the perfect opportunity to go undercover to find out the secret agenda of the supposed British war hero. With the help of another agent, the lustrous Gala Brand, 007 learns the truth about Drax’s battle scars, his wartime allegiances, and his murderous plans for the deployment of Moonraker.

4. Diamonds Are Forever

An international diamond-smuggling pipeline has opened up and the British Treasury wants to know who’s controlling it.

Impersonating a captured courier named Peter Franks, Bond infiltrates the criminal ring. There he finds an unlikely ally in Tiffany Case, a gorgeous American with a dark past.

As the ring’s stateside go-between, she may be just another link in the chain, but Tiffany is also Bond’s best shot at finding the elusive figure at the head of the operation. A syndicate boss known only by the initials “ABC.”

But if Bond’s cover gets blown, he’ll find that the only thing harder than a diamond is surviving the payback of a pair of murderous henchmen.

5. From Russia, with Love

SMERSH stands for “Death to Spies” and there’s no secret agent they’d like to disgrace and destroy more than 007, James Bond. But ensnaring the British Secret Service’s most lethal operative will require a lure so tempting even he can’t resist. Enter Tatiana Romanova, a ravishing Russian spy whose “defection” springs a trap designed with clockwork precision.

Her mission: Seduce Bond, then flee to the West on the Orient Express. Waiting in the shadows are two villains. Red Grant, SMERSH’s deadliest assassin, and the sinister operations chief Rosa Klebb — five feet four inches of pure killing power.

6. Doctor No

Dispatched by M to investigate the mysterious disappearance of MI6’s Jamaica station chief, Bond was expecting a holiday in the sun. But when he discovers a deadly centipede placed in his hotel room, the vacation is over.

On this island, all suspicious activity leads inexorably to Dr. Julius No, a reclusive megalomaniac with steel pincers for hands. To find out what the good doctor is hiding, 007 must enlist the aid of local fisherman Quarrel and alluring beachcomber Honeychile Rider.

Together they will combat a local legend the natives call “the Dragon,” before Bond alone must face the most punishing test of all: An obstacle course — designed by the sadistic Dr. No himself — that measures the limits of the human body’s capacity for agony.

7. Goldfinger

Auric Goldfinger is the richest man in England — though his wealth isn’t in the banks. He’s been hoarding vast stockpiles of his namesake metal, and it’s attracted the suspicion of 007’s superiors at MI6.

Sent to investigate, Bond uncovers an ingenious gold-smuggling scheme, as well as Goldfinger’s most daring caper yet. Operation Grand Slam, a gold heist so audacious it could bring down the world economy and put the fate of the West in the hands of SMERSH.

To stop Goldfinger, Bond will have to survive a showdown with the sinister millionaire’s henchman. Oddjob is a tenacious karate master who can kill with one well-aimed toss of his razor-rimmed bowler hat.

8. For Your Eyes Only

This is a collection of five stories that sends 007 to Bermuda, Berlin, and beyond, and places him in the dangerous company of adversaries of all varieties.

“From a View to a Kill” whisks Bond to the French countryside where he must go undercover to expose a deadly secret-intelligence plot. In “For Your Eyes Only,” 007 is absorbed into a private vendetta of M’s, blurring the lines between the personal and professional.

In “Quantum of Solace,” Bond attends a dinner party in the Bahamas and learns how passion can soon twist into cruelty, while “Risico” forces the secret agent to fight for the lesser of two evils in a smuggling war set amid the Mediterranean.

Finally, “The Hildebrand Rarity” lands 007 in an old-fashioned murder mystery at sea, where even he has a secret to keep.

9. Thunderball

Upon M’s insistence, James Bond takes a two-week respite in a secluded natural health spa. But amid the bland teas, tasteless yogurts, and the spine stretcher the guests lovingly call “The Rack,” Bond stumbles onto the trail of a lethal man with ties to a new secret organisation called SPECTRE.

When SPECTRE hijacks two A-bombs, a frantic global search for the weapons ensues, and M’s hunch that the plane containing the bombs will make a clean drop into the ocean sends Bond to the Bahamas to investigate.

On the island paradise, 007 finds a wealthy pleasure seeker’s treasure hunt and meets Domino Vitali, the gorgeous mistress to Emilio Largo, otherwise known as SPECTRE’s Number 1. But as powerful as Number 1 is, he works for someone else: Ernst Stavro Blofeld, a peculiar man with a deadly creative mind.

10. The Spy Who Loved Me

Different from the other books in the series, The Spy Who Loved Me is from the perspective of a femme fatale in the making — a victim of circumstance with a wounded heart.

Vivienne Michel, precocious French Canadian raised in the United Kingdom, seems a foreigner in every land. With only a supercharged Vespa and a handful of American dollars, she travels down winding roads into the pine forests of the Adirondacks. After stopping at the Dreamy Pines Motor Court and being coerced into caretaking at the vacant motel for the night, Viv opens the door to two armed mobsters and realises being a woman alone is no easy task.

But when a third stranger shows — a confident Englishman with a keen sense for sizing things up — the tables are turned.

Still reeling in the wake of Operation Thunderball, Bond has planned for his jaunt through the Adirondacks to be a period of rest before his return to Europe. But that all changes when his tire goes flat in front of a certain motel…

11. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

In the aftermath of Operation Thunderball, Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s trail has gone cold — and so has 007’s love for his job. The only thing that can rekindle his passion is Contessa Teresa “Tracy” di Vicenzo, a troubled young woman who shares his taste for fast cars and danger.

She’s the daughter of a powerful crime boss, and he thinks Bond’s hand in marriage may be the solution to all her problems. Bond’s not ready to settle down — yet — but if Tracy’s father can lead him to Blofeld, he’ll consider it.

After tracking the SPECTRE chief to a stronghold in the Swiss Alps, Bond uncovers the details of Blofeld’s latest plot: A biological warfare scheme more audacious than anything the fiend has tried before. Now Bond must save the world once again — and survive Blofeld’s last, very personal, act of vengeance.

12. You Only Live Twice

The tragic end to James Bond’s last mission — courtesy of Ernst Stavro Blofeld — has left 007 a broken man and of little use to the British Secret Service.

At his wit’s end, M decides that the only way to snap his best agent out of his torpor is to send him on an impossible diplomatic mission to Japan. Bond’s contact there is the formidable Japanese spymaster Tiger Tanaka, who agrees to do business with the West if Bond will assassinate one of his enemies: A mysterious Swiss botanist named Dr. Guntram Shatterhand.

However, Shatterhand is not who he seems. And his impregnable fortress — known to the locals as the “Castle of Death” — is a gauntlet of traps no gaijin has ever penetrated.

But through rigorous ninja training, and with some help from the beautiful and able Kissy Suzuki, Bond manages to gain access to Shatterhand’s lair. Inside lurks certain doom at the hands of 007’s bitterest foe — or a final chance to exact ultimate vengeance.

13. The Man with the Golden Gun

Bond may have a licence to kill, but “Pistols” Scaramanga has a talent for it. He’s a KGB-trained assassin who’s left a trail of dead British Secret Service agents in his wake. His weapon of choice? A gold-plated Colt .45.

In the aftermath of his brainwashing by the Soviets, Bond is given one last chance to win back M’s trust: Terminate Scaramanga before he strikes MI6 again. Traveling to Jamaica under an assumed name, Bond manages to infiltrate Scaramanga’s organisation and soon discovers that the hit man’s criminal ambitions have expanded to include arson, drug smuggling, and industrial sabotage.

Worst of all for Bond, Scaramanga has a golden bullet inscribed with the numbers 007 — and he’s eager to put it to use.

14. Octopussy and The Living Daylights

This is a collection which features four tales of intrigue that push 007 to the limit and find the secret agent questioning where he can go from there…

In “Octopussy,” a former operative in the Second World War must face the consequences of past sins when James Bond knocks on the door of his Caribbean fortress, and in “The Property of a Lady” Bond deciphers the elaborate codes of a Sotheby’s bidding war in order to catch a KGB agent.

“007 in New York” takes Bond to the titular city to warn an ex-agent of her boyfriend’s secret KGB affiliation. And “The Living Daylights” sends Bond to Berlin to protect a British agent before an assassin strikes.

Final thoughts on the James Bond books in order

So, there you have all the James Bond books in order which make up this iconic series. James Bond is a literary character who has become larger than life with his adaptations and iconic attributes which have leapt from Ian Fleming’s original pages. The James Bond series is a hallmark classic to the spy thriller genre.

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James Bond books in order

July 13, 2020

Looking for Ian Fleming’s James Bond books in order? Look no further!

Casino Royale first introduced us to Ian Fleming’s iconic British Secret Service agent, 007, in 1953. Twelve novels and a series of short stories followed, inspiring big screen adaptations, prequel books and continuation novels, with the legendary James Bond character and his creator changing the spy thriller genre forever.

If you’re yet to pick up a James Bond book, prepare to step into a world of secrets, spies and undercover operations!

Ian Fleming’s James Bond books in order:

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

1. Casino Royale (1953)

Le Chiffre is a businessman with expensive tastes – and SMERSH’s chief operative in France. As his dissolute lifestyle threatens to ruin him, his only hope of survival is to risk his paymasters’ money at the baccarat table. Across from him sits James Bond, the finest gambler in the British secret service. Bond’s mission: to outplay Le Chiffre and shatter his Soviet cell.

Amidst the opulence of the Royale-les-Eaux casino, the two men face each other in a game with the highest stakes of all.

Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming

2. Live and Let Die (1954)

James Bond’s new assignment will take him to the heart of the occult: to infiltrate this secret world and destroy Mr Big’s global network.

From Harlem’s throbbing jazz joints to the shark-infested waters of Jamaica, enemy eyes watch Bond’s every move. He must tread carefully to avoid a nightmarish fate.

Moonraker by Ian Fleming

3. Moonraker (1955)

He’s a self-made millionaire, head of the Moonraker rocket programme and loved by the press. So why is Sir Hugo Drax cheating at cards? Bond has just five days to uncover the sinister truth behind a national hero.

Diamonds are Forever by Ian Fleming

4. Diamonds are Forever (1956)

James Bond must go deep undercover in his urgent new assignment: to destroy their millionaire masterminds, Jack and Seraffimo Spang.

But the Spangs’ cruel influence is everywhere, from dusty African diamond mines to the frenzied gambling dens of Las Vegas. Can Bond find his men before his cover is blown?

From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming

5. From Russia with Love (1957)

SMERSH, the Russian intelligence unit, is hell-bent on destroying Special Agent James Bond. His death would deal a hammer blow to the heart of The British Secret Service.

The lure? The chance for 007 to bring the Spektor decoding machine from Istanbul to London, and for the British to take the upper hand in a chilling new front of the Cold War.

Dr No by Ian Fleming

6. Dr. No (1958)

Dr Julius No is a man with a mysterious past. Nobody knows what secrets are hidden on his Caribbean island, and all those who have attempted to investigate further have disappeared.

When two British agents go missing in Jamaica, Bond is sent to investigate. Battling the Doctor’s twin obsessions with power and pain, he uncovers the true nature of his opponent’s covert operation – but he must undergo a deadly assault course before he can destroy the Doctor’s plans once and for all.

Goldfinger by Ian Fleming

7. Goldfinger (1959)

A private assignment sets Bond on the trail of an enigmatic criminal mastermind – Auric Goldfinger. But greed and power have created a deadly opponent who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming

8. For Your Eyes Only (1960)

Who killed an elderly couple in their Caribbean home? M knows exactly who did it, but the murderers will most likely escape through a twisted net of global politics. So M calls in a personal favour from a certain licensed killer who understands the kind of rough justice needed. Bond soon discovers he’s not the only one on the hunt, and the lines between revenge and justice become blurred…

Also includes the short stories ‘Quantum of Solace’, ‘From a View to a Kill’, ‘Risico’ and ‘The Hildebrand Rarity’.

Thunderball by Ian Fleming

9. Thunderball (1961)

SPECTRE is a merciless new enemy – a group of the world’s toughest criminals, headed by the brilliant Ernst Stavro Blofeld. When two NATO atom bombs go missing, Bond must unravel SPECTRE’s intricate plans and prevent a global catastrophe.

The Spy Who Loved Me by Ian Fleming

10. The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)

Vivienne Michel is a troubled young woman on the run. Fleeing England she comes to a deserted motel in the Adirondack Mountains where she thinks she has finally escaped her past.

Sluggsy and Horror are ruthless mobsters on a mission of their own. Holding a terrified Viv hostage in the motel, they plot death and destruction.

Bond has just one night to take on the gangsters. But with two hardened killers to outwit, and time running out, can he save Vivienne – and himself?

On Her Majesty's Secret Service by Ian Fleming

11. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)

James Bond has had enough. Enough of Service life, of fruitless manhunts, of taking orders. But Blofeld is back – older, leaner and more dangerous than ever, with a deadly secret at the heart of his luxury ski resort – and so Bond must rediscover his passion for what he does best.

You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming

12. You Only Live Twice (1964)

Bond is shattered by the murder of his wife at the hands of Ernst Stavro Blofeld but M. gives him one last chance. To save his job, James Bond needs to infiltrate and destroy the Castle of Death in exchange for top-secret Japanese intelligence

007 must learn the skills of ninja warriors and face his ultimate enemy in a battle to the death.

The Man With the Golden Gun by Ian Fleming

13. The Man with the Golden Gun (1965)

The Man with the Golden Gun, Paco Scaramanga, is one of the deadliest hit men in the world and the British Secret Service want him eliminated.

A brainwashed James Bond tried, and failed, to kill his boss, M. It’s time for him to prove he can be trusted again.

Bond finds his man in the sweltering heat of Jamaica. His plan is to infiltrate Scaramanga’s gang of criminals to get close to the man himself. But if he fails, Bond will be the next target for the golden gun.

Octopussy and The Living Daylights by Ian Fleming

14. Octopussy & The Living Daylights (1966)

The British Secret Service has many enemies. Whether it’s a sniper in East Berlin, a Russian agent secretly bidding for a Fabergé egg, or a retired major in Jamaica with a treacherous secret, it is down to James Bond to neutralize the threat.

In these stories the dirty world of international espionage tests Bond’s skills to the extreme.

There you have it – Ian Fleming’s James Bond books in order! How many have you read? Let us know in the comments below…

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Just finished reading Goldfinger, I’ve been reading them in order (book order not film order), I’ve enjoyed them all so far, if i had to choose a favourite of the ones I’ve read so far it wouldn’t be easy but i guess it would be Goldfinger, looking forward to reading more.

I read them all in my youth. Loved every one of them and may be I’ll read them all again. Imsure they are still in my library.

Completely agree. Love Fleming’s dissertations on travel, food, cultures, cars, etc. for example the paragraph in Live and Let Die describing Bond’s taste in vehicles, which begins with “Bond liked fast cars and he liked driving them…”

I have read every single one of them starting at age 12 or 13… backstories in the novels provide so much more information that a movie ever could. ‘A young Hoagy Carmichael’ for instance…

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