Thunderball (James Bond Novels)
by Ian Fleming
List Price:
Our Price: $5.48
You Save: $9.52 (63%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.10 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Ian FlemingEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-05-27
ISBN: 0142003247
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Book Reviews of Thunderball (James Bond Novels)
Book Review: "I Thought I Saw A Spectre..."
Summary: 4 Stars
In a sense, THUNDERBALL is where it all started and where it all ended for James Bond. Although the novel was not released until 1961, it is based upon a earlier screenplay (MR. KISS-KISS BANG BANG) written by Fleming, Jack Whittingham and Kevin McClory, many elements of which were adapted for the first Bond Films.
(In)famously, McClory and Eon Productions became embroiled in an epic lawsuit that lasted decades over the rights to the intellectual property of SPECTRE and Blofeld. As a result, SPECTRE vanished from the later films, the producers decided never to follow another of Fleming's plotlines (much to the detriment of the movies), McClory was awarded partial rights to THUNDERBALL (which was remade as NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN), and Connery was wooed home for the role, a thumb in the eye of Cubby Broccoli, who had argued with Connery years before. In the end, MGM/Eon bought everybody out, this is all a footnote, and CASINO ROYALE is expected in 2006 with as yet an unnamed actor as Bond.
While not one of the best of Fleming's works, THUNDERBALL has a charming wit that makes it irresistible, especially in its earlier scenes at Shrublands the exclusive health spa where Bond is forced to go for the cure.
Fleming obviously wrote the Shrublands episode with his tongue jammed firmly into his cheek, and has a wonderful time poking fun at critics who find Bond's hedonism distressing. After two weeks of drinking wheatgrass juice and eating pine nut tofu, Bond is feeling absolutely "mahvelous," he has practically turned into "Jim-Bob Gandhi," and his Scots housekeeper May is in tears warning him against the danger of a grown man eating such "bairn's food." Bond patiently explains, with the insufferable air of a true zealot, the difference between "live" foods and "dead foods," and dismisses May with the grumbled imprecation, "Change of life."
But May is right. When called to action, Bond immediately reverts to steak and eggs, black coffee, Morland Balkan cigarettes, and whisky neat. His nemesis, Blofeld, by the way, indulges in nothing.
Not so Emilio Largo, who is a true Roman epicurean. Largo's favorite indulgences are the hydrofoil yacht Disco Volante and Domino Vitali. Bond quickly develops a fondness for the latter as well, a far more explicit fondness than the films ever could describe.
The plot is familiar to everyone who has seen the movies. (Isn't that everyone?) SPECTRE steals two atom bombs and holds the world hostage. Bond must retrieve them.
What makes THUNDERBALL the book so vastly different from THUNDERBALL/NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN is Fleming's style as an author. He is a true "sensualist" as a writer, able to pack a scene with smells, sounds, sights and textures, all while practicing an economy with words that is admirable.
While Fleming's Bond is vaguely sketched by intent, it is Fleming's language that essentially animated the "James Bond Style," far and beyond any one film. This is most evident in THUNDERBALL, the movie that became a book that became two movies. The Bond films merely solidified Fleming's prose. The cinematic Bond is a different character, but wears the same shoes.
A blasted good read!
Action & Adventure Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Action & Adventure Books
Polar Shiftby Paul Cussler Clive & Kemprecos
Penguin; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.30
The Call of the Wild (Children's Classics)by Jack London
Penguin Audio; Published: 1997-08-01; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $11.00
Pelican Briefby John Grisham
Trafalgar Square; Published: 1993-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.19
Price in other shops:
Stardustby Neil Gaiman
HarperCollins; Published: 2008-12-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.52
Price in other shops:
Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)by Neal Stephenson
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 2004-09-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.22
Price in other shops:
Sandstormby James Rollins
Harper; Published: 2005-04-26; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.50
Price in other shops:
No Man's Landby G.M. Ford
William Morrow; Published: 2005-06-28; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.50
Price in other shops:
Forever Odd - Signed Proofby Dean Koontz
Bantam; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Preyby Michael Crichton
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2003-08-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.95
Sharpe's Waterloo (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #20)by Bernard Cornwell
Harpercollins; Published: 1998-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.96
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Octopussy and The Living Daylights (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2004-04-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
From Russia with Love (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2002-12-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
The Man With The Golden Gun (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2004-04-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.81
Price in other shops:
You Only Live Twice (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2003-09-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
For Your Eyes Only (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2003-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Goldfinger (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2002-08-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
The Spy Who Loved Me (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2003-09-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.17
Price in other shops:
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2003-09-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.93
Price in other shops:
Diamonds Are Forever (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2002-12-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.33
Price in other shops:
Doctor No (James Bond Novels)by Ian Fleming
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2002-08-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: