Casino Royale
Ian Fleming
1953
Around 215 pages
I read all of the James Bond books when I was younger, despite the fact that my dad's copies were literally falling apart at the seams. I don't know why I just didn't get them out at the library, it's not like they are obscure novels. Oh past Amanda.
Le Chiffre, the paymaster for a French Communist Party trade union, loses 50 million francs in Soviet subsidies after investing in brothels three months before France ratifies the Loi Marthe Richard. So I guess whores do sometimes sink. Desperate to get the money back before his handlers notice, he goes to a casino in Somme with the remaining 25 million francs in union funds. Of course, everybody has already figured it out. The Russians send an assassin to finish him off, and the Brits send James Bond to beat him in cards, because they are the good guys (and they want to completely bankrupt the trade union). Also, Bond is assigned a hot female companion, Vesper, because we need somebody for him to bang.
It's a testament to Fleming's strong writing that I could be fascinated by a game of baccarat, when I don't know how to play baccarat. And although I've never had my penis repeatedly struck by a carpet beater, I have dealt with chronic pain my whole life, and I was really blown away by Fleming's description of agony. It's not an easy thing to put into words.
Ian Fleming might just be the biggest badass on this List, with the possible exception of Erskine Childers (but you can only be so cool if your name is Erskine). Many of the elements of the plot were inspired by real life events Fleming witnessed when he served as an intelligence officer. Those seeds of reality stop the entire story from being an unbearably over the top absurd male fantasy (at least in this story).
Let me know your favorite James Bond in the comments! And bonus points if you can guess mine.
RATING: *****
Interesting Facts:
James Bond was originally named James Secretan, but Ian Fleming wanted a more boring name.
Umberto Eco said Fleming isn't an artist; yet he writes with art. Oh shut up.
UP NEXT: Junkie by William Burroughs
1 comment:
I have read all of the James bond novels and am rather fascinated by Ian Fleming. I liked them all, especially when they differed from the movies.
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