'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' | Fleming's Masterpiece? | Book Review

[@jonathancampbell5231]

If memory servess, I believe the reason he info dumped Bond's lineage is because Sean Connery had just been hired to play Bond in Dr No and Fleming was so impressed with him that he decided to give the character some Scottish ancestry in the book he was already writing.

[@evilubuntu9001]

This is in fact true.

[@LordMelbury1953]

Jonathan Campbell you are correct Sir. After he saw Connery, but at first I believe he was not a Connery fan.

[@jonathancampbell5231]

@@LordMelbury1953 Yes. He wanted David Niven in fact, which probably explains the shout out to Niven in YOLT, and maybe why Niven eventually got cast as the "real" James Bond in the 60s Casino Royale.

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

@@LordMelbury1953 ya he called Connery a "country bumpkin". That was before Connery recieved his "gentleman training" and went from country lad from scotland to James Bond, the suavest and most charismatic man in the room....every room.

[@JohnDoe-tm9wz]

There's also a reference to Ursula Andres in the book OHMSS

[@hblanche]

As a fan of the novels AND movies I absolutely agree that Tracy is so much better in the movie. It really helps that you have Diana Rigg cast in the role.

[@Tsukiakari-qb3tk]

tho i prefer the info we get on book!tracy

[@jammontgomery2320]

@@Tsukiakari-qb3tk It's a bit OTT for me, I know Fleming tried to sell the emotional aspect about her, but it's just too much, I preferred the backstory he made on Tiffany Case, simple yet believable and realistic. And as much as Fleming tried to go deep into her backstory, if the character wasn't well written, it would not work. The thing is Tracy in the books didn't have that much of an impression, her character development was a bit rushed, like we met her suicidal at the start, then she's gone for the majority of pages, and went back cured as if there's a magic happened, and she's also subservient when she returned, she didn't do much, she didn't helped Bond throughout his mission, her driving him out of the situation was even a coincidence. Again, comparing her to Tiffany Case (who arguably his most realized female character), Tiffany's backstory was realistically written without being too OTT, but the way she's written as a character speaks volumes on her experiences that made it so believable and to the lesser extent, worthy. Tracy's backstory was a bit OTT, but the character wasn't fully fleshed out. I don't mind on the backstory that much, I'm more fine with it being simply written, I'm looking more on the character itself. I definitely prefer the film version too. It's not too much on melodrama, they've tried to lowered it down to still keep the lightness, and as a result, the film balanced the light tone and drama.

[@Tsukiakari-qb3tk]

@@jammontgomery2320 no like im saying i love movie tracy and she's a vast improvement on book tracy, i just wish we'd gotten more info on her backstory in the movie

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@Tsukiakari-qb3tk We do get her father telling Bond her background in the film.

[@kevinkuenn5733]

Definitely the best Bond book by a wide margin. I love the symmetry of how both Bond and Traci each help one another when the other is at their lowest: Traci being saved by Bond while attempting suicide over grief at her lost child, and Traci saving Bond just as he's given up hope of escaping Blofeld's men. As good as the film adaptation is, I think it doesn't fully put across Bond's complete resignation and despair at that moment, and the incredible sense of relief and gratitude at Traci's rescue. Also the way that the novel ties Vesper's memory to Traci, which the movie sadly couldn't do. And as Calvin notes, the quality of the writing takes a huge leap forward. It's a shame Fleming was only able to write a handful of novels after this one before he passed away, because from this point forward I truly think he becomes a fantastic writer, and not just someone with a blunt, straight-ahead prose style and a knack for ending his chapters on a series of bot-boiler cliffhangers as he'd previously been.

[@paulklee5790]

A most excellent observation....

[@unkindestcut]

For all the criticism Lazenby gets for his acting, I actually think he sells that sense of fear and giving up after the pursuit through the crowd. When he looks up and sees Tracy, his eyes seem ready to well up with tears at the sight of her.

[@Mostirrelevant]

Definitely not. I so disagree on this one.

[@HoustonSoto]

I forget where I read it, but I believe Fleming added the passages about Bond’s Scottish origin as a tribute to Sean Connery who had won him over in the role. I have no idea if there’s any truth to that, but it’s a nice idea.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

That is true. Fleming said Connery 'was not what I had in mind but he would be if I was starting over'. On a more cynical note, he also probably realised the films would attract a new audience to his novels so making the character easier to link to Connery would be beneficial to sales.

[@CaminoAir]

Thanks, Calvin. Always enjoy your reviews. It's a great shame that Fleming didn't live to see the film adaption of a book he clearly invested a good deal of care in.

[@Anon24052]

Then again I think if you told Fleming that they casted an Aussie as Bond he’d lose his shit

[@garybryant1501]

Bond is more accident prone in the novels and his luck is more up and down than the more superhero elements in the early films

[@mattpicton9512]

For some reason when reading the book, I always imagined Blofeld to look like Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln lol :)

[@RobertK1993]

I imagine him to be bald and German

[@smallmj2886]

I like the little detail in this one where the lab analyses Bond's "invisible ink"

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

Wait....oh god....oh....oh no.....do they mean his....? Did he....? All over his....? I mean...thats what they used in WW2....oh god....

[@liquidgeorge]

Definitely my favourite Fleming novel (and film). The chapter when Blofeld calmly asks Bond if he is a spy is genuinely tense.

[@mubondfan216]

This makes me want to watch the film AND read the book again!

[@davidjames579]

Agent Dyson's mission is accomplished

[@CannonFodder93]

Actors I imagine for some of the characters in the novel: Bond - Timothy Dalton Draco - David de Keyser Tracy - Diana Rigg Blofeld - Max Von Sydow Bunt - Ilse Steppat M - Robert Brown

[@charmatic_yt2195]

In my eyes, Dalton IS the”Book Bond”

[@CannonFodder93]

@@charmatic_yt2195 Yeah. I always have this description for both Sean Connery and Dalton: Dalton - Straightforward book Bond (he nails the ruthlessness and the anger of the character in the novels) Connery - Book Bond plus more (since the wit he added really added another dimension to the character)

[@jamesatkinsonja]

​@@charmatic_yt2195 I did find it interesting that Anthony Horowitz said when writing his books that he 'pictured Daniel Craig and heard Sean Connery' rather than Dalton.

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

This was the first Fleming Bond novel I ever read. I was pretty young at the time, and while I was already a fan of the Bond films, I didn't know that they were based on books - I guess I assumed the books were novelization of the films. I picked up this particular novel at a church jumble sale while on a family holiday in Wales. I must only have been 11 or 12 at the time. Needless to say, it was quite the eye opener!

[@patwaters-actormoviereviewer]

Answer: Irma Bunt is in the You Only Live Twice novel but not in Diamonds Are Forever the film because Ilse Steppat died after making On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

[@rickh7676]

ECKohns possibly out of respect, look how long it took to recast M after Bernard Lee’s death.

[@rickh7676]

ECKohns they fit give it a grace period though. M wasn’t in the very next film.

[@EditedAF987]

ECKohns because they really wanted to bury the memory of OHMSS at the time and forget it ever happened

[@SuperWolsey]

These days, DAF isnt looked highly upon these days

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

Because ''Diamonds Are Forever'' is a sequel of ''You Only Live Twice''. Also there is no Draco and none reference to Tracy or to Bond's marriage. In the first scene after gunbarrel, Bond is still in Japan looking for Blofeld, only as the head of a global criminal organization.

[@Beingjamesbond]

I couldn't agree more that this is one of the - if not THE - best of the Fleming novels! And also agreed that the changes they make for film are improvements! Another great review Calvin!

[@BenCol]

Cracking video, couldn't agree with you more. The bit where the agent (Shaun Campbell) appears has got to be one of the best cliffhanger chapter ends ever. It may have been 007 years since I read this book for the first time but I still remember it being a real "oh my god, what happens next‽" bit. One thing that was changed for the worst for the film was Blofeld's escape. In the book, Blofeld knocks Bond out on the bobsled run - when Bond comes to, Blofeld's run away. In the film, Bond snags Blofeld in a tree and just assumes he died, he's too busy playing with a St Bernard to go back and check. It definitely works better in the book. Also, I prefer the setting of Bond's proposal in the book (grimy airport café) to the film (cosy stable) - the sheer unromantic setting in the book works well for Bond, I think, he isn't a romantic fellow. The film plays up the romanticness just a tad too much, with the soft focus and all that. One detail I like is that Ursula Andress is namechecked as a visitor at Piz Gloria. Considering that she was made famous by the film 'Dr. No', does that mean the Bond films exist in the literary Bond universe? It is implied in the book 'You Only Live Twice' that the Bond books exist in the literary Bond universe, so it's possible! Very meta indeed. Funnily enough, the only actors referred to in the Fleming novels are Andress and David Niven (in YOLT) - both of whom starred in the 1967 'Casino Royale'. Coincidence? Yes, most definitely. Also, apparently Alec Trevelyan was an ex-Royal Marine Commando, but that's assuming it's the same 006. It's more likely to be the RIngo Starr lookalike from 'Thunderball' instead.

[@johnrigs6540]

Lol yes I am pretty certain this came out after Dr No and Fleming was giving a nod and a wink to the filmmakers. I also read that he gave Bond some Scottish heritage in the later novels because he loved the way Sean Connery played his hero!

[@iansmith4023]

In the same scene in the book where Andress is namechecked,Irma Bunt also mentions that she has a lovely tan - which she would have if she'd just returned from Jamaica!

[@sgtfrozty]

@@johnrigs6540 The fact that Connery influenced Bond's heritage through Fleming is still amazing. I know everyone has their own opinions regarding their favourite Bond but that fact alone is a pretty strong argument for him.

[@rickh7676]

BenCol I like to think the “ex Royal Marine Commando” that is 006 is Trevelyan as it just fits nicely for me.

[@LordMelbury1953]

A great read, under the covers back in the day. Before the movies, the books are in an alternate universe. For the post war British audience with rationing and currency control restricted travel, this explains the travel detail in the books and its appeal to the reading audience . A whole different world from today. Love your critique Calvin.

[@mr.sand7899]

I think all the stuff about Bond's heritage came from the fact that Dr. No was being made around this time and Sean Connery was Scottish so Filming added a Scottish backstory.

[@EthanKnight97]

OHMSS is definitely in my top five Fleming books. The more detail in Bond's past and also Blofeld's backstory. It's hard to chose between book and film as thier so similar. But I guess in the book the only disappointment is Tracy, and I never got the sense that she was a special woman to Bond and didn't feel the romance. For example in the movie Bond proposes to her in the barn sheltering from the snow. But in the book Bond proposes to her over some scrambled eggs in Zurich airport. But on a whole it is one of the best, I can't wait for your review of YOLT, to me its most interesting book of them all. Great review as always Calvin 👍

[@jenniferschillig3768]

I do think the movie has a major improvement over the book: involving Tracy in the final battle. Her getting kidnapped raises the stakes, and the way she tries to manipulate Blofeld by making him think she's interested shows she's resourceful and intelligent, even more so than her rescue of Bond...and makes the ending that much more tragic, because it shows us she really would have been an ideal partner for James Bond.

[@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ]

@@jenniferschillig3768 If Tracy continued as Bond's wife, Bond would not be 00. That's why in the film, in the barn, Bond says he has to find another job, and he resigns in "Casino Royale", on the boat in Venice with Vesper. Probably they would be like Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg in ''The Avengers''.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

@@ΜακηςΛ-ε5ρ Oh, of course, but I meant she'd be a match for him in bravery, spirit and temperament. I imagine that if that had been the case (or someday in the future when he retires from active duty), he'd be good at training future agents, and even find fulfillment in doing so. He'd still be doing his part for the Service and the country, but without risking his own life.

[@TheSpacey52]

The OHMSS movie is almost spot on with the book

[@spaceace4387]

It had the same basic story although the movie added some stuff in and took some stuff out. I've noticed that action sequences are exciting in movies but boring in books while the inverse is true for exposition scenes so of course what works in one medium doesn't work in another.

[@oliverhayhoe]

My favourite Bond book! Glad to see you enjoyed it!

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

Enjoyed the book hugely but I find the film a better version of this story. The stakes in the film feel more impactful. Plus the cinematography and music really enhance the film’s mood. That being said the ski chase is my favourite Fleming action scene. The fact that Fleming gave Bond this kind of story shows that he matured as a writer. I was surprised at the lack of Blofeld. The pace to the book slows up at points and the last few chapters feel a bit rushed. Bond and Tracys’ wedding and ending do tie it all off really well though. It’s definitely a strong one but it’s missing the breathlessness of the earlier books.

[@RemoteOrchid]

I agree! Plus Diana Rigg's Tracy is the better version, more fleshed out, and her romance with Bond was also given more time compared to the book which was sidelined. Yes, agreed on the plot of Blofeld, much more higher stakes compared to the book. I agree that it's missing the breathlessness of the earlier books in that, the middle act was a bit slow.

[@SolarDragon007]

I love the call-back to Casino Royale in this book. It feels so thematically appropriate since Bond had considered leaving the service to be with Vesper just as he does in OHMSS to be with Tracey. It's a great piece of foreshadowing/continuity that also humanizes Bond.

[@SolarDragon007]

@@davidjames579 Calvin also didn't mention Hans Oberhauser

[@davidjames579]

@@SolarDragon007 Why would he?

[@SolarDragon007]

@@davidjames579 I remember him being mentioned in this book as Bond's ski instructor. They used that in Spectre

[@davidjames579]

@@SolarDragon007 Oh yes, of course! I knew who he was, but had forgotten he gets mentioned in OHMSS.

[@johnrigs6540]

So glad you liked this one! It is Fleming at his very best. It is interesting that in the early films they make some changes that actually make the films better-particularly Goldfinger and this one. I suspect credit for this goes to Richard Maibaum,who was,of course,the best writer of the series. The next novel is very different in tone and feel but it does feature brilliant writing and Flemings imagination at his wildest!

[@klaushergersheimer8315]

Agree about this one and Goldfinger 👍🏻

[@TomfromExeter]

The film significantly improves on the storytelling in the book. In various small ways; but the best idea was moving the marriage proposal to an alpine barn (rather than Zurich airport departure lounge) and inserting the avalanche scene straight after so that it catches both Bond and Tracy. That then sets up a much better climactic battle at Piz Gloria: Tracy is captive there; and Blofeld has stayed in situ because be thinks Bond dead. In the book it's not clear why Blofeld would stay on when der Englander has clearly blown his cover. The writing in this book is less lurid and pulpy than some of the other outings, and some of the dialogue is good, but the writing still grates to the modern ear (eye). Fleming has some great ideas but they don't come across readably. Bond thinks in exclamation marks, much of the descriptive stuff drags or is clunky, and the characters are cartoonish. The notable exceptions are the endings to most chapters which often have nice turns of style - none more so than the last one.

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

100% agree. The book is very good but the film might be the very best of them.

[@cwilliams6762]

Great review. Easily my favourite bond book

[@MatthewHarkin]

omg I totally forgot Bond and M have christmas dinner together!

[@KalEl290]

Awesome review. I've just finished rereading this one after having read it in my youth, where I allowed my dissatisfaction with GL's performance to lessen my enjoyment of the book. This time it was outstanding. Very tense, very modern action, I enjoyed his characterization of Tracy, and I agree with your feeling that it is the most thoughtfully written of the books. Some of the imagery and character beats were just beautiful.

[@andrewklang809]

I re-read the first 50 or so pages of this book about 3-4 times per year. It's as good as Fleming ever gets. You don't need the outlandish main plot, just a tale of a spy ready to move on after a big disappointment, and offered a legitimately tempting way out that would allow him to retain a life of adventure but also enjoy romance and maybe a family. And then the last two pages happens. Everything from the College of Arms and afterwards is buildup to that. Had it not been for Blofeld, Bond might have been happy. I prefer revisiting the good times.

[@RobertK1993]

Best James Bond book and probably very underrated movie adaptation definitely a top 10 movie.

[@AshleyThomas88]

Great review. OHMSS is one of my favourite Bond movies, definitely top 5...top 3 even! The last moment when Bond utters those words, "It's all right. It's quite all right, really. She's having a rest. We'll be going on soon. There's no hurry, you see. We have all the time in the world"... with tracey in his arms, emotionally floors me everytime. Can't wait to read the novel soon, though i'm way behind on my books at the moment.

[@HunterJ1999]

I love these book reviews! It inspired me to read Moonraker, which was one of the few Fleming's I hadn't read before. I would say OHMSS is tied with Moonraker as my favourite Fleming novel.

[@300kapslar]

You should have mention the cameo of Ursula Andress :) Fleming liked her as Honeychile so much that he wanted to credit her in this one.

[@RighteousBrother]

Hi Calvin, I hope you review the post Fleming Bond novels at some point, Trigger Mortis and Forever and a Day both are very good and worth reviewing.

[@JakeOO7]

RighteousBrother agree totally m8

[@alanaronald244]

I enjoyed your review, Cal, thanks.

[@aperson22222]

It's a great book. I do sort of feel that the series has been post-peak ever since SMERSH got whittled away, but this one is quite a return to form. I too picked up on an air of finality; though no one says it, I rather got the sense that, with SMERSH gone, the whole organization had sort of outlived its usefulness and Bond and M were coming to terms with this in their own ways. Bond's been somewhat going to seed, but here he rallies all his faculties (and digs up some new ones, like learning all about heraldry and helping to figure out the plot with M and the bureaucrats--which, by the way, I didn't mind at all, as it provided a nice leisurely break between two long, nail=biting action sequences, while still being tense in its own right). Draco is great and I find Tracy quite poignant. Blofeld is not at all at his best; being so preoccupied with finding an aristocratic ancestry is a vanity wholly out of keeping with his _Thunderball_ introduction. His motivations are not entirely clear (though destroying food production in the UK, while outlandish by book standards, makes infinitely more sense than destroying food production worldwide). He gets better in the third and final installment of his trilogy when he seems somewhat detached and withdrawn from the wider world and is just trying to enjoy his retirement, in his sick and twisted way. (And yes, Irma does return.) Bond's return to top form is short-lived, of course, and the already-melancholy note of the perfect introduction was only a primer for a devastating personal loss that had me more sympathetic for him than at any other point. Unlike so many of the too-lightly brushed aside Bond girls from earlier books, the death of Tracy well and truly breaks Bond, and he'll never be at top form again. In the next book we see a shell of the once-great hero being pushed, with great difficulty, to a point where he can just about muster one last glimmer of the old glory, with the stakes being much-reduced for all parties involved. And then we get two pretty much completely pointless books to pull down the curtain.

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

To be fair the whole reason Blofeld wanted it worldwide was to hold the world to ransom vs in the book its implied its a job hes being paid to do by Russia or China to destroy Britain specifically. He went bigger in the films on the grounds that he knew nobody would take that risk. Its the difference between holding a hostage (what he also does with Tracy in the film) vs just commiting murder. You can bargain with a hostage. Murder means no bargain.

[@aperson22222]

Connor notyerbidness Well, sure, he was characterized as more audacious to match his too-grand ambition. He would have had to be. I don’t recall any implication that someone was paying him to beggar Britain, I thought he’d come up with that on his own.

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

@@aperson22222 im currently reading Thunderball as part of the trilogy so ill make sure to keep an eye open during my actual reading of Majestys but i read that it was implied this was a job not personal vendetta

[@aperson22222]

Connor notyerbidness If so then I completely forgot that part-which is possible.

[@CosmoShidan]

@@aperson22222 The reason Blofeld acts so differently in OHMSS, is that he's starting to lose his marbles. I mean, when your big plan is to secure a big score and lose it all after months of planning, that would be enough to drive one nuts. Basically Blofeld invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into a large operation that was suppose to allow him to expand his criminal empire that already makes $10 million per year, but rather than wait a lifetime for his wealth to grow slowly, it would have allow SPECTRE to corner the black market. So now he's back to square 1 but since he can't do jobs for the CIA, MI6 and the Deuxième Bureau anymore, or do any overt act to compete with other mobs, by TSWLM, he ends up doing jobs for Russia. Same goes for OHMSS. And by YOLT, that's where he goes into complete villain breakdown.

[@Frikinautas]

Good, this one is very, very good. I was surprised about how fast I read it the second time around. It mantains the reader's interest high throughout.

[@Parkerr__]

Everybody: who would watch a new video at 3AM? Me: Oh boy 3AM!

[@calvindyson]

Chase Has A Review Channel I’m sorry for breaking into your recommended 7 hours of sleep!!

[@ashleybell189]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one of my favourite Bond books and the flim as well. I just hope we Bond fans get a follow up from Anthony Horowitz for a third James Bond story. Thats my wish

[@SuperWolsey]

Having sat through License to Kill two days ago, I couldn't help but think of your comment about the Bond and M passage in this review.

[@jordangifford6544]

When reading through the Fleming books, Majesty's and the follow up books You Only Live Twice and The Man With The Golden Gun are my favourites out of the series :)

[@Bond8789]

Ah, here we go. Were it not for Moonraker, On Her Majesty's Secret Service would be my favourite Fleming book.

[@That_Random_Bloke]

Bond8789 I love Moonraker. It’d be awesome if they produced a faithful adaptation of it (much as I love the movie)

[@Bond8789]

@@That_Random_Bloke Oh I completely agree with you. I would love to see 100% faithful adaptions of the books. Though I think they might work better on tv, so as to differentiate them from the films.

[@DarthMeteos]

I'm glad you loved the book as much as I did. Kind of excited to see how You Only Live Twice affects your interest in Bond 25.

[@SPECTRE_Madman]

Is that because you believe that Madeleine Swan will become his wife and get killed in the opening scene

[@DarthMeteos]

@@SPECTRE_Madman Not necessarily, but adapting the absolutely trashed Bond from the early parts of You Only Live Twice seems right up Craig's alley. It'd be cool to see him at his absolute lowest, even lower than Skyfall.

[@Painter19]

A very fair review with little nit picking this time and nicely summed up. I just prefer and would rank it behind Moonraker and Live and Let Die given the energy and pace and Fleming's enthusiasm writing 10 years earlier. OHMSS is quite a long novel but benefits from that and was the work in progress when Dr No was being filmed in Jamaica so probably influenced by that.

[@JetDom767]

It is my favourite Ian Fleming book the most re-read of them all.

[@charmatic_yt2195]

I recently read this for a book project and it was reeeally damn good

[@erikthewriter]

It’s funny but because the movie used the Schilthorn, Piz Gloria was based in Kanton Bern. Even though Piz is a Romansch word and only used for mountains in Graubünden.

[@angelcastaneda529]

Goodness me, the film is 50 years old. Gives me an excuse to watch it again.

[@Mostirrelevant]

Since there are continuations to Fleming's original thoughts, I do think some Irene Adler type of love interest would be perfect for JB. His girls do get dead, unfortunately, and that is for excellent reason. He is not the type of character who public can percieve as married, just like Sherlock Holmes, they are so different in occupation and proclinations that reading about their marriage and going to nursery would be absolutely beyond disgusting. Probably there are some vague cries trying to settle down a fictional character, however, Bond does differ from reality and is fictional character for a good reason. Bad girls who want to buy him concrete shoes, love interests caught in web of international affairs after encoumtering him, some girls who like him and have vital informations, however, evil boss they have connections with is too demanding and controlling so that they cannot even breathe without a guard, something interesting would be great to see regarding love subplots.

[@michaelpells1440]

Great series of reviews, Calvin! For me, OHMSS is tied with From Russia With Love for greatest Fleming Bond novel. Fleming just nails it with this one. Honestly, I’ve seen bits and pieces of the movie, and cannot bring myself to watch the whole thing because I love the novel so much.

[@jammontgomery2320]

Then time for you to watch it. It's very similar to the book, and believe me, it improved on some parts of the book!

[@fanboy2015]

I will start listening to the audiobook of OHMSS today. Just finished listening to its sequel You Only Live Twice. Listened to that one first because I’ve been wanting to know what Fleming actually wrote after decades of watching a movie about a space capsule swallowing spaceship and a hollowed out volcano with a secret base.

[@keithtam19]

Thank you ! This is my favorite novel !

[@normanby100]

I don't think Blofeld is being particularly moral is executing the would-be rapist. I think he expects discipline in his men and doesn't want his plans imperiled by having one of his female plague carriers being offended and leaving or spilling the beans.

[@RobertK1993]

Blofeld in the movies is a lot better and more meancing then the book version.

[@jamesgrassia844]

Yes Lee Marvin would have been a good choice as well.

[@ConnorNotyerbidness]

Having just read Casino Royale where bond falls in love with Vesper- a woman he barely knows most of the time is deeply depressed and barely talks to him and is very suicidal- and decides he wants to marry her after just a couple weeks..... Ya i totally believe hed fall in love with and want to marry, Tracy who hed only known for a couple weeks was deeply depressed highly suicidal and.... I see a pattern here, Mr Fleming.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

In the following novel, another character, recapping all this, speculates that Tracy appealed to Bond because she was "a bird with a wing down...It's amazing what soft centers these tough characters can have."

[@alexdas2000]

Do you think Fleming was rejuvenated by the Dr No film?

[@davidjames579]

He mentions Ursula Andress holidaying at the Swiss town near Piz Gloria, so quite possibly. He also made Bond Scottish, because he was impressed by Connery's performance.

[@RedKingdomWarrior]

Great video as always, Calvin. Quick question, have you listened to the audiobook versions of these stories especially the recent versions that have been narrated by the likes of Dan Stevens, David Tennant, Bill Nighly, and Rosemund Pike with Ian Fleming Ltd? I'm curious if those audiobooks are recommended for the listening experience

[@upintheairstudio]

Yo Calvin once your done with the Fleming novels do a review of Colonel Sun and Solo since they pick up where The Man With The Golden Gun left off.

[@SPECTRE_Madman]

Brunt kills Tracy in the movie in the book it’s Blofeld?

[@crakatoot5480]

Def the best Bond Book. But its such a shame we never got a big final showdown between Bond and Blofeld like in the book.

[@SolarDragon007]

You finally do in YOLT.

[@crakatoot5480]

@@SolarDragon007 ohh your right. i meant the movies. no big showdown in the movies

[@guyrondel3573]

I think the College of Arms scenes take up too many pages but generally speaking I agree with you! Except that I DON’T like the end just as I DIDN’T like the end in the movie! But that’s just a personal opinion !

[@grimper35]

Imho, the book and the film are some of the very best of the entire Bond ‘world'. And I think the film is so good *BECAUSE* it is so faithful to the novel. The more content (in the films) that comes directly from Fleming is sure to be better than from some hired screenwiter, right? Are any of the other films as closely based on their respective novels? Perhaps From Russia with Love? Another excellent book and excellent film...

[@jamesverner9132]

This is my favourite bond film

[@moodyguymick]

For information regarding Bond's pre-secret service life, may I recommend John Pearson's James Bond - The Authorised Biography.

[@davidjames579]

Yeah it's excellent! I think Calvin would get a lot out of it. Pearson was Fleming's Assistant at The Sunday Times and wrote the first biography of him. So there's an inner knowledge and authenticity to it.

[@juliabrnssr]

This one was the first Bond Book I ever read. From what I am hearing it was a bad one to start out with because it's so good. One thing I find interesting is there is this picture of George Lazenby reading the book, turns out I have the same edition that he did.

[@Matthew-dg6le]

Hey Calvin, did you see the short video on the few behind the scenes on bond 25 on yt?

[@darcyj19]

It's been a while since I watched your novel reviews and I had to scroll down to see if I had commented previously. Doesn't look like it. Tracy's decision to kill herself *after* her night with Bond is explained by the note that she leaves for her father - in which she speaks of having come to the end of her tether and that she had met a man who might have made a difference, James Bond, please pay him 20,000 Francs that she owes him. So her choice to end her life had been finalised and the night at Royale, including the coup du dishoneur, was her last fling.

[@el-jayenglish9548]

If anyone cares, have a look at my analysis of OHMSS - you’ll understand why Tracey is the one and only Bond’s other half. No opinions, just cinematography explained- plus a little flair to keep in mind that we’re in the realm of fiction and interpretation.

[@N0-0n3]

Bond be out here pressing F for vespa

[@spencerhjalseth7288]

Wow. Your reaction to Billie Eyelash lol was a year ago....it's been such a long fucking wait.. uhggk

[@clifffor1179]

I've only read the books twice and you've reminded me what I liked and didn't like about them. Fleming was back on formula with OHMSS its a more familiar and more comfortable book after The Spy Who Love Me. I see the books and films as two seperate entities the vision you get in your head reading the books is not the same vision you get from watching the films. OHMSS was the last good Bond book IMO. I doubt we would not be talking about Bond today if all we had were Flemings books - it was the film series and the brilliant people who worked on them and in them that made Bond work and I've read the books twice and seen each film about 20 times. The films are better but you have to acknowledge Fleming because you couldnt have had Bond without him so always tip the hat to that even if some of the books are not the masterpieces the Bond purists and snobs make them out to be. As Connery said of Fleming he was a terrible snob. lol

[@davidjames579]

That said though after initially dismissing Connery as an Overgrown Stuntman and a Edinburgh Lorry Driver, once he saw him play the part, he considered him perfectly representing his Gentleman Spy.

[@SolarDragon007]

You Only Live Twice was good. Weird as hell but still good.

[@iandouglas805]

My favourite Bond novel, just ahead of FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. Great review!

[@mistermastermind528]

It's unfortunate that the chronology of Bond films were a bit of a mess. On Her Majesty's Secret Service would have been a climax to an arc that began in Casino Royale. Bond falling in love during his first assignment and then the girl dies. He becomes cold towards women until this very story would put him in that place again in love and loss. Then we can have the next film as a revenge movie.

[@fuscinula]

My favorite part of this book is how much time Fleming spends just criticizing the Swiss' bank culture.

[@kennyraicherter1264]

Vesper was also mentioned in moonraker

[@jamesgrassia844]

Always like your reviews on the books. P S I just heard Jack Palance was the first choice for The Man With The Golden Gun. Glad it went to Christopher Lee. How about you?

[@johnrigs6540]

James Grassia Yes of course Christopher Lee was absolutely brilliant but Jack Palance would also have been great! I believe the screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz wanted to have the feel of “Shane”where he was just a fearsome villain and a perfect adversary for the hero Shane. The showdown between those two in that film was classic-would have been awesome to see something similar to it in the film!

[@calvindyson]

James Grassia I’m actually a head in the books of where i was when I wrote the script for this so I’m actually half way through TMWTGG as of writing! I keep imaging Lee Marvin as Scaramanga if I’m honest.

[@davidjames579]

@@johnrigs6540 "Pick it up, Mr Bond"

[@andrewchapman4267]

For some reason I always imagine Mark Rolston as Scaramanga. Best known for playing Drake in Aliens and Boggs in Shawshank Redemption.

[@nekusakura6748]

@@andrewchapman4267 He also voiced Norman Osborn in the 2018 Spider-Man video game.

[@Rock-my2ko]

Hey I rarely post but I was wondering if you could do reviews on the young bond series

[@calvindyson]

Well, thanks for choosing this video to post on :D I indeed plan to get to them, but it'll be in a while. I'm trying to read through all the official Bond books in chronological order. So after the next few Fleming it'll be Kingsley Amis!

[@Rock-my2ko]

Calvin Dyson glorious!

[@Bojack727]

I enjoyed your review, but I cant help but ask... Is that a rendition of the OO7 theme, as played on a Hammond Organ?!

[@samharrison5058]

I really enjoy the movie of on her majesty’s secret service I remember watching it at Christmas and having a great time. I’d give it a very high 8 out of 10.

[@kennyraicherter1264]

My favorite book and movie.and dr.no the book

[@sharpfury77]

13:27 You Are bad guy, but this does not mean you are bad guy

[@donaldrobers5028]

I always thought that the retribution that Blofeld carried out against his own men in On Her Majesties Secret Service and Thunderball was prompted less by moral outrage and more to punish a breach of discipline. Ironic that Blofeld's own egotistical attempt to claim royal blood should precipitate his downfall in this novel.

[@vitorafmonteiro]

6/10 not enough Portugal in the book compared to film. Lol kidding, 10/10 book. I'd say it is almost bizarre how pulpier and meh some of the books are compared to ones like this one, which show that Fleming could be an above average writer if he wanted to. Happily surprised with the style level of this book compared to half of the Fleming series.

[@dvon1097]

Ive never read a Bond novel but most people say this is the best book Fleming wrote

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

There are better ones imo, the film is a near masterpiece though.

[@samharrison5058]

What would you give the film version of on her majesty’s secret service out of 10?

[@hakeemfullerton8645]

9 out of 10

[@samharrison5058]

Hakim Fullerton fair enough.

[@niels25chr1]

Easily Flemings best novel.

[@christopherkibinian6543]

Can you review the rest of the bond films

[@luketruscott2000]

Can you review Silverfin by Charlie Higson it's great

[@calvindyson]

Luke Truscott I certainly will get to it someday!

[@luketruscott2000]

Ok thanks I love the book review series keep it up

[@IHARumor]

Woah, I'm early! Never been this early for one of your videos before.

[@SPECTRE_Madman]

No one wants a James Bond villain with a mix of Blofeld and odd job

[@MarvinFalz]

What always bothers me with the movie is the extent of Bond's knowledge. First it's established that his expertise includes the very niche field of lepidoptery, which I don't believe. After Bond and Sir Bray have met, it cuts to Bond's train arriving, and to establish that he has taken on the disguise of Sir Hilary Bray, genealogist, he explains the genealogical meaning of Fräulein Bunt's name. Is he lying or does he actually know the origin of Irma Bunt's name? I suppose Bond read a book on genealogy or two during his travel to Switzerland of about 10 to 15 hours? Or has more time passed between his meeting with Sir Bray and his arrival at the train station? This is where I like the book better, it tells that Bond has absolutely no idea about genealogy, and he takes the time, many weeks, to learn at least the basics about this field of expertise. I enjoy reading On Her Majesty's Secret Service so far (I'm in the chapter where Bond has convinced M to go with Bond's plan), and I plan to read more Bond books.

[@damonarvid3548]

I have a novel, a literary thriller, that I might like to commission you to narrate. Ping me if interest

[@ammosophobia]

NEEDS MORE LAZENBY

[@AnOwlCalledSage]

Probably one reason I hold this film higher than most, is I read all the books before seeing any Bond film (blame a public library that didn't stop under 14s loaning out adult books!) I really couldn't imagine Connery playing the character in this book.

[@evilubuntu9001]

Strangely enough, I picture Brosnan in this role, he could act when he wanted to.

[@davidjames579]

Yeah, I was 9 when I first started reading Bond, and I don't recall a Librarian ever telling me the book was too old for me.

[@jammontgomery2320]

I don't know, it's overrated for me, I prefer the film more. You're right, Tracy was severely underwritten and it doesn't help that she's neurotic, crying constantly, hysterical and sappy, she's even absent for the majority of pages in the book. She didn't do that much other than to show that she's depressed, she's too heavy for me to like, she's not that witty either, when you compare her to Tiffany Case (another damaged woman), at least Tiffany has more personality, wit and sense of humor that gives a bit lightness to her character and she's at least competent, she's not allowing herself to succumb in her emotions. But Tracy, she's too heavy, full of burden for me to like, she's weak. I liked Tracy in the film more. I liked that she's NOT that emotional she's NOT that sappy, she's NOT crying constantly. I really love her in the film in that she's tough, she beats up a bad guy, recite a poetry, hold a gun against Bond, skiing with Bond, and even winning a stock car race by an accident. And the romance between them didn't worked that well in the book, it's rushed, after her long absence that us audiences didn't got even a chance to know her more, Fleming have stated to the readers that Bond fell in love with her all of a sudden? I liked that in the film there's a montage and them skiing together. I also prefer the proposal scene in the barn than in the airport, it's a bit boring compared to the barn where you really feel the sweetness of their romance. Also I really find it weird that Blofeld's plot was limited only to UK, he's very specific when it comes to the girls that he's going to brainwash (the brainwashing plot was ridiculous) but at least in the film, it's a lot more reasonable in that it's worldwide, she's brainwashing a group of women from different countries. I just prefer the movie, not a fan of this book, it's not the best, it's a mid-tier Fleming book for me. I still don't know why many people were bashing the film, where many people were ranking up the novel that high (despite of it being just the same) it's a weird reasoning for me. The film was underrated, the book was overrated.

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

I agree, the film improves on the book by a bit. I still enjoyed the book, there’s particular stretches I love but I was surprised at the lack of Blofeld and its final third feels a little rushed ofc being Fleming. The ski chase is my favourite literary action scene though.

[@nihits]

why are you looking to your left and not into the camera all the time?