I Finished reading the John Gardner penned James Bond books!!

I thought this would take years of summers to read, but here I am. I finished all the Gardner books. After I finish I read the reviews and watch some videos on YouTube. Did I miss anything? Were these books really popular? Calvin Dyson made some really good videos about the books. Some reviews are humorous. Some are detailed into the book.

As I understand it from the “Being James Bond podcast,” the  Fleming estate had to option more books. If they didn’t do it, someone else would. Gardner was hired.

The first books in the series update the world of Bond. Spectre returns. The daughter of Bloefeld. Felix Lieter returns. There are Q branch changes. The books are an amusing update. Two books are named after the villain ala Goldfinger.

Gardner takes over more at book 5, “Nobody Lives Forever.” There is way more action, more violence, and the suspense picks up. Bond comes into the modern world. German reunification was a topic. Bond goes to EuroDisney in another book. Soviet Leader Gorbachev is featured.

Fleming’s Bond character made mistakes. He got caught. He got beat up a lot. It takes a toll by “You Only Live Twice.” Bond is broken down but still shows up for duty.

Gardner’s Bond stays a super hero. He gets beat up, but recovers quick enough. He gets out of jams by luck or lucky break.

Over the years, the movies get outlandish and the villains are super villains. The books get like that too.

At the end of the Gardner run, Bond experiences real loss. Gardner closes his run with a changing Bond. He’s in a different unit and role. He befriends new characters. M changes. At one point, Bond is the leader of a unit.

I’m glad I took this plan of reading the Bond cannon. The stories were enjoyable. It wasn’t classic literature. I haven’t met a Bond fan that will talk about these in my life. It was my fun alone. That’s OK.

The novels continue with new writers. So next summer…..