tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post6721083630390699053..comments2024-01-07T09:36:51.796-08:00Comments on Chess, Comics, Crosswords, Books, Music, Cinema: John Gardner’s James Bond novelsPrashant C. Trikannadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-68955062839098163212014-03-05T23:06:52.820-08:002014-03-05T23:06:52.820-08:00Kelly, neither have I read all of Ian Fleming'...Kelly, neither have I read all of Ian Fleming's novels, though I've been meaning to read and re-read them. John Gardner stood on the periphery of my reading vision till I purchased his two James Bond novels. I read more books and short stories than I review here simply because I don't have the time to write out the reviews. It has come down to one book review a week. I agree with you on the hard part of book reviews. It's never an easy job. I'm often in a dilemma as to what to include and what not to. I continue to experiment. Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-60355861476691928452014-03-05T07:15:33.047-08:002014-03-05T07:15:33.047-08:00I haven't even read all the Ian Fleming titles...I haven't even read all the Ian Fleming titles yet, so I doubt I'll ever make my way to Gardner's. I agree with you that it's a lot easier to write about books you haven't read: a preview is far simpler than a review. Hardest of all for me is writing about something I really loved. I never feel that I can communicate the book's greatness well enough—and who can, really? The best I can do is persuade people to read it. Kelly Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01752857506190488860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-74051109340303364832014-03-01T00:17:30.172-08:002014-03-01T00:17:30.172-08:00Tracy, I haven't read much by John Gardner who...Tracy, I haven't read much by John Gardner who, for no apparent reason, I tend to confuse with Brian Garfield. I'm beginning to enjoy police procedural novels.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-52658194991017960132014-02-27T13:22:47.287-08:002014-02-27T13:22:47.287-08:00The only book I have read by John Gardner is Bottl...The only book I have read by John Gardner is Bottled Spider, which is the start of a police procedural series. I want to try the Boysie Oakes novels.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-12974319547577427272014-02-24T21:18:32.069-08:002014-02-24T21:18:32.069-08:00Col, thank you. John Gardner appears to have exper...Col, thank you. John Gardner appears to have experimented a fair bit with his writing, and quite successfully too. I remember reading a couple of his standalone novels some years ago. I've heard of Boysie Oakes although I've never read this or any of his other series novels.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-87386402606667398052014-02-24T20:47:12.559-08:002014-02-24T20:47:12.559-08:00Great finds. I will see how I go with Gardner'...Great finds. I will see how I go with Gardner's Boysie Oakes character before branching out. I haven't got to any of them yet!col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-24288422887620735052014-02-24T00:42:35.060-08:002014-02-24T00:42:35.060-08:00George, I'll probably get around to reading Ki...George, I'll probably get around to reading Kingsley Amis' lone JB novel after reading these two books. The movies have overshadowed my interest in the Bond novels.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-28558527890367283322014-02-24T00:40:52.614-08:002014-02-24T00:40:52.614-08:00Richard, I didn't know Gardner's JB books ...Richard, I didn't know Gardner's JB books were considered "inferior" to Fleming's. He has written quite a few of them. You have a point about Gardner doing better if he'd, in fact, created his own spy. He must have had his reasons.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-38354485590864278962014-02-24T00:36:56.231-08:002014-02-24T00:36:56.231-08:00Sergio, you're welcome. I thought you might ha...Sergio, you're welcome. I thought you might have read these novels. I haven't read any of Gardner's JB novels and I'm looking forward to reading them. However, since I read Ian Fleming a long time ago I wouldn't be able to draw a comparison between the two authors; not that it's really necessary. I like Gardner's writing style.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-15851350226144572692014-02-21T11:05:14.508-08:002014-02-21T11:05:14.508-08:00I'm with Rick: there's a big fall-off from...I'm with Rick: there's a big fall-off from the Ian Fleming books. I remember liking the Bond pastiche by Kingsley Amis.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-32135482395397573502014-02-21T10:21:58.362-08:002014-02-21T10:21:58.362-08:00Considered greatly inferior to the Fleming books. ...Considered greatly inferior to the Fleming books. I suspect if Gardner had changed the name and setting so these were not BOND books but just similar spy novels, they would have been better received. Or maybe not.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-2110705266378445682014-02-21T09:51:16.805-08:002014-02-21T09:51:16.805-08:00I remember reading these when they came out and be...I remember reading these when they came out and being a bit disappointed, but really just because they weren't by Fleming - can;t remember now. I have a friend who just re-read them all and really rates them in fact. Thanks Prashant - Gardner succeeded far better than most in continuing someone else's legacy as these attempts to pepretuate a franhcise usually peter out quite quickly after all - thanks chum. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com