The original printing of this book ends with For Your Eyes Only, and the copy I have is an update in the 1983, when Octopussy and Never Say Never Again hit the theaters.

This book is what it claimed to be all right, a behind the scenes of the James Bond films. For James Bond fans, this book is a treasure trove of information. It includes lots of information which at first was previously unavailable. Thanks to this book I finally found out the name of the Japanese girl in the Thunderball teaser and the actress who played her, as well as the two women who played Bambi and Thumper.

Generously filled with candid black and white photographs, the James Bond Films covered each Bond film chronologically in each chapter. For the Sean Connery films, virtually every meticulous fact about how the film was made is detailed in the book.

It is obvious that Steven Jay Rubin have a vendetta against Roger Moore. In his later work, the James Bond Encyclopedia, he would gives a one star rating to three of Moore's Bond films. In the James Bond Films, he pratically skimmed over Moore's films, with the exception of Live and Let Die, possibly because he had the full cooperation of Moore's leading ladies (Seymour and Hendry)from that film, and The Spy Who Loved Me, which is no doubt, one of the best Bond movies ever made, with or without Connery.

In the chapter for Moonraker, we didn't really get a lot of background info on it, rather, Rubin just bitched how the character of Bond have been corrupted into a cartoonish character and how Moonraker sucked. The worse offender is For Your Eyes Only.....which doesn't tell you anything at all.

The update chapter on Octopussy and Never Say Never Again tied up some loose ends from the For Your Eyes Only chapter (like how Carole Bouquet was perfectly casted as Melina Havelock), but since this book was written when the two films are being released, understandably, not much info, other than a preview, was given.

Despite his shabby treatment of the Roger Moore films, The James Bond Films is still a fascinating read.

Here are two of Ian Fleming's lesser known stories, both quite different, but each has the classic elements of Fleming's Bond. (Not to be confused with the movie version of Bond) The Living Daylights is a taunt, compact version of a Fleming thriller. Bond is sent to protect a defector going to the west via Berlin. He falls for a girl that he can only watch from his perch. He dreams of her, only to have the rug pulled from him at the end of the Story. Quantum of solance is a quite different story, in which Bond is not involved. He is a guest of a high ranking official, who, to make conversation, tells him a story of an associate of his. Again, in this story there is a delicious twist at the end.

The reading of these stories give life to them. Quite the change from watching Roger Moore trot around the world shooting out quips rather then lead.

An Action packed bond with all the classic parts and many more. A must have for any bond fan!

This book is about James Bond - 007. James Bond starts his journey at his secret base. One of the gagets he uses is his armed car: it has rockets,b missiles, machineguns and
a remote control, so he does not need to use the steering wheel. His boss is also called Boris - the person who calls him for his missions.I think this book is very interesting.
I hope they write more 007 books because I want to read them all.
THE END
BY PETER.GORGIOSKI.7P!!

This is one of those books for someone who wants to know as much about James Bond as possible in just a short amount of time. It gives you just what it promises, a rough history about Bond. If you truly want to impress people with your knowledge about 007 you need to research more. But if you want to just get by in a conversation about Bond this is the book for you. So I recommend this for anyone who needs to know about the most famous secret agent out there in just 007 minutes.

This is the book that, when I bought it 20 years ago, fired my enthusiasm for sixties pop culture. That enthusiasm has not waned even though my book is now torn, dog-eared and missing the cover.
The book covers nearly every aspect of 60's pop culture, from the mini-skirt to the obsession with spies and the cold war. Of course it has The Beatles and Twiggy and the whole 'British Invasion,' as well as the California surfing scene and Woodstock.
I actually found the book quite useful for expanding my 60's music collection and getting aquainted with groups that I was previously unfamiliar with. I was amazed intially at how many of the T.V. shows that I grew up loving were originally produced in the 60's. 'Gilligan's Island', 'The Twilight Zone', 'Laugh-In', 'Mission Imposible'...they're all here!
The book is loaded with great pictures, but unfortunately they are all in black and white. A book such as this, about such a colorful decade, just cries out for the glossy full-color, hard cover treatment.
Also unfortunately, the cover was very loose on my copy and the book came apart very quickly.
I hope this book comes back into print only with better production values and expanded sections to include such faves as 'The Avengers', 'Doctor Who', 'Thunderbirds', and 'Land of The Giants'. I wouldn't mind spending the extra dollars because, even as it was, this book has brought me many years of enjoyment, as I'm sure it will to anyone who is interested in the groovy, gear, mad, mod sixties.

If you are a Bond fan, you will love this book. Have hours of fun with your friends as you try and recall the little details of the big world of James Bond. The book features stills, questions, and answers, as well as a summary on each of the movies in the series. The book also features the two unofficial films Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983). As a note of trivia, look for my name, Jason M. Allentoff in the acknowledgements.

OO7 is given a challenging task in Fleming's fourth novel. It seems diamonds are being smuggled out of Engish mines and MI6 is called on to stop it. This assignment even has M worried, but not James Bond who considers American gangsters not to threatning. But that is before he meets Wint and Kidd and the hunchback Shady Tree and the Spang brothers. Diamonds may be forever but 007's life might not. Highlights:Felix and Bond reunion; Horse Race; Acme bath sequence; derailment of train; climax on the ocean liner.

The fourth novel in the 007 series is a step back in a certain way, being a straight action/adventure Police story with certain familiar elements of the Bond world and some links to the spy genre. Maybe the American Mafia isn't quite an atractive adversary (the Spang brothers don't look so menaceful, even if they are, and the idea of a chief disguised as ABC is not used at its full potential). The early chapters, placed in London, and the Saratoga scenes are sometimes boring. The reappereance of Felix Leiter is one of the highlights, but the scene is more dialogue than else. The situations aren't as gripping as those of the previous novels, save some fine moments (the mud bath, the final sequence on the cruise ship, the Spectreville western scenario, the car chase in Las Vegas). The final is excellent, but the action there too brief. All in all, it's still the best 007 adventure in the US and is on the whole much better than the film. It also has the first appearence of the word "Spectre" in any form in a Bond book (Spectreville).

Somehow, African diamonds are being smuggled into the United States via London. The British Secret Service sends Jmaes Bond to infiltrate the smugglers' organization- and if possible, destory it. Bond journeys through New York City's diamond market, the race tracks and mud baths at Saratoga Springs, and the gambling places of Las Vegas, to finally penetrate the very heart of the Mob. Along the way he meets the beautiful, hardboiled Tiffany Case, and is assisted by his American friend Felix Leiter. From the deserts of Afrca to the deserts of Nevada, follow Bond into the scorpion's nest. Another great book for Bond fans to read! Buy this book!

In his fourth contribution to the James Bond series, Raymond Benson shows us a much too human James Bond, clearly a man who should not be out on a job for HMSS in his current state. While far better and more potent than the pretty Bond of the 80s, Doubleshot's Bond is frighteningly gullible, if not flat out naive. These traits are NOT demonstrated in Benson's earlier Bond works which are must-reads for all (Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death, High Time to Kill). Some of the supporting cast are just plain silly, as well. Doubleshot reads a little too fast, and the plot could use some more twists and complexity. Readers learn more about The Union, a more realistic version of Fleming's SPECTRE that first reared its head in High Time to Kill, and as expected, several of its deadly operatives meet their demises. Simply stated, the plot is too predictable (aren't all Bond novels?), but even more than the previous stories. There are fewer outrageous gadgets, which is a tremendous improvement, however. Fancy toys are for the movies. This is an easy read, one that might appeal more to teenagers than those of us who have read Fleming. Still, quite enjoyable. Benson has proven to be a worthy successor to Fleming, Amis and Gardner.

If you're a fan of the Bond that was charming, adventerous, action-packed, and a hit with the ladies then this book is for you. Once you start, you can't stop reading this.

As a long time 007 fan, I have just re-read all of Raymond Benson's Bond novels in the proper order and have some reflections on his entire series through "Never Dream of Dying." First of all, Benson is not Ian Fleming and readers should get past that expectation before beginning. He's not John Gardner, either (thank goodness!). That said, I believe Benson has come the closest to Ian Fleming of all the post-Fleming writers in that he has truly captured the essence of Bond's character and the universe in which 007 operates. It is a fantasy spy world, not based in reality, just as Fleming's was, but like Bond's creator, Benson keeps the main character very human. Benson's Bond makes mistakes, shows fear, feels pain, and is melancholy much of the time. At the same time, Benson has brought in many elements of the Bond film series (I have read an interview with him that states that he and the Ian Fleming Estate agreed that this would be the approach to take). Therefore, Benson's Bond is a mixture of the cinematic and literary Bonds, and for me, this works splendidly. I have seen some fans object to this or that but it seems to me that these fans are not getting past personal expectations. Bond is many things to many people. Benson, a long time Bond scholar and author of the excellent "James Bond Bedside Companion" knows his stuff. He has nailed the Bond character. Some have complained about his writing style. Benson is no Fleming, as stated earlier, but his style is succinct and easy to read. His books flow quickly and are highly entertaining. "ZERO MINUS TEN": Benson's first book has one of his best plots, but it suffers slightly from being a "first novel." His writing is at its weakest here, but that said, ZMT is a wonderful Bond story. It is very Fleming-esque with its Hong Kong location, characters like Guy Thackeray and T. Y. Woo and Li Xu Nan, and its descriptions of food, mahjong, and Triads. When reading ZMT, one is immediately aware that this is a harder-edged and darker Bond than perhaps what we are used to. For a first effort, it is very, very good. "THE FACTS OF DEATH": Benson's second book is more film-like, it feels like an EON Productions movie story. The plot is more "fantastic" in that it deals with a secret criminal organization called the Decada that is run by a crazy mastermind. The writing is improved,though, and in many ways this is a more entertaining book than ZMT. What is especially interesting is Benson's development of the "M" character and her relationship with Bond. "HIGH TIME TO KILL": My personal favorite of the bunch. This is a classic Bond novel in every sense of the word. The first half is fairly predictable cinematic-Bond stuff, except for a very Fleming-esque opening and 2nd chapter golf match. The second half, however, shows Benson hitting his stride and finding his own voice with a truly original departure from what is expected. As Bond and companions climb one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas, the action becomes more like an "Into Thin Air"-type story. It's authentic spy-stuff amidst an environment that is cruel and harsh. This is a thrilling, un-put-downable book. "DOUBLESHOT": Another departure from the norm, as Benson appears to be experimenting with the structure of a Bond novel with this one. The first chapter is the ending of the book told from the different perspectives of several characters. The rest of the story begins in the past and catches up to the ending, and by then we are hooked. In this story, Bond is not well, he is injured, he is not working at full capacity, and this is what is interesting. "Doubleshot" is the middle book of a loose trilogy (beginning with "High Time to Kill") and it is darker and more introspective than the others. Some fans apparently didn't get it, but in many ways, this is Benson's most courageous book. "NEVER DREAM OF DYING": Another great one, right up there with "High Time to Kill," in terms of glueing a reader to the page. It's an excellent plot, tying up the trilogy that Benson began in HTTK. In this book, one can see the blending of the cinematic and literary Bonds more than in any other entry-- a lot of the action is very movie-like, while the storyline and characterizations are more like the Fleming novels. The moods and settings are the best that Benson has done, and the love interest is perhaps his strongest. The real stroke of brilliance in the book is what the author has done with the character of Bond's father in law. A very engaging book. My five-star review is based on Benson's series as a whole. Each book may not be a 5-star book on its own, but I don't think any of them are less than 4. Benson has put his mark on the Bond literary series. Fans who don't like him tend to focus on one or two aspects of what he does-- his writing style, his dependence on the cinematic elements, whatever... I feel that they're not seeing the forest for the trees. In my humble opinion, Raymond Benson has brought new life to the series and I hope he continues the books a long, long time.

I think it is impossible to slam this book too much because, simply, I found it to be one of the best researched and constructed Bond novels in a long time if not ever. No one can ever fault Benson thus far with his first 2 efforts. The man takes the time to research and put together a fantastic story. BUT, no matter how much I liked the story and the characters and the action the prose and writing of the book are all too often just plain poor or amateurish. Ian Fleming was so smooth and never too wordy, and John Gardner had his own smoothness and solid style, but Benson's writing is strictly high school much of the time. Descriptions and action scenes read so simply it makes you wonder if the guy really cared. And to read him in interviews he constantly mentions that he is writing Fleming's Bond. Why not write Bensons's Bond? Fleming died 35 years ago. We don't need a copy. We need someone who loves Bond, and no doubt Benson does, to create great stories, which he does, and inject HIS OWN perceptions of Bond without trying to copy all the Fleming-isms. And please, if you must Mr. Benson, take some prose and fiction writing courses. I love Bond and I believe Benson truly loves Bond but the vapid prose is too damn ugly to lift the Bond novels to a higher and more read and respected level, which, with the quality of the research and the stories, they can reach.

In Benson's second original Bond novel, 007 tackles a terrorist organization known as the Decada, led by a man who is upposedly the reincarnation of Pyhtagoras! The Decada is poised to provoke a war between Greece and Turkey, as well as unleashing a horrifying virus on the world. Aided by his old friend Felix Leiter(Leiter has been absent from Bond adventures for far too long) and a--surprise!-- sexy female Greek agent, Bond must follow a trail of sperm to find and stop the Decada from carrying out their mad schemes. Yes, I said "sperm." You'll understand when you read the book. Benson continues bringing Bond back to his bad habits, which were toned down in the Gardner novels-- drinking, smoking, excessive sex with women of dubious loyalty. It's about time! It's good to see Sir Miles Messervy (the former M) as well, as he has not been seen in the films since "License to Kill." Also welcome is an important appearance by Q, who had very little exposure in the Bond novels of every other author. This novel continues the tradition of making the novels a sort of "Bond boullibase"-- a sort of composite of the Bond of the Fleming novels and the films. While the story doesn't flow quite as smoothly as the Fleming or Gardner Bonds, due to prose that is somewhat lacking, it is a fun, entertaining read and worthy of the Bond tradition. Oh, by the way: awesome car!!!

this book is really good. the group called the decada is killing people and starting a war between greece and turkey. The villian is Romanos and the henchman is Vassilis.The evil female is Hera Volupolis.