I’ve been reading these books all wrong.My big problem when reviewing the entertainment value of these novels is that I keep comparing them to the movies. I love the films, and that’s the only reason I’m committed to reading the entire series. Unintentionally, I’ve become the exact opposite of every book critic I can’t stand—and it hasn’t been a positive experience. How many people have you heard say, “I didn’t like that movie because it strayed from the book”? I’ve always been the one to chime ...

007 is much less incompetent in this one. Good for you, Bond! Still, when his inner monologue drifts into describing or thinking about women, things get unintentionally hilarious. Like, I can see how he thinks he sounds suave with his she may be able to break my arm but she still has a mole above her nipple musings. But really.Listening to him describe women makes me think that if James were a real person, he'd be the kind of guy who doesn't understand that foreplay is a thing. And yet!He's no...

The jet-setting glamour we usually associate with secret agent James Bond is missing from Ian Fleming's third 007 novel, which takes place entirely in England. However, you’ll still find plenty of luxurious food and high-stakes gambling, and the setting introduces some truly fascinating characters along with a superb villain in Hugo Drax. Moonraker opens with Bond practicing on a dimly lit firing range in the basement of London's Secret Service headquarters, a scene that Fleming describes brilli...

Up until now, the stories in this series have felt a bit far-fetched, almost like pure make-believe. However, Moonraker by Ian Fleming really captures the anxieties that defined the Cold War era, especially for those still reeling from the shadow of WWII. With that sense of realism in mind, I can easily imagine how the ending must have provided a glimmer of genuine hope to readers at the time. I truly enjoyed how M was explored in greater depth throughout this novel; we finally see a side of thi...

This is the third Bond novel I’ve read in order. After some questionable social commentary in the previous installment, Ian Fleming really hits his stride here, leaning into the fast-paced action sequences we know and love. In Moonraker, Bond faces off against multi-millionaire and British national hero Sir Hugo Drax. We eventually learn Drax is actually German—which makes sense, given that in these post-war years, almost every villain seems to be. Fleming leans into our appetite for luxury and ...

The two thirty-eights roared simultaneously.So begins Moonraker, the third novel by Ian Fleming. Published in 1955, it continues the exploits of British Secret Service agent James Bond following Casino Royale and Live and Let Die. It’s worth noting that the long-running film series doesn’t strictly follow Fleming's bibliography in terms of order or plot. This sleek, lean spy thriller bears almost zero resemblance to the 1979 film, and while I found myself getting a bit restless with the action-h...

Moonraker by Ian Fleming gets fiendish with its plot and villains, making this the first of the James Bond books to feel like a classic 007 movie. If you are looking for a gripping spy thriller review, this is a must-read. Pure Cold War spy bliss, this book taps into our collective fear of mass annihilation following the brutal bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A war hero has offered his vast fortune, ambition, and knowledge to create a missile supposedly capable of defending Britain in case ...

(A-) 84% | Very Good
Notes: James Bond, a dispirited office worker, awaits his next assignment while reflecting on the empty, materialistic existence that his profession offers. This classic spy novel, Moonraker by Ian Fleming, is a must-read for fans of the genre looking for an authentic literary thriller.

For those of you who have followed my previous James Bond reviews (Casino Royale and Live and Let Die), this four-star rating might come as a bit of a shock. James Bond is going about his typical life as a 00 operative. And when I say typical, I mean it! He’s reading dry reports and hitting the shooting range. Then, he’s called into M’s office. He and M discuss a man who is currently a major English celebrity: Sir Hugo Drax. He is an incredibly wealthy man who has poured vast sums of money into...

Rating: 4* of fiveYes, I’m rating the 1979 movie again, not the 1954 Ian Fleming novel. Get over it.The pre-credits sequence of Moonraker is the absolute all-time best thrill ride in the Bondiverse. Seeing it again on a tiny screen was just as pulse-pounding as it was to see it in the theater 34 years ago. A parachuteless Bond flung from a plane, chasing a villain, wresting the parachute away, and sending the baddie to his doom while Bond tiptoes lightly to earth. It's WONDERFUL.The plot is stan...