'Octopussy and The Living Daylights' by Ian Fleming is a collection of four previously unreleased short stories that were written in the years prior to Fleming's death. The stories bring James Bond back to true form with vivid backstories, real locations, and tight plots that still capture the essence of 007. The tales range from Bond's mission in Jamaica to bring in a former British military officer to his dilemma in Germany against another sniper, showcasing Fleming's willingness to experiment as a writer and his ability to play with the James Bond character.

Characters:

Characters are vividly drawn, with Bond being portrayed as a skilled and stylish agent, although his role varies across the stories.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by conciseness and clarity, though it sometimes struggles with the constraints of the short story format.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around four short stories featuring James Bond on various missions, with some lacking narrative depth and others feeling more like explorations of locations.

Setting:

The settings range from glamorous locales to everyday backdrops, enhancing the stories' intrigue and immersiveness.

Pacing:

Pacing is inconsistent; some stories build tension effectively while others feel rushed or lack urgency.

Notes:

Ian Fleming's "Octopussy" is a collection of four short stories featuring James Bond.

James Bond is portrayed as a highly trained, confident agent who enjoys the finer things in life.

The stories were published in the early to mid-1960s and depict various missions taken by Bond.

In "Octopussy", Bond plays a minor role, primarily serving as a messenger.

"The Living Daylights" is considered one of Fleming's best works, showcasing a more cold-blooded side of Bond.

Fleming's writing style in the short stories differs from his longer novels, lacking the same level of tension build-up.

"007 in New York" highlights Bond's experiences in New York but focuses more on the sights than the mission.

The stories have aged better than some of Fleming's previous novels, showing his willingness to experiment.

The adaptation of these stories into films often strays from the original plots, leading to significant differences between the books and movies.

Fleming's writing reflects the era before space-age technology became common, adding historical context to his stories.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Potential triggers include violence, espionage-related themes, and mild descriptions of murder.

From The Publisher:

The legendary 007 deals with a rich, deranged major who cannot cope when his greedy past catches up with him in Octopussy and matches wits with a Russian agent taking part in a Southeby's auction of a Fabergé egg in The Living Daylights, in a volume containing two Bond adventures. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

Ratings (2)

Loved It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (2)

What can you read after
Octopussy and The Living Daylights?

Trigger Mortis
Anthony Horowitz
cold war
smersh organization

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Octopussy and The Living Daylights

Ian Fleming

Book 2 in the series:James Bond