From Russia With Love is an interesting book. Bond himself only appears about half way through. The whole first half of the book is spent with the enemy, Russia, as they plan an attack on the British Secret Service and pick their target and decide how it is to be done.

Only then does James Bond appear. It actually makes for an refreshing change, but you do wonder if Ian Fleming - like Conan Doyle before him - was becoming a little tired of his creation. That seems to be reflected in Bond's own state of mind when he finally pops up and in the ending.

Bond's something of a fool in this. He lets a pretty face distract him. In fact the best and most professional character in book is Darko Kerim, who seems to have his head properly screwed on whilst all about him are behaving unprofessionally.

Interesting characters come and go: Red Grant - the psychopathic SMERSH assassin, Rosa Kleb and Kronsteen. There's some lovely stuff about the internal politicking of the Soviet Union. I also enjoyed Bond's stay in Istanbul. It actually feels more like one of Eric Ambler's novels than it does a James Bond novel.

I enjoyed it more than I expected to and I think I must have missed reading this one when I last read a load of Bond books. I'd put it second to Moonraker so far if I have to spoil these things with that weird desire to put things into tables and award points.

Clearly many of the other reviewers are incarcerated in monasteries and convents and bit out of touch. I think you haven’t really lived until you have kidnapped the object of your passing fancy and broken them to your will by chaining them naked under your kitchen table (and it is soooo lame when your mom catches you and sets her free).

I have been binging Bond novels and while I wouldn’t say they are great, they are fun. From Russia with love is packed with some hilarious misogyny and cultural imperialism. It is not my favorite Bond novel. I think the premise of Russia trying to honey-pot James Bond is great and that the supporting characters are an amusing side-show, but the man himself comes off as a little silly.

My chronological journey through the world of the original James Bond novels continues with the fifth novel to be written and published, and widely held as the beginning of the best part of the entire series. In this one, Russia is tired of continually losing the battle in the grand spy game and has decided to assassinate one of the West’s most prestigious spies. After considering several countries’ intelligence programs to target, they settle on Britain’s MI-6 and who better than the famous James Bond.

The first 1/3rd of the novel and perhaps a bit more is all build-up, from the Russian’s point of view, their leadership, their assassins, etc. Mr. Bond himself does not enter the novel until almost half-way through. But it’s a fun ride to watch Bond fall into the trap they have set for him and try to get out.

Historical note: Up to this point, Ian Fleming and his publishers had been disappointed in the sales for the first four Bond books and they had failed to crack the all-important American market. Fleming was reportedly ready to throw in the towel completely (and had even thought to go so far as to kill off his main character) but he would give it one last try. He really put his all into it with much re-writing and re-thinking, resulting in this fifth novel which shows a definite step up in quality. It’s also the longest Bond novel and the resulting best seller status that resulted launched the golden period of Bond novels to come, including the following novel, [b:James Bond: Dr. No|20433602|James Bond Dr. No|Ian Fleming|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388830431s/20433602.jpg|30515802].

For fans of spy fiction, these novels are must-reads.