Octopussy

I agree with all the positive reviews here. The Bond books present a compelling view of James Bond that few of the movies even hint at. In short: Fleming's Bond is all too human, with real human emotions, desires, strengths and weaknesses. Sure, he's tough, and at times cold-hearted, but he also has a sense of right and wrong that keeps him going. And, even more than in the novels, Fleming used the short stories (as found in both Octopussy and For Your Eyes Only) to further explore Bond's common human traits. What a revelation to finally read these books and encounter a Bond to whom one can actually relate. As with all the other Bond books, once you start reading the short stories in Octopussy, you can't put the book down.

As enjoyable as two or three of the movies are, they are not what Fleming wrote about. The stories are set in the Fifties, mostly, and do not involve spaceships or lasergun wristwatches; and Bond himself is not a wisecracking, smirking prettyboy. He is a cold-blooded killer, tough as nails, who has taught himself the hedonistic pleasures of the table because he has no wife to pamper him. He's actually only a minor character in two of the four stories in this book - but his presence anchors the tales in place and time. Why didn't they make real movies out of these books instead of just borrowing the titles? Octopussy is a really good book in the Bond pantheon.

Ian Fleming penned 14 Bond adventures before his death in 1964. He lived to see the first few movies made, was hopelessly smitten with the young Ursula Andress, and fortunately did not live to see the excesses of his sucessors. This book is a compilation of three short stories in Octopussy, The Living Daylights, and Property of a Lady. There is no real resemblance to the similarly titled films, but some of the scenes and characters from the short stories made it to the big screen. These stories show what Bond would do on a slow day, no gadgets or romance involved. Bond does not entertain three women per story, in fact, he meets none. He is smitten at a distance with a cello player, but nothing develops romantically, and the female lead of the third story is described as unattractive. Bond simply closes out a few files, as one might do in a short week before heading out on holiday. Of course, M and Ms. Moneypenny appear here, with M and the unnamed Chief of Staff providing Bond with his orders and accoutrements. Octopussy is the best of the lot here. In fact, Bond barely appears in the story set in Fleming's beloved Jamaica about 15 years after the war. A British army major comes into a treasure in the closing chaotic days of the war in Europe. His techniques included murder and eventually he is tracked down by 007 who had been an acquaintance of the "Good German" victim. The Living Daylights features a challenge between two trained assassins, which will be familiar to viewers of the Timothy Dalton film. Fleming very cleverly sets the scene at Checkpoint Charlie just before the Wall went up. Both sides use innovative cover to muffle their killer's sounds and movements. We get a real sense of the unpleasant side of the business, as Bond's portfolio is murder. He does not relish the assignment, in fact, he speaks of a preference for demotion, drinks whiskey before the event, and fails to complete all parts of the assignment. Property of a Lady is a primer on Faberge with the famous auction scene, brought to the big screen in a Roger Moore film. Rather than lamely stealing the real article, Bond uses the event to better ends. Here Bond shows more initiative and insight than M in flushing out an important Soviet agent while keeping a useful double agent in place.

Octopussy is an unusual Bond book, because it is only one of two collections of James Bond short stories (the other being For Your Eyes Only). It is also unusual for its depiction of Bond as a kinder, gentler spy.Bond is not actually the protagonist in "Octopussy," the book's namesake. The story is about Dexter Smythe, a retired Major in the British Royal Marines living in Jamaica. One day, his idyllic existence is interrupted by a polite, but mysterious man from the Ministry of Defense--James Bond. Smythe is under investigation for a crime he committed during his time stationed in post-war Germany. Bond is a quiet, but intimidating presence as Smythe tells a story from his past.The plot for "The Living Daylights" will be familiar to anyone who has seen the beginning of the film with the same name. Bond travels to Germany to protect another agent who is trying to escape from East Berlin. Intelligence reports indicate that a highly trained sniper will be sent to kill this agent as he makes a break for the border. Bond's job is simply to kill the assassin before the assassin can kill the agent. For two reasons, this story is the best of the stories and also a great story in general. It is an excellent work of suspense on par with any of the longer works. However, it is elevated above a simple suspense tale by a the exploration of Bond's sensitive side in which we witness him questioning the morality of his license to kill.Probably his most subtle case ever, "The Property of Lady" has Bond attending a Sotheby's auction of a Fabergé Egg to keep an eye on who places bids for the art object. The lady who offers the Egg for auction is a known double agent for Russia working inside Britain. The Egg is suspected of being a covert payment to this lady for her service to Russian intelligence. No killing. No explosions. Just the gentle movements of wealthy bidders.I haven't read the 4th story, as my copy of the book is the original paperback which did not include it.

The book rates five stars on the strength of one story -- "The Living Daylights." It is the perfect 007 story, the one I would recommend to anyone who doesn't like James Bond. It has everything that makes Ian Fleming great, when he is at his best -- an authentic Cold War mission (cross-border sniping), real equipment (the Winchester sniper rifle and the Kalashnikov), Fleming's ability to set a scene (Berlin before The Wall was built), a tense briefing with M, Bond's romantic side (his long-range attraction to the Russian cellist), and a tight, well-paced plot. The story even works in Bond's love for fine automobiles, his ambivalance toward the darker side of his profession, and his maverick streak. I highly recommend the book for this one story. The other stories in this collection are "iffy" at best -- "Octopussy" starts too slow and the ending is too much of a dieu exmachina for my taste (although the central portion, from the time Bond arrives until he leaves, is very good). "Property of a Lady" lacks the suspense and excitement of a good 007 story. And "007 in New York" is a sop to the hurt feelings of New Yorkers. New York City was one of Ian Fleming's least favorite cities, and he pretty well trashed the town in his "Thrilling Cities" series for the "London Times." But "the Living Daylights" is terrific. Read it and see why James Bond and Ian Fleming are still legends after 50 years.