The Bond Files: The Unofficial Guide to the World's Secret Agent

I have over a thousand James Bond books on my shelf. But when I need a Bondian factoid, this is the only book I reach for (and is always the only one I ever need). What sets The Bond Files apart from ALL the other books about Bond is that it does not stop at just the Fleming novels and/or the official films. It has everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, including the continuation novels, videogames, James Bond Jr., role-playing games, the Daily Express comic strips, etc. etc. Sure, some errors creep in here and there, but that's forgivable considering the sheer volume of info here. And as far as the authors opinions clashing with my own...who cares!? I don't reach for this book for opinions, I reach for it for dates, plots, locations, character names; the facts. My only wish is for a new updated edition. Not only have we had a new film since the last edition, but we've had several new novels and videogames, as well as reprints of the Daily Express comic strips that the authors hadn't access to in 2002. So, please, if you're out there Andy and Paul...bring us an updated edition of The Bond Files. This is THE manual for Bond fans.

What can I say? This is one of the best books ever written about James Bond. It tackles every single medium Bond has appeared in, from Ian Flemming's novels to the unwatchable series James Bond Jr. There's plenty of behind the scenes info and some best (No, I expect you to die) and worst (I'll buy you a delecatessen in stainless steel) lines. There's even a comprehensive list of flubs for each book and film. Overall, a must-buy for anyone who loves Bond.

This was a quick pick at an airport one day and I was amazed at all the goodies inside. If you've ever wanted to know every language that Bond ever spoke, what gadget or gizmo he used in which movie, or all the aliases he's ever used, this is the book for you. "The Bond Files" is a great book with all kinds of facts, trivia, and information for each story, comic, and movie. The authors even review the opening title sequences and have a nice synopsis of each movie. They don't miss much with this book.

One of the best books to have on James Bond. Just what makes him tick? Read and find out!

Although it's a purely text-only paperback, an totally unauthorised, this fantastic reference work scores highly on account of the fact that it doesn't just cover the films - it has everything from the novels (and not just the Ian Fleming ones) to the comic strips that were published in the Daily Express, to the 'James Bond Junior' cartoon series, to 'Casino Royale', both television play and film. It even has a small chapter on the cultural impact of Bond, and the various Bondalikes, from light spoof such as 'The Man from UNCLE' to more serious works from Len Deighton and John Le Carre. It's a shame that this wasn't made bigger, really - although it could easily have become unworkably huge, there isn't much to explain exactly why Bond has appealed to us for almost half a century, and how he has changed to fit the times.As far as the book goes (and that's pretty far), it's perfect - wisely, the authors don't try to 'rate' any of the Bondibles, although they do go so far as to suggest that some of the later John Gardner novels are less impressive than his earlier ones. The attempt to keep up with the constantly-shifting Bond biography is amusing, too - Fleming's Bond was born between the World Wars, and would now be enjoying retirement, something which seems unlikely to happen to 'our' Bond any time soon.