Bond, James Bond

Bond, James Bond
11/01/2023 - 10/31/2024



Level 1: 5-10 Tasks
Level 2 11-20 Tasks
Level 3: 21 or more tasks.
Each task may be done once.

27/21
 
TASKS
 
The Author
 
1. Ian Lancaster Fleming (28 May 1908 – 12 August 1964) was a British writer, best known for his postwar James Bond series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his father was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Henley from 1910 until his death on the Western Front in 1917. Educated at Eton, Sandhurst, and, briefly, the universities of Munich and Geneva, Fleming moved through several jobs before he started writing.
๐ŸธRead a book where a character is wealthy or is a banker or has gone through several jobs.
An Unlikely Match for the Governess - Lauri Robinson (HH #1765 - Dec 2023) (multiple jobs) - Nov 28
 
2. While working for Britain's Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War, Fleming was involved in planning Operation Goldeneye and in the planning and oversight of two intelligence units: 30 Assault Unit and T-Force. He drew from his wartime service and his career as a journalist for much of the background, detail, and depth of his James Bond novels.
๐ŸธRead a book about WW II or a character who is a journalist or a character who is intelligent (Your interpretation).

1. Casino Royale (1953)
Casino Royale is the first novel by the British author Ian Fleming and it is the first James Bond book. The story concerns the British secret agent James Bond, gambling at the casino in Royale-les-Eaux to try and bankrupt Le Chiffre, the treasurer of a French union and a member of the Russian secret service.
๐ŸธRead Casino Royale or a first in a series or where a character goes to a casino.
The Heart-Shaped Murders - Denise N. Wheatley (HI #2078 - June 2022) (first in series) - Nov 14
 
*2. Live and Let Die (1954)
Live and Let Die is the second novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. Set in London, the United States and Jamaica. The story centers on Bond's pursuit of "Mr. Big", a criminal who has links to the American criminal network, the world of voodoo and SMERSH—an arm of the Soviet secret service—all of which are threats to the First World. Bond becomes involved in the US through Mr. Big's smuggling of 17th-century gold coins from British territories in the Caribbean.
๐ŸธRead Live and Let Die or read a book set in Jamaica or with a character who can be described as "Mr. Big". (Your interpretation)
 
3. Moonraker (1955)
Moonraker is the third James Bond novel. The plot is derived from a Fleming screenplay that was too short for a full novel, so he added the passage of the bridge game between Bond and the industrialist Hugo Drax. In the latter half of the novel, Bond is seconded to Drax's staff as the businessman builds the Moonraker, a prototype missile designed to defend England. Unknown to Bond, Drax is German, an ex-Nazi now working for the Soviets; his plan is to build the rocket, arm it with a nuclear warhead, and fire it at London. Uniquely for a Bond novel, Moonraker is set entirely in Britain, which raised comments from some readers, complaining about the lack of exotic locations.
๐ŸธRead Moonraker or a third in a series or a book set in England.
Never Wager With a Wallflower - Virginia Heath (St. Martin's - Nov 2023) (third) - Nov 7
 
4 Diamonds Are Forever (1956)
Diamonds Are Forever is the fourth James Bond novel. Fleming wrote the story at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica, inspired by a Sunday Times article on diamond smuggling. The story centers on Bond's investigation of a diamond-smuggling operation that originates in the mines of Sierra Leone and runs to Las Vegas. Along the way Bond meets and falls in love with one of the members of the smuggling gang, Tiffany Case.
๐ŸธRead Diamonds Are Forever or a fourth in a series or a book set in Las Vegas.
Secrets, Vegas Style - Kira Sinclair (HD #2838 - Nov 2021) - Dec 3
 
5. From Russia, with Love (1957)
From Russia, with Love is the fifth James Bond novel by Ian Fleming. Fleming wrote the story in early 1956 at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica; at the time he thought it might be his final Bond book. The story centers on a plot by SMERSH,to assassinate Bond in such a way as to discredit both him and his organization. As bait, the Russians use a beautiful cipher clerk Tatiana Romanova and the Spektor, a Soviet decoding machine. From Russia, with Love deals with the East–West tensions of the Cold War, and the decline of British power and influence in the post-Second World War era.
๐Ÿธ Read a book where a character loses power (Your interpretation) or where an assassination is attempted or read From Russia With Love.
Silver Lady - Mary Jo Putney (Kensington - Dec 2023) (assassination attempt) - Nov 23
 
6. Dr. No (1958)
Dr. No is the sixth novel by the English author Ian Fleming to feature his British Secret Service agent James Bond. Fleming wrote the novel in early 1957 at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. It was first published in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Cape on 31 March 1958. The novel centers on Bond's investigation into the disappearance in Jamaica of two fellow MI6 operatives. He establishes that they had been investigating Doctor No, a Chinese operator of a guano mine on the fictional Caribbean island of Crab Key. Bond travels to the island and meets Honeychile Rider and later Doctor No.
๐ŸธRead Dr. No or a book that is set in the Caribbean or set on an island.
Misty Hollow Massacre - Carol Ericson (HI #2184 - Dec 2023) (island) - Nov 28
 
7. Goldfinger (1959)
Goldfinger is seventh in the James Bond series. The story centers on the investigation by the British Secret Service operative James Bond into the gold-smuggling activities of Auric Goldfinger, who is also suspected by MI6 of being connected to SMERSH, the Soviet counter-intelligence organization. As well as establishing the background to the smuggling operation, Bond uncovers a much larger plot: Goldfinger plans to steal the gold reserves of the United States from Fort Knox.
๐Ÿธ Read a book set in the United States or with a gold cover (Show cover) or read Goldfinger.
Their Sweet Coastal Reunion - Kaylie Newell (HSE #2957 - Jan 2023) (USA) - Dec 1
 
8. Thunderball (1961)
Thunderball is the eighth full-length Bond novel. The story centers on the theft of a pair of nuclear weapons by the crime syndicate SPECTRE and the subsequent attempted blackmail of the Western powers for their return. James Bond travels to the Bahamas to work with his friend Felix Leiter. Thunderball also introduces SPECTRE's leader Ernst Stavro Blofeld, in the first of three appearances in Bond novels
๐ŸธRead Thunderball or with a weapon on the cover (Show cover) or where a character is blackmailed.
The Duke's Saber - C.H. Admirand (Dragonblade Publ - Dec 2023) (sword) - Dec 15
 
9. The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
The Spy Who Loved Me is the tenth in the James Bond series. It is the shortest and most sexually explicit of Fleming's novels, as well as a clear departure from previous Bond novels in that the story is told in the first person by a young Canadian woman, Vivienne Michel. Bond himself does not appear until two-thirds of the way through the book. Fleming wrote a prologue to the novel giving Michel credit as a co-author.
๐ŸธRead The Spy Who Loves Me or a book with two authors or a short novel (under 150 pages).
Truth or Lyon - Katherine Bone (Dragonblade Pub - Oct 2023) - Nov 4
 
10. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the eleventh book in the James Bond series. Fleming wrote the book in Jamaica whilst the first film in the Eon Productions series of films, Dr. No, was being filmed nearby. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the second book in what is known as the "Blofeld trilogy". The story centers on Bond's ongoing search to find Ernst Stavro Blofeld after the Thunderball incident; through contact with the College of Arms in London Bond finds Blofeld based in Switzerland. After meeting him in disguise and discovering his latest plans, Bond attacks the center where he is based, although Blofeld escapes in the confusion. Bond meets and falls in love with Contessa Teresa "Tracy" di Vicenzo during the story.
๐ŸธRead On Her Majesty's Secret Service or with a character called Teresa or Tracy or read a character who is disguised. (Your interpretation).
Code Name: Gemini - Janie Crouch, Danielle M. Haas( Calamitte Jane Pub - Nov 2023) - Nov 9
 
11. You Only Live Twice (1964)
You Only Live Twice is the twelfth book in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. It was the last Fleming novel published in his lifetime. It is the concluding chapter in what is known as the "Blofeld Trilogy".
๐ŸธRead You Only Live Twice or a book that is the last book in a series or a trilogy.
Dead Again - Nichole Severn (HI #2147 - June 2023) (last in series) - Nov 18
 
*12. The Man With The Golden Gun (1965)
The Man with the Golden Gun is the twelfth and final novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. It was first published eight months after the author's death. The novel was not as detailed or polished as the others in the series, leading to poor but polite reviews. Despite that, the book was a best-seller.
๐Ÿธ Read The Man With The Golden Gun or a book that was published posthumously or a book that is a best seller.
 
Short Stories
 
1. "Quantum of Solace"
After completing a mission in the Bahamas, Bond is in Nassau and attends a disappointing dinner party at Government House. When the other guests have left, Bond remarks that if he ever marries, he imagines it would be nice to marry an air hostess. The Governor then tells Bond the story of a relationship between a former civil servant, Philip Masters and air hostess Rhoda Llewellyn
๐ŸธRead "Quantum of Solace" or where a character goes to a party or with a character who is an air hostess.
Her Best Friend's Wedding - Christine Rimmer (HSE #3020 - Dec 2023) (bachelorette party) - Nov 20
 
2. "From a View to a Kill" (1959)
Bond investigates the murder of a motorcycle dispatch-rider and the theft of his top-secret documents by a motorcycle-riding assassin. The dispatch-rider was en route from SHAPE, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, then located in Versailles, to his base, Station F, in Saint-Germain, France. Since Bond is already in Paris, his superior, M, sends him to assist in the investigation in any way he can. Bond disguises himself as a dispatch-rider and follows the same route to Station F as the previous rider.
๐Ÿธ Read From A View To A Kill or a book set in France or with a character who rides a motorcycle.
Balancing Act - Emily March (Grand Central - Dec 2023) (motorcycle) - Nov 27
 
3. "The Hildebrand Rarity" (1960)
Bond is on an assignment in the Seychelles Islands; through Fidรจle Barbey, his influential and well-connected local contact, he meets an uncouth American millionaire, Milton Krest, who challenges the two to aid him in the search for a rare fish, the Hildebrand Rarity. Bond, Barbey, Krest and his English wife, Elizabeth, set off aboard Krest's boat, Wavekrest, in search of the fish. During the journey, Bond learns that Milton verbally and physically abuses everyone around him, especially his wife—whom he punishes with the use of a stingray tail he dubs "The Corrector".
๐Ÿธ Read The Hilderbrand Rarity or a character who is abusive or with a fish on the cover (Show cover).
Secrets of Silverpeak Mine - Cindi Myers (HI #2183 - Dec 2023) (abusive) - Nov 21
 
4. "For Your Eyes Only" (1960)
"For Your Eyes Only" begins with the murder of the Havelocks, a British couple in Jamaica who have refused to sell their estate to Herr von Hammerstein, a former Gestapo officer who is the chief of counterintelligence for the Cuban secret service. They are killed by two Cuban hitmen at the direction of their leader, Major Gonzales; all three work for von Hammerstein.
๐ŸธRead For Your Eyes Only or a book set in Jamaica or where a character is murdered.
Rescued by the Rancher - Barb Han (HI #2134 - Apr 2023) (murdered) - Dec 2
 
5. "Risico" (1960)
Bond is sent by M to investigate a drug-smuggling operation based in Italy that is sending narcotics to England. M instructs Bond to get in touch with a CIA informant, Kristatos, who in turn tells Bond that a man named Enrico Colombo is behind the racket. When Bond sets out to find more information on Colombo, he is captured and brought aboard Colombo's ship, the Colombina. Colombo informs Bond that Kristatos is actually the one in charge of the drug smuggling operation, and that Kristatos is backed by the Russians.
๐ŸธRead Risico or where a character uses drugs or with a boat on the cover (Show cover).
Colton's Undercover Seduction - Beth Cornelison (HRS #2227 - May 2023) (boat) - Dec 6
 
6. " The Living Daylights" (1962)
An unusually morose Bond is assigned sniper duty to help British agent 272 escape from East Berlin. Bond's duty is to safeguard his crossing into West Berlin by eliminating a top KGB assassin codenamed "Trigger", who has been dispatched to kill him. Bond takes up a position on the western edge of the border, in a hotel overlooking the no-man's land of broken, brightly lit ground that 272 will have to cross.
๐Ÿธ Read a book set in Germany or where a character stays in a hotel or with numbers 2 or 7 in the page count.
Cinderella's Costa Rican Adventure - Scarlet Wilson (HR #4876 - Nov 2023) (hotel) - Nov 16
 
*7. "007 in New York" (1963)
A brief tale in which Bond muses about New York City and his favorite recipe for scrambled eggs, he is on a quick mission to the titular city to warn a female MI6 employee that her new boyfriend is a KGB agent. It is notable for including a rare humorous conclusion.
๐ŸธRead 007 In New York or read a book where the MC has a boyfriend or that is tagged humor.
 
8. "The Property of a Lady" (1963)
The Secret Service learns that Maria Freudenstein, an employee known to be a double agent working for the Soviet Union, has just received a valuable item of jewelry and is planning to auction it at Sotheby's. Bond suspects that the resident director of the KGB in London will attend the auction and underbid for the item, to drive the price up to the value needed to pay Maria for her services.
๐Ÿธ Read "The Property of a Lady" or a book with jewelry on the cover (Show cover) or a book where there is an auction.
Falling for His Pretend Countess - Lauri Robinson (HH #1721 - May 2023) (jewelry) - Dec 10
 
9. Octopussy (1965)
James Bond is assigned to apprehend a hero of the Second World War implicated in a murder involving a cache of Nazi gold. Bond appears only briefly in this story, which is told mostly in flashback from the perspective of Major Dexter Smythe, the man Bond has been sent to bring in.
๐Ÿธ Read Octopussy or read a book that has flashbacks in it or where a character has to apprehend someone.
The Soldier's Refuge - Sabrina York (HSE #2986 - June 2023) (flashbacks) - Dec 4
 
The Actors
 
1. Sean Connery (1962–1967, 1971, 1983)
Sir Thomas Sean Connery was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond on film, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983. Connery originated the role in Dr. No (1962) and continued starring as Bond in the Eon Productions From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967), and Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Connery made his final appearance in the franchise in Never Say Never Again (1983), a non-Eon-produced Bond film.
๐Ÿธ Read a book set in Scotland or that is seventh in a series or with a character who is called Sean or Thomas.
The Lyon's Redemption - Sandra Sookoo (Dragonblade Pub - Nov 2023) (Thomas) - Nov 10
 
2. David Niven (1967)
Niven appeared as James Bond in Casino Royale (1967). Niven had been Bond creator Ian Fleming's first choice to play Bond in Dr. No. Casino Royale co-producer Charles K. Feldman said later that Fleming had written the book with Niven in mind, and therefore had sent a copy to Niven. Niven was the only actor who played James Bond mentioned by name in the text of a Fleming novel. In chapter 14 of You Only Live Twice, the pearl diver Kissy Suzuki refers to Niven as "the only man she liked in Hollywood", and the only person who "treated her honorably" there.
๐Ÿธ Read a book with a character who is honorable (Your interpretation) or with a character who is an actor or where the word PEARL can be found in the text. (Give a partial sentence and page/loc #)
Luck of the Lyon - Belle Ami (Dragonblade - Nov 2023) (magnificent white pearl necklace - loc 2258) - Nov 13
 
3. George Lazenby (1969)
George Robert Lazenby is an Australian actor. He was the second actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, playing the character in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). Lazenby later appeared in roles that parodied the James Bond character.
๐Ÿธ Read a book set in Australia or that is second in a series or with royalty in the storyline.
The Prince's Safari Temptation - Nina Singh (HR #4872 - Oct 2023) - Nov 15
 
4. Roger Moore (1973–1985)
Sir Roger George Moore KBE was an English actor. He was the third actor to portray fictional secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the character in seven feature films between 1973 and 1985. In his autobiography, Moore writes that he had to cut his hair and lose weight for the role. Although he resented having to make those changes, he was finally cast as James Bond in Live and Let Die (1973).
๐ŸธRead a book where a character gets a haircut or a character who wants to lose weight or a character who finally gets what they want, (Your interpretation).
Marry and Bright - Teri Wilson (HSE #3021 - Dec 2023) (gets what they want) - Nov 30
 
5. Timothy Dalton (1987–1989)
Timothy Leonard Dalton Leggett gained international prominence as the fourth actor to portray fictional secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, starring in The Living Daylights (1987) and License to Kill (1989) The producers first approached Dalton in 1968 but Dalton declined the offer and told the producers that he was too young for the role. In a 1987 interview, Dalton said, "Originally I did not want to take over from Sean Connery. He was far too good, he was wonderful. I was about 24 or 25, which is too young.
๐ŸธRead a book with a young MC (under 25) or where a character gives an interview or a book you think is wonderful.
Falling for Dr. Maverick - Kathy Douglass (HSE #3007 - Oct 2023) (interview) - Dec 20
 
6. Pierce Brosnan (1995–2002)
Pierce Brendan Brosnan is an Irish actor and film producer. He is known as the fifth actor to play secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series, starring in four films from 1995 to 2002 (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day) and in multiple video games.
๐ŸธRead a book with a character who is Irish or where someone plays a video game or a book that has a 5 or 4 in the publication date.
Liaison with the Champagne Count - Bronwyn Scott (HH #1768 - Jan 2024) (pub 2024) - Dec 18
 
7. Daniel Craig (2006–2021)
Daniel Wroughton Craig CMG is an English-American actor. He gained international fame by playing the fictional secret agent James Bond for five installments in the film series, from Casino Royale (2006) up to No Time to Die (2021). He aimed at bringing more "emotional depth" to the character. Born in 1968, Craig is the first actor to portray James Bond to have been born after the Bond series started and after the death of Ian Fleming, the novel's writer.
๐ŸธRead a book that is emotional (Your interpretation) or a book that was published in 2021 or has a character who is called Daniel or Craig.

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