- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (1 Dec 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141002476
- ISBN-13: 978-0141002477
- Product Dimensions: 18.2 x 11.1 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,088,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Casino Royale
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ian Fleming created the character of James Bond, he said, to overcome the shock of getting married. Whatever his reasons, his first attempt at fiction started a global cultural phenomenon.
Casino Royale takes place on a smaller stage than later Bond adventures, as if Fleming wanted to familiarise himself with his spy before setting him loose on the world but it fizzes with intensity. SMERSH, the most powerful and feared organisation in the USSR, and one of its operatives, the French communist le Chiffre, are blamed for the deaths of a number of British agents and the British Secret Service wants justice. In a characteristic Fleming twist, however, le Chiffre is compromised from the start--a deadly agent in the service of his masters but with a deadly secret to hide from them. His, as yet undetected, misappropriation of a vast amount of SMERSH funds presents the British Secret Service with an ingenious opportunity to turn killer into sacrificial lamb. When a nearly bankrupt le Chiffre sets out to do some serious gambling at the casino in Royale-les-Eaux in order to replace the money, James Bond is assigned to out-gamble him, make SMERSH aware of his embezzlement and sit back and watch as they do the dirty work for him.
Casino Royale reveals the full complexity of James Bond's character, his sophistication, his sensitivity (he has serious anxieties about being a killer) and also his darker side. He is emotionally cold and distant to the opposite sex and his views on women are strong and chauvinistic; "These blithering women who though they could do a man's work. Why couldn't they stay at home and mind their pots and pans and stick to their frocks and gossip and leave men's work to me?" Part of the attraction of the adventure is the way it sets out future trademarks of the 007 series; a stern but ultimately caring "M", the flirtation between 007 and Miss Moneypenny, the spectacular locations, the beautiful girls and the dangerous and violent criminals.
Casino Royale is the most serious and violent of all the Bond novels and it shows Bond at his coldest and most ruthless. It is a fabulous opening to the Bond series and gives wonderful insights into the character of James Bond 007. --Jamie Campbell --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
A superb gambling scene, a torture scene which still haunts me, and, of course, a beautiful girl (Raymond Chandler )
Bond is a classic adventure-story hero … a hero for all time (Jeffrey Deaver ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Bond is a classic adventure-story hero … a hero for all time (Jeffrey Deaver ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A competent beginning,
By Sam Cooper (Louisburg, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Casino Royale (Audio CD)
The first of Ian Fleming's 007 series is nothing really more than the first few shots fired in James Bond's war with a Soviet organisation: SMERSH.In print, the world's most famous spy is similar but ultimately different from the loveable rogue that has blessed cinema screens for the past forty years. He is a cruel ruthless killer, ambivelant towards women; in that he loathes but desires them, but somewhat troubled with his dangerous profession. In this the first installment, Bond comes up against a known and powerful SMERSH operative named "Le Chiffre". A Frenchman working for the Soviets with a penchant for spending his superiors cash on sideline businesses that he hopes will bring him fortune. In an attempt to hide his massive losses from his Soviet bosses, he attempts to retrieve their lost money by gambling with what remains at one of France's premier casinos. Bond, an almost fresh but respected agent is sent to intercept "Le Chiffre" and bring him down, not with a bullet, but in a game of baccaret. Hoping to relieve him of his remaining funds Bond becomes involved in a wonderfully detailed game of cards, the aim being to coax a vengeful wrath from SMERSH onto their misguided French agent and thus ridding NATO of a potential nuisance from France. The writing is of a very high standard. Bond is described well, as are all the other characters, making him seem more human than his on screen personna. Vesper, Bond's naive assistant, is believable and mysterious in her role, attracting Bond but focused on the job in hand. Fleming's talent for atmosphere and ambience are present here, neatly surrounding the main theme and it's absorbing narrative. Rufus Sewell is a very casual, effortless voice talent. Each character has it's own trademark accent and tone. Such is the fluidity of his words one often forgets that it is just one person reading. Penguin can be congratulated on choosing this highly talented screen and theatre actor to bring Bond's world to life. A promising beginning to an outstanding series. Sewell will make you love Fleming's work all the more.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Original,
This review is from: Casino Royale (Kindle Edition)
This is the first book in the James Bond series, and Ian Fleming's first novel. Fleming has a pace which takes te reader, wraps him/her in its embrace, and starts running through the streets of France with no looking back. It's a great storytelling technique, and I hope he uses it as effectively in his other novels. This is the only Fleming Bond I've read so far, a fact which I intend to change very quickly. The story is fraught with suspense, and the only thing keeping me from giving this story a higher rating is that its climax occurs two-thirds of the way through the bok, the last third a romantic subplot of sorts which does have its purpose, but which I feel could've been done somewhere in the iddle of the book, or interspersed throughout the book, and still retaining the ending. If you're expecting the movie Bond, you're in for a disapointment. This Bond is cold, ruthless, and gets hurt. Physically and emotionally. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was Fleming's attention to detail. I don't know whether all the details are authentic, but I don't care. Fleming made me believe they were while I was reading hte book, and that's what is most important to me. That's almost a contributing factor in Fleming's technique I mentioned earlier; it's not just pacing, he really immerses you in his locations. If you're a Bond fan at all, you need to read this book--if for no other reason than to find out what started the whole phenomenon.
34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Name Is Bond the Bird Watcher,
This review is from: Casino Royale (Kindle Edition)
This is the first James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming, believe it or not the same author who wrote chit chit bang bang, not to mention a wealth of other James Bond Books. Fleming took the name James Bond from a bird watching book (Collins Field Guide - Birds of the West Indies), the book was on his desk when I was search for a name for his lead character. Casino Royale is the place to start with the Bond series as it's really the first, you will find it to be well-written perhaps the best, fast and delightfully easy to read. Casino Royale is very intelligent with a great plot that is nothing like the film (Casino Royale [2006] [DVD] [2007]) not to say the film isn't good because it is extremely entertaining, however Ian Fleming writes in the height of the cold war and that is very evident in this work of fiction. Bond's mission has to finish off a Russian agent who is head of a French industrial union, the union's money has been badly invested and the Russian now seeks to get it back at the Casino. It's well worth the read. I think books like The Hacker Hunter are a modern version of the Ian Fleming books and provide a more up-to-date thriller but there is something timeless about Fleming's books, nothing like the Bond we no from the movies though.
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