- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (26 Oct 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141028270
- ISBN-13: 978-0141028279
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 158,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Dr No, a sinister recluse with mechanical pincers for hands and a sadistic fascination with pain, holds James Bond firmly in his steely grasp. Bond and Honey Rider, his beautiful and vulnerable girl Friday, have been captured trespassing on Dr No’s secluded Caribbean island. Intent on protecting his clandestine operations from the British secret service, Dr No sees an opportunity to dispose of an enemy and further his diabolical research. Soon, Bond and Rider are fighting for their lives in a murderous game of Dr No’s choosing
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With a new introduction by Simon Winder.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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As the first Bond novel to be adapted for the silver screen (and with only fairly limited changes in terms of plot) Dr No will be forever known as the story that started a phenomenon. As such an iconic work it is both immortal and entirely critic proof.
Which is quite fortunate really, because as far as the adventures of the literary Bond go (his cinematic counterpart being a quite different individual) Dr No is a rather unremarkable effort. Its not a bad effort but nor does it reach the heights of the novel that preceded it, From Russia With Love; its just rather ordinary.
Reading it for the first time (I'm tackling the whole series in sequence with breaks between individual books) I couldn't shake the feeling that Fleming's heart wasn't really in the writing of Dr No. The plot feels rather perfunctory, with Fleming seemingly more interested in describing Jamaica of the late 50's, somewhere he spent a great deal of time and knew very well, than providing a truly compelling tale.
Bond sort of stumbles over Dr No's plans and only succeeds in discovering & thwarting them because his opponent shows a rather implausible desire to entertain Bond in fine style before finding a ridiculously complicated way to dispose of him. There are definite shades of Dr Evil from the Austin Powers movies about this version of Dr. No (right down to the bald head) which doesn't help the book maintain a sense of tension that in any case never really develops. Yes, Bond is put through the physical wringer by No, but it all seems rather silly and artificial and you never really fear for the hero's life. After the palpable threat posed by SMERSH, Red Grant and Rosa Klebb in From Russia With Love, Dr No. lacks real teeth.
The book is really only saved by both the presence of Bond himself, a far more complex and appealingly human character than his cinematic alter-ego, and equally importantly that of the supporting cast of Quarrel (returning from Live & Let Die), the honourable and brave Cayman Islander, and the delectable Honey Rider. The latter's first appearance on the page knocks the socks off Ursula Andress emerging from the sea on screen, and as a character she is far more well rounded than the attractive but slightly bland movie version. Admitedly well rounded in this case does include being something of a male fantasy made flesh, but she's no slouch when it comes to being brave and resourceful, successfully rescuing herself on one ocassion without help from Mr Bond.
Dr No. is undoubtedly a classic becuase of its cultural status and significance and no review is going to change that. Without the presence of some wonderfully realised characters to support Bond however, and the superbly described exotic tropical setting, I wonder whether the book would have made such an appealing prospect for adaptation for the screen?
(Oh, and belated kudos must go to Penguin Viking for the superb cover artwork for this series of reprints. Delightfully retro, they capture the feel of the books perfectly)
Which is quite fortunate really, because as far as the adventures of the literary Bond go (his cinematic counterpart being a quite different individual) Dr No is a rather unremarkable effort. Its not a bad effort but nor does it reach the heights of the novel that preceded it, From Russia With Love; its just rather ordinary.
Reading it for the first time (I'm tackling the whole series in sequence with breaks between individual books) I couldn't shake the feeling that Fleming's heart wasn't really in the writing of Dr No. The plot feels rather perfunctory, with Fleming seemingly more interested in describing Jamaica of the late 50's, somewhere he spent a great deal of time and knew very well, than providing a truly compelling tale.
Bond sort of stumbles over Dr No's plans and only succeeds in discovering & thwarting them because his opponent shows a rather implausible desire to entertain Bond in fine style before finding a ridiculously complicated way to dispose of him. There are definite shades of Dr Evil from the Austin Powers movies about this version of Dr. No (right down to the bald head) which doesn't help the book maintain a sense of tension that in any case never really develops. Yes, Bond is put through the physical wringer by No, but it all seems rather silly and artificial and you never really fear for the hero's life. After the palpable threat posed by SMERSH, Red Grant and Rosa Klebb in From Russia With Love, Dr No. lacks real teeth.
The book is really only saved by both the presence of Bond himself, a far more complex and appealingly human character than his cinematic alter-ego, and equally importantly that of the supporting cast of Quarrel (returning from Live & Let Die), the honourable and brave Cayman Islander, and the delectable Honey Rider. The latter's first appearance on the page knocks the socks off Ursula Andress emerging from the sea on screen, and as a character she is far more well rounded than the attractive but slightly bland movie version. Admitedly well rounded in this case does include being something of a male fantasy made flesh, but she's no slouch when it comes to being brave and resourceful, successfully rescuing herself on one ocassion without help from Mr Bond.
Dr No. is undoubtedly a classic becuase of its cultural status and significance and no review is going to change that. Without the presence of some wonderfully realised characters to support Bond however, and the superbly described exotic tropical setting, I wonder whether the book would have made such an appealing prospect for adaptation for the screen?
(Oh, and belated kudos must go to Penguin Viking for the superb cover artwork for this series of reprints. Delightfully retro, they capture the feel of the books perfectly)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Ian Fleming's dynamic spy story may not have been his first James Bond novel (that honour goes to Casino Royale) but it was the first to be filmed, and as such it has remained in the public consciousness as 007's first real adventure. The daddy of all super-villains, Dr Julius No, is holed-up in his lair on Crab Key, a small island in the Caribbean. Bond is despatched by his boss `M' to the Caribbean, to investigate the disappearance of the its Secret Service representative, a friend of 007's, whose mysterious death may well be linked to Dr No's secret operations on Crab Key. The deadly game that No forces Bond to play, is vividly brought to life and styled so as to be extremely thrilling for the reader, whilst the soon-to-be template for all Bond girls - the exotically delicious `Honey Ryder' - adds spice to an adventure that is already excitingly different.
Fleming's genius lay in his ability to write simply, but with an almost fetishistic attention to detail; the reader experiences a delicious thrill when Bond lights another cigarette or describes the minutiae of his daily routine. It is this ability to prompt such a vicarious response in the reader that lifts Fleming's novels from their pulpy origins, and which has given them their longevity and their status' as classic slices of disposable fiction.
Fleming's genius lay in his ability to write simply, but with an almost fetishistic attention to detail; the reader experiences a delicious thrill when Bond lights another cigarette or describes the minutiae of his daily routine. It is this ability to prompt such a vicarious response in the reader that lifts Fleming's novels from their pulpy origins, and which has given them their longevity and their status' as classic slices of disposable fiction.
This has all the great ingredient of the best bond books. Is is based in the Caribbean where Fleming lived for many years, and I think his understanding and fondness for the place comes through. Honey Ryder is an excellent bond girl and Dr No a very disturbing bad guy. The description of locations are brilliant and bond is at his best when backed into a corner and making mistakes. It is of its time, but still holds much charm. 'Live and Let Die' is set in almost the same location - so would be a good one to read before this one.
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