Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (Epub)

Description

In the first of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, 007 declares war on Le Chiffre, French communist and paymaster of the Soviet murder organization SMERSH.

The battle begins with a fifty-million-franc game of baccarat, gains momentum during Bond’s fiery love affair with a sensuous lady spy, and reaches a chilling climax with fiendish torture at the hands of a master sadist.

User’s Reviews

From Library Journal The allure of James Bond was best described by Raymond Chandler, who insisted that 007 is “what every man would like to be and what every woman would like to have between her sheets.” Who can argue with that? This month marks the 40th anniversary of the film release of Dr. No, which was the first Bond adventure to make the big screen, and two big coffee-table books are being published to honor the occasion (LJ 10/1/02, p. 96). Shockingly, Fleming’s original novels have gone out of print, but Penguin here reproduces a trio of the British secret agent’s early outings, released in 1952, 1958, and 1959, respectively, sporting stylish cover art. These stories were racy for the nifty Fifties but are quite tame by today’s standards. Still, they can be fun. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ Most of the the one and two star reviewers of this book were sadly disappointed, expecting that the glitzy movie version of Bond would be found in Fleming’s actual books. But, with the exception of Sean Connery’s Bond in the first three movies, and Daniel Craig’s back-to-basics interpretation in the first three of the current series, the movie Bond character for the most part has been nothing more than escapist fantasy. The literary Bond isn’t the superhero of the movies. He’s a flawed, cold killer in the service of his country in a dangerous time.Written during the height of the Cold War, Fleming’s Bond novels were based on actual people and operations that Fleming had first hand knowledge of because of his highly placed role in British Naval Intelligence during WW II.Rather than judge Casino Royale, or any of Fleming’s Bond novels, by what you’ve seen in the movies, instead first learn about the real Operation Goldeneye; the real Operation Tracer; the real Operation Ruthless; the real No. 30 Commando Unit; the real Special Operations Executive; the real 10th Light Flotilla; the real “Smyert Shpionam”; the real Dusko Popov. The tradecraft, operations, units, events, and involved individuals were the very real WW II sources that Ian Fleming used in creating Bond and the world in which he moved. In chapter four of “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”, John Le Carre also alludes to a small group similar to Fleming’s 00s as: “…about a dozen men, they worked solo, there to handle the hit-and-run jobs that were too risky” for Secret Intelligence Service agents stationed abroad.Fleming’s romanticized works have a ring of authenticity recognizable to anyone familiar with or who may have participated in events that occurred during those times. Read Casino Royale; travel back to a time when French was the only international language; a time when Joseph Stalin and the Soviet NKVD represented a very real threat; a time when people feared that threat; and a time when the governments of the Free World had very real people on the payroll like Fleming’s fictional James Bond to counter that threat. Perhaps you’ll see the same things in it that caused the first three printings to sell out quickly in the U.K., and that later made it a favorite of a Harvard graduate who happened also to be President of the United States.At the time of Casino Royale (1951), Bond is about 30 years old and has held the 00 number for about six months. He earns the U.S. equivalent of about $5,600 annually (or about $50,000 in 2016 value), and drives a supercharged 1930 Bentley coupe that can reach 100 mph on a good day.He spends what he earns. He knows that statistically he will have at least 10, probably 20, and as many as 30 very tough assignments before the mandatory 00 retirement age of 45. Too many. He knows the odds of his surviving the coming ten years are slim to none. And that depresses him. How do I know? Ian Fleming tells us so in Chapter One of “Moonraker” (third book in the series).That’s the Bond that Ian Fleming created. Much more interesting and gritty and real and human. That’s the Bond Sean Connery portrayed until the Hollywood idiots ran amok after Goldfinger. It’s the Bond Daniel Craig resurrected until the new crop of Hollywood fools screwed it up again with November 2015’s Spectre.I’ll stick with the books, thank you very much!Fleming’s writing style, while perhaps not rising to the expectations of modern pedantic poseur literary critics, is easy to read and follow. As would be expected from a successful journalist writing for educated U.K. citizens of the 1950s, his audience would have been quite comfortable with his style; his adding color by use of some French terms and phrases in a novel that, after all, takes place in France; and whom would not have needed sub-titles to understand their context. I didn’t find that aspect disruptive at all to the flow of the narrative.If you want entertaining glitz, stick with the movies; if want something more, read the books! I’ve enjoyed them all immensely in the context of the time period in which they take place.Bond fans may want to check out flemingsbond.com, a treasure trove of factual information upon which Fleming relied in writing the Bond novels, and “Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies” by John Griswald.

⭐ Casino Royale introduced the world to James Bond in a stylish and intelligent manner. Fleming’s novel, stream-lined and matter-of-fact, paints a clear picture of James Bond and his world as a spy. Utilizing none of the window-dressing and diversions later employed in the film, this book is a more direct version of the story, no less interesting and powerful. Why? Because as a novel the elements of the framework of the story are more clearly explained to the reader instead of being glossed over for more visual impact. Bond’s role as a double-o is mentioned and discussed. This Cold War story pits Bond against SMERSH, a dangerous Russian organization which is explored rather than glossed over as in the films. Bond’s nemesis, Le Chiffre, a compulsive gambler and thug, and his ability to access SMERSH’s funds, is also explained instead of dressed up with a blood-weeping eye and inhaler. Mathis’s function as a contact, not a betrayer, from the Deuxieme is illustrated more concretely by his direct knowledge and handling of other spies and assassins in evidence. Felix Leiter, Bond’s CIA contact and later good friend, is actually able to speak with him instead of throwing an off-handed line or two. Bond’s relationship with Vesper Lynd, at first contentious and later much different, develops more gradually and gives more impetus to Bond’s decision to leave HMSS and then later to rescind that request with a much more striking explanation than Vesper having a lover in trouble for whom she steals the money that was staked. This revelation at the end of the novel thoroughly resolves all the mysterious happenings during the mission left dangling in the film. According to Ian Fleming the world of the spy in this era had more to do with reporting to your respective HMSS station and placing a wet hair strategically in a hotel room to indicate tampering than any of the more flashy trappings designed to appeal to the eye rather than the analytic mind bent on surviving a dangerous mission. If you liked the film From Russia With Love, which I think adheres most to the elements Ian Fleming utilized in his novels, you will enjoy this book. If you are more attracted to gun fights and chase scenes, sometimes with no explanation as to why they occurred, then this material is not for you.

⭐ Possible spoilers below-This kickstarter to the James Bond novels is written very well. From the start, Fleming creates a bond (no pun intended) between the reader and the cold, calculating spy that is James Bond. The atmosphere of the novel is indeed tense, and the expressions on the characters’ faces are easily imagined. I was particularly impressed with the Le Chiffre character, who is written in a clear and convincing way. Fleming describes his facial expressions and mannerisms in a way that you feel almost familiar with him, and it’s somewhat terrifying.There is a torture scene that is quite difficult to read, but its aftermath is what makes the novel. Despite all his coldness, James Bond’s humanity is revealed in his romance with Vesper Lynd. You can feel his happiness at possibly having found a soul mate, his frustration when the relationship sours, and most of all, his bitterness and deep hurt when Vesper denies both of them happiness by committing suicide and revealing herself to him in a suicide note.In the end this is an enjoyable novel, though it feels a tad rushed, and is not really a “spy novel” per se. Only about half the book contains the “meat”- the poker battle with Le Chiffre and the later confrontation that sees Bond brutally tortured. The rest is more of a love story, but still provides valuable insight into the Bond character.The physical book is well put together, I might add. I prefer the modernized look and design to the rather suggestive covers normally used on Bond novels in the past.

⭐ Casino Royale has had many printings. It’s worth noting that the Kindle edition is not complete. Some editions had some appendices, such as a lengthy explanation of the card game from the climax, which are quite rare today. People blowing through these editions might not even notice, but the listing is straight-up incorrect when it says this edition is complete.Other than that, this is a great book. This book has some white-knuckle thrills. I don’t even like to gamble, and my heart still raced during the betting scenes. The writing is quite good.And just a quick side note which is covered in the book but often missed by international readers. The name “James Bond” is a generic-sounding name. The idea is that this agent is an everyman, made special not as much from his own constitution as for his dedication to his service. British agents – as later books detail – were famously underpaid compared to their foreign counterparts. Britain relied on their people’s sense of honor for loyalty, rather than buying them off. James Bond is only allotted lavish money on his missions, when he must appear as a famous debutante in order to lure information out of suspects. He regularly arranges that his winnings will go back to the service, so for the most part he lives a fairly normal life – punctuated by his dangerous missions.Any concerns that this book would be too dated are ignoring the book’s own contents. James Bond is still driving a 1930 “Blower” Bentley, when this book is set more or less current to its publishing in 1953. James himself remarks on ways in which his vehicle is ancient and cumbersome. Many cultural items are just as interesting today as they would have been in that era, even if for different reasons. You find out that when money is no object and James wants to impress a lady, he orders a dessert of… wait for it… avacado. Gnoshing on avacados is still a bit of a status symbol today, even if it’s not as exotic as it once was. The new cultural context actually makes this scene quite funny, as you can imagine James trying to look sophisticated and in modern times he’d be having some avacado toast. You may need an internet connection nearby to look up some of the French phrases, or long-retired cigarette and alcohol brands, but then again plenty of people at the time of publishing would have needed some help too. That’s the point of an exotic, globe-spanning adventure. This story pushes your own boundaries with a dizzying array of foods, fashions, cars, and who knows what else.Much is made of this book being offensive to modern sensibilities. I think a lot of people miss ways in which the Bond books are more progressive at their core than people tend to want to give credit for. Bond is today held up as a bastion of rampant misogyny for his treatment of women, and not unjustly. But when you read the text, he specifically calls out that what he’s really worried about is his own weakness. He’s (rightly) afraid he’d fall in love with a woman in the line of duty, and any ties to love or family could easily get him killed. The survival rate of 00 agents is already quite poor, so Bond is mortally fearful and lashes out in severe ways. The author wasn’t just hating women, he was trying to drive home points about fear and vulnerability – even if he sometimes chose poor avenues to do so.Overall, Casino Royale is a treat. There’s thrill, there’s a vast array of cultural artifacts waiting to reveal themselves to you, and above all there’s some truly excellent writing. Ian Fleming’s works are a treat, and I hope the dated morality doesn’t keep people from enjoying an otherwise amazing book.

⭐ If you came here to Casino Royale (James Bond (Original Series) Book 1) Kindle Edition by Ian Fleming expecting the slick movie gimcrack glitz and glamor. That is the stuff of most of the movies. The earliest James Bond Movies tended to be rather like the books and Danial Craig is almost the original Bond. For the rest, Fleming hated what had been done to his books and only licensed the titles after Goldfinger. This is the original James Bond. Unencumbered with hi tech gadgets, nursing along his 20 odd year old supercharged 1930 Bentley coupe. This is a Bond soured on being a double O and aware that survival in this job is a matter of odds, and sooner or later the odds are against.In some respects, Fleming’s James Bond begins in the same mental space as John Le Carre’s Alec Leamas from that author’s first spy novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Both are Cold War undercover operatives. Neither is fully convinced that their side is all that perfect and that the typical operative is hardly better than a cold-blooded calculating human for hire. Their jobs leave them exposed, expendable and on borrowed time.The end of chapter 1 of Casino Royal has James Bond seriously considering his job, his motives and his life. He does however take this assignment. Seek out an over extended, profligate Russian Spy, and ruin him financially. The Russian, Le Chiffreis, a man of some importance to Russian operations, but he is dipping into the company till to fund brothels. Changes in French law has him on the verge of bankruptcy. Knowing he will place his last money on high stakes Baccarat at the French casino in Royale-les-Eaux the stage is set to publicly ruin Moscow’s Man in France.Bond is extended a large line of credit, and dispatched to literally beat the Russian at hisown game. Along the way Fleming introduces allied operatives from the French Deuxième Bureau (French Secret Service) American CIA Operative Felix Lighter and, intended to be friendly arm candy, a relatively low ranking British secret service employee, Vesper.Bond feels the weight of the various risks he is taking . Professional standing and life threatening, he is aware that luck, when it comes, it comes in runs and ends with very little clue. It is Bond’s sensitivity to those clues that has placed him into this job. For him the woman is a distraction and something to add to his job of figuring the odds.Is it a spoiler alert to remind you that this is book one of a series? We should dispatch our concern over how this will end, and focus on how we get there. On this there are a few points. Ian Fleming had experience in espionage. He had been an Officer in British Naval Intelligence during World War II. He had insider knowledge of operations and people that would appear as fiction in his books. While the basic plot of Casino Royal is thin and unlikely, it was inspired by a high stakes Baccarat games involving Nazi money, that Fleming observed. The Bond character is an amalgam of several people Fleming knew or knew of, including the so-called Ace of Spies, Sidney Reilly, and Serbian double agent, Dusko Popov. There are several books and some made for television material on, or based on both.The Bond books follow a tradition of hard-boiled detectives and various secret agent stories. To Fleming must go the credit for introducing the modern, human secret agent. However slick on the outside, the inner man is one with whom any man can identify. As for his only in the movie’s reputation as a ladies’ man; the Bond OF Casino Royal never makes assumptions about Vesper as an entertainment object. He rejects some of her offers, and against his better judgement develops sincere feeling for her. In this case, who seduces who?As will be in all the James Bond Books, Casino Royal is short. I find the writing much above the assumed hack work automatically associated with action figure novels. Later when Fleming speaks of his much beloved Jamaica, his writing can be lyrical. In this book, he tends to be tense, focused and very successful in matching descriptions to the mood and mind of his protagonist. This is at least my second read of this book. How many or how soon I will get back to this shelf, well stay tuned. Fleming wrote them one a year, maybe I will read them at that rate.

⭐ The burgeoning legend of James Bond begins here. From such humble origins…With all the feel of a pulp novel you might find on the shelf of a bookseller and then tell your friends about for decades with no expectation they will have heard of the work, some secret gem you cherish nonetheless, that draws you back time and again, Ian Fleming’s premiere James Bond novel sneaks up on you. Like Marlowe and Chandler, Fleming and Bond remind you that SOMEtimes the masses get it right. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON the novels and authors and characters they choose to bestow popular status upon actually deserve it.Fleming allows you to feel without forcing. Inviting you into Bond’s world, and Bond’s life, Bond’s mind and most secret heart.James Bond is a flawed man. A very real man. He has one superpower – that he has never had to admit the possibility of failure.Boy, if that doesn’t sum up the man we’ve seen embodied by Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, and (more closely) by George Lazenby and Daniel Craig.Fleming provides texture to the world. Rapacity. But writes with a sparsity that focuses the reader to follow the threads of plot through the characters. It’s modern noir. His work can be taken together as one whole, or Casino Royale may be taken alone as one singly important work perfectly capable of standing on its own. Either way, it’s easy to envision Fleming’s work uncovered in some future circumstance to stand as our generation’s Gilgamesh or Beowulf. The work is fulfilling. The feeling at conclusion that this was a ride worth taking.It is.

⭐ I read most of the Bond books in the late sixties and into the seventies but apparently I didn’t read them all. I found a deal on Amazon where I could buy the complete Bond series at a great price some years ago and in a fit of nostalia I did. They have been on my Kindle ever sense so when looking to read a new book I decided on this one. I had seen the movie with David Niven but hadn’t enjoyed it as much as the Bond movies with Sean Connery so I decided to start with the first of the series; Casino Royale.I wasn’t many pages in before I realized that I had never read Casino Royale? I’m not sure why but it became more and more obvious that this was a new Bond story and I was sure I knew them all. Yes I saw the movie with Daniel Craig (and enjoyed it), but this story was different and new to me hence the surprise.I never really knew of Bonds’ origin other than the brief mentions in later books but I knew I liked the Connery version of Bond better because he was more serious and more closely followed Ian Fleming’s original representation that I had read so many years ago.As far as Casino Royale the book is concerned it is a solid beginning of the Bond series. Fleming used a lot British phrases and French terms that will be unfamiliar to new readers (and me) but gets the story told quickly without a lot of unnecessary flourishes. Great characters, solid story, and epic original names. Worth the short time it takes to read and learn about the origin of the most famous spy of the 20th century…

⭐ This book is really in three parts.ONE: the casino section including the card game and the plot against Le Chiffre – This is the spy story you came through the door for, and is executed pretty well. There’s the nice red herring of the couple upstairs that the Deuxieme discovers are listening in to Bond’s room, and the drama and death threat of the game.TWO: The torture sequence – Le Chiffre attempts to extort the money that Bond won back from him. This is…inventive…and somewhat difficult to read as it sounds really quite painful.THREE: The romance at the beach after Bond’s hospitalization – this seems oddly tacked on. It’s as if Fleming knew that something else was required and even knew what it was. He just didn’t know how to pull it off. I certainly never bought that it was serious enough that Bond might propose marriage to Vesper. She seems to be a, sometimes more than minor, annoyance to him during the majority of the book. Needless to say, this ends badly. My reaction is more of a shrug than anything else. I never had any real commitment to it. Oh well.

⭐ “Casino Royale” launched the 007 franchise to great fanfare in the mid 50s. The prose is spare and the central character lacks the innate charisma of a Sean Connery or Roger Moore. It is a quick pulpy read with a good twist. It is also a window into the uncomfortable worldview of the 50s aesthete. In this slim volume, our protagonist trumpets misogynistic chestnuts about weak women and ends with a brutal Bond blaming a feminine inconstancy for his inability to see the twist in the story. It is inevitable that a 60 year old pulp novel would be out of step with our times, but suffice to say it’s archaic viewpoint colors the whole reading experience.

⭐ IF you’re a bond fan, then you need to read it. Many of the movies have made casino royale look dumb or cheesy, the latest movie with daniel craig is actually the best version to date (in terms of matching the intensity of the book). We all know Bond as this adventurous player, doing crazy things that as a man you admire, but this book reveals such a darker, more sexist version of the character. The movies make him seem like this over-the-top alpha male, but the book really shows that he has his own issues, and his view on women is much more harsh than the movies. I think they know that people love to think of Bond as a hero, but in this first novel, he treats this woman he loves (who is actually his equal in every way) as “just a woman”. I was surprised to see that Bond wasn’t some amazing guy, but a human who just seems to get lucky in so many deadly situations, who is skilled but terribly flawed. It inspired me to read all the other books too.In terms of the book itself, it’s well written (though confusing as characters/entities in the fictional world are introduced without explanation) and a very fast read. It was suspenseful, dark, witty, and awesome.

Keywords

Free Download Casino Royale in Epub format
Casino Royale Epub Free Download
Download Casino Royale 2019 Epub Free
Casino Royale 2019 Epub Free Download
Download Casino Royale Epub
Free Download Ebook Casino Royale