Happy Birthday, 007

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Well, to his creator anyway. Ian Fleming was born May 28, 1908. WOW… that would make him 100 years old today… of course he passed away many years ago. Ironically, he left the world mere months after the release of From Russia with Love on the big screen in 1964. The centennial of the author’s birth is being celebrated in at least two ways. Today sees the release of the newest James Bond novel Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks. In November, the 22nd film in the Bond franchise Quantum of Solace will be presented on the big screen with Daniel Craig reprising the role of British Secret Service agent 007.

In total, Fleming wrote 12 Bond novels and two collections of short stories. Following his death, other writers have taken up the mantle. Although most of the plots for the books and the movies have very little in common, fifteen of the movies take their titles directly from the books. The novel From Russia with Love was high on President John F. Kennedy’s favorite reading list which prompted the production of the second film. Below is a list of Fleming’s 12 Bond novels and 2 short stories and the order in which the movie was released which are not synonymous.

Casino Royale (21)

Live and Let Die (8)

Moonraker (11)

Diamonds are Forever (7)

From Russia with Love (2)

Dr. No (1)

Goldfinger (3)

For Your Eyes Only (12)

Thunderball (13 sorry… 4)

The Spy Who Loved Me (10)

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (6)

You Only Live Twice (5)

The Man with the Golden Gun (9)

Octopussy (13) and the Living Daylights (15)

(GoldenEye takes its name from Fleming’s Jamaican home where he wrote the stories)

Fleming’s writing was not limited to the world of the spy. He also penned the children’s book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.


James Bond Novels

7 thoughts on “Happy Birthday, 007”

  1. Sorry to say 007 is not on my list of interests… but if I could retain the info it would be good for future trivia games! 🙂

  2. Ah, yes… Need to find a Bond trivia game to go along with the Disney trivia. Althought I do have a 007 Scene It DVD game. I think at least two of us would have a slight advantage.

  3. My brother’s birthday is today, just one day different. Happy birthday to my brother!

    What? Ian’s birthday was yesterday, so it’s too late for me to wish him one 😀

  4. Um no – I’m not playing Bond trivia with you, sorry…
    Some game we were playing one time… think it was that Memory Madness one, where you go around the table and name things in the category. First person to repeat or get one wrong loses. Anyway, there was a Bond movies category, and it got me eliminated, so that’s what I meant.

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