ISBN 13: 978-1-60163-004-9

Publisher: New Page Books

“Name’s Bond, James Bond.” How many times have you heard this? If you’re a fan of the dark world of James Bond, you will absolutely adore this book.  

I remember being a huge fan of Ian Fleming’s much loved character when I was small. I have simply lost track of the many times I’d sit in front of the TV with a glass of juice and loose myself in the Bond films. I think the thrill of it had me hooked - a British spy who gets himself into all sorts of life-threatening situations. And those cars! Some could even drive underwater…wouldn’t you just love to be 007?

Philip Gardiner has delved into the world Ian Fleming created and unearthed this remarkable story full of clues, ciphers and volley of codes.  

I’ve never really thought of his work as what you’d call religious but apparently Fleming was quite into this side of things and if you take a moment to read through this book, you can see the influences God and such like meant to Fleming.

Gardiner shares a really interesting story behind Goldeneye - a James Bond movie that starred Pierce Brosnan. Apparently it is believed, Fleming’s Jamaican retreat that he made “barely habitable” was actually later called Goldeneye. Is this where he got the name for his work? There are some more facts about this if you read on but I think I shall leave it up to the reader to find these out.  

My favourite chapter has to be “A Bond Holiday” where the author and his family travel to the southeast coast of England. While I know this book is about Ian Fleming and his much loved character, I thought this chapter was special in its own way. Gardiner describes his holiday so well and manages to invoke just what a British holiday usually turns out to be: “miserable people, rain, tea shops and nothing to do”.

Maybe Gardiner should turn his hand to writing about the social scene? Of course this chapter is about Ian Fleming and we should not forget that. Gardiner later describes how he came across an elderly man with two Scottish Terriers in tow.

So intrigued as to which house Ian Fleming supposedly lived in, in the little place called St. Margaret’s Bay, Gardiner asks the man if he knows anything. He turns to him with a glint in his eye and says “Yes of course I do, my dear boy….Mine.”

Gardiner then tries to get as much information out of this mysterious chap as he can. I was amazed at some of the things I learnt - read this if you want to up your knowledge on Fleming’s life.

It is thought that Fleming got the number 7 from many ideas. For instance according to Indian numerology, the number 7 fits James Bond’s persona perfectly: mystical, intuitive, prefers to work alone, great self-control and determination. Often being torn between the world of the rational and unconscious.  

Perhaps, though, the idea has come from our seven planets: the sun, the moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. Or perhaps from the bible and its septenary design which is based upon the number 7.

Maybe even from the seven deadly sins - lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. I don’t know that Bond has ever suffered from these sins though except for perhaps, lust! Young women seemed to be his weakness.  

The list is long and questions follow. Read this for yourself and make your own mind up.

This is a book for all fans of Ian Fleming and his character, James Bond. It mentions the films, for instance For Your Eyes Only, and Fleming’s novels as well as much, much more.

A really superb book which is also available to buy on DVD and in Audio CD format.