Thunderball

The eighth full-length Bond novel has a complicated history. Essentially the novelisation of an unfilmed Bond script developed by Fleming, Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, Ivar Bryce and Ernest Cuneo, this is set in Fleming's backyard (the sun-drenched islands of the Caribbean) and is notable for the first appearance of SPECTRE and Bond's arch-nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Blofeld's role is fleeting but memorable, with the main villainous part given over to the formidable figure of Emilio Largo.

Fleming open the novel with Bond on desk duty, bored to death and on the verge of drinking and smoking himself into oblivion. It's a far cry from the superhuman secret agent we're used to and, as in the short stories of For Your Eyes Only, we get to see a more human Bond. Hauled up before M, Bond is read a damning report on his health and packed off to an expensive health club called Shrublands, where he crosses the path of a volatile SPECTRE operative, Count Lippe, who ends up trying to kill Bond after overhearing a phone conversation. It's an odd start to the novel, but a now fit and healthy Bond is packed off to Nassau after the British and American governments are blackmailed by SPECTRE. Two nuclear bombs have been stolen from a hijacked Vindicator bomber, which will be used to destroy two major cities unless a £100,000,000 ransom is paid.

Largo is in charge of the operation, using the cover of a treasure hunt and his custom made yacht the Disco Volante. Bond is sent to investigate, much to his annoyance as he sees it as a wild goose chase, and is joined by his old friend Felix Leiter of the CIA (in his biggest role yet), complete with metal hook for a hand (after an encounter with a shark in Live and Let Die). Cue much witty banter between the two agents.

Bond also encounters the beautiful Domino Vitali, Largo's mistress, who turns out to be the sister of the pilot who hijacked the Vindicator. Bond recruits her in his inimitable fashion, setting up an undersea climax to the novel as Largo attempts to position one of the bombs, while tracked by a US nuclear submarine, courtesy of Leiter.

This is a novel heavy on dialogue. Whole chapters are devoted to two people talking. Apart from the Shrublands escapade and the final sea chase, there is little action. Whether the convoluted genesis of the story had any bearing on this, I'm not sure, but it's an oddly structured book, with vast stretches where nothing much happens. Bond reverts to his usual brutish, lady-killer seduction technique. The ending is somewhat perfunctory and Largo, while cruel and imposing, is never really fleshed out as a villain.

So, a bit of a mixed bag, and a step down from the previous novel, Goldfinger.

Review updated following the BBC Radio production.

Thunderball is the 9th James Bond book by Ian Fleming. It's one my favourites of the original series. It has it all:

M – check,

Moneypenny – check,

May – check,

Felix – check,

Exotic location – check,

Beautiful girl with catchy name – check,

Car – check,

Walther PPK – check,

Blofeld and SPECTRE – check,

Atomic bombs – check.

I could go on but you get the picture ...

I liked the way that the book opens with Bond in need of a serious detox. Fleming describes a hangover, I'm guessing from his own experience, in a wonderful way. After reading this I realised just how descriptive Fleming was with his prose. This is especially the case when we get to the underwater battles later in the book. Fleming must have loved the sea and diving. His portrayal of frogman Bond is rich and atmospheric, for example: Bond sneaking around the Disco, the battle with SPECTRE scuba divers and the various sea life.

The novel is a tough straightforward thriller with an exciting plot. The 1967 movie of the same name follows the book. If you've seen this then it'll help you to conceptualise the story and scenes described.

It all rattles along at a nice pace with a sprinkle of humour and panache. Thunderball also has less violence as compared to other books in the series too.

The focus of Thunderball is on Bond himself. Again, Bond comes off as a rather vulnerable person, riddled with self-doubt. He's definitely not the superhero that we see in some of the movies. Of course, we get the usual misogyny and abuse. But by this point in series it doesn't come as much of a shock any more.

We also get to see Bond in scenes with some favourite characters. Not only M but Moneypenny, who was missing from the last couple of novels. Felix Leiter and Bond's Scottish housekeeper, May who gives Bond a telling off also appear too. The only character that is missing is Q meaning he gadgets and gimmicks so prevalent in the movies are missing. For me this enhances the story and definitely doesn't make the book less entertaining.

The last part of the novel was a slight let down. In a Bond movie this part of the story is the big climax but not here. What Fleming gives us is rather lukewarm. There's no big punch or crescendo as we nonchalantly learn that Blofield has escaped.

So in summary, this is a fun novel and worth reading even if you're not the biggest Bond fan. The exotic mixture makes for an exhilarating page turning thriller. A polished performance from Fleming, with an action packed ingenious plot full of excitement.

Great rainy day matinée of a book.