Customer Reviews

Bond Girls are Forever: The Women of James Bond

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

BOND GIRLS ARE FOREVER is an excellent -- and I'd even say essential -- companion book to John Cork and Bruce Scivally's THE JAMES BOND LEGACY. This time Cork (who is probably THE authority on all things James Bond) writes with former Bond Girl Maryam d'Abo, and her insights are interesting and welcome. Far from being just a picture book, BOND GIRLS ARE FOREVER traces the evolution of the Bond Girl through the 50 year history of James Bond. In reading this book it struck me how worthy a topic this is. There is a misconception that the Bond Girl is superficial sexpot in a bikini. Not true. Cork and D'Abo point out how, from the beginning, Bond Girls have been strong independent women and professionals of many kinds (spies, astronauts, scientists, pilots, etc.). If anyone is superficial it's the character of James Bond. While Bond never changes, the Bond Girls have evolved from decade to decade and have reflected their times (and predicted trends) in fascinating ways. We are reminded that 007 started out as a literary hero, and Cork first introduces us to the women who populated the novels of Ian Fleming. He correctly shows us that it was Fleming who laid out the template for what would become the phenomenon of the cinematic Bond Girl. (I find it's ironic that the foundation of Halle Berry's Jinx in 2002 was born of a middle-aged racially insensitive Englishman in the 1950s.) Too bad the book doesn't go into the female characters created by later Bond authors like John Gardner and Raymond Benson, but perhaps only hardcore Bond fans like me would find that interesting.

Like LEGACY, BOND GIRLS doesn't fixate on the Connery era of the '60s, but gives us the whole history of the Bond phenomenon in equal measures. In many ways, I found the chapter on the Bond Girls of the '80s to be the most fascinating because of the changing attitudes toward promiscuity due to the AIDS crisis. In this regard, d'Abo's Kara Milovy (The Living Daylights) was every bit as trailblazing as Ursula Andress' Honey Rider in Dr. No. And the photos in the book, many of which I've never seen, are as stunning as the women they depict (many are full page).

Like I said, if you have THE JAMES BOND LEGACY this is a must companion piece. Or if you just have an interest in beautiful, strong, independent women...well...you can't go wrong with bringing home a Bond Girl.

For author John Cork the hardest book to follow on from must have been James Bond: The Legacy. And with Maryam d'Abo as co-writer he has done that with Bond Girls Are Forever, but only to an extent. `Legacy' was such a brilliant work that it is almost impossible to follow on from, especially when trying to generate the same sort of impact.

Now, it may seem unfair to compare `Legacy' to 'Bond Girls', perhaps even unprofessional. They are, admittedly, two separate works. Yet, I couldn't help but compare the two as soon as I picked up `Bond Girls'. And it isn't just for John Cork's name on the cover, but rather the size. The first thing you'll notice is that this book is in the same coffee table size as `Legacy', the second thing you'll notice is that it is a lot thinner and lighter. I couldn't help be disappointed by that difference and it seems apparent that the publishers wanted `Bond Girls' to evoke the memory of `Legacy' and it does, but not in the positive sense they had hoped for.

However, that's not to say that the book itself is bad. Much like `Legacy', there I go comparing the two again - sorry but I shan't stop, the textual content is of a high standard. I'm not really sure who wrote what in the book, I got the feeling that d'Abo wrote a lot less of the content than Cork, but what's written is quite interesting. While interesting facts can be found throughout, it's the social analysis that comes across as the most appealing and unique. `Bond Girls' moves beyond the world of 007 to show how women as a whole were portrayed across time, using figures such as Marylin Monroe to contrast the end of the frigid fifties and the beginning of the sexually charged sixties. In drawing on wider social issues the book aids the reader, and I believe this would be particularly true of the younger one, in their understanding of the world that Ian Fleming introduced the Bond Girl too.

Sadly, the visual content is not of the same calibre as the textual content. While the pictures are produced in brilliant quality, there are too few that haven't been seen before. The majority of the images are common, and the use of images from Greg William's Bond On Set: The Making Of Die Another Day borders on the repetitive. Furthermore, while it is nice to see the 50's Pan paperback artwork created by Sam Peffer reproduced in such a large format, it again harks back to the notion that these images are not new to Bond fans and as such, the reproduction of three covers across three full pages feels like overkill.

Despite the lack of photographic gems, the visual layout of `Bond Girls' is to be commended. The formatting and printing and both clear and crisp and this is particularly evident where large quotes have been included.

This review may have come across as far too negative as `Bond Girls' is still of high quality. But its replication of `Legacy' in its size, and it's lack of photographic gems sadly let it down. But at the same time, textual content is still of a high standard. It's up to the reader to nominate what they prefer. Personally, I favour a coffee table sized book with stunning visuals.

Beginning with the 007 novels of Ian Fleming, d'Abo and Cork delineate the archetypes and trace the evolution of Bond girls from the 1953 novel 'Casino Royale' to the 2002 film 'Die Another Day.' Along the way, the reader is treated to insights from the actresses who so brilliantly brought these fantasy sex-symbols to life.
The book is also a feast for the eyes, with page after stunning page of color and black-and-white photos of the world's most glamorous and alluring women - many of them rarely, if ever, seen before. All in all, it is a must-have addition to any James Bond fan's library - and just in time for Christmas!

Even after buying and admiring the great "James Bond Legacy" I hesitated before giving up and purchasing this new book. Big mistake !!!!!
I own a couple of editions of "The James Bond Girls" and I must give a clear advantage to "Bond Girls are Forever". Better pictures and better all-around preentation.
Indispensable for any true 007 fan, though you certainly don't have to be one to appreciate it.

great pictures and an in depth look at each girl and her relationship to the movie

Excellent writing. A must for all Bond and movie fans. Good read and good photos.

This a great book of magnifecent women.

I find this exciting volume to be an excellent addition to the Bond universe: gorgeous photos, elegant layout, and clean, evocative prose. As an historical accounting of the films' sexual genealogy, it is bold and engaging. As a collection the sort of anecdotes one expects from any 'book about movies' it is charming and understated. And I don't feel that it is the sort of book that will appeal only to hardcore fans: it has a definite mainstream appeal which I appreciate. I already bought it for my father's Channukah present, and another copy for my brother's birthday is on the way.

Perhaps my expectations were too high, but when I had read other reviews I hoped for the best. This is not the best. So, what one is the best? It is the one yet to be published. yet I will admitt that this one is the best out there that I have seen. A book on Bond women should have a lot more pictures, and more inside stories would help as well; yes, more photos, that would do the trick.

I believe it is the only book to really centralize on the Bond girls which is a very important part of the Bond world. Glad I got it.