On Her Majesty's Secret Service (James Bond Novels) [Paperback]

Ian Fleming (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2003

High in the Swiss Alps, a man hunts respectability with all the cunning that made him Europe's most ruthless criminal. Nothing is to stand in Ernst Stavro Blofeld's way, certainly not 007.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in London in 1908, Ian Fleming worked as a banker and journalist before serving in the British Naval Intelligence during World War II. He published his first novel Casino Royale in 1953 and thus started the astoundingly successful James Bond novels and films. Fleming died in 1964. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142003255
• ISBN-13: 978-0142003251
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Bond, January 11, 2004

By 

Kimberley Wilson (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (James Bond Novels) (Paperback)

James Bond has come to a crossroads in this book. He's seriously thinking of quitting and goes as far as composing a bitter resignation from the Secret Service. He's restless, unhappy and is looking for ...something. And then he meets a girl. In the middle of a romance that surprises and even scares him a little Bond gets handed an asignment that turns out to be far more complicated than even he could've dreamed. Blofeld is back and this time their encounter becomes personal.

If you saw the excellent movie then you know what happens.

Ian Fleming did a fantastic job with the sublte foreshadowing. Bond meets Tracy in the same town where he met Vesper Lynde in Casino Royale. We learn that he's been visiting Vesper's grave once a year for years. It reminds the reader that Bond does have a heart and it can be moved. Later, Bond, to his chagrin realizes that he wants to wrap this Blofeld business up mainly so he can get back to Tracy.

In addition to this, the usual Bond trademarks are here. You have a horrifying villain, revolting flunkies, glorious scenary, a desperate chase that almost gets Bond killed and an unforgetable ending.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bond Faces the Unthinkable, March 5, 2002

By 

gobirds2 (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Paperback)

This is probably Ian Fleming's most interesting and personal James Bond novel. This book precedes "You Only Live Twice" as it sends James Bond on a mission to track down the head of SPECTRE. This is a very well written novel and is very interesting trying to fathom what Fleming had been contemplating for his hero at that time in his life. I found this absorbing novel very difficult to put down once I started reading it as I did with its follow-up. If you do decide to read it I recommend that you read it before "You Only Live Twice." I will go one step further, if you read both of these novels then read "The Man with the Golden Gun" after you finish "You Only Live Twice." These three novels make up a sort of trilogy. One hint: "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is very close to the movie version. "You Only Live Twice" and "The Man with the Golden Gun" movies have very little at all to do with the Fleming novels in any direct sense of plot and conflict. So don't be discouraged. I have read these three novels several times over. In this novel the relationship between Bond and M becomes clearer while Bond's own convictions come under self-scrutiny. Is there a line between duty and honor?

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Bond, April 13, 2005

By 

Felix Crumm (Wheaton, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (James Bond Novels) (Paperback)

Don't just see the movie, READ THE BOOK! This book brings James Bond alive in ways the movie can't. Listen to 007's thoughts as he acts out this alpine drama. This character is much fuller and more dynamic than the movie Bond.

I always loved the Sean Connery movies better than the other actors. One of the reasons was he had more of a '60s' high-society flare. More Mission Impossible than Charlies Angels. One of the benefits of these books is they benefit from being written in the 60s. The characters, the situations, the bad guys, the women are all laced with everything I liked about Sean Connery Bond, but even more so.

These books are a refreshing relief from the Action/Espionage thrillers of today. Don't just stand there... order it!