Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

What are your favorite spy reads? Ludlum? Ian Flemming, Forscythe? I'd like to know what the good reads are.

For me, I'm a traditional Robert Ludlum guy mostly, but Desmond Bagely has two books I loved, Tightrope Men and The Enemy.

Ludlum - definitely

Although I love spy movies, I am not well-read in the spy novel genre. But I am looking for recommendations. I do own The Bourne Identity, so I guess that's a good place to start. I also have Moscow Rules, but not the first in that series, unfortunately.

Amen Ludlum. This is one writer that, to my knowledge, hasn't turned out a bad book. Even the Covert One Series is fun and he's just lent his name to those.

I've only read a couple of Ludlum's, but I did enjoy them. I also really liked (to my slight shock) Casino Royale. I have the next Bond book in my TBR pile.

Yeah, I've always shied away from the James Bond books for fear that their hokey... I do have this little voice in the back of my head that says, "there's no way the English would put this much money and effort into making these over and over, if there wasn't more to them."

(and story wise, there are a lot of indicators that that's the best James Bond Book or movie ever. The least like the brand name and the most independent.)

The thing that struck me the most was how similar the movie was to the book as Fleming wrote it. It was a really harsh read.

Yes, I think that trend started in the Pierce Brosnan era. With Conery and Moore they played Bond like the Iron Tethlon Man, nothing bothered him, rarely surprised him and he kicked the snot out of everyone (of course Bond was always more than that, even in the movies) Brosnan played a more vulnerable Bond, opening the way for more realism with Dalton.... that's just my take on it. Usually he saves the really good girl but in Casino Royale, there really wasn't one, and the bad guys got her. I like the trend, but it does make a grittier darker James Bond.

I should read Casino Royale. I shied away from the books because I have seen most of the movies, a lot. But now I will give it a try.

and I was referring soley to the movies I haven't read the book either, but I'm gonna.

Hugh - I think you're getting the actors confused. Dalton was Bond before Brosnan. Daniel Craig is the current Bond.

your right, I am. See, I need you here. I can't keep my bondage straight without you.

Think.... OOOPs... I mean.. my 007-isms. Sorry

*raises eyebrow* Indeed...

Craig from Cowboys and Aliens is the current Bond... I'll get it down yet. Richard Kiel is Jaws. (was Jaws).