h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks P. for an excellent entry on Fleming. It's good to know that some people appreciate the greatness of the Bond novels and don't dismiss them immediately having seen the films.

I've read all the Fleming novels (and published short stories, I think) but have yet to venture into the world maintained by the other authors you mentioned. Which would you recommend (author and/or book)? There's more to choose from than I thought there were so I want to make the right choice and not be disappointed.

I unearthed Colonel Sun in a second hand bookshop and was most intrieged when I found it but it turned out a good read. I haven't seen any of the others though.

Thanks for that. I'll look out for it.

There was a reprint of "Colonel Sun" a short while back. I gather that the new Bond movie "Die Another Day" utilises elements of the book, although the character is renamed "Colonel Moon".

The Christopher Wood books sometimes turn up in second hand stores.

The John Gardner books don't seem to widely available these days (although at the time, the early ones were fairly easy to get hold of in places like WH Smith's). That said, I'd imagine they'd turn up in second hand stores (charity shops are always a great place to look for that sort of thing - that's where I picket up a copy of Gardner's "Seafire"). The Raymond Benson books are a doddle to find - they're on sale in our local Waterstones (Chelmsford), and I've seen them in various places throughout London.

Hope that helps.

David