James Bond

Introduction

#

After enjoying a few of the Bond novels that I picked up at a used bookstore in Redding, CA, I decided to read the full series. With one book remaining to read at the beginning of 2026, Netflix brokered an agreement with Netflix to have all of the Eon Production Bond movies available to stream. So as I wrap up one medium, I’m transitioning to the other and figured it worthwhile to rank and comment on the novels and movies as I go.

Rankings

#

Novels

#

Ranking the novels was actually rather tricky. To start, I should confess that I am making these rankings after finishing all but one novel. I also didn’t read them in order. But I think the largest factor to explain why I had difficulty sorting these novels from most to least favorite is that I enjoyed most of them, each for a different reason. The primary exception to this was ranking The Spy Who Loved Me last because it was hardly a Bond novel.

Movies

#

I am still watching the movies and will rank them as I go. Only a handful of movies in, I can already see how it will be difficult to separate my rankings from the main actor and style of film making in the era. Still, I think my ranking will generally be guided by “how did I enjoy the movie.” (So far, it has been fun watch a movie and then listen to the few corresponding episodes of the BondCast podcast series.)