Lecture Notes: Ian Fleming's James Bond Short Stories

Introduction

• The lecture is a review of Ian Fleming's James Bond short stories, marking the end of a year-long series of reviewing all Bond books.
• Last Fleming book is a collection of short stories written between 1962-1965.
• Stories are set before Bond gets married, portraying a lighter time in his life.
• The review does not follow the Bond timeline order but goes by publication dates for simplicity.

Short Stories Covered

1. Octopussy

• Bond travels to Jamaica to arrest Major Dexter Smythe for dealing in Nazi gold and murder.
• Smythe leads a dull life, feeding a wild octopus (Octopussy).
• Story consists of Smythe recounting his crimes, connecting to Bond through Smythe's victim, Oberhauser.
• Bond empathizes with Smythe, leaves him to commit suicide.
• Smythe dies a darkly comedic death, accidentally drowned by feeding Octopussy.
• The story shares themes with previous Bond stories like "Quantum of Solace" and "The Hildebrand Rarity."
• Reflects Ian Fleming's own life similarities.
• Never fully adapted to screen but referenced in Bond films.

2. The Property of a Lady

• Involves an auction at Sotheby’s and a Fabergé egg as a plot device.
• Bond suspects a Soviet double agent's plan to be paid through the auction.
• Short story with a basic plot and less intrigue; originally a commissioned piece for Sotheby's.
• Notably uninspiring according to Fleming, yet included in the collection.

3. The Living Daylights

• Bond is on sniper duty to protect a British agent from a KGB assassin.
• Bond discovers the sniper is a cellist he has seen daily.
• Instead of killing her, he injures her, causing tension with his partner, Captain Spender.
• Story explores Bond's views on killing and his personal weaknesses.
• Adapted into a film, illustrating Bond's moral complexity.

4. 007 in New York

• Bond's mission to warn an MI6 worker about her KGB boyfriend.
• Story mostly features Bond's musings about New York.
• Mission details minimal, with a disjointed narrative.
• Interesting for a scrambled eggs recipe more than the plot.

Conclusion

• Mixed reviews: Two strong stories, two less impactful ones.
• Collection published after Fleming's death; difficult to judge intent.
• Recommended to focus on the stronger stories if reading capacity is limited.
• Future plans to rank Bond books from worst to best.
• Encourages viewer interaction and engagement on social media and Patreon.