Casino Royale (Ian Fleming's James Bond)

In print, the world's most famous spy is similar but ultimately different from the loveable rogue that has blessed cinema screens for the past forty years. He is a cruel ruthless killer, ambivelant towards women; in that he loathes but desires them, but somewhat troubled with his dangerous profession.

In this the first installment, Bond comes up against a known and powerful SMERSH operative named "Le Chiffre". A Frenchman working for the Soviets with a penchant for spending his superiors cash on sideline businesses that he hopes will bring him fortune. In an attempt to hide his massive losses from his Soviet bosses, he attempts to retrieve their lost money by gambling with what remains at one of France's premier casinos.

Bond, an almost fresh but respected agent is sent to intercept "Le Chiffre" and bring him down, not with a bullet, but in a game of baccaret. Hoping to relieve him of his remaining funds Bond becomes involved in a wonderfully detailed game of cards, the aim being to coax a vengeful wrath from SMERSH onto their misguided French agent and thus ridding NATO of a potential nuisance from France.

The writing is of a very high standard. Bond is described well, as are all the other characters, making him seem more human than his on screen personna. Vesper, Bond's naive assistant, is believable and mysterious in her role, attracting Bond but focused on the job in hand. Fleming's talent for atmosphere and ambience are present here, neatly surrounding the main theme and it's absorbing narrative.

Rufus Sewell is a very casual, effortless voice talent. Each character has it's own trademark accent and tone. Such is the fluidity of his words one often forgets that it is just one person reading. Penguin can be congratulated on choosing this highly talented screen and theatre actor to bring Bond's world to life.

A promising beginning to an outstanding series. Sewell will make you love Fleming's work all the more.


The first Bond novel, superb!   June 28, 2003
1 out of 6 found this review helpful

Casino Royale is the first James Bond Novel by Ian Fleming and is regarded as one of the best novels in the series. James Bond is sent to France to tackle Le Chiffre a agent of SMERSH. He also mets the beautiful double agent Vesper Lynd. My favourate part is the torcher sence all though it is very graphic. The car chase sence between Bond and Le Chiffre is also superb. I think if anyone is interested in James Bond after, seening the films it is well worth picking up Casino royale and reading it.


Introducing Bond, James Bond......   March 16, 2003
H. Haggerty (Scotland)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Casino Royale, is a book that comes with a lot of baggage.
Baggage that unfortunately gives the reader expectations from what to expect within the covers.
If you can try, really try to put aside the exceptionally successful film series and read the book from a fresh, unbiased point of view you'll be rewarded with a very satisfying thriller.

The Bond of this book is a man with weaknesses and inner turmoil, much less the superhero he would become later, a character much easier to relate to, this Bond has to rely on his wits and cunning to survive.
And not everything goes according to plan for him either, on a few occasions he needs rescuing from a tight situation by his colleagues, not something I was expecting from the usually indestructible gentleman spy.
We also see him at work, and we see why 'M' chooses Bond for this assignment, scenes normally skipped over in a two hour film given more breathing space and time to unfurl.

Reading 'Casino Royale' it occured to me that the structure of the book is also unusual as the conclusion to Bond's case comes roughly three quarters of the way through the book leaving the last section to be dedcated to Bond's affair with his troubled love, although Fleming still keeps a twist up his sleeve for the finale.

I was also surprised at the less complicated plot compared to what is normally seen on screen, but then this does free up more time for describing the locales and the other characters, which Fleming writes vividly.

All in all, a wonderfully paced, thrilling book which you may find difficult to put down.

Now what was that name again, Mr?............


Discover Bond   December 18, 2002
ML (Edinburgh United Kingdom)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

Casino Royale, if you are at all interested in getting to know Bond then you have to read the books and the best place as always is at the beginning. The Bond films are superb but there is only so much you can get into a couple of hours. Ian Flemmings first Bond Adventure allows the reader to get to know Bond and also about MI6.

I'm a traditional Bond fan and Casino Royale has made me look at Bond in a different way, for the better.


The Original   December 6, 2002
Simon Ball
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

Well, this is the first Ian Fleming book, and obviously the first book ever in which there was James Bond.

Now, most of the Bond movies and novels all follow the combination of, girls, gadgets, cars, villains with an obscene plot. But funnily, this novel doesnt have half of these. There are no gadgets, only the sidearm, there is one female without the whole story who does anything, there is a car chase, which is quite long, and there is the villain, Le Chiffre, with a plot to get aload of money.

Well, just from reading the title of the books, you can tell that is revolves around gambling. Which it does. There is an excellently described showdown with Bond and Le Chiffre in the Casino, and it does, I admit, keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Now, James Bond = Aston Martin? Well, in this case, no. But James still drives a very British car, a Bentley, now I won't bore anyone or attempt to spoil the book. So I wont say anymore.

The "Bond girl" is Vesper. She is described very well when she enters the book. She has a mystic about her, which is revealed at the end. She is very much a big part in the book from the very beggining.

All in hand, this was the book to set the standard by, and well, it certainly set the standard. A great read, and obviously a classic.