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The two very best books written by Fleming were "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "You Only Live Twice," written in 1962 and 1963 respectively, and each released the following year.

If you want to get the flavor before you read the two best, you could start with the book just before those, "The Spy Who Loved Me." The last book written by Fleming, but completed after his death, was "The Man With the Golden Gun," which followed "You Only Live Twice." It's great, too.

So the order is...

"The Spy Who Loved Me"
"On Her Majesty's Secret Service"
"You Only Live Twice".
"The Man With The Golden Gun"

Here's Bond's fictitious obituary written for "You Only Live Twice"

And here's a great website that gives a lot of information such as a quick synopsis of each book along with the great cover art of the early books.

From that same site you can get a lot of good information on Fleming himself and his books.

14 posted on 03/21/2010 10:45:30 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)

To: Dr. Eckleburg

Thanks Doc.

I’ll check them out.

15 posted on 03/21/2010 2:24:15 PM PDT by Gamecock (We aren't sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. (R.C. Sproul))

To: Dr. Eckleburg

“Casino Royale”
“Live and Let Die”
“Moonraker” †
“Diamonds Are Forever” †
“From Russia with Love”
“Dr No”
“Goldfinger”
“For Your Eyes Only”
“Thunderball”
“The Spy Who Loved Me” †
“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”
“You Only Live Twice”
“The Man With The Golden Gun” †
“Octopussy” †

† - Books that differ significantly from the movie.

17 posted on 03/21/2010 4:13:05 PM PDT by Perdogg ("Is that a bomb in your pants, or are you excited to come to America?")

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