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Fantastic program for avid reader who has been remiss in spy genre. I expect to review this dozens of times as I inform myself on these authors I do not know.

I went from the streaming series to the library & Mick Herron's dialogue in the books is brilliant! READ then!

My favorite Bond film, but I find the film to be an improvement over the book. I've read the book, and I've found the descriptions went too far (some are not really necessary and just redundancies like the Michelin tires and the measurements) that it made my reading a bit slow, too many foreign languages too moreso than Casino Royale, the romance was half cooked or underdeveloped for me to buy, this was supposed to be Bond's greatest love but Fleming never gave any thoughts to the romance, he'd just made Bond like "Well, I need to be married by now and well, there's this girl,well, I will marry her", no sincerity, I mean, Bond's romance with Vesper and Tiffany in the previous books are more convincing because Fleming put a lot in them, the romances are fleshed out. Tracy was also not fleshed out as a character, Fleming didn't wrote much about her, we haven't got to know more of her unlike the previous Bond Girls, we've only got to know her based on the third person view, but she's not fully developed, I don't know who she really was as a character aside from being a depressed, troubled, and frustrated spoiled brat girl, sure, she had driven Bond out coincidentally from the situation against Blofeld, but that's not enough for me to buy her as Bond's one true love and would make her stands above the rest, I don't even know her that much. Blofeld was such a mysterious character, but his menace had been reduced a bit, especially, expecting more after his descriptions in Thunderball, but here, he'd just became a frustrated, reclusive weirdo wanting a title and using beautiful girls to destroy the Agriculture of Ireland and UK. The middle section was a bit slow either, it's full of build up but the pay off failed to land the stick because Bond and Blofeld didn't have any confrontation, and didn't have much action it. The ending was tragic though, so gonna give it that.

I think it’s Fleming’s best.

Many thanks to one and all for this podcast on RUclips! OHMSS is my personal favorite of all the Bond thrillers. It's so literate, and I still marvel at how deftly ILF managed to get 10 (!), lovely young ladies from the UK into that "Eagle's Nest" high atop a mtn in the Austrian Alps and keep them plausible!! And of course, what a romantic, tragic ending ...

Have a great Christmas and a smashing 2025 This truly is my favourite Fleming book - in my head Connery influenced the Scottish element of Bond’s heritage and for that reason alone it is awesome …oh, and surely OHMSS also counts as a Christmas movie 🎄

Short answer is yes - best movie too 😮

good

Book ordered.

Wonderful! Thank you.

Fantastic interview Shane. Biffy sounds a wonderful character

Great interview

I've listened to the audiobook five times now (roughly once a week), each time with new revelations. Simon Russel Beale returning to Smiley is a joy, but it's his pacing and convincing resonance of mittel-europa that's the real audio triumph. George and Anne's anguish was genuinely moving and the new characters deserve books of their own. More please.

Hi there... I just wanted to stop by and say how much I admire your dedication and passion for books. Your content is always so engaging and inspiring! In fact, I recently featured your channel in a video on my own BookTube channel, highlighting some of the most amazing creators in the community-and, of course, you had to be on that list! 😊 Thank you for everything you do to make BookTube such a vibrant and welcoming space. Keep up the incredible work-you’re making such a difference in the bookish world! Warm regards, Kris (from SmartBookWorms)

Great video thanks

Well done Shane! That was a fantastic interview! I can't wait to read Tim's biography of Biffy! He sounds like an absolutely fascinating man!

This is on my Christmas list - just finished A Small Town in Germany on my "John LeCarrethon" of all the novels (and related movies, TV, radio adaptations and podcasts etc) so will be reading it next (after Christmas) - looking forward to it (got some ASTIG podcasts etc to enjoy first) Comment @iandouglas805 2 weeks ago Enjoyed that a lot! Working my way through JLC’s work but will have to buy this. Loved Steven’s story about meeting the great man. 3 Reply

I am currently listening to mr tates to catch a spy on audio book. It is narrated by the author. It’s a brilliant book I recommend it

It's true - his skills lent themselves 100% to the life of a spy. Definitely someone I'd invite to dinner... Thanks to Shane and James for this insight into his life. And of course, Reilly - Ace of Spies was written by Lockhart's son.

I have read the novel. I am preparing my review. It is glorious. So happy for him so happy for myself. Happy for all fans. A wonderful story hoping for more to come.

--> Black Turtleneck under Trenchcoat please. ;) Great review Shane !

Strangely. I am sure I went to the LCP with one of JLC's sons. I think it was Stephen. I met JLC there. But as a dim 19 year old who only discovered George Smiley et al a decade later I had no idea who he was. I'd heard of JLC from the Alec Guinness series but I'm sure he didn't call himself JLC at that meeting.

And I thought Control found Toby squatting in a factory in Vienna at the end of the war. Not smiley? Or was that changed in the 2011 film. I must re read

It took me 100 or so pages before I could let go of the expectation that this novel was written in the style of Le Carre. It definitely is not. Le Carrie's voice does not resonate at all. However, Harkaway has done something very impressive, albeit something which takes some getting used to. He is able to sound like an acolyte of Le Carre telling a story Le Carre told him. Or maybe Peter Guillam recounting tales of Smiley. I really liked this novel. I will never stop dipping back into the originals - especially TTSS and TRH but I really hope Harkaway produces more.

Why is Roy Bland replaced by the same character with a different name in Karla's Choice. Is there something legal about the name. ? ..... oh wait. You just explained it. Phew

Not the first smiley story - sixth.

How’s about some Modesty Blaise- Peter O’ Donnell please 🙏

My brain read this title as ‘A woman’s life in Gaza’. I got a very different, but equally fascinating interview 😂

Great interview.. Have ordered Karla's Choice after listening to this video

Enjoyed that a lot! Working my way through JLC’s work but will have to buy this. Loved Steven’s story about meeting the great man.

Thanks for this great conversation. Until this publicity campaign I wasn’t aware of Nick Harkaway’s books, but will look for his writing, certainly will read Karla’s Choice and dust off copies of his father’s works for my winter time reading.

Thanks to Karla's Choice, which is excellent, I'm binging on LeCarre again! Good job, Nick.

I ordered a copy about 10 mins in - should be with me tomorrow.

My local library doesn't even carry these books. I didn't even know the show was based on actual Books! So thanks very much for giving me some literature to check out. Cheers, jack

That piece of sh*t should be in jail for destroying national heritage that is james bond.

I see what Andy did there… 😂

Great pic Shane. Personally, I wouldn’t change anything about the podcast or the community. It’s a safe house in a mad world.

That Gary doesn’t have an Oscar is a travesty. The bloke doesn’t act, he simply becomes the character.

Keep up the great work! LOVE the podcast AND the community!!!! Well done, you! 👏👏👏

Episode # 250! Wow!.. congratulations. All things being equal, hoping you will have the time, energy, and support to continue - not just for us, but for future generations!! 🕊️

No. You are not.

I was wondering if I was the only person who enjoyed the Bernard Samson Len Deighton books.

Game Set and Match is on You Tube for free!

They gave you 5 minutes and you got a lot out of it. Great job. Oldman seems like a great guy.

Nice one Shane

I’ll be completely honest, as a bond novel it’s obvious where it ranks but as its own story again I’ll be fully honest I actually liked it and enjoyed reading it.

very interesting!

The Siege is another great edition to Ben MacIntyres collection. Love his work.

Even more revealing about the murkiness than Tim Tates own generous interview with Cold War Conversations.

Causing some issues that the plebs want to understand Fleming in only one volume. Not happening