Spy author John Le Carré no fan of James Bond: I 'dislike' Ian Fleming's 'neo-fascistic' 007

NY Daily News ^ | 08.23.10

[Perdogg]

It's still spy author vs. spy.

Famed espionage writer John Le Carré remains no fan of James Bond, the martini-loving super spy created by Ian Fleming.

"I dislike Bond. I'm not sure that Bond is a spy," the "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" author said in 1966, during a BBC interview that will be re-broadcast next week.

[Perdogg]

John Le Carré wrote nothing but rubbish.

[Perdogg]

James Bond was not a spy. I am sick and tired of people calling Bond a spy. John Le Carré was too dumb to understand Fleming anyway.

Kingsley Amis explaned it all.

[padre35]

Have to agree, not a Lecarre’ fan, I liked Ludlum’s “Matarese” series, but he fell apart later in his career.

Liked Flemming’s work, he thought more like a soldier than an academic, Bond pulling on a L&M would never happen today.

[GSP.FAN]

Not sure what the issue is ,enjoyed Le Carre books also Deighton books.

[Perdogg]

I am not sure Le Carre really read Fleming’s work.

[Perdogg]

btw, I like Len Deighton too.

[Chode]

Len Deighton wanna be...

[Chode]

i am rereading Winter right now lunch times at work...

[Yo-Yo]

I enjoyed Le Carre's The Constant Gardener.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Screw Le Carré! Go with the "Eurosceptic Conservative" Frederick Forsythe if you want a good read!

[Yo-Yo]

Oops, I never read The Constant Gardner, I saw the movie. The only Le Carre book I've read was The Night Manager. That is the one I enjoyed.

[Perdogg]

The novel I am working on is part-Deighton part-Fleming part-Amis.

[MadJack]

Russia House was excellent. Never got into any of Fleming’s novels.
Both are trumped by Alan Furst. If you have not read him, I strongly recommend it. Night Soldiers, the story of a Bulgarian recruited into the NKVD in the mid-30s is his best.

[Chode]

i think Secret Pilgrim was his best work...

[Chode]

pls keep me posted when it's ready...

[Perdogg]

Frederick Forsyth has a new novel out.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2010/08/15/longtime-master-of-thrillers-takes-on-cocaine-trafficking.html?sid=101

[Susquehanna Patriot]

If a poll were conducted, my bet is that Fleming garners more recognition than Le Carre.

[onedoug]

And more panache as a writer. Fleming also wrote non-fiction. Thrilling Cities is a Bondian-type travelogue. I loved that book when I was a kid, and read again just a few months ago, and it still holds up like...well...ehem....

[montag813]

Jealous much, Mr. Carré?

[the OlLine Rebel]

I don’t care much for womanizing sex-obsessed Bond, either.

I much prefer Fleming’s other work, CHITTY-CHITTY BANG-BANG.