My college roommate, a big Ian Fleming fan, introduced me to James Bond in 1962. I firmly believed then, as now, that Fleming’s spy thrillers were tongue-in-cheek spoofs and the movie versions were high camp, – great fun but never meant to be taken seriously.
I could breeze through Bond, whereas John le Carré’s George Smiley was a serious read and took time to enjoy and appreciate the nuances of the characters and the plot.
My college roommate, a big Ian Fleming fan, introduced me to James Bond in 1962. I firmly believed then, as now, that Fleming’s spy thrillers were tongue-in-cheek spoofs and the movie versions were high camp, – great fun but never meant to be taken seriously.
I could breeze through Bond, whereas John le Carré’s George Smiley was a serious read and took time to enjoy and appreciate the nuances of the characters and the plot.