Casino Royale, the first James Bond novel was written by Ian Fleming
SUMMARY: A high stakes game will be played at the Casino Royale in France. Le Chiffre, the financial paymaster of a USSR intelligence organization has been mishandling the agency’s funds. He sought to build his own wealth by investing the organizations money on brothels… which failed. He’s desperate to pull out of debt and clean up his mistakes, by gambling at the Casino Royale. If Le Chiffre fails, he knows the organization he works for, Smersh, will kill him.
The Secret Intelligence Service of a England has sent a double O agent, James Bond, (a good gambler) to face off against Le Chiffre. The goal is to have the enemy lose at the tables. With this victory, the funds of Smersh will be limited, and in turn they will kill off Le Chiffre.
Does Bond pull off a win at the Casino? Will Le Chiffre uncover Bonds identity?
CHARACTERS: With this first book 007 book, I’m going to mention James Bond and Le Chiffre.
James Boned: He’s 007, a double O agent of the SIS, Secret Intelligence Service of England. He takes his job very seriously, it’s a mater of life or death in the occupation as spy. He’s a splendid gambler. He takes risks, unintentionally he lets his guard down, making him vulnerable. He’s a heavy smoker and a womanizer. He is Bond, James Bond.
Le Chiffre: The financial paymaster of a French workman’s union, controlled by a Russian organization known as Smersh. He’s a crumby man with a wild lifestyle. He isn’t in the the best of shape, when it comes to both finances and health. He’s got two loyal body guards and evil side to him.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I was absolutely thrilled with Casino Royale. I never really thought I’d read a James Bond novel, but some friends of mine are always raving about the spy 007. My first exposure to James Bond was the Nintendo 64 game, Goldeneye. I absolutely loved it. I still consider one of the best games ever made. In 2020, I watched the first film, Dr. No, and enjoyed it. So, I picked up Casino Royale and read it in just a few days.
Ian Fleming wrote a fantastic story. At first, I was thinking… how is this book going to be interesting at all? I don’t know anything about gambling, I’ve never really explored spy type books… Yet, I was glued to the pages! I gasped at a few parts, smiled and even sat bolt upright. The tension throughout the book was high. It held my attention and kept the pages turning.
James Bond went through a lot in this story, (the guy smokes nonstop, at one point it says he lit his 70th cigarette of the day). I believe through his ignorance he learned quite a bit about life and how the line between good and evil could shift from hard edged to blurry. The organizations set up are fascinating as well. The villains were vile and written so very well. Smersh, a Russian organization that hunts down traitors and loose ends, is cold and brutal. Some interaction with the group was handled perfectly in the story. This book was a loads of fun to read!
Do I recommend Casino Royale? Yes!
Rating: I will give this novel, an A+