Thunderball (1961)
Fleming’s eight Bond novel was far from his favourite. Yet the intriguing mission, set in the Bahamas, has much to recommend it. Not least the introduction of a memorable villain who would return in two subsequent novels – Ernst Stravo Blofeld. It’s curious to notice that Fleming gives his baddie his own birth date – the 28th May 1908! What may have been at the back of Fleming’s mind, and account for his indifference towards this title, is that behind the scenes whilst he was writing, talk between competing film companies was going on with a view to putting Bond on the big screen. It was at this time that Fleming met with Messrs Broccoli and Saltzman. The rest, as they say, is history. Buy The Folio Society’s edition of Ian Fleming’s ‘Thunderball‘.
