The James Bond Phenomenon: A critical reader (second edition)

As one of the few essay collections on James Bond, this is invaluable for scholars and fans alike. Of note in particular is the chapter on Bond's video game appearances, but there are chapters on a variety of topics that discuss various aspects of 007 in literature, film, and society.

Completely illustrative.

The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader is just that, interesting reading. Somewhat critical? Well it draws on all avenues of the James Bond phenomenon, be they literature, film, music and the like, and delves into them. Interesting stuff for some of us. I liked it.

A predictable work, with all the usual perspectives and people represented. What I find funny about modern critical theory is their obsession with dated texts. Everything negative about these works is present in modern "leftist" spy novels and video games. The only difference is the enemy is the US government, not "smersh" or the KGB. All the cliches of maleness are there, but when Lee Child does it, or GTA does it nobody will deconstruct it. If confronted, it is "parody"(even though if done over and over in every single book and game it really isn't parody anymore--it is just their viewpoint.) women are treated as objects of sexual conquest, powerful western males are indestructible gods, etc. I wish someone had the intestinal fortitude to gender the spy novels/video games people are consuming now rather than looking at some old, dead texts. It is time for some relevance in critical theory.

A book to read if you are studying the Bond phenomenon. It takes a different look at the stories and the characters, well worth a read.