HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

Doctor No

by Ian Fleming

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: James Bond novels - Original Series (6), James Bond novels (6)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3,390653,781 (3.58)91
Dispatched by M to investigate the mysterious disappearance of MI6's Jamaica station chief, Bond was expecting a holiday in the sun. But when he discovers a deadly centipede placed in his hotel room, the vacation is over. On this island, all suspicious activity leads inexorably to Dr. Julius No, a reclusive megalomaniac with steel pincers for hands. To find out what the good doctor is hiding, 007 must enlist the aid of local fisherman Quarrel and alluring beachcomber Honeychile Rider. Together they will combat a local legend the natives call ?the Dragon, ? before Bond alone must face the most punishing test of all: an obstacle course ? designed by the sadistic Dr. No himself ? that measures the limits of the human body's capacity for agony.… (more)
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 91 mentions

English (62)  Swedish (1)  Hebrew (1)  Danish (1)  All languages (65)
Showing 1-5 of 62 (next | show all)
James Bond is recovering from his near-death experience (From Russia with Love) — so Q sends him to Jamaica on light duty: A British agent and his secretary have disappeared after having investigated ongoings on Crab Island and; The Audobahn Society has their feathers ruffled because a population of roseate spoonbills, as well as two of their scientists, have disappeared. A reclusive, enigmatic figure, the eponymous Dr. No, may provide the answers to both mysteries.

Unlike the Hollywood Bonds, these adventures do not dismiss the vicissitudes of spy craft: People are hurt, killed, tortured, maimed… and Bond himself does not escape unscathed. The women and 007’s relationships with them are much more nuanced as well. There are still some incredulous action scenes and some “McGiver” cleverness in play but HEAs are not guaranteed— at least not in the way you might expect.

I’m loving the readings the celebrity actors are giving these adventures (high praise indeed considering I usually shy away from celebrity narrators) and due credit must be given to whom ever directs the studio sessions. The rough edges of Fleming’s narrative (e.g. dismissive tone towards the old ladies and their birds) is fully contextualized within the character speaking and allows the near poetry of some passages to shine through.

Hugh Quarshie,an older Ghanaian-British actor narrates this story. He has a very soft, “blurry” British accent akin to Michael York but with a finer ear for the Jamaican patois. ( )
  Tanya-dogearedcopy | Feb 13, 2024 |
the first and one of the best of the 007 books ( )
  dlinnen | Feb 3, 2024 |
Once again, Ian Fleming has managed to surprise me with how Bond is portrayed. Being able to read his thoughts makes him more human and less of a stereotypical action hero. Dr. No, on the other hand, struck me as much more creepy than the movie character! ( )
  leslie.98 | Jun 27, 2023 |
Now this one was a bit more like it. More like the Bond I thought I knew. Still a bit too much on the buildup and too quick through the action, but this one has been the best so far. ( )
  MrMet | Apr 28, 2023 |
If you only read 3 bond books, make this one of them. ( )
  jmdavis413 | Apr 2, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 62 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review

» Add other authors (28 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Fleming, Ianprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Borelli, CarloTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Grant, Richard ENarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lahtela, MarkkuTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rintoul, DavidNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Sewell, RufusNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vandenbergh, JohnTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Whitfield, RobertNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Winder, SimonIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
Punctually at six o'clock the sun set with a last yellow flash behind the Blue Mountains, a wave of violet shadow poured down Richmond Road, and the crickets and tree frogs in the fine gardens began to zing and tinkle.
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Information from the Finnish Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

Dispatched by M to investigate the mysterious disappearance of MI6's Jamaica station chief, Bond was expecting a holiday in the sun. But when he discovers a deadly centipede placed in his hotel room, the vacation is over. On this island, all suspicious activity leads inexorably to Dr. Julius No, a reclusive megalomaniac with steel pincers for hands. To find out what the good doctor is hiding, 007 must enlist the aid of local fisherman Quarrel and alluring beachcomber Honeychile Rider. Together they will combat a local legend the natives call ?the Dragon, ? before Bond alone must face the most punishing test of all: an obstacle course ? designed by the sadistic Dr. No himself ? that measures the limits of the human body's capacity for agony.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Year - 1958
Tease - The diabolical Doctor No, "You have both put me to a great deal of trouble. Now I intend to put you to a great deal of pain." With a fiendish smile, Doctor No taunted his prize captives - the brilliant agent James Bond and the beautiful blonde Honeychile. The unlucky pair had discovered the closely guarded secret of Crab Key Island. Now they must suffer the penalty. Doctor No had planned his maze of tortures carefully. Each was a harrowing test of endurance, strength and courage. He'd waited a long time for the perfect victim. Now - he had two of them.

Villain - Doctor Julius No, is half Chinese and half German. He is six foot six inches tall. Bald with a skull like face, jet black eyes and no eyelashes. His heart is located on the right side of his chest. A cruel and authoritative mouth and receding chin. He also does not have hands, only pincers. When he walks, he gives the appearance of gliding.

Bond-Girl - Honeychile Rider, a blonde with deep blue eyes under lashes 'paled by the sun' Wide mouth and a jaw line that is 'determined'. A face that fends for herself but a very naive island girl. She has a broken nose which was caused by a former lover. Bond compares her to Botticelli's Venus. She never had formal schooling but has read the encyclopedia.

Minor Characters - Quarrel, M, Major Boothroyd, Playdell-Smith, The Three Blind Chigroes

Plot - Beaming radio waves to U.S. rockets to misguide them.

Highlights - Bond's night time ordeal with a deadly centipede, Crab Key, Dr. No's obstacle course and giant squid confrontation.

Opening Sentence - Punctually at six o'clock the sun set with a last yellow flash behind the Blue Mountains, a wave of violet shadow poured down Richmond Road, and the crickets and tree frogs in the fine gardens began to zing and tinkle.

Trivia - The plot of Doctor No was lifted from a failed TV project called "Commander Jamaica." It had a character named James Gunn who was investigating an island in the Caribbean, where criminals were deflecting the paths of rockets from Cape Canaveral.
Haiku summary
Double Oh Seven
fights second-rate Fu Manchu
because of some birds.
(yoyogod)

Legacy Library: Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.

See Ian Fleming's legacy profile.

See Ian Fleming's author page.

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.58)
0.5 1
1 5
1.5 3
2 42
2.5 12
3 190
3.5 51
4 239
4.5 17
5 72

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 202,659,224 books! | Top bar: Always visible