So, in 2023, can we read Fleming’s James Bond novels for any reason other than historical curiosity? Are the books about anything other than a guy drinking martinis and being horrible? A closer and more nuanced look may surprise you. Superficially, these books are about a 1950s Englishman obsessed with his own manhood and stressed out about communism. But does James Bond really have a soul? In the 1995 film GoldenEye, Bond’s boss (Judi Dench) calls him “a sexist, misogynist dinosaur… a relic of the Cold War.” And if you glance at random chapters from Ian Fleming’s novels, you might be inclined to agree. The track is called “ Closet Romantic,” which suggests another humorous layer: perhaps the character of James Bond, despite his checkered reputation, could be redeemable-maybe even a secret softie. The song scans like a joke-one where the punchline is Bond films starring Sean Connery. No” and “Thunderball” like a sarcastic prayer.
The jaunty final song on the 1996 Trainspotting soundtrack contains no lyrics other than the titles of James Bond stories, with Blur frontman Damon Albarn intoning the words “Dr.
