Ian Fleming
2018-02-06
For Your Eyes Only is a collection of short stories by the British author Ian Fleming, featuring the fictional British Secret Service agent Commander James Bond. It was first published by Jonathan Cape on 11 April 1960. The collection contains five short stories: "From a View to a Kill", "For Your Eyes Only", "Quantum of Solace", "Risico" and "The Hildebrand Rarity". Four of the stories were adaptations of plots for a television series that was never filmed, while the fifth Fleming had written previously but not published. Fleming undertook some minor experiments with the format, including a story written as an homage to W. Somerset Maugham, an author he greatly admired.
A collection of short stories featuring James Bond, each tale is a masterclass in espionage. The narratives are taut, the settings are vividly rendered, and the moral ambiguities are as sharp as Bond's wit. Fleming's portrayal of the spy's world is both gritty and glamorous, providing a stark contrast to the clean-cut heroism often depicted in other genres. The attention to detail in the operations and gadgets reflects a world where every element is meticulously calculated, much like the precision required in piloting. A worthy addition to any aficionado's collection.
