The James Bond is a Crime Fiction / Mystery series by Ian Fleming, made up of 14 books published between 1953 and 1967. It begins with Casino Royale (1953), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is Octopussy (Short Story) (1967), spanning 14 years of storytelling.
James Bond series: frequently asked questions
What order should I read the James Bond series?
Start with Casino Royale (1953), the first book in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.
How many books are in the James Bond series?
There are 14 books in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming, published between 1953 and 1967.
What is the first book in the James Bond series?
The first book in the James Bond series is Casino Royale, published in 1953 by Ian Fleming.
What is the latest book in the James Bond series?
The most recent book in the James Bond series is Octopussy (Short Story) (1967) by Ian Fleming.
About the James Bond series
Ian Fleming's original James Bond novels are leaner, darker and more vivid than their film counterparts. Bond — 007, licensed to kill — is a Cold War secret agent of cool competence and real vulnerability, sent after villains and schemes that helped define the modern spy thriller.
Fleming writes with sensual, exacting detail: the food, the gambling, the brand names, the violence. The literary Bond is more haunted and human than the cinematic one, and the period attitudes are very much of their 1950s time.
The books loosely build on one another, so reading in order from "Casino Royale" is the most rewarding way to follow Fleming's Bond.