Moonraker (novel)
All you want to know about Moonraker (novel)
| Moonraker | |
 First edition cover. |
|
| Author | Ian Fleming |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Ian Fleming / Kenneth Lewis |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | James Bond |
| Genre(s) | Spy novel |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Publication date | 7 April 1955 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| ISBN | NA |
| Preceded by | Live and Let Die |
| Followed by | Diamonds Are Forever |
Moonraker is the third novel by British author Ian Fleming, based on the fictional British Secret Service agent Commander James Bond, first published by Jonathan Cape on April 7, 1955. Set completely in England, it follows Bond's mission to stop an industrialist Hugo Drax from destroying London with a nuclear weapon.[1]
The novel's name was used in 1979 for the eleventh official film in the EON Productions Bond franchise and the fourth to star Roger Moore as James Bond. However, the story of the film was significantly modified so as to include outer space.
Contents |
Plot summary
MI6 Chief M asks James Bond to investigate the multi-millionaire Sir Hugo Drax, who is winning a lot of money playing bridge at M's favourite club, Blades. M suspects Drax of cheating. Although M claims indifference, he is concerned why a multi-millionaire and national hero, such as Sir Hugo would cheat at a card game. Later, Bond confirms Drax's deception and manages to "cheat the cheater" — aided by a cocktail of powdered Benzedrine mixed with non-vintage champagne — winning £15,000 and infuriating the out-smarted Drax.
As it turns out, Drax is the backer of the 'Moonraker' nuclear missile project being built to defend the UK against its Cold War enemies (c.f. the real Blue Streak missile). Essentially, the Moonraker rocket is an upgraded V-2 rocket using liquid hydrogen and fluorine as propellants. It can withstand the ultra-high combustion temperatures in its engine thanks to the use of columbite, which Drax has a monopoly. Therefore, because the rocket's engine can withstand higher heat, the Moonraker can use more powerful fuels, greatly expanding its effective range. After a Ministry of Supply official working on the project is killed, and partly due to the card cheating episode, M orders Bond to infiltrate Drax's missile-building organization between Dover and Deal on the coast of England. Once inside, Bond uncovers clues to a yet undiscovered plot to destroy London. Also while working undercover, Bond meets a beautiful agent called Gala Brand.
After a few days, Drax's henchman Krebs is caught by Bond while he snoops through his room. Later, an attempted assassination nearly kills Bond and Gala under a landslide. Drax takes Gala to London where she discovers the full plot to destroy London with an atomic warhead placed on the Moonraker. Bond and Gala are captured and placed under the Moonraker's booster engines so as to leave no trace of them once the Moonraker is launched.
Before the Moonraker is launched, Bond and Gala escape. Gala gives Bond the proper coordinates to reprogram the gyros and send the Moonraker into the sea. Drax and his henchman attempt to escape in a Russian submarine, but are killed because of their own deceptions, as the Moonraker has now been fired to the very location they are fleeing to.
Later, Bond meets up with Gala, expecting her company for a holiday leave. They part ways after Gala reveals that she is engaged to be married.
Title changes
Many suggested titles existed for the novel. These included The Moonraker, Mondays are Hell, The Moonraker Sense, The Infernal Machine, The Moonraker Secret, The Inhuman Element, Wide of the Mark, The Moonraker Plan, Hell is Here, Bond and The Moonraker, The Moonraker Plot, and Too Hot to Handle.[2]
For an unknown reason, Moonraker's title for the first U.S. paperback publication by Permabooks in 1956 was changed to Too Hot to Handle.[3] One possible reason might have been to avoid confusion with the then-current stage play The Moonraker by Arthur Watkin (which was made into a film of the same title in 1958). Similar to Casino Royale, however, the novel was subtitled (Moonraker) on the cover. Too Hot To Handle is notable for being the only Fleming Bond novel that was "Americanized", exchanging American idioms for British ones such as "jack of hearts" for "knave of hearts", "elevator" for "lift", etc.. The title was later changed back to Moonraker in 1960. Discounting magazine publication of some of Fleming's short stories and the novel The Spy Who Loved Me, this was the last time a Bond novel was retitled for American book publication until John Gardner's COLD in 1996.
Characters
- James Bond: A British Secret Service agent, coded as 007.
- Hugo Drax: A German spy, who becomes a patriot extraordinaire in London.
- Gala Brand: A spy posing as Drax's personal secretary. She is named for the cruiser in which her father is serving at the time of her birth.[4]
- Willy Krebs and Dr. Walter: Drax's assistants.
- M: The strict head of MI6 who asks Bond to investigate Drax and involves himself in a card game between Drax and Bond.
Reception
The novel was praised to have established Fleming's skill and said to be "mercilessly readable". The New Statesman stated that "Fleming is splendid; he stops at nothing" while a Daily Telegraph reviewer said "I couldn't put this book down." According to The Scotsman "James's companion is as smashing a lovely as any predecessor in the role, the villain as sulphurously infernal, the declaration of war as dramatic". The Oxford Mail appreciated the writing and story development.[5] Raymond Chandler described Bond as what every man would like to be and what every woman would like to have between her sheets. The Washington Post said that Bond is "back with the old derring-do in Penguin's dazzling new reprints" [6]
Adaptations
The first adaption of Moonraker was on South African radio in 1956, with Bob Holness providing the voice of Bond.[7]
"Moonraker" was used as the title for the eleventh James Bond film, produced by EON Productions and released in 1979. Directed by Lewis Gilbert and produced by Albert R. Broccoli, the film featured Roger Moore in his fourth appearance as Bond. Only the original character of Hugo Drax and the term "Moonraker" were retained, while the rest of the film had a completely different screenplay.[8] It is widely believed that Broccoli had decided to take advantage of the success of the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and accordingly, the plot of Moonraker was modified so as to involve outer space.[9] Some concepts from the book that were reused include the profession of the Bond girls, both undercover agents inside Drax's organization, and that a launch of a rocket plays a significant role to the story. Since the screenplay was original, EON Productions and Glidrose Publications authorized the film's screenwriter, Christopher Wood to write his second novelization based upon the film. It was titled James Bond and Moonraker, and became a best-seller in 1979.[10] Several elements of Moonraker were seen in other Bond films. Drax's warning to Bond to spend the prize money quickly after being defeated in a gamble was quoted in the 1983 film Octopussy. The 2002 film Die Another Day used some of the novel's content, such as the Blades club.
Moonraker was adapted as a daily comic strip which was published in the British Daily Express newspaper and syndicated worldwide. The adaptation was written by Henry Gammidge and illustrated by John McLusky, and ran from March 30 to August 8, 1959.[11] Titan Books reprinted the strip in 2005 along with Casino Royale and Live and Let Die as a part of the Casino Royale anthology.
Publication history
The following are the publications of Moonraker.[3]
- April 4, 1955 - 1st edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK) released - Jacket artwork devised by Ian Fleming,
- September 20, 1955 - 1st edition Macmillan hardback (USA)
2nd edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
- October 15, 1956 - 1st edition Pan paperback (UK)
- December 1956 - "Too Hot To Handle" Permabooks paperback (USA)
- 1958 3rd edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
- 1959 4th edition Jonathan Cape hardback; Pan paperback 2nd and 3rd editions (UK)
- October, 1960 - 1st edition Signet paperback (USA); 4th edition Pan paperback (UK)
- 1961 Pan paperback 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th editions (UK); Jonathan Cape hardback 5th edition (UK)
- 1963 Jonathan Cape hardback 6th edition (UK); Pan paperback 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th editions (UK)
- 1964 Jonathan Cape hardback 7th edition; Pan paperback 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th editions (UK)
- 1965 8th edition Jonathan Cape hardback Pan paperback 20th, 21st and 22nd editions (UK)
- 1966 Pan paperback 23rd edition (UK)
- 1969 Pan paperback 24th edition (UK)
- 1971 Pan paperback 25th edition (UK)
- 1972 9th edition Jonathan Cape hardback; 26th edition Pan paperback (UK)
- January 1975 - 1st edition F.A. Thorpe/Ulverscroft large print hardback (UK)
- 1976 27th edition Pan paperback (UK)
- November 1978 - 1st edition Oxford University Press China children's edition paperback (UK)
- June 1989 - 1st edition Coronet paperback (UK) - Introduction by Anthony Burgess
- April 4, 2002 - 1st edition Viking/Penguin hardback (UK) Photography by Toby Mcfarlan Pond
Footnotes
- ^ "Moonraker at The James Bond Dossier". Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ "Moonraker: Trivia". Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
- ^ a b "Moonraker at Bondian.com". Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ Fleming, Ian, Moonraker (MacMillan, 1955), ch. 16.
- ^ "Moonraker (1955) at Mi6". Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
- ^ "Moonraker at Powell's Books". Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Bob Holness on Game Shows". Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
- ^ Inside Moonraker [DVD]. MGM Interactive Inc.. Retrieved on 17.
- ^ "Revelation of Moonraker not being a reaction to Star Wars". Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
- ^ "007 Magazine: A Complete Bibliography". Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Moonraker comic strips at MI6". Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
External links
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