Moonraker (1955)
Author: |
Ian Fleming |
Published: |
7th April 1955 |
MI6 Rating: |
|
Data Stream
Villains: |
Hugo Drax |
Plot: |
The destruction of London with a nuclear rocket |
Bond Girls: |
Gala Brand |
Allies: |
None |
Locations: |
London, UK; Kent, UK |
Highlights: |
Bridge game at Blades |
Capsule Synopsis
Bond is asked, as a personal favour to M, to expose a member
of the exclusive gentlemen's club, Blades, who is suspected
of cheating at cards. The man is Hugo Drax, head of Britain's
Moonraker rocket program. The stakes are increased as a security
officer looking into Drax's work is murdered, and Bond takes
his place in an effort to discover the truth behind Drax's
motives and his past. |
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Above: 1st edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK) |
Official Blurb (Penguin 2002 Edition)
At M's request, Bond has gone up against Sir Hugo Drax at
the card table, on a mission to teach the millionaire and head
of the Moonraker project a lesson he won't forget, and prevent
a scandal engulfing Britain's latest defence system. But there
is more to the mysterious Drax than simply cheating at cards.
And once Bond delves deeper into goings-on at the Moonraker base
he discovers that both the project and its leader are something
other than they pretend to be...
Official Blurb (Pan 1963 Edition)
M wants you... The summons to his chief, that quiet Monday,
was to give JAMES BOND, Secret Service Agent No. 007, a new assignment
more hazardous and more exciting than any he had met before -
a stupendous gamble with fate that was to mean for him - and the
lovely Gala - days of tension... and fear!
Chapter Listing
Part One / Monday
- Secret Paper-Work
- The Columbite King
- 'Belly Strippers', etc.
- The 'Shiner'
- Dinner at Blades
- Cards with a Stranger
- The Quickness of the Hand
Part Two / Tuesday, Wednesday
- The Red Telephone
- Take it from Here
- Special Branch Agent
- Policewoman Brand
- The Moonraker
- Dead Reckoning
- Itching Fingers
- Rough Justice
- A Golden Day
- Wild Surmises
Part Three / Thursday, Friday
- Beneath the Flat Stone
- Missing Person
- Drax's Gambit
- 'The Persuader'
- Pandora's Box
- Zero Minus
- Zero
- Zero Plus
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Above: British Pan paperback 5th-10th editions (1961
onwards) |
Extract
'Benzedrine,' said James Bond. 'It's what I shall need if
I'm going to keep my wits about me tonight. It's apt to make one
a bit overconfident, but that'll help too.' He stirred the champagne
so that the white powder whirled among the bubbles. Then he drank
the mixture down with one long swallow. 'It doesn't taste,' said
Bond, 'and the champagne is quite excellent.'
Above: British Pan
paperback 8th-11th editions (1962 onwards); American Permabooks
"Too Hot To Handle" paperback edition (December
1956); British Pan paperback 24th-25th editions (1962
onwards)
|
Synopsis
M asks Bond to investigate Sir Hugo Drax, patriot extroadinaire
and head of the vital Moonraker ICBM programme because he cheats
at cards in M's club, Blades. Bond and M must stop him doing it
again without causing him to cancel his missile or letting the
press know. Bond and M go to Blades that evening, and Bond realises
Drax cheats by using his reflective cigarette case to see the
cards as he deals them. Bond cheats himself to prove he is onto
Drax, and in doing so he and M win a great deal of money from
the furious millionaire.
Next morning Bond is called to investigate a murder-suicide among
the German workers at Drax's plant. Bond replaces the murdered
head of security, working alongside Gala Brand, the undercover
secretary. Bond notices various suspicious things, and these are
confirmed when someone causes a cliff to fall on the duo, nearly
killing them. Gala is then discovered trying to replace figures
she stole which show Drax is in fact intending to test fire the
missile into London with a real nuclear warhead. When Bond is
also caught while pursuing Drax and Gala, Gala warns him of the
plan.
Drax explains that he is in fact a German spy mistaken for a
Briton when most of his face was blown off in WWII. He became
a powerful businessman, always intending to get revenge on the
country he hates. However after Bond angers him Drax forgets to
remove a blowtorch and Bond and Gala painfully use it to escape
into a ventilation shaft. Then, after the rocket is set to fire
they emerge from the shaft and Bond returns the rocket to its
original settings so that after it takes off it plunges into the
North Sea. Drax is killed by the bomb while escaping in a Soviet
submarine.
On completion of the mission, Bond fails to get the girl for
the only time. Gala's engagement ring wasn't only to keep Drax
off her back.
Quotes
"There must be no regrets. No false sentiment. He
must play the role which she expected of him. The tough
man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only
a silhouette."
"M lifted his yes from his pipe and cleared his throat.
'Got anything particular on at the moment, James?' he asked
in a neutral voice. 'James.' That was unusual. It was rare
for M to use a Christian name in this room."
"Drax's fist crashed down on the desk, 'Hitler was
betrayed again by those swinish generals and the English
and Americans were allowed to land in France.' 'Too bad,'
said Bond drily. 'Yes, my dear Bond, it was indeed too bad.'
Drax chose to ignore the irony."
"He gazed for a moment into the mirror and wondered
about Vesper's morals. He wanted her cold and arrogant body.
He wanted to see tears and desire in her remote blue eyes
and to take the ropes of her black hair in his hands and
bend her long body back under his."
"'Bring me a whisky and soda,' said M. 'Sure you won't
have anything?' Bond looke at his watch. It was half-past
six. 'Could I have a dry Martini?' he said. 'Made with Vodka.
Large slice of lemon peel.' 'Rot-gut,' commented M briefly
as the waiter went away."
"He touched her for the last time and then they turned
away from each other and walked off into their different
lives."
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|
Above: British Pan paperback 13th-23rd
editions (1963 onwards) |
Above: British Coronet
paperback 4th edition (circa 1990); British Penguin paperback
edition (April 2002 onwards); American Penguin paperback
edition (February 2003 onwards)
|
Reviews
James's companion is as smashing a lovely as any predecessor
in the role, the villain as sulphurously infernal, the declaration
of war as dramtic... "Astonish me!" the addict
may challenge; Mr Fleming can knock him sideways
- The Scotsman
Ian Fleming continued to be irresistably readable, however
incredible; seldom has an expensive education been turned
more cunningly to account.
- Observer
Fleming is splendid; he stops at nothing.
- New Statesman
Mercilessly readable.
- Listener
I couldn't put this book down.
- Daily Telegraph
Moonraker establishes its author as Mr Eric Ambler's rival
or successor
- Tablet
Sheer good writing and skilful development. The game, its
setting and the way Mr Fleming leads up to it make me a
convinced admirer of Bond -and of Mr Fleming.
- Oxford Mail
|
|
Above: British Pan paperback 27th edition
(1976) |
Publication Timeline
1955 |
April 4 - 1st edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK) released
- Jacket artwork devised by Ian Fleming, and executed by Kenneth
Lewis
September 20 - 1st edition Macmillan hardback (USA)
2nd edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK) |
1956 |
October 15 - 1st edition Pan paperback (UK) - Jacket artwork
by Kirby
December - "Too Hot To Handle" Permabooks paperback
(USA) - Cover artwork by Lou Marchetti |
1958 |
3rd edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
1st edition Gallimard hardback (France) |
1959 |
4th edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
2nd edition Pan paperback (UK) - Jacket artwork by Kirby
3rd edition Pan paperback (UK) - Jacket artwork by Kirby |
1960 |
October - 1st edition Signet paperback (USA)
4th edition Pan paperback (UK) - Jacket artwork by Kirby
1st edition Macmillan Book Club Edition hardback circa 1960s
(USA) |
1961 |
5th edition Pan paperback (UK) - Jacket artwork by Pef
6th edition Pan paperback (UK) - Jacket artwork by Peff
7th edition Pan paperback (UK) |
1962 |
April - 2nd edition Signet paperback (USA)
5th edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
8th edition Pan paperback (UK)
9th edition Pan paperback (UK)
10th edition Pan paperback (UK) |
1963 |
6th edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
11th edition Pan paperback (UK)
12th edition Pan paperback (UK)
13th edition Pan paperback (UK)
14th edition Pan paperback (UK)
9th edition Signet paperback (USA)
13th edition Signet paperback (USA)
14th edition Signet paperback (USA)
15th edition Signet paperback (USA) |
1964 |
7th edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
15th edition Pan paperback (UK)
16th edition Pan paperback (UK)
17th edition Pan paperback (UK)
18th edition Pan paperback (UK)
19th edition Pan paperback (UK)
1st edition Skrifola paperback (Denmark) |
1965 |
8th edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK)
20th edition Pan paperback (UK)
21st edition Pan paperback (UK)
22nd edition Pan paperback (UK)
1st edition Editôra Civilização Brasileira
paperback (Brazil)
1st edition Gallimard hardback (France) |
1966 |
23rd edition Pan paperback (UK)
1st edition Albert Bonnier hardback (Sweden) |
1967 |
3rd edition Basak Yayinevi paperback (Turkey) |
1968 |
1st edition Olaf Bouwer hardback (South Africa) |
1969 |
24th edition Pan paperback (UK) |
1971 |
25th edition Pan paperback (UK) |
1972 |
9th edition Jonathan Cape hardback (UK) |
1973 |
march - 1st edition Bantam paperback (USA)
26th edition Pan paperback (UK) |
1975 |
January - 1st edition F.A. Thorpe/Ulverscroft large print
hardback (UK) |
1976 |
27th edition Pan paperback (UK) |
1978 |
November - 1st edition Oxford University Press China children's
editoin paperback (UK) |
1981 |
July - 1st edition Jove paperback (USA) |
1984 |
August - 1st edition Berkley paperback (USA)
1st edition Zwarte Beertjes paperback (The Netherlands) |
1989 |
June - 1st edition Coronet paperback (UK) - Introduction
by Anthony Burgess
1st edition Coronet/General paperback (Canada) - Introduction
by Anthony Burgess |
1991 |
1st edition Printest/GART hardback (Estonia) |
1994 |
1st edition MJF/Fine Communications hardback (USA) - Jacket
artwork designed by Richard Rossiter, and illustrated by Christoph
Blumri |
1995 |
1st edition The First Edition Library hardback (USA) |
1998 |
1st edition Delfín paperback (Czech Republic) |
2002 |
April 4 - 1st edition Viking/Penguin hardback (UK) -
Photography by Toby Mcfarlan Pond
April 4 - 1st edition Penguin paperback (UK) - Photography
by Toby Mcfarlan Pond
December 17 - 1st edition Penguin USA paperback (USA) |