Moonraker

Moonraker is the third James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming. It was published in 1955. In 1956, Bob Holness provided the voice of Bond in a South African radio adaptation. Fleming's novel was later adapted again as the eleventh film in the official James Bond series of films by EON Productions in 1979 and the fourth to star Roger Moore as the British Secret Service Agent, Commander James Bond. The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

The novel

The title, Moonraker wasn't the first choice by Fleming. In fact there were several titles that Fleming and the publishers came up with including "Mondays are Hell", "Hell is Here", "The Infernal Machine", "Wide of the Mark", "Bond & the Moonraker", "The Inhuman Element", "The Moonraker Sense", "The Moonraker Plan", "The Moonraker", "The Moonraker Plot", "The Moonraker Secret", and "Too Hot to Handle".

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For an unknown reason, Moonrakers title for the first U.S. paperback publication by Permabooks was changed to Too Hot to Handle in 1956. 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 British idioms for American ones such as "knave of hearts" for "jack of hearts", "lift" for "elevator", etc. The title was later changed back to Moonraker in 1960.

Related Topics:
Permabooks - Arthur Watkin - 1958 - Casino Royale - 1960

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Plot summary

In the novel Bond is asked by M to observe Sir Hugo Drax, who is winning money playing bridge at M's club, Blades, and who M suspects of cheating. Although M claims to not really care, he is concerned why a multimillionaire and national hero such as Drax would resort to cheating at a card game. Bond later confirms Drax's deception, and manages to 'cheat the cheater' (with a little help from benzedrine and champagne), winning £15,000 and infuriating Drax.

Related Topics:
M - Sir Hugo Drax - Bridge - Benzedrine

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As it turns out, Drax is the backer of the 'Moonraker' missile project being built to defend the UK against its Cold War enemies (compare to the real life Blue Streak missile). The Moonraker rocket is essentially an upgraded V-2 rocket that can withstand hotter temperatures to its engine thanks to to the use of columbite, on which Drax has a monopoly. Because the engine can withstand more heat the Moonraker therefore can use more powerful fuels which results in the rocket having a vast improvement in range. Partly due to the cheating episode, M asks Bond to infiltrate Drax's missile-building organization on the coast of England. Bond uncovers a dreadful and fiendish plot to destroy London, which he foils with the assistance of a female (and, of course, attractive) Special Branch agent, Gala Brand.

Related Topics:
Missile - UK - Cold War - Blue Streak missile - V-2 rocket - Columbite - England - Special Branch

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With the exception of the name "Moonraker" and the character of Sir Hugo Drax, little else from this book made it into the 1979 film. The 2002 film, Die Another Day, however, used several concepts from this book including the Blades club, and at one point the character of Miranda Frost from the film was to have been named Gala Brand. The villain, Gustav Graves, is also based somewhat on Fleming's original concept of Hugo Drax.

Related Topics:
Sir Hugo Drax - 2002 - Die Another Day

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Comic strip adaptation

Fleming's original novel was adapted as a daily comic strip which was published in the British Daily Express newspaper and syndicated around the world. The adaptation ran from March 30 to August 8, 1959. The adaptation was written by Henry Gammidge and illustrated by John McLusky. Titan Books reprinted the strip in 2005 as part of the Casino Royale anthology, which also includes Casino Royale and Live and Let Die.

Related Topics:
Comic strip - Daily Express - March 30 - August 8 - 1959 - Henry Gammidge - John McLusky - Titan Books - Casino Royale

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