His World Never Dies: The Evolution of James Bond, by Dave Holcomb
This is a very good book that treats the whole concept of Bond from a unique vantage point. Dave weaves a story on how Bond has evolved over the decades with some unique insights, a treatment of sexism and race, and a very interesting concept of how history and the Bond series goes through what is called a History Gyre, which suggests that history does not only repeat itself but that it moves in an evolutionary circle. Dave suggests that the four stages of this evolutionary circle are:
1. Primitive – where there are revolutionary ideals and a shared belief in a new order
2. Hierarchical – where religion, written law, and superstition are the focus
3. Classical – where society and civilization is at its very best, at a peak, and lastly
4. Decadent – focused on spectacle and excess
The insight Dave advances is that this circular evolution can be applied to the Bond movie series as well, and he discusses this in detail. Brilliant insights!
Dave goes through virtually all of the movies with the backdrop of what is the right thing to do in terms of sexism, race, the way women are treated, Bond’s overall character and demeanor. He discusses everything from music to specific scenes and dialogue.
This is a fun, quick read and we would recommend you take a look at it. We highly recommend, His World Never Dies: The Evolution of James Bond! It is available through Amazon! Drop Dave a note on Twitter @dmholcomb and tell him how much you enjoyed his book, and that SpyMovieNavigator says hello!
PODCAST! Listen to our podcast with the author! And hey – here’s s secret! If you would like an autographed copy of the book, please contact Dave on Twitter @dmholcomb or email him directly at holcombmdavid@gmail.com and tell him SpyMovieNavigator sent you! How cool is that?!