[Review] - Goldfinger by Ian Fleming

When you hear the name James Bond, the first title that comes to mind is Goldfinger, the 1964 spy-thriller starring Sir Sean Connery. Many fans love the film. However, the film hasn't aged well, and it now comes across as goofy. Like most 007 adaptations, the movie had very little to do with its source material, the 1959 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming.

In the novel, Bond first meets Auric Goldfinger in Miami after Junius Du Pont (a character from Casino Royale) asks Bond's help in determining if Goldfinger is cheating in a game of Canasta. Bond lays eyes on Goldfinger's assistant Jill Masterton and takes her to bed. Then he returns to London, where M assigns him to investigate how Goldfinger is smuggling gold out of Britain to help fund SMERSH.

Bond travels to Switzerland, where he learns how Goldfinger is smuggling gold into India. He runs into Jill Masterton's sister, Tilly, who's on a vengeance quest. They are both captured by Goldfinger and his henchman, Oddjob.

Goldfinger said, 'Mr. Bond they have saying in Chicago: "One is happenstance, twice is coincidence, the third time it's enemy action."

After barely escaping torture, Bond tricks Goldfinger into believing he wants to work for him. Then the story shifts to Goldfinger's main headquarters in New York City, where we learn of the grand scheme of robbing Fort Knox.

Final Thoughts

In a similar situation to Dr. No, Goldfinger received heavy criticism upon its publication due to the story's step away from reality. I beg to differ. James Bond is a fictional character set in a fictional spy world. Ian Fleming had the right to do whatever he wanted to do with the world he created.

There's not a big difference between the novel and the 1964 film. Though, I enjoyed the novel a tad bit more. Yes, Pussy Galore is in the story, but she's the leader of a lesbian crime gang.

Overall, Goldfinger is an entertaining read from start to finish.