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Description
The science behind James Bond's exploits – armaments, tactics, plots and enemy tech.
The adventures of James Bond have thrilled readers since Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale was published in 1953, and when the movie of Dr No was released in 1962, Bond quickly became the world's favourite secret agent.
Science and technology have always been central to the plots that make up the world of Bond, and in Superspy Science Kathryn Harkup explores the full range of 007's exploits and the arms, technologies, tactics and downfalls of his various foes. From the practicalities of building a volcano-based lair, to whether being covered in gold paint really will kill you, and – if your plan is to take over the world – whether it is better to use bacteria, bombs, or poison – this book has all the answers and more.
Could our favourite Bond villains actually achieve world domination? Were the huge variety of weapons and technology in Bond's arsenal from both the films and books ever actually developed in real life? And would 007 actually escape all those close shaves intact? From the plots to the gadgets to the ludicrous ways that his life is threatened, Superspy Science takes an in-depth look at the scientific world of James Bond.
Table of Contents
001: Dr No and the gun-barrel sequence
002: From Russia with Love and Rosa Klebb's shoe
003: Goldfinger and the laser
004: Thunderball and the gamma gas
005: You Only Live Twice and the volcano lair
006: On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Blofeld's bioterrorism plot
007: Diamonds Are Forever and diamonds
008: Live and Let Die and the crocodile run
009: The Man with the Golden Gun and the golden gun
010: The Spy Who Loved Me and the parachute jump
011: Moonraker and the exploding space station
012: For Your Eyes Only and electrocution through headphones
013: Octopussy and the atomic bomb
014: A View to a Kill and May Day
015: The Living Daylights and the cello case
016: Licence to Kill and a tanker full of cocaine
017: GoldenEye and the EM pulse
018: Tomorrow Never Dies and the stealth boat
019: The World Is Not Enough and Renard's bullet
020: Die Another Day and being sucked out of a plane
021: Casino Royale and the knotted rope
022: Quantum of Solace and the girl covered in oil
023: Skyfall and the cyanide capsule
024: Spectre and Bond's backstory
025: No Time to Die and the nanobots
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Index
Product details
Published | Nov 15 2022 |
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Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 400 |
ISBN | 9781472982261 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Sigma |
Dimensions | 9 x 5 inches |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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Highly entertaining ... witty and well researched, this book is great fun to dip into if you're watching any of the Bonds and are curious about the facts behind an eyebrow-raising plot element.
The Times
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Harkup is the ideal boffin to probe the facts behind the Bond films' more fanciful diversions from reality ... A great way to know the Bond series' artistic licences from its total thunder-balls.
Total Film Magazine
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Bond's evil foes are doomed … by a scientist's lethal dose of reality.
Mail on Sunday
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Films starring secret agent James Bond are famous for their technology. But how reliable is their science? Kathryn Harkup provides a stylish answer.
Nature
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Whichever Bond is your favourite, Harkup's book is a fun and comprehensive exploration of the not-so-gentlemanly spy's improbable exploits. ... Harkup writes with clear and contagious affection for the franchise; peppered with just as much historical back story and film trivia as scientific analysis.
Linda Rodriguez McRobbie, author of Ouch!
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Harkup has a true skill for turning complicated ideas into easily digestible and endlessly fascinating reading… An entertaining, page-turning, sure-fire hit with all fans of 007.
Library Journal