In his second continuation novel, John Gardner returns Bond to the USA and reunites readers with some canonical staples. Motivated by a recent spate of airline hijackings with potential SPECTRE links, Bond is sent by M to investigate an ice-cream magnate from Texas whose guarded compound and general milieu reeks of suspicion. But the decision to resurrect Fleming's narrative ghosts comes with hefty responsibilities and there's a thin line between successful fan-service and ephemeral tokenism. Join us as we go down the literary gunbarrel to discuss the many features of Gardner's sophomore effort!

For Special Services (1982)

In recognition of Bond's 60th Anniversary on the big screen we brew up and sit down for a casual chat about "Dr. No", reflecting on the enduring features and legacy of the film that started it all.

Dr. No @ 60

So it's time we finally put things right... nearly four years of 007 podcasting have come and gone without a proper ranking of the EON songs and that's just not good enough! Upon discovering this egregious oversight, we recently set about remedying things for the whole darn world. So here it is - the BBN Bond Song Rank-a-thon! Predictably (...ridiculously?), science and scoring govern our contest here so you're invited to play along with us! When the dust settles in our own three-figured thunderdome, what songs will rise to champion status? Join in the fun and find out  as we reveal the unequivocal champions of the Bond Song universe!

Bond Song Rank-a-thon!

So yeah, we know... months have passed since the final chapter in Daniel Craig's 007 sweep premiered worldwide. But, like succulent lamb left to stew in its own juices before being glazed, skewered and coupled with caviar, our impressions are finally ready for serving! The long-awaited (...at least by us) follow-up to our NTTD impressions episode has arrived. It feels good to be back behind the wheel of a full-scale Bond review once more!

No Time to Die (2021) 

Inspired by Ian Fleming's 14 books and textured further by dozens of collaborators, the 25-film franchise we know and love possesses a wealth of spin-off material for the ambitious story developer. Now that Amazon holds the reins of the MGM Bond wagon, it's not unlikely that we could soon see expansion into television and short series projects. In our first "What If?" of Season 4, we brush the dust off our trusty roulette and pitch our own original treatments for 007 spin-offs!

What If? - Character Spin-Offs

An ousted nuclear scientist with a Braveheart complex looks for revenge in John Gardner's "Licence Renewed", the first Bond novel of the 1980s and the focus of our first episode this new season! From fixed horse races to holographic bedrooms, we portion out the narrative goods and take a fruitful look down the "literary gun barrel" at the start of Gardner's tenure with this wild whirlwind adventure. Warning, spoilers ahead!

Licence Renewed (1981)

For our final episode of the series, we combine (and recline) our forces in real-time camaraderie over 1981's "For Your Eyes Only", Sir Roger's fifth outing as 007 and 00-Chapman's selection for Watch Party #3. Together, we negotiate some of the franchise's most opulent locales and nifty scenes. Don't like biathlon or figure skating? That's alright, FYEO also offers car chases, keel-hauling, submarine conflict, rock climbing and even the pitfalls of awkward relationships! So welcome aboard the good ship BBN! Grab your cocktails and head to the cinema room where our friendly stewards will assist in synchronizing your MGM lions to ours (08:08 in). Yia mas! It's time to finish this series in style!

Bond Redux: FYEO Watch Party

Happy Holidays, Bond fans! In this episode, our second seasonal soiree, we serve up more games, discussion and trivia with a festive Bond flavour. Flick on the tree lights and switch off your brains, grab some grog and come join us for fatuous fun: Christmas may only come once a year but you can replay our foolish Holiday special as much as you like!

BBN Holiday Special 2

With the release and revelations of "No Time to Die" finally in the world's rear-view mirror, talk is properly heating up about how and with whom "James Bond Will Return". Here, we prognosticate together and add our eager voices to the discussion, issuing favourites, follies and some dark-horses contenders!

"What Now, Mr Bond?"

At long last, the wait for Bond 25 is over! Now that they've all seen "No Time to Die", Josh, Scott and Jeff bridge the Atlantic gap with conversation and first impressions of Daniel Craig's final outing as 007. SPOILER ALERT: chat on the film's plot and features starts at 8:20.

No Time To Die: First Impressions

Bond By Numbers is a canonical tour of the James Bond world. More an enthusiast's journey than an expert's quest, each episode investigates the world of a different 007 production or topic with in-depth conversation, opinion and regular features. If you like your podcasts well-researched but crave the down-to-earth energy of amateur minds, join life-long 007 fans Scott, Josh and Jeff for a fresh look at one of the entertainment world's most successful franchises.

Strangely, they like to waste time bashing President Trump instead of reviewing Bond movies. 

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Bond By Numbers

For Bond's 50th Anniversary in 2012, Sam Mendes was brought on board to help Craig &amp; Co. deep dive into the complex relations of MI6 and the vengeful nerds it leaves behind. Join your hosts as they explore the finer points of surrogate maternal love and the many other features that help to make Skyfall a fan favourite. Don't forget your hairpiece and Heineken!

Skyfall (2012)

When retcon rides sidecar to fan-service along the poached narrative road of a surveillance empire's sinister takeover, you know you're in for a bumpy journey as a Bond fan. Critics called it crap but EON called it Spectre! Daniel Craig's fourth outing is probably his most contentious but how much of the "style over substance" complaint is warranted? Beware the cuckoo and step inside the nest as your BBN hosts untangle the tentacles of this complex canonical cephalopod!

Spectre (2015)

Adored by few, reviled by most, "Die Another Day" offered audiences and Bond fans alike a ticket to 007 crazy town. But just how troubled is this reputed stinker? Are there enough "slivers of maybe" to help justify the disbelief that we were forced to suspend with Brosnan's fourth and final outing? Josh and Scott soften the sofas and brandish the inkblots as they "analyse this" 40th anniversary paradox.

Die Another Day (2002)

Don your snowsuits and wax your skis, Bond fans, it's time to cut edges around the slopes of "For Your Eyes Only"! A new decade brings in a new director as veteran Bond craftsman John Glen is handed control and helms his inaugural adventure. In a conscious effort to return sobriety to the series after visiting outer space in "Moonraker", Glen &amp; Co. gravitate towards some key Flemingian sources for their script. But FYEO also famously introduces us to Bibi Doll, a plot-motivating parrot and a jarring lampoon of PM Margaret Thatcher... so how successful was it really? Join the BNB panel as they crunch pistachios and brave dizzy heights to bring you the answer!

For Your Eyes Only (1981)

LTK's deviation from typical Bond formulae remains as much a matter of controversy now as it did 30 years ago. Some welcome its impulsive punches and sing praises for its fresh, revenge-driven plot. Others find Dalton's second and final outing too gritty and imitative of 80s action themes to celebrate with comparative canonical ease. Charter your planes and fuel your transports, the BBN crew is going rogue to settle the score!

Licence to Kill (1989)

So this exited the wash as our longest episode to date. Cubby's corner and critical reception for TMWTGG offered a lot of discussion in leadup to the main event. Jeff's context on the energy crisis of the early 70s was quite helpful in situating the film's secondary plot within the wider world (even if we all agreed it wasn't the story we wanted to be following). Throughout the course of the show, similar feelings are shared on TMWTGG, a film that could have been a knockout had the Mankiewicz first draft been permitted to breathe. Along the way we learn more than we ever needed (or wanted) about Josh's pubescent awakening via Maud Adams and come down on the same side about the sickening insertion of Sgt Pepper's Racist Bayou Man. Another "00GO" interview leaves its finalising appraisal and Scott reveals some source material connections, comparing Fleming's more interesting Goodnight to the script's myopic stereotype. Matt Parker's "Goldeneye" helps out again with some biographical info and Sir Roger's own "My Word is My Bond" highlights some additional production insight. Let us know what you think!       

So this exited the wash as our longest episode to date. Cubby's corner and critical reception for TMWTGG offered a lot of discussion in leadup to the main event. Jeff's context on the energy crisis of the early 70s was quite helpful in situating the film's secondary plot within the wider world (even if we all agreed it wasn't the story we wanted to be following). Throughout the course of the show, similar feelings are shared on TMWTGG, a film that could have been a knockout had the Mankiewicz first draft been permitted to breathe. Along the way we learn more than we ever needed (or wanted) about Josh's pubescent awakening via Maud Adams and come down on the same side about the sickening insertion of Sgt Pepper's Racist Bayou Man. Another "00GO" interview leaves its finalising appraisal and Scott reveals some source material connections, comparing Fleming's more interesting Goodnight to the script's myopic stereotype. Matt Parker's "Goldeneye" helps out again with some biographical info and Sir Roger's own "My Word is My Bond" highlights some additional production insight. Let us know what you think!

The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)

If you like your spy adventures with a taste of the sea then "Dr No" is the novel for you! Aside from its Caribbean setting, complete with coastal breeze and moonlight sailing, Fleming's 6th effort deviates from the sublime to the ridiculous with a fauna-heavy plot featuring centipedes, spiders, magnified fish and giant calamari. But wait, there's more! Like a backdrop of colonial politics and agent reconditioning, not to mention a handless master villain looking to upset the mental health of world powers. Grab your paddle and take a trip to Crab Key with the BBN crew as they review one of Bond's most unlikely and trepidatious holidays.

Literary Gunbarrel #6: Tie-In Episode

Apart from early adaptations for broadcast radio and television, 1962 marked the true event horizon for James Bond. It was here, with Dr. No, that 007's genetic code was written. Iconic on screen, iconic in team, the ingredients for franchise success evolved out of a shared ambitious vision and a tight million-dollar budget. So come aboard and keep your eyes peeled for blind mice and dragons as the good ship BBN sails through the curious waters of the first Bond motion picture!

Dr. No (1962)

If "Casino Royale" marked the cool and understated edge of a careful new spy writer courting the literary scene, then "Live and Let Die" was that writer's caution-to-the-wind stag party. Rowdy and unforgiving, Fleming's follow-up narrative offers high adventure, colourful characters and social commentary deeply rooted in challenging cultural conceptions. In spite of its shortcomings, "Live and Let Die" is regarded by many critics and fans as the finest of the Fleming Bond plots. So what's the deal? Join Bowman and the BFG as they explore the workings of this much-discussed story.

Literary Gunbarrel #7: Tie-In Episode

"...Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink." When Coleridge revised his Ancient Mariner in 1834 he couldn't have known he was forecasting Thunderball's controversial "production-bloat to audience-nourishment" ratio... or could he? Were the Romantic Poets the first Bond critics? Hmm, the suggestion holds more water than you might think because here we are, 185 years later, grappling with the paradox of the Thunderball experience. Is Connery's 4th outing sodden, spectacular or somewhere in between? Whatever your impression, $9 million to spend in 1965 spelled "epic" so find your flippers and sharpen your spears, we're diving in! Bond By Numbers takes on Thunderball!

Thunderball (1965)

It was only a matter of time before Roger Moore's trend-jumping Bond wound up on a spaceship. Hoping to cash in on the sci-fi craze of the late 1970s, "Moonraker" remains, to many fans, one giant leap too far in narrative and canonical credibility. Still, few can deny the impact of the awe-inspired Ken Adam sets, the ethereal punch of John Barry's score and the location hopping that unlocked the inner-adventurer in us all. With so much crazy packed in to one film, you'd be excused for needing a guided tour! So zip up your spacesuit and hop inside the "good shuttle BBN" - we've got your first-class voyage covered!

Moonraker (1979)

Just in time for the holidays, the trio ponder the mysteries of Christmas trees, Swiss locales and, of course, George Lazenby's sole and controversial outing as James Bond. Scott, Josh and Jeff cut powdered shapes around the slopes of Peter Hunt's neatly structured cult classic.    

Just in time for the holidays, the trio ponder the mysteries of Christmas trees, Swiss locales and, of course, George Lazenby's sole and controversial outing as James Bond. Scott, Josh and Jeff cut powdered shapes around the slopes of Peter Hunt's neatly structured cult classic.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Revered by many fans and critics alike, 1963's From Russia With Love ushered in a retinue of slick canonical tropes and features without compromising its cold-war storytelling. Sean Connery reprises his 007 role as the realities of "franchise" come into focus. Join your BBN hosts as they punch tickets and settle first-class passengers into a thorough and sometimes controversial tour through this impactful sophomore instalment. From SPECTRE island to Gypsy camp, Bucharest to Venice's Grand Canal, your comfort and enjoyment is assured. All aboard!

From Russia With Love (1963)

Roger Moore's first outing as 007 remains, for many fans, his best. Reading Blaxploitation trends of early '70s cinema, Saltzman and Broccoli gambled on there not being a better time to adapt Ian Fleming's racially-charged second novel. The film was a financial success and heralded Moore's hold on the role for a new era. From cultural misappropriation to Bond sans Barry, inflated villains to catalytic convertors, BBN plows the poppy fields of this controversial instalment.

Live and Let Die (1973)

The title won't be the only thing about this 007 adventure that jumps out to grab you. Running against Sean Connery's controversial remake of Thunderball, "Octopussy" offered audiences a lot of outrageous spectacle for their money. Ever want to see Q fly a hot-air balloon festooned with liquid crystal closed circuit cameras? How about a crocodile submarine infiltrate a girl-powered island of octopus cult devotees? Or maybe flicking antennas at man-crushable henchmen while straddling Beech Model-18s in mid-flight is more your thing? Whatever your fancy, chances are that EON's 13th official James Bond instalment will serve you up something palatable. So, come along! Hop in the Tuk Tuk with your hosts as they negotiate the ins and outs of Roger Moore's penultimate performance!

Octopussy (1983)

With 1971's "Diamonds are Forever", Bond producers encouraged moviegoers to forget the recent past of OHMSS's character arc and tragic love by resurrecting earlier moves and establishing a zanier tone. And how better to erase awkward feels than to bring Sean Connery back for the greasy and bling-studded stateside adventure? Not without its charms, DAF remains one of the series' more distracting entries that never fails to generate opinion. Join your hosts in rolling the dice around this complex conversation piece!

Diamonds are Forever (1971)

Josh and Scott welcome back Jeff the Roommate and scare the living daylights out of each other in a discussion that tips its hat to one of Ian Fleming's best (short stories) and Felix Leiter's worst (... sorry, John Terry!). The short tenure of Timothy Dalton began here and brought to the franchise the iciest 007 to date. In a conversation full of "what ifs?" and "how comes?", John Glen's penultimate directorial bid is put under the microscope.  

Josh and Scott welcome back Jeff the Roommate and scare the living daylights out of each other in a discussion that tips its hat to one of Ian Fleming's best (short stories) and Felix Leiter's worst (... sorry, John Terry!). The short tenure of Timothy Dalton began here and brought to the franchise the iciest 007 to date. In a conversation full of "what ifs?" and "how comes?", John Glen's penultimate directorial bid is put under the microscope.

The Living Daylights (1987)

Wise to the last, Roger Moore couldn't leave 007 until his bond baked a quiche, stole a fire truck and hung perilously from a blimp. Enter 1985 and "A View to a Kill", EON's canonical answer to the computer and steroid action of the era. But just how much of Moore's swansong is a burgeoning vessel of hot smelly air? Can it withstand the electromagnetic pulse of the critics? Join Scott, Josh and Jeff as they negotiate the gears of the BBN machine across the terrain of this infamous instalment. From deep-dives on ski warfare and microchip crime to the implausibility of caviar-laden backpacks, your hosts have got you covered. Soft-shell crab, anyone?!

A View to a Kill (1985)

With the exception of the villain's name and the implication of rockets, EON's 1979 production of "Moonraker" shares little in common with its literary antecedent from 1955. Ian Fleming's cold-war novel might not have blasted its characters off into space but it certainly hit the peaks and troughs of spy thriller excitement, further strengthening his (and Bond's) name in the publishing world. Here, your BBN hosts close down a gunbarrel double-bill with a full analysis of this third and very unique 007 novel.

Literary Gunbarrel #5: Tie-In Episode

In this third companion episode, Scott and Josh share their thoughts on three more Fleming texts. First up, and markedly different from the film, is short story "From A View to a Kill" where Bond reminisces on becoming a man in Paris before lending his expertise in the investigation of a murdered dispatch driver. Discussion on "Thunderball" gets the central billing, highlighted by a female character written with welcome care and complexity. Intrigue and autobiography mix in "Octopussy", the final text covered before your hosts close shop with a reflection of Fleming's final days.

Literary Gunbarrel #3: Tie-In Episode

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The best philosophy podcast episodes. Asking questions about how to live a better life, what it means to be and do good, to the idea of God. This topic includes episodes that bring about important questions that everyone should be asking themselves. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!