The Man with the Golden Gun Audiobook, by Ian Fleming Play Audiobook Sample

The Man with the Golden Gun Audiobook

The Man with the Golden Gun Audiobook, by Ian Fleming Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Kenneth Branagh Publisher: Ian Fleming Ltd. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The James Bond Series Release Date: September 2014 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781481507905

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

17

Longest Chapter Length:

23:54 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

14:11 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

17:27 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

11

Other Audiobooks Written by Ian Fleming: > View All...

Publisher Description

If you try to assassinate your boss—even though brainwashed at the time—you must pay the price. To redeem himself James Bond is sent to kill one of the most lethal hit men in the world … Paco "Pistols" Scaramanga. In the sultry heat of Jamaica, 007 infiltrates his target's criminal cooperative—only to find that Scaramanga's bullets are laced with snake venom. When the end comes, every shot will count.

This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Kenneth Branagh.

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"One of the worst Bond movies turns out to be one of the better Bond books. After unsuccessfully trying to assassinate M, Bond is sent out to kill Scaramanga - the assassain of several British spies. Bond trails his quarry to pre-Bob Marley Jamaica where an alpha-male duel to the death proceeds to its inevitable conclusion. The book is short and sharp. There's not much sex (plenty of innuendo, tho...) and not even a lot of spying. The book is focused almost entirely on the chess match between Bond and Scaramanga with some random mafia and KGB angles thrown in. The writing is first rate. The descriptions of Jamaica are some of Flemings best bits of travelogue writing. The first meeting between Bond and Scaramange, which ends with Scaramanga killing a pair of birds, is exceptionally good with tension building to a shattering yet ridiculous climax. The producers of the "newer, grittier" Bond movies would do well to remake this one."

— Howard (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Most people don’t think of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels as great literature, but that’s exactly how Kenneth Branagh, one of our finest actors, narrates this one. His performance is notable for exploring the subtleties of the villain Scaramanga and focusing on Bond’s interior life—both of which may surprise those who know 007 only through the films. The setting, more important here than in most novels, comes across as sensuous and menacing. There are moments when Branagh’s voice goes very quiet…the effect is mesmerizing…A marvelous reading.”

    — AudioFile
  • “Fleming keeps you riveted.”

    — Sunday Telegraph (London)
  • “I can’t think of a bad time or place for listening to any of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels…Any of them will have you driving in circles rather than arrive at your destination.”

    — Times (London)
  • “Exciting sequences, especially the railroad scene, capture all the thrills one has come to expect.”

    — Raymond Benson, author of High Time to Kill

Awards

  • Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
  • An AudioFile Best Audiobook of the Year for 2014

The Man with the Golden Gun Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.39393939393939 out of 53.39393939393939 out of 53.39393939393939 out of 53.39393939393939 out of 53.39393939393939 out of 5 (3.39)
5 Stars: 5
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 14
2 Stars: 4
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Colder68, 5/21/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Craig, 9/17/2020
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is an excelent conclusion to an excelent series. I especially liked that Bond here is almost a whole new more realistic character, he makes mistakes, and things like that, but he still has the basic elements of his old self, like cleverness, and bieng extremely witty. What I did not like was that the book ends too abruptly, and it seems incomplete somehow, like Scaramanga's hotel. But overall it is a great conclusion to the Bond series. "

    — Jrodbarr, 2/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " "The Man with the Golden Gun" was a nice send-off for James Bond. Was it as good as "You Only Live Twice?" No. Did "You Only Live Twice" give the character a better send-off? Probably. Does this take away from the quality of "The Man with the Golden Gun?" Nope. The book had a good story, a good villain, and an intriguing locale. I just wish it had been a little longer. Farewell, Mr. Bond. Farewell, Mr. Fleming. "

    — Zach, 2/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Apparently Ian Fleming was quite ill when he wrote this, the last full Bond novel in the series. Well if only he'd popped his clogs a little sooner, that way he could have saved me having to read another of these bigoted, trash novels that have the creativity standard of a GCSE English student. A rubbish student as well. Bloody awful. "

    — Matthew, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Not great stuff. I don't think I'll be rereading this one. "

    — James, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " While at Lincoln Junior High School I had two sets of friends. Ralph Bloomdahl and his younger brother, Steve, were the ones in the neighborhood, Ralph having been in class with me since I moved to Park Ridge, Illinois in fifth grade. Like me, he wasn't popular, but at least he wasn't unpopular. In school he was quiet. Outside of school he, Steve and I were into drawing and invented role-playing games involving homemade scooters consisting of old roller skates nailed to pieces of wood and a community of shops and institutions located in their basement. They were good kids, but a little dull. Further away from home were Frank Canady and John Case, both of whom lived on the extreme south end of town, both of whom were relatively bad kids, but exciting. Frank had big collections of collectibles: pornography (including Tijahuana Bibles!), comics (kept in plastic, never to be read), graphic novels (ditto), Bond memorabilia and the like. They'd do crazy things like lie down in the middle of busy Higgins Road, laughing as the cars would swerve and brake to avoid them; throw eggs on Mr. Messenger's roof from John's to attract flocks of seagulls; spy on neighbors, both residential and business; roam the interstate near their homes, looking for the pornography amazingly abundant in the gullies alongside (a significant percentage of it was foreign). I did some of these things, avoided others because of moral scruples and cowardice. One thing in common between both sets of friends was an interest in international espionage in general and with James Bond in particular. Network television had several shows devoted to the former and the Pickwick Theatre downtown showed each one of the Bond films as they came out as well as the occasional copycats. This was the last Bond novel actually written, at least through its first draft, by Fleming himself and may well have been the last Bond book I ever read. Frank got into the successor novels, but I scorned them. Indeed, I was getting tired of the things, having read them all. The movies, however, were another matter. I will still watch a Bond film occasionally despite the expectation, usually fulfilled, of being disappointed. "

    — Erik, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another compelling Bond read, and I had feelings of sadness at its close because this is the final Bond novel. "

    — Betsy, 1/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " As with all of the James Bond stories, it is rife with racism and sexism, and barely resembles the movie of the same name. If you can get past all that, it's a quick, exciting page-turner. "

    — Nicole, 12/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Holy fuck was this one good! Yeah yeah, it doesn't have the depth of the otehr Bond books, but man, the story just raced and was like a gonzo gangster western. A fine capper to the Bond series of novels, that on a whole are way better then I thought they would be. "

    — Russell, 12/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Kept my interest almost straight through. A fun plot with great twists and interesting characters. The dialogue and narrative is very tight with great descriptions of food. "

    — Ryan, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Mobsters, shootings, spying and really cool dudes. I'd give it a 2.5. Interesting but pretty superficial reading. "

    — Quinn, 11/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not one of Ian Fleming's best books I must say. Perhaps it isn's as he was practically on his deathbed as he wrote it. "

    — Grant, 11/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " My first Bond - a good quick read. A lot of fun and interesting to see the way Bond was initially depicted. He touts his own cocktail creation in the book and it's gin (Gordon's is his brand), vodka and Lillet. "

    — Aaron, 11/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very enjoyable, rather short, single-story Bond. Almost formulaic, but no less interesting for that. I don't have much to say about it, but it wasn't an unpleasant listening experience, especially not when Kenneth Branagh was doing the reading of it XD "

    — A.E., 10/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Retrieved this from my folks place. might re-read it sometime. "

    — Velvetink, 6/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This one is pretty weak. Seems like Fleming had run out of gas. "

    — Liam, 12/11/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another classic Bond thriller. Turned a boring commuter journey into an enjoyable adventure. "

    — Wilde, 10/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " rated PG 13, fun, quick read "

    — Monkeejedi, 5/26/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Lightning fast Bond read, which comes across more like a Western as Bond is sent to kill "Pistols" Scaramanga, replete with third nipple and inability to whistle. Maintains good pace and has welcome roles for Felix Leiter and Mary Goodnight. "

    — Ian, 4/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I had no idea Felix Lightener had a hook for a hand. I would think that a detriment to anyone in the spy industry. "

    — Tiffany, 2/6/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Always liked the Bond movies. I decided to try the books and got only one of them read. As usual, better than the movie but not great. "

    — Kevin, 1/13/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A great way to end a series. The only thing I didn't like was how soon it ended! "

    — Kellie, 10/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My first Fleming Bond, what a difference from the Roger Moore Bond Films. "

    — Aaron, 9/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Barely three stars. I think this was the last completed Bond before Fleming's death. I actually read this when it was serialized in Playboy. Date read is a guess. "

    — Chris, 9/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is the first James Bond book that I've read and so, marks the introduction to Ian Fleming's style of writing. Somehow, I realize why Pierce Brosnan fits the character of Bond so well after reading this book...Looking forward to more of Mr.Fleming... "

    — Ak, 4/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " There is some changes in the version I read recently compared to the original I read some 30 years back! "

    — Suby, 3/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Mobsters, shootings, spying and really cool dudes. I'd give it a 2.5. Interesting but pretty superficial reading. "

    — Quinn, 1/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good read. Fine way to end the series.4/5 Starsp.s. I would have given this one five stars but I thought the ending was a little weak. "

    — Jenson-Francisco, 1/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " In this book I learned that if a man can't whistle, he may be a homosexual. "

    — Dee, 9/21/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I have now finished the Bond series. The books make the movies look all the more ridiculous. Why are movie watchers assumed to be too stupid to follow plot lines? "

    — Nicolas, 8/11/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Sort of mediocre, but doesn't even begin to approach the bad of Goldfinger. "

    — Thomas, 7/24/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A weaker entry by Fleming. "

    — Jeff, 7/19/2010

About Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming was born in London in 1908. He was educated at Eton and worked as a journalist in Moscow and a banker and stockbroker in London before becoming personal assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence during the Second World War. He wrote his first Bond novel, Casino Royale, at Goldeneye, his home in Jamaica, in 1952. Since then James Bond has gone on to become a global phenomenon.

About Kenneth Branagh

Sir Kenneth Branagh is one of the UK’s most successful actors and directors in film, TV, and theater. In addition to his acclaimed cinema adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, he has also directed and/or acted in films such as My Week with Marilyn, Thor, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. He has had huge TV success with his BAFTA-winning portrayal of Wallander and has received five Academy Award nominations in five different categories.