Unfortunately, because of my age, Sean Connery was the ONLY real Bond for me. By the way, I read all of the Ian Fleming books in the sixth grade.
Same with my Dad who passed away in 1973. He was an avid spy novel reader and Fleming's books were his favorites. I often wonder what he would have thought of the evolution of Bond through the decades after his old favorites. I started with Connery, and liked some of the Roger Moore movies, but I made fun of his exaggerated persona. I never made fun "at" Connery like that, such a classic role he played. Even my son, now almost 31 is a long time Connery fan, beginning with Bond and including many other roles. He never turned off a James Bond movie if he happened to thumb across it on the boob tube.
I doubt if Dad read any "hard" espionage books, it was before the days of the likes of Clancy, who brought a chilling reality feeling to the topic. That, next to hard sci fi, is the stuff I like reading. Ken Follet too, "Eye of the Needle", etc. Lots of them.
Thanks for the reminder, Charles. Maybe I'll see the new one. My wife is a fan too, so we're a family of three Bond lovers. We saw Skyfall together. Maybe Dad was ghosting around with us Lol. Lots of times I wish that. I'm so glad I lasted to have an adult relationship with my son... okay I'm sliding
wwway off topic, better finish my coffee.
Later,
Rusty