Description
Book SynopsisWitty and well researched.' THE TIMES
A scientific dose of reality.' MAIL ON SUNDAY
A fun and comprehensive exploration.' LINDA McROBBIE
Endlessly fascinating.' LIBRARY JOURNAL
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
Trade Review
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 *
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 *
Bond’s evil foes are doomed … by a scientist’s lethal dose of reality. * Mail on Sunday *
Films starring secret agent James Bond are famous for their technology. But how reliable is their science? Kathryn Harkup provides a stylish answer. * Nature *
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! *
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 *
Superspy Science brings science, technology, history, and adventure together in a tantalising look at the gadgets and inventions that make 007 invincible. * Foreword Reviews *
Table of Contents
Pre-title sequence 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
