For Bond Lovers Only

Rummaging in the Iliad Bookshop in North Hollywood a couple of weeks ago, I found a paperback copy of For Bond Lovers Only (1965, Dell Publishing), compiled and edited by Sheldon Lane.

This book came out in the midst of Bondmania that erupted following Goldfinger (1964).

For Bond Lovers Only contains a treasure trove of trivia on MI6 secret agent James Bond 007.  Some of which includes:

•  "007 and Me," which "candidly reveals the dangers and delights of having an alter-ego who lives in a world where beautiful girls and pulse-pounding excitement are always available."

• An interview with actor Sean Connery.

• Georges Simenon and Ian Fleming discuss "The Thriller Business" which compares perils, intrigues and pleasures.

• Raymond Chandler, creator of private eye Philip Marlow, faces "the fascinating question of what would happen if Marlow was ever up against 007.

• Bond's girls and weapons.  

• 16 pages of photographs.

And, a whole lot more.

One interesting tidbit from the book:

Ian Fleming thought Connery perfect for Bond.  "He has done it wonderfully," he said.  "It was a great piece of casting.  He certainly looks like 007, and I don't know who could have done it better."