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You Only Live Twice (with Interview)
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
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You Only Live Twice (with Interview)
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Summary
James Bond seems unable to function after the death of his wife. Determined to restore 007 to the effective agent he used to be, M sends him on a mission to Japan, to the mysterious ‘Castle of Death’ and into the lair of an old and terrifying enemy. For Bond and Blofeld, this will be their final encounter. Only one of them can survive.
Includes an exclusive bonus interview with Martin Jarvis.
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, in 1952 at Goldeneye, his home in Jamaica. Since then James Bond has gone on to become a global phenomenon.
Martin Jarvis OBE has recorded more than 150 Just William stories for the BBC. These have become international audio bestsellers. He won the Theatre World Award for his starring role on Broadway in By Jeeves; his West End appearances include works by Ayckbourn, Frayn, Pinter and Wilde. Screen successes include everything from Stargate Atlantis, Dr Who and Numb3rs to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Oscar®-winning Titanic.
Critic reviews
"As damnably readable as ever." ( Daily Herald)
"Rich, wonderful stuff, Fleming at his flaming best." ( New York Times)
"Fleming doesn’t waste a word… his sense of surprise is perfect" (BBC)
"Escapism in the grand manner." ( Boston Globe)
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What listeners say about You Only Live Twice (with Interview)
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- P McGuinness
- 21-01-23
Dubious accents
The story is good, very different from the rest of the bond novels. However the language is very dated and some dialogue made me cringe albeit it was considered appropriate for the era. The reading I felt was poor. some really dodgy accents that I'm surprised you could get away with. Bonds narration also didn't seem to fit with his character. Too upper class. 50 years since I originally read the book, some I have re-read and some audiobooks listened too. On general presentation and an experience I had to give it a low score. But the narration I found the worst.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dr Caterpillar
- 07-12-14
The last of the good Bond books
What did you like most about You Only Live Twice (with Interview)?
The sympathy shown towards Bond by his superiors. The positive depiction of Japanese culture, especially in contrast with our own. The aftermath - especially the thing Bond doesn't know because Kissy doesn't tell him.
What other book might you compare You Only Live Twice (with Interview) to, and why?
Apart from the other Bond books, I can't think of any. At times it feels like a fantasy novel, and at other times like a Saturday morning serial from long before I was born.
What about Martin Jarvis’s performance did you like?
Nothing in particular. He did the job well, as always.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, I'm never going to do that with an unabridged novel.
Any additional comments?
It's very pleasing the way the closing volume of a trilogy leads straight into the next story. Shame The Man With The Golden Gun isn't very good.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- LMC
- 10-11-22
Another winner from this fantastic series
The series of Bond audiobooks is one of the best in the catalogue. Each one is brilliantly cast, enhancing Ian Fleming's superb prose. Martin Jarvis is one of the finest audiobook narrators around, and he does a fabulous job here (though it is a little disconcerting having recently listened to him narrating the Just William books). Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stephen Grandison
- 18-03-24
Not watch I was expecting.
Another Bond book that was different to what I thought it would be, but in a good way. It bares some similarities to the film, but this was great.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael C.
- 04-09-20
Another Great Bond
Though this is far from your typical Bond and far from the movie I cannot but reccomend it. Jervis gives a truly great performance and the more human Bond out for revenge makes for a truly gripping tale.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- T. Keates
- 02-05-21
A fascinating portrait of country Japan in the 60s
Martin Jarvis creates wonderful voice caricatures that greatly assist in the telling of this most colourful story. The more i become accustomed with Fleming's work the more I realise the Bond movies are a stepping stone towards the books. The books use language of their time and yet Fleming writes empathetically towards his lead female characters. Bond is a flawed and thoughtful protagonist most of the time. This and others in the series debut villains that set the high-water-mark for movie badies to be measured to, for decades.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Patrick Edwards
- 29-03-24
There is only one man….
… who can pull off Bond and a young Japanese diving girl. And that man is Jarvis, Martin Jarvis
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Sussex man
- 07-08-15
Last book
This book was very well read by Martin, I felt it took a very long time ,up 12 chapters before the story really began follow just like the old James Bond books.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anon
- 24-05-18
Excellent story and superb narration
This is a classic Bond and far better than the film. This is a faithful unabridged version with a superb narrator. You really get a feel for the ‘true’ Bond in this ‘book’- one of Flemings best!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Roly
- 16-07-21
A more unusual Bond
This is definitely a more unusual Bond novel. Fleming begins with a demotivated depressed Bond, who with flashes of his past is able to rediscover himself and face his nemesis. This isn’t a spoiler but I do like the uncertainty and the dramatic irony of the ending, thinking .….”Don’t do it James !”
There are no surprises in Fleming’s imperial view; however they carry accurate insights of a changing political world.
Jarvis’ narration is good but I would have preferred a younger voice
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