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  • On Her Majesty's Secret Service (with Interview)

  • By: Ian Fleming
  • Narrated by: David Tennant
  • Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,593 ratings)

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On Her Majesty's Secret Service (with Interview)

By: Ian Fleming
Narrated by: David Tennant
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Summary

In his Alpine base, Blofeld is developing biological weapons that will devastate Britain. Unaware of the danger, James Bond is about to marryTeresa di Vicenzo, the daughter of a Corsican Mafioso. But then he is sent to Switzerland. Bond’s marriage and Blofeld’s schemes disintegrate in a blizzard of gunfire and high-explosives from which neither man emerges the victor.

Includes an exclusive bonus interview with David Tennant.

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.

David Tennant has won critical acclaim for his performance as Detective Alec Hardy in the hugely successful crime drama Broadchurch, a role he is soon to reprise in the upcoming American remake, Gracepoint. He shot to global fame during his tenure as the Tenth Doctor in the Doctor Who series, and has starred in a number of other award winning films and television shows, including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Single Father. On stage he has played Benedick in Much Ado about Nothing, as well as the title roles in Hamlet and Richard II.

©1963 Ian Fleming Publications Ltd (P)2013 Ian Fleming Publications Ltd © AudioGO Ltd, 2012. James Bond and 007 are registered trademarks of Danjaq LLC, used under licence by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.
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Critic reviews

"A Bond bombshell." ( Time Magazine)
"Fleming’s new book will not disappoint his millions of fans." ( Washington Post)
"One of Bond’s most ominous and chilling adventures." ( Newsweek)
"Fleming at his urbanely murderous best, a notable chapter in the saga of James Bond." ( Houston Chronicle)
"Bond is what every man would like to be, and what every woman would like to have between her sheets.’ ( Sunday Times)

What listeners say about On Her Majesty's Secret Service (with Interview)

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fleming’s finest 007 novel

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is the finest of the 007 novels. It’s a superbly cooked-up story, expertly told — Fleming at the height of his powers. It’s a great pity that the 1969 film adaptation handled it so badly; I really didn’t understand the story until I read the book some fifteen years ago.

David Tennant has to get through a lot of accents to cover this book, and I think he tackles them exceedingly well. I particularly enjoyed his voicing of Sir Hilary Bray and of Irma Bunt (who sounds just like Ilse Steppat from the film). At the same time — and by his own admission in the closing interview this was an aspect of the narration he struggled with — he often mispronounces the many French, German and Greek phrases which Fleming embedded in the story, and I found this annoying.

However, in spite of its minor faults, I doubt you will find a better audiobook version of OHMSS, and so I am pleased to recommend this adaptation.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brought to life by narrator

Excellent narration by David Tenant really brings the book to life. There's little to say about the book itself as it is so well known!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Best of the series?

Of all the Bond books, this is perhaps the most similar to its depiction on film. Yet whereas the film suffers from Lazenby's wooden performance, the audio version of the book is brought to life brilliantly by David Tennant. Hugely enjoyable and highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Hugely entertaining

Having never been a massive fan of the films, I decided to download my first Bond book purely for the idea of having something not to deep but entertaining enough to keep me gripped, while plodding around my walk as a postman.

Having not switched it off for two days the book was finished however.

I found it to be hugely entertaining and superbly narrated by David Tennant.

I now expect my little look into the world of the Bond books could end up as a full collection in very little time at all.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best Bond books

One of the best Bond books, revitalised by the excellent narration by Daniel Tennant.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it!

This was another not typical James Bond book. I was quite surprised. Still in shock and a bit saddened. Cant wait to start the next book in the series.
David Tennant is a brilliant narrator!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Tennant + great storyline= Best Bond Audiobook

David Tennant does a remarkable job. It’s a real shame he didn’t read them all! I highly recommend 👌

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic. Would highly recommend

I have listened to quite a few Bond audiobooks and enjoyed them all but this is, in my opinion, the best one I have listened to.

David Tennant’s narration is exceptional and he really drives the story along.

Well worth a download

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The way it ended, so sad.

I thought that David Tennant did an excellent job of putting just the right weight on the points that needed it. A superb story teller. The story of how the best known secret agent in the world deals with the clever, evil villain and puts the world to right. Excellent!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Better than the movie!

Great story beautifully read. Always been one of my favourite Bond films and this put another angle on the story.

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