When James Chapman's rip-roaring journey through the annals of celluloid Bond first appeared in 2000, the London Evening Standard said, *Chapman demonstrates that there is more to the 007 franchise than just girls, guns and globe trotting.* Stephen O'Brien, writing in SFX magazine called the book *Thoughtful, intelligent, ludicrous and a bit snobby. Bit like Bond, really.*
Licence to Thrill went on to establish itself as one of the best books on the subject, and one that has made readers think in new ways about 007. It follows James Bond from the 1962 Dr No, through all the subsequent films of the franchise--including Casino Royale--exploring them within the culture and politics of the times, as well as within film culture itself.
For this new edition, Chapman has now brought the story right up to the present, with an updated Introduction, a new first chapter and, most importantly, full coverage of Pierce Brosnan in The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day, as well as a brand new chapter on Casino Royale and Daniel Craig's new-look Bond.