Thrilling Cities

Thrilling Cities is a 1963 travelogue by James Bond creator Ian Fleming, chronicling his experiences across thirteen international cities. The work began as a series of articles for The Sunday Times before being expanded into a book with additional content and photographs. Fleming's journey spans two separate trips - a 1959 worldwide expedition and a 1960 European drive - taking readers through locations including Hong Kong, Tokyo, Las Vegas, New York, Berlin, and Monte Carlo. Each chapter concludes with "Incidental Intelligence" sections containing practical information about hotels, restaurants, and nightlife in each destination. The text captures Fleming's personal observations as he explores both famous landmarks and lesser-known corners of each metropolis. His background as a novelist and journalist shapes the narrative approach, which focuses on the atmospheric and sometimes dangerous aspects of urban life. The book stands as both a time capsule of mid-century international travel and a window into Fleming's own sensibilities, which would later influence his James Bond novels. Its raw depiction of city life contrasts with typical tourist-focused travelogues of the era.

Readers note the book differs from Fleming's usual James Bond fiction, offering personal travelogue observations from 13 cities in 1959-1960. Many appreciate Fleming's unvarnished views of each location's underworld and nightlife, with detailed accounts of food, hotels, and local characters. Readers liked: - Behind-the-scenes access to exclusive clubs and venues - Fleming's honest, sometimes cynical perspective - Local crime and vice details that influenced Bond novels - Practical travel tips that remain relevant Readers disliked: - Dated cultural attitudes and language - Uneven coverage between cities - Focus on luxury experiences over local culture - Too much emphasis on gambling and nightlife Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (374 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (41 ratings) Common reader comment: "More interesting as a time capsule of 1960s international travel than as a practical guide." Several readers noted the Hong Kong and Macau chapters as highlights, while finding the European sections less engaging.

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🌍 Fleming used his extensive intelligence background to gain access to areas typically off-limits to tourists, including yakuza-controlled districts in Tokyo and mob-run establishments in Las Vegas 🗞️ When first published in The Sunday Times, the articles received criticism for being too "seedy" and focusing on the darker aspects of cities, prompting Fleming to respond that he wanted to show cities as they really were ✈️ The two journeys that formed the basis of the book were taken at the expense of The Sunday Times, with Fleming insisting on flying first class and staying in the finest hotels as a condition of the assignment 🕵️ Many locations and contacts Fleming made during these trips later appeared in his James Bond novels, including the Mikado Cabaret Club in Tokyo which featured in "You Only Live Twice" 🏨 The "Incidental Intelligence" sections were so detailed and influential that several establishments mentioned saw significant increases in business, with some even creating special "Fleming menus" or "007 cocktails"