[rbanffy]

Well… as anyone in intelligence will point out, the novels, while genre-defining, are ludicrously unrealistic.

In fact, being unremarkable is the hallmark of excellence in intelligence ops, therefore, I assume Mr Fleming was very good at his day job.

[smackeyacky]

Genre defining for action spy novels (and untold numbers of big budget movie scripts). More interestingly, realistic novels like those of John le Carre probably wouldn't have happened without Fleming creating the market for them.

[JJMcJ]

Only the first, Casino Royale, is close to realistic.

Some of the short stories also seem realistic, as does The Spy Who Loved Me.

The later books seem more fanciful.