how many james bond books are there
There are two common ways people count “how many James Bond books are there,” and the answer changes depending on what you include.
Short answer
- If you mean all officially licensed James Bond books (adult novels, Young Bond, spin‑offs, novelizations, etc.), there are over 60 books, often counted as 63 James Bond books in total.
- If you mean just Ian Fleming’s original Bond books , there are 14 (12 novels + 2 short‑story collections).
Mini breakdown
1. Ian Fleming’s originals (14)
Ian Fleming created James Bond and wrote:
- 12 full‑length novels (from Casino Royale in 1953 through The Man with the Golden Gun in 1965).
- 2 short‑story collections: For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and The Living Daylights.
So if you’re asking “how many original James Bond books are there,” the answer is 14.
2. Continuation novels (adult Bond)
After Fleming’s death, other authors continued the adult 007 series with fully authorized novels, including:
- Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, Raymond Benson
- Sebastian Faulks, Jeffery Deaver, William Boyd
- Anthony Horowitz, Charlie Higson (for a special coronation tie‑in)
When you add Fleming + all these continuation novels, the number of adult Bond novels alone reaches around 40+ books.
3. Spin‑offs, Young Bond, and extras
On top of the main adult series, there are:
- Young Bond novels (Bond as a teenager, mainly by Charlie Higson and Steve Cole)
- The Moneypenny Diaries trilogy
- Double O series by Kim Sherwood
- Tie‑in and gamebook‑style titles like James Bond Junior and Find Your Fate adventures
- Film novelizations (e.g., The Spy Who Loved Me by Christopher Wood, GoldenEye , Tomorrow Never Dies , etc.)
When a full list includes all of these categories together, some sources total 63 James Bond books , which is why you’ll often see that specific figure quoted.
Quick reference table
| Category | Approx. count | What’s included? |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Fleming originals | 14 | 12 novels + 2 short‑story collections. | [1][7]
| Adult continuation novels | ~26–28 | Amis, Gardner, Benson, Faulks, Deaver, Boyd, Horowitz, Higson (adult). | [7]
| Young Bond + Moneypenny + Double O + other spin‑offs | Dozens combined | Young Bond series, Moneypenny Diaries, Double O trilogy, other spin‑offs. | [7]
| Film novelizations | Several | Book versions of specific films like *The Spy Who Loved Me*, *GoldenEye*, etc. | [7]
| Total “James Bond books” (broad count) | About 63 | Figure often cited when all authorized Bond books are counted together. | [1][7]
How to interpret the number
- If you’re a new reader wanting the core experience, focus on the 14 Ian Fleming books.
- If you’re a completionist , then the broader answer “around 63 James Bond books ” is the one you’re looking for, since it folds in all officially authorized novels and major spin‑offs.
So: “How many James Bond books are there?”
- 14 if you mean just Fleming.
- About 63 if you include the full licensed Bond universe.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.