51st: Ministry of Time and interesting, if predictable take on the implications of time travel. First half is better than the second half that subsumes the intricate character development and world building into a series of cliches from Hollywood. #books #timetravel #sciencefiction

50th: The Spy Who Loved Me published in 1962 is a less successful attempt by Fleming to experiment with style as most of the book focuses on the experiences of a young woman Viv Michel growing up with a hard life only to be saved by Bond at the end from gangsters in upstate New York. #books #JamesBond

49: The Leaving Room a beautifully moving novel in verse that uses the stages of grief to explore what it means to be in between life and death and the power of love to connect and comfort. Gorgeously written YA book from Amber McBride. #books #YA

48: The Eternaut a riveting and cynical portrayal of humanity facing off with an alien invasion that appeared in the 1950s in Argentinian newspapers. Part Robinson Crusoe, part HG Well’s War of the Worlds the comic strip is a great take on the Cold War and problems in Argentina. #books #comics #politicalcomic

47: Thunderball published in 1961 offers one of the most relevant Cold War stories about the theft of nuclear warheads by SPECTRE a global criminal terrorist organization that Bond and MI-6 square off with for the first time. The discussion of possible dirty bombs hits home today. #books #JamesBond

46: The Dream Hotel is a riveting dystopian science fiction novel that grapples with questions about crime, immigration, identity, algorithms, AI and living in a capitalist culture driven by surveillance technology. Mixes Kafka, Atwood, and Dick to craft a moving story that feels too real. #books #literaryfiction #sciencefiction

45: Hollywood’s Dirtiest Secret is a deft look at the ecological impacts of Hollywood filmmaking practices from GonewiththeWind to Avatar. Mixing media industries, discourse, history and anthropology Vaughn shows how it is vital to rethink filmmaking and viewing in a time of climate crisis. #books #mediastudies

44: The Corpse Wore Pasties an entertaining murder mystery set in the world of NYC burlesque culture. The book uses first person perspective and a mix of slang to craft a read that is gritty and funny in style of pulp novels of 40s, 50s, and 60s. #books #crimefiction #pulpnovels

43: The Prop an interesting look at film props and their value as marks of labor and performance. The book builds on previous film theory to argue for the establishment of prop theory. Includes several close readings of props in films like Citizen Kane to show importance of prop value. #books #filmtheory

42: For Your Eyes Only from Fleming features short stories about Bond some while on a mission some on his own time. What ties them together is Bond’s introspection of his life built around the killing of people and a sense he is less of a spy and more a hired killer. Great read. #books #JamesBond