How many James Bond movies have you watched? How many have you obsessed over, digging into the nuts and bolts of the action and the villains? More than you want to admit? Well join Kathryn Harkup on a wander through the 25 James Bond movies produced by Eon Productions as she looks at what is actually real in the world of James Bond.

In the Prologue, Harkup sets the stage for how the James Bond movie franchise differs from other spy/thriller series. Over the next 25 chapters graced with the titles of the Bond movies in chronological order, Harkup delves into various aspects of the Bond universe. Topics covered range from the opening gun barrel sequence, Rosa Klebb's shoe, lasers as weapons, the care and feeding of volcano lairs and henchmen, how the crocodile run was set up, space stations, parachuting from the edge of space, electrocution via various devices, drugs, poisons, exotic weapons, nanobots, exploding vehicles, and Bond's backstory. Of course there is a bibliography to back up the claims made in the book and provide more sources for the Bond enthusiast to explore.

So if you are a lover of Bond movies, you are likely to enjoy perusing the pages of this tome. Just remember, as Harkup repeats several times in regard to various situations, "Please, do not try this at home!" Rather, enjoy it on the screen!

This isn’t exactly what it seems to be. Yes, Ms. Harkup gets into the science of 007, but it also reads like a fan’s guide to the movies. Again, that isn’t bad, it just is not what the book is purported to be. If one was a monster Bond fan, this book would be a great gift. If you just sort of like this stuff, but were hoping for another What if? type of book, this misses the mark. Fun enough though.

An intriguing book for fans of James Bond or anyone interested in how the science and technology in pop culture media measures up to reality. Harkup does a great job of explaining the types of gadgets and technologies that embody the genre, in an engaging but clear way. Even if you're not a fan, she helps explain the historical context for why Fleming may have focused on a particular kind of gadget or theme in his writing. The footnotes were really helpful in providing that extra information without detracting from the readability. Overall a fascinating look into the world of Bond.

I have read one James Bond book and I didn’t like it. That didn’t stop me for asking for this book from Netgalley as soon as I could. I love Kathryn Harkup’s approach to fictional people and worlds. This book was no different. She approached 007 in a scientific, witty and practical way. Every chapter analysis’s the probability of stunts, weapons, characters and death in the novels and movies. I enjoyed her sarcastic comments while discussing the crazy and outdated world of Bond. This is just as good as her other works and it is for the fan and interested.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Have you ever wondered if all the explosions, lethal death traps, and spy gadgets in the James Bond movies could actually exist? Maybe not while you are in the theater subconsciously leaning into the curves as the Astin Martin outruns another bad guy, or holding your breath as James fights off a villain in a scuba suit. But once you get home and your adrenaline settles, don't you stop and think and maybe even talk it over with friends and family?

Kathryn Harkup has taken the time to go through each of the films and look for trends, check to see whether the gadgets (from both sides of the struggle) are possible, and explain the scientific principles at work in each situation and how the film stayed true to them or fudged a bit for entertainment value. Want to know if setting off a dirty bomb would really make all the gold in Fort Knox unusable? Not sure if nanobots could actually be used to target specific people for death? Dying with curiosity about that secret space station built by Drax? Then you need to read this book.

Harkup is a chemist, science communicator, and author. She has written several similar books such as A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie and Making the Monster: The Science Behind Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, among others. Superspy Science combines an extensive look at the entire history of Bond films, information about the books they are based on, author Ian Fleming, and how Fleming's love of spycraft and cutting-edge technology worked their way into each adventure and onto the screen.

This is the perfect gift for Bond fans, gadgetry/techno geeks, and those interested in how pop culture and scientific advances interact. It is scheduled for publication on November 15 - so there is plenty of time to order a copy and be ready to give it as a holiday gift or read it your self over a long holiday weekend.

An interesting book for those fans of James Bond. To see what Ian Fleming dreamed up is amazing. This book would be a good read for an fans of this series of books.