Though, in the first of those stories, "Octopussy," the antagonist is the point of view character and Bond proves to be a minor player. And thanks to authors such as Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, Benson himself, Sebastian Faulks, Jeffery Deaver and William Boyd, the literary exploits of Bond continue to this day.

The four-man polar party, intending to reach the South Pole, eventually reached a Farthest South latitude of 88° 23' S, 97. Dustwrapper is lightly rubbed and edgeworn; spine panel and flap-turns sunned; some chipping to the spine panel extremities (no loss of text or imagery); some foxing to the verso; now professionally protected by non-adhesive polypropylene wrap. Presented is the first edition, first impression of the fourteenth title in Ian Fleming s James Bond series, Octopussy and The Living Daylights.It has been suggested that some of the stories in the collection may well have taken place during this dark period of Bond's career; the mention of Mary Goodnight in "The Property of a Lady" implies that that story at least takes place after On Her Majesty's Secret Service, where the character was introduced. Agent 007 appears briefly in this story, which is told mostly in flashback and from the point of view of Major Dexter Smythe, the villain. The book originally contained two stories, " Octopussy" and " The Living Daylights", with subsequent editions also including " The Property of a Lady" and then " 007 in New York".

Octopussy" provided the title of the eponymous 1983 film, and the background for the movie character Octopussy, the daughter of the villain in the short story; the film also used most of the plot of "The Property of a Lady". Living Daylights,the short story,is fairly forgettable on paper but was included in the film to form a few scenes.

Bond feels that the top Russian agent in London, identity unknown, will be present at the auction, attempting to artificially raise the bidding, and so 007 goes there to try to pick him/her out. This is my first taste of Bond, and the four short stories or 'scraps' as I came to see them, was a nice introduction to Fleming's work. I would have loved it if the secret bidder was sitting right next to Bond and he was thwarted just this once. Fleming's brand name-dropping account of the high life is on full display here, and I very much enjoy tidbits like these for the sort of snapshot of a time they provide.