Moonraker is the third James Bond novel in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. It was first published by Jonathan Cape on April 7, 1955.

Its title comes from “moonraker”, a synonym for moonsail, the highest sail carried by sailing ships. It also refers to a Wiltshire folk story about some people hiding contraband goods from customs officers in a pond but when caught pretended to be simple by raking the pond, claiming to be able to catch the moon’s reflection.

The title, Moonraker, was not the first choice of Fleming. His novel was later adapted as Moonraker, the eleventh film in the official James Bond series of films by EON Productions. The film was mostly an entirely new adventure only using Fleming’s character Hugo Drax. Moonraker was a space shuttle, and there was action in space. The film Moonraker was novelised in 1979 by Christopher Wood as James Bond and Moonraker.

Plot summary: In the novel Bond is asked by M to observe Sir Hugo Drax, who is winning money playing bridge at M’s club, Blades, and whom M suspects of cheating. Although M claims to not really care, he is concerned why a multimillionaire and national hero such as Drax would resort to cheating at a card game. Bond later confirms Drax’s deception, and manages to ‘cheat the cheater’ (with a little help from Benzedrine and champagne), winning £15,000 and infuriating Drax.

As it turns out, Drax is the backer of the ‘Moonraker’ missile project being built to defend the UK against its Cold War enemies (compare to the real life Blue Streak missile). The Moonraker rocket is essentially an upgraded V-2 rocket that can withstand hotter temperatures to its engine thanks to the use of columbite, on which Drax has a monopoly. Because the engine can withstand more heat the Moonraker therefore can use more powerful fuels which results in the rocket having a vast improvement in range. Partly due to the cheating episode, M asks Bond to infiltrate Drax’s missile-building organisation on the coast of England. Bond uncovers a dreadful and fiendish plot to destroy London, which he foils with the assistance of a female (and, of course, attractive) Special Branch agent, Gala Brand.

With the exception of the name “Moonraker” and the character of Sir Hugo Drax, little else from this book made it into the 1979 film, but some concepts that remained included the profession of the Bond girls, both undercover agents inside Drax’s organisation, and that a launch of a rocket plays a significant role in both the film and book. The 2002 film, Die Another Day, however, used several concepts from this book including the Blades club, and at one point the character of Miranda Frost from the film was to have been named Gala Brand. The villain, Gustav Graves, is also based somewhat on Fleming’s original concept of Hugo Drax.

See also:

• Bond novels: Ian Fleming