I've just finished reading Anthony Synnott's article (for those who haven't had the pleasure, link below). Although the author focuses on the importance of beauty in Bond series, there is a short passage about Fleming's perception of Soviets as British formidable enemy (p 418). Why didn't he choose the Koreans or Chinese as British enemies? Clearly their influence wasn't as visible as the one of the Soviets but what other arguments against would you list?
http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/humans_ ... stique.pdf
Why the Soviets and not the Koreans or Chinese?
Re: Why the Soviets and not the Koreans or Chinese?
Given the endless racist comments about Koreans in Goldfinger, he probably considered them unworthy as main opponents rather than henchmen. As for the Chinese, my guess would be the first reason you gave. The "yellow peril" was never really a thing in Britain the way it was in America (anyone remember Battle Beneath the Earth?), as far as I know.
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Re: Why the Soviets and not the Koreans or Chinese?
The Soviets played a much bigger part in world politics during the cold war in the 1950s. It was the western powers against the Soviet east bloc, so naturally Fleming chose the Soviets as "British enemies" as you put it.
The Koreans and Chinese were communist powers but not as important as the Soviets on the world arena, although there was the Korean war in the early 1950s.
There are some Korean and Chinese enemies in the Bond books though, Dr No was a Chinese guy for example.
And in the movie version of You Only Live Twice the Chinese are trying to start WW3 between east and west via Spectre so that "when America and Russia have annihilated each other we shall see a new power dominating the world" as Blofeld said.
The Koreans and Chinese were communist powers but not as important as the Soviets on the world arena, although there was the Korean war in the early 1950s.
There are some Korean and Chinese enemies in the Bond books though, Dr No was a Chinese guy for example.
And in the movie version of You Only Live Twice the Chinese are trying to start WW3 between east and west via Spectre so that "when America and Russia have annihilated each other we shall see a new power dominating the world" as Blofeld said.
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Re: Why the Soviets and not the Koreans or Chinese?
James Bond on film did however deliberately chose to stay away from world politics most of the time, that's why Spectre is pictured as Bond's main enemy and not Soviet Smersh as in Fleming's books.
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Re: Why the Soviets and not the Koreans or Chinese?
Of course the Chinese popped up as villains in Colonel Sun. Perhaps Fleming would have used them in a book if he had lived longer.
Re: Why the Soviets and not the Koreans or Chinese?
"The five cars you'll never see James Bond drive" - http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/motori ... ee-9813335
Are they sure about the last one? In fact, the whole article reads like it was written by someone who hasn't seen a Bond film since Moonraker.
Are they sure about the last one? In fact, the whole article reads like it was written by someone who hasn't seen a Bond film since Moonraker.
"He's the one that doesn't smile" - Queen Elizabeth II on Daniel Craig