Casino Royale

I just finished reading Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale.  This is nice introduction to the James Bond character.  In comparison to the movie with Daniel Craig everything is pretty much the same except for what I would consider three major differences.  The first of which is that Le Chiffre is working for the Russians since this is set in the cold war era & that the game they are playing is high-stakes baccarat instead of Texas Hold’m Poker.  The second of which is that the organization S.M.E.R.S.H. is behind Le Chiffre’s death instead of Mr. White & the Quantum organization.  The third difference is the death of Vesper Lynd is less redeeming & it makes her betrayal to Bond less of conflicting & just part of the job.