Darker than the Sun
An Atlas of James Bond Movie Locations
Matthew Field author Ajay Chowdhury author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Quarto Publishing PLC
Published:13th Nov '25
Should be back in stock very soon
Explore the world of James Bond like never before with Darker Than the Sun, a visually rich travelogue charting 007’s journey through six decades of espionage, glamour and adventure.
Whether you're a lifelong Bond aficionado or a curious traveller drawn to the allure of exotic destinations, this book invites you to follow in the footsteps of the world’s most iconic secret agent. From the sun-drenched beaches of Jamaica to the icy peaks of the Swiss Alps, from the neon-lit streets of Bangkok to the grandeur of Venice and Istanbul, Darker Than the Sun charts the evolution of Bond’s cinematic geography.
Each chapter is dedicated to a single film from the series, presented in chronological order, and includes:
- Over 200 stunning photographs, including behind-the-scenes content, iconic film stills, never-before-seen images from crew members and contemporary shots.
- Exclusive new interviews with Bond filmmakers, location scouts and production designers, offering insider perspectives on how and why each destination was chosen.
- Global locator maps that trace Bond’s journeys across continents, highlighting both real and fictional settings.
- Feature maps that zoom in on key destinations, revealing how locations were transformed for the screen.
- Anecdotes that uncover the logistical challenges and creative decisions behind Bond’s most memorable moments.
- Historical and cultural context that explores how Bond’s locations reflect things like changing global politics, travel trends and filmmaking techniques.
You’ll discover how Pinewood Studios became a stand-in for Venice, how a Jamaican bauxite mine doubled as Dr. No’s lair and how a remote Thai island was transformed into the infamous hideout of Scaramanga. The book also explores the enduring impact of Bond on global tourism, with destinations like Piz Gloria and James Bond Island becoming iconic travel landmarks.
Drawing from Ian Fleming’s original novels, EON screenplays and decades of archival research, authors Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury bring their unparalleled Bond expertise to this definitive location compendium.
Whether you're planning your own 007-inspired adventure or simply want to relive the thrill of Bond’s most unforgettable missions, Darker Than the Sun is your passport to the ultimate cinematic journey.
"Here’s a rather nifty companion piece to the authors’ Some Kind of Hero, 2015, which chronicled the history of the Bond movies; this one takes a look at where the movies are set, where they
were filmed, and how Bond author Ian Fleming’s geographic inspirations were translated to the big screen. The book is bursting at the seams with illustrations, too: everything the reader
needs to feel as though they have visited the iconic locations where Bond saved the world from evil. For a Bond fan, the book should be required reading."
"One of the best things about the book is that each chapter/title contains two maps. The first is more of a global-view illustration that displays the routes Bond takes in the film on any continents involved, whether they be by plane, boat, or car. The second map is that of a single important location in the film, perhaps a city, in which key events take place. One can, in a sense, revisit each 007 movie by diving into these pages. It belongs on any Bond fan’s bookshelf."
-- Raymond Benson * Cinema RetISBN: 9780711293267
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 750g
240 pages