Darker than the Sun
An Atlas of James Bond Movie Locations
Published on 13. November 2025
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-0-7112-9326-7 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
"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 theywere 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." -- David Pitt * Booklist * "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 Retro *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Illustrations
colour photos
Dimensions
Height: 268 mm
Width: 236 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
1290 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7112-9326-7 (9780711293267)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2025
Ivy Press
€29.49
Available for download
Persons
Matthew Field is the world's leading authority on The Italian Job. In 2009, he co-produced and directed a feature-length documentary about the film for Paramount Pictures. Field has written numerous books on cinema, including the autobiography of Oscar-winning film producer, Michael Deeley. Most recently he co-authored Some Kind Of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films. He has worked on feature films around the world producing behind-the-scenes marketing materials, and in 2019 completed work on Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again for Universal Pictures.
AJAY CHOWDHURY was born in London and read Law at university there and in The Netherlands. He has since provided legal advice on various motion picture, music, publishing, television and theatrical projects. He was the associate producer on two feature films, Lost Dogs and Flirting with Flamenco and served on the advisory board of Tongues On Fire - The London Asian Film Festival. Ajay is the spokesperson for The James Bond International Fan Club, established in 1979. He edited their James Bond journal, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and for the last two decades has contributed to numerous books and magazines on the James Bond legacy. He is regularly called upon by worldwide media to commentate on all things 007. He collaborated with Matthew Field on the 800 page biography of the franchise, SOME KIND OF HERO: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films published by The History Press last updated in 2018, Remembering Roger Moore (2018) and SEAN CONNERY: A JAMES BOND JOURNEY (2022) both special edition bookazine published by Mi6 Confidential.
AJAY CHOWDHURY was born in London and read Law at university there and in The Netherlands. He has since provided legal advice on various motion picture, music, publishing, television and theatrical projects. He was the associate producer on two feature films, Lost Dogs and Flirting with Flamenco and served on the advisory board of Tongues On Fire - The London Asian Film Festival. Ajay is the spokesperson for The James Bond International Fan Club, established in 1979. He edited their James Bond journal, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and for the last two decades has contributed to numerous books and magazines on the James Bond legacy. He is regularly called upon by worldwide media to commentate on all things 007. He collaborated with Matthew Field on the 800 page biography of the franchise, SOME KIND OF HERO: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films published by The History Press last updated in 2018, Remembering Roger Moore (2018) and SEAN CONNERY: A JAMES BOND JOURNEY (2022) both special edition bookazine published by Mi6 Confidential.
Content
Introduction
Dr. No
From Russia With Love
Goldfinger
Thunderball
You Only Live Twice
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Diamonds are Forever
Live and Let Die
The Man With the Golden Gun
The Spy Who Loved Me
Moonraker
For Your Eyes Only
Octopussy
A View To A Kill
The Living Daylights
License to Kill
Goldeneye
Tomorrow Never Dies
The World Is Not Enough
Die Another Day
Casino Royale
Quantum Of Solace
Skyfall
Spectre
No Time To Die
Orbis Non Sufficit
Dr. No
From Russia With Love
Goldfinger
Thunderball
You Only Live Twice
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Diamonds are Forever
Live and Let Die
The Man With the Golden Gun
The Spy Who Loved Me
Moonraker
For Your Eyes Only
Octopussy
A View To A Kill
The Living Daylights
License to Kill
Goldeneye
Tomorrow Never Dies
The World Is Not Enough
Die Another Day
Casino Royale
Quantum Of Solace
Skyfall
Spectre
No Time To Die
Orbis Non Sufficit