How old were you when you first read 'Licence Renewed'?
#1
Posted 25 September 2006 - 03:54 AM
For me, it was my first John Gardner novel (and the first continuation novel outside of Fleming for that matter). I got my copy used at a bookstore along with a few other Fleming paperbacks probably when I was in my early teens.
Wasn't quite sure what it was or who Gardner was, but I remember finding it very enjoyable. Having read the small preview of For Special Services at the back, I was eager to continue on. I guess I was lucky to have read almost all of the Gardner novels in order.
#2
Posted 25 September 2006 - 06:11 AM
#3
Posted 25 September 2006 - 06:46 AM
#4
Posted 25 September 2006 - 07:25 AM
#5
Posted 25 September 2006 - 07:50 AM
From then on to this day, every year, I looked forward to the new literary Bond outing, something my older Bondpals (for whom Brosnan means "John") were deprived of.
V. funny, ACE
I can say that I STARTED reading Licence Renewed on the day it was published in 1981 in Cape hardback. And if I recall I'd finished it pretty soon afterward (to hell with schoolwork).
I thought it was very good and was delighted that, like ACE and others, I have a brand new Bond to look forward to in future every year (you know, the real Bond, as opposed to the bi-annual comedies starring the fudy-dudy Moore).
Ah, the misguided enthusiam of youth... but then, of course, came Mr Benson, and in hindsight its not that bad after all (and nor are the Moore films).
#6
Posted 25 September 2006 - 04:09 PM
It didn
#7
Posted 25 September 2006 - 04:13 PM
#8
Posted 25 September 2006 - 04:17 PM
#9
Posted 25 September 2006 - 05:01 PM
#10
Posted 25 September 2006 - 05:50 PM
#11
Posted 25 September 2006 - 05:59 PM
#12
Posted 25 September 2006 - 07:18 PM
#13
Posted 25 September 2006 - 07:40 PM
Ah, the misguided enthusiam of youth... but then, of course, came Mr Benson, and in hindsight its not that bad after all (and nor are the Moore films).
Eh, lad, when you get t' my age, evrthing seems not so bad af t'all!
#14
Posted 26 September 2006 - 03:21 PM
The Gardner books were the second continuation author novels I read as I read the Christopher Wood novels in the late 1970s. It was over 10 years later before I tracked down a copy of Amis' COLONEL SUN.
#15
Posted 26 September 2006 - 03:26 PM
I had tried reading Moonraker before and it was just too far from the Bond of the films. I didn
#16
Posted 26 September 2006 - 03:44 PM
This was not, however, the 1st Gardner novel I tried to tackel. I had first tried to read Nobody Lives Forever, but couldn't get into it very far. A year or so later I collected the rest of the Gardner books and read them in order (which made NLF a much easier book to get into!).
#17
Posted 26 September 2006 - 05:11 PM
I also had brought along my copy of Colonel Sun which I read again. I remember enjoying how Gardner quickly, yet effectively addressed the 13 years since we had last read of the exploits of 007.
Also, we returned home from the trip and five days later I was at the first showing on opening day of FYEO.
'81...a fine summer for Bond.
#18
Posted 30 September 2006 - 03:02 PM
Licence Renewed was the first James Bond book I read and I was in my mid to late twenties. I was hooked.
That must have been an interesting way to go about it. The continuation novels leading to Fleming, and not the other way around.
#19
Posted 01 October 2006 - 12:49 PM
Eh, lad, when you get t' my age, evrthing seems not so bad af t'all!
Said by a young whipper-snapper.
I had already read all of the Flemings as well as Colonel Sun, and I read LR before its official release date. I remember ordering it from my local WHS (in those days they couldn't put a foot wrong) and receiving it a week or so before the official launch date. As that was during 1981, I would have been all of 29.
Edited by Mark_Hazard, 01 October 2006 - 12:52 PM.
#20
Posted 04 October 2006 - 11:15 PM
#21
Posted 04 October 2006 - 11:35 PM
Now I prefer the books to movies, and Fleming to all the continuation authors by a wide margin. But that doesn't mean I don't pick a new Bond movie to watch every weekend and can hardly wait for CR to get here!
#22
Posted 16 October 2006 - 08:21 AM
Edited by Flash1087, 16 October 2006 - 08:22 AM.
#23
Posted 16 October 2006 - 10:48 AM
Still, if one attempts to remove Fleming from one's mind Licence Renewed emerges as a generally entertaining and undemanding read.
#24
Posted 16 October 2006 - 12:06 PM
#25
Posted 24 October 2006 - 02:30 AM
#26
Posted 24 October 2006 - 02:40 AM
#27
Posted 24 October 2006 - 03:09 AM
#28
Posted 16 April 2007 - 06:24 PM
I
#29
Posted 16 April 2007 - 06:49 PM
I devoured it and wanted more.
Flash forward 14 years. I get a call that a mind blowingly major James Bond collection, put together as an investment by a professional football player, is being parted out.
I purchase the original manuscript to Licence Renewed.
A couple weeks later I get the call to help archive Fleming
#30
Posted 16 April 2007 - 06:59 PM
I purchase the original manuscript to Licence Renewed.
I didn't know you had this. Nice!
Tell me, is the title on it License Renewed, or Meltdown?