29 replies to this topic

[zencat]

So if the Young Bond series continues on its current schedule, Charlie Higson will be finished with Young Bond 5 (the last book) by this time next year (as he is finished with Book 4 now). Time-wise, that puts him in the perfect position to start writing the novelization for Bond 22 (as novelizations are written during film production).

This would pretty sweet, wouldn't it?

But how likely is this? Thing is, having known people who write or have written novelizatins, I know it is not the most rewarding experience creatively or financially. Eon would need to make the project worth Charlie's while on both counts. But if they did, I could see Charlie writing a book akin to Chris Wood's TSWLM novelization.

Something to hope for.

[Loomis]

I don't see this happening. Just as Craig will (we think) do his three or four and move on, so will Higson, who is a famous name (at least in Britain) outside Bond and presumably will have plenty of projects on the go, and for TV as well.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'll concede upfront that I may be), both Gardner and Benson had pretty much nothing going on outside Bond when they were continuation novelists, so they were more than willing to do novelizations for a few extra bucks (or maybe novelizations were in their Glidrose/IFP contracts, I dunno). I suspect that things have changed at IFP, and, besides, I can't picture Higson following in the novelizing footsteps of Gardner and Benson. Won't happen.

ETA: Novelizations were pretty seamless affairs for Gardner and Benson, insofar as they were writing about the adult Bond anyway. Higson is writing about the schoolboy Bond in the 1930s - what, exactly, qualifies him to also pen the novelizations for Craig's grown-up 007 in the present day? I mean, I'm sure he could do it if he had to, but then so could many other writers who'd be way, way cheaper. Why spend the cash on Higson for what's only a novelization that will have limited sales and pretty much only to Bond fans?

And I doubt he'd be interested in doing it anyway.

BTW, talking of novelizations, it never ceases to amaze me that Sylvester Stallone did the novelizations for the Rocky movies! Unless he didn't, and they were ghostwritten and he had his name on them for vanity reasons, but it's amusing to think he did write them. That's dedication!

Perhaps Daniel Craig should be asked to do the one for BOND 22.

[zencat]

Yeah, I expect you may be right, Loomis, for all the reasons cited.

[Turn]

I don't see this happening. Just as Craig will (we think) do his three or four and move on, so will Higson, who is a famous name (at least in Britain) outside Bond and presumably will have plenty of projects on the go, and for TV as well.

If I'm not mistaken (and I'll concede upfront that I may be), both Gardner and Benson had pretty much nothing going on outside Bond when they were continuation novelists, so they were more than willing to do novelizations for a few extra bucks (or maybe novelizations were in their Glidrose/IFP contracts, I dunno). I suspect that things have changed at IFP, and, besides, I can't picture Higson following in the novelizing footsteps of Gardner and Benson. Won't happen.

ETA: Novelizations were pretty seamless affairs for Gardner and Benson, insofar as they were writing about the adult Bond anyway. Higson is writing about the schoolboy Bond in the 1930s - what, exactly, qualifies him to also pen the novelizations for Craig's grown-up 007 in the present day? I mean, I'm sure he could do it if he had to, but then so could many other writers who'd be way, way cheaper. Why spend the cash on Higson for what's only a novelization that will have limited sales and pretty much only to Bond fans?

And I doubt he'd be interested in doing it anyway.

BTW, talking of novelizations, it never ceases to amaze me that Sylvester Stallone did the novelizations for the Rocky movies! Unless he didn't, and they were ghostwritten and he had his name on them for vanity reasons, but it's amusing to think he did write them. That's dedication!

Perhaps Daniel Craig should be asked to do the one for BOND 22.

I'd think they would select Higson based on the fact they've gone with either the screenwriter (Wood) or the current author (Gardner, Benson) to do the novelization. So many other films just pick any author, but they may be wanting to go for somebody established and familiar with the source material. Maybe it's the famous EON need for control.

Also, I had the Rocky II and III novelizations. In school, I must have done 10 book reports on Rocky III. I did one as a journal where Rocky went from being hardly able to write to becoming more confident in himself and being able to communicate beyond "yo". I think I got an 'A' on that paper.

[Qwerty]

Even with the reasons pointing out how unlikely this may turn out to be, as zen says, it would be pretty sweet. It'll be interesting to see what IFP plans to do once the centenary novel rolls around and Higson finishes his fifth Young Bond novel.

The literary 007 department has been excellent lately.

[K1Bond007]

I don't see it happening and as much as I think it'd be cool to see Higson do an adult novel, I truly hope he doesn't do a novelization. It just doesn't feel right to me and it always convolutes everything when they try and bridge the film and literary series' (which is every novelization). There are just always problems and contradictions. Examples being Licence to Kill (Leiter vs the shark round 2, but nevermind the resurrection of Milton Krest) and Tomorrow Never Dies (achieved a first in Oriental languages in YOLT, TND he claimed he lied and by making that statement Benson disregards his own book Zero Minus Ten where he spoke perfect Cantonese - then he bridges this affair over to The Facts of Death). The latter is more of a problem I have with Benson's books. I don't think he's bad at all, he's good, but he tried to appease way too many people and it just ends up being annoying.

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]I

[spynovelfan]

Higson is a massive Bond fan who has finally had mainstream success as an author - he may well be interested in doing adult Bond - depsite his protestations - and he may well still be the right price. But I think he'd be more likely to actually be the big-name author than the guy doing the novelization. Though after the hype, that would admittedly not be such a great PR coup.

My money is on Ken Follett for the 2008 thing, by the way.

On another note - and this is something I never thought I'd say seriously - I'd quite like to see a novelization of CASINO ROYALE now. You could put in some back story for Bond (SAS), the run-up to Dryden, Pakistan, add more on Le Chiffre and his associates, hell, you could even explain in detail how Bond broke into M's flat. The film took a lot from the Fleming novel, but it had a lot more in it, too. I think it could be done well. Whether or not it would sell I don't know.

[zencat]

My money is on Ken Follett for the 2008 thing, by the way.

Mine too.

[ACE]

My money is on Ken Follett for the 2008 thing, by the way.

Mine too.

Mine too. I have an odd feeling about it.

Nice idea - I think Higson could write a smashing novelization but supposing Bond 22 uses a Fleming title?

Just supposing...

[Head of S]

If I'm not mistaken (and I'll concede upfront that I may be), both Gardner and Benson had pretty much nothing going on outside Bond when they were continuation novelists

Gardner had a good career before, during and after Bond. During his tenure as Bond author he brought out The Director, Flamingo, Secret Generations, Secret Houses, Secret Families, Quiet Dogs, Maestro (my favourite John Gardner novel) and Confessor.

[Loomis]

I stand corrected, Head of S.

If BOND 22 used a Fleming title.... well, it wouldn't be a title of one of the books, but a short story title. So something like "THE HILDEBRAND RARITY, a novelization by Raymond Benson" (or whoever) would be okay, wouldn't it?

Unless, of course, they are going to re-use titles like, say, LIVE AND LET DIE, but I very much doubt that they will.

Regardless, would it be particularly worthwhile for them to put out a novelization at all? I guess there must be sound economic reasons, otherwise novelizations would not exist, but then plenty of films seem to get by just fine without them - ROCKY BALBOA, to pick just one recent example, doesn't have a novelization, as far as I'm aware.

[ACE]

Well, supposing Bond 22 was an unused Fleming short story title with a different plot, they would not have a novelization. Well, not so far.
They tend to just reissue the volume the short story came from with a little flash on the jacket saying "featuring the story that inspired the new James Bond film, 'The Hildebrand Rarity'". They did this with Octopussy - don't remember AVTAK or TLD.

Head of S is, as usual, correctumundo about the success of Gardner's pre-Bond careers. He was a successful, bestselling UK thriller writer since his debut work, his autobiography Spin The Bottle.

[spynovelfan]

Well, supposing Bond 22 was an unused Fleming short story title with a different plot, they would not have a novelization. Well, not so far.

Perhaps THE SHAMEFUL DREAM will be the title for the next film.

[Loomis]

My money is on Ken Follett for the 2008 thing, by the way.

Mine too.

Mine too. I have an odd feeling about it.

If Follett does turn out to be writing the 2008 novel.... should we be excited about this choice?

[Bon-san]

My money is on Ken Follett for the 2008 thing, by the way.

Mine too.

Mine too. I have an odd feeling about it.

If Follett does turn out to be writing the 2008 novel.... should we be excited about this choice?

I wouldn't be, particularly.

[Loomis]

Me neither.

My top three choices, in order:

- Paul Theroux

- William Boyd

- Stephen King

But I expect I'll be as sorely disappointed as with the Jinx spinoff.

Follett strikes me as a poor man's Frederick Forsyth, and, heaven knows, even a rich man's Frederick Forsyth wouldn't be much to get excited about these days.

Trivia note: Follett's LIE DOWN WITH LIONS was made into a TV movie in 1994, starring Timothy Dalton.

[spynovelfan]

Trivia note: Follett's LIE DOWN WITH LIONS was made into a TV movie in 1994, starring Timothy Dalton.

A friend of mine was in that! No, not Dancy.

I haven't read a lot of Follett, and I'm not his biggest fan, but I think he's a lot better than Forsyth, who just has reams of research and very little characterisation or structure. Follett's THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE is essentially a retread of Forsyth's THE DAY OF THE JACKAL in that it's the hunt for the villain, who you sort of root for, but Follett's novel is much better, and was one of the first spy thrillers to have a convincing female perspective. I'd prefer someone a little more imaginative - Joseph Hone! - but I reckon Follett could come up with something pretty exciting.

But it's probably Dan Brown.

[ACE]

Iain Banks would do a great job.
Going to a reading/signing of his next week - his noo book, "The Steep Approach To Garbadale" is out and seems like A "Crow Road"-ish winner.

[David Schofield]

A Ken Follett James Bond novel? New Labour does Ian Fleming. Don't see it woorking, somehow.

Come back Raymond Benson and Pierce Brosnan, all is forgiven.

[spynovelfan]

Oh, I like Banks for it. Take Bond back to Scotland!

Do Follett's politics come into play in his books much, David? They didn't in the ones I read. The Needle didn't read The Guardian, anyway.

[Loomis]

Craig was an imaginative choice (virtually no one on earth had suggested him as a potential Bond before rumours of his candidacy surfaced in the media). He was also critically-acclaimed. And, of course, he was brilliantly suitable for the job of bringing Fleming's Bond to life.

I'd like the 2008 novelist to be another Craig.

As snobbish as this sounds, I'd like the new author to bring with him a certain amount of literary renown. I'm currently reading THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND - Giles Foden might be a good choice.

[David Schofield]

Oh, I like Banks for it. Take Bond back to Scotland!

Do Follett's politics come into play in his books much, David? They didn't in the ones I read. The Needle didn't read The Guardian, anyway.

Dunno, Spy. The only "experience" I have had with Follett's storytelling is the Tim Dalton TV movie. Wasn't desperately impressed.

I know Follett's at the champagne end of New Labour but it'll be a bit of s stretch for him, surely, to emulate Fleming's right wing sadistic rogue that is Bond, won't it? If we are going to have the poor pastiches that were the Gardner and Benson books, where Fleming's Bond does not appear, I, for one would rather give the 2008 novel a miss.

[spynovelfan]

Rikki Lee Travolta's written a few books. He'd be very surprising.

Let's start a petition.

[Loomis]

[spynovelfan]

Dunno, Spy. The only "experience" I have had with Follett's storytelling is the Tim Dalton TV movie. Wasn't desperately impressed.

I know Follett's at the champagne end of New Labour but it'll be a bit of s stretch for him, surely, to emulate Fleming's right wing sadistic rogue that is Bond, won't it? If we are going to have the poor pastiches that were the Gardner and Benson books, where Fleming's Bond does not appear, I, for one would rather give the 2008 novel a miss.

I suggest you read THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE at once, David. While it doesn't feature any right-wing sadistic rogues, benzedrine, Morland's cigarettes or villains with their hair en brosse, it is a very taut, well-researched, well-structured and well-drawn thriller with a train scene that is not a million miles away in atmosphere from FRWL. Follett's also a big Fleming fan.

But yes, he wouldn't be my first choice.

For an unpredictable pick, I nominate the American godfather of cyberpunk William Gibson, who is a massive Bond fan. Here's a magazine article in which he talks about getting hooked on eBay, fuelled by his love for a watch that looked like the one Bond wore in Fleming's novels, and here's the final paragraph, just to show why I tink his prose style might work:

'In Istanbul, one chill misty morning in 1970, I stood in Kapali Carsi, the grand bazaar, under a Sony sign bristling with alien futurity, and stared deep into a cube of plate glass filled with tiny, ancient, fascinating things.

Hanging in that ancient venue, a place whose on-site caf

[ACE]

Craig was an imaginative choice (virtually no one on earth had suggested him as a potential Bond before rumours of his candidacy surfaced in the media). He was also critically-acclaimed. And, of course, he was brilliantly suitable for the job of bringing Fleming's Bond to life.

I'd like the 2008 novelist to be another Craig.

As snobbish as this sounds, I'd like the new author to bring with him a certain amount of literary renown. I'm currently reading THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND - Giles Foden might be a good choice.

Agreed Loomis. Dare To Write Bond, to coin a phrase.

Was not too impressed with Foden - but liked the subject matter. You read Ladysmith?

You need a British (or of British sensibility) literary giant who is unashamedly also a fan with international sales clout who has the wit, courage and imagination to do it.
My guess is the book will probably be a Sixties period piece. Looking at the care that IFP have handled Young Bond and Moneypenny Diaries, I am impressed and excited.

Roll on 2008...

[Loomis]

Craig was an imaginative choice (virtually no one on earth had suggested him as a potential Bond before rumours of his candidacy surfaced in the media). He was also critically-acclaimed. And, of course, he was brilliantly suitable for the job of bringing Fleming's Bond to life.

I'd like the 2008 novelist to be another Craig.

As snobbish as this sounds, I'd like the new author to bring with him a certain amount of literary renown. I'm currently reading THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND - Giles Foden might be a good choice.

Agreed Loomis. Dare To Write Bond, to coin a phrase.

Was not too impressed with Foden - but liked the subject matter. You read Ladysmith?

No. Any good?

THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND takes a while to get going. I'm twelve chapters in, and so far it's basically just a Lonely Planet guide to Uganda! (Amin's presence begins to be felt only rather late in the book, a la Bond in Fleming's FRWL.) Also, I keep getting the possibly-more-than-a-little-unfair feeling that William Boyd would have done this book so much better.

That said, it's still a good read, with some interesting differences with the film, a movie I like but am not wild about.

[spynovelfan]

(Amin's presence begins to be felt only rather late in the book, a la Bond in Fleming's FRWL.)

There speaks a true Bond fan!

[ACE]

(Amin's presence begins to be felt only rather late in the book, a la Bond in Fleming's FRWL.)

There speaks a true Bond fan!

Oi Vey, snf!