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Devil May Care - those who have bought the book


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#1 ACE

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 01:28 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations

#2 Jim

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 01:30 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought? No.
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought? No.
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read? No.
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books? Yes.
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books? Yes (taken as an amorphous mass; it isn't as good as two or three of them but considerably better than seven or eight of them)
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun? No.
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography? Yes.

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations



#3 ACE

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 01:35 PM


5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books? Yes (taken as an amorphous mass; it isn't as good as two or three of them but considerably better than seven or eight of them)


Thanks Jim. Which Gardners surpass DMC?

#4 Jim

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 01:44 PM


5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books? Yes (taken as an amorphous mass; it isn't as good as two or three of them but considerably better than seven or eight of them)


Thanks Jim. Which Gardners surpass DMC?


Nobody Lives Forever, For Special Services and (if I'm feeling generous) Licence Renewed (hence the "two or three").

It outpaces Role of Honour, Scorpius, Brokenclaw, The Man from Barbarossa, Never Send Flowers, SeaFire and COLD extremely easily, and I think I enjoyed it more than Icebreaker too (which has always irritated me). The other Gardners are inert, frankly. At least DMC produced a reaction.

#5 Single-O-Seven

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 01:45 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?

No.

2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?

No, I've got them all.

3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?

Nope.

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?

I think, for the most part, it is. For one thing, Benson was often over-influenced by the films, and the Brosnan films at that. Benson did have some great moments, however, but I find his books hard-going when I flip through them years on. No teling if I'll feel the same about DMC.

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?

It's been years since I've read Gardner, but I seem to recall enjoying some of his books - the early ones in particular - more than DMC. It could be that I was younger at the time (in my teens). But DMC is certainly far better than Gardner's later output, but so is a lot of Benson.


6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?

No. I love Col. Sun. I found it a bit tough when I read it in my early teens because of its political and period setting (the same was true of some of Fleming), but like Fleming I've enjoyed it more and have enjoyed it steadily with later readings. Though DMC was set in the same era, CS had the luxury of actually being written in the era by a skilled author who was there to experience it all.

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

I thoroughly enjoy the Biography. I'd say it's better than DMC, especially all the "short stories" of Bond's early missions.



#6 sharpshooter

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 01:47 PM

1) No
2) No
3) No
4) No
5) I'll say yes
6) No
7) Can't say, I've yet to read it.

#7 Loomis

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 01:56 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?


No.

2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?


No.

3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?


No.

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?


I've read ZERO MINUS TEN, HIGH TIME TO KILL, NEVER DREAM OF DYING and THE MAN WITH THE RED TATTOO. Tried to read THE FACTS OF DEATH but gave up. I found DEVIL MAY CARE less enjoyable than ZMT, NDD and TMWTRT, but more enjoyable than HTTK and TFOD. Is it better than the Benson books? Well, Faulks is a more accomplished craftsman of prose, but on the whole I find Benson's Bond work more entertaining and more exciting than DMC, and I'd say that Benson "gets" Bond more than Faulks does.

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?


Well, I'm not a Gardner fan. I've read only his first three - tried and failed to read a couple of his others. As a piece of fiction, I'd put DMC just slightly ahead of the Gardners I've read. As fun stuff for Bond fans, well, there's little to choose between DMC and what little Gardner I'm familiar with.

6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?


Nope, not nearly.

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?


Again, no, not even close.

#8 terminus

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 02:07 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?


2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?


No, the frist Bond novel that I bought - or, had bought for me - was Win, Loose or Die.

3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?


I've read Colonel Sun, all but one or two of Gardner and all of the Benson ones.

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?


With the exception of The Man With The Red Tattoo, which is a great novel, I think that it could be.

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?


Gardner seemed to be writing movies, for the most part, so I'd have to say yes and that's despite Win, Loose or Die and License Renewed being great reads - it felt more faithful to Fleming Bond.

6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?


No - CS feels more faithful, and more in Fleming's style, than DMC. But I think it could be because CS was written at the time it was set - whereas DMC is written near forty years after the fact.

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?


Yes. TAB is a good book, but it's not really a proper Bond novel with a proper plot that pulls it all together.

#9 Mister Asterix

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 02:26 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?

Nope.

2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?

Nope.

3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?

Nope. Read them all.

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?

Yes. Though Benson beats Devil May Care on plotting and villains.

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?

Tough call. I'd call it a draw.

6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?

No. But Devil May Care beats Colonel Sun on writing style and original ally characters, as well as the traveloque aspects.

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

Yes.



#10 Harmsway

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 02:36 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?

No to all of the above questions. I own and have read most of the existing Bond novels (except for the Young Bond stuff, which I haven't touched yet).

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?

Some of them.

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?

Yes, but I loathe the Gardner novels. I might, just might prefer NOBODY LIVES FOREVER, but I haven't read it in a while.

6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?

Nope. Not even close.

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

Nope.

#11 ImTheMoneypenny

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 02:37 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought? No.
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought? No.
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read? No.
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books? Yes.
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books? Yes.**
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun? That I don't know. I haven't read CS yet.
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography? Same as CS question

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations


**I answered question 5 the way I had only because I found it difficult to wrap my mind around a literary Bond in the 80's. Gardner's books weren't terrible or anything like that, just hard for me to get into.

#12 Kilroy6644

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 03:04 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
No

2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
No

3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
No

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
Hard to say. I haven't read many of Benson's, and it's been a few years since I read the ones I did, so I really don't remember how I liked them.

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
I haven't read any of Gardner's in a long while, so I can't comment on whether it's technically better or not, but it produced the same sort of feeling as License Renewed, which was a mixture of joy at seeing Bond back in action, and disappointment in the end result.

6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
It's been even longer since I read Colonel Sun, but I don't think so.

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?
In some ways. The Biography started off very strong, describing Bond's childhood, his introduction to the espionage establishment, his time in the War, and his early 00 missions. DMC can't hold a candle to that. But the Biography progressively got weaker (the showdown with Oborin was bizarre and disappointing), and by the end was fairly ridiculous, while DMC was very even, and finished better. I call it a draw.

#13 Mr Twilight

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 03:06 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought? No
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought? No
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read? No
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books? Yes
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books? Yes
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun? Tough one, but I say No. In my opinion DMC is more Fleming-esque but I just love CS. Absolutely the best of all continuation novels I've read.
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography? Tough question but I must say Yes

#14 zencat

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 03:08 PM

Read/bought 'em all.

Better than some Benson...better than most Gardners...just beats out Colonel Sun (which I consider overrated)...not better than Authorized Bio, which I really love.

#15 Napoleon Solo

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 03:14 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations


1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
4. So far, not better than High Time to Kill, probably exceeds a couple of the latter but not that much.
5. Better than a lot, probably on par with the first 2-3.
6. No.
7. No.

All of this is tentative. I've read a fair amount of DMC but haven't finished it. Before the book came out, I was neutral. Then the hype began and the first excerpt came out. I was negative. So my expectations swung that way. Plus, I found the hype to be annoying (especially the line like it was finding an old Ian Fleming manuscript in a desk drawyer). So far it has exceeded very low expectations.

#16 Peckinpah1976

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 03:33 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?

No

2)Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?

No

3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?

No

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?

Not read any Benson

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?

DMC probably has much superior prose but the plotting is considerably weaker than the better Gardner novels.

6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?

Absolutely not; CS is a thing of true beauty and although DMC isn't a terrible book, it is ultimately a cynical money-spinner and isn't in the same class as the Amis novel at all.

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorized Biography?

I don't view the AB as a continuation novel, so any comparison is pointless IMO. As Fleming pastiche, it is much more affectionate though.

Just to add: Charlie Higson is a MUCH better Bond writer than Faulks IMO, despite his novels being aimed at children.

#17 OmarB

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 04:42 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations


1. No, I've got quite a few ... all of Flem's for sure.
2. No, I've got the other continuation novels for the most part (don't have the movie novelizations or Cold).
3. Pretty redundant these questions huh?
4. No, it's different, they all have their good and bad points.
5. See above answer, though I love Gardner's work because he's the first Bond author I ever read.
6. No, but I liked Colonel Sun more.
7. Don't have this one.

#18 Johnboy007

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 04:50 PM

1. No.
2. No, Zero Minus Ten was the first I ever bought.
3. Nope, I've read through each one except COLD.
4. Faulks' writing is better than Benson's, but Benson came up with superior plots and villains. I can't say in five years which author I would rather reread.
5. Better than most, but I think For Special Services, Nobody Lives Forever, and Never Send Flowers are superior
6.) I haven't read CS in a long time and didn't care for it after I read it. It's one of the novels I will be revisiting this summer. For now I will call it a draw.
7.) These two are too different for me to compare.

#19 MHazard

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 05:10 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations


1. No

2. No.

3. No

4. Not as good as Zero Minus Ten. Probably as good as the later ones.

5. Not as good as the early Gardner (License Renewed and For Special Services). Probably better than later Gardner but only because Gardner got silly (i.e. MicroGlobe One).

6. Absolutely not. No way, not even close.

7. No.

For my reasons please see my review on the review thread or in brief as follows:

Craig/Bond (seated in a chair in a darkened office): M doesn't mind you earning a little extra money on the side, "she" only wishes you wouldn't do it by writing a hack treatment of Bond.

Faulkes (seated at desk across from him): Is that supposed to frighten me. If M was so sure I was bent "he" would have sent the literary Bond. One of the benefits of being the designated continuation author is the claim to the literary Bond. To be the literary Bond you have to be the character created by Ian Flemng, with his tastes, weaknesses, opinions, and talents. You're just a creation of the movies.

Craig/Bond: True, but at least I know I'm not the literary 007 and I'm an engaging character in my own right.

Faulkes: You needn't worry. I won't be writing another. That should make you feel better.

Craig/Bond: Considerably.

Fleming Bond fans may fill in their own fantasy action sequence.

#20 SecretAgent007

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 05:13 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
-No, I own US and British firsts of every novel other that young Bond
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
-No
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
-No
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
- This is a tough one. Benson's novels were too much like the films. The structure was better than DMC, but I thought Bond's personality in DMC was closer to Fleming than Benson's attempts. I think it is a tie for different reasons. None of them are very good.
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
-No. Gardner's novels may have had too many double crosses and plot twists but I can enjoy his novels at least up to Brokenclaw. Gardner's Bond, to me, was not Fleming's Bond though. Gardner/Bond was much more military, disiplined, and well trained. G-Bond is no where as interesting as Fleming/Bond, but I would probably have enjoyed these even if they were not Bond novels. And, as with Benson, too many gadgets.
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
-No, but CS is not one of my favorites. I find my mind drifting when reading this book. I think having M kidnapped was an easy way out for the plot. It could have been a much more interesting novel if Amis would have thought of a better hook.
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?-I found the idea of Bond being a real person a bit of an eye roll, but the parts of the book where the gaps are filled in was definitely better than DMC.

Edited by SecretAgent007, 09 June 2008 - 05:14 PM.


#21 K1Bond007

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 05:47 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations


1. No
2. No
3. No
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Maybe (it's really been to long for me to say)
7. Yes

#22 Tarl_Cabot

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 05:56 PM

No

No

No

haven't read too many...5 Gardners, two Bensons...my favorite is Icebreaker.

I haven't read DMC.

#23 The Dove

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 06:15 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations



Okay to answer your survey ACE..

1. No.. I think that the first original Bond novel I got (or at least read) was On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

2. No.. If you count the Young Bond books as continuations, then SilverFin is the first continuation novel I bought.. Its the only Young Bond book I have bought so far.. I need to catch up!!

3. No.. See my answer to #2 it applies to books read as well.

4. Never read any of the Benson books so I can't compare Devil May Care to em!

5. Only Gardner book I read was the novelization of Licence to Kill. Not really a fair comparison to DMC.

6. Never read Colonel Sun..

7. Don't own The Biography.. Again it doesn't sound like a valid comparison..

#24 stromberg

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 06:45 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations

1: No

2: No

3: No

4: Difficult to say, as the novelizations don't count, and I've only read his version of DAD (which I liked better than the film, but that wasn't too difficult to achieve)

5: I'd say so. I gave up on Gardner after one and a half books (it's a miracle that I started the 2nd one). I just didn't like them, while I never felt the need to stop reading DMC. Blame Gardner for my reluctance on the contunations. From what I heard here and there on the net and read in books, I expected Gardner to be the one who'd please me most. He miserably failed, and thus I never gave much of the other contunation books a proper shot.

6: Currently stuck in the middle of it, so I can't really say - but I'm tending towards "No"

7: I like the Pearson bio for what it is, even though I don't accept it as 100% canon. DMC a better book? Could be, but personally, I had much more fun reading the Bio than reading DMC, so I say "No".

#25 Qwerty

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 07:00 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations


1 - No.

2 - No.

3 - No.

4 - Some, but not all. It definitely beats out The Man With The Red Tattoo.

5 - Like Benson, some, but not all. If comparing the two, it's probably better than more Gardners in my opinion.

6 - Been a while since I really got into this one, but I'd say no.

7 - No.

#26 dinovelvet

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 07:24 PM

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?

NO

2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?

NO

3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?

NO

4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?

NO

5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?

YES

6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?

YES

7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

Tough call...but, NO

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations

#27 Safari Suit

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 08:32 PM

1) No
2) No, but it's the first one I've bought first hand if that counts for anything
3) No
4) From my limited experience, I would say yes
5) Certainly not better than his best work, not as interesting as some of his lesser work either
6) Never read it
7) Not sure but probably not

#28 Skudor

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 08:52 PM

Answers in Bold:

I'm curious to hear from people about their experience with James Bond continuation novels*

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought? No
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought? No
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?No
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books? Can't really say - been too long since I read a Benson
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books? Can't really say - been too long since I read a Gardner
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun? No. I'm not a huge CS fan, but at least it was original.
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography? See answer six.

*including Young Bond, Moneypenny Diaries, Benson, Gardner, Pearson, Amis etc but excluding novelizations


Not very great answers I'm afraid. I've read some Benson and Gardner, but it was long ago so any comparison wouldn't be fair. I just finished DMC today (it took me a week...) and found it a reasonable enough novel but totally lacking in originality. It was like, say, the film The Spy Who Loved Me to You Only Live Twice, with an irritating surplus of locations, too many references to past villains/books (at least two that I can recall) and unnecessary cameos by Mathis and Leiter.

#29 MarkA

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 09:11 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?

1)No
2)No
3)No
4) I hate Benson's books they are so badly written. I am amazed they got published. So Yes
5) Didn't much like Gardner's either. I tend to think maybe written Bond should be in period. Bond driving a Saab, so eighties and so naff.
6) Doesn't come close. In fact I re-read Colonel Sun recently and I was amazed at how good it was. Though not quite Fleming it has one of the best openings and a stunning torture sequence. A pity he didn't write more. By the way Zencat there I go again. The total opposite of you. Boy if we ever met, that would be fun.
7) No, another real gem. In fact I think I was spoilt by those early continuation novels. Then along came Gardner and Benson to ruin it. Mind you also prefer Charlie Higson and Samantha Weinberg. See back in period.

#30 Scrambled Eggs

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 09:38 PM

1) Is this the first original James Bond novel you have bought?
2) Is this the first original James Bond continuation novel you have bought?
3) Is this the only continuation Bond novel you have read?
4) Is DMC better than the Benson books?
5) Is DMC better than the Gardner books?
6) Is DMC better than Colonel Sun?
7) Is DMC better than James Bond: The Authorised Biography?


1) No. Although I'm relatively late to the books. Read my first Bond novel three years ago.
2) No.
3) No. I've read Colonel Sun and The Authorised Biography.
4) Couldn't say.
5) Couldn't say.
6) No. I'm not particularly a fan of Colonel Sun. For me its similar to DMC in that it starts of well but gets less and less interesting as it progresses. There are individual moments in DMC that are superior to anything in CS but ultimately CS just works better.
7) Yes, both fun but I'd be more likely to reread DMC.