As a way of bumping the thread I thought I’d throw an idea out there.
I’ve been haunted by the idea of a Bond fan fiction novel made up of 13 vignettes. Each section would be told from a separate character’s perspective (yes, yes, I know, Bond stories in the Fleming vein do not often stray from Bond’s perspective, but stay with me here.) Some of the characters would be minor and ancillary, while some would be major players, but each would advance a linked story that follows a traditional Fleming-esque plotline, sweep included.
Now, here’s the twist: Each character dies at the end of their tale. Maybe it’s just some poor sap who watches an action scene take place only to be caught by a stray bullet at the end, or maybe some incidental motorist who witnesses, but is then taken out, in a car chase sequence. Maybe one is Bond’s ally cashing it in, or the bird with a broken wing who eventually breaks something more, or the henchman, or finally, the main baddie in all his twisted glory.
In the end, 13 deaths, which would also be a handy title to the venture.
I don’t think I’ll ever have the chance to write it (Art of Cold War is eating up my writing hours at the moment,) but I thought it would be a fun concept to throw out there and let bounce around the forum for a bit.
Very novel. Very interesting. Very ambitious.
So...whether told in the first or third person, and Bond does not necessarily have to appear in any given section, something like:-
1. The victim that sets the plot in motion.
2. Someone who dies at Bond's hands in some way, possibly unconnected to the plot. Just to remind us it's James Bond.
3. A second victim of some description - potentially someone who has helped the villain set the plot in motion and has now outlived usefulness.
4. An innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time.
5. A girl.
6. An ally.
7. A minor villain that Bond kills. Possibly the person Bond was (say) chasing or being chased by in 4.
8. A minor villain killed by the main villain to encourage the others. Perhaps a particularly slow and unpleasant death.
9. Another ally.
10. As the villain's grand scheme starts to play out, an innocent victim of said grand scheme.
11. Random low-level henchperson who doesn't understand that (s)he is actually a henchperson rather than simply an employee.
12. The principal villain.
13. The principal henchperson. Or, for that matter, James Bond. Or, for that matter, the female lead. Something that makes sense in the context of all that has gone before.
and yet still have evidence of a coherent plot that has a beginning, middle and an end. Hmm; challenging.
Would need someone to have a vision for that plot and set a parameter for each chunk without handcuffing too restrictively the creative freedom. Would also mean all those participating would have to keep the overall plot tip top tippety top secret.
My suggested title would be "The Letter Thirteen" for the thirteenth letter of the alphabet is...
M.
