24 replies to this topic

[Trident]

It's bound to happen sooner or later, so why not start the thread of great expectations, high hopes and fantastic ideas on/for PROJECT-X right now?
[Mods please move/merge as you see fit/appropriate]

There is of course not much to get our teeth into at the moment. Nonetheless, we do know a few things and can reasonably expect some others, if only just for IFP's custom not to stir things up too much.

Apparently X features:
-present day setting
-short period of time
-several locales
-Bond as created by Fleming

To me, that last part actually is the most exciting about Deaver's approach. Also the most aspiring and demanding. The present day setting would suggest a character more in line with modern-day technology and professionalism. It will be most interesting to see Fleming's Bond incorporated into the 21st century.

The short period of time is not really surprising, as most originals cover only a few days, such as MR, or, if they spread a wider period as OHMSS did, the actual plot boils down to those few days again.

The several locales is perhaps, what disturbs me the most at the moment, as the globetrotting often leaves little room to linger on the atmosphere. Completely without bother to me is any brand dreck, name dropping and so on. This kind of detail in my view is really secondary and for all I care Bond can drive a 'car', shoot a 'gun' and wear 'whatever'. The most important thing is a decent plot IMO; often a weak spot with Bond continuations. Deaver would seem to know fairly well what a good thriller needs in terms of logic and direction. So I actually feel this project is in very good hands with him.


EDIT:

Oh, and please let's forget about any aspirations to adapt Project-X for EON. There is no indication EON will break with a 40-year-habit of ignoring the continuations. Seeing elements of them on the screen one time is obviously all we can ever hope for.

[Double-Oh Agent]

I am really excited by the announcement of Jeffrey Deaver as the new Bond author. I expect a really good, crackling James Bond adventure from him as he is a great thriller writer.

I really like that Project X will be set in the present day--although I would have been fine with a late 1960s/1970s time frame too. I think it will help the literary Bond series by doing this by keeping it in the public eye and making younger readers more inclined to read a modern, rather than retro, Bond adventure.

Now, will Deaver include bits from the other continuation authors? My guess is he probably will not mention anything from them. Instead, it will basically just be a stand-alone adventure with some references to Ian Fleming.

As for what locations I would like to see in Project X, they are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Malaysia, or India. However, I'm expecting something like London, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.

What type of storyline might Project X entail? How about a rich tycoon going about instigating catastrophes in and around Great Britain--all involving British companies--in a plot to crash the London Stock Exchange?

And I know this is a year early, but how about a plot where Bond has to stop some fanatics from bombing the 2012 London Summer Olympics? I think a plot like that would make an enjoyable 007 novel. Of course it can only be done in the next couple of years.

[Brisco]

Oh, and please let's forget about any aspirations to adapt Project-X for EON. There is no indication EON will break with a 40-year-habit of ignoring the continuations. Seeing elements of them on the screen one time is obviously all we can ever hope for.

I agree, but it seems clear to me that IFP are not forgetting such aspirations! I really think they took that polite EON excuse (the period setting) for not adapting Devil May Care to heart, and don't want to give the producers that particular out in case they do end up with a massive bestseller on their hands. And if that is guiding their thinking, it's too bad, but who can blame them? We all know that's where the real money is...

Anyway, good point about the multiple locations. While Fleming thrived on globetrotting, most of his novels spent the majority of their time in one or two exotic settings--and the ones that jumped around the most (GF, DAF) are my least favorites. I'd never thought about it like that though! Still, I think thrilling locations (no matter how many) are a key ingredient that can't be ignored.

Afraid I completely disagree about the brand names,though: those brands (crucially the CAR) are integral to the Bond formula, and I'm glad Deaver seems to recognize that!

[Mark_Hazard]

I'm just hoping that Deaver's research will include the language of 007 and that he will write (or at least translate for the UK) in English English and not American English - no AIRplanes, cell phones etc, but AEROplanes and mobiles etc. After all, he is an English institution and we should expect it to be written so.

[Trident]

Afraid I completely disagree about the brand names,though: those brands (crucially the CAR) are integral to the Bond formula, and I'm glad Deaver seems to recognize that!

Yes, they are. But AFTER the whole thing is in the bag, not before!!!

What I mean is: how often do we see threads like: next car, gun, suit,(sorry, not PC) bimbo? But all that is furniture. First, we need a house to put the bloody things inside! When that stands on firm ground, then you can start adding some of that. Some, not tons of.

The plot of OHMSS, minus the brand names, would still entertain. The brand names minus the plot would just bore.


I think the main reason the continuations haven't seen adaptions is that Bond films are very much a sleight-of-hand art. Of course, they profit from a good plotline (which isn't necessarily the same as a good script). But the good plotlines are a rare commodity, and not just in Bond continuations.

I can see things like Young Bond find their way to the screen one day. But I don't see it happening in the current series EON produces. It may, no, I daresay, it will happen some day. In the future.

[Brisco]

Very good point. Of course they are icing on the cake, the cake itself. Faulks didn't seem to understand that and didn't bother concocting a clever plot with a proactive hero--and seemed to think that throwing in the odd brand name would make all that OK. The brands ARE crucial... but, as you say, after a good story an clear understanding of the character.

[whiteskwirl]

The most important aspect to focus on for this book, I think, is retaining the complexity of the character Fleming created. My introduction to Bond was through the movies, and when I finally read Fleming (Casino Royale was my first), it was a very different experience. Fleming's Bond is not an action hero. He's a human being who makes mistakes and thinks about what he is doing. A lot. It's the intellectual insights Bond has in Fleming's works which in my limited Bond reading really make Fleming's Bond stand out above Gardner's or Benson's or Faulk's. It's not just that Fleming did it first; he actually did it better, by focusing Bond inward, and not, as Benson did, making the novel like a movie tie-in adaptation of a screenplay. While I do like Benson's Zero Minus Ten, it's still a much different experience, and I would like to see Bond go back to a more introspective character as Fleming created him.

However, I don't want nostalgia and constant looking back to Fleming as something to imitate. Deaver won't imitate Fleming, and no one could. Deaver shouldn't try. I would rather Deaver not mention any of the past storylines than go overboard like Faulks did and make a pastiche. Leiter and Mathis are fine, but not necessary. I want Deaver's book to stand on its own; using Fleming to prop up your story has gone on for too long, and no one ever gets it right anyway.

That said, the CR and OHMSS storylines are really important to Bond's character, as well as You Only Live Twice. But you don't need to reference those storylines in the novel unless the current story is related somehow. Hopefully Deaver won't mention a storyline or a character in passing, as Die Another Day did in that fight scene with Madonna.

As far as locations, I'm with Double-Oh Agent when it comes to India or Malaysia. Anywhere is fine, really, except Europe. Stay out of Europe (except London, of course). There's been too many stories set in Europe. Dubai as someone mentioned elsewhere would be cool, maybe Guatemala or somewhere else in Central America. What if Bond had to go deep into the Congo?

What car he uses isn't all that important, but I wouldn't mind him driving a Bentley Continental GT. It's a sporty car, yet luxurious, modern, and after all, Bond originally drove a Bentley anyway. The Continental GT seems like the perfect car for him.

And lastly, whoever the villain is, make his motivation for whatever he is doing reasonable. DMC really dropped the ball on that one. I don't think I can take another ridiculous villain like that again.

[zencat]

Excellent post, whiteskwirl. Good observations and strong points well stated.

[whiteskwirl]

Excellent post, whiteskwirl. Good observations and strong points well stated.

Thanks. I heard about this Deaver news on Reddit yesterday and got excited. My first thought was "better get over to CBn and see what they're saying about it." Haven't been here in a while, but there's always great discussions going on whenever I do drop in.

Also, just had a thought: A plot involving Somali pirates could be interesting.

Edited by whiteskwirl, 29 May 2010 - 11:25 PM.

[George88]

However, I don't want nostalgia and constant looking back to Fleming as something to imitate. Deaver won't imitate Fleming, and no one could. Deaver shouldn't try. I would rather Deaver not mention any of the past storylines than go overboard like Faulks did and make a pastiche. Leiter and Mathis are fine, but not necessary. I want Deaver's book to stand on its own; using Fleming to prop up your story has gone on for too long, and no one ever gets it right anyway.

I agree - I look forward to the creation of new and memorable characters rather than always relying on the same old faces and incidents to make it "Bond". If he does what - in my opinion - no other continuation author has done and create a highly memorable new Bond character - villain, ally or girl - then that's a partial success already.

[Trident]

It just ocurred to me that if Project X features a most secretive 'black' 00-section, could this mean that its existance and members are a secret even for the ordinary sections of SIS? After all, how many people in SIS need to know about the 00s? M, the Chief-of-Staff, the head of Quartermaster section and M's secretary. But apart from them I think the 00-section could (should?) well remain from SIS folklore.

[whiteskwirl]

It just ocurred to me that if Project X features a most secretive 'black' 00-section, could this mean that its existance and members are a secret even for the ordinary sections of SIS? After all, how many people in SIS need to know about the 00s? M, the Chief-of-Staff, the head of Quartermaster section and M's secretary. But apart from them I think the 00-section could (should?) well remain from SIS folklore.

If it's going to be that secretive, then there is no reason for Bond to have a secretary or an office either. He could be like a dormant cell only called up on special occasions. That might be getting too "black", though.

[terminus]

He could always be a regular agent - who has Double-0h status as well. So he can get sent on a mission sans 00 status or sent on one with 00 status when the needs demanded it.

[Quantumofsolace007]

It just ocurred to me that if Project X features a most secretive 'black' 00-section, could this mean that its existance and members are a secret even for the ordinary sections of SIS? After all, how many people in SIS need to know about the 00s? M, the Chief-of-Staff, the head of Quartermaster section and M's secretary. But apart from them I think the 00-section could (should?) well remain from SIS folklore.

Im honestly hoping this is the case it would be truely awesome to see James Bond in a dark black ops kind of world where no one except for M and a few others know his, and the 00s existance

[Trident]

It just ocurred to me that if Project X features a most secretive 'black' 00-section, could this mean that its existance and members are a secret even for the ordinary sections of SIS? After all, how many people in SIS need to know about the 00s? M, the Chief-of-Staff, the head of Quartermaster section and M's secretary. But apart from them I think the 00-section could (should?) well remain from SIS folklore.

If it's going to be that secretive, then there is no reason for Bond to have a secretary or an office either. He could be like a dormant cell only called up on special occasions. That might be getting too "black", though.

I'd see the office, secretary and so on as cover within the SIS. After all, how many people can an intelligence service which isn't at full-blown war need killed in a month? Or a year? Not so many as to justify letting the 00s just sip their martinis in the meantime.

I don't know if it's even a good idea or how much potential it does have in the long run. Perhaps it's just not Bond anymore if the realism is too emphasised here. Still, one wonders.

[whiteskwirl]

I'd see the office, secretary and so on as cover within the SIS. After all, how many people can an intelligence service which isn't at full-blown war need killed in a month? Or a year? Not so many as to justify letting the 00s just sip their martinis in the meantime.

I don't know if it's even a good idea or how much potential it does have in the long run. Perhaps it's just not Bond anymore if the realism is too emphasised here. Still, one wonders.

There is the danger that Project X could move so far away from what we know to be Bond that the only connection to Fleming is the name "James Bond", which I think most of us would agree is not acceptable. But it leads to another question: What makes a Bond novel a Bond novel? What would could be taken out or ignored and it still be Bond? What could be added?

[TheREAL008]

Ok, bear with me on this.

I want to see a Bond on his first mission either as a new Double O agent, or have him involved in a plot where he earns his two kills where he recieves his 007 status by the end of the final chapter(s).

Probably wishful thinking. But going from the Deaver interview I'm going to speculate that Bond might be a new operative with the plot being his first tough mission.

I don't think there will be any references to the past, given that Deaver's Bond will be 30 or thereabouts.

[dlb007]

I'm expecting a well-crafted Bond novel. If it reaches the length of some of Deaver's other novels, it might begin to unravel. I'm expecting something much better than Benson and Faulks, a little better than Gardner, and right around Amis' level; though, I'd like to be pleasantly surprised and have it be the best Bond work yet, which will increase the likelihood of this project really taking off.

[Quantumofsolace007]

As a fan of Fleming Amis and Benson (I'm trying to get into Gardner and Faulks is better left forgotten and i haven't read the 2 woods novelizations) I'm hoping Deaver follows there path./ I'm hoping for the action to be good Bond to be bond and the bond girl to be hot.

in other words I expect an amazing novel that feels fresh and cool.

[OmarB]

It just ocurred to me that if Project X features a most secretive 'black' 00-section, could this mean that its existance and members are a secret even for the ordinary sections of SIS? After all, how many people in SIS need to know about the 00s? M, the Chief-of-Staff, the head of Quartermaster section and M's secretary. But apart from them I think the 00-section could (should?) well remain from SIS folklore.

If it's going to be that secretive, then there is no reason for Bond to have a secretary or an office either. He could be like a dormant cell only called up on special occasions. That might be getting too "black", though.

I think it would be interesting if the 00 section is totally separate from SIS. Make Universal Exports a real running company, if anyone were to drop by the office or call up to have something shipped, it will get done. Bond should have his secretary and his job should seem your typical middle management position. He gets called upon once in a while to go on a business trip or a "business trip." It should be like a Fedex, UPS or DHL, only run by an old retired navy man and staffed by some of the men who worked with him when he was in the service (because military guys stick together) because they know a thing or two about shipping being ex-navy too. Easily explains getting weapons and stuff into countries past customs, provides an easy escape when needed and nobody's gonna really question a guy from a shipping company's head office dropping by a branch in another country for a week or so. The more real Universal Exports seems, the less people will even raise an eyebrow at the fact that he was once in the navy.

[Captain Tightpants]

I don't know what to expect. I've never read Deaver's work before, but I have seen the film version of THE BONE COLLECTOR. I didn't like it.

[OmarB]

I'll agree with you there man. I saw The Bone Collector years ago and I knew it was based on a book and the sweep of the story made me thing "this crap has got to be James Patterson." Imagine my surprise when Deaver was announced and I went back and checked out his stuff and found out it was his!

What I can tell you though is that I have no interest in reading a series about a detective disabled and stuck in bed, seems like a lot of the danger will involve him not being able to move. Besides, my best friend is in a wheelchair so that whole issue is touchy for me. Plus right now the last thing I need is to get into another series!

But just this week I picked up The Devil's Teardrop and Garden Of Beasts in the book store and started reading. Next thing I knew I was 50 pages into the first and then I stopped to sample the second and got even further in. I like his style, very fast, very sparse, it's not like Fleming, it's more of a Fleming/Hammet/Chandler/Spillane if you get what I'm saying. Brutal, fast, spare.

[Captain Tightpants]

There is no indication EON will break with a 40-year-habit of ignoring the continuations. Seeing elements of them on the screen one time is obviously all we can ever hope for.

It's not that they ignore the continuation novels, but that they don't have the rights to them. It's cheaper to simply make original films than to adapt continuations - some of which, like COLD, were of pretty-low quality.

[Righty007]

There is no indication EON will break with a 40-year-habit of ignoring the continuations. Seeing elements of them on the screen one time is obviously all we can ever hope for.

It's not that they ignore the continuation novels, but that they don't have the rights to them. It's cheaper to simply make original films than to adapt continuations - some of which, like COLD, were of pretty-low quality.

Technically, Eon does have the rights to all of the continuation novels. If they decided to film a Benson novel, for instance, he would have to be compensated but they would be the only production company allowed to film it. Through Danjaq they own all the cinematic rights to James Bond and even Higson's Young Bond!

[archer1949]

I'll agree with you there man. I saw The Bone Collector years ago and I knew it was based on a book and the sweep of the story made me thing "this crap has got to be James Patterson." Imagine my surprise when Deaver was announced and I went back and checked out his stuff and found out it was his!

What I can tell you though is that I have no interest in reading a series about a detective disabled and stuck in bed, seems like a lot of the danger will involve him not being able to move. Besides, my best friend is in a wheelchair so that whole issue is touchy for me. Plus right now the last thing I need is to get into another series!


It's really just an updated Nero Wolfe kind of thing. Amelia Sachs is his Archie Goodwin. The series is fun but by no means earthshattering. But it does have a lot of interesting details on how a quadriplegic (albeit one with a lot of financial resources) copes in his day to day existence.

But just this week I picked up The Devil's Teardrop and Garden Of Beasts in the book store and started reading. Next thing I knew I was 50 pages into the first and then I stopped to sample the second and got even further in. I like his style, very fast, very sparse, it's not like Fleming, it's more of a Fleming/Hammet/Chandler/Spillane if you get what I'm saying. Brutal, fast, spare.

Very apt description. He's no literary Hothouse Flower, that's for sure. I think a little of his unpretentious, lean, no BS style would be good for a modern Bond. Afer all, weren't the novels of Hammett, Chandler and Spillane major influences on Fleming in creating Bond? Casino Royale reads almost like a Hammett Continental Op story.

I liked Benson, but he did depend a little too much on the movies. I am very interested in seeing the FLEMING Bond updated to the present time. as Deaver says he will do.