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Is this the future of Project X?


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#1 Dan Gale

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 03:19 PM

I posted this earlier in the Charlie Higson section but thought it more apt here.

If you look at who wrote the introductions to the 2006 UK releases of Fleming's books with the groovy retro covers by Ritchie Fahay, you'll see Casino Royale is introduced by...Jeffrey Deaver.
Live and Let Die is introduced by Louise Welsh.
Moonraker, by Michael Dibdin.
Diamonds are Forever by Jonathan Kellerman.
From Russia with Love, by someone called Charlie Higson.

In my mind, this is a tease: testing the water for what became Project X. Could it be - hear me out here, folks - that Project X is an ongoing continuation series by different authors each time, just like 'Robert Markham's' Colonel Sun was supposed to be? Only this time the authors are using their real names.
So the next book after Deavers will be by Louise Welsh? And in 2015 Mr Higson gets to write one.

Just a theory. A slightly bonkers one, I admit. Apart from the fact Micahel Dibdin died in 2007, it might happen...

I only have the first five of those covers,can anyone else add to the ridiculous musing and enlighten me as to who wrote the introductions for the other novels?

#2 Single-O-Seven

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 05:12 PM

I'm not sure there's any guarantee that the authors who wrote the intros will produce a Bond book in the order you've suggested. Your theory is interesting enough, however, to consider that some of the future authors may come from those who wrote the various intros. They're obviously "of the genre" in some small way at least, and all have a respect for Fleming and Bond. I'm sure more than a few would be thrilled to take on the challenge of writing their own book following Deaver's.

#3 DAN LIGHTER

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 06:38 PM

Deaver and Higson aside, I hope that's not the case. Intresting thoughts though.

#4 zencat

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 07:35 PM

Thought there was a main page article here on CBn that listed all the intros, but I can't find it.

#5 Righty007

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 08:23 PM

Thought there was a main page article here on CBn that listed all the intros, but I can't find it.

CASINO ROYALE - Jeffery Deaver
LIVE AND LET DIE - Louise Welsh
MOONRAKER - Michael Dibdin
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - Jonathan Kellerman
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - Charlie Higson
DR NO - Simon Winder
GOLDFINGER - Ben Schott
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY - Barry Eisler
THUNDERBALL - David Wolstencroft
THE SPY WHO LOVED ME - Nick Stone
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE - Val McDermid
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE - Mo Hayder
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN - Charles Cumming
OCTOPUSSY/THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS - Robert Ryan


#6 Dan Gale

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 09:43 PM

Well done, Righty.
Now, be honest, has anyone read of these author's works? Are there any interesting potential Bond authors here. Higson and Deaver aside.

Ps: For Young Bond 6, it'd be nice to see some Fast Show in-jokes.

M: Ah, uh, morning, uh, 007. I, uh, wondered if you'd, uh, like to go on a, uh, sort of mission, you know.
Bond: I wouldn't know about that, Sir.
Moneypenny (via intercom): Ed Winchester on the green scrambler, sir. And does my bum look big in this?
Q: Cough, cough, cough, cough. That's got it.
Bond: Brilliaaaaaaant!

I'm sure these jokes were ten a penny back in 2004 when Higson was announced but I can't be arsed to look and see.

#7 DAN LIGHTER

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:23 PM

Well done, Righty.
Now, be honest, has anyone read of these author's works? Are there any interesting potential Bond authors here. Higson and Deaver aside.

Ps: For Young Bond 6, it'd be nice to see some Fast Show in-jokes.

M: Ah, uh, morning, uh, 007. I, uh, wondered if you'd, uh, like to go on a, uh, sort of mission, you know.
Bond: I wouldn't know about that, Sir.
Moneypenny (via intercom): Ed Winchester on the green scrambler, sir. And does my bum look big in this?
Q: Cough, cough, cough, cough. That's got it.
Bond: Brilliaaaaaaant!

I'm sure these jokes were ten a penny back in 2004 when Higson was announced but I can't be arsed to look and see.


I have read all of Cummings novels. They are wonderful modern spy thrillers. Really good stuff which I would recommend to anyone. Sure he could do a wonderful Bond novel in the future. Apart from him Higson and Deaver I dont know about the rest.

#8 OmarB

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:29 PM

I've read Cummings and Wolstencroft. Both are dudes who I would love to write Bond.

#9 The Shark

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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:41 PM

Q: Oh, SUITS YOU SIR!

#10 Trident

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 07:09 AM

Cumming and Wolstencroft both write riveting modern day espionage, Cumming with an emphasis on realistic/authentic characters, setting and plot, Wolstencroft with perhaps a liking for a tad more bizarre stories. Particularly recommended: 'Typhoon' by Cumming (Very fine!) and 'Good News, Bad News' by Wolstencroft (Time for a new one, David!).

Barry Eisler wrote the John Rain series, a former CIA assassin turned freelance. The series is an incredibly successful amalgamation of realistic approach with action oriented plots and international intrigue. Rain's speciality is 'death of natural causes' and under ideal circumstances his operations are generally not suspected by the authorities. Eisler was working for the CIA himself for a time and this shows actually in his work. I'd argue every single chapter of his Rain books features more tradecraft than the entire adult Bond books, Fleming through Faulks.

The recent (January 2010) real life assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was a murder that fans of Eisler could have read as early as 2005 (although with a Manila setting; perhaps that's the reason why the guys in al-Mabhouh's case f*c*u*ked-up so monumentally?). At any rate the Rains are probably at the moment the closest to intertwine the Bond/action/suspense theme with the more down-to-earth school of Cumming. Gadgets are an item, but they are neither relied upon heavily, nor do they go beyond what is actually possible. Most of what Rain uses are items that can even be obtained on the open market and Rain is extremely security-conscious, avoiding everything that could attract the opposition's attention. His aim clearly is to be forgotten once the prying eye of a bodyguard swept over his features and discards him as 'no threat'.

#11 marktmurphy

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 09:21 AM

I've read Cummings and Wolstencroft. Both are dudes who I would love to write Bond.


I wonder if Wolstencroft wouldn't be a good writer for the film Bond series.

#12 Trident

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 09:26 AM

I've read Cummings and Wolstencroft. Both are dudes who I would love to write Bond.


I wonder if Wolstencroft wouldn't be a good writer for the film Bond series.


Actually I'd really like to see/read more of his work. He seems to have gone to ground recently and I wonder what he's up to right now.

#13 Harry Fawkes

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 09:19 PM

With Spooks to Wolstencroft's name, I'd give him my vote by a Mill. Mind you though, don't like what he did for CODE 9. Quite a little mess in my opinion.

#14 The Shark

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 12:34 AM

I've read Cummings and Wolstencroft. Both are dudes who I would love to write Bond.


I wonder if Wolstencroft wouldn't be a good writer for the film Bond series.


I'd argue they'd all (including Deaver) be far more suitable candidates for Bond 23, than Peter Morgan. But alas.

Barbara Broccoli doesn't seam particularly interesting in producing a Bond thriller.

#15 marktmurphy

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 10:39 AM

I've read Cummings and Wolstencroft. Both are dudes who I would love to write Bond.


I wonder if Wolstencroft wouldn't be a good writer for the film Bond series.


Actually I'd really like to see/read more of his work. He seems to have gone to ground recently and I wonder what he's up to right now.



His agent's website says he's adapting a thriller/conspiracy novel about the Lockerbie bombings into a movie script.

#16 Trident

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 02:28 PM

Thanks for the info! B)