12 replies to this topic

[White Tuxedo]

Would you consider the novelizations of TND, TWINE, and DAD as part of the Benson canon?

Also, does the DAD novel with the smoking gun cover actually exist. All I have ever seen is that *stupid* Brosnan/Berry... sorry, Berry/Brosnan cover.

[Righty007]

Originally posted by Mansfield 005
Also, does the DAD novel with the smoking gun cover actually exist.  All I have ever seen is that *stupid* Brosnan/Berry... sorry, Berry/Brosnan cover.

I have seen the smoking gun cover in stores before.

[Mister Asterix]

Originally posted by Mansfield 005 (edited)
Would you consider the novelizations of TND, TWINE, and DAD as part of the Benson canon?

No. And Benson doesn’t either.

[iain]

Benson should have let it go after the Bedside Companion. The only writers that produced anything approaching the Fleming novels were Kingsley Amis and Christopher Wood. The Wood novels are the only film based novels that are worthy of more than resting a beer on.

IMHO of course.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Righty007
I have seen the smoking gun cover in stores before.

What!?

Are your sure about this, Righty?

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by Mansfield 005
Also, does the DAD novel with the smoking gun cover actually exist.

Gee, I never knew about this at all. Never realised there was talk about it either. :eek:

[Righty007]

Originally posted by zencat

What!?

Are your sure about this, Righty?

I am pretty sure I have seen this one somewhere: http://images.amazon...01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Blofeld's Cat]

Thanks, Righty. I remember now, but I thought it was just a fan creation early on.

[Triton]

I agree with you to some extent iain. After Benson criticized John Gardner for his failure to emulate the "Fleming Sweep", Benson wasn't about to attempt it himself.

I don't understand how someone who is so knowledgable of Bond could create such a bland Bond in his books. We hear nothing about Bond's taste in food and clothes in the Benson books, but the "James Bond Bedside Companion" is full of these descriptions and Ian Fleming Publications chose Benson for his knowledge of the character in the first place.

I also understand that Benson travelled extensively to research his books, but I sure cannot tell by the books he wrote. For example, there is a scene that occurs in the Salon Privee in the Casino at Monte Carlo. Based on Benson's description of the casino and this room, you would never think that he had been there. I could write a much better description of the casino by looking at the pictures and reading the travel guides.

I don't understand why Benson played it so safe. Was he afraid that he would be ridiculed for trying to emulate Fleming's writing style? His writing is very vanilla and bland. Not something that I would expect from someone who could quote Fleming off the top of his head.

The writing style of Christopher Wood took me very much by surprise. His novelizations of his screenplays are very Fleming-esque. It surprises me that Ian Fleming Publications didn't approach Christopher Wood before John Gardner.

I also think it is a pity that Frederick Forsyth refused the offer to write a James Bond thriller. Of the bestselling thriller writers out there, he has a gift for language and his years of experience as a journalist certainly show in his books. Of contemporary thriller, he is the closest in ability and experience to Ian Fleming.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat
Thanks, Righty. I remember now, but I thought it was just a fan creation early on.

This wasn't fan art. This was advance art for the US paperback that, as far as I know, was never used. I have a proof for the UK paperback that is similar (below).

If there were books produced with these covers I would be very interested in getting my hands on them.

[White Tuxedo]

Looks better than the **** they chose.

I just read Zero Minus Ten, and I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. Not that I find it brilliant, but it was better than I had expected. It seems more like a (excuse the pun) by-the-book adventure. It's interesting, and I like the characters. It also serves it's purpose in entertaining it's intended audience. However, I do agree that it seemed rather bland.

[stromberg]

Originally posted by zencat
If there were books produced with these covers I would be very interested in getting my hands on them.

I don't know how this is handled in the UK or the USA, but here in Germany, booksellers often get advance copies that are totally different in look and make from the "public" editions that are released later. Usually, the booksellers are supposed to send them back with comments. Maybe some of those are still around.

I got a copy like that of Frederick Forsyth's "Fist of God" that has a size like two bricks and with a totally different cover. I was really surprised when the book came finally out how small it actually was.

[Jriv71]

Originally posted by Righty007
I am pretty sure I have seen this one somewhere: http://images.amazon...01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I ordered a copy from Amazon, and I was disappointed because I was sent the Berry/Brosnan-Brosnan/Berry one. False advertising.