13 replies to this topic

[zencat]

The Man Who Taught 007 to Drive on Ice

_{Erik Carlsson biography}

[deth]

cool! I didn't know he existed!

[zencat]

I didn't either.

[Athena007]

suprizing how interesting this is

[zencat]

You're so good to your man...

[Xenobia]

I've heard tidbits here and there about authors living what they write (the late George Plimpton being the key example), so it doesn't surprise me that Gardner did learn how to drive on ice so he could write about it.

It also doesn't surprise me that like Bond, Gardner wanted the best, and found it in Erik Carlsson.

Finally, it doesn't surprise me one bit that the ever awesome writer John Cox found this key detail, and was able to make the most out of it for the enjoyment of all Bond fans.

It's nice to see legends in their fields remembered appropriately.

-- Xenobia

[zencat]

Thank you. Xen.

So many supportive women in my life.

[Bryce (003)]

Just bought my copy.

Growing up in Washington state, I've had my share of winter driving.

My Dad taught me two skills.

- Pre-skidding a turn using the E-brake.
- Left-footed double-clutching in both an automatic AND manual.

I'm anxious to see what can be gleaned by reading "between the lines".

Very cool.

[Xenobia]

Thank you. Xen.

So many supportive women in my life.

Just remember Zencat, behind every great man, are even better women.

Congrats again on the article.

-- Xenobia

[Blofeld's Cat]

Just remember Zencat, behind every great man, are even better women. 

Behind!?

I've been doing it wrong.

[Qwerty]

Was glancing through the Icebreaker section and caught this. Interesting article, John.

[addyb]

That's an interesting bit of info, and I think it's quite neat. Gardner's novels seem to be a lot more "down to earth" than Fleming's works of art. Even though Gardner had the meloglamatic (did I spell that right?) villians, some of the things in his books seemed more believable than other Bond novels. (Well okay, not everything his Bond got himself in to, but a good deal of it)

Some things that come to mind are:

The SAS Belt in Icebreaker

The issued escape/evasion kit in "No Deals"

The money belt with razor blade hidden inside buckle in "License Renewed"

The chewing gum sized sticks of plastic explosive inside his trouser hems - "No Deals" again

Making a flash bang grenade from a flare and lightbulb while imprisoned in Venice by Wolfgang Weisen - Death is Forever

Obviously, the driving on ice from Icebreaker (An absolutely fantastic novel)

And best of all: The Seventrees ASP 9mm pistol. I've absolutely researched that pistol to hell and back, and I can definately say that it IS (and still is) the best firearm for Her Majesty's Servant to carry. Forget the outdated PPK, the overly large P99, the polymer framed VP-70, or even the H&K P7, the ASP is THE best choice for Bond. And that's probably why it's still out there, being used in small circles. "Unseen in the best places."

Cheers,

Adam

[DLibrasnow]

This is an interesting article.....how did I miss it when it first came out?!

[zencat]

Wow. Blast from the past.