2226 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

Leaving aside the Higsons as a possible exception, the chief problem with the post-COLONEL SUN continuation novels is that they're all - yes, all - very flatly written. The prose is dull and never better than workmanlike (often, it's painfully amateurish). These books have no literary merit whatsoever. No spark or flair. They have no "voice", and thus no sense of authority with which to make a claim on the reader's time. Even the worst of the Eon films are fashioned to a markedly higher standard of quality than the IFP continuation novels.

If all one craves are adventures featuring a chap named James Bond, then one cannot fail to be wowed by the continuation novels. As for me, I cannot stand any novel that's indifferently written or lifeless as a reading experience, and I don't care how good or clever the plot or its twists may be if the writer is unable to beguile with words.

What I'm looking for are novels with "character", where one senses - and is captivated by - the personality of the writer. One certainly gets this with Fleming, but the likes of LICENCE RENEWED and HIGH TIME TO KILL are deserts when it comes to this sort of thing. Ironically, it is Benson himself (in his wonderful BEDSIDE COMPANION) who has given the most memorable and accurate description of the difference between the Flemings and the continuation novels, comparing the experience of reading Fleming and then reading Gardner to savouring at Sardi's and then munching at McDonalds.

[DaveBond21]

COLONEL SUN is okay...so far.

After COLONEL SUN, it's all downhill, so brace yourself.

I recently threw out all my continuation novels. Gardner, Benson, Faulks... all straight into the bin.

Isn't there a charity shop near where you live? Or a second hand book shop?

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[Kilroy6644]

I'm also reading another book by S.M.Stirling called ISLAND IN THE SEA OF TIME. That's been very heavy going as well. It's, like, 500+ pages and it's not double-spaced or with big fonts. Been working on that novel for 6 months.

Really? I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the sequels. Not quite as much as The Peshawar Lancers, also by Stirling, but that's more a matter of style than substance.

[Harmsway]

Isn't there a charity shop near where you live? Or a second hand book shop?

Sure. But when you're moving from a massive house into a small apartment, and you've been ditching stuff left and right for two weeks straight, at a certain point you tire of hauling a load of stuff over to the charity shop. Sad, but true.

And it's not as though I think anyone is truly worse off for not having the ability to read, say, SCORPIUS or WIN, LOSE, OR DIE. Trust me, when I chose to abandon some editions of works by John Milton and Soren Kirkegaard, I didn't just toss 'em in the trash.

[Loomis]

Isn't there a charity shop near where you live? Or a second hand book shop?

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Ouch!!!!

As funny as that comment was, I just can't be as cruel about the continuation novels as Loomis is. First of all, if Icebreaker wasn't already taken as a screen name I would've grabbed it. It was my favorite Gardner book and still is. Secondly, I try and find something good in all of the continuation novels. Admittedly some are better than others, but I remember enjoying ZERO MINUS TEN and FACTS OF DEATH at the time, as well as the first five or 6 of the Gardner novels. And I'm also slightly biased. When I had major surgery back in 1998, Raymond Benson was kind enough to send me an autographed copy of THE FACTS OF DEATH, so I could never be as harsh of my opinion of his novels as others are. When I ran 007Forever.com we usually had a couple of different reviews of each of the books, so that there was a wide variety of opinion. I was never comfortable just totally destroying a book or an author.

Having said that, that doesn't mean I don't find some of Loomis' points valid. And, quite frankly, even though I disagree with most of what Loomis said, I do respect the fact that he has an opinion, seems to have thought it through, and is willing to forcefully articulate exactly what he hates about them.

Why, thank you.

It is, I guess, laudable to "try and find something good in all of the continuation novels". Then again, I'm sure I could watch every single last episode of THE A-TEAM and try to find something good in all of them. (And succeed - episode three features a striking establishing shot of a bank, Murdock makes a halfway amusing comment towards the end of episode seventeen, there's a pretty good bit of editing in episode thirty when Face punches a security guard, and in episode seventy-six there's a rather nice jacket worn by.... You get the idea.)

Is it worth the hassle, though?

[Harmsway]

It is, I guess, laudable to "try and find something good in all of the continuation novels". Then again, I'm sure I could watch every single last episode of THE A-TEAM and try to find something good in all of them. (And succeed - episode three features a striking establishing shot of a bank, Murdock makes a halfway amusing comment towards the end of episode seventeen, there's a pretty good bit of editing in episode thirty when Face punches a security guard, and in episode seventy-six there's a rather nice jacket worn by.... You get the idea.)

Is it worth the hassle, though?

At any rate, I've been chewing through THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE. Fine enough if you like true crime material. I do.

[Tybre]

Isn't there a charity shop near where you live? Or a second hand book shop?

Sure. But when you're moving from a massive house into a small apartment, and you've been ditching stuff left and right for two weeks straight, at a certain point you tire of hauling a load of stuff over to the charity shop. Sad, but true.

And it's not as though I think anyone is truly worse off for not having the ability to read, say, SCORPIUS or WIN, LOSE, OR DIE. Trust me, when I chose to abandon some editions of works by John Milton and Soren Kirkegaard, I didn't just toss 'em in the trash.

Pshaw, there's always space for books. Personally, I only get rid of books anymore if they're trashed beyond capability of existence. Otherwise, even well-worn books stay, regardless of how good or bad I think they are. I just can't bring myself to get rid of them. I considered pawning off a few books I thought were crap, but I just can't do it. In fact I probably should get rid of books, or find a new home for some, though. Over two hundred and still growing (though not as fast as the collection used to), all crammed into a 12x16 bedroom. Run out of space fast.

For myself, I've gone back to working on getting through The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. Certainly a fine read, but it's thick, and I get distracted by things (either life rearing its head or just shiny things like RDR). Hopefully will have finished this one by the end of autumn. Then it's off to find out if R.B. Hayes ever wrote anything.

[Cruiserweight]

Song and Circumstance: The Work of David Byrne from Talking Heads to the Present

[DaveBond21]

I have almost finished Whitley Strieber's COMMUNION (1986).

The book is based on Strieber's alleged experiences with non-human, possibly extra-terrestrial beings.

It's quite entertaining, but mainly for the wrong reasons. The unfortunate elements are:- Strieber's downplaying of all the weird stuff that has happened to him throughout his life; And the tenuous links he makes between what little information his wife gives under hypnosis and his belief that he is sometimes "taken" by alien beings.

It was made into a movie starring Christopher Walken.

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[Single-O-Seven]

Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal

I have about 50 pages to go, and I'll be mighty sad once it's over.

Yes - a brilliant read.

Did you catch the Bond reference, which seems to put the novel in the same universe as Fleming's books?

[Kilroy6644]

Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal

I have about 50 pages to go, and I'll be mighty sad once it's over.

Yes - a brilliant read.

Did you catch the Bond reference, which seems to put the novel in the same universe as Fleming's books?

It's been many, many years since I read it. I don't remember the Bond reference. Could you fill me in?

[Single-O-Seven]

Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal

I have about 50 pages to go, and I'll be mighty sad once it's over.

Yes - a brilliant read.

Did you catch the Bond reference, which seems to put the novel in the same universe as Fleming's books?

It's been many, many years since I read it. I don't remember the Bond reference. Could you fill me in?

It's been a while since I've read it as well. From what I recall, there's a British official who reflects on the head of the Secret Service, referring to him as the "Old Man" and a dinner they had together at Blades (a Fleming creation, of course).

[killkenny kid]

After seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo over the weekend, (greta film) I got the Millennium Trilogy today ay B&N.

[Kilroy6644]

It's been a while since I've read it as well. From what I recall, there's a British official who reflects on the head of the Secret Service, referring to him as the "Old Man" and a dinner they had together at Blades (a Fleming creation, of course).

Ah. Thank you. I'll have to keep an eye out for that the next time I read it.

[Captain Tightpants]

Petter Solberg - 110%

It's a semi-autobiography of Norway's first, last and to date, only World Rally Champion. However, it's not really that well-written. This may be because it hasn't translated that well from the original Norweigan to English, but it occasionally feels like a fan project, one of those books that was rushed out to capitalise on a sports star's success and burgeoning popularity; there's an infamous one on Lewis Hamilton that claims he won the World Championship in Japan in 2007 when he didn't win until Brazil 2008 ...).

[Harmsway]

AKHNATON by Agatha Christie.

This play, a historical drama, represents a very strong break from Christie's typical work, but Christie may have wandered too far from her comfort zone. Her AKHNATON is rather lousy.

[Harmsway]

No love for COLONEL SUN, Gravity?

Personally, I think it's the only continuation novel really worth a damn.

[Kilroy6644]

Just finished Ken Follett's Night Over Water, and I'm now starting The Rough Riders, by Theodore Roosevelt.

[Harmsway]

KUBRICK by Michael Ciment.

I've read a few books on Kubrick now, and Ciment's is undoubtedly the best. Not because of biographical detail--KUBRICK is an analysis of Kubrick's films, not a biography--but because of the sharpness of Ciment's insights. He does a fine job of identifying and analyzing the recurring motifs and approaches common to Kubrick's films, identifying ways in which the films reinforce and also converse with one another. Not that I buy everything he has to say, but a lot of it makes good sense. The reprinted interviews with Kubrick and his collaborators are very informative.

[Single-O-Seven]

Currently engrossed in Richard Dawkins' "The Greatest Show on Earth" and Neil Tyson's "Origins." Both are wonderful reads by two masters of public science education.

[DaveBond21]

I've just finished Fay Weldon's very clever, funny and suspenseful PUFFBALL (1980).

It's a fantastic novel.

[dodge]

GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST, Stieg Larsson's final novel. When I've finished reading this, I think I'll do a three-book appraisal on the GWTDT thread, under Craig, to counter claims that this wonderful author was only 'a talentless hack.'

[elizabeth]

Today, while waiting for my mom at her mamogram appointment, I finished Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. Kind of a sad ending, what with Oromis' and Glaedr's deaths and Eragon's and Saphira's realization that they are the last dragon and Rider left in the world. Can't wait to read the fourth and final installment!

[jwheels]

Just finished Brad Thor's The Apostle. Now onto Higson's The Enemy, I'm only 7 chapters in, but I'm really enjoying it, great stuff!

[Scottlee]

I'm reading The Bourne Supremecy, and not too long after reading the first one.

Brilliant brilliant books albeit absolutely nothing in relation to the films.

[Kilroy6644]

Just started James Michener's Caravans.

[DaveBond21]

Recently finished P.D James' CHILDREN OF MEN (1992).

A wonderful story, and it really could have been longer. It certainly left me wanting more.

[terminus]

Was given a copy of Henning Mankell's 'Firewall' last week, just started reading it a few days ago and it is very good. I've got no idea who the killer is.

[elizabeth]

I've started Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Pulled in right away! I love it when that happens! Then again, I'm an English nerd, so everything pulls me in right away...

[Matt_13]

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

A gigantic step up from every other book in the series. Exciting as all hell, too.