As for your challenging us naysayers to "come up with a better idea or shut up", Mark, here's a better idea than "Young James Bond" (which has been suggested many, many times on CBn): get someone to write more continuation novels featuring an adult 007.
That's a great idea. If only they'd...oh no, wait: they did try it. It was rubbish and no-one bought them. They want to make some money. Yes, it's off the back of their relative's work, but everyone's gotta make a buck somehow.
Why should we give it a chance, Mr A? Are we under some sort of obligation as hardcore Bond fans to gratefully accept as part of the hallowed "canon" anything foisted on the market by IFP? Are we so obsessed with Bond that anything at all will do?
I take it you saw Die Another Day?
[A] It's not what we asked for (I don't believe anyone at all on CBn has ever demanded a "Young James Bond" series by Charlie Higson, or indeed a "Young James Bond" series by anyone else),
You totally missed my point by taking it out of context. What many people have been screaming for ages is that they would only accept new Bond novels if they were aimed at the masses (heteros, airports etc.) and were given plenty of publicity to ensure this. Well, you can't do that by simply carrying on with a joke of series which has been going downhill for twenty years. This is the populist approach, by a famous writer. This is what they asked for.
[B] many better ideas have been floated
Yup. I've tried, but everyone just trots out the ''airports' quote and insists it be written as and aimed at the same market as Uncle Ian did it. Which just isn't realistic, as the past has shown us.
[C] why should we shut up? Is this not a public message board? Are we not permitted to air our views? If not, where exactly does that leave a great many of your own posts slamming various moves in both the film series and the literary series? Why should we "just ignore" what we don't like?,
Because you'll go mad if you don't? Everybody here seems to hate everything, and it might be best for your sanity if you let the idea of a book series for kiddies slide. As Benson pointed out: all the internet does is let people slag things off continuously. There's never anything positive or constructive. It's tiring. I like Jim an awful lot, but when was the last time you heard him mention something he actually liked? He just bashes the films and books endlessly and sometimes it would be nice to come to a fan forum and discuss how much you actually like something. No?
It's a book series for kiddies. What does it actually matter? Who does it harm? (And no, it harms Fleming's 'legacy' no more than the Young Indys and Sherlocks harm the originals i.e: not at all) Why are you more interested in preventing a bunch of little Bond fans enjoying themselves and learning to love reading so that you can have a quick thrill in an airport somewhere? And why are you being so nasty to people who are trying to encourage debate on a debating board
over a kiddies book series?
[D] of course "the Flemings wouldn't give a toss" - they're books; what a silly thing to write (at least, I assume you're referring to Fleming's novels rather than to members of the Fleming family; if the latter rather than the former, then I'd say that the Fleming family members connected with IFP should give a toss if their latest venture meets with hostility or indifference from the overwhelming majority of Bond fans [take a look at the polls on this site and others]
Why's that then? No Bond fans bought the bloody things when they writing them for the fans so they have moved on to another audience. What's wrong with that? I always cringe when fans believe the object of their affection belongs to them: it often ends up with the series being lead by the fans and it then turning up its own bottom and ending. See Star Trek; Doctor Who; James Bond book series.
[E] you yourself wrote: "Young James Bond? Not James Bond yet. So pointless."
Yup. I reckon it's a very bad idea. But it could be executed in an interesting fashion- the signs of this are there. And it's better to have something than nothing. And apparently Higson is a decent (and occassionally sadistic) writer. So I'll have a look when it pops out. I won't lose any sleep over it. I suggest you try and chill out a bit.
It's some books. For kids.
So what?I mean, if they brought out a series of "early learning" Bond books aimed at two-year-olds, with pictures to colour in, would you expect Bond fans to keep an open mind and not complain, on the grounds that they might, in theory, be quite good?
It's not for you, mate. It doesn't harm anything, and it's possible that the two year olds might enjoy it. Why would you wish to prevent that? I find Live and Let
Live is a much better motto to live by.
And why should anyone care what Bond fans say? There are, perhaps about one hundred active members here. With a similar amount on the other two boards. That's not exactly a representative cross-section, just a bunch of bored yank teenagers. Who cares?