20 replies to this topic

[Tiin007]

After the 5th Young Bond book is published, in what direction do you think the copyright holders should take the literary Bond? "Normal" novels about the continuing adventures of 007 are getting old after so many continuation novels. I think they should hire an author to write a series of novels depicting Bond's navy days during WWII. They could be about how he got drafted into the navy, how he rose to the rank of commander, and how a couple special missions of his caught the attention of the SIS (who offer him a job with them). These books could bridge the gap between the adolescent Bond from the Young Bond books and the 007 we know and love.

What do you think should be done with the literary adventures of James Bond after the Young Bond books are finished?
(btw, exactly how canon is the Moneypenny Diaries trilogy?)

[Qwerty]

This CBn Interview should give you some info about The Moneypenny Diaries.

I'd like to see some adult Bond novels once again, even though I think Charlie Higson is doing a very solid job on the YJB series.

[Tiin007]

Thanks for the link, Qwerty.

[Qwerty]

No problem!

[dunmall]

i hope it's more continuation stuff. I enjoyed Silverfin, but I had kinda hoped for a little bit more....haha to say this with out sounding weird, I guess I was expecting a bit more of Bond/Flemings libido. Even though he is only what 13?, from reading "the man and his world" Fleming wasn't exactly a choir boy at that age, plus bond loses his virginity at what 16?

I'm not saying Young Bond should get laid, but a little more interest in girls his own age. Heck even Alex Rider had Sabina Pleasure.

Just my thoughts and a bit Off Topic to lol sorry.

[clinkeroo]

i hope it's more continuation stuff. I enjoyed Silverfin, but I had kinda hoped for a little bit more....haha to say this with out sounding weird, I guess I was expecting a bit more of Bond/Flemings libido. Even though he is only what 13?, from reading "the man and his world" Fleming wasn't exactly a choir boy at that age, plus bond loses his virginity at what 16?

I'm not saying Young Bond should get laid, but a little more interest in girls his own age. Heck even Alex Rider had Sabina Pleasure.

Just my thoughts and a bit Off Topic to lol sorry.

Minor Spoilers for BloodFever


















Things get a little more risky in BloodFever. There were a few scenes near the end of the book that shocked me a bit, one foreshadowing swim in particular. I wasn't much a fan of the first book, but here, Higson turns the innocent (mostly) sexuality up a notch, and does so deftly. I'll bet the US editors are going to chop the hell out of this one, the violence and carnal elements will make them froth at the mouth.

[Double-Oh Agent]

I want to see the return of the adult James Bond. And when 007 does come back, I want to see the next author pick him up where Raymond Benson left off. I think that's the best route to go. The only other possible route to take--and one I would reluctantly accept--would be to pick up where Kingsley Amis left off up until John Gardner's License Renewed. Anything else just won't cut it.

[Bond_Bishop]

I agree with Double-Oh Agent. I would really like to see a new adult Bond bookseries that takes place during the late 60's and early 70's and that starts right after Colonel Sun. That would really be great!

[hcmv007]

Bond as an adult-right after TMWTRT. There are enough Bond novels that take place in the 60's and the Cold War in general. Bond belongs in a time five seconds from now, not 30-40 years in the past.

[ACE]

Bond as an adult-right after TMWTRT. There are enough Bond novels that take place in the 60's and the Cold War in general. Bond belongs in a time five seconds from now, not 30-40 years in the past.

Totally agree! Fleming always thought Bond a thoroughly modern character. And while he is informed by the Cold War, even in the novels, the villainy much more classical.

I think people who see Bond stuck in an era (esp. the 1960's) have no imagination. The character in literature and film is always of our time.

Yes, let's pick up right after The Man With The Red Tatto.

I think the adult Bond novel in 2008 will be set in the 1960's.

[spynovelfan]

Some people are going to hate this idea, but this is what I'd do in their shoes:

'Double O Section operational

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd is thrilled to announce the commission of a new series of books based on the world of Ian Fleming's James Bond.

Fans of the books and films will know that the "00" in 007 signifies that Bond has a licence to kill. "Double 0 Section" is a new series of full-length novels following the adventures of the MI6 department's other agents. Four such agents are mentioned in passing in Fleming's novels.

[Skudor]

Personally I think Spy's idea is better than the concept of the 'Young Bond' series. It has occurred to me before that there are some interesting possibilities in the other 00's stories.

[DLibrasnow]

/spoiler.gif

Things get a little more risky in BloodFever.  There were a few scenes near the end of the book that shocked me a bit, one foreshadowing swim in particular.  I wasn't much a fan of the first book, but here, Higson turns the innocent (mostly) sexuality up a notch, and does so deftly.  I'll bet the US editors are going to chop the hell out of this one, the violence and carnal elements will make them froth at the mouth.

/gen_line.gif

Hey clink I put the spoiler insode spoiler tags.

My take

/spoiler.gif

I'm not sure what you are referring to. Certainly Vedetta has more romantic interest in James than Wilder did, but it's still very PG. I loved both books though and cannot wait for the release of book three

/gen_line.gif

[spynovelfan]

[quote name='Skudor' date='1 February 2006 - 15:36']Personally I think Spy's idea is better than the concept of the 'Young Bond' series.

[Hitch]

Spynovelfan, you really should camp outside Glidrose and IFP's offices until they give you the job. I can see it now: "We'll give him 002 and see how he gets on. If he cuts the mustard we'll assign him to Bond."

As for whether 007 novels should be contemporary: I say yea. If I write Bond stories I usually set them in the 50s/60s, but that's because I enjoy trying to recreate that Cold War vibe; such stories are an exercise in nostalgia. But new, official, Bond novels should be set five minutes into the future because they work best when we feel we're playing catch-up - when we're allowed access to Bond's furtive, exciting world - whether it be with geo-politics, technology, "the Bond lifestyle" , sex, and one last, tiny factor: fear. Make the stories matter, make them plausible, make Bond sweat a bit (well, a lot) - let us think: "This could happen" and let Bond resolve the nasty situation as only he can.

Novels set between the 50s and 90s will set Fleming's creation in amber; if he is to live on, for once he should take a cue from the films and despise U2 instead of the Beatles.

As for continuity immediately after Young Bond, I'm not sure. There has to be some mystery about the man, surely? It's part of his appeal. By all means drop hints about his past, but leave the rest to our imagination.

(Is this a post a prime example of fanboy snobbishness?)

[DLibrasnow]

Novels featuring Bond penned by other authors had also failed to reach beyond die-hard fans, as had an ill-advised foray into the children's market.

Interesting article....of course happily SILVERFIN was a huge hit.

[Jim]

Whatever the arguments for or against, there's no denying the public's verdict on the new agents. George Osborne, 002, has proved the favourite so far - his deep-seated hatred of 003 and his penchant for using his licence to kill above and beyond the call of duty have made him an unlikely anti-hero, and googling reveals several dozen sites devoted to his exploits. This month marks the launch of Shatterhand, the 20th book in the series - and Hennessy promises it will be a shocker. 'The rumours are true,' he says. 'One of the double-0 agents dies.' Is it wise to start killing off the geese that have laid the golden eggs? He laughs at the suggestion. 'Fleming never said how many agents there were in Double-0 section, you know. And,' he adds with a twinkle in his eyes, 'There's a 0011 mentioned in Moonraker...'

hmm...

hmmmm...

Mmm.

Although I never knew the Shadow Chancellor had such a dark side.

[Bond_Bishop]

Bond as an adult-right after TMWTRT. There are enough Bond novels that take place in the 60's and the Cold War in general. Bond belongs in a time five seconds from now, not 30-40 years in the past.

I agree with this, as long as we get an adult Bond I am happy.

[ACE]

Here's a fake article I wrote in 2004, which might explain my thinking a little better. It was written before SILVERFIN was published, though.

'The Fleming Factor

The Independent, April 18, 2009

Brilliant idea, SNF. Brilliant fake article. Sometimes, I really do think you are some sort of professional writer in real life. Are you a member of the Fourth Estate or in advertising or marketing or even in showbusiness now? I think you have the potential to go into any of these fields. Who knows, you might even be able to start writing for a living at some point...

Spynovelfan, you really should camp outside Glidrose and IFP's offices until they give you the job. I can see it now: "We'll give him 002 and see how he gets on. If he cuts the mustard we'll assign him to Bond."

LOL and spot on Hitch! And I agree, Teenage Bond is not my cup of Blue Mountain....

[Tiin007]

Spynovelfan,
You said that Fleming never mentioned how many Double-O agents there are. I may be wrong, but didn't he say in Moonraker that there were either only 3 or 3 besides Bond (i don't remember which)?

[Qwerty]

Here is a rundown of the Double-O agents featured in the James Bond novels: "It's only a number"