146 replies to this topic

[David Schofield]

Only Fleming is canon.

Colonel Sun and Wood's Spy could be canon, but in terms of timescale only. Ditto, I suppose on the same grounds, Higson.

The others - with the exception of Pearson, but including the novelisations - are acceptable IF you accept Bond written without changing age and by a different pen. Pearson contradicts Fleming (and Higson) far more than anything else and should not be included. Weinbverg - as I've reported in that thread - sits well in terms of style but does a lot of clumsy contradicting of Fleming: make of it what you will - its a diary that been edited, after all, and not particularly well.

Pearson's start off is that Fleming is not writing abou this own creation and therefore, IMO, takes one liberty too far.

[spynovelfan]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'. It doesn't make any difference if they contradict each other - Fleming novels frequent contradict each other!

Good news that this is being republished. IFP have made giant strides in the last couple of years, it seems.

[David Schofield]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'. It doesn't make any difference if they contradict each other - Fleming novels frequent contradict each other!

Good news that this is being republished. IFP have made giant strides in the last couple of years, it seems.

Good evening, Spy. Back on one of my favourite subjects, aren't we?

For the sake of contoversy, how does it fit when Gardner and particularly Benson say their novelisations are not part of their series, 'official' or not?

Make you own Bond world, I say. We all have our different interpretations.

[spynovelfan]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'. It doesn't make any difference if they contradict each other - Fleming novels frequent contradict each other!

Good news that this is being republished. IFP have made giant strides in the last couple of years, it seems.

Good evening, Spy. Back on one of my favourite subjects, aren't we?

For the sake of contoversy, how does it fit when Gardner and particularly Benson say their novelisations are not part of their series, 'official' or not?

Make you own Bond world, I say. We all have our different interpretations.

The events don't fit into their main series, sure. They're all official, though, because they've been sanctioned by the company that owns Ian Fleming's literary copyright. I don't really see what there is to interpret!

DIE ANOTHER DAY novelization - official
THE KILLING ZONE - unofficial
BONDKILLER - unofficial

How well written they are, what time period they are set in and how credible the chronology may be is irrelevant: Benson's is the only official Bond story - although I am hoping to hear confirmation from IFP any day.

[David Schofield]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'. It doesn't make any difference if they contradict each other - Fleming novels frequent contradict each other!

Good news that this is being republished. IFP have made giant strides in the last couple of years, it seems.

Good evening, Spy. Back on one of my favourite subjects, aren't we?

For the sake of contoversy, how does it fit when Gardner and particularly Benson say their novelisations are not part of their series, 'official' or not?

Make you own Bond world, I say. We all have our different interpretations.

The events don't fit into their main series, sure. They're all official, though, because they've been sanctioned by the company that owns Ian Fleming's literary copyright. I don't really see what there is to interpret!

DIE ANOTHER DAY novelization - official
THE KILLING ZONE - unofficial
BONDKILLER - unofficial

How well written they are, what time period they are set in and how credible the chronology may be is irrelevant: Benson's is the only official Bond story - although I am hoping to hear confirmation from IFP any day.

Well, as everone knows, one is absolute E. Another a credible attempt by an average - but undeniably enthusiastic, some might say OVER enthusiastic - wordsmith. And the other a very clever pastiche.

[spynovelfan]

I wouldn't call Hatfield clever, personally.

But do you deny that the only official Bond story of those is Mr Benson's?

Quality is irrelevant to how official a Bond product is.

[Jim]

Quality is irrelevant to how official a Bond product is.

Lit and Film Bond of the last fifteen years in the shell of a nut.

This is changing...

[DLibrasnow]

Very tough to get a "definitive" figure when it comes to the question of "How many Bond novels are there?", even here on CBn (or, perhaps, especially here on CBn). Should Wood's "The Spy Who Loved Me" be counted?

Absolutely. I think Wood's "The Spy Who Loved Me" is a better continuation novel than a lot of Gardner's and Benson's.

[Qwerty]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'.

Agreed.

So in my opinion:

Fleming: 14
Mascott: 1
Amis: 1
Pearson: 1
Wood: 2
Gardner: 16
Benson: 12 (6 novels, 3 novelizatons, 3 short stories)
Higson: 2
Weinberg: 1

50 so far...

[TortillaFactory]

Glad to hear this, but I wasn't particularly blown away by the book. I know I'm picky, but...why a brother? Why a strange, Lolita-in-reverse relationship with a madame? Why is M...well, you know? Why, Georgia...why?

Still in all, I bet I'll end up buying it.

[Gabriel]

The Pearson book claims to tell the "true" story of Bond and correct the "errors" that crept into Fleming's versions of events, so it beautifully gets away with contradicting established continuity from the Fleming books!!

Can't wait to add a decent copy of this one to my collection!

[Double-Oh Agent]

Only Fleming is canon.

Colonel Sun and Wood's Spy could be canon, but in terms of timescale only. Ditto, I suppose on the same grounds, Higson.

The others - with the exception of Pearson, but including the novelisations - are acceptable IF you accept Bond written without changing age and by a different pen. Pearson contradicts Fleming (and Higson) far more than anything else and should not be included. Weinbverg - as I've reported in that thread - sits well in terms of style but does a lot of clumsy contradicting of Fleming: make of it what you will - its a diary that been edited, after all, and not particularly well.

Pearson's start off is that Fleming is not writing abou this own creation and therefore, IMO, takes one liberty too far.

How can Pearson contradict Higson when he wrote his novel first? It's Higson who contradicts what Pearson wrote.

Glad to hear this, but I wasn't particularly blown away by the book.  I know I'm picky, but...why a brother?  Why a strange, Lolita-in-reverse relationship with a madame?  Why is M...well, you know?  Why, Georgia...why?

Still in all, I bet I'll end up buying it.

The biggest complaint of Pearson's book I have is that he gives Bond a brother. That is incorrect. Bond does not, and should not, have a brother. He's a loner. Always has been and always will be. Virtually all the rest of the novel I enjoyed. It's a good read and definitely worth getting for 007 afficianados.

[David Schofield]

I wouldn't call Hatfield clever, personally.

But do you deny that the only official Bond story of those is Mr Benson's?

Quality is irrelevant to how official a Bond product is.

Of course not, Spy. Benson is the only "official" product there - and indeed quality had nothing to do with it.

And I also think you know which of my reviews refers to which title and author. Here's a clue: Hatfield's is beyond lousy and Benson has always been very enthusiastic in his work.

[Trempo]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'.

Agreed.

So in my opinion:

Fleming: 14
Mascott: 1
Amis: 1
Pearson: 1
Wood: 2
Gardner: 16
Benson: 12 (6 novels, 3 novelizatons, 3 short stories)
Higson: 2
Weinberg: 1

50 so far...

Hi Qwerty

when you count Benson 12, shouldn't it be 21 for Fleming (12 novels and 9 short stories)?
That would be all together 59

[Tiin007]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'.

Agreed.

So in my opinion:

Fleming: 14
Mascott: 1
Amis: 1
Pearson: 1
Wood: 2
Gardner: 16
Benson: 12 (6 novels, 3 novelizatons, 3 short stories)
Higson: 2
Weinberg: 1

50 so far...

Hi Qwerty

when you count Benson 12, shouldn't it be 21 for Fleming (12 novels and 9 short stories)?
That would be all together 59

Except that Fleming's 9 short stories were published as 2 books; Benson's 3 were pblished in 3 separate places.

[K1Bond007]

I think anything released with Glidrose/IFP's permission is 'official'.

Agreed.

So in my opinion:

Fleming: 14
Mascott: 1
Amis: 1
Pearson: 1
Wood: 2
Gardner: 16
Benson: 12 (6 novels, 3 novelizatons, 3 short stories)
Higson: 2
Weinberg: 1

50 so far...

Hi Qwerty

when you count Benson 12, shouldn't it be 21 for Fleming (12 novels and 9 short stories)?
That would be all together 59

Except that Fleming's 9 short stories were published as 2 books; Benson's 3 were pblished in 3 separate places.

So were Flemings. The difference is Benson's are uncollected. If you're counting it like this, it's wrong to count Benson's short stories as 1 a piece and not Fleming's.

My total would be: 57 "stories" or "adventures"
Fleming = 21 (12 novels, 9 short stories)
Mascott = 1
Amis = 1
Pearson = 1
Wood = 2
Gardner = 16 (14 novels, 2 novelisations)
Benson = 12 (6 novels, 3 short stories, 3 novelisations)
Higson = 2
Weinberg = 1

[Qwerty]

Either way really. I realize the Fleming's are both seperate and in collected formats - so I'd say that is purely personal preference when counting them all.

[Jack Spang]

Yes, a very underrated book. It is brilliant! Best non Fleming literature one can get one's hands on. Pearson did a wonderful job. I am lucky enough to have it in hardback. I wish Charlie Higson would read this book and stick to some of the events of Bond's life. This would be okay since Fleming never expanded on them.

Edited by Jack Spang, 25 January 2006 - 07:13 AM.

[Qwerty]

On the CBn main page...

'James Bond: The Authorised Biography Of 007' Pushed To October

_{2006 reprint of rare James Bond novel coming on 19 October}

[K1Bond007]

$30+ bucks seems a little steep... to me anyway.

[Qwerty]

Yeah, definitely not cheap. At least it went down slightly from the original list price which was (I believe)

[deth]

......and worth every penny

[Qwerty]

......and worth every penny

I'm looking forward to it!

[Qwerty]

'James Bond: The Authorised Biography Of 007' Now Discounted

_{Pre-order on Amazon.co.uk, due out October 2006}

[Qwerty]

This can't be good.

Previous release date: 19 October 2006

New release date: 4 October 2007 - http://www.amazon.co...1...ce&n=266239

[zencat]

Oh dear.

But the listing on the U.S. Amazon site shows November 28, 2006.

Can anyone find the website of this publisher (Century) so we can ask what's up? I've tried, but I can't find them.

[DLibrasnow]

Why? It's not like the book isn't already written?

[dee-bee-five]

Excellent, there's gonna at least one copy sold !

Make that two.

I really like this book a lot. Very underrated, IMO.

I quite agree. I have an original copy which I bought when it was first published. It's a damned good read. Better than any of the dreaded Gardner grotesqueries in my view.

[TortillaFactory]

Better than any of the dreaded Gardner grotesqueries in my view.

You have a point there - I was actually compelled to read the bio all the way through, which is more than I can say for much of Gardner. However, I don't think either can touch Fleming as far as writing style goes, and I certainly don't think either author really had much of a grasp on Bond. I think Pearson erred on the side of making him too much of Fleming, whereas Gardner erred on the side of making him not enough.

[Qwerty]

http://www.amazon.co...e...TF8&s=books

What is with that pic...