70 replies to this topic

[WillieGarvin]

I've read all of the Bond novels and short stories and I think Raymond Benson is doing a pretty good job as the current 007 scribe,and he'll probably do his best on the next Bond novel.

That said,I'd really like to see Ken Follett,George MacDonald Fraser,Christopher Hyde and Daniel Silva each write a James Bond novel or two...but that's not going to happen.

[marktmurphy]

"You guys should all take a shot at writing a novel, and going through the editing process, before judging Benson so harshly."

No Mr. Cat, what gives us the right to judge Benson harshly is that we have all read, and paid for, books which have gone through the same 'harsh editing process' and yet remain well written. Are you saying that all edited books (therefore all books) are written badly? As a consumer who has foolishly paid out eighteen quid for Benson's rubbish I feel rightly justified to complain about not recieving something the brand name 'James Bond' promised.

[zencat]

I'm not blaming the editing process, I'm just making the point that people who so cavalierly bash Benson usually have no idea what it's like to actually sit down and write a book, let alone a Bond book. That's all.

I just don't understand what measure you're holding Benson up to, marktmurphy? He's not Fleming or (insert favorite author here) but I really don't think he deserves the type of venomous post that I read above. You

[Roebuck]

Exaggerating a bit aren't you Zencat?
Mark's comments are hardly venomous.

My personal reaction to Benson is that he's OK.
Not great. Not particularly poor. Just so-so.

But there are thousands of more exciting,
better crafted novels out there vying for my attention.

[marktmurphy]

'Venomous'? I think I responded to your argument in your last post in the one that precedes it, Zencat: I don't have to have written have a book to know when one is bad, just like I don't have to have built a car to know when one drives poorly. Perhaps you should try writing a novel- you may find it alot easier to do than you think- especially a Bond novel.

[Blue Eyes]

For the level of pay, and his level of dedication, I think Raymond Benson deserves a lot of praise just for those two things! If Raymond hadn't accepted the role in the 90's, I doubt we'd have any new Bond novels post-Gardner.

[rafterman]

Fine, you may think it's bad, but no need to be harsh about it.
You think writing a Bond novel or any novel is easy marktmurphy? have you written one?
Benson's not Fleming, nor should he be, but everyone seems intent to hold him to some unattainable standard. I think he does a fine job.
So what if he runs into people he's met before? These are professionals working the same business as him, it would be weird if he went to Japan and didn't see Tiger again. There are complaints when he mentions Bond's history and there are complaints when he doesn't. I guess you just can't please everyone.

[Jim]

Originally posted by marktmurphy
'Venomous'? I think I responded to your argument in your last post in the one that precedes it, Zencat: I don't have to have written have a book to know when one is bad, just like I don't have to have built a car to know when one drives poorly.

...and you don't have to fall off a cliff to know it hurts.

Challenging Zenkers to a writing challenge is risky; he is a screenwriter and may yet take you up on it.

I'm but a poor literary editor and I only get to criticise. But what fun that can be.

[marktmurphy]

I didn't say writing a novel is easy, just that saying it is a hard thing to do is an odd thing to say and sounds very much like an excuse for bad writing. Isn't it strange that people who think his novels excellent feel the need for such an excuse?
I did not claim to hold Benson to some 'unattainable standard', just one of basic novel writing: I find his prose, style, and storylining amateurish in the extreme. If I had compared him to Fleming the results would have been a lot more 'venemous', I guarantee. However this would be wrong as I am sure Mr. Benson does not intend his work to be compared with Fleming, just as a tribute, which is an honourable intention and one I do not argue with.
I also did not challenge anyone to a writing challenge, however screenwriters and literary editors would be far more qualified for the job than the current encumbent and should feel free to try it: they just might surprise themselves.

[Bondpurist]

Whoa! A vicious argument that I'm NOT involved in!!!! It's good to know that I'm not the only one up for a good barney!

[marktmurphy]

(I know Bondpurist- I'm quite enjoying it, tee hee!)

[rafterman]

if you think he's amatuerish then I'd hate to hear what you think of fan fiction writers...and I only say writing is a difficult thing because I write and know what it's like to try and write a novel, it takes far more effort than one would think and to write a good novel is even harder, which is why I think we need to cut Benson some slack...I think he's done a fantastic job...

[ThomasCrown76]

That would definitely open up a can of psychological worms, wouldn't it?

[Roebuck]

Why do I care how much Benson gets paid!
Does It affect how much I have to shell out for the paperback?
Should It have a bearing on the quality of the work?

Benson has a contract with a major publisher and the gift of being permitted to use the Bond name.
That's a heck of a leg up for an unknown author and I can't help but speculate;
would he have sold as many copies sold without 007 on the cover?

[rafterman]

umm it's a 007 novel, of course 007 is on the cover...
and you don't HAVE to shell anything out for the paperback....we're just trying to make people aware that he works for peanuts because he likes it and IF he didn't work for peanuts then there wouldn't be any novels
he has a contract with a major publisher to write their Bond novels, nothing more...he was hired to do this...he's not gifted with permission to use the Bond name, they needed a new author to write Bond books and would work cheaply, they saw that he knew the material and went with him, because as an unknown author and fan he would be willing to write them for the glory of writing Bond...

[zencat]

Okay, I shouldn

[marktmurphy]

Certainly I admire him for sticking to his guns and doing for the love of it, and I defininately wouldn't have said what I said above if I thought for a second that Benson would read it and stop writing as a result. I'll have to agree to disagree with the Catman and all those others over the standard of his writing and the problems caused by outside elements, but I do respect him for trying.
Good luck on the novel, by the way.

Now, what do we want to see in next years book? How about JamesBond007 in space? Whoosh!!!Zap!!!Bang!!!

[Roebuck]

How altruistic of him.
What a shame devotion to the cause has left him in penury.
And those lectures, interviews etc. he's he's done because he's the Bond author haven't been in any way lucrative?
If that's true he'll be about the only one in half a century to be involved with the franchise and not make money.

Yes he's the Bond author. A rather indifferent author who's fiction writing outside of Bond was greeted with critical apathy.

[zencat]

I want Africa! James Bond on safari. And I'm not kidding.

[marktmurphy]

That's quite good actually. Beats Bond in Belgium.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Roebuck
How altruistic of him.
What a shame devotion to the cause has left him in penury.
And those lectures, interviews etc. he's he's done because he's the Bond author haven't been in any way lucrative?

You think an author gets paid for interviews?

Originally posted by Roebuck
If that's true he'll be about the only one in half a century to be involved with the franchise and not make money.[/B]

I think you need to bone up on what's happened to John Gardner, my friend.

[Jim]

Originally posted by zencat


I think you need to bone up on what's happened to John Gardner, my friend.

Writing in my capacity as an editor, that comment needed 30% more comedy.


(Joke)


(Albeit not a very good one. Needed 30% more comedy itself)

[rafterman]

yeah Gardner got screwed over...

[zencat]

Originally posted by marktmurphy
Good luck on the novel, by the way.

Thank you, marktmurphy. I'll tell you, the hardest part so far is logging off CBN and getting to work each morning.

I'll post the first chapter at some point so everyone can get revenge on me.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Jim
Writing in my capacity as an editor, that comment needed 30% more comedy.

LOL!

Sorry, Jim. I'm sure you're an excellent editor (and an excellent editor is a gift). The "30% more comedy" comes right out of the world of Hollywood development, not publishing.

Anyway, back to topic. James Bond in the Middle East!

[rafterman]

what kind of book are you writing zencat?

[zencat]

Don't worry, it's not a Bond book. It's kind of a...fiction, drama, erotic thriller, if that makes any sense. Chapter Eight is pure smut.

[Jim]

Originally posted by zencat



Anyway, back to topic. James Bond in the Middle East!

That would be interesting, but there might be a danger of being overtaken by events.

I'd be interested in Bond in South America (what the hell - say Brazil); whatever my views on Mr Benson's writing style (which I won't bother repeating because I'm feeling quite well disposed to folk at the moment), he does give good sense of place.

[zencat]

Yes, South America would be good. I'm even up for the all USA idea that was thrown around earlier in the thread. Bond in Kansas does hold some appeal, for some reason.

What about Bond in Hollywood? Guess he kind of did that already in NDOD.

[Roebuck]

Originally posted by zencat
I think you need to bone up on what's happened to John Gardner, my friend.

Yeah Zencat. I know about Gardner.

...hence the use of the phrase 'ABOUT the only one'

I also know that Gardner has taken as much bashing on this forum as Benson.