18 replies to this topic

[The_Godfather]

Who will write the Bond books after Benson retires his pen/pencil? Personally I think it would be interesting to see Tom Clancy write a Bond book. I don't know if Clancy is popular in the U.K.? But Clancy is a very popular author here in America. He writes EXCELLENT fiction books about terrorists and government crisis.

[General Koskov]

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[General Koskov]

Tom Clancy!!! Augghhhh!!!

Good God, his only good book was The Hunt for the Red October. And that paled in comparison with tension created by Fleming.

'Ohh look at me, I'm gonna tell my government I'm stealing a sub. That's a good plan...' stupid Cpt(N) Ramius or whatever the hell his name was.

Plus he's a US military wannabe.
When I see him try to sell me some insurance, then maybe I'll take him more seriously. ^_^

[sainttemplar]

Blue Eyes (15 Mar, 2002 08:47 a.m.):
You know. When Benson steps down from the role (personally, I hope that's a long way off yet) I'd like to see Robert Markham return.

Yes you're thinking "But that's just an alias". Exactly!

Get a good writer and have the book by Robert Markham. Maybe name the alias Robert Markham Jr. Have different authors (including Benson) take a shot under such an alias. See how that pans out.

I have a feeling that if Benson went away and came back under the alias of Markham fans would appreciate his work a lot more. Thanks to certain factions of the Bond community a sort of 'stigma' has been created about his work sadly.

this old chestnut.You can't blame "certain sections oif the Bond community" for all of Benson's poor reviews.How powerful do you think they are?Does every journalist and critic have a personal grudge against him? If there is a stigma to Benson's work- and I don't think there is- it rests solely on the shoulders of the writer.He should be able to take the negative reaction in a professional manner just as he (presumably) does with the positive.
I am a Bond fan and have high hopes for the character just as Benson did when he was so scathing about John Gardner in his reviews.
It might make an interesting experiment to have him write one under an alias but the reviews for the most part would be the same.
I think he would be appreciated a lot more if he went away and studied English for a year and stopped making grammatical errors all over the place.

[sainttemplar]

Blofeld's Cat (10 Mar, 2002 06:26 a.m.):
The problem with the likes of Tom Clancy is that they are locked into multi-million dollar deals to write so many books, and are too busy fulfiling that obligation that they wouldn't have time to knock out a Bond novel every so often.

In any case, I don't think he is suited to the world of Bond. Someone like J.K. Mayo who writes the Harry Seddall spy thrillers are more suited. More down to earth and less grandeur.

I don't think I could handle a 800-900 page Bond novel anyway.

I feel Clancy would be far too dry.

[sainttemplar]

Blofeld's Cat (10 Mar, 2002 06:26 a.m.):
The problem with the likes of Tom Clancy is that they are locked into multi-million dollar deals to write so many books, and are too busy fulfiling that obligation that they wouldn't have time to knock out a Bond novel every so often.

In any case, I don't think he is suited to the world of Bond. Someone like J.K. Mayo who writes the Harry Seddall spy thrillers are more suited. More down to earth and less grandeur.

I don't think I could handle a 800-900 page Bond novel anyway.

Mayo would be good.Howe about Lee Child?his jack reacher novels are excellent.

[RossMan]

How about an annual collection of fan short stories?

[Blofeld's Cat]

sainttemplar (17 Mar, 2002 01:30 p.m.):
Mayo would be good.Howe about Lee Child?his jack reacher novels are excellent.

I've never read Lee Child, so I can't comment on his/her(?) suitability to write Bond. Sorry.

[Jim]

From a personal point of view (points of view are like that, aren't they?), I'd prefer someone who does not have a pedigree in writing "thrillers" (wide definition) but has the ability to write and write well. I don't mean to dismiss thrillers and those who write them, but I always found Fleming's layered, utterly bizarre and generally comically offensive descriptions and attention to detail the most interesting element of his writing.

Both John Gardner and Raymond Benson have tended to write lengthy action sequences, and to their credit, they both write them competently. Fleming's action is by and large sparse, all the better for when it comes. What I think is missing currently and could be missed if Gildrose go down the route of engaging a "thriller" writer is that element of richly written detail, which neither Gardner nor Benson grabbed hold of. Both touch on it in areas, but then resort to a punch up or a traitor.

Broaden the mind. I'd prefer a noted author (perhaps under a pseudonym, why not?) who can dust action sequences in there now and again, but concentrates upon the richness of the text.

[Clue: not Tom Clancy]

Why not a woman? She'd never do it, but I've often thought that PD James would write a stunning Bond.

[RossMan]

Mister Asterix (09 Mar, 2002 02:10 p.m.):
I doubt it will be any big name author. Maybe some published author who is dabbling in obscurity, but I would guess it will be another unknown.

Notice how Amis wrote an in-depth Bond reference book/guide and he later writes a novel. Benson writes an in-depth Bond reference book/guide and gets picked to write Bond novels.

[zencat]

Glidrose picked a winner with Benson and I would love to see him match Gardner in the number of books he writes. Benson shows no signs of burning out or running low on ideas.

As for who comes after him...who knows? Maybe they

[Blofeld's Cat]

The problem with the likes of Tom Clancy is that they are locked into multi-million dollar deals to write so many books, and are too busy fulfiling that obligation that they wouldn't have time to knock out a Bond novel every so often.

In any case, I don't think he is suited to the world of Bond. Someone like J.K. Mayo who writes the Harry Seddall spy thrillers are more suited. More down to earth and less grandeur.

I don't think I could handle a 800-900 page Bond novel anyway.

[Mister Asterix]

I doubt it will be any big name author. Maybe some published author who is dabbling in obscurity, but I would guess it will be another unknown.

[MDSmith]

But who wants to get rid of Benson? He should write them until, well until he's too old to be writing.

[Jim]

Given me well (and if not well, then lengthily) expressed views upon the merits of Mr Benson's style, I don't know the answer to this.

Perhaps someone smashing their head into the keyboard at random moments. Or someone letting their hamster run across the keys.

It'd maintain the current quality.

[RossMan]

I hope Benson won't be leaving anytime too soon, I wouldn't mind seeing him stay around as long, if not longer, than Gardner.

I really enjoy Tom Clancy's books but can't see him doing Bond novels. His books are more along the lines of political thrillers, especially his most recent books.

If Robert Ludlum were still with us I wouldn't mind seeing him take on the Bond novel.

[rafterman]

I'm next...

[Blue Eyes]

You know. When Benson steps down from the role (personally, I hope that's a long way off yet) I'd like to see Robert Markham return.

Yes you're thinking "But that's just an alias". Exactly!

Get a good writer and have the book by Robert Markham. Maybe name the alias Robert Markham Jr. Have different authors (including Benson) take a shot under such an alias. See how that pans out.

I have a feeling that if Benson went away and came back under the alias of Markham fans would appreciate his work a lot more. Thanks to certain factions of the Bond community a sort of 'stigma' has been created about his work sadly.

[General Koskov]

Jim (09 Mar, 2002 08:48 p.m.):
Perhaps someone smashing their head into the keyboard at random moments. Or someone letting their hamster run across the keys.

It'd maintain the current quality.

My sentiments almost-exactly. While I cannot accept Benson's work as true Bond (as I can with Wood--haven't read Amis yet ), they are pretty good attempts.

I'm sure he could do much, much better if he tried to emulate Fleming's style and sparing use of explosions.

His action is so horrendously like TN[L]. *Shiver* :-(