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John Gardner (1926-2007)


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#1 Bond... Raybond

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 06:47 AM

On the CBn main page...



James Bond author passes away



UPDATE: Ian Fleming Publications also pay tribute to James Bond author




Two obituaries appear online, reflecting on the life of the James Bond author


Sorry this is brief (I'm presently at work) but saw this in today's Daily Mail by Richard Kay:

Bond Hero's Last Adventure: the article briefly announces the passing of Bond author John Gardner, from suspected heart failure, with a little about his personal history.

Will try to get a link for this online, maybe the Time or the Telegraph will have a more substantial obit.

Here's the link: http://www.dailymail...n_author_id=230

Sad news for today - I rather enjoyed Gardner's Bond novels - Nobody Lives Forever was my favourite.

(Maybe someone could put this on the main page?)

Edited by [dark], 10 August 2007 - 03:46 PM.


#2 Jim

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 06:56 AM

How sad; we'll get something up shortly but if people wish to contribute here their memories of the man / his work / condolences, please do.

Thanks for the entertainment; will be much missed.

#3 clinkeroo

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 07:55 AM

What a talented wordsmith, what a loss.

I know I've said quite a few negative things here about his Bond novels, but I always respected him as an author, and as a boy, I ate up his Oakes and Moriarty books. I had been looking forward to his third Moriarty book that he'd been speaking of the last few years, hopefully it may still see the light of day.

I'm happy that he found someone to live for again, and I hope we all get to live a life half as rich.

Flights of angels, Mr. Gardner.

#4 sharpshooter

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 08:10 AM

What?

I can not be.

Sudden news.

RIP John Gardner.

#5 Simon

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 08:21 AM

Condolences to the family.

Many thanks for the entertainment.

#6 spynovelfan

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 09:21 AM

Oh no! I was on his website just a few days ago and saw he'd had a stroke. I spoke to him on the phone a few years ago, and he was very nice to me.

R.I.P.

#7 Trident

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 09:34 AM

Sad news. :cooltongue:

John Gardner made many people happy with his work. He will be deeply missed. My condolences to his family.

#8 marktmurphy

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 09:43 AM

How terribly sad- I really enjoyed his books and he always seemed to have time to chat to Bond fans.

#9 ACE

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 09:45 AM

I am very sad but not surprised. John's health had been failing over the last few years but his spirit was always high. He was an amazing person having lived an extraordinary life. He was a good human being a great family man and a lively spark - always great company.

John was very proud that he was a professional author and had written many books in many genres. I have not read all his books but I do encourage people to read some of his non-thrillers. My personal favourite is Every Night's A Bullfight, a melodrama about the stage world - something John knew a lot about having worked as a drama critic. It is very well written and funny and moving. If you can pick up a copy of his first book, his autobiography, Spin The Bottle, it will be well worth it too.

On a Bondian note, I devoured his Bond novels in a seamless switch from Fleming to Gardner. I waited every year for his new entertainment. Now, having re-read most of them, I see the joy he had in writing them and the fun he had in creating those stories. He succeeded in his aim: he entertained millions.

I always welcome any effort to encourage people away from their screens and dip into the pages of litBond world. Gardner's adventures were thrilling at the time and kept the literary Bond active. For a certain generation of Bond fans, John Gardner's name evokes the joy of those days of childhood and, now, sadness at the passing of them.

RIP John Edmund Gardner - 1926 - 2007

The Adventures of Ian Fleming's James Bond by John Gardner

1) LICENCE RENEWED 1981
2) FOR SPECIAL SERVICES 1982
3) ICEBREAKER 1983
4) ROLE OF HONOUR 1984
5) NOBODY LIVES FOR EVER 1986
6) NO DEALS MR BOND 1987
7) SCORPIUS 1988
8) WIN LOSE OR DIE 1989
9) BROKENCLAW 1990
10) THE MAN FROM BARBAROSSA 1991
11) DEATH IS FOREVER 1992
12) NEVER SEND FLOWERS 1993
13) SEAFIRE 1994
14) COLD (US: COLD FALL) 1996

Film Novelizations
a) LICENCE TO KILL 1989
b ) GOLDENEYE 1995

#10 MarcAngeDraco

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 10:03 AM

Sad news, though not a total surprise.

Rest in peace.

#11 Loomis

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 10:10 AM

I know I've said quite a few negative things here about his Bond novels, but I always respected him as an author


Same here. And I agree with ACE that "for a certain generation of Bond fans, his passing evokes the joy of those days of childhood and sadness at the passing of them".

#12 Mr Twilight

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 10:17 AM

Is this really true?! A sad moment - Beside the Bond books I did enjoy a few of his non-Bond books also.

I send my condolences to the family.

RIP John Gardner

PS.Finished re-reading Icebreaker two days ago. One of my favorites and the first of Gardner's Bond books I read in the middle of the 80s.DS

Edited by Mr Twilight, 06 August 2007 - 10:48 AM.


#13 belvedere

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 10:24 AM

Rest in peace, friend.

Condolences to the family of this literary master.

I, too, devoured each Gardner Bond novel and loved them all.

My favorites were Icebreaker; Role of Honor; No Deals, Mr. Bond; Win, Lose, or Die; and Death is Forever.

I urge all of you to find the non-Bond book Maestro - it is still one of my five favorite reads of all-time (excluding Bond novels).

#14 DOUBLE-O-JOE

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 12:09 PM

This is very sad news indeed. While John Gardner wasn't my favourite Bond continuation author his non-Bond novels are great entertainment; particularly the Boysie Oakes & Moriarty adventures. To quote one of his titles, "nobody lives forever", but his books definately will.

#15 00Twelve

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 01:55 PM

God bless ya, Mr. Gardner.

#16 sharpshooter

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 02:20 PM

Death is Forever, but the books are as well.

(I had to include some form of witticism and meaningful statement)

#17 Trempo

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 02:41 PM

Rest in peace John Gardner.

"The Man From Barbarossa" was the first James Bond book I read in English.
I also loved his "Secret"-trilogy and the "Herbie Kruger" books.

Condolences to his family.

#18 killkenny kid

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 02:47 PM

Oh, my sad news indeed. Thank you for all of your fine work Mr. Gardner.

#19 sharpshooter

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 02:50 PM

I expect some sort of shrine on CBn and the Young Bond Dossier soon. A big event in literary Bond. Gardner demands it!

#20 jaguar007

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 03:08 PM

License Renewed was actually the first Bond book I ever read, Casino Royale being the second. I have read several of Mr. Gardner's Bond books, but not all of them.

RIP

#21 zencat

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 03:20 PM

Damn. Very sad news. John Gardner was as much a factor in making me a Bond fan as were the films. I read every book every year. Even when we fans had to suffer through the six year gap in the films, there was still always a Gardner book to look forward to. I've always been a fan and cherish my collection of Gardner books.

I expect some sort of shrine on CBn and the Young Bond Dossier soon. A big event in literary Bond. Gardner demands it!

I'm actually unable to put anything up on my site right now (computer with my website Fonts is in shop*), so I will leave it to others to report this sad news for now. 007Magazine already has something up.

*Unless someone can send me the Akzidenz-Grotesk Condensed family for OSX.

#22 Navy007Fan

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 03:54 PM

Wow, sad and sudden news indeed. I'm reading Licence Renewed while I'm on travel, forgoten how good it was! R.I.P Mr. Gardner, you will be missed.

#23 HildebrandRarity

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 04:04 PM

Sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

He made a significant contribution to my enjoyment of the James Bond character.

Only last month I read an old copy of Icebreaker.

:cooltongue:

Edited by HildebrandRarity, 06 August 2007 - 04:08 PM.


#24 Kalel577

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 04:05 PM

My first Bond novel every was "Scorpius". RIP, Mr. Gardner. Thank you for all the entertaining Bond adventures you penned.

#25 LadySylvia

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 04:17 PM

Oh my God! I'm in shock! I had read several of Gardner's Bond novels. Although most of them were okay, he did write a few excellent ones that I had truly enjoyed. My condolences go out to John Gardner's family.

#26 darkpath

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 04:20 PM

Rest in Peace Sir. Thank you for sharing the gifts of your writing with us while you were here.

#27 Johnboy007

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 04:40 PM

Certainly one of the greatest contributors to the James Bond canon. Thank you for the years of entertainment Mr. Gardner.

#28 bond_girl_double07

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 05:43 PM

What sad news :cooltongue: I hope to read all of his novels in the future.. rest in peace

#29 Gobi-1

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 05:45 PM

License Renewed was the first Bond novel I read as well. Very sad to hear of his passing.

#30 Royal Dalton

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 05:47 PM

Rest in Peace, Mr. Gardner. :angry:

Thanks for keeping the literary Bond flame burning. :cooltongue: