24 replies to this topic

[White Persian]

I recall reading somewhere in the last year or two about a Bond novel by an unknown writer submitted to Glidrose and knocked back. Apparently the guy then published it himself (perhaps changing Bond's name).
Does anybody know anything about it. I'd love two track it down and see for myself what it was like.

[zencat]

Blue Eyes (06 Jun, 2001 01:50 a.m.):
You're kidding me? Who the hell are you zencat? Raymond Benson? Sheez, you should help us out wiht out literature section. It seems to be your area of expertise.

Ha! No, sorry, I'm not Raymond Benson, I'm just a guy with too much time on his hands.

[Blue Eyes]

zencat (06 Jun, 2001 02:27 a.m.):
Ha! No, sorry, I'm not Raymond Benson, I'm just a guy with too much time on his hands.

Aren't we all!

[The Admiral]

All these lost novels! I wish they'd been released, it'd be a lot easier to find them.

Will someone please help me to contact Gildrose and enquire about the books.

[Trempo]

Dave (06 Jun, 2001 08:34 p.m.):
All these lost novels! I wish they'd been released, it'd be a lot easier to find them.

Will someone please help me to contact Gildrose and enquire about the books.

I would like to read these lost novels.

Do you think there is a possibility that Glidrose will release them?

[zencat]

Trempo (07 Jun, 2001 06:10 p.m.):
Do you think there is a possibility that Glidrose will release them?

Gildrose has nothing to do with the Hatfield book (The Killing Zone), so I doubt they'll even acknowledge its existence. But it would be nice if they'd release PER FINE OUNCE -- maybe as a special limited edition (so as not to compete or be confused with the Benson books).

But I don't think there's a chance in hell they'll release it -- probably for the same reason they didn't release it in '66, whatever that could be.

[zencat]

This is the text from the back of THE KILLING ZONE. Enjoy!

JAMES BOND 007 IS BACK!
In this new high voltage spy thriller, Secret Agent 007 must "liquidate" ruthless billionaire kingpin Klaus Doberman. But James Bond has his hands full as he battles a lucious lady assassin who offers lethal love Russian style and a slit-eyed Oriental sadist who is a elusive and deadly Ninja. Aided by his sex-galore confederate Lotta Head and his old CIA buddy Felix Leiter, 007 is pitted against Klaus Doberman in his heavily armed fortress high in the Mexican Sierra Madres

[Blue Eyes]

Just out of interest Zencat, how did you get your hands on the novel?

[zencat]

Believe it or not, I got it on eBay.

[Blue Eyes]

In a very sad turn of events the author of this 'lost' novel commited suicide last Friday. It's sad to think that someone would do that to themselves. And of course for the Bond world the truth dies with him as it will most likely never be known.

[Boldman]

There's a xerox that made the rounds in Bond circles a few years back -- this seems to be the only way one can read it

Any idea where I could get hold of this?

[Blue Eyes]

I'll second that call. I've been looking for it for a while, but with no luck. I'd love to read it and do a review for the site.

[zencat]

Blue Eyes (21 Jul, 2001 03:29 a.m.):
In a very sad turn of events the author of this 'lost' novel commited suicide last Friday. It's sad to think that someone would do that to themselves. And of course for the Bond world the truth dies with him as it will most likely never be known.

Oh my God! This is quite a piece of news. Sad.

Of course, you guys do know that Hatfield was the author of an infamous biography of George W. Bush which claimed Bush was a bigtime cocaine user in the '80s (which I don't find too hard to believe).

So what's the urband legend...the CIA alows the President 3 hits a term? Who knows...

[Blue Eyes]

zencat (24 Jul, 2001 10:05 p.m.):
Of course, you guys do know that Hatfield was the author of an infamous biography of George W. Bush which claimed Bush was a bigtime cocaine user in the '80s (which I don't find too hard to believe).

It is extremely sad news. I only found out about the Bush bio when I was researching the article that I wrote. And I don't find it hard to believe at all!

007Forever covered the news on the same day, but were very very tacky with it having no respect for the person whatsoever as far as their article went.

[zencat]

Blue Eyes (25 Jul, 2001 01:42 a.m.):
007Forever covered the news on the same day, but were very very tacky with it having no respect for the person whatsoever as far as their article went.

Yes, I couldn't belive the tone of the 007Forever article! Very mean spirited.

[Blue Eyes]

It was, and for no reason. He never did anything against the Bond world all he did was have some shady dealings, and that doesn't mean he deserves being called a 'hack' because he suicided. One can only imagine how awful his life must have been to him if he decided to suicide. I was very disappointed with 007NotSoForever.

[Icephoenix]

Does anyone know where the other copy is? I'd love to read it, to bad not more copies were made, or even put on the internet for 'non-profit' purposes.

[Blue Eyes]

I wish it was that easy as to find it online. Perhaps one day I'll be able to get my hands on a copy of the photocopy. I'll scan it in and put it online then!

[Blue Eyes]

I know what you're talking about. But I can't find the info I used to have on it.

The guy published himself and used the name James Bond. Gildrose knocked it back, he published it anyway.

Apparently it's very good. Written in the Gardner time has a few Gardernism's and a few angles of NSNA in it. The only let down I'm told is Bond's sometimes Americanism.

I'll try and find out more.

[Trempo]

I think you refer to "The Killing Zone" by Jim Hatfield.

It was published in 1985. The time when Gardner wrote the Bond books.

[Blue Eyes]

Yes that's it!!!

Hatfield is in jail now on unrelated fraud charges I believe.

[White Persian]

Hatfield's real life story sounds as interesting as his novel!

[Blue Eyes]

Needless to say he's a very interesting person. I wish there was some way to get the novel and interview him.

[zencat]

At the moment, there are only TWO confirmed copies of this book in exsistance (I have one). There's a xerox that made the rounds in Bond circles a few years back -- this seems to be the only way one can read it. It's a pretty good Bond book (suspiciously like Licence to Kill) with a BIG surprise at the end.

[Blue Eyes]

zencat (05 Jun, 2001 07:54 p.m.):
At the moment, there are only TWO confirmed copies of this book in exsistance (I have one). There's a xerox that made the rounds in Bond circles a few years back -- this seems to be the only way one can read it. It's a pretty good Bond book (suspiciously like Licence to Kill) with a BIG surprise at the end.

You're kidding me? Who the hell are you zencat? Raymond Benson? Sheez, you should help us out wiht out literature section. It seems to be your area of expertise.