18 replies to this topic

[Trident]

Now more than a month has gone by since DMC has hit the shelves and bestseller lists in GB and the US. While the book has met with some mixed reactions among fans and general public and spurred heated discussions among fanbase one thing can't be denied: with current amazone-ranks of 15 (GB hardcover) and 523 (US hardcover) it's at any rate a huge commercial success that may see a generous second helping once the paperbacks are out on these respective markets.

Under these circumstances it seems a reasonably safe bet that adult Bond will see another continuation, all the more so as there already have been hints coming from IFP's direction. The questions that remain to be answered would be:

When will another continuation be announced?

Will it be connected to some form of 'celebration' (for example '60 years of literary Bond in 2013' or '50 years of EON Bond in 2012')?

Will the setting again be 'period' or 'present'?

Will it once more be a one-off?

Will it see a similar amount of publicity?

From IFP's moves so far I think we can gain the following intelligence regarding their policy.

Every fiction project, from Charlie Higson's Young Bond to Samantha Weinberg's Moneypenny Diaries and of course DMC, has seen a considerable amount of time from the initial announcement to the final presentation to the public. This may mean that the announcement in these cases came only shortly after the contracts were signed and before the respective first installments were finished or authors even started work (apart perhaps from a rough overview or first draft).

Every fiction project has had its limits clearly defined from the start: 5 Young Bond volumes, 3 Moneypenny Diaries, 1 Centennary Celebration.

As a rule IFP seems to avoid hasty decisions and to observe the market for its products closely to avoid cheapening its brand by flooding it. The long intervals between the outings may also indicate a considerable amount of editorial work on the respective books, although this may not be the case with every book or even be necessary.

With regard to the questions above it seems reasonable to expect an announcement of a new adult Bond novel within the next 2 to 3 years. A connection with '60 years of literary Bond' would seem natural, setting a publishing date somewhere in 2013. Any connection with EON's series would seem unlikely to me. The setting of the next continuation would most likely again be 'period', considering the success of the 'period' YB and MD and also taking into account that nobody seemed to object to DMC's late 60's setting. The one-off question isn't answered so easily as IFP would probably like to take one author on board for a longer stint. I daresay nonetheless that we'll again see another one-off. This would dovetail with IFP's policy to 'make it special'. While a similar amount of publicity for IFP's next Bond outing is really almost impossible, it seems obvious that all the media-generated hype around DMC has paid handsomely and every penny spent on all these publicity stunts has earned at least five cousins. It would be most surprising if IFP wouldn't keep in very close touch with the media to announce and promote any new installment of Bond; be that Young Bond, Young Bond II, Moneypenny or adult Bond.

This last point is actually the most difficult to handle. While Ian Fleming's 100th birthday has made for a spectacular year stuffed with events, new releases and re-releases, it's hardly possible to repeat this massive media coverage. One way though to create and spur media interest in a new Bond novel would be to carefully chose and contract an author whose name would again be major headline fodder. Sebastian Faulks was a surprise to most readers and perhaps even to most insiders. Getting a name with a similar standing would be the most urgent and difficult task. My personal choice would be (in no particular order):

William Boyd, Stephen Fry or Ken Follett. Follett, while not a very surprising choice, perhaps even a little bit unimaginative, would also mean that a new Bond would certainly do well in Germany as his works are generally to be found in the top three of all bestseller lists for at least 6 months. DMC went next to unnoticed on this market with an amazone rank of 10160. Follett would see to that. Both Boyd and Fry are not as popular in Germany as Follett but also do have a firm fanbase that would give any of their books a comfortable start and would guarantee that their book would be noticed by professional reviewers.

Or get Jim and conquer not just GB, USA and Europe but the world!

[MkB]

Or get Jim and conquer not just GB, USA and Europe but the world!

Some say it's not enough, but I'm 100% with you on this one!

Thanks for this thought provoking thread and post, Tribent!

One thing: I'm not sure IFP will continue with the period pieces.
Here's the point I'm trying to make: a period piece was common sense for the Young Bond series; it was clever for TMD as a Fleming spin-off, as it was a limited 3 volumes series; it was perfect for the centenary celebration.
BUT the major inconvenient of continuing with period adult Bond novels is the continuity: if you set your continuation novels in the 60s, following Fleming's last books, i.e. with a world-weary, damaged and ageing Bond. This can work for a couple of novels, but I don't think IFP can go this way for a long set of novels. I mean, this is James Bond, the dashing secret agent for whom all women fall, with a "hard, brown body" and "a comma of black hair", not a tired balding, greying old man suffering from rheumatism when it rains and unable to understand these strange young women of the 60s (and even 70s) who think of him as a dinosaur.
OR they should publish period adult Bond novels which wouldn't e exactly continuation novels (starting where Fleming left), but (how to put it?) complementary novels, situated between other novels by Fleming. Let's say, for instance, FRWL and DAF, or between OHMSS and YOLT. This, for sure, would be hell for the author to fit in the already somehow problematic Fleming chronology!

[Trident]

Or get Jim and conquer not just GB, USA and Europe but the world!

BUT the major inconvenient of continuing with period adult Bond novels is the continuity: if you set your continuation novels in the 60s, following Fleming's last books, i.e. with a world-weary, damaged and ageing Bond. This can work for a couple of novels, but I don't think IFP can go this way for a long set of novels.

Yes, definitely a problem. But I don't think IFP will publish that many books in a period adult Bond series in the future. I'd say perhaps one every three to four years. Just enough time to patiently feed readers appetite for more without risking to let the fire burn down to ashes entirely. This would also help to keep new Bond's an event, a feast for fans that's not so often celebrated any more. Off course one would have to nourish public interest by pulling bigger names instead of smaller ones. I have a feeling that adult Bond at the moment is done with the usual suspects, i.e. the serial-writers a la Lee Child or Ian Rankin (not that these two would be small names any more; far from!). The one-off way with little restrictions would make it also easier to spur writers interest to become a part of the series. And, hopefully, help to highten the standards of their entries as they will have only one go.

A series of contemporary adult Bond novels can always be re-started, there is no need to hurry with that one. The current market is very friendly to historic settings and IFP will surely wish to tap into that one as long as possible.

[spynovelfan]

I think it is possible that Devil May Care actually makes another adult continuation Bond novel further away. It was extremely successful, but the novelty might have worn off for very big Literary Writers of the kind Faulks is - they wouldn't just be 'following Fleming for a one-off', which is a bit of a hard sell in the first place, but following Faulks in having done that. The likelihood is that if someone does follow Faulks in a couple of years, they will have a harder time both commercially and critically. I can see the reviews already: 'It was enjoyable when Sebastian Faulks did it, especially as there was a valid reason with the tribute to Fleming on his centenary, but (Insert Name) is no Faulks, and this smacks of commercial opportunism from the Fleming estate...' Or something along those lines.

These are just very off-the-cuff thoughts, but I don't think it necessarily follows that Faulks' unprecedented level of success with an adult Bond novel means there will be another one anytime soon. IFP may well see this as something they can only do every once in a very long while, and concentrate more on Higson's second series instead, or other projects. I can see them commissioning someone like Ben Macintyre to write a Boothroyd/Q novel, for example, in a kind of cross between Agent Zig-Zag and the Moneypenny Diaries. I'm sure they'll have something interesting up their sleeve, anyway.

[Scrambled Eggs]

I can see them commissioning someone like Ben Macintyre to write a Boothroyd/Q novel, for example, in a kind of cross between Agent Zig-Zag and the Moneypenny Diaries. I'm sure they'll have something interesting up their sleeve, anyway.

Thats the sort of thing I think we can expect. Not Bond novels but novels set in Bond's world.

[Hitch]

A collection of short stories by established authors might be more palatable to all concerned. I'd buy it.

It seems that the literary side of Bond is slowly turning into as much a franchise as the cinematic side: we may well see Bond go through Fettes and the war years and then dent Casino Royale's rear bumper; Moneypenny's had her go at derring-do; Boothroyd/The Armourer/Q could have a bash; Bill Tanner's rise to Chief of Staff might be ripe with possibilities, and so on. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised to see May turning into a more lethal form of Miss Marple.

I'd like to see Bond continuation novels hover between the early 50s and the early 70s, but that's just a personal preference. If IFP sticks to a sparse publishing schedule there's no reason why Bond couldn't feature in a handful of novels set either after DMC or slotted somewhere in the timeline. Sales of John Griswold's annotated chronology might remain buoyant, kept afloat by desperate continuation authors.

[zencat]

Seems we just had this thread...but that's okay, let's have it again!

I think the only thing we can say for certain (well, almost certain) is that we will see no more Bond novels set in modern times. I do think IFP is committed to their new (and very successful) approach of staying within the original Fleming timeline, and that's fine with me.

But when we'll see new books, who will write them, and exactly where into the timeline they will fit...I have no idea. But I have mounted this campaign.

[Trident]

Seems we just had this thread...but that's okay, let's have it again!

Oh, dreadful sorry. My fault entirely, haven't been looking closely enough and just fired away this morning when I couldn't find it right away. Please pardon the inconvenience.

I think it is possible that Devil May Care actually makes another adult continuation Bond novel further away. It was extremely successful, but the novelty might have worn off for very big Literary Writers of the kind Faulks is - they wouldn't just be 'following Fleming for a one-off', which is a bit of a hard sell in the first place, but following Faulks in having done that. The likelihood is that if someone does follow Faulks in a couple of years, they will have a harder time both commercially and critically. I can see the reviews already: 'It was enjoyable when Sebastian Faulks did it, especially as there was a valid reason with the tribute to Fleming on his centenary, but (Insert Name) is no Faulks, and this smacks of commercial opportunism from the Fleming estate...' Or something along those lines.

I wouldn't think so. Actually there was no real novelty to a continuation in the first place. That has already worn off by the days of Amis (and perhaps Jenkins). The only real novelty was the 'writing as Fleming'-moniker which maybe was originally intended as a kind of connecting label. And of course the whole idea of a frenchise is nothing else but commercial opportunism. Enjoyable? Well, this obviously depends on ones personal preferences, but it seems the majority has enjoyed DMC to some extent. But I also have a hard time imagining a writer worth his money who wouldn't privately be convinced to be able to do at least a tiny little bit better. And if someone like Follett publicly states he'd like to give it a try I don't see IFP turning down such perspectives. As I said before, certainly nothing as inflationary as with the Gardner/Benson era. But one book every four years doesn't seem to be too much in my opinion. And if they can find someone with headline potential and add some kind of motto to every single one it should work out.

[dch]

Follett, while not a very surprising choice, perhaps even a little bit unimaginative, would also mean that a new Bond would certainly do well in Germany as his works are generally to be found in the top three of all bestseller lists for at least 6 months. DMC went next to unnoticed on this market with an amazone rank of 10160. Follett would see to that. Both Boyd and Fry are not as popular in Germany as Follett but also do have a firm fanbase that would give any of their books a comfortable start and would guarantee that their book would be noticed by professional reviewers.

Or get Jim and conquer not just GB, USA and Europe but the world!

I got a mutual acquaintance to ask Follet whether he was interested before the news about Faulks broke and he said no way. "Poisoned chalice" I believe was the phrase used. Maybe he'd reconsider after the success of DMC, since he is a huge Bond fan, but somehow I doubt it. Indeed, I rather suspected that he'd already turned an offer down.

[Trident]

I got a mutual acquaintance to ask Follet whether he was interested before the news about Faulks broke and he said no way. "Poisoned chalice" I believe was the phrase used.

Really? Strange, as Follett has been on the record somewhere ( http://commanderbond.net/article/4231 ) with a statement that he'd be interested but hasn't been asked. Could of course been old hat back then already, or perhaps your suggestion is correct that Follett could see DMC's pre-orders and decided to bring his name into the game for the future.

Personally, I'd still prefer Boyd and Fry and, after my disappointment with DMC, the idea of a collection of short stories gains a whole new attraction in my view.

[terminus]

I wonder if, depending on Quantum of Solace's success, we'll see a series of novels (either annually or bi-annually) based on the Craig Bond reboot in order to cash in on them.

[Quantumofsolace007]

I wonder if, depending on Quantum of Solace's success, we'll see a series of novels (either annually or bi-annually) based on the Craig Bond reboot in order to cash in on them.

I WOULD LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I really would.

[Trident]

I wonder if, depending on Quantum of Solace's success, we'll see a series of novels (either annually or bi-annually) based on the Craig Bond reboot in order to cash in on them.

I WOULD LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I really would.

Mm, not really sure on this.
Film-tie-ins often show an incredible mediocre standard in their quality, most of them being a cheaply hacked re-hash of scripts that never were intended for publishing in the first place. I'd only go for them if they'd be done like Wood's versions of his own scripts for TSWLM and MR, fleshing out carefully where necessary and cutting most ludicrous and cheesy moments.

I also think it's most unlikely because tie-ins aren't that much of a profit anymore they used to be 10 or 20 years ago. There hasn't been a proper one for CR and there won't be one for QOS and I doubt EON will reverse that decision again in the future (or even register a lower profit because of it).

I haven't been too ecstatic about the tie-ins from LTK onwards and would probably not buy a new one, unless it's really, really good. Actually, I'd rather see a proper documentary with behind-the-scenes coverage.

[Bondian]

One day. We'll see a young chap named John Cox either writing a continuation novel or a screenplay for a Bond. It's going to happen. The guy's far too clued up for IFF or EOn to be ignored.

I'm prepared to bear his children. Just hope we can see eye-to-eye in the "it's my turn to wear the plastic vagina".



Watch this space. If there's anyone who can shaken and stir us "fanwankes" it's zencat.

Cheers,

Ian

[Trident]

LOL! Hilarious!

You know, if you just hang on a few years longer you may not have to wear any plastic parts for the job. Science will make it possible, mark my words.

[Bondian]

LOL! Hilarious!

You know, if you just hang on a few years longer you may not have to wear any plastic parts for the job. Science will make it possible, mark my words.

Since I made that post around 10 minutes ago, I have had my manhood and the other dangly bits removed. However. Have just found out that the guy wasn't a doctor but the owner of our local kebab take-away.

I'm have asked for a refund. But he's willing to throw in some extra Richard Donner meat the next time I order.

Crap. I really must get to bed.

[Trident]

Since I made that post around 10 minutes ago, I have had my manhood and the other dangly bits removed. However. Have just found out that the guy wasn't a doctor but the owner of our local kebab take-away.

I'm have asked for a refund. But he's willing to throw in some extra Richard Donner meat the next time I order.

Oh my god!

Thank goodness it wasn't a Chinese take-away. I just ordered ' Triple Delight' and, frankly, you make me think...

[marktmurphy]

I want Higson's War Bond. For grown-ups (although obviously teens will read them) starring a young adult Bond in the secret service, but different enough from the Flemings to have a point in doing them.

[Trident]

I want Higson's War Bond. For grown-ups (although obviously teens will read them) starring a young adult Bond in the secret service, but different enough from the Flemings to have a point in doing them.

I'd be really surprised if that wasn't coming. Historic settings seem to go strong at the moment and from what you can gain listening to fanbase forums, this is obviously one of the favourites with fans. Furthermore it has the potential to win over fans that yet avoided YB.

My only concern is, Higson has this contract for his own series of youth books that will keep him busy for the better part of at least four years I should think. IFP may just not want to wait that long, before giving their next enterprise the go. YB is selling spectacularly well at the moment, but three years from now may already be old hat. There's a chance that IFP are putting another name behind War Bond if Higson isn't available. And, frankly, that would be a real shame IMHO.