2121 replies to this topic

[Matt_13]

He is most certainly one of us, I know it's a bit early to say but I think we're in for a real treat.

[DAN LIGHTER]

Intresting that Hodder are to pubblsh the book. I thought that's what PeRguin 007 was for?

[zencat]

I like that it's Hodder. Back to the original publisher.

BTW, message from JD on Twitter.

http://twitpic.com/1rn9qd

[Loomis]

That website is sweet! Looks like we are in for a year of hype and roll out.

Again. And look what happened last time.

Mind you, I think Deaver's PROJECT X (shall we use that as our codename for the novel, a la the shorthand that is BOND 23?) will be rather better than DEVIL MAY CARE, and not just because, well, it ain't hard to be better than DEVIL MAY CARE. I truly believe that the contemporary setting has freed Deaver up to bring a new perspective to Bond as opposed to the way Faulks was somewhat straitjacketed by Fleming (and thank goodness the "Writing as Ian Fleming" gimmick has been abandoned this time).

I'm also itching to know whether Deaver has committed himself to more than one book. I believe that if he's signed up for a series or a trilogy, then he'll invest much more creativity and effort into Bond than Faulks did (it seemed as though Faulks took the money and ran for a bumper payday and just tossed it off). It'll be part of his own canon rather than just a piece of well-paid hackwork.

Going back to the new book's present-day setting, I wonder whether IFP insisted on it (so as not to tread on DEVIL MAY CARE's toes and give the public a reason to still buy Faulks' effort), or whether it was Deaver's suggestion (sorry, I haven't yet read the press release, so it may be that this question has been answered). For reasons I can't quite put my finger on, it seems a very astute commercial move. It sends the message that the literary Bond can still be contemporary and relevant and plough new directions - that it's more than just 1950s and 1960s Cold War and Austin Powers nostalgia and attempts to mimic Fleming.

[jaguar007]

I can't wait!

[[dark]]

I like that it's Hodder. Back to the original publisher.

BTW, message from JD on Twitter.

http://twitpic.com/1rn9qd

Deaver's tweet seems to hint at a series of novels...

[terminus]

I like that it's Hodder. Back to the original publisher.

BTW, message from JD on Twitter.

http://twitpic.com/1rn9qd

Deaver's tweet seems to hint at a series of novels...

True. And he's just been to Dubai, could we see Bond venturing to the Middle East? Dubai is a great unused Bond location.

[zencat]

True. And he's just been to Dubai, could we see Bond venturing to the Middle East? Dubai is a great unused Bond location.

Dubai. Oh, baby, yes!

But it looks like here was there to speak at an event. Besides, we did just get Middle East in DMC.

He also attended the Westminster Dog Show in NYC. I could see a villain into that. He loves his dogs, but when he blows a special whistle, they kill!

[MajorB]

Wouldn't it be funny if the title of the book ultimately turned out to be Project X?

Question to Deaver fans out there--if I wanted to read a book of his that might give a sense of how he might approach Bond, is there one you'd recommend? Or, short of that, what would be a good entree to his work?

[zencat]

Wouldn't it be funny if the title of the book ultimately turned out to be Project X?

No. That's a nasty title. Not a Bond title. I forbid it.

[Loomis]

True. And he's just been to Dubai, could we see Bond venturing to the Middle East? Dubai is a great unused Bond location.

Dubai. Oh, baby, yes!

But it looks like here was there to speak at an event. Besides, we did just get Middle East in DMC.

He also attended the Westminster Dog Show in NYC. I could see a villain into that. He loves his dogs, but when he blows a special whistle, they kill!

Wasn't there a dog show in NEVER DREAM OF DYING?

[jaguar007]

I forbid it.

Well in that case it clearly won't be the title

well perhaps I like the idea of a Bond book called Project X being adapted into an EON film with the screenplay written by some chap named John Cox. He can go on record like Paul Haggis stating how he hates the title

He also attended the Westminster Dog Show in NYC. I could see a villain into that. He loves his dogs, but when he blows a special whistle, they kill!

Bond tracking a villain at a Dog Show, Great Stuff! Maybe EON can get Fred Willard to play the announcer at the show. Have Christopher Guest, Michael McKeon and such as the dog owners.

[Professor Dent]

Great news! Shame we have to wait another year for it.

[MajorB]

Wouldn't it be funny if the title of the book ultimately turned out to be Project X?

No. That's a nasty title. Not a Bond title. I forbid it.

When I said "funny," I didn't necessarily mean in a good way....

[Jack Spang]

Great news! It interests me that it will be set in modern day. The only thing that puts me off a little are the words 'fast paced'. Fleming's books are not as fast paced as Devil May Care. As long as it has the same pacing as Fleming's novels then I will be happy.

Definitely more exciting than cinematic Bond announcements. I just wish they could release a new Bond novel atleast every 2 years. Once a year would be even better.

[OmarB]

I've never read any of his books but upon reading this I feel great: The novel will maintain the persona of James Bond as Fleming created him and the unique tone the author brought to his books, while incorporating my own literary trademarks: detailed research, fast pacing and surprise twists.

A great thriller writer who's gonna give Fleming's man the respect he deserve but brings a few more wrinkles of his own to the party.

Gentlemen. Remember before DMC's author was announced I guessed that we would start getting one shot novels from different authors? It seems like this may be the case.

[Jack Spang]

If Deaver does a good job it would be nice to have a few Bond novels by him. You know, for a bit of consistency. Whether he will want to commit to more is another question. It's the same situation in the films regarding directors. They will only commit to one.

[Loomis]

I've never read any of his books but upon reading this I feel great: The novel will maintain the persona of James Bond as Fleming created him and the unique tone the author brought to his books, while incorporating my own literary trademarks: detailed research, fast pacing and surprise twists.

A great thriller writer who's gonna give Fleming's man the respect he deserve but brings a few more wrinkles of his own to the party.

Hopefully, it'll be IFP's equivalent of Eon's CASINO ROYALE: Fleming's Bond seamlessly integrated into the here and now.

One wonders what Deaver is retaining from the Fleming universe. As we all know, Craig's Bond does not smoke or do Benzedrine, but he is widely (and, in my book, correctly) regarded as the most faithful to the soul and spirit of Fleming of all the screen Bonds.

In his introduction to CASINO ROYALE, Deaver writes: "(Bond) is utterly human. ... He chain-smokes. He orders whisky with lunch and later a sizeable cocktail of vodka, gin and Lillet which he imbibes shortly before he goes on a critical assignment. Copious champagne follows all the way through the small hours. He packs away a lot of cholesterol with his sumptuous meals.... He doubts, he questions, he makes mistakes."

Will Deaver's Bond be a self-destructive addict? Will nicotine and booze play a much larger role in his life than in the Gardners or Bensons?

Will Deaver give us a reboot? Will Bond be in his mid-thirties prime and relatively fresh to the British secret service? Or will he be more of a wily old pro, or even an ageing, fading legend?

Will Bond be - to quote LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD - an analog hero in a digital age, or - to quote GOLDENEYE - a relic of the Cold War, thinking wistfully of things like old Jamaica and long-gone casinos in France as he struggles to adapt to the modern world? Or will he be a totally contemporary character (to quote POINT BREAK, young, dumb and full of come) who's completely at home in 2010?

(Might it even be the case that Deaver's Bond is tied in with Craig's, i.e. the CASINO ROYALE mission took place in 2006, M is a woman, and Quantum is mentioned in passing? Seems unlikely, but this might be an astute commercial move.)

Will there be references to earlier novels? Will other authors than Fleming be acknowledged? Will Felix Leiter appear, and if so is it pre- or post-his encounter with the shark? Will Q be on hand with the gadgets? To what extent will the Eon films (the source of most people's impressions of Bond) influence PROJECT X?

[zencat]

All excellent questions, Loomis. Exciting to think about.

[Loomis]

MGM...Bond 23...do what ya gotta do. I'm busy.

LOL! Quite right.

The celluloid Bond can take a breather for a couple more years. Besides, we've got THE EXPENDABLES and Brad Bird's MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV in the pipeline. MGM and Eon can just go and twiddle their thumbs for all I care (although my one regret would be to see no more of Craig).

[Bryce (003)]

Fantastic news to come home to.

I think I'll know where I'll be around this time next year. Thank God I just renewed my non-resident membership at both the St.James and FIFTY.

Bond IS Back...Okay, he's not "back" (yet), but he's on his way.

[zencat]

I think I'll know where I'll be around this time next year. Thank God I just renewed my non-resident membership at both the St.James and FIFTY.

Yep, let's do it again!

[Double-Oh Agent]

True. And he's just been to Dubai, could we see Bond venturing to the Middle East? Dubai is a great unused Bond location.

Dubai. Oh, baby, yes!

But it looks like here was there to speak at an event. Besides, we did just get Middle East in DMC.

He also attended the Westminster Dog Show in NYC. I could see a villain into that. He loves his dogs, but when he blows a special whistle, they kill!

Wasn't there a dog show in NEVER DREAM OF DYING?

If I remember correctly, Bond chased a bad guy through a series of sound stages, one of which was taping a show about dogs and he wound up getting entangled with the three guest canines during his pursuit.

As for the news about Jeffrey Deaver, I couldn't be more excited. He's a great author and his first Lincoln Rhyme novel, The Bone Collector, is an excellent suspenseful thriller. I have no doubt that Bond will be in good hands and his genuine excitement for James Bond is encouraging as well.

Comparing this announcement to Sebastian Faulks in 2008 is like night and day to me. Unlike some on this board who were ecstatic over the quality of writer like Faulks being named to pen the centenary novel, since I had never heard of him/read any of his work and he hadn't seemed to have written a thriller before, I had reserved judgment and remained guardedly optimistic. Consequently, my disappointment over Devil May Care was not as great as those who had initially been thrilled about Faulks for which I feel fortunate. But with the announcement of Deaver, my role is completely reversed and I'm greatly looking forward to reading what he has come up with and believing it will be a great adventure.

As for the prospect of Deaver writing more than one 007 novel, I'm afraid I have to agree with Trident. With Deaver already putting out TWO series with Lincoln Rhyme and Kathryn Dance, I don't see how he can add James Bond to the mix--although I wouldn't mind if he did. If he could do three or four 007 novels (or more?) that would be icing on the cake.

May 28, 2011 can't come soon enough.

Good job IFP!

[zencat]

Question to Deaver fans out there--if I wanted to read a book of his that might give a sense of how he might approach Bond, is there one you'd recommend? Or, short of that, what would be a good entree to his work?

Good question. I'd like to know that as well. From the Press Release it appears Garden of Beasts was the book that impressed IFP and got him the gig. Maybe that's the one to read?

[zencat]

John Cork posted this on my Young Bond Facebook page. A solid endorsement, I'd say.

"He gave us a wonderful interview for the Casino Royale Collectors Edition DVD / Blu-ray release. Very smart man. His books are highly enjoyable and crafted with incredible care. Should be very interesting reading!"

[Craig Arthur]

Does anybody know how to leave/unsubscribe from mi6.co.uk forums? I am not sure why I signed up in the first place but they completely ruined the news about Project X by sending out a mass unsolicited email revealing Deaver as the new author in the subject line. I cannot seem to manage to cancel my registration and I have no interest being a member of mi6 forums.

[Loomis]

He gave us a wonderful interview for the Casino Royale Collectors Edition DVD / Blu-ray release.

Goodness me. Does this mean I have an interview with Deaver on Bond sitting in my drawer of Blu-rays? Quick, someone check this out!

[zencat]

Does anybody know how to leave/unsubscribe from mi6.co.uk forums? I am not sure why I signed up in the first place but they completely ruined the news about Project X by sending out a mass unsolicited email revealing Deaver as the new author in the subject line. I cannot seem to manage to cancel my registration and I have no interest being a member of mi6 forums.

Sorry to hear that, Craig. I saw over at AJB that mass email spoiled it for a lot of people. Lousy of them to do that.

[K1Bond007]

I have to say that I find solace in the fact, at the moment anyway, that I don't know who this guy is (I did see The Bone Collector, however). It's kind of scary too, but really having no idea gives me a sense of optimism that this guy might pull off a great novel. When Faulks came on board I knew who he was, certainly a high caliber author, and I had a lot of optimism that he was going to pull it off, more so after I read Birdsong which is one of my favorite novels now. I won't say Devil May Care is a bad book, but unfortunately it was below the bar that Faulks could have written had he really put the time, effort and love into this novel that he clearly does with all his others. Same thing pretty much goes for Kingsley Amis who was another high caliber novelist that just didn't deliver to his fullest potential, though again, not to say Colonel Sun was a bad book.

Can't wait to read it. I guess I'm just excited that the adult Bond series appears to be back in full swing. It's not in anyway considered a spin-off or (at the moment - or unless I missed it) a one-off, the future just looks...good.

[sharpshooter]

We're on a year long ride, but this is satisfying news.

The decision to put Bond in a contemporary setting is the right one. After all these period pieces, it’s certainly a fresh change of pace.

Like 2006's Casino Royale, this is the chance to redefine the literary Bond for audiences here and now. None of this ‘writing as Ian Fleming’ nonsense. Free those chains and go wild with your own take. Keep the overall Bond spirit, but do something new and exciting.

That's where my mind is now. Hopefully they get this right, and it’s the start of a series.