25 replies to this topic

[chrisno1]

I was thinking today, as you do, that Wood's movie interpretation of Fleming's original novel is so far away from its source (ie, not a single character or location remains save 007 himself) that, while it is a movie tie-in, it also can stand on its own as a 007 novel. This point is often raised on the forums here and Wood's novel is a very earnest attempt to recreate Fleming's hero in the late 1970s. He succeeds very well and the novel does sit very comfortably along side all the original titles.
It's an theory which doesn't quite work when considering Wood's JB&MR because Hugo Drax is a recurring figure.

Now, here's the thing. If IFP had wanted Christopher Wood's novel as one of their own, so to speak, what would the title be? Clearly not 'James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me'

My vote hitches on "THE RULES OF THE GAME" a line used by Bond when Anya strikes him for killing her lover. (p.139 in my edition).

Anyone else got any ideas?

Edited by chrisno1, 24 April 2011 - 09:48 PM.

[Wade]

One side remark that is attributed to Bond in the book is that he, Bond, is not looked upon well by Stromberg and his crew. Bond surmises that he himself is “something not to be touched." This also works into Stromberg not shaking hands, and also the invisible wall between Bond and Anya, not only because she is a Soviet spy, but also because she is the lover of the man he killed.

So there is my nomination for the alternate title for Wood's TSWLM: "Something Not to Be Touched."

[Mr. Blofeld]

Untouchable might work better, in that regard...

[Dustin]

It's a bit ago that I read this. I'd vote either Stromberg or On Aggregade.

[Wade]

Untouchable might work better, in that regard...

That sounds too much like a Kevin Costner movie (though it did have Sean in it). "Something Not to Be Touched" sounds forbidden and taboo.

It's a bit ago that I read this. I'd vote either Stromberg or On Aggregade.

"Stromberg" wouldn't be bad if it meant something on its own. By itself, it means "river on a mountain." Other one-word titles -- "Thunderball," "Goldfinger," "Moonraker" -- have some sexual undertone to them. And I have no idea what "On Aggregade" even means. Did you mean "aggregate"? If so, what does that refer to?

[Dustin]

Oh sorry. Iphone still refuses to keep its peace with my typing. Aggregate of course. It would refer to this being the return match between SMERSH and Bond.

[Guy Haines]

I've just pulled my ancient copy of Wood's TSWLM novel off the shelves to see if we can find any chapter titles in it that might do as a main title. I must say that apart from "Five Minutes to Armageddon", I can't see any that do (well, maybe "Red Roses For A Red Lady" if Anya is the focus of the title, or "Drowned, Buried and Cremated", which appealled to my funny bone!)

So I've had a go at making one up myself, reflecting the villain's nefarious plan and his weapons of choice:- "Death Lies Submerged". OK, I admit its got the word "death" in it, which appears in Bond film titles from time to time, but us fans are surely used to such stuff by now.

[AMC Hornet]

Too bad "The Iron Butterfly" was already the name of a rock band in the 60s. Even if it doesn't strike you as a good novel title, it could have made a good alternate chapter title for 'Dropping in on the Navy' or 'The Trap Closes'.

Edited by AMC Hornet, 26 April 2011 - 04:48 PM.

[Bond... Raybond]

Nobody Does It Better.

[MajorB]

More whimsically:

SUBSUCKER.

[coco1997]

How about an alternate title for Wood's "Moonraker"

[Wade]

One possible title for Wood's "Moonraker" could be a snippet from John Magee: "The Face of God," referring to Drax.

Also possible is something I just made up: "Death in a Vacuum," playing off the "Alien" tagline.

There's also "A Hole in Space," from a Larry Niven book.

You could use "Heavenly Bodies," a play on Drax's master race plan.

Or, using NASA shuttle jargon, you could get cheeky with the title "Throttle Up."

Edited by Wade, 26 April 2011 - 07:49 PM.

[chrisno1]

Subsucker was gr8!
I think Stromberg isn't a strong enough name to feature as a title; it lacks depth.
Something Not To Be Touched is a bit of a mouthful. Given that sentence is all about death, TSWLM could be retitled A TOUCH OF DEATH.
Recently had a hankering for THE LEPARDUS as well as my own earlier creation

[Jim]

I was thinking today, as you do, that Wood's movie interpretation of Fleming's original novel is so far away from its source (ie, not a single character or location remains save 007 himself) that, while it is a movie tie-in, it also can stand on its own as a 007 novel. This point is often raised on the forums here and Wood's novel is a very earnest attempt to recreate Fleming's hero in the late 1970s. He succeeds very well and the novel does sit very comfortably along side all the original titles.
It's an theory which doesn't quite work when considering Wood's JB&MR because Hugo Drax is a recurring figure.

Now, here's the thing. If IFP had wanted Christopher Wood's novel as one of their own, so to speak, what would the title be? Clearly not 'James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me'

My vote hitches on "THE RULES OF THE GAME" a line used by Bond when Anya strikes him for killing her lover. (p.139 in my edition).

Anyone else got any ideas?

The Jaws of Death.

[chrisno1]

The Jaws of Death.

Damn, how did i miss that one????

[Dustin]

The Jaws of Death.

Which would make Moonraker The Jaws of Space

[Jim]

The Jaws of Death.

Which would make Moonraker The Jaws of Space

Star Jaws

[Dustin]

The Jaws of Death.

Which would make Moonraker The Jaws of Space

Star Jaws

Star Jaws - A New Hope Retainer

Edited by Dustin, 27 April 2011 - 01:00 PM.

[hilly]

The Jaws of Death.

Which would make Moonraker The Jaws of Space

Star Jaws

Star Jaws - A New Hope Retainer

A View To A Kiel?

[Wade]

A View To A Kiel?

That's artwork! That's freaking artwork! Kudos, my friend!

[Double-Oh Agent]

Here's my suggestions:

James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me could be renamed The Instruments Of Armageddon.

James Bond And Moonraker could be retitled The Perfect Plot.
Or for a more humorous angle, how about Flower Power?

[David Schofield]

Wood's MOONRAKER surely has to become:

HELL IS HERE.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Could someone post a list of chapter titles that could be whitled down to a possible title for the entire book?

[chrisno1]

They're not very interesting chapter headings:

Love in the Afternoon
Piste Dangereuse!
Death to Spies
Hunt the Submarine
Introducing Sigmund Stromberg
Room 4C
On the Scent
The Sound of Music
Death of a Salesman
Shock Tactics
Adventures in Clubland
A Clash of Personalities
A Marriage of Convenience
The Drowned Volcano
Motorcycles are Dangerous
Esprit de Mort
Red Roses for a Red Lady
Dropping in on the Navy
The Trap Closes
Exit Sigmund Stromberg
Drowned, Buried and Cremated
Five Minutes to Armageddon
Coming Up for Air
Exit Sigmund Stromberg - Again
Love in the Morning

You can see why I picked a line from the novel rather than a chapter title....

Edited by chrisno1, 30 April 2011 - 11:45 PM.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Five Minutes to Armageddon... that might work, in a Zero Minus Ten-sort of way.

[Royal Dalton]

The Spy Who Loved Me: Atlantis

Moonraker: The Space Race / Ark Angels