13 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Will James Bond die in the new novel by William Boyd? This might not be as unthinkable as it sounds.

 

http://www.thebookbo...license-to.html

[marktmurphy]

It's possible, but IFP have also shown that they or their publishers are rather good at marketing now, and it's rather timely that this comes out in the same week they've made a little marketing push.

[zencat]

Well, this has only "come out" via me (as far as I know). Unless you mean they have some kind of an in with the bookies? Possible.

[Dustin]

Many thanks for sharing this, zencat!

http://commanderbond...ds-funeral.html

[AMC Hornet]

Bookies set up a line.

Results:

Publicity for the upcoming novel, improving sales (money for IFP);

People blow their money betting on Bond to die, making money for the bookies.

 

Win/win - at least for them.

 

I'll save my money for the book.

[marktmurphy]

Well, this has only "come out" via me (as far as I know). Unless you mean they have some kind of an in with the bookies? Possible.

 

 

Can I ask where you heard it from? I'm guessing you don't usually check UK bookmakers!

[zencat]

Well, this has only "come out" via me (as far as I know). Unless you mean they have some kind of an in with the bookies? Possible.

 

 

Can I ask where you heard it from? I'm guessing you don't usually check UK bookmakers!

I have people everywhere.

[Thevan7F]

He said Bond will be getting a new Car. So what the car? Will be Bentley or any British Iconic? Will he carry his Walther either PPK or any of the new models?

             

[marktmurphy]

He said Bond will be getting a new Car. So what the car? Will be Bentley or any British Iconic? Will he carry his Walther either PPK or any of the new models?

             

 

 

Well, as it's set in '69 I don't know what the new Walthers were then; but car-wise I'd give him an AC Frua / 428. I think that's very Bond

 

 

But that's probably a conversation for a different thread!

[Dustin]

He said Bond will be getting a new Car. So what the car? Will be Bentley or any British Iconic? Will he carry his Walther either PPK or any of the new models?

             

 

I suppose the main page article tried - apparently in vain, it would seem - to allude Bond might have to ride in a hearse. Nobody knows if in Boyd's book Bond is actually driving himself, or what make of car for that matter.

Edited by Dustin, 21 February 2013 - 12:05 PM.

[TheREAL008]

I'm very nervous about this project.

 

Boyd talking of Bond being an alcolhic and now 'rumours' of a death? This novel is turning out to be as black as the sands of Crab Key. Bond would have been 49 in 1969; well past the manditory age of retirement of a double O agent. The continunity is terribly wrong.

 

Forgive me but, is Boyd the right man for the job? I'm sure he's very prolifiv as a writer, but there's no guarantee of this becomine worse, or even turning out to be just another Devil May Care.

[CasinoKiller]

I'd started a thread on a similar topic a while back, actually - http://debrief.comma...-flemings-bond/

 

I'm not sure about whether or not Bond will physically 'die', but I think its likely that Boyd's novel will be an 'end' of some sort for Ian Fleming's 007. There have been repeated references to Bond being 45 and 'middle-aged', and as Fleming told us way back in 'Moonraker', 45 is the age when Bond would be forced into mandatory retirement from the 00 Section. Perhaps this could simply be Bond's final mission. Perhaps, at the end of this, he settles down to a reasonably normal life, either taking a desk job or quitting the service altogether. Maybe he even settles down with one woman finally (that actually seems a LESS likelier outcome than Bond dying!) Who knows?

 

As far as the timeline goes...yes, Faulks DID mess things up by assuming that the Fleming books are set in their year of publication. He set 'Devil May Care' in 1967, on the basis that its set nearly two years after 'The Man with the Golden Gun', which by his logic was set in 1965 (the year it was published). Of course, in reality, TMWTGG was set in late 1963/early 1964, and so DMC should have been set sometime in 1965...

 

But Bond's exact age and birth year is difficult to deduce from the books considering that Fleming silently overhauled the timeline over the years. As per the chronology established in the early books, Bond was born sometime in the 1910's, joined the Service in 1938, and earned his 00 number after carrying out two assassinations during WW2. However, as per the chronology established in later books, most notably 'You Only Live Twice', Bond was born in 1924, joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17 in 1941, served as a Naval Intelligence officer throughout WW2, and only joined the Service AFTER the war ended (probably becoming a 00 not long before the events of 'Casino Royale' in 1951). It's evidently the latter chronology that Boyd will be following.

[samainsy]

You can't kill Bond , he'll die like his parents in a mountain accident.

[SecretAgentFan]

I certainly would hate the idea - and they would have to bring him back somehow, so why resort to that cheap trick?