64 replies to this topic

[glidrose]

http://www.theguardi...owitz-interview

 

"I would love to write a proper James Bond novel for adults!"

 

He'd also like to  collaborate with Higson, tho' he doesn't say on what. He just says without any context "I could have fun working with Charlie Higson."

[Dustin]

Actually Horowitz' Rider series is already a rather fine 'interpretation' of Bond, even down to the more crucial moments in Bond's career - being brainwashed and made to kill his father figure. Horowitz did a nifty job translating that material into 'young adult' country and I for one enjoyed his work quite a lot, despite the fact the originality of his oeuvre may be questionable to some extend.

The Alex Rider books - at least until ARK ANGEL, that's as far as I got up to now, but I have no reason to question the quality of later books - have been certainly more fun to me than any Bond continuation since 2002 outside Young Bond. Once you get your head around the initial premise, a teenager working for SIS and various other intelligence agencies, you find a number of surprisingly entertaining adventure novels there. And it's not as if Young Bond doesn't ask for the same suspend of disbelief, with the same reward. I find it quite telling that some of the better genre works in recent years were targeted to the young adult market.

Of course, dedicated connoisseurs of the weapons/military-porn segment may not always find what they are looking for in Alex Rider - and certainly not in Young Bond - but fans of the suspenseful adventure yarn with a secret agent theme can find a lot to enjoy in Alex Rider. So based on this I'd really welcome Horowitz as a potential candidate for a future adult Bond. And I guess this interview is meant as a kind of application for the job.

Edited by Dustin, 06 July 2014 - 09:24 PM.

[marktmurphy]

I enjoyed his first Sherlock Holmes novel a lot; I'd be up for a Bond novel from him.

 

I would like Higson to do one, though.

[tdalton]

They ought to go ahead and hire him.  I know nothing of his work, but he's passed the only real test that should exist for a Bond author at this point in time.  He's a published author that actually wants to write a Bond novel.  

 

That said, they should just let the literary franchise sit on the shelf for the next decade, if not longer, and then try to reboot it.  

[Iceskater101]

I have always like the Alex Rider series.. I mean he made MI6 look really cool. I would be down for this actually. 

[ACE]

I have the oddest feeling his wish has been granted!

[ACE]

http://www.ianflemin...mes-bond-novel/
 

 

ANTHONY HOROWITZ TO WRITE NEW JAMES BOND NOVEL

Posted on 1 October 2014

Anthony Horowitz to write new James Bond novel inspired by original unseen Fleming material

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. and the Ian Fleming Estate are delighted to announce that bestselling and award-winning author Anthony Horowitz has been invited to write the next James Bond novel, due for worldwide release on 8th September 2015.

Horowitz is one of the UK’s most successful authors and has over forty books to his name including his recent Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, and his enormously successful teen spy series featuring Alex Rider.  As a TV screenwriter he created both Midsomer Murders and the BAFTA-winning Foyle’s War, and is looking forward to taking on his next project:

‘It’s no secret that Ian Fleming’s extraordinary character has had a profound influence on my life, so when the Estate approached me to write a new James Bond novel how could I possibly refuse? It’s a huge challenge but having original, unpublished material by Fleming has been an inspiration. This is a book I had to write.’

Set in the 1950s, Horowitz’s story will be unique among the modern James Bond novels, in that a section will contain previously unseen material written by Ian Fleming.  Fleming’s great niece, Jessie Grimond explains:

‘In the 1950s Ian Fleming wrote several episode treatments for a James Bond television series.  But it never came to be made and he ended up turning most of the plots into the short stories that are now in the collections For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and The Living Daylights.  However, there are a few plot outlines which he never used and which, till now, have never been published, or aired. Given that Anthony is as brilliant a screenwriter as he is a novelist, we thought it would be exciting to see what he would do with one of them.’

The treatment which will act as a starting point for Anthony Horowitz’s Bond novel is titled Murder on Wheels, and follows Bond on a mission in the world of motor racing.  Other familiar Fleming characters which feature in the TV treatment include ‘M’ and Miss Moneypenny.

The novel will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Orion Publishing Group and simultaneously by HarperCollins Publishers in USA & Canada.

- See more at: http://www.ianflemin...h.r4bXuxOS.dpuf

[007jamesbond]

I think after three time that has mixed review from critics and fans........the fourth time will be most sucessful.......I wonder if this is set before Casino Royale? 

[Matt_13]

Wow. Big news.

[Jim]

A little bit more detail about "Murder on Wheels" here

http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-29442143

[Call Billy Bob]

This sounds great!

[007jamesbond]

This sounds great!

 

what do you think of the novel set in the 1950s which is where many of Fleming novel take place so it could reference a past mission.......unlike the other continuous novel taking place in the 60s post Fleming 

[Grard Bond]

Great news! Finally someone who realy wants the job and seems to know a lot about how to write a spy story! Also based on a treatment of Fleming himself! So that means 2 reasons this probably will gonna be better as these failed attempts of the last years.

Edited by Grard Bond, 02 October 2014 - 08:18 AM.

[Orion]

His Sherlock Holmes novel "House of Silk" is brilliant, and finds Conan Doyle's voice perfectly - Also he firmly avoids Bond Pastiche in the Aex Rider series, a series whose very concept is Bond Pastiche, so I look forward to this immensely. I'd imagine, in terms of continuation novels, this will be more like Charlie Higson's Young Bond Novels, a series clearly written with a love of all things Bond, than say Devil May Care or Solo, which seem like experiments in trying to be Fleming but get so fixated on "they aren't the films!!!!" that they end up missing the heart and soul of Bond - which, ironicly, the films end up getting more than continuation novels do exactly for this reason.

[Dustin]

I already praised the Alex Rider series as nifty Bond-themed adventure tales. The one thing I feel sticking out like a sore thumb are the odd one-liners at the end of dramatic sequences, clearly inspired by the films and not exactly fitting to the books. It's such a self-conscious thing you rarely find it in literature, simply because it breaks the mood of the tale.

[Walecs]

 

This sounds great!

 

what do you think of the novel set in the 1950s which is where many of Fleming novel take place so it could reference a past mission.......unlike the other continuous novel taking place in the 60s post Fleming 

 

 

If the novel was set before Casino Royale, it (most likely) would have a Bond who hasn't earned his licence to kill and his 00 status either.

 

Would be interesting, but considering this is based on Fleming material, I see that unlikely. Fleming didn't like period-pieces, hence he would have never written a prequel.

[Guy Haines]

I wonder (1 in which era this novel is going to be set and (2 which motor racing driver is going to put in a cameo appearance, if any - from Sir Sterling Moss to Lewis Hamilton?

 

But I like the idea of a major event, sporting or otherwise, as a possible set piece for a Bond book.

[Call Billy Bob]

I like the possibility of older missions fitting in between Fleming's original events. Sort of side-quels, if you will.

Edited by Call Billy Bob, 02 October 2014 - 01:27 PM.

[Guy Haines]

So that's two things to look forward to in the second half of 2015 - a new Bond film and now a new Bond book. Doubt we'll see a kind of 60s Bondmania (though you never know!) but all the same the autumn of next year looks like being a very good time to be a Bond fan.

[marktmurphy]

So had Bond fans heard of Murder on Wheels before? I certainly hadn't.

 

Sounds a bit ambitious for a 50s TV series: motor racing and a real celebrity?

[saint mark]

That is one thing to look forward to as a 007 fan, even if I shall remain neutral about the book being any better than the celebrity trilogy until I have read it. The other writers were good writers IMHO as well but their 007 output was less than their usual quality.

[glidrose]

This sounds great!

 
what do you think of the novel set in the 1950s which is where many of Fleming novel take place so it could reference a past mission.......unlike the other continuous novel taking place in the 60s post Fleming

 
If the novel was set before Casino Royale, it (most likely) would have a Bond who hasn't earned his licence to kill and his 00 status either.

Not necessarily. Unlike in the film version, Bond in the book has been a 00 for some time.
 
 

I have the oddest feeling his wish has been granted!

 
Were you being flippant, or did you have some inside knowledge?

 

I wonder (1 in which era this novel is going to be set and (2 which motor racing driver is going to put in a cameo appearance, if any - from Sir Sterling Moss to Lewis Hamilton?

Why not Guy Gilbert?

[Bond of Steele]

Exciting news!!!  

 

It would be even better if he started writing a continuing/ongoing Bond series, but alas, I think that ship sailed long ago....

[TheREAL008]

I cannot wait. Given Anthony's successes, this project looks entirely promising. I can't wait.

[AMC Hornet]

D'you suppose he'll include a character named 'Horror'?

[sharpshooter]

I'm going to wait until the book itself before getting excited. I haven't exactly been impressed with the last three bland efforts.

[tdalton]

Possibly good news, as it seems as though he actually wants to write a Bond novel.  

 

Still, it's impossible to get excited about this.  The literary franchise has sunk to the point that it's about as bad as the Bond video game franchise.  

[sharpshooter]

The literary franchise has sunk to the point that it's about as bad as the Bond video game franchise.  

I agree with that assessment. The recent book are just so uninteresting and samey. 

[marktmurphy]

His Holmes book was very good though; I'll remain positive.

 

I'd just like Higson to do one. Not a big enough literary name though, I think :(

[Dustin]

His Holmes book was very good though; I'll remain positive.

I'd just like Higson to do one. Not a big enough literary name though, I think :(

Really? I should have thought Higson and Horowitz are just about on par in terms of market value. It's never been addressed that openly but my impression was Higson could easily have done more work for IFP if it hadn't been for bad timing. From outside it looks as if he had the chance on a lucrative series contract of his own. Apparently at a time when IFP hadn't yet made up their minds on how to proceed with the Young Bond side, otherwise I suppose Higson would have been a given.