8 replies to this topic

[glidrose]

The tradition of Bond authors going after their own continues.

Author Anthony Horowitz has criticised fellow writers' recent attempts at James Bond novels - just days before releasing his own book on the British spy. The prominent author, whose Bond novel Trigger Mortis is published on Tuesday, has suggested his rivals failed to immerse themselves in Ian Fleming's world like he has done. Horowitz, a dedicated fan of Ian Fleming's spy novels, told The Sunday Times: 'They brought Bond into their worlds whereas I have immersed myself into Bond's.'

Recent literary attempts at Bond have failed to produce the kind of sales one would associate with the blockbuster franchise. 2011's Carte Blanche, written by Jeffery Deaver, received mixed reviews and sold 90,000 copies in the UK. The book, which featured a 32-year-old Bond as an Afghanistan War veteran in the present day, come under criticism from Horowitz. He said: 'Carte Blanche was a very good title but the idea of half a dozen twists at the end was wrong. Fleming would never have done that as he always had one ending. 'Nor would Fleming have created such a character as the Bond in Carte Blanche, nor did he have gadgets as Deaver did. The contemporary setting was also wrong.'

The Jewish author also dismissed the 2013 Bond book 'Solo' - written by award-winning writer William Boyd. The book was set in Africa, where Boyd spent his early life, and sold 100,000 copies, again receiving mixed reviews. Horowitz believes Africa was wrong as a setting and did not sit well with Bond fans. The most successful Bond sequel to date, Devil May Care, was written by Birdsong author Sebastian Faulks and sold just under 300,000 copies.


http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz3nXXGs5mp


The article is wrong about SOLO's reviews. The critics quite liked it. Most critically acclaimed Bond novel since OHMSS.

I'm very surprised - and more than a bit sceptical - to read that SOLO supposedly outsold Carte Blanche. The article clearly states that CB's sales were in the UK, but doesn't identify if SOLO's sales were international. Until proven otherwise, I'm going to believe the SOLO figures are international.

And for those keeping track, Amis hated Gardner's books. Pearson hated Amis's. Gardner disdained Benson's efforts without reading them. Benson hated Wood's.

[marktmurphy]

"The Jewish author"....? What an odd way to write an article.

[glidrose]

I agree. That also caught my eye. Ah well, it's the Daily Mail. Apparently the author of the piece - Jack Crone - is with the paper on something called "the Daily Mail graduate scheme".

[stromberg]

I agree. That also caught my eye. Ah well, it's the Daily Mail. Apparently the author of the piece - Jack Crone - is with the paper on something called "the Daily Mail graduate scheme".

The should teach those guys the basics, first and foremost:
"Details of an individual's race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability must be avoided unless genuinely relevant to the story." Code of Practice, 12.ii

https://en.wikipedia...ode_of_Practice

[Dustin]

I agree. That also caught my eye. Ah well, it's the Daily Mail. Apparently the author of the piece - Jack Crone - is with the paper on something called "the Daily Mail graduate scheme".

The should teach those guys the basics, first and foremost:
"Details of an individual's race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability must be avoided unless genuinely relevant to the story." Code of Practice, 12.ii

https://en.wikipedia...ode_of_Practice

QFFT
(read: Quoted For Effing Truth)

[tdalton]

They'll only be held to a higher standard if people stop clicking on and linking to their articles. It's all about page views for them, not about maintaining any level of journalistic integrity.

[glidrose]

I don't think anything can hold the Daily Mail to "any level of journalistic integrity." Certainly not the lawsuits they've been on the wrong (and frequently losing) side of.

[DavidJones]

I've also noticed Bond authors always gripe about each other's work. It's a petty attempt to legitimize their own work.

[TheREAL008]

This is why I haven't picked up his book. Horowitz is too arrogant, just like the previous writer. But unlike Boyd's delusion of being a better author than Fleming, Anthony has the nerve to scoff at his contemporaries. His quip about Bond not working in the modern age is completely laughable. Tell that to the surviving members of John Gardener's family. Tell it to Raymond Benson. Bond seemed to work well then, it can do well for this modern age.