33 replies to this topic

[scaramanga]

Now that Raymond Besnon and Glidrose have parted company, surely now is the time to release Benson's short stories as an anthology? This summer would be ideal. If not, will the public get another chance of reading them? Whats everyone's thoughts on this?

[brendan007]

the only short story i want to read is 'blast from the past'. his playboy and tv guide ice skating story doesnt really interest me

[[dark]]

I'd love to see it happen, but it doesn't look likely.

Are the stories available on-line anywhere?

[Zographos]

They're available to buy at www.RaymondBenson.com

Although I suspect that if you're persistent, you might be able to find downloadable versions elsewhere on the internet.

[zencat]

Benson had mentioned this was a possibility when he had enough stories for a full book. There's a long version of Blast From The Past that I've always wanted to read. That would have been included. But it doesn't look like it's going to happen now. Too bad.

[Zographos]

It'll happen eventually, Zencat. It may take 40 years, like "007 in New York", but it'll happen.

[niggle]

I hope this happens asap

[Cesari]

Yes it would be great to have Benson's short stories published in a book.
Specially Blast from the past wich has never been published in english language in its full version.
I've read it because I made it translated and published in french in the first issue of Archives 007, the mag of club007, the french fan club.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Cesari
I've read it because I made it translated and published in french in the first issue of Archives 007, the mag of club007, the french fan club.

Really! I didn't know this. Can I get this mag from the French club site? What was on the cover so I'll know it if I see it?

[DLibrasnow]

Since Benson has already written four short stories perhaps he could write a couple more and make up a full book....I'd get it even though I have read all the short stories already.

[zencat]

That would be great, but I don't think it's gonna happen.

[DLibrasnow]

Why do you think that John....some insider info you are not able to divulge?

[Qwerty]

Has to be the sheer length - these stories are short. I say compile them with the memoirs and The Heart of Eruzile and hopefully make that into a collection.

[zencat]

Why do you think that John....some insider info you are not able to divulge?

No, just thinking logically. If IFP is letting the Benson books go out of print then I don't see them publishing a new one. It's all about Fleming and Young Bond over at IFP these days.

My hope is some smaller, specialty publisher will find a way to publish the shorts. Sort of like what the Mysterious Press/Armchair Detective did with LTK. I wonder what it would take to do this?

[clinkeroo]

Has to be the sheer length - these stories are short. I say compile them with the memoirs and The Heart of Eruzile and hopefully make that into a collection.

Ah, but the full, uncut version of BFTP is much longer. If they could beef up Octopussy to make a collection out of it, anything is possible.

[Qwerty]

Has to be the sheer length - these stories are short. I say compile them with the memoirs and The Heart of Eruzile and hopefully make that into a collection.

Ah, but the full, uncut version of BFTP is much longer. If they could beef up Octopussy to make a collection out of it, anything is possible.

Ah, I don't know the short or full length's of “Blast From The Past”. It's the only Nond story I've never read nor own.

[clinkeroo]

Has to be the sheer length - these stories are short. I say compile them with the memoirs and The Heart of Eruzile and hopefully make that into a collection.

Ah, but the full, uncut version of BFTP is much longer. If they could beef up Octopussy to make a collection out of it, anything is possible.

Ah, I don't know the short or full length's of “Blast From The Past”. It's the only Nond story I've never read nor own.

Ah, it is a great read. If it truly was Benson's audition for the role of continuation author, you can see why Glidrose chose him. If you can read Italian or French, you can even have a taste of the full length version. Alas, I do not .

[Qwerty]

'fraid I can't. Even if I did, where can that full-length version be found?

[doublenoughtspy]

While I would love to see an anthology I doubt it will happen in our lifetime.

The full length BFTP is a nice selling point, and something I would like to read but I don't think it's a big enough draw to put any anthology on the best seller lists.

The biggest drawback too is that these stories are easy to find - TV Guide has the largest circulation of any magazine IN THE WORLD. 5 million or something.

And Playboy isn't exactly rare either.

Let's look at Octopussy - Peter Janson-Smith discovered an unpublished Fleming story - and they combined it with The Living Daylights which had only appeared in a british newspaper supplement.

Now if we got the full BFTP, MSND, LA5, and the unpublished Heart of Ezirule and done in a limited edition by Mysterious Press - I think it would do OK. But IFP isn't interested in OK.

[zencat]

Now if we got the full BFTP, MSND, LA5, and the unpublished Heart of Ezirule and done in a limited edition by Mysterious Press - I think it would do OK.  But IFP isn't interested in OK.

Yep, that would be the idea. Maybe with a nice intro by RB. I know I would buy it!

[clinkeroo]

[quote name='zencat' date='21 April 2005 - 15:45'][quote name='doublenoughtspy' date='21 April 2005 - 12:35']Now if we got the full BFTP, MSND, LA5, and the unpublished Heart of Ezirule and done in a limited edition by Mysterious Press - I think it would do OK.

[DLibrasnow]

Is the copyright the problem?

[Qwerty]

[quote name='zencat' date='21 April 2005 - 16:45'][quote name='doublenoughtspy' date='21 April 2005 - 12:35']Now if we got the full BFTP, MSND, LA5, and the unpublished Heart of Ezirule and done in a limited edition by Mysterious Press - I think it would do OK.

[clinkeroo]

'fraid I can't. Even if I did, where can that full-length version be found?

There's a nice little bit about the Italian extended version here:

http://www.ianflemin...alianbond.shtml

I only know of the French version because Cesari mentioned it before, and Raymond also spoke of it in Zencat's interview. I don't actually know which publication had the honors.

[Qwerty]

Interesting. Thanks, Clink.

[DLibrasnow]

It shouldn't take too much to put an anthology together....would Benson be up to doing it though?

[Qwerty]

Don't see why not. All the stories are already done.

[clinkeroo]

It shouldn't take too much to put an anthology together....would Benson be up to doing it though?

I don't think Benson would be the problem. It would be the IFP holding things back, just like always.

[Blofeld's Cat]

[quote name='zencat' date='22 April 2005 - 04:45'][quote name='doublenoughtspy' date='21 April 2005 - 12:35']Now if we got the full BFTP, MSND, LA5, and the unpublished Heart of Ezirule and done in a limited edition by Mysterious Press - I think it would do OK.

[clinkeroo]

Now, that's a great idea. Very low overhead, low production cost, you just throw it out there and both Benson and the IFP get to make their dime with very little expense and effort. And there would be no overrun. Almost worth dreaming about .