As someone who browsed CBn advidly about 15 years ago and recently returned, I had been wondering what became of the fan fiction!
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I’ll give it a chance since it’s at least something new within the Bond franchise instead of the same old tired crap they’ve been trotting out the past couple of decades.
Maybe it will be good. But, history is against it. We haven’t had a great Bond novel in a long time (we’re talking decades, folks), so odds are this won’t be the one to break that trend. I do hope that it’s successful, though, as the author seems to have put a good deal of effort into it and seems to care somewhat about the history of the literary franchise, which isn’t necessarily something that can be said for a few of her predecessors.
All that said, what I think this project is really all about is giving Amazon a way in to making a Bond TV series for the Prime platform. They can’t do it with Bond himself, but this seems tailor made to be a launching point for a series.
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Horowitz’s books have been great, and that has all happened in the very short term. Quality contemporarily written Bond novels are possible, but like others here, my enthusiasm levels for this have dropped considerably. Which is a shame, because I got on board with the general concept. The devil really is in the detail.
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Out of curiosity, what do you consider the last great Bond novel?
Does anyone know if this edition is exclusive to Amazon?
But where can you find this special edition? I can’t find it on Amazon.
Ok, thanks for explaining. I’m probably to late now for that edition, because I still didn’t order it.
I’ve got to think you’re safe if you order it now. I would be shocked if they went into the 2nd run while still in pre-order. And I’d assume the publisher wouldn’t have announced this just a couple hours ago if they knew people ordering weren’t going to get them…
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Thanks for your advice! I just ordered it.
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We’re probably going back to Gardner for this. I don’t know, Icebreaker maybe?
Benson’s stories had, for the most part, outstanding ideas, he just couldn’t get them to the page in a way that would help them stand up to the likes of Fleming or, even, his predecessor Gardner. They’re a good deal of fun to read, but decent literature they are not. The one-off continuations that we’ve seen since then have been bottom of the barrel stuff.
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A distant memory and I no longer have the article but didn’t Lois Maxwell entertain the theory that Moneypenny became the new M while interviewed by either 007 or Bondage magazine in the '80’s?
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Interesting perspective. I would argue that the novels written in the last decade have more literary merit than the Gardners, but I am also a great fan of his run. His first five novels are some of my favorites.
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The internet has done wonders for the sale of rose tinted glasses.
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They may have more literary merit because they’re coming from authors who have been respected in those circles for their work outside the series, but their actual output in terms of Bond has left much to be desired.
If you really want to look for the last truly great Bond novel, you’ve probably got to go all the way back to You Only Live Twice. The opening run from Gardner is pretty good, and I’d say that Icebreaker, although it has been a while since I’ve read it, was the last one that I remember feeling was above the baseline standard that we should come to expect from a Bond novel. The rest of his output was hit or miss. Benson’s, as already stated, full of great ideas, but they never gel into anything that rises above the level of solid fan fiction. After his run, though, it’s been clear that the publishers have had little to no idea as to what to do with the literary Bond character.
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Last character introduction.
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In two minds about this.
On the face of it this OO-section - as opposed to 00? - seems like the gross domestic product of the minority top ten. A bit less might have been more on that front.
But…
On the other hand I feel extremely grateful these OOs are not marketed on being ex SAS/SBS types like that zillion other action thriller types*.
Making Moneypenny head of the OO-section however…reminds me of the idea, I forget where this originated, M once served as 001. Or even more of Queen & Country’s Minders.
That’s also my biggest concern with the concept for now; this could end up as Spooks International or Queen & Country by another name. But I’m willing to give it a try regardless.
*Actually, those brief glimpses don’t prevent them from having served in such roles too - but if so it seems it’s for once not the defining trait of the OO staff.
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Q is a computer?
Hate it. Just a gimmick then, the 00´s being armored by a piece of machinery, probably one with a Siri-voice.
I hope EON will stick to human interaction.
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I am very on the fence about this series (though I haven’t read any reviews/spoilers other than what Kim Sherwood has said herself). Incidentally, I wish it had more to do with James Bond himself, but alas.
First off, I love her enthusiasm for this job, and she really seems to care about the series. However, some of her choices I find a very mixed bag. I love Moneypenny, but having her be in charge of the Double-Oh Section is extremely unlikely. The double-oh agents seem like they could be interesting, but all their names are heavily related to the Bond universe–both inside and out. One such connection would have been fine and a nice tip of the cap, but three seems too much. It’s too fan-boyish. (Or is that fan-girlish?)
And I agree with secretagentfan about Q being a computer. It’s a terrible idea which doesn’t inspire optimism for the overall product. Q having a supercomputer in his lab would be fine, but making it Q himself, no, it doesn’t fly with me.
So, I have previously ordered the book, and I’ll read it, but I will be going in with little to no expectations. Hopefully, it reads better than it first appears.
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What next? The Emergency Medical Hologram?
I’m starting to develop a certain respect for her. I’m sure that “someone” told her that “they” (i.e. “us”) are going to roast her on an open fire for some of her ideas, but she stuck to them and promotes them offensively and with self-confidence. For that alone, she deserves a chance, which she’ll get from me.
Charlie Higson and YoungBond got buckets of vituperation in advance, and his books turned out be rather good, so here’s hoping.
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