Anthony Horowitz's Bond novel - Forever and a Day

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  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,255
    It may be 'purely a marketing ploy', but for me it does hold an extra value. The reason it's easier to accept different approaches in film as compared to books is the experience. We all know from the start that for film rather big concessions will have to be made. Some for better (Goldfinger), some for worse. Sometimes just different as the situations in the book just don't bring the same tensions to the screen as they do in words (Casino Royale). This counts obviously not just for the Bond-world, but for all adaptations.

    So when we find ourselves in the situation of continuation writers, the prerequisites are completely different. Here we want to come as close to the experience of reading the original author. Because whilst reading the author we form the 'film'as it were in our heads. If a contunuation writer then doesn't write in the same style, doesn't give the same qualities to the protagonists, we end up with not Bond but some other story. A sort of surrogate tea (or coffee, if that's your preferred choice). It can range from, let's say riesling instead of champagne, to bubbly lemonade.

    For me, as an example how it might work well, is Eoin Colfer's 'ANd another thing...', the sixth installment of Dauglas Adam's 5-part trilogy. Here it may have been not the same champagne house, but it definately was champagne. The experience was very similar to Dauglas' writings.

    For me the Bond continuation novels have never exceeded Riesling status (Cl. Sun), and too often ended up beeing lemonade, not even with bubbles (looking specifically at you 'Devil May Care').
    So when you learn the product at least has a few of the grapes of the right estate in it, it's worth a try. That and it's a way to get some more Original Fleming material into the collection which you wouldn't be able to obtain in any other way.
  • Posts: 520
    It may be 'purely a marketing ploy', but for me it does hold an extra value.......

    So when we find ourselves in the situation of continuation writers, the prerequisites are completely different. Here we want to come as close to the experience of reading the original author. Because whilst reading the author we form the 'film'as it were in our heads. If a contunuation writer then doesn't write in the same style, doesn't give the same qualities to the protagonists, we end up with not Bond but some other story.....

    .....For me the Bond continuation novels have never exceeded Riesling status (Cl. Sun), and too often ended up beeing lemonade, not even with bubbles (looking specifically at you 'Devil May Care').
    So when you learn the product at least has a few of the grapes of the right estate in it, it's worth a try. That and it's a way to get some more Original Fleming material into the collection which you wouldn't be able to obtain in any other way.

    Great points from The Commander albeit PussyNoMore does think that both Amis and Horowitz captured the zeitgeist and are worth way more than a Riesling rating (although there are great Rieslings out there).
    With regard to the 'original Fleming material', The Pussy thinks that what has been released to date has limited literary merit and the problem can be that it puts yet another constraint on the author to shoehorn them in.
    The 'Murder On Wheels' episode in TM, although exciting enough, came across as out of context with the rest of the plot and the casino episode in FAAD was not remotely the highlight of the book and came across as forced.
    With all the constituents to please; IFP, the publisher, the movie buff, the literary aficionado and the new reader. The continuation game is truly a poisoned chalice !
  • Posts: 4,044
    Finally made it into Waterstones to pick up FAAD. £5 off the exclusive edition at the moment, making it cheaper than the standard edition.

    44ee8d907938214.jpg
  • Posts: 822
    Picked up the signed copy at Waterstones while in London this week. Can't wait to get into it on the flight back home.
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    edited July 2018 Posts: 5,185
    Just finished FAAD and it's
    tumblr_lnk47zqleu1qjl1b2o1_500.gif?w=634
    At the moment i would say this is my favorite continuation novel, and i am not saying that lightly.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,483
    I finally had time to read the novel. It's the first novel I've read in english. Couldn't wait until it is released in german, the beautiful cover shined too bright in the book store.

    I was a bit surprised, that it was much shorter than Trigger Mortis.

    I liked it, but there should be more chapters with the villan. It's definitely better than the weakest Fleming Novels (like DAF) but I prefer Trigger Mortis.

    Anyway, I would definitely read a third bond novel of Anthony Horowitz.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    I still haven't received my copy. Thinking of cancelling it and asking for a refund.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    edited July 2018 Posts: 4,629
    I finally had time to read the novel. It's the first novel I've read in english. Couldn't wait until it is released in german, the beautiful cover shined too bright in the book store.

    I was a bit surprised, that it was much shorter than Trigger Mortis.

    I liked it, but there should be more chapters with the villan. It's definitely better than the weakest Fleming Novels (like DAF) but I prefer Trigger Mortis.

    Anyway, I would definitely read a third bond novel of Anthony Horowitz.

    I would read a third novel by Anthony Horowitz as well. I would like to see him challenge himself and set in the modern day. It would be a real treat and interesting challenge for both sides to see if he could handle Bond in the modern day. There’s no limit of ideas Horowitz can work from, he’s a smart writer.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Finally got it today. Bond's just on the eighth floor of MI6. Which should have been the ninth.
  • Posts: 520
    Finally got it today. Bond's just on the eighth floor of MI6. Which should have been the ninth.
    Interesting. What makes you say it should have been the ninth ?
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    During Casino Royale the top floor is the ninth. Sometime prior to the events of From Russia with Love, but after Diamonds Are Forever, the floors were re-numbered when two floors were concertinaed into one to accommodate very large and bulky equipment for a new communications centre. The top floor is now the eighth.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,547
    Interesting @PropertyOfALady! It’s the eighth in Thunderball I remember as it’s my most recent read, but I didn’t know it changed.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Also, that explanation is from Fleming himself.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Sorry for the double posting, but I had a question regarding those who bought the books from Goldsboro.

    Do yours have this odd smudging effect where the pages corner on the bottom

    22GIQ7wr.jpg

    If not, crap. It must've gotten wet or something.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,629
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/news/anthony-horowitz-searching-for-a-bond-girl-replacement-term-181020

    I think this might be a sign he's coming back for a third go. Look at the little details.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    "Searching for a Bond Girl Replacement Term."

    Maybe he shouldn't be searching at all.
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,534
    "Searching for a Bond Girl Replacement Term."

    Maybe he shouldn't be searching at all.

    Thank you.
  • Posts: 12,466
    Seriously? Wow. I don’t think I have to explain how ridiculous that is.
  • Posts: 5,767
    Lately most of the times I heard the term Bond Girl exclaimed proudly by women.

    It´s frustrating that such a hope for literary Bond has be such a political whore.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited October 2018 Posts: 15,423
    Horowitz has been giving in to the SJW crowd quite a lot ever since he deemed Elba "too street" for Bond, a term which got taken out of context and they started badmouthing him on social media. He's afraid he'll get downvotes and bad reviews on Goodreads from pathetic keyboard warrior hipsters and experience hordes of attacks on Twitter.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    How about Bond Whammen? :))
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Frau Farbissina eat your heart out. :))
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    I don't get the whole "Bond girl is a horrible term and should never be used again" thing. It's been around for more than 50 years. Come on, Anthony. Grow up.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    I thought the term had been 'Bond woman' for a while, so I'm not sure why there's a fuss now.

    I wouldn't necessarily be offended by 'girl'; it depends on the circumstances and who's saying it. But it can be demeaning, and I think he's right to avoid it (though not necessarily to have a big media splurge about it).

    The best way I've seen of explaining the problem: if the novel The Girl on the Train had been called The Boy on the Train, you'd think "well, where are his parents, poor little lad?"
  • It's a none story. If you read it carefully it's something he said at a literature festival, and it may well have been prompted by a question, and delivered with a smile. Nothing to see here.
  • MrBondMrBond Station S
    Posts: 2,044
    shamanimal wrote: »
    It's a none story. If you read it carefully it's something he said at a literature festival, and it may well have been prompted by a question, and delivered with a smile. Nothing to see here.

    +1

    What's more interesting is the possibility that he may be coming back. I for one hope so!
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    shamanimal wrote: »
    It's a none story. If you read it carefully it's something he said at a literature festival, and it may well have been prompted by a question, and delivered with a smile. Nothing to see here.

    Ah, that's why I was confused - I thought the issue was already settled!

    I'd love him to get a third crack at it. Fingers crossed.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,255
    Agent_99 wrote: »
    I thought the term had been 'Bond woman' for a while, so I'm not sure why there's a fuss now.

    I wouldn't necessarily be offended by 'girl'; it depends on the circumstances and who's saying it. But it can be demeaning, and I think he's right to avoid it (though not necessarily to have a big media splurge about it).

    The best way I've seen of explaining the problem: if the novel The Girl on the Train had been called The Boy on the Train, you'd think "well, where are his parents, poor little lad?"

    Either that or: 'the little scoundres is skipping school again!'

    Either way though, as youth is supposed to be a quality in women and a vice in men (or at least used to be) the age range to which women and men are considered boys and girls differ greatly.



  • Posts: 9,846
    Well it is on my birthday and Christmas list so on the 27th it I still don’t have it I will be buying it myself to read. Personally I am nervous as I disliked Trigger Mortis (it was better then solo and Devil May care but not by much) hoping this is better heck while I haven’t read all of Gardner’s books the only one I loved was seafire so maybe like Gardner Horowitz just needs time to get into the character

    So far the post Benson novels have been ranked like this for me

    Carte Blanche (which I still have serious issues with but it’s the best of a bad bunch)
    Trigger Mortis (the pussy galore stuff felt like teen mom or some claptrap chick flick affair after a while)
    Devil May Care (Bond does opiod the villains plot was weak and the twin thing was annoying)
    Solo (oh dear god I though Goldfinger was a painful book this one... wow just how IFP let this one out I will never know)

    I still for the life of me don’t get why IFP can’t have their cake and eat it too with either two authors or Horowitz pulling double duty and having Bond novels set both in the past and in the present. I may be way off base but if Ian Fleming could see our world he would not be writing Bond in the 50’s but in today’s environment.

    Shrugs I will let everyone know how I feel post Forever and a day

    I do enjoy the Bond comics though
  • Agent_99 wrote: »
    shamanimal wrote: »
    It's a none story. If you read it carefully it's something he said at a literature festival, and it may well have been prompted by a question, and delivered with a smile. Nothing to see here.

    Ah, that's why I was confused - I thought the issue was already settled!

    I'd love him to get a third crack at it. Fingers crossed.

    Quite. For a while now I've said that I think Horowitz should have been given a trilogy right from the off. (Or at least once the first proved to be good.) I think a problem with the 'author of the month' approach that the estate has been taking for the past many years is that no author really gets the chance to settle into the role.

    Give Horowitz the mandate and a long leash to write a series of 3 cracking books and I'm quite confident he wouldn't disappoint.
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