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Ian Fleming's Creation and Its Legacy

Fairbairn-SykesFairbairn-Sykes
edited March 2011 in Literary 007 Posts: 54
Gone is the Bond Bibliography that so many former members slaved over -- alas.

Here's a good topic for this category -- how do you feel the legacy of Ian Fleming's James Bond has been handled? Meaning, the Bond of his original novels. Has this creation been honoured, maintained, respected? Or has, over the years of Gardner and Benson, Faulks and now Deaver -- and especially Babs and EON -- been modified, altered and trashed to the point where Fleming's words and meanings no longer effectively exist in the modern conception of Bond?

Comments

  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    Very peeved that the Bond Bibliography has gone!

    Good idea for a topic Fairbairn-Sykes, I think the spirit of Ian Fleming's James Bond has adapted well to the enormous social changes of the past 60 years, partly this is because when you get past the consumerism and Fleming's personal interests that he passed onto his hero, the actual character is a fairly blank canvas and very much in the standard classic mould of the adventure story hero. You have a man who will face all adversity to fight for good and will not be corrupted no matter what the odds. While I am not over fond of some of the interpretations of James Bond (yes Raymond Benson I'm especially thinking of you!) they have all respected these common values of James Bond and the cosmetic changes they've inflicted on him are probably a necessary evil to keep the interest in him fresh and appealing for modern audiences. The best thing to do is look at Fleming's first book Casino Royale and compare the character with the latest incarnation the film QOS and despite over half a century of adaptions the character is very much the same man underneath.
    Anyway that's my view, I'm a bit disappointed really I'd wanted this comment to be a more of a tirade of verbal abuse directed at Benson. Still new site, plenty of time... :)
  • SirCLMDBCRaigSirCLMDBCRaig
    Posts: 205
    http://www.mi6forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=41589&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=105 heres the bibliography topic....not going to repost it myself as I think someone who actually posted there should do that- like you Saunders.
  • Agent_OO7Agent_OO7
    Posts: 72
    I would love to start up a Fleming reading club. Start from Casino Royale and work our way to his last Bond novel. Maybe take a week for each book. A new Mi6, so let us re-familiarize ourselves with Fleming and his books again.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,218
    Quoting Agent_OO7: I would love to start up a Fleming reading club. Start from Casino Royale and
    work our way to his last Bond novel. Maybe take a week for each book. A new Mi6,
    so let us re-familiarize ourselves with Fleming and his books again.
    Okay, that is a fine idea you've got there, sir. I'm with you on this. If more folks are in, we can start working out a schedule! Good call. =D>
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    a Fleming reading club? - then do we all gather at someone's house once a month, drink wine and gush about the latest readings like a bunch of women???? :-)) just kidding..

    i would be down for it - it would mean that i would have to start my readings over... but it's not like these novels are 2,000 pages..
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    edited March 2011 Posts: 987
    Wine drinking and gushing women, Count me in. =P~

    Seriously a Fleming reading club sounds like a terrific idea and I would definatley be interested in joining in.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited March 2011 Posts: 13,356
    I'd need longer than a week per book but a great idea indeed. I haven't read the Fleming novels for a few years at least and only ever once at that, so yes I'd love to join in and share my views with our new community.

    Perhaps an official ranking with views like the Bondathon would be a good idea. If you start after the films end, which is next month, the novels would take you from May 2011 - June 2012. A good way to pass some more time.

    Thoughts on this?
  • BounineBounine
    edited April 2011 Posts: 2,599
    Only once Samuel?! You must read them again! :)

    I might join this club in a couple of years time but I have read the novels 4 to 5 times so I need a break. I am having a years break from watching the films too. It will have been a year on the 25th of July.
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    edited April 2011 Posts: 1,699
    I'd love to partake in such a reading club - it'd be ace. Alas, I read far too slowly for a different novel each week. Plus, I've got four books on the go at present - as The Brozzer's Bond would put it, nasty habit.

    But don't let any of that from me dissuade you guys from setting one up... :)
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    Thank you both for bumping this. Are there any more thoughts on some kind of official novel ranking, as has been done with the films?

    By the way, the Goldfinger Bondathon thread is yet to be put up, as are the final film results on the main site.

    @Bounine Yes only once, between the Die Another Day and Casino Royale intermission.
  • BounineBounine
    edited April 2011 Posts: 2,599
    Yes, people should be required to give a ranking out of 5 or maybe 10 upon reading each book. There was a book club like this on the old MI6 threads many years ago. Can't remember if they did this though.

    Oh, people should be given around a month to read each book too.
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    edited April 2011 Posts: 1,699
    Quoting Samuel001: By the way, the Goldfinger Bondathon thread is yet to be put up, as are the final film results on the main site.
    Yup, good shout, Sammy; we need to get the Bondathon back in gear again. It was Dusty59's baby and she's away from home with work at present, I believe, so I'll have a word with her when she's back...
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited April 2011 Posts: 13,356
    It's the only film left, so you can always wait until next month I suppose. After that, maybe look into the Fleming novels though, it'd be a great idea and gives me another excuse to read them again.

    EDIT: I see the Tomorrow Never Dies results are up on the main site at last! Fingers crossed Diamonds Are Forever is not far behind.
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