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I would say yes, but I understand why people say no. As I've said before, since DC's movies didn't have any, maybe his whole era (Bloodstone included) should be one BIG novelization. That, and with the many writing problems behind the scenes, I don't think any of them, (outside of SF) EON would want people to see previous things from previous drafts.
Roald Dahl could have easily written a YOLT novelization, and Bruce Feirstein with Everything or Nothing. These books could have added more character development to help make the mission(s) feel more unique. So yes, I would generally support Bond novelizations in the future of new and old adventures. I'm also biased because I am a big writer in my spare time. I tend to enjoy both people's and characters viewpoints of a James Bond adventure.
I never knew that! What a strange decision. Kind of takes away a bit of the impact if only Leiter's fake limbs are eaten, surely?
Anyway, bit of a side thought: instead of novelisations what would people say instead to graphic novels which use parts of the films as a basis for their stories (so it'd have illustrations of the incumbent Bond actor/secondary characters and essentially be set in that universe. Doesn't have to be an adaptation of the film, but something that ties into it - ie. a mini adventure which shows what Bond was doing just before the events of the film etc. I know it was something being hinted at in another thread, albeit more to do with direct adaptations). Maybe that'd be a better way of doing something similar to tie in the new movies to another medium while maintaining them as separate things? It may well bring in more audiences than novelisations could which often deviate quite radically from the films. From what I understand as well Bond in graphic novels is a bit hit or miss and has always been a bit niche anyway when detached from the film series (although I very much enjoyed Solstice, and that's the only one I've read).
Yes. In the book, he has the shark biting off the false limbs, and only gnawing on the stumps a bit. And quite a few times, Bond feels 'a sense of Deja Vue' about finding Leiter. Even the chapter's titled Lightning Sometimes Strikes Twice. Gardner clearly wanted the book to sit alongside the Fleming books, and as I say, I commend him for trying. Even if it does come off a bit clunky. Writers often have more integrity for continuity than film-makers. It's certainly true of the Bond books.
Funnily enough, Milton Crest is in Gardner's LTK, without a mention that Bond had met him before, as far as I can see.
The books where Bond drifts through history without ageing (even in Fleming's books!), becomes a Captain, then is a Commander again, Microglobe One and Transworld Consortium come and go, is sometimes a widower and sometimes isn't, hooks up with Flicka and never thinks of her again etc.? :D
And of course as you mention:
:P
Joking aside, you know when you read a Bond continuation novel, if it's set in Fleming's Bond's world, (like Colonel Sun, Trigger Mortis etc), or is a modern, more experimental version, (Carte Blanche, Solo, His Majesty). The screen Bond is a lot more open to interpretation regarding continuity, as I've found out on here many times.
Anyway, sorry was just joking as well. I get what you mean. Although I think the Gardner and Benson books from what I've read of them have less strict continuity and are more 'floating timelines'/not incomparable to the '62-'89 films (from what I understand it's implied Bond ages a bit in the Gardners but this is sort of dropped in the Benson ones, and of course the world moves on drastically from the 50s. Despite this several characters from Fleming return and for all intents and purposes it's meant to be Fleming's Bond).
For this reader, the most successful continuation novels are set in Fleming's world. But I think I'm digressing - we're supposed to be talking about novelisations.
Which can be very hit and miss, when it comes to Bond. Wood's 70's books are a success, Benson's Brozza ones, less so. To be fair, I don't think he had much time on those.
I've been advocating for a series of graphic novels set between QOS and SF for ages. To bridge the gap in the Craig era.
To paraphrase Cubby Broccoli himself: "When in doubt, go back to Fleming." James Bond started with books. Writing new books with different time periods and characters would push things forwards, with different viewpoints. Using former video games as books, could bring more readers to Bond. James Bond was written by Ian Fleming with movies in mind. Amazon should bring back novelizations, as it just feels right. I feel that Indiana Jones and the Dial of Density should have had a novelization, as it apparently is the last Indy movie. Star Wars has novelizations for all 11 live-action movies. Disney and Lucasfilm will probably continue this media viewpoint. It shows how much Indy means to them. That, and the lack of true marketing for Dial of Density. So, bearing screenplay problems like in the DC era, James Bond should have some screen adventures put on the book page. As for bridging the gap between QOS and SF, @Ludovico I don't think that Dynamite Comics will be the ones to do it, for more than one reason. As for different characters from different eras, I would like that to happen again. We got it in Goldeneye Rogue Agent (2004 video game). It had mixed success. I would like an original book of Bond characters fighting each other. Just try it in a book first.
Benson has talked in many interviews about writing his books like modern day (for their time) Bond screen adventures. He is arguably the one Bond continuation author who was openly told by IFP to keep cinema Bond in mind when writing. I think IFP was somewhat secretly yet obviously was hoping that EON was going to film them. I feel like PB's novelizations fit in with continuations of Fleming's floating timeline of Bond (CR-DAD). Also, his TND novelization is one of the best Bond continuation novels, (IMO). So, Benson was stuck in that creative influence, for better or worse. This is why he should have written 3 more novelizations (if he had a chance). The video games Everything or Nothing and Goldeneye Rogue Agent. Plus, the cancelled Jinx spinoff. He has often been criticized for writing like Bond fan fiction. These 3 stories would have been perfect for him. If IFP got the rights from EON and Electronic Arts. I say that one or two Bond adventures do deserve to be put on the novelization page again. Just don't be afraid to switch up the author(s) on occasion. Just keep Bond writing fresh, in different styles, while following the main Bond formula.
I'm sure there's an audience for it. It'd be interesting seeing comics that link a bit more with the films.
I do need to read Benson's novelisations as I've heard good things. But his Bond novels can be pretty ropey for me, which is a shame because he's very knowledgable about the books. I actually think Blast From the Past is by far the worst continuation Bond story ever written and I'm actually shocked it was allowed to be released.
As for Blast from the Past, it was originally a Playboy short story, with 1/3 of the material cut out. Thankfully, the full version is in The Union Trilogy book. It could make a good jumping point for a Irma Bunt in a movie. There’s a lot to learn from the continuation novels. Amazon should realize this. So, I’m sticking to my opinion on future Bond novelizations.
Will happily give the novelisations a go if I ever get the chance.
Not for great profit, to me for a select audience they're a nice addition threaded through Bond history. And a lost opportunity for the Craig films. Below are more Sean Longmore concepts.
I’ve never read that short story but I agree on his merits as a writer, he’s just a really bad one and can’t handle prose. I even tried rereading Facts of Death a couple of years ago but gave up and skipped to Trigger Mortis, and I’m afraid the leap in quality was pretty shocking when compared side by side. I’ve even been giving that Canadian short story anthology a go and most (maybe not all) of the writers there are streets ahead even.
I think I tried TND once and he was just writing out the stage directions from the script for the action sequences, something like “Bond hopped the motorbike over several boats across the river”- maybe he was up against time but it seemed very poor stuff to me.
I wouldn’t say Horowitz has the most exciting writing style, but agreed he’s definitely ahead of Benson (this is where the continuation authors differ from Fleming for me. Fleming had his issues with plotting and even some mad ideas that perhaps didn’t always make sense, but had something very captivating about his prose - specific descriptions of characters, the places Bond goes to and experiences etc. It gives these books an authenticity. Even Amis didn’t quite have that flair).
The stage direction-y writing is something I’ve noticed with Benson in general, especially when he’s writing very elaborate action scenes. BFTP has it. Anyway, it’s a very odd short story. I wouldn’t say it’s a pleasant experience getting through it because of the writing, but the fact that it’s so bad at points and has such weird plot leaps and moments kinda makes it interesting in a sort of fan fiction way.