Given the commercial and critical success of Higson's "Young Bond" series and the phenomenal literary acclaim attributed to Kate Westbrooks "Moneypenny Diaries" I can't understand why it is verboten to discuss similar ideas in this hallowed cyber hall.
Why is it such a stupid idea to propose 'M' or 'Q' spin offs?
In the case of 'M', as the head of "Universal Export", who else could provide more fertile ground for creative story telling? One could easily imagine many adventures from his war years culminating in his transition into the secret life, the formation of the 00 section and the recruitment of everybody's secret agent. Why would this be such a crazy idea? Maybe a trilogy along those lines could have more merit than the recruitment of another celeb to deliver another flawed adult Bond clunker?
With regards to 'Q' or 'Major Boothroyd', again is it beyond man's imagination to recognise the excitement that could emerge from well penned adventures written around the use of the weapons and gadgetry he designs for field use?
In my humble opinion, I don't find either of these proposals bizarre at all and I would appeal to the free thinking libertarians out there to keep their creative ideas coming in. Don't be put off by the literary STATSI - most of whom haven't even read those fabulous "Moneypenny Diaries".
Comments
Wow. German. I'm impressed...
... or not, because it's 'Stasi', not 'Statsi'. But never mind. We'll pretend we never read your clumsy references to fascism, effectively disproving your hypothesis that we rule the forum like Nazi tyrants.
We're actually quite tolerant, as last year you already took a dump on us and we didn't even close that abomination: http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/4465/closing-threads-close-this
Why would it be "verboten"? This thread is still very much alive:
http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/294995#Comment_294995
Are you hallucinating perhaps, seeing threads be closed that are still open?
Allow me to reverse the question. Why is so wrong that I, as a member, express my personal opinion concerning this TV series idea? I'm entitled to an opinion, right? Or will you deny me an opinion of my own? Sounds an awful lot like Stasi mentality, sir. I didn't close the MP thread, did I? I just explained, like every member is allowed to do, why I don't or do like that idea and suddenly you go ballistic.
We don't mind a thread for exploring James Bond television series. We have one of those. And probably more than one. It - they - can be used for spin-offs too. The Q spin-off was closed because there's already a place where it can be discussed. And next thing you know, we're going to see a gazillion of "let's do a [insert random character from Bond universe here] spin-off TV series" threads pop up like mushrooms in a forest.
Yeah? These were the replies to the Q spin-off:
No. Enough of these damn spin-offs already.
It's a fair point. I can't see anyone backing this idea personally, or this thread going anywhere.
We don't want spin-offs, just focus on Bond.
And they didn't even come from me!
You see, Bentley, somehow you struggle with accepting all the measures that are needed to keep the forum an organised place for you and other members. Also, you can't cope with opposing opinions. And again, like you did a year ago, you feel compelled to open a thread to moan, troubling forum organisation even further. And despite your attempts to convince people that we control this place like the Gestapo or Stasi, you weren't even once served a warning or even a friendly PM. Sounds to me like we are a very tolerate lot here. ;-)
So relax, friend.
Good God @DarthDimi, I think you need to throttle back. Frankly Benters makes a great contribution to these forums and you should respect that. If you haven't got anything intelligent to say - don't!
Plus, I've been referred to as a fascist, I've corrected flawed spelling, and I've tried to explain, for the final time I might add, that we will go against the flow if it means keeping the forums better organised, for the better good of everyone else. Nothing intelligent to say?
@DarthDimi why would you lie to this audience about my IP address?
Is it a trick or are you appertaining to have GCHQ or NSA connections?
Also, I can't recall ever referring to you as a fascist but you certainly appear to be displaying embryonic tendencies.
That said, my principle beef — if I were to have one is that you seam to know so little about Bond.
It's the same IP address.
Read the opening post of this thread. I wasn't talking about you. It made reference to Bentley.
Funny.
Moneypenny diaries may be interesting as a mini series.
I have not read the young James Bond series yet (so shoot me), but I do want to.
I sort of don't mind that as a TV series; of course, only if well done.
But Q or M as a spin-off for TV or their own movie? No, I just don't like that.
Just my opinion, of course.
81.147.0.186
Villiers53
81.147.0.186
Pick and account to be closed.
Why not a M or Q or Moneypenny or a Bill Tanner spin off? Because they are peripheral characters that work as such within the Bond universe. Because since we now have one Bond movie every three years, we should focus on Bond, not squeezing the lemon in hope to get some juice in between. Because if people wanted to see an ongoing series about a secretary working for MI6, we would know it already. Because if I want to see a spy series based on the internal conflicts and rivalries in MI6, I have The Sandbaggers and Queen & Country, they explore this aspect fully and perfectly.
And I don't have to explain why not anyway. The OP, as he is making the positive assertion, has the burden of proof. Why make spin off from the Bond series?
I think the Young Bond books have only gotten as far as him leaving school. But I do think that a book series focused on Bond in the war is a good idea and something I think stands a chance of happening.
In the case of the Moneypenny diaries I find the discussion not very negative each his/her own actually.
I am not sure if Bently/Villiers does see it that way hence his thread which imho should be locked as the title does refer to something that should be locked down quickly as it does not add anything positive to the discussion but some disgruntled mudslinging.
Let me tell you this: if you think MI6 Community is run like a Nazi state (as you seem to do, e.g. "verboten", "Stasi") then take a trip over to CBn or Bond and Beyond to see a real site run by power-mad moderators with a liberal/fascist (oh, the irony!) agenda. And I would know, I've been on all of these sites (and been banned from them all too, I might add). Tells you something, surely. Dual accounts are against the forum rules too, I might add.
I much prefer that distinction, @Ludovico. Stalin was in many regards much worse than Hitler and German fascism. Reminds me of a point Kingsley Amis made in a 1970 letter to The Guardian that had referred to James Bond as being a "secret policeman" in the vein of Henrich Himmler's Gestapo. Amis contended that the Soviets were what should have been mentioned, as Himmler was dead twenty-five years by that stage. I have a copy of that article and the book which it was based on - Snobbery with Violence (1971) by Colin Watson - he also wrote the article in question. The Amis letter in reply to this piece is to be found in his Collected Letters (2001), edited by Zachary Leader.
Has this been done yet?
I like the phrase he used a few posts ago:
"@DarthDimi why would you lie to this audience about my IP address?"
Uh, because I didn't? ;-)
Indeed. Time for him to decide methinks.
I feel this a matter that is best left to the mods to sort out as they think fit
And it's not that you haven't got enough to be getting on with is it @ Dragonpol X2 ?.
In any case, the Godwin law should apply to this thread I think. The OP is not the starting point of a debate, it is a gratuitious, insulting, rambling statement.
Oh, I very much agree, @Ludovico.
Yes, that is true @mrcoggins, I have much work still to complete but there will be new blog content on the way very soon, so it's not all bad news. Oh, and please check my activity page for the reasons for me using my open back-up account @Dragonpol2. I've been very open about this identity and the reasons behind it, which is more than can be said for some...