How Would You Write a New Bond Novel?

Many of us love to nitpick the post-Fleming Bond authors and the choices they make, so it got me to thinking: Let’s say you were tasked with writing a new James Bond novel (or even a new Bond series). How would you go about it?

First, in what era would you set it? 50s? 60s? Modern day? Would you keep all of the Fleming tropes of the character, such as hard drinking, smoking, womanizing? (Smoking is always an interesting question, and I actually agree with Deaver’s assessment that a modern Bond would not smoke, not only to keep fit but because it is such a conspicuous habit for a spy).

Other questions: What type of car would Bond drive? What kind of gun would he carry? What kinds of “Bond girl” names would you use – “normal” or more Bondian (Pussy Galore, etc.)?

And what kind of plot might he get involved in? Would it be something in the traditional Bond mold of a megalomaniac villain taking over the world? Or would you try to change it up?

I ask these things because it occurred to me that, even as a huge Bond fan myself, someone who has read all the novels and seen all the films, I don’t think I could ever successfully mimic Fleming’s style or come close to writing a satisfying novel. It would seem to be about as thankless a task as being President or Prime Minister.
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Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    For Me, .......
    I'd keep him in the late 50s and 60s. ( blend the new stories between the
    Existing Fleming novels ).
    Keeping the ppk with the DB5 or a 56 Jaguar roadster.
    Have to keep the odd funny ladies name ;) and a mix of
    Espionage stories with a couple of megalomaniacs. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BleuvilleBleuville Posts: 384MI6 Agent
    Many of us love to nitpick the post-Fleming Bond authors and the choices they make, so it got me to thinking: Let’s say you were tasked with writing a new James Bond novel (or even a new Bond series). How would you go about it?

    First, in what era would you set it? 50s? 60s? Modern day? Would you keep all of the Fleming tropes of the character, such as hard drinking, smoking, womanizing? (Smoking is always an interesting question, and I actually agree with Deaver’s assessment that a modern Bond would not smoke, not only to keep fit but because it is such a conspicuous habit for a spy).

    Other questions: What type of car would Bond drive? What kind of gun would he carry? What kinds of “Bond girl” names would you use – “normal” or more Bondian (Pussy Galore, etc.)?

    And what kind of plot might he get involved in? Would it be something in the traditional Bond mold of a megalomaniac villain taking over the world? Or would you try to change it up?

    I ask these things because it occurred to me that, even as a huge Bond fan myself, someone who has read all the novels and seen all the films, I don’t think I could ever successfully mimic Fleming’s style or come close to writing a satisfying novel. It would seem to be about as thankless a task as being President or Prime Minister.

    Yes the trouble is - if Fleming wrote from his experiences of World travel and the high life as well as specialist subject matter,
    like guns, women and flowers! you can't hope to match his knowledge, but as it's fiction, you could make it ALL up and hope
    nobody nit picks ! but they would.

    I think Fleming did write about some topical (at the time) themes. Like Cuban gansters coming to the USA. (FYEO).

    Maybe set in an undefined time but with classic cars, and the smoking and drinking habits.
    Find a different sport to play the villain at and not involving gold, diamonds or rockets landing on London!

    Bleuville.
  • BleuvilleBleuville Posts: 384MI6 Agent
    I would call the villain's secretary - Julie Welcome.

    Bleuville.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) very good. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • PDJamesBondPDJamesBond Posts: 180MI6 Agent
    Writing Bond in the 60s does seem the best way to go. Somehow the literary Bond doesn't seem able to exist outside that time period.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Writing Bond in the 60s does seem the best way to go. Somehow the literary Bond doesn't seem able to exist outside that time period.

    How about the 1970s as not much was written in that period?
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    It would be great to have a few books to fill in what he was up to
    In the 70s. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • PDJamesBondPDJamesBond Posts: 180MI6 Agent
    It would be great to have a few books to fill in what he was up to
    In the 70s. -{

    Agreed! -{
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    It would be great to have a few books to fill in what he was up to
    In the 70s. -{

    Met a Blofeld with Hair, battled Voodoo in the Tropics, Killed a Hitman, stopped Nuclear War, went into Space ;)
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • PDJamesBondPDJamesBond Posts: 180MI6 Agent
    It would be great to have a few books to fill in what he was up to
    In the 70s. -{

    Met a Blofeld with Hair, battled Voodoo in the Tropics, Killed a Hitman, stopped Nuclear War, went into Space ;)

    Wow, that summed it up REALLY well!
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    John Pearson's "James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007" - which was authorised by Glidrose and therefore could be interpreted as a continuation novel if you like - was written in 1973 and has Bond retired and living in Bermuda where he hangs out with Sir William Stephenson and Honeychile Ryder and enjoys all the nice things of life...including Honeychile!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I would like to think there were a couple of rich megalomaniacs
    Out for some naughtiness in the 70s, and only Bond could hand
    Out the smacked bottom ! :))
    I hope someday we'll get to hear about them. ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    'Solo' takes place very near the 70's
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    edited October 2014
    'Solo' takes place very near the 70's

    True, it's set in 1969, so one hopes that based on the current trend of the last three Bond continuation novels that the next one is set in the 1970s. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    I have, see the link for more details

    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44452/bond-lived-on/

    They followed on directly from TMWTGG & were for private consumption only.
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    I was in the proccess of writing one but i've forgotten about it.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    I wrote this to be read by the membership:

    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44578/need-to-know-a-collection-of-short-stories/

    Unfortunately it continues not to attract attention so what I had intended as a series of short stories will probably remain as just the one.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    stag wrote:
    I wrote this to be read by the membership:

    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44578/need-to-know-a-collection-of-short-stories/

    Unfortunately it continues not to attract attention so what I had intended as a series of short stories will probably remain as just the one.

    Not to worry - we shall campaign to get it made into a sticky thread.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • AdamOmegaAdamOmega Edmonton, AB, CanadaPosts: 297MI6 Agent
    I'd set a Bond novel in present day (no rose-coloured 1960's nostalgia for this author!) and keep the plot simple; either grand-scale world domination plot with some plausible science-fiction element sprinkled in (but NO lasers in outer space, god help me), or a globe-hopping cat-and-mouse thriller akin to The Man with the Golden Gun. My hope would be to write something fairly outlandish and fun; the kind of book that should come with a bag of popcorn.
    "The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker

    1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
  • James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
    I would try and write a mix between dark thriller and over the top Pastiche. Try and recreate the type of novels that Christopher Wood wrote for Moonraker and TSWLM. The villain would be personal to Bond, a friend of his turned rogue. Bond would get away from Europe and visit Australia and New Zealand. Picture a terrifically written encounter with a salt water crocodile and Bond hanging on for dear life on a windmill in New Zealand or a baddie being dipped in Hot Mud in Rotorua. The climax would be in London however, at a lavish Christmas Party where Bond parachutes in wearing a Tuxedo. I also would write a Ballroom Dancing scene where Bond flirts with the Bond girl amongst the aristocracy. It would be set in the modern day but not bogged down by Acroynms and procedure like Deaver's CB. Have some of the romance of spying back from Fleming days. Similiar to the feeling of Skyfall perhaps, bridging the gap between Daniel Craig and Fleming.
    “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
    -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    I'm about to start on one. It's set pre CR. The boy Bond books aside I don't believe there have been any written to cover this period? I'd be interested if anyone knows otherwise of course.
  • AdamOmegaAdamOmega Edmonton, AB, CanadaPosts: 297MI6 Agent
    I would try and write a mix between dark thriller and over the top Pastiche. Try and recreate the type of novels that Christopher Wood wrote for Moonraker and TSWLM. The villain would be personal to Bond, a friend of his turned rogue. Bond would get away from Europe and visit Australia and New Zealand. Picture a terrifically written encounter with a salt water crocodile and Bond hanging on for dear life on a windmill in New Zealand or a baddie being dipped in Hot Mud in Rotorua. The climax would be in London however, at a lavish Christmas Party where Bond parachutes in wearing a Tuxedo. I also would write a Ballroom Dancing scene where Bond flirts with the Bond girl amongst the aristocracy. It would be set in the modern day but not bogged down by Acroynms and procedure like Deaver's CB. Have some of the romance of spying back from Fleming days. Similiar to the feeling of Skyfall perhaps, bridging the gap between Daniel Craig and Fleming.

    Given plot logic & consistency, I would read the %$@# out of this novel. -{
    "The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker

    1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
  • James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
    AdamOmega wrote:
    I would try and write a mix between dark thriller and over the top Pastiche. Try and recreate the type of novels that Christopher Wood wrote for Moonraker and TSWLM. The villain would be personal to Bond, a friend of his turned rogue. Bond would get away from Europe and visit Australia and New Zealand. Picture a terrifically written encounter with a salt water crocodile and Bond hanging on for dear life on a windmill in New Zealand or a baddie being dipped in Hot Mud in Rotorua. The climax would be in London however, at a lavish Christmas Party where Bond parachutes in wearing a Tuxedo. I also would write a Ballroom Dancing scene where Bond flirts with the Bond girl amongst the aristocracy. It would be set in the modern day but not bogged down by Acroynms and procedure like Deaver's CB. Have some of the romance of spying back from Fleming days. Similiar to the feeling of Skyfall perhaps, bridging the gap between Daniel Craig and Fleming.

    Given plot logic & consistency, I would read the %$@# out of this novel. -{

    Thanks omega -{ It took me quite a while to write that post
    “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
    -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    {[] sounds good :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
    I mean Bond has never visited Oceania.
    “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
    -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    I was in the stages of writing one. I forgot about it until i saw this topic.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    I would try and write a mix between dark thriller and over the top Pastiche. Try and recreate the type of novels that Christopher Wood wrote for Moonraker and TSWLM. The villain would be personal to Bond, a friend of his turned rogue. Bond would get away from Europe and visit Australia and New Zealand. Picture a terrifically written encounter with a salt water crocodile and Bond hanging on for dear life on a windmill in New Zealand or a baddie being dipped in Hot Mud in Rotorua. The climax would be in London however, at a lavish Christmas Party where Bond parachutes in wearing a Tuxedo. I also would write a Ballroom Dancing scene where Bond flirts with the Bond girl amongst the aristocracy. It would be set in the modern day but not bogged down by Acroynms and procedure like Deaver's CB. Have some of the romance of spying back from Fleming days. Similiar to the feeling of Skyfall perhaps, bridging the gap between Daniel Craig and Fleming.
    You WRITE girl!
    Uh, GUY!
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I've had an Idea for a short Bond Story floating about in my Head for a while now -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    I would encourage you all to progress with writing & turn your ideas into something we can all enjoy. It would appear that, while you all have set your Bond stories in the present day, I have gone to the other end of the spectrum & am currently compiling the first instalment of a short story called 'An Ungentlemanly Act' which is set pre CR. Together it looks like we have it covered. This could be something good & would provide those of us us with an interest in the literary side of the character with much new reading material.

    My last effort was entitled 'Blowback' & set post TMWTGG. See the following link & scroll about half way down if you would care to read it in it's entirety as I re-posted the four 'chapters':

    http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44578/need-to-know-a-collection-of-short-stories/page/2/
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Agreed, if you feel you have a story in you, this is the place to try it out. I know
    It takes a lot of guts to put something out there for everyone to read. -{ but I'm
    Sure people will be kind, you'd have to be a bit of a dick or troll to criticise a fellow
    Fans hard work.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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