Bond After Fleming

DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
edited July 2020 in General James Bond Chat
I'm currently reading Night Probe! by Clive Cussler, in which a thinly-disguised Bond features as a supporting character. Set in 1989 (but written in '81), he is portrayed as a sixty-six year old former MI6 agent, recently returned from the West Indies, and now a gentleman farmer on the Isle of White. He attends M's funeral, where he is reunited with Moneypenny, upon which he is pulled back into espionage.

It's set me thinking of other times in which the character has been resurrected outside the work of Fleming, Gardner, Benson et al.

In film, we have Lazenby's Bond in Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E: 'The Fifteen Years Later Affair'.; Connery's Bond in The Rock (hinted in the film itself, and also the director's intention), and Brosnan's Bond in his SPAR Premium adverts aired in Austria.

In literature, we have the 2014 novel A Kill in the Morning by Graeme Shimmin, an alternative history thriller set in 1955 in which Bond is, of course, nameless; he's 'Jimmy' Bond in Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, also appears in Dracula Cha Cha Cha by Kim Newman.

Can anyone think of any more?
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Comments

  • SpectreOfDefeatSpectreOfDefeat Posts: 404MI6 Agent
    The Brosnan SPAR Premium adverts are an interesting example. If we're considering commercials where a Bond actor riffs on their 007 image, I can think of a few more examples:



    This bizarre 1980s Japanese cigarette commercial starring Roger Moore himself (skip to 1:37)!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veZFkkgR5pY

    Pierce pitches some Bond-style ideas in a 2016 car advert:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTYiU-Xge9o


    Daniel Craig advertises Heineken in 2015, this time definitely in character as Bond:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0-AJYlJcF0

    "The spectre of defeat..."

  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I couldn't find a copy of Night probe for ages then of all places I found a copy
    in a used book stall in Portugal on a family holiday ;) good adventure story.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • The Spy Who Never DiesThe Spy Who Never Dies UKPosts: 644MI6 Agent


    Loved these and found another one:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfGo0pfVYE&list=RDOrhVj09gyhA


    There is also Daniel Craig as Bond escorting the Queen to the Olympics.
  • DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
    I couldn't find a copy of Night probe for ages then of all places I found a copy
    in a used book stall in Portugal on a family holiday ;) good adventure story.

    I'm liking it so far.

    I thought I'd get into Cussler books as they're so similar to Bond.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I'm a fan of Clive Cussler and
    Find it amazing how his stories
    Never seem to work as movies.
    They always seem to fail ?
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    DavidJones wrote:
    In literature, we have the 2014 novel A Kill in the Morning by Graeme Shimmin, an alternative history thriller set in 1955 in which Bond is, of course, nameless

    Ive not come across this one before. Bond vs. the Nazis? I'll go for that :)
  • DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
    I'm a fan of Clive Cussler and
    Find it amazing how his stories
    Never seem to work as movies.
    They always seem to fail ?

    From what I gather, the reason both Raise the Titanic and Sahara didn't succeed was that they went grossly over-budget.

    This is a very interesting article on how Cussler allowed himself too much influence on Sahara:

    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-08-me-sahara8-story.html

    and how the producers wasted money:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20070518192636/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-movie15apr15,0,6005119.story?coll=la-home-headlines
  • DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
    Just watching The November Man (what does everyone thing of it?), as I heard Pierce wanted this to be his Craig-like Bond film.

    Interesting how he refers derisively to his former protege as a "blunt instrument", which was a common description Fleming gave of Bond, echoed by M in 2006's Casino Royale. Maybe Pierce was taking a swipe at Craig's version?
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    DavidJones wrote:
    I'm a fan of Clive Cussler and
    Find it amazing how his stories
    Never seem to work as movies.
    They always seem to fail ?

    From what I gather, the reason both Raise the Titanic and Sahara didn't succeed was that they went grossly over-budget.

    This is a very interesting article on how Cussler allowed himself too much influence on Sahara:

    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-08-me-sahara8-story.html

    and how the producers wasted money:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20070518192636/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-movie15apr15,0,6005119.story?coll=la-home-headlines

    It's a shame: I did enjoy Sahara a lot and I thought McConaughey made a really good, fun lead in it. I'd have watched more.

    I did just read the synopsis for that Night Probe! novel you mentioned though: that's an insane world-changing plot :D
    It sounds like they even make it explicitly clear that it's Bond at the end..? You can't change Bond's name to Brian though!
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,704MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    DavidJones wrote:
    In literature, we have the 2014 novel A Kill in the Morning by Graeme Shimmin, an alternative history thriller set in 1955 in which Bond is, of course, nameless

    Ive not come across this one before. Bond vs. the Nazis? I'll go for that :)

    I think the Fleming publishers are making a mistake by not hiring a good author to write books about James Bond's adventures as a young man during WWII.
  • DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    DavidJones wrote:
    I'm a fan of Clive Cussler and
    Find it amazing how his stories
    Never seem to work as movies.
    They always seem to fail ?

    From what I gather, the reason both Raise the Titanic and Sahara didn't succeed was that they went grossly over-budget.

    This is a very interesting article on how Cussler allowed himself too much influence on Sahara:

    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-08-me-sahara8-story.html

    and how the producers wasted money:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20070518192636/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-movie15apr15,0,6005119.story?coll=la-home-headlines

    It's a shame: I did enjoy Sahara a lot and I thought McConaughey made a really good, fun lead in it. I'd have watched more.

    I did just read the synopsis for that Night Probe! novel you mentioned though: that's an insane world-changing plot :D
    It sounds like they even make it explicitly clear that it's Bond at the end..? You can't change Bond's name to Brian though!

    I haven't got to the end yet, but certainly his first scene Cussler makes it blindingly obvious. It's stated explicitly that Brian Shaw is a new name, for instance.

    And I agree that his new name is a bit too ordinary! (Though perhaps that makes it a good cover).
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Number24 wrote:
    emtiem wrote:
    DavidJones wrote:
    In literature, we have the 2014 novel A Kill in the Morning by Graeme Shimmin, an alternative history thriller set in 1955 in which Bond is, of course, nameless

    Ive not come across this one before. Bond vs. the Nazis? I'll go for that :)

    I think the Fleming publishers are making a mistake by not hiring a good author to write books about James Bond's adventures as a young man during WWII.

    Yes, certainly; it's something Bond fans have talked about for years- especially when the first Young Bond series finished: it would have been great for Charlie Higson to have carried him on into the war. I think he's possibly the best continuation author. Someone even suggested calling it 'War Bond' which is too delicious not to use :D
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    DavidJones wrote:
    emtiem wrote:
    DavidJones wrote:

    From what I gather, the reason both Raise the Titanic and Sahara didn't succeed was that they went grossly over-budget.

    This is a very interesting article on how Cussler allowed himself too much influence on Sahara:

    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-08-me-sahara8-story.html

    and how the producers wasted money:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20070518192636/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-movie15apr15,0,6005119.story?coll=la-home-headlines

    It's a shame: I did enjoy Sahara a lot and I thought McConaughey made a really good, fun lead in it. I'd have watched more.

    I did just read the synopsis for that Night Probe! novel you mentioned though: that's an insane world-changing plot :D
    It sounds like they even make it explicitly clear that it's Bond at the end..? You can't change Bond's name to Brian though!

    I haven't got to the end yet, but certainly his first scene Cussler makes it blindingly obvious. It's stated explicitly that Brian Shaw is a new name, for instance.

    And I agree that his new name is a bit too ordinary! (Though perhaps that makes it a good cover).

    Ah okay: good thing I didn't spoil anything! :) How does he make it obvious? I take it M and Moneypenny aren't actually named?
  • DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
    edited July 2020
    emtiem wrote:
    DavidJones wrote:
    emtiem wrote:

    It's a shame: I did enjoy Sahara a lot and I thought McConaughey made a really good, fun lead in it. I'd have watched more.

    I did just read the synopsis for that Night Probe! novel you mentioned though: that's an insane world-changing plot :D
    It sounds like they even make it explicitly clear that it's Bond at the end..? You can't change Bond's name to Brian though!

    I haven't got to the end yet, but certainly his first scene Cussler makes it blindingly obvious. It's stated explicitly that Brian Shaw is a new name, for instance.

    And I agree that his new name is a bit too ordinary! (Though perhaps that makes it a good cover).

    Ah okay: good thing I didn't spoil anything! :) How does he make it obvious? I take it M and Moneypenny aren't actually named?

    Well, it's a bit clumsy how it's done, but Moneypenny says she's since married a man named Graham Huston, which conveniently allows her to be called 'Mrs Huston' by our man, and M is referred to as "the chief" or "the old man", but as he's dead that's far as it goes. Mention is also made of Shaw's wife who was killed and that SMERSH would be glad to see him dead too.

    I've just tried to find extracts online, but no joy. On Youtube, however, there's an audio version. It's sound a bit electronic and tinny, but it's clear enough to understand. It starts at the 1:57:15 mark.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWysiPd0AmE
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,704MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    Number24 wrote:
    emtiem wrote:

    Ive not come across this one before. Bond vs. the Nazis? I'll go for that :)

    I think the Fleming publishers are making a mistake by not hiring a good author to write books about James Bond's adventures as a young man during WWII.

    Yes, certainly; it's something Bond fans have talked about for years- especially when the first Young Bond series finished: it would have been great for Charlie Higson to have carried him on into the war. I think he's possibly the best continuation author. Someone even suggested calling it 'War Bond' which is too delicious not to use :D

    "War Bond" is a great idea! :007)
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    DavidJones wrote:
    emtiem wrote:
    DavidJones wrote:

    I haven't got to the end yet, but certainly his first scene Cussler makes it blindingly obvious. It's stated explicitly that Brian Shaw is a new name, for instance.

    And I agree that his new name is a bit too ordinary! (Though perhaps that makes it a good cover).

    Ah okay: good thing I didn't spoil anything! :) How does he make it obvious? I take it M and Moneypenny aren't actually named?

    Well, it's a bit clumsy how it's done, but Moneypenny says she's since married a man named Graham Huston, which conveniently allows her to be called 'Mrs Huston' by our man, and M is referred to as "the chief" or "the old man", but as he's dead that's far as it goes. Mention is also made of Shaw's wife who was killed and that SMERSH would be glad to see him dead too.

    I've just tried to find extracts online, but no joy. On Youtube, however, there's an audio version. It's sound a bit electronic and tinny, but it's clear enough to understand. It starts at the 1:57:15 mark.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWysiPd0AmE

    Heh! Thanks- calling her by her married name is a rather neat dodge! I had a listen though, it is fantastically cheeky as there's no doubt at all! :D
    The only problem is the idea of Bond retiring to the Isle of Wight... Nope!
  • DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    The only problem is the idea of Bond retiring to the Isle of Wight... Nope!

    Perhaps he's spent so much of his life going abroad, living in or near Britain is a novelty for him :)
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    There is a joke that the Isle of Wight is
    Still set in the 1950s, so he might feel
    At home there ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • caractacus pottscaractacus potts Orbital communicator, level 10Posts: 3,907MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    Bond vs. the Nazis? I'll go for that :)
    Number24 wrote:
    I think the Fleming publishers are making a mistake by not hiring a good author to write books about James Bond's adventures as a young man during WWII.
    emtiem wrote:
    Yes, certainly; it's something Bond fans have talked about for years- especially when the first Young Bond series finished: it would have been great for Charlie Higson to have carried him on into the war. I think he's possibly the best continuation author. Someone even suggested calling it 'War Bond' which is too delicious not to use :D
    There is the Dynamite Comics series Origin, which covers a bit of James Bond's wartime adventures, I think they published two volumes, and I think those comics are all official IFP-approved publications (otherwise they couldn't legally use the name).

    The hype when it started claimed Origin was meant to fit in between Young Bond and Forever and a Day, as if those three separate projects add up to the official continuity pre-Casino Royale.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    I got some of the comics with a Humble Bundle but I'm really struggling with them: I haven't read a good one yet. They seem to have neither the style and wit of the films or the eccentric kinkiness of the novels, and are just rather bland as a result. And they put Bond in a black suit everywhere, including the steamy streets of Thailand- he looks stupid.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    DavidJones wrote:
    In literature, we have the 2014 novel A Kill in the Morning by Graeme Shimmin, an alternative history thriller set in 1955 in which Bond is, of course, nameless

    Ive received my copy of this now: looking forward to it as it seems to get lots of very positive reviews! Thanks for the tip-off!
  • JTullock23JTullock23 ArizonaPosts: 552MI6 Agent
    As somewhat an aside to the original question, but playing off of one of the comments in this thread, HBO has remade Perry Mason. It isn't the Raymond Burr version at all. For anyone that hasn't seen it, Mason, played by The American's Matthew Rhys, is a down-and-out attorney that cases the case of a lifetime. It is dirty and gritty. I have seen the first few episodes and it is pretty great. Upon watching it, I couldn't help to think of what a version of Bond like this would be like. Rather by tv series, movie or book series, it would interesting to see our hero like that.
    "History isn't kind to men who play God." - DC "I gave him the limp." - PB "Better make that two." - TD

    "Keeping British end up, sir." - RM "This never happened to the other fellow." - JL "I must be dreaming." SC
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I must keep an eye out for that, I was a big fan of the Raymond Burr series
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • JTullock23JTullock23 ArizonaPosts: 552MI6 Agent
    It is really good. It is a MA show so it is very different from the Burr series, but I dig it.
    "History isn't kind to men who play God." - DC "I gave him the limp." - PB "Better make that two." - TD

    "Keeping British end up, sir." - RM "This never happened to the other fellow." - JL "I must be dreaming." SC
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Yes I've heard that's good: on a channel I can't get though. Based on the books apparently (no idea there were books! :) ).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I've read a couple of the books, years ago but remember them as being very good.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • JTullock23JTullock23 ArizonaPosts: 552MI6 Agent
    Is HBO a channel that isn't offered where you are at? If you have a jailbroken Amazon Firestick I am told you can find it on there. I pay for HBO so I am legal. :007)
    "History isn't kind to men who play God." - DC "I gave him the limp." - PB "Better make that two." - TD

    "Keeping British end up, sir." - RM "This never happened to the other fellow." - JL "I must be dreaming." SC
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
    While I’m sure when IF started writing Bond thrillers he hoped to make a profit, there was also his strong desire to write a great spy novel. Thus, there was an element of personal artistry involved.

    When IF passed so did his creation. Subsequent novels are motivated by his inheritors desire not to see the enormous cash cow he created die with the author. IMO the post Fleming Bond novels have as much validity as oil paintings by later day Picassos, Van Goghs or Rembrandts. Whatever they create may be good - but will never be authentic.
  • DavidJonesDavidJones BermondseyPosts: 253MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    DavidJones wrote:
    In literature, we have the 2014 novel A Kill in the Morning by Graeme Shimmin, an alternative history thriller set in 1955 in which Bond is, of course, nameless

    Ive received my copy of this now: looking forward to it as it seems to get lots of very positive reviews! Thanks for the tip-off!

    I haven't read it myself, so do tell us what you think of it.
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