Anthony Horowitz's Bond novel - Forever and a Day

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Comments

  • Posts: 2,594
    Who would people pick as an author to write adult Bond books?
  • Posts: 7,653
    Charlie Higson would be my first choice. Based upon his excellent work with the Young Bond books.
  • Posts: 5,767
    Elmore Leonard, if he were still alive ;-). I don´t care he´s American, he had this amazing Researcher friend, who would have supplied him with everything needed to write About an Englishman.
  • Posts: 2,594
    SaintMark wrote: »
    Charlie Higson would be my first choice. Based upon his excellent work with the Young Bond books.

    Do you think that Higson would do a better job with the adult Bond than Horowitz?

  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Personally, I'd rather they don't set it in the Fleming timeline.

    A continuation Bond in the vein of the cinematic incarnation of the character, however? I'd gladly take it. There are many people who'd be perfect for it. Andy McNab and Chris Ryan, for instance. Both are British and with military background, so no pretentious know-nothings would try and replicate what would seemingly be an armed forces intelligence agent's life in a "realistic" way.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Personally, I'd rather they don't set it in the Fleming timeline.

    A continuation Bond in the vein of the cinematic incarnation of the character, however?

    That approach would probably be least offensive to the Fleming purist. Along the lines of the Wood adaptations, though without the necessity of being tied to a specific film.
    Agreed. I'd like novelizations every now and then. But, I also want original Bond prose with contemporary setting. Just like it was done during the Gardner and Benson years.
  • Posts: 4,023
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Personally, I'd rather they don't set it in the Fleming timeline.

    A continuation Bond in the vein of the cinematic incarnation of the character, however?

    That approach would probably be least offensive to the Fleming purist. Along the lines of the Wood adaptations, though without the necessity of being tied to a specific film.

    I liked Wood's style a lot.
  • Posts: 623
    Looks like people want different things from their literary Bond. I prefer a Bond adventure within Fleming's timeline. Trigger Mortis worked well in this way. I wonder if this affects sales though?
    Interesting point. What would shift more units...
    1) A period piece in Fleming's timeline featuring the literary Bond
    ..or
    2) A contemporary thriller based on the current (Craig) incarnation of the cinematic Bond.

    I'd rather see the former, but perhaps the latter would sell more, (with a Craig picture on the front, a kind of 'official novelisation of a movie that doesn't exist, if that makes sense).
    I think Benson was asked to write with the current cinematic version (Brosnan) in mind, wasn't he?
  • Posts: 623
    I think we'd all prefer quality over large sales figures, but I'm concerned that if FAAD didn't shift many units, there may be a re-think about the direction of the books.
  • Posts: 9,733
    I am still half way through the book I will try and finish it by the summer sadly it’s just not my thing it’s better then Trigger Mortis and I am thankful he got another opportunity to do one but still
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    I enjoyed FAAD. I don't see it as cannon (only Fleming is such). However, it offers an interesting concept. I welcome a period piece in Fleming's timeline featuring the literary Bond.

    Horowitz captures the flavor of the early Bond books. He replicates the cool tone and matter of fact attitude Bond carries, even in killing. He realizes that even though he may be new to the Double 0 circle, he would be a capable agent. Most of the missteps he makes are in his emotions.

    The book also perfectly weaves Bond history into world history. We get Bond’s first meeting with M and a charming one with Moneypenny. Horowitz also plays with expectations of the the cannon, such as his choice of gun. He uses the cold war backdrop of the fifties to perfect effect, having it play into the villain’s plan and the perfect twist of a last chapter.

    Forever and a Day is a treat for Bond fans, particularly those who love the Ian Fleming books. It isn't a patch on Fleming, but it provides the kind of familiar entertainment his fans have loved for decades.
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    edited April 2019 Posts: 5,185
    suavejmf wrote: »
    I enjoyed FAAD. I don't see it as cannon (only Fleming is such). However, it offers an interesting concept. I welcome a period piece in Fleming's timeline featuring the literary Bond.

    Horowitz captures the flavor of the early Bond books. He replicates the cool tone and matter of fact attitude Bond carries, even in killing. He realizes that even though he may be new to the Double 0 circle, he would be a capable agent. Most of the missteps he makes are in his emotions.

    The book also perfectly weaves Bond history into world history. We get Bond’s first meeting with M and a charming one with Moneypenny. Horowitz also plays with expectations of the the cannon, such as his choice of gun. He uses the cold war backdrop of the fifties to perfect effect, having it play into the villain’s plan and the perfect twist of a last chapter.

    Forever and a Day is a treat for Bond fans, particularly those who love the Ian Fleming books. It isn't a patch on Fleming, but it provides the kind of familiar entertainment his fans have loved for decades.

    +1
    I loved FAAD.
    Reading some of the comments makes me glad i'm not a native speaker because i can't even compare writing styles between Fleming and Horowitz that much, or what specific language the writers used, even though i still prefer to read all my Bond Books in English.

    All i care about is whether the story grabs me and the visualisation is any good, and this book delivered on all fronts. FAAD had some really dark stuff in it, which i enjoy
    Bond earning his 00 in Stockholm as well as the last chapter
    But balanced it out with beautiful locations, which i visited myself shortly after
    Nizza overall, the glamorous descriptions of the Casino Monaco (ripped from Flemings Thrilling Cities) as well as the luxurious yacht in the Finale.
    I love those contrasts and I believe that's the defining characteristic of a perfect Bond adventure, at least for me, no matter the Medium. And many easter eggs and details that i enjoyed. It didn't offend me at all. Sixtine was an unusual Bond woman (in an unusual Bond adventure), but felt authentic.
    Also i don't know why but i could only picture a young pre Dr. NO-Connery while reading. Something i usually never do. But if i'm not mistaken, Horowitz said that was somewhat on purpose.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    00Agent wrote: »
    suavejmf wrote: »
    I enjoyed FAAD. I don't see it as cannon (only Fleming is such). However, it offers an interesting concept. I welcome a period piece in Fleming's timeline featuring the literary Bond.

    Horowitz captures the flavor of the early Bond books. He replicates the cool tone and matter of fact attitude Bond carries, even in killing. He realizes that even though he may be new to the Double 0 circle, he would be a capable agent. Most of the missteps he makes are in his emotions.

    The book also perfectly weaves Bond history into world history. We get Bond’s first meeting with M and a charming one with Moneypenny. Horowitz also plays with expectations of the the cannon, such as his choice of gun. He uses the cold war backdrop of the fifties to perfect effect, having it play into the villain’s plan and the perfect twist of a last chapter.

    Forever and a Day is a treat for Bond fans, particularly those who love the Ian Fleming books. It isn't a patch on Fleming, but it provides the kind of familiar entertainment his fans have loved for decades.

    +1
    I loved FAAD.
    Reading some of the comments makes me glad i'm not a native speaker because i can't even compare writing styles between Fleming and Horowitz that much, or what specific language the writers used, even though i still prefer to read all my Bond Books in English.

    All i care about is whether the story grabs me and the visualisation is any good, and this book delivered on all fronts. FAAD had some really dark stuff in it, which i enjoy
    Bond earning his 00 in Stockholm as well as the last chapter
    But balanced it out with beautiful locations, which i visited myself shortly after
    Nizza overall, the glamorous descriptions of the Casino Monaco (ripped from Flemings Thrilling Cities) as well as the luxurious yacht in the Finale.
    I love those contrasts and I believe that's the defining characteristic of a perfect Bond adventure, at least for me, no matter the Medium. And many easter eggs and details that i enjoyed. It didn't offend me at all. Sixtine was an unusual Bond woman (in an unusual Bond adventure), but felt authentic.
    Also i don't know why but i could only picture a young pre Dr. NO-Connery while reading. Something i usually never do. But if i'm not mistaken, Horowitz said that was somewhat on purpose.

    Horowitz is able to capture Fleming’s flowing style and intricate details from how Bond likes his eggs in the morning to the cars he drives and colourful characters he interacts with.

    He’s just as faithfully suave as in the original novels, with a depth of insight into his complex psychology, especially when carrying out his assassinations.

    Horowitz even notes in the acknowledgements that the chapter Russian Roulette is based on original material of Fleming’s for an American TV show that didn’t happen.

    There are brutal and bloody moments in the actions scenes and unfortunately Fleming’s dated sexism has also been toned down for a modern audience. This is mainly expressed in the form of Sixtine, an older woman who won’t be so easily charmed and seduced by the handsome British spy. But it works.

    Meanwhile the Bond villain Scipio is particularly enjoyable and cartoonish; a morbidly obese Corsician gangster Scipio who blusters and waddles between scenes.

    But overall there’s something so classic and nostalgic about returning to Bond’s routes with a 1950 setting, as 007 smokes fine cigarettes and scratches at the scar on his cheek..........

  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    edited April 2019 Posts: 5,185
    I felt the characterization was great as well, it was fun to see Bond go on his first Mission as a 00, and how he dealt with stepping into this world of death at every corner. There was a danger there that is often missing, maybe because Bond is a new agent and he has yet to figured out how to deal with certain situations or villains, though he's already full of confidence and determination as we know him. But he's not quite the hardened Killer yet. The relationship with Sixtine worked very well because she was an older and more mature woman than Bond is used to. I felt there was a bit more respect between the two which i think made sense for a younger Bond.
  • Posts: 632
    After receiving my Waterstones copy in June, I finally finished it last week. While I understand and even share some of the criticisms, I still enjoyed the book immensely, so starved for new Bond material that I am. I do hope Horowitz returns, but sets his next 007 adventure in the modern day. It was cute to do it once, but I am tired of rooting these in the 50's and 60's.
  • Posts: 632
    Birdleson wrote: »
    I just want those Fleming drafts to keep coming in the special editions. That will keep me buying.

    Agreed. They may not amount to a lot of content page wise, but they are gems just the same.
  • Posts: 632
    I hope we find out and sooner rather than later. Say what you will about Benson's take, but I miss being able to pick up a new 007 thriller like clockwork once a year!
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    JET007 wrote: »
    I hope we find out and sooner rather than later. Say what you will about Benson's take, but I miss being able to pick up a new 007 thriller like clockwork once a year!

    On a positive note, there are a lot of 007 books coming this year.

    http://jamesbondradio.com/new-and-notable-james-bond-books-2019/
  • Posts: 632
    Wow! I had no idea there were so many! BOND: Behind the Scenes by Mirrorpix is definitely something I want to add!
  • edited April 2019 Posts: 2,594
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    JET007 wrote: »
    I hope we find out and sooner rather than later. Say what you will about Benson's take, but I miss being able to pick up a new 007 thriller like clockwork once a year!

    On a positive note, there are a lot of 007 books coming this year.

    http://jamesbondradio.com/new-and-notable-james-bond-books-2019/

    These books don’t interest me personally. I don’t really care about reading books associated with the movies or comics. I want more of the literary Bond (non comics). :)

    Yeah, a Bond book per year again would be amazing. I miss the good old days. Well, even every two years would be okay but a new adult Bond book every three years is too long to wait.

    I’ve tried reading comics in the past and haven’t really enjoyed them partly because I don’t know in what order to read the speech bubbles. I might order this book that’s a collection of the Dynamite Bond comics and give it one more go though. I’ve never read a Bond comic, so...
  • Posts: 4,023
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    JET007 wrote: »
    I hope we find out and sooner rather than later. Say what you will about Benson's take, but I miss being able to pick up a new 007 thriller like clockwork once a year!

    On a positive note, there are a lot of 007 books coming this year.

    http://jamesbondradio.com/new-and-notable-james-bond-books-2019/

    Wow, I don’t remember so many Bond reference books coming out at the same time before. Spoilt for choice.
  • Posts: 7,653
    Bounine wrote: »
    SaintMark wrote: »
    Charlie Higson would be my first choice. Based upon his excellent work with the Young Bond books.

    Do you think that Higson would do a better job with the adult Bond than Horowitz?

    In one of the Young Bond books by Higson a adult 007 shows up in one of the last chapters and it felt really good.
  • Posts: 2,594

    Yeah
    SaintMark wrote: »
    Bounine wrote: »
    SaintMark wrote: »
    Charlie Higson would be my first choice. Based upon his excellent work with the Young Bond books.

    Do you think that Higson would do a better job with the adult Bond than Horowitz?

    In one of the Young Bond books by Higson a adult 007 shows up in one of the last chapters and it felt really good.

    Yeah, I remember that. It read well. It was too short to tell though as to whether it was better than Horowitz’s writing in Trigger Mortis which was a great read. Haven’t read FAAD yet.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    That was Double or Die, yes. It was a great chapter that hinted at what would Bond become. Even though I find the Young Bond novels very out of place, that chapter had Fleming’s character written all over it. I think Higson would do fine.
  • Posts: 520
    There’s a very interesting SPYBRARY podcast on FAAD. Well worth a listen.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    There’s a very interesting SPYBRARY podcast on FAAD. Well worth a listen.

    Can you post it, please?
  • Posts: 2,887
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    Can you post it, please?

    I think this is it.
  • Posts: 520
    Revelator wrote: »
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    Can you post it, please?

    I think this is it.

    A great podcast. Tom and David clearly know their Bond and it's nice to hear people who actually know what they are talking about airing their views.

    In the round, I agree with David's comments FAAD may not be perfect but it's by far and away the best continuation novel since 'Colonel Sun'.

    That said, the car gaff was extremely annoying and given the importance of car and gun lore in Bond world, pretty unforgivable. The Pussy noticed it immediately and it grated to say the least.


  • Posts: 17,241
    I thought it was about time I got around to write a little bit about my experience reading Forever and a Day, which I recently finished. I've admittedly more or less grown up reading Anthony Horowitz novels, so my opinion of the book and his writing might be a bit "coloured".

    When the book was announced, I wasn't too thrilled with the decision he made to write a novel that predates CR, as I much more prefer novels in the Fleming timeline to feature a Bond that's already an experienced spy. I was pleased to find that Horowitz handled this well. I really like the inclusion of the killing of the Norwegian double agent Rolf Larsen, and how that played out in the early chapters. Luckily Horowitz didn't name him Larson; the "on" ending which you will find in Norwegian names too, is more Swedish sounding that the "en" ending that is more common here. As far as my memory of Norwegian wartime history goes, the facts Horowitz included were correct too.

    I like the pace of those early chapters. Halfway through it slows down a bit much for my liking, but it picks up again when Bond uncovers more of Wolfe's and Scipio's scheme. Re. characters, I didn't quite warm to the character of Irwin Wolfe; I don't know, maybe there was something missing to make him more memorable. On the other hand, I found every chapter featuring Jean-Paul Scipio highly entertaining. Sixtine was interesting enough; nice touch teaming Bond up with an older woman.

    Did I find FAAD better than Trigger Mortis? Probably not, but on par at least – and I liked TM.

    On a side note: I see some previous comments calling Horowitz' prose weak. Given my own enjoyment of this novel, I almost find myself questioning my own literary tastes. I didn't find the inclusion of any of the tropes jarring or annoying. English is not my first language, so that might have been small factor too.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
    On a side note: I see some previous comments calling Horowitz' prose weak. Given my own enjoyment of this novel, I almost find myself questioning my own literary tastes. I didn't find the inclusion of any of the tropes jarring or annoying. English is not my first language, so that might have been small factor too.

    IMHO he's an excellent writer, and I like to think of myself as a reasonably literary and literate person.
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