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Your thoughts on Doubleshot (2000)

SIULHOUETTE_MANSIULHOUETTE_MAN
edited November 2012 in Literary 007 Posts: 15
This thread is designed to collate CBn Bond fan opinion on Raymond Benson's fourth Bond novel Doubleshot (2000):
did it go too far in its experimentation and in its presentation of the literary James Bond character created by Ian Fleming? Is it the The Spy Who Loved Me and The Man From Barbarossa of the Benson books? Your thoughts on this novel are much appreciated by this writer of articles.

Are there any elements of the 'locked room mystery' (made famous by John Dickson Carr) in Doubleshot?

Also, your thoughts on Doubleshot as a title - I remember saying to some friends in 1999 on learning of the new title through correspondence with Raymond Benson himself that that was the title - they said that it was not very impressive for the title of a James Bond novel. Benson originally favoured Reflections in a Broken Mirror as an alternative title - very much influenced by the first chapter of Goldfinger and the original title for '007 in New York', although sadly his own original title was denied him.

I want to try to defend Benson from some of these charges, though. A quote from Kirkus Reviews on Doubleshot on 1 May 2000:

"The creakiest exercise yet in American Bond fan Benson's postmodern resurrection of Ian Fleming's peerless killer spy, has an embarrassingly witless 007 going rogue to fight a dastardly multinational crime cartel.

Nifty bullfighting scenes do not redeem an otherwise cliché-cluttered narrative. For die-hard fans only."

Comments

  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Frankly Benson's Bond books were dire as were the works of Faulkes & Deaver and his "Doubleshot" was no exception.
    What inspired IFP to give him the job I will never know!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    Doubleshot, with its plot featuring a James Bond not at the top of his game either physically or mentally has found a new relevance with the release of Skyfall. What do we think? Do yopu see the line of influence - I've heard others on other boards compare the two at least!
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Dragonpol wrote:
    Doubleshot, with its plot featuring a James Bond not at the top of his game either physically or mentally has found a new relevance with the release of Skyfall. What do we think? Do yopu see the line of influence - I've heard others on other boards compare the two at least!

    Frankly, other than Bond's supposed state - not a new feature, TB,YOLT,TMWGG et all..-
    I don't think that the excellent "Skyfall" has anything in common with this appalling piece of work. Frankly I wish IFP would let the Benson books go out of print. They are an insult to Fleming's memory and give newcomers to the literary franchise an awful impression.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    Well, they're more or less out of print here in the UK now anyway - despite reprints by Pegasus Books in the US in 2008 or thereabouts. I think Benson gets a rough reception, undeservedly so, too.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    I think Benson should be afforded some respect as the author of The James Bond Bedside Companion' which was a seminal work back in the day.

    However the fact is that he was just a fan who wrote a great reference book but for some reason IFP saw fit to give him the gig. His books read like fan fiction because basically they were.

    I'm not sure what they should do with the literary Bond now as they have tried the fan who understands the character (Benson) and that has failed and the hired mercenary (Faulkes, Deaver) seems even worse.

    Surely there must be a writer of reasonable ability out there who's also a Fleming fan.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    They therefore need to return to the thriller-factory approach - i.e. the John Gardner approach!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    Also, re Benson. If you want a fanboy, you get what you pay for! The Amis literary route has been rather discredited of late! Try the thriller writer approach - it surely makes sense!
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Flemingistas - the answer is before our eyes - Charlie Higson.
    He has demonstrated through the extremely difficult "Young Bond" assignment that he has all of the credentials for the job and would deliver in spades.
    Frankly IFP should be humble enough to learn from the literary and commercial success of Anthony Horowitz's Sherlock Holmes novel, "The House Of Silk" and give the job to Higson.
    The great TheWIzardOfice may be correct that Benson deserves respect for the "Bedside Companion" but this is not the subject at hand.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    I see distnct similarities between John Gardner's Understrike (1965) and Raymond Benson' Doubleshot (2000). Anyone else here on MI6 Comm see this at all? I'd still really love to hear your views on this novel - one of Raymond Benson's best and most experimental in nature. The plot on the discord between the UK and Spain over the Rock in Gibraltar is alsao rather true to life given the events between both countries in the recent period 2012-2013.

    Are there any fans who want to give their views on this novel, if so, I want to hear from you all in this thread!
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,894
    I'm going out on a limb to say that I do like Gardner's Bond books, the first four anyway. I don't want to go into my thoughts on them to much right now, as i'm currently in the process of a literary Bondathon, starting with Casino Royale, and (if I pace myself right) finishing Carte Blanch then moving straight on to Boyd's book. I'm currently on The Man With The Golden Gun, my ranking/progress can be found in the 'Which Bond novel are you reading currently' thread.

    Oh, and the same with the Besnon books as well.
  • timmertimmer
    edited April 2013 Posts: 4,622
    I just finished a Flemingathon (all 14 volumes) followed by Colonel Sun, Pearson's JB Authorized Autobio, and the two Wood screenplay novelizations and Gardner's LTK.
    I'm going to finish the remaining 4 screenplay novelizations and then plunge into the Gardner and Benson originals in sequence.
    These are all re-reads btw. But the Gardners and Bensons should be rather fresh all over again, as unlike the Flemings, I've only read any of these books once, and it has been a while.
    Re Doubleshot. I do remember enjoying it as I was happy to have the Benson books to read at the time, but it will be a while before I get back to it, it seems.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    I just got a new copy of this one, so I'll be giving it a read for a review soon!
  • GalaSilvaGalaSilva
    Posts: 96
    Can someone remind me the fate of Margereta Piel? Urgently, I know it's a spoiler but I've already read the novel and cannot find my copy of the novel to find out?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited July 2013 Posts: 17,804
    GalaSilva wrote:
    Can someone remind me the fate of Margereta Piel? Urgently, I know it's a spoiler but I've already read the novel and cannot find my copy of the novel to find out?

    You can get a copy relatively cheaply on Amazon - that's what I did. Yet to read it, though, so no help there.
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    Margereta was killed with a round to the chest from a Heckler & Koch USP45 used by Heidi Taunt dressed as an Arab woman at the Gibraltarian Governor's Residence, during an assassination attempt.
  • GalaSilvaGalaSilva
    Posts: 96
    saunders wrote:
    Margereta was killed with a round to the chest from a Heckler & Koch USP45 used by Heidi Taunt dressed as an Arab woman at the Gibraltarian Governor's Residence, during an assassination attempt.

    Thank you.
  • BentleyBentley
    Posts: 267
    All remaining copies of 'Double Shot' should be incinerated out of respect for Fleming and the ashes forwarded to IFP to remind them of their absolute stupidity on foisting this stuff on unsuspecting, discerning Bond aficionados!
  • BentleyBentley
    Posts: 267
    Bentley wrote:
    All remaining copies of 'Double Shot' should be incinerated out of respect for Fleming and the ashes forwarded to IFP to remind them of their absolute stupidity on foisting this stuff on unsuspecting, discerning Bond aficionados!

    Well said sir - frankly Benson made Faulks and Deaver look good and we all know how appalling they were!
  • BentleyBentley
    Posts: 267
    Apologies everybody - I've told my son to write under his own name albeit this is about all we agree on regarding Bond!
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    Bentley wrote:
    Bentley wrote:
    All remaining copies of 'Double Shot' should be incinerated out of respect for Fleming and the ashes forwarded to IFP to remind them of their absolute stupidity on foisting this stuff on unsuspecting, discerning Bond aficionados!

    Well said sir - frankly Benson made Faulks and Deaver look good and we all know how appalling they were!

    I was just about to say how strange to congratulate yourself on your own posting! ;-)
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Bentley wrote:
    Apologies everybody - I've told my son to write under his own name albeit this is about all we agree on regarding Bond!

    Don't be too hard on him. God knows, the boy has a point. How Benson's drivel ever got into print will remain the biggest Bond mystery of all time!

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    Villiers53 wrote:
    Bentley wrote:
    Apologies everybody - I've told my son to write under his own name albeit this is about all we agree on regarding Bond!

    Don't be too hard on him. God knows, the boy has a point. How Benson's drivel ever got into print will remain the biggest Bond mystery of all time!

    I think you are all wrong, but I defend your right to have an opinion on Benson nonetheless.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited July 2013 Posts: 17,804
    Bentley wrote:
    All remaining copies of 'Double Shot' should be incinerated out of respect for Fleming and the ashes forwarded to IFP to remind them of their absolute stupidity on foisting this stuff on unsuspecting, discerning Bond aficionados!

    I think it is one of his best novels due to the experimentation with Bond - shades of Skyfall 12 years before it was released! Those Bond fans who liked Skyfall should give Benson's Doubleshot a read.
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Dragonpol wrote:
    Bentley wrote:
    All remaining copies of 'Double Shot' should be incinerated out of respect for Fleming and the ashes forwarded to IFP to remind them of their absolute stupidity on foisting this stuff on unsuspecting, discerning Bond aficionados!

    I think it is one of his best novels due to the experimentation with Bond - shades of Skyfall 12 years before it was released! Those Bond fans who liked Skyfall should give Benson's Doubleshot a read.

    @Dragonpol, you talk sense in so many areas surely, you must be a relative of Benson to persist with endorsing his drivel?
    Failing blood ties can I suggest that you stay away from sharp objects and high ledges as Benson's Bond novels are considered the literary equivalent of self harming!

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    Villiers53 wrote:
    Dragonpol wrote:
    Bentley wrote:
    All remaining copies of 'Double Shot' should be incinerated out of respect for Fleming and the ashes forwarded to IFP to remind them of their absolute stupidity on foisting this stuff on unsuspecting, discerning Bond aficionados!

    I think it is one of his best novels due to the experimentation with Bond - shades of Skyfall 12 years before it was released! Those Bond fans who liked Skyfall should give Benson's Doubleshot a read.

    @Dragonpol, you talk sense in so many areas surely, you must be a relative of Benson to persist with endorsing his drivel?
    Failing blood ties can I suggest that you stay away from sharp objects and high ledges as Benson's Bond novels are considered the literary equivalent of self harming!

    Call it my interest in the James Bond Continuation more than anything else. I may well bring you round on this in time with some future articles on my The Bondologist Blog. We'll see.
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