Double O by Kim Sherwood

Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
in Literary 007 Posts: 3,099
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  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,861
    Oh I thought it was a comic book when I saw that tweet: they’re always promoting the comics. It’s an actual novel series then.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,099
    I've not heard of the author but I am cautiously interested! (And jealous they got this gig.)
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited November 2021 Posts: 17,727
    First I've heard of this! It sounds interesting and something new and different at least. I'm wondering if James Bond features much (or at all?) or if the focus is more on these new Double-O agents and the regular staff at MI6?

    It sounds like a kind of expanded universe of James Bond but I hope that he features too. I'm sure he will as that's what people buy the admission ticket for. The media marketing seems to be suggesting that this is the first female Bond author though of course Samantha Weinberg was the first with the Moneypenny Diaries.

    Edit: According to the Guardian article Bond actually doesn't feature at all. I kind of suspected that from what I'd read so far but I wasn't entirely sure if they'd go with that. Well, that's definitely a novel approach! :)

    Read more about the new novel series at the Guardian here:

    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/nov/04/licensed-to-thrill-kim-sherwood-set-to-expand-the-james-bond-universe
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited November 2021 Posts: 14,861
    Is it set in period?
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    The media marketing seems to be suggesting that this is the first female Bond author though of course Samantha Weinberg was the first with the Moneypenny Diaries.

    Yeah that's really weird.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    mtm wrote: »
    Is it set in period?
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    The media marketing seems to be suggesting that this is the first female Bond author though of course Samantha Weinberg was the first with the Moneypenny Diaries.

    Yeah that's really weird.

    No, it's not period set it seems. The Guardian article quotes them as saying it will feature a new set of Double-O agents for the 21st Century so it's set in the contemporary time.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited November 2021 Posts: 14,861
    I must admit, as a central concept it's not an immediately gripping one. We've been having plenty of discussions on here recently about potential Bond spinoffs due to the Amazon deal making that seem possible, and obviously a Bond-less MI6-focused one has come up a lot as it's the most obvious, but for me personally the MI6 team isn't what interests me primarily about Bond's world. And just replacing Bond with another character, or team of characters, (who I'm sure will be very different from Bond otherwise there's no point in doing it) isn't the way to do it.
    Well, maybe it'll be great, I obviously don't know anything about it yet; but there are certain concepts that make you go "ooh yeah!" and this isn't one of them.
    The logo is very nice.
  • Posts: 309
    I’m really intrigued and excited by this. I think the 00 Section is ripe for exploration. I’m wary of spin off projects around the films but comics and novels seem like the ideal genre in which these concepts can be explored.

    To be honest, after her performance in NTTD, I’d be up for a Nomi spin off film or limited series.
  • I am intrigued so far, but not yet fully on board. There is a certain potential of course, but I remain to be convinced as to the relevance of telling the adventures of other 00 agents than Bond. At least it could allow the writer to experiment with Fleming's world without impacting Bond himself too much.

    What I'm most curious about is Bond's role. Sure, he won't be featured, but considering Ian Fleming Publication's hook ("James Bond is missing"), he still exists in a form or another. It's set in the contemporary time, but is the missing Bond an agent from the Cold War or from the 21st Century? Is the character from Fleming's book or a new iteration?
  • Posts: 2,491
    mtm wrote: »
    I must admit, as a central concept it's not an immediately gripping one. We've been having plenty of discussions on here recently about potential Bond spinoffs due to the Amazon deal making that seem possible, and obviously a Bond-less MI6-focused one has come up a lot as it's the most obvious, but for me personally the MI6 team isn't what interests me primarily about Bond's world. And just replacing Bond with another character, or team of characters, (who I'm sure will be very different from Bond otherwise there's no point in doing it) isn't the way to do it.
    Well, maybe it'll be great, I obviously don't know anything about it yet; but there are certain concepts that make you go "ooh yeah!" and this isn't one of them.
    Yup, this captures my thoughts exactly.

    I have a feeling that we are not the target audience for this.

    I know nothing about Kim Sherwood, but something tells me that this might be a "young adult book" trying to get that young audience.

    At least that's the vibe I get based of the info.

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    dragonsky wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    I must admit, as a central concept it's not an immediately gripping one. We've been having plenty of discussions on here recently about potential Bond spinoffs due to the Amazon deal making that seem possible, and obviously a Bond-less MI6-focused one has come up a lot as it's the most obvious, but for me personally the MI6 team isn't what interests me primarily about Bond's world. And just replacing Bond with another character, or team of characters, (who I'm sure will be very different from Bond otherwise there's no point in doing it) isn't the way to do it.
    Well, maybe it'll be great, I obviously don't know anything about it yet; but there are certain concepts that make you go "ooh yeah!" and this isn't one of them.
    Yup, this captures my thoughts exactly.

    I have a feeling that we are not the target audience for this.

    I know nothing about Kim Sherwood, but something tells me that this might be a "young adult book" trying to get that young audience.

    At least that's the vibe I get based of the info.

    You could be right in that they're trying to tap into a new youth market with fresh agents unlinked to the James Bond character construct and the problems entailed in updating the literary Bond to the current age. She's certainly young enough herself (born in 1989) so that puts her at 32. As far as I'm aware, she's actually the first Bond author to be younger than me. Eek, Dragonpol's missed the bus! :)
  • edited November 2021 Posts: 9,730
    why does IFP hate me...


    Me: Man I want to see James bond adventures in the modern era.
    IFP: what you want to read about other 00 agents and not bond in the modern era here ya go...
    ME: but no why I :(


    I may check it out but man Maybe this will lead into Kim doing the modern James bond novels.
  • Risico007 wrote: »
    Me: Man I want to see James bond adventures in the modern era.
    IFP: what you want to read about other 00 agents and not bond in the modern era here ya go...
    ME: but no why I :(

    I suppose Carte Blanche wasn't as popular and profitable as IFP hoped and convinced them that modern day Bond adventures weren't that interesting for them. I find it hard to believe that Deaver's novel was only an one-off considering the time he spend to build a supporting cast for his 21st Century Bond.
  • Red_SnowRed_Snow Australia
    Posts: 2,493
    Surprised we're getting two new Bond novels in 2022.

  • edited November 2021 Posts: 15,785
    mtm wrote: »
    I must admit, as a central concept it's not an immediately gripping one. We've been having plenty of discussions on here recently about potential Bond spinoffs due to the Amazon deal making that seem possible, and obviously a Bond-less MI6-focused one has come up a lot as it's the most obvious, but for me personally the MI6 team isn't what interests me primarily about Bond's world. And just replacing Bond with another character, or team of characters, (who I'm sure will be very different from Bond otherwise there's no point in doing it) isn't the way to do it.
    Well, maybe it'll be great, I obviously don't know anything about it yet; but there are certain concepts that make you go "ooh yeah!" and this isn't one of them.
    The logo is very nice.

    Pretty much how I feel about it. It's just not grabbing me.
  • Posts: 9,730
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Me: Man I want to see James bond adventures in the modern era.
    IFP: what you want to read about other 00 agents and not bond in the modern era here ya go...
    ME: but no why I :(

    I suppose Carte Blanche wasn't as popular and profitable as IFP hoped and convinced them that modern day Bond adventures weren't that interesting for them. I find it hard to believe that Deaver's novel was only an one-off considering the time he spend to build a supporting cast for his 21st Century Bond.

    agreed I still haven't read anything that I liked as much as Carte Blanche in recent years .. I know everyone here loves Horowitz but I dont get it.
  • Red_Snow wrote: »
    Surprised we're getting two new Bond novels in 2022.
    It's Bond's 60th anniversary after all. And since there won't be any movie, and probably only an announcement, it's logical to see IFP bank on literature.
  • Posts: 9,730
    Do not read the spoiler bubble if you dont want to know anything bout No Time to Die
    Could this be seen as a sequel of sorts to No tie to die? as it says James bond is missing.... so maybe?
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,861
    Risico007 wrote: »
    why does IFP hate me...


    Me: Man I want to see James bond adventures in the modern era.
    IFP: what you want to read about other 00 agents and not bond in the modern era here ya go...
    ME: but no why I :(


    I may check it out but man Maybe this will lead into Kim doing the modern James bond novels.

    I guess it could the 95 year-old 007 has gone missing... ? :D
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Do not read the spoiler bubble if you dont want to know anything bout No Time to Die
    Could this be seen as a sequel of sorts to No tie to die? as it says James bond is missing.... so maybe?

    NTTD Spoilers
    Yeah that's a good point: it's perhaps a really good time to be doing this considering the movie Bond's fate
  • Posts: 9,730
    I just wish she was writing about James Bond in 2021
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,861
    But it comes out in 2022 ;)
  • Posts: 9,730
    mtm wrote: »
    But it comes out in 2022 ;)
    Ok then have her write about James Bond in 2023 ;)
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    edited November 2021 Posts: 4,047
    I’m looking forward to it! Perhaps this could be set in the same timeline as Carte Blanche? Or after Anthony Horowitz completes his trilogy, he’s moving on. We’ll find out! Perhaps, IFP is now doing 3 book deals, so that they don’t repeat the Faulks-Deaver-Boyd trilogy again. Could one of these Double O’s be Alec Trevelyan?
  • Posts: 526
    This sounds terrible. Hard pass.
  • This sounds terrible. Hard pass.

    Seconded. James Bond without James Bond doesn't appeal to me.
  • manovermanover uk
    Posts: 170
    This sounds good...looking forward to it.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    There's an interesting article by the Bond scholar and spy novelist Jeremy Duns on his blog which I have linked below. The first thing that came to my mind when I heard the news of this new trilogy of novels focusing on other Double-O agents besides James Bond was that Duns had suggested/predicted this years ago in a thread I remember reading on the old alt.fan.james-bond group. Duns has linked that very discussion at the end of his article, 'On the Double O Section':

    https://www.jeremy-duns.com/blog/00section
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 2,895
    BBC teletext are quoting Sherwood as saying the book will have a 'feminist perspective'. So why tie it to Fleming's world at all? Ah, readymade audience, I see. Think I'll pass, tbh.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited November 2021 Posts: 17,727
    Venutius wrote: »
    BBC teletext are quoting Sherwood as saying the book will have a 'feminist perspective'. So why tie it to Fleming's world at all? Ah, readymade audience, I see. Think I'll pass, tbh.

    I suppose they're trying to tie the literary Bond in with the developments seen in the latest Bond film, NTTD, by making it more feminist, "woke" and post the #MeToo era. Obviously trying to update the Fleming literary Bond to this extent would be a tall order for any prospective author (though that never stopped Gardner, Benson or Deaver previously) so they've decided to create a new set of characters altogether to populate this new 21st Century Double-O Section.

    There's perhaps only so much you can do with an "elegant anachronism" (as they first called Lord Home upon his becoming prime minister in 1963) like the literary James Bond before he becomes yet another museum piece. Updating a literary character that started life almost 70 years ago to the vastly different present day could lend itself to charges of incongruity and sheer ridiculousness. In the words of L.P. Hartley, "The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there." The thing is that when you strip away everything that makes Bond...well...Bond, and even remove him from the story altogether, missing presumed dead, what are you left with? Certainly not something that every Bond fan will gladly or excitedly buy into, that's for sure. On the up side, it might bring some new readers into the literary Bond world in much the same way the Young Bond novels hooked children and young people into the literary Bond's world and helped them to discover Fleming's works.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited November 2021 Posts: 14,861
    Venutius wrote: »
    BBC teletext are quoting Sherwood as saying the book will have a 'feminist perspective'. So why tie it to Fleming's world at all? Ah, readymade audience, I see. Think I'll pass, tbh.

    Teletext?! :D Surely that's not still going?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited November 2021 Posts: 17,727
    mtm wrote: »
    Venutius wrote: »
    BBC teletext are quoting Sherwood as saying the book will have a 'feminist perspective'. So why tie it to Fleming's world at all? Ah, readymade audience, I see. Think I'll pass, tbh.

    Teletext?!

    I was thinking the same. That went the way of the dodo in about 2009. The BBC's Ceefax ended in 2012. I think he means the BBC Red Button news text service though which is still ongoing?
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