Can James Bond modernise?

[Blowfeld]

He won't give plot clues, but Jeffery Deaver will give his 007 novel a contemporary setting. Can it work? Tell us what you think

'Hey girls ... ever heard of feminism?' Sean Connery gets a rubdown, 1960s-style. Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext Collection/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Cinetext Collection

Last week I received an invitation to an "exclusive Project X" event. I knew it was something to do with the new James Bond novel, which Jeffery Deaver is in the process of writing, but the organisers wouldn't tell me any more. Intrigued – I work from home, I don't get out much – I headed off to a crypt under a central London church on Wednesday. And there in the darkness, surrounded by candles, was Deaver himself, ready to reveal (a little bit) about the 007 project with which he's got himself involved.

Deaver wouldn't talk about the novel's plot or locations (fans are desperate to get their hands on any of these details, I'm told, and so far nothing's being given away). What we did discuss, however, was his decision to make Bond a contemporary character, unlike his predecessor Sebastian Faulks, whose stab at continuing Fleming's oeuvre, Devil May Care, saw him writing "as" Fleming and setting the book in 1967.

"I didn't want to write a period piece. I wanted a contemporary novel. Bond has always been very important to me. I grew up reading the books and they had real immediacy for me, reading cold war books during the cold war," Deaver told me. "My response to the Bond books was not looking back into a window of history, but very immediate, in terms of a real presence of danger which Bond was protecting me against."

He also felt that his own books – from The Bone Collector to his most recent title, The Burning Wire – "are about the very immediate threat of a crime". "The hero has to stop a crime, usually every two to three chapters – that's my theory of writing. I want people to engage emotionally with every single page of a book. So to go back and write a period piece set in the 1960s, as Sebastian Faulks did – successfully – would not be what my readers would like. I thought I had it in me – perhaps this is hubris – to make Bond interesting for readers who aren't familiar with him." So, he's sticking with Fleming's "dark, edgy" Bond, and transporting him "into a Deaver novel, which takes place over two to three days in exotic locations".

It'll be the same cast of characters, but everyone will be updated for the modern world. Bond will be around 30, and everyone else – M, the new modern "Ms" Moneypenny – will be of commensurate ages. And Deaver's creating his own villain, partly because he loves his bad guys, partly because "if I were to bring back Blofeld he'd be a bit doddery".

It seems 007's more xenophobic and sexist attitudes will also get something of a makeover, Deaver said. "Some of what might be considered his more traditional – or backward – attitudes, mannerisms or expressions will be updated," he admitted. "It's very, very important to me to walk a fine line; to keep the legions of fans of Bond happy while at the same time making him appealing to present-day fans."

He's already written a 160-page outline including all the story details, all the clues, "all the secrets and twists and lady interests", and is now starting to write the novel itself. He hasn't quite decided on the car Bond will be driving – but promises fans "won't be disappointed" – and says his Bond woman (not girl) has a name a "little less flamboyant" than Pussy Galore.

Now, I've read Fleming and Faulks and I've seen the Bond films, but the world of 007 isn't an area in which I can claim fangirl obsession. I think Deaver's plan to modernise James sounds fun and I'll be interested to read the novel next May, but I'd love to know what any proper fans out there think. Is it sacrilege? Akin to giving Tarzan's Jane an iPod or updating Blyton? Or are you just keen to get your hands on a new outing for the secret agent? Let me know – and if you've any ideas about where the book should go then please pass them on; after all, Deaver's only just started writing and there's a chance he could be reading this ...

This story can be found at Doctor now? Can James Bond modernise?

[Blowfeld]

Sebastian Faulks wrote a dreary dry book. To me this is the correct attitude to approach Bond with, the only person who could have successfully written as Ian Fleming, continuing the series where Ian left off was Ian.

After all 007 was created in modern context, Ian didn't try to write stories about WW II adventures therefore a modern take has to be done for any author to have half a chance of success. Possibly he will do it so well EON get some new ideas, that really modernise the character without reducing him to a jackbooted Action Man clone.

[carl stromberg]

Sebastian Faulks wrote a dreary dry book. To me this is the correct attitude to approach Bond with, the only person who could have successfully written as Ian Fleming, continuing the series where Ian left off was Ian.

After all 007 was created in modern context, Ian didn't try to write stories about WW II adventures therefore a modern take has to be done for any author to have half a chance of success. Possibly he will do it so well EON get some new ideas, that really modernise the character without reducing him to a jackbooted Action Man clone.

John Gardner did it! All books written by someone other than Ian Fleming are sacriege, but I'm glad they exist.

[Blowfeld]

Top crime writer Jeffery Deaver spills the secrets on new James Bond book

Jul 28 2010 Exclusive by John Dingwall

Jeffrey Deaver Image 2

His greatest creation is about a quadriplegic criminologist who doesn't get out much.

But Jeffery Deaver - best-selling author of The Bone Collector - has promised to thrill James Bond fans with a brand-new 007 novel that takes him to exotic locations, such as ... London.

The US thriller writer is red-hot property in the literary world thanks to a string of international bestsellers featuring wheelchair-bound sleuth Lincoln Rhyme - made famous on the big screen by actor Denzil Washington in the film adaptation of The Bone Collector.

Fittingly, the next Bond project has been cloaked in secrecy - it's known only as Project X - but Jeffery has given the Record a glimpse into the future of fiction's quintessential British spy, who likes his martinis shaken, not stirred.

"Because I am under threat of torture and all sorts of vile things, I can't say too much. But I can reveal that he is going to exotic locations, including London," Jeffery, 60, explains with a wry smile.

"What I'm doing is taking the Bond character that Ian Fleming created - the complex, dark, somewhat cynical yet curiously optimistic and patriotic man who lived a very fast life yet was devoted to his mission - and updating him. Set in 2011, he will be around 30 years old.

"The Fleming novels were brilliant literary mechanisms to get this fascinating character into a number of situations and lead him up to the big conflict with the villain.

"My novels do that and a little bit more.

There is a compressed time frame, twists and turns, and surprise endings. I misdirect my readers frequently.

"It's going to be classic James Bond updated in a Jeffery Deaver kind of novel.

"My books are cinematic and fast-paced. If you've seen the Daniel Craig film version of Casino Royale - it moved very quickly with lots of twists, turns and surprises. In the same sense, I think it'll please everybody."

Also famous for his books featuring special agent Kathryn Dance, Jeffery was asked to update 007 by Fleming's estate and follows Sebastian Faulks, who sold more than a million copies of Devil May Care, the first in the new series of Bond books, in 2008.

He admits getting to work on an exciting new tale was too good an opportunity to turn dow n, not least because he has been a fan of Fleming's original Bond novels since childhood.

At 11, he wrote his first story, based on Bond. It featured a spy who stole a top-secret plane from the Russians.

"Many people don't know Bond from the books," Jeffery says. "My goal is to introduce readers who I know would love the original Bond, so that they go back and read the original books because they still hold up. I hope people will embrace the early books as much as I hope they'll embrace mine.

"I started reading the Bond books when I was about eight, which is unusual as they are considered rather adult books.

"I'd be reading then get to the part where I was mortified because my hero kissed a girl. I'd think, 'oh no', and skip past that part to get to the car chase or the exotic scene in the casino.

"When I was older, I went back and read those portions. However, Fleming wrote quite tastefully and euphemistically about relationships - that was both his skill and the climate of the era."

The author of 27 novels, two collections of short stories and a non-fiction law book, his Bond novel will be released on May 28, 2011 - Fleming's birthday.

And Jeffery is convinced the Bond creator's books have stood the test of time.

He said: "The original Bond books are brilliant character studies.

"For those people who are not familiar with the literary Bond, they should read the books. If they do, they are in for a treat. Bond was much more complex than the movies would have him, although I enjoyed most of the movies too.

"In general, the character that Fleming created was very clever. He was very much a hero but had this very dark side to him because he knew his exploits in defending Queen and country would have him killed in his 40s, so he didn't miss a minute of his life.

"I was delighted when the estate contacted me and asked if I would do the continuation."

A former journalist, folk singer and attorney, Jeffery's novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world.

His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages, and around 20million have been sold.

This week sees the publication of the latest Rhyme thriller The Burning Wire, in which the criminologist must solve the case of a series of attacks on New York's electricity grid. It's another page-turner in keeping with his status as one of the world's top thriller writers.

In the latest tale, Rhyme must outsmart a villain who is using the electric grid to strike fear into New York's populace.

He said: "I decided to use as the theme of my book as electricity as I'm always looking for ideas that will scare my readers. I want them to turn the pages as fast as possible. I decided electricity and energy was something I hadn't read about in a novel before.

"A couple of years ago, I had a problem with the circuits in my house. An electrician came out and started playing around with the wires in the circuit-breaker box. I asked him if it was dangerous. He said he knew what he was doing but that if he touched this wire and a ground source such a pipe he would be dead in an instant. I said, 'That's wonderful. I'm so glad to hear that.' I started the book from there."

Jeffery insists his job is rather mundane - making him almost as housebound as Rhyme. And he revealed he turned down the chance of a dinner date with Angelina Jolie, who co-starred in The Bone Collector.

"Let's not glorify it by saying it was a date with Angelina Jolie," Jeffery smiles.

"I was invited to the set to have dinner with the stars. I wasn't living in New York at the time and was involved in my next book so had to tell them I was too busy.

"I've been asked by men I know if I was out of my mind but my goal is to write novels. That's my job."

The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver is out on hardback this week.

[Blowfeld]

Sebastian Faulks wrote a dreary dry book. To me this is the correct attitude to approach Bond with, the only person who could have successfully written as Ian Fleming, continuing the series where Ian left off was Ian.

After all 007 was created in modern context, Ian didn't try to write stories about WW II adventures therefore a modern take has to be done for any author to have half a chance of success. Possibly he will do it so well EON get some new ideas, that really modernise the character without reducing him to a jackbooted Action Man clone.

John Gardner did it! All books written by someone other than Ian Fleming are sacriege, but I'm glad they exist.

With the exception of Sebastian they didn't try to delve into Fleming's world of words. Bond is a hero for all ages it shouldn't require a writer half a wake to write a competent book. Althou I never did care for John Gardner's books, Wonder why I own all of his book in Hardcopy first edition

[JackWade CIA]

There is Bond as a character in a modern world, then there is Bond as a character modernized. Casino Royale sought to modernize Bond where the previous entries updated the world Bond inhabits.

"The original Bond books are brilliant character studies.

"For those people who are not familiar with the literary Bond, they should read the books. If they do, they are in for a treat. Bond was much more complex than the movies would have him, although I enjoyed most of the movies too.

"In general, the character that Fleming created was very clever. He was very much a hero but had this very dark side to him because he knew his exploits in defending Queen and country would have him killed in his 40s, so he didn't miss a minute of his life.

I can't argue with his take on Bond.

[Blowfeld]

Crime author Jeffery Deaver unveils plans for James Bond novel in Birmingham

Jul 31 2010 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail
Comment (1)
Recommend

HE’s arguably the current master of thriller novels, so it’s no surprise that author Jeffery Deaver had a Birmingham audience of fans gripped as they met him face to face.
DEaver


The American writer, who will pen the next James Bond novel, appeared at Watersone’s in High Street, to promote his latest novel, The Burning Wire.

And the rapt audience hung on his every word.

The 60-year-old is known for his gritty page-turners and twisting plot lines, many which feature detective Lincoln Rhyme.

But he spoke of his joy at being asked to write the next James Bond novel and continue the legacy by Ian Fleming which began when Deaver was just a boy.

The book, to be published next year, is shrouded in secrecy but Chicago-born Deaver revealed more intriguing details to his fans.

“It will be set in present day with Bond a young man who has been away fighting in Afghanistan,” he said.

“At least part of the book will be set in London and it will be pretty fast paced.

“I’m not making it with a view to be made in to a film but obviously if it is, that would be great.”

About 70 fans packed in to the store on Thursday night to listen to the novelist talk about writing his new book before he answered questions from the floor.

“I love coming to meet my fans because I get a bit of a high from entertaining them and their feedback gives me some great ideas,” he added.

Quadriplegic homicide detective Lincoln Rhyme, played by Denzel Washington in the movie The Bone Collector in 1999, makes a return in Deaver’s last New York-based chiller.

The new Watson in Sherlock just arriving back from Afghanistan is enough for me. Is he attempting to reboot Bond?

[Blowfeld]

Yes. Deaver is rebooting Bond book series.

What is your opinion on this?

I am uncertain about circumventing the books Ian wrote.

PG author tapped for next Bond novel
By KATHRYN McKENZIE NICHOLS
Herald Correspondent
Posted: 08/01/2010 01:38:02 AM PDT
Updated: 08/01/2010 01:38:02 AM PDT

Mega-best-selling author Jeffery Deaver credits his parents for an early love of reading — and it's likely that what they had lying around on their bookshelves led to his latest gig.

Deaver, who splits his time between Pacific Grove and North Carolina, has been chosen to write the next James Bond novel by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, which selects writers occasionally to breathe new life into the classic spy.

"My parents were very liberal in many ways," said Deaver in a phone interview last week, as he was getting ready to jet to London on a book tour. "We (he and sister Julie Reece Deaver, of Pacific Grove) were allowed to read any book we could find," although certain movies were off limits.

Among the books he devoured were Ian Fleming's novels, which he says to this day inspire him.

"They're very compact and taut, with not a lot of waste, and move quickly," Deaver notes, writing lessons he's has taken to heart in penning such thrillers as "The Bone Collector," "The Bodies Left Behind," and his latest, "The Burning Wire," another in his popular Lincoln Rhyme series.

The 60-year-old author has been a busy guy of late. "The Burning Wire" was published in June, and he'll have another novel, "Edge," coming out this November. The Bond novel, still untitled, is due for publication May 28, 2011 — Ian Fleming's birthday.

On top of all that, a Lifetime Network movie based on his novel, "The Devil's Teardrop," starring Natasha Henstridge, Tom
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It's a brisk pace, but Deaver said he doesn't mind, although the book tours do consume several months out of the year.

"I'm lucky to be able to write full-time for a living, and I take it very seriously," he said.

Deaver, a former corporate attorney, said his goal from boyhood on was to be a writer — in fact, he wrote his first book at age 11 (featuring a Bond-like protagonist who steals a top-secret Russian airplane). And once he left the law for full-time writing, 20 years ago, he never looked back.

"It was the best decision I ever made," he said.

"The Burning Wire" is his 27th novel to date; in addition, he's written two collections of short stories and a nonfiction law book. In addition to landing on the bestseller lists in many countries, he's won prestigious awards for his work from the International Thriller Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America and the Japanese Adventure Fiction Association.

Deaver's novels sell well not only in the United States, but overseas, where they're available in 150 countries in 25 languages. Fans in Japan, Germany, the Scandinavian countries and the United Kingdom are especially taken with his work.

In fact, it was an English honor that brought him to channeling James Bond. He picked up the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for his 2004 novel "Garden of Beasts," a story of suspense set during World War II. This brought him to the attention of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, which administers Fleming's estate and is committed to continuing Fleming's literary legacy.

Impressed by his command of wartime suspense, the Fleming people asked him to write the next Bond novel. Fleming himself wrote 12 Bond books and two short story collections featuring the character; the series was revived in the 1980s when John Gardner and Raymond Benson began penning Bond books. The last Bond novel, by Sebastian Faulkes, was published in 2008.

Deaver is excited to be writing a book featuring characters created by his boyhood hero. But this novel will be set in the present day, not in the 1950s, and "none of the backstory (of the Fleming novels) exists," he notes.

However, "Bond will be the Bond we know from the books, not Sean Connery," Deaver points out. "He's a dark and complicated character — an assassin."

In Deaver's novel, Bond is a veteran of the British Afghan campaign now working for a security agency. Also expect to see familiar characters from the Bond novels, including Bond's boss M and American CIA agent Felix Leiter, as well as several exotic settings and fast-paced action.

As with all of Deaver's novels, there will be a short time frame for the plot and lots of twists, turns and cliffhangers. That's also what readers will find in the latest Lincoln Rhyme novel, "The Burning Wire," which Deaver is currently promoting.

Deaver said the novel began with some stray thoughts about the awesome power of electricity, and evolved into a villain who harnesses its strength for his own nefarious ends as he hacks into Manhattan's electrical grid.

Forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme, a quadreplegic who solves crimes from his apartment with the aid of several trusted colleagues, is challenged not only by this villain but also by his old nemesis, the Watchmaker, a hired killer who has eluded Rhyme in the past.

Deaver presently alternates between the Rhyme books and a series featuring California Bureau of Investigation agent Kathryn Dance, last featured in 2009's "Roadside Crosses," although she does make a cameo appearance in "The Burning Wire." Monterey Peninsula scenes show up frequently in the Dance novels, since Deaver has set the agent and her family as living in Pacific Grove, and her fictional office in Monterey.

Deaver also throws in occasional stand-alone novels, like "Edge," the one due out later this year. "Edge," set in Washington, D.C., revolves around a cop whose seemingly routine investigations lead to his family being threatened.

"Edge" has the distinction of being Deaver's first-ever first-person novel.

"It was challenging ... I had to be careful to cut away and allow the clues to trick my readers," said Deaver.

Unlike some novelists, Deaver admits that very little of what he does is based on his own life experience. Instead, he researches his novels meticulously before writing anything, gathering reams of information on subjects pertinent to his plot, and writing highly detailed outlines before he begins writing.

For "The Burning Wire," he looked into eco-terrorism, odd inventions and green energy, just to name a few of the threads he wove into the story.

Deaver, now on an international book tour that will take him to England, the Netherlands and Japan, said he tries to get out to California as often as possible to spend time with family members, like sister Julie, herself the author of young adult novels like "The Night I Disappeared" and "Say Goodnight, Gracie."

However, he admits, there hasn't been much time for that lately.

"I feel like I'm living in airports," Deaver said.

Still, he says he wouldn't dream of doing anything else but write: "I still get paid to make things up. It doesn't get any better than that."

[Dr. No]

This is kind of how I thought they were going to do the reboot which was disappointment to have a middle aged agent new to mi6. Maybe the 2013 2014 movie will be based on this guys book if he does a good job.

[Blowfeld]

By Carol Memmott, USA TODAY
RESTON, Va. — Jeffery Deaver looks more like a brainy villain in a James Bond movie than a "00" agent in Her Majesty's secret service.

Best known for his thrillers starring quadriplegic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme, Deaver has a new mission: Bring Bond into the 21st century in a new 007 novel.

The yet-to-be-named book is cryptically referred to as "Project X" by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., which owns the rights to Fleming's work.

How did Deaver, who grew up outside Chicago, land this top-secret mission?

The family-owned Fleming business took notice when Deaver won the U.K.'s Crime Writers' Association's coveted Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for Garden of Beasts (2004), a thriller about an American assassin sent to Berlin during the run-up to Hitler's rise to power.

In his acceptance speech, Deaver talked about Fleming's influence on his work.

Most of the details surrounding Project X, to be published in May, are being kept under wraps, but under intense interrogation (more like gentle coaxing) Deaver begins to spill his guts.

"The novel," he says, "is set in the present day, in 2011. Bond is a young agent for the British secret service. He's 29 or 30 years old, and he's an Afghan war vet."

That in itself is big news. After all, if Bond were aging in real time — he first appeared in Fleming's Casino Royale in 1953 — the now doddering (although assuredly still handsome) 007 would be nearly 90.

But first up: a new stand-alone Deaver novel, Edge (Simon & Schuster, $26.99), to be published Tuesday. It's about a federal agent who risks his life to protect a Washington police detective from a man hired to extract information from him using any means at his disposal.

Deaver's modest home in a woodsy neighborhood in this Northern Virginia suburb has a masculine, clubby feel. He fell in love with the area while researching a novel he set here, then moved to Virginia from New York in the early 1990s. He likes being close to Washington and to friends he has in the area.

His main residence, though, is in Chapel Hill, N.C., where he and his business partner Madelyn Warcholik raise champion briards, French herding dogs. In recent years, two of their dogs have won best of breed at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Updating Bond

Sipping coffee while seated on a leather chair in a sitting room decorated with portraits of his dogs and show ribbons, the mild-mannered author who writes about murderers and serial killers talks about his career and the solid fan base that has allowed him to pursue writing full time since 1990.

"I may not sell as many books as John Grisham (although he has sold a cool 20 million), but I have a very loyal fan base," says Deaver, 60, who wrote some of his novels while working as a Wall Street lawyer.

Deaver's initiation into the Bond family — more than 100 million 007 novels have sold worldwide — could significantly raise his profile.

Other novelists have written Bond novels since Fleming's death in 1964 — including Kingsley Amis, John Gardner and, most recently, Sebastian Faulks (his 2008 book Devil May Care reached No. 38 on USA TODAY's best-seller list) — but they all took place in the original era. Deaver is taking a new approach.

"There's no more Cold War to fight," says Deaver, so his new Bond, of the Fleming estate, will fight "post-9/11 evil."

"I want to stay true to the original James Bond, who many people don't know much about," he says, referring to the secret agent Fleming portrayed in 14 novels, and not the movie Bond. "People know Daniel Craig, they know Pierce Brosnan, they know Roger Moore and Sean Connery, all of whom brought a great deal to the stories of 007. But the original Bond was a very dark, edgy character."

Otto Penzler, proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York, says Deaver's writing style can only enhance the Bond franchise.

"The main thing he can bring is a greater sense of suspense to the books," Penzler says. "A lot of the books and movies are becoming basically chase plots, and Jeff really has the ability to create suspense better than almost any writer working today."

Explaining why Deaver was tapped for the latest Bond adventure, Fleming's niece Kate Grimond says: "He has a great understanding and appreciation of Fleming's original creation. We feel sure that he will produce an exciting page-turning 21st-century Bond mission — and a Bond for the present day."

Keeping secrets

The world of James Bond is a place Deaver knows plenty about. He read his first Bond novel when he was 8. When he was 11, he wrote a story about a spy inspired by 007.

Though Cold War politics meant nothing to him at the time, he became enthralled with the novels' sense of adventure. Like Fleming's, his books always include flawed but heroic characters.

With a little more coaxing, he reveals more details about his 007. "I get him into a lot of trouble in the book," Deaver says. "The poor guy. I almost feel bad for him. He doesn't get a lot of rest."

The novel, he says, "takes place over a short time period and involves Bond traveling to some exotic locations."

Where will he be traveling? Deaver says he can mention only the not-so-exotic London but promises Bond will leave the U.K., and Deaver has visited all the places Bond will travel.

He cannot reveal the plot.

Under pressure to share more secrets, Deaver begins to sing. Moneypenny, a secretary for the British secret service and a source of some romantic tension in the books and movies, will also be a part of Project X — in a more youthful incarnation, of course.

Movies beckon

Despite the accolades for his work, only one novel, The Bone Collector, has been made into a feature film. Released in 1999, it starred Denzel Washington as Rhyme and Angelina Jolie as his partner. It grossed $66.5 million in the USA.

Two other books were made into TV movies, but Deaver hopes Hollywood will take more notice of his work. "Of course, I'd love more films made because it will turn more people on to my books," Deaver says. "I'm very ambitious and want to reach a bigger audience. That's one of the reasons I'm very happy I'm doing the Bond book."

Fleming's straightforward prose and pacing have influenced Deaver, but so have the works of Arthur Conan Doyle.

When contemplating the creation of a new kind of hero for The Bone Collector (the first Rhyme novel), he asked himself, " 'What haven't readers seen before?' I wanted him to be completely helpless. Not like Raymond Burr's Ironside, who was in a wheelchair, but a quadriplegic, completely paralyzed.

"And I wanted to get back to one of my favorite characters from when I was a kid, and that was Sherlock Holmes, who did occasionally get out into the field, but most of what he did was internal, was mental. I wanted to create a new Sherlock Holmes."

Just a taste

Deaver, who is single, shares some of Bond's predilections: driving fast cars — he has owned a Jaguar and a Maserati— shooting guns, scuba diving and downhill skiing.

Later this week, Deaver will do what he loves best: hit the road to meet fans. He'll be off on a week-long whirlwind of interviews and appearances in Japan — but not before he's pressured for just a few more details about Project X.

The 21st-century Bond, he acknowledges, does not smoke.

Does he drink? "Martinis will make an appearance in the book."

Does he wear a tux? "I'm not able to talk about that."

Does he have movie-star looks? "He's handsome in a craggy way. A striking-looking man."

Does he remind Deaver of any particular Hollywood heartthrob?

"Not really," Deaver says. "Fleming said that in his mind, the musician Hoagy Carmichael was who Bond resembled. That's kind of who I think of, too."

Hoagy Carmichael?

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news ... 1_CV_N.htm

[katied]

Crime author Jeffery Deaver unveils plans for James Bond novel in Birmingham

Jul 31 2010 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail
Comment (1)
Recommend

HE’s arguably the current master of thriller novels, so it’s no surprise that author Jeffery Deaver had a Birmingham audience of fans gripped as they met him face to face.
DEaver


The American writer, who will pen the next James Bond novel, appeared at Watersone’s in High Street, to promote his latest novel, The Burning Wire.

And the rapt audience hung on his every word.

The 60-year-old is known for his gritty page-turners and twisting plot lines, many which feature detective Lincoln Rhyme.

But he spoke of his joy at being asked to write the next James Bond novel and continue the legacy by Ian Fleming which began when Deaver was just a boy.

The book, to be published next year, is shrouded in secrecy but Chicago-born Deaver revealed more intriguing details to his fans.

“It will be set in present day with Bond a young man who has been away fighting in Afghanistan,” he said.

“At least part of the book will be set in London and it will be pretty fast paced.

“I’m not making it with a view to be made in to a film but obviously if it is, that would be great.”

About 70 fans packed in to the store on Thursday night to listen to the novelist talk about writing his new book before he answered questions from the floor.

“I love coming to meet my fans because I get a bit of a high from entertaining them and their feedback gives me some great ideas,” he added.

Quadriplegic homicide detective Lincoln Rhyme, played by Denzel Washington in the movie The Bone Collector in 1999, makes a return in Deaver’s last New York-based chiller.

The new Watson in Sherlock just arriving back from Afghanistan is enough for me. Is he attempting to reboot Bond?

Having Watson be a Afghanistan war vet was very now and in the news-I'm hoping the 3rd episode,which airs here next week(and any future episodes)delves into his experiences a little bit more.We've gotten glimpses,but I'd like to know more.

[Kristatos]

Having Watson be a Afghanistan war vet was very now and in the news-I'm hoping the 3rd episode,which airs here next week(and any future episodes)delves into his experiences a little bit more.We've gotten glimpses,but I'd like to know more.

You know that Watson fought in Afghanistan in Conan Doyle's original stories, right? Plus ca change....

[katied]

Yes, but in Sherlock I think the current Afghanistan war is framed by what's been going on the last few years.

[Kristatos]

According to this news story, Deaver's novel could mean the end for Daniel Craig as James Bond. Somebody please explain the difference between a book and a film to this "journalist".

[katied]

Wow. Bond is so far out of canon now it's not even funny.

[Kokopelli]

According to this news story, Deaver's novel could mean the end for Daniel Craig as James Bond. Somebody please explain the difference between a book and a film to this "journalist".

Maybe this is the mechanism for the new Bond. It is about the only gimmick left to try. The Casino Royale was a halfhearted attempt to show Bond at the beginning of his 00 career, too heavy handed for what is was supposed to be. A young man fresh off the battle field, a Commander in HMS Navy to boot! I would like to watch that. Someone who is going to meet up with the famous villains someday and feels like he could be as cool as Connery in Goldfinger would be the winning ticket.

[katied]

^It's seeming like a better and better idea..what with Daniel Craig turning into Rogetr Moore 2.0 before our eyes

a visit from Scashy in 3...2...1.