Who would you rather write a James Bond Novel: Follet or Deighton?

perdogg

Who would you rather write a James Bond Novel: Ken Follet or Len Deighton? Given that Deighton will be 83 I doubt he will ever write a Bond novel, eventhough he just published an ebook on the subject. I read "The IPCRESS File" about 4 years ago, I thought it was okay, I felt like I might have missed something. I really enjoyed Ken Follet's foreward in the Folio edition of "Live and Let Die". I think Follet would do a Bond novel justice since he is more intuned with Fleming's style and intent, even as a modern Bond.

Silhouette Man

Either would be suitable, but definitely Len Deighton for me! They really need to hurry though...he was even a good friend of John Gardner's, plus he rewrote parts of FRWL script and was of course involved in the Warhead project!

perdogg

Silhouette Man wrote:

Either would be suitable, but definitely Len Deighton for me! They really need to hurry though...he was even a good friend of John Gardner's, plus he rewrote parts of FRWL script and was of course involved in the Warhead project!

I wish he had elaborated on his screen treatment in his ebook.

superado

I like both, but for me Follet edges out Deighton. the espionage novels of Deighton's that I've read were okay (Ipcress File, XPD)though it's his WWII novels that I really enjoyed; I liked "SS-GB" BUT LOVED "Winter" and "Goodbye Mickey Mouse." However, comparing Follet's "Key to Rebecca" and Deighton's "City of Gold" that were practically the same novel, Follet was more atmospheric and satisfying. I've yet to read Follet's political thrillers outside of WWII to truly determine his suitability for the Bond universe though judging from his other novels, I'm confident he can pull off Bond stories that are interesting, textured, novel and smart (much more than Benson, Deaver, Faulks and even Gardner, IMO), which are the elements that set apart not only Fleming himself, but also Christopher Wood and Charles Higson. As a post script, Follet's gratuitous inclusion of sex would have made old Ian proud.

00-Agent

That is a difficult choice. Both would do a fine job IMO, but I think I would have to go with Follet. I have read all of Follet's books and he is one of my favorite authors. I have only read some of Deightons: the Berlin Game, Mexico Set, and London Match trilogy and the Spy Hook, Spy Line, and Spy Sinker trilogy. Perhaps if I had read more of Deightons novels I would have a different opinion.

By the way has anyone read Len Deightons James Bond: My Long And Eventful Search For His Father? Apparently it is only available as a kindle ebook.

perdogg

00-Agent wrote:

By the way has anyone read Len Deightons James Bond: My Long And Eventful Search For His Father? Apparently it is only available as a kindle ebook.

I have. It is essentially a rehash of the court case between Fleming and McClory since Deighton was good friends with both. Deighton wrote the foreward for the "The Battle for Bond" and the ebook was pretty much eloborated on his foreward from that.

dlb007

I'm a huge Len Deighton fan, so I'd love to see him write a Bond novel. I've read a few of Follet's novels and feel he would equally do a good job. So . . . how about both of them write one

perdogg

dlb007 wrote:

I'm a huge Len Deighton fan, so I'd love to see him write a Bond novel. I've read a few of Follet's novels and feel he would equally do a good job. So . . . how about both of them write one

I think the problem with Deighton would his Bond novel would be more as an espionage novel rather than a true Bond. That's why I though that Deighton was suited to write a true screen treatment of From Russia With Love. I think that Follet's style would be closer to Fleming's as far as a Bond novel, I am not sure how they would be able to write on together.

perdogg

superado wrote:

As a post script, Follet's gratuitous inclusion of sex would have made old Ian proud.

Absolutely. Benson was never afraid of that

thediver

Daniel Silva.....!!!

Silhouette Man

perdogg wrote:

Silhouette Man wrote:

Either would be suitable, but definitely Len Deighton for me! They really need to hurry though...he was even a good friend of John Gardner's, plus he rewrote parts of FRWL script and was of course involved in the Warhead project!

I wish he had elaborated on his screen treatment in his ebook.

Yes, a missed opportunity...interesting he wrote the ebook at all, all the same.

The last that I heard was that he was working on a history of aero engines.

superado

Having read the novel about 15 years ago, I am now listening to the audio-book of Eye of the Needle and am reminded how good Follett was in writing this! "Die Nadel," the German spy could easily be Bond, except that Bond would be more emotionally introspective and self absorbed and not as ruthlessly detached.

darenhat

Have to throw my vote to Follett, as I think he is much better suited for Bond then Deighton. Having read Deighton's Game, Set, and Match and Hook, Line, and Sinker trilogy, as well as City of Gold, they were all a bit too plodding for me and I never could bring myself to read more of his work. I haven't read as much Follet, but he was always on my list of authors to return to.