'No Deals, Mr. Bond' as a title?
Silhouette Man
The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
I just wanted to ask you chaps your thoughts on the choice of No Deals, Mr. Bond as a title for John Gardner's sixth James Bond continuation novel.
Who do you think was responsible for naming the novel and what do you think a good alternative title would have been?
Do you remember any of the fan reaction to the title around the time that the novel was released?
I'm preparing a piece on the novel and I'd be very grateful to hear your views as members of the literary Bond fan community.
Thanking you,
SM.
-{
Who do you think was responsible for naming the novel and what do you think a good alternative title would have been?
Do you remember any of the fan reaction to the title around the time that the novel was released?
I'm preparing a piece on the novel and I'd be very grateful to hear your views as members of the literary Bond fan community.
Thanking you,
SM.
-{ "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Comments
As for Fan Reaction, I can't say because it was released Several Years before I graced this Earth with my Presence.
I prefer, the use of, expressions or old sayings that can have a double
Meaning or given a twist can sound macabre. Even " Trigger Mortis"
is growing on me.
For one thing, it's a negative. Action orientated titles tend to work best as positives. Hunger Games is more effective than "No food games". "You only live Twice" is punchier than "You don't live a second time". There are exceptions (No country for old men), but on the whole positive titles work better than negative ones.
"No Deals" is ambiguous, but it's not a good ambiguity. It makes me think of haggling for a second-hand car. I can detect a bit of wordplay here - does the word "deals" refer to a card game or a making a deal for his life? That's mildly intriguing, if only I can get the image of Arfur Daley out of my head.
The "Mr Bond" thing is a turnoff. It is too stiff and formal for me. Who calls him "Mr Bond?" The taxman, hotel concierges and the bad guy. So we are starting the book with a stereotypical and cliched bit of dialogue.
All in all, sorry but it's a no from me. That's not the sort of title that Fleming would have come up with.
He said exactly that in an interview I read...I'm not sure if he ever mentioned alternative titles though...he said the title was a 'committee choice'...
If any other members want to throw in their two cents I'd love to hear from you in this thread. There's a somewhat fascinating story to tell here, I feel.
It would have been far better to call it "Bugger!" or "Dammit!"
It is certainly much better than Oh No Mr Bond!