Your thoughts on Raymond Benson's three James Bond Short Stories?

Silhouette Man

As there's never before been a specific thread on the subject of Raymond Benson's three James Bond short stories before I thought that I would create one here to garner people's thoughts and opinions on them.

Just as a reminder here are the three short stories in question:

'Blast from the Past' (Playboy, January 1997)
'Midsummer Night's Doom' (Playboy, January 1999)
'Live at Five' (TV Guide, November 1999)

So far I have only read 'Live at Five' and while it was a slightly written tale I did enjoy it. I invested in the US TV Guide edition that contained the story and read it for the first time last night. I have copies of the other two short stories in the Benson Bond omnibus collections The Union Trilogy (2008) Choice of Weapons (2010). I'm planning to read the other two remaining stories soon.

I'm really curious to hear other members' opinions on these short stories. Are they worthy additions to the literary Bond canon or are they more filler than thriller?

As always, I'd really love to hear from you. -{

Barbel

"Blast" gets a mention in this thread: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/33645/raymond-benson/

Silhouette Man

Barbel wrote:

"Blast" gets a mention in this thread: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/33645/raymond-benson/

Thank you for that link, Barbel. Much appreciated. There's not a lot of discussion about these three Benson short stories (or, for that matter, Benson generally) for some reason.

Sir Miles

I haven't read any of the short stories...and Benson isn't a good writer...

superado

I remember how embarrassed I was to ask the libriarian for the current copy of Playboy that was kept behind the circulation desk, and within earshot of other patrons. Though she didn't ask, I even offered up the point that I needed it for an article!

BTW, does anyone have the three Moneypenny Diaries short stories that were published in UK magazines that they could make copies of? Thanks in advance!

CoolHandBond

I only read one Raymond Benson effort - the mountaineering one whatever that was called - and it was not very good to say the least - I am not a fan of the continuation novels apart from the two that Christopher Wood did - he really did capture Fleming's style superbly.

MilleniumForce

CoolHandBond wrote:

I only read one Raymond Benson effort - the mountaineering one whatever that was called - and it was not very good to say the least - I am not a fan of the continuation novels apart from the two that Christopher Wood did - he really did capture Fleming's style superbly.

How are they continuation of Fleming's books? They're novelisations of TSWLM and MR!

Thunderpussy

I think the term Continuing is just to give a name to the books that followed
Fleming. Although I agree with CoolHandBond that "High time to kill" by Benson
wasn't very good and that Christopher Wood did caputer the "Style" of Fleming
very well.

CoolHandBond

Thanks for clarifying a fairly simple statement, TP -{

Stag, from memory they are called "James Bond and the Spy who Loved Me" and "James Bond and Moonraker". I'm sure someone will confirm or adjust as necessary

Barbel

This thread may be of interest: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/35261/tswlm-book-of-the-film-by-christopher-wood/ (and there's another link in there, too).
It's "James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me", btw.

CoolHandBond

Thanks, Barbel, I knew someone would come to my rescue ) -{

Thunderpussy

On the Benson stories, I've only read Blast from the past. It has a very good
interrogation scene ( used in a later novel) but for a short story , Bond seems
to get plenty of sex. I'm not a fan of the Benson books, I feel they are very
"Dumed Down" Compared to what went before.

Barbel

I've just been enjoying a pleasant chat on FB with none other than Mr Benson himself, who has accepted my friend request.

Thunderpussy

He chatted with you ..........and STILL accepted you as a friend ? )

Seriously, must have been interesting. I'm no longer on FB or any social media.
( Following Higgins advice )

Barbel

I have to be, I get a fair amount of work through FB. And yes, he's chatting with me and I promise I won't tell him what you said

Thunderpussy

)

superado

Barbel wrote:

I've just been enjoying a pleasant chat on FB with none other than Mr Benson himself, who has accepted my friend request.

A few years ago I found his email address somewhere and asked him a question about the research behind the Guerlain cologne he had Bond use in one of his books, but he couldn't remember anything about it! I was disappointed but really appreciated the fact that he responded so quickly...unless that was his publicist pretending to be him! )

Sir Miles

Barbel wrote:

I've just been enjoying a pleasant chat on FB with none other than Mr Benson himself, who has accepted my friend request.

I'm not a great fan of his Bond books but I did feel he was put under duress from Glidrose when he wrote them...

Silhouette Man

I can attest to the fact that Raymond Benson is a really nice, decent guy who has helped me out with research a good few times. I corresponded by letter with him during 1999-2002 and since then I've been in email and FB contact with him. In fact it was Mr Benson who invited me onto Facebook back in 2008! -{

PPK 7.65mm

Blast From The Past stands out the most for me since it has great action, the return of Irma Blunt and Bond gets the girl at the end. Live at Five is an okay story but it is defiantly a filler piece since it so short in length and not much happens. I never got a chance to read to read Midsummer Nights Doom, although reading about it online a few years ago made it seem like I was not missing much.

pjfthompson

can you read Raymond Benson's three James Bond short stories on line please thanks paul