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

Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
edited June 2016 in James Bond Literature
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. :) -{
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).

Comments

  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,868Chief of Staff
    "Blast" gets a mention in this thread: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/33645/raymond-benson/
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    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.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
    I haven't read any of the short stories...and Benson isn't a good writer...
    YNWA 97
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    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!
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 7,222MI6 Agent
    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.
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    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!
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    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. :)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 7,222MI6 Agent
    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 :)
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,868Chief of Staff
    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. :)
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 7,222MI6 Agent
    Thanks, Barbel, I knew someone would come to my rescue :)) -{
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    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.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,868Chief of Staff
    I've just been enjoying a pleasant chat on FB with none other than Mr Benson himself, who has accepted my friend request.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    He chatted with you ..........and STILL accepted you as a friend ? :o :p :)) ;)

    Seriously, must have been interesting. I'm no longer on FB or any social media.
    ( Following Higgins advice ) ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,868Chief of Staff
    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 :D
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    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! :))
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
    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...
    YNWA 97
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    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! :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 Agent
    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.
  • pjfthompsonpjfthompson Posts: 61MI6 Agent
    can you read Raymond Benson's three James Bond short stories on line please thanks paul
Sign In or Register to comment.

Copyright ajb007.co.uk 1998 - 2024

James Bond TM 007 and related James Bond Trademarks © 1962-2024

Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

This website is a fan site and is in no way related to the official production companies.

All users are responsible for the content of their posts, by using this website you agree to the terms of use.