1 Topic by Le Samourai

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Topic: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

This is fascinating, and I can't wait to read the book.

http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/08/31/ … -james-bon

'The late author’s unused plot for Brosnan’s 007 has resurfaced - as a novel.... In 1995, before Goldeneye was even released, Westlake turned into Eon two treatments for Bond 18. Both his treatments apparently used as their backdrop Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty to China.... Now Hard Case Crime has resurrected this lost story, which at some point Westlake rewrote as a novel - Forever And A Death.'

It won't actually be a James Bond novel, but should still prove to be interesting and entertaining. And the cover certainly has a 007ish vibe.

https://s16.postimg.cc/u04rq5d6p/Forever_and_a_Death_cover_1200_1855_81_s.jpg

—Le Samourai

A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
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2 Reply by HalfMonk HalfHitman

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

That cover is amazing. And Westlake was no slouch. Definitely picking this up.

3 Reply by Westward_Drift

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

Certainly has a shot at being better than the recent Bond continuation novels.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention. Too bad we have to wait until next June for it to be released.

4 Reply by Silhouette Man

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

That sounds most fascinating.

I read about Donald Westlake's film scripts for Tomorrow Never Dies in the MI6 Confidential magazine of the MI6 Community.

It will be great to read this to see what a Bond novel would have been like from him.

It is very interesting how the plot sounds like what Raymond Benson came up with in his debut Bond continuation novel Zero Minus Ten (1997) as it also concerned the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

Thanks for sharing this exciting literary Bond news, Le Samourai.  ajb007/smile  ajb007/martini

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5 Reply by philpog

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

Silhouette Man wrote:

I read about Donald Westlake's film scripts for Tomorrow Never Dies in the MI6 Confidential magazine of the MI6 Community. ajb007/martini

The article was published last October in MI6 Confidential #32.

If you would like to see a detailed examination of the two Westlake script treatments, you can order the issue here:

https://www.mi6confidential.com/issue_32.php

Last edited by philpog (7th Mar 2017 21:27)

6 Reply by Barbel

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

Thank you for sharing that information, philpog.

7 Reply by Thunderpussy

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

Definitely have to check  this out, sounds fantastic, thanks.  ajb007/martini

8 Reply by philpog

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

Here's a "teaser" for my article that gets into the similarities between Westlake's original story treatments and the novel:

"Forever and a Death: The Bond Connection"
https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/article … s?id=04235

Last edited by philpog (2nd Jun 2017 14:53)

9 Reply by Silhouette Man

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

I see you have an article in the new MI6 Confidential too, philpog.  ajb007/martini

Last edited by Silhouette Man (2nd Jun 2017 14:20)

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10 Reply by philpog

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

Silhouette Man wrote:

Thanks for the clarification. Welcome to AJB. Please do stick around.  ajb007/smile  ajb007/martini

I see you have an article in the new MI6 Confidential too.  ajb007/martini

Thanks for the welcome, Silhouette Man. I've been a lurker for a few years now -- it's nice to finally be posting.

Thanks also for mentioning my article in the new issue ("Programmed for Danger: The James Bond Find Your Fate Books"). I haven't seen the article in print yet -- I live in the States and the issues take longer to reach me by mail -- but I'm very excited. Hope you enjoy it.

11 Reply by Silhouette Man

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

philpog wrote:
Silhouette Man wrote:

Thanks for the clarification. Welcome to AJB. Please do stick around.  ajb007/smile  ajb007/martini

I see you have an article in the new MI6 Confidential too.  ajb007/martini

Thanks for the welcome, Silhouette Man. I've been a lurker for a few years now -- it's nice to finally be posting.

Thanks also for mentioning my article in the new issue ("Programmed for Danger: The James Bond Find Your Fate Books"). I haven't seen the article in print yet -- I live in the States and the issues take longer to reach me by mail -- but I'm very excited. Hope you enjoy it.

Yes, I got all of the books but one a while ago on Amazon and I've started your article. I love rare stuff like that.  ajb007/martini

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12 Reply by Agent Kino

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

I'll definitely be reading this. Looks awesome.

1. Goldfinger 2. Skyfall 3. Goldeneye 4. The Spy Who Loved Me 5. OHMSS
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13 Reply by The Domino Effect

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Re: New Bond Novel (Sorta) by Donald Westlake

Just finished reading it and must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Obviously there's no James Bond, M, Moneypenny, Q etc, no martinis, no gadgets, no MI5 etc, but it's so easy to imagine all of those things in it and had it had those elements, I think it would indeed have been a great film.

I'd never heard of Donald Westlake until this novel popped up but I can understand why he was so popular with his fans. I highly recommend it to all Bond literary fans.