Somara and I caught this tidbit yesterday through NPR. How fitting that a new Bond movie will be out this year. It’s a bummer he died so soon though. Then again he was spared seeing the awful adaptations of Moonraker, A View to a Kill and Die Another Day flicks; any of them could’ve given him the heart attack which ended his life.
I know numerous fans are complaining about other people writing the books too. Ten years ago, I read Zero Minus Ten by Raymond Benson who was the US president of the fan club. He did a great job! I had trouble putting it down plus I kept thinking, “This is what the Broccolis should’ve gone with!” instead of Tomorrow Never Dies because the UK lease on Hong Kong ending was a stronger and more interesting premise than a Rupert Murdoch-Bill Gates parody.
Meanwhile, I think I’d like to read a biography on Fleming to see where the lines between him and Bond blur.
May 28, 2008 Update: Incidentally, today is also Blofeld’s 100th birthday. I think the new Bond movies need to bring him back despite him being “killed off” in You Only Live Twice (novel) or For Your Eyes Only (movie). The films always used a different actor and they can keep doing that, demonstrate what a slippery foe he is because no one really knows his true appearance.
Sadly, I found out I was wrong about Fleming’s family. He did have a son who died of an intentionally drug overdose in 1975.