Interviews
On Thursday, July 2nd, barnesandnoble.com welcomed Raymond Benson to discuss THE FACTS OF DEATH.
Moderator: Welcome, Raymond Benson. Thank you for joining us online tonight. How are you doing this warm July evening?
Raymond Benson: Hello, hello! I'm fine, sitting here in my T-shirt and shorts. Hope everyone else is comfortable.
L. Keur from New Jersey: I loved the direction you took this book in. What exactly did you see in Pythagoras? Did you always have somewhat of an interest or fondness for Pythagoras?
Raymond Benson: No, I was terrible at math. Actually, I was researching Greek mythology because I wanted to set the story in that area of the world. A friend of mine in Athens suggested that I look into mathematicians, and I discovered that Pythagoras had this weird cult behind him, and I thought wouldn't it be neat if someone twisted his philosophies?
M.R. from Texas: First I am delighted that you are the featured guest here...and...I particularly want to know how many times 007 has been in Texas? Will he be coming back?
Raymond Benson: He went to Texas in John Gardner's book FOR SPECIAL SERVICES, and in my book, THE FACTS OF DEATH. Felix Leiter, his American pal, is a Texan.
Pac87@aol.com from XX: What exactly is the Ian Fleming Foundation?
Raymond Benson: It's not a fan club, although it looks like one. It's a not-for-profit organization that publishes a literary magazine called Goldeneye and does other things to raise money, with the ultimate goal of erecting a permanent museum of Bond and Fleming memorabilia. There are Fleming family members on the board, as well as some serious Bond enthusiasts. Check out how to subscribe/join at www.ianfleming.org
Timothy from Metaire, LA: Do you know what the next Bond movie will be?
Raymond Benson: I'm afraid not. They are still working on the script.
Bill Kanas from New York: Hi, Raymond! First, for anyone who has not yet read THE FACTS OF DEATH, let me say it is excellent. It is a terrific Bond adventure and should definitely appeal to fans of the series, both the books and films, as there are welcome continuity references as well as superb character development. However, new fans, and even people who have never read a Bond book but only enjoy 007 from the films, should also have a great time, as it is a top-notch adventure. Now for a question -- are there any plans to bring more characters from Bond's past into your books, as with the wonderful cameo in THE FACTS OF DEATH (I won't spoil it here) of an old Bond ally, and of course, Felix Leiter's extended presence?
Raymond Benson: Yes, I plan to do that as much as possible. It was a lot of fun bringing in the old M (Sir Miles) and James Molony, and other familiar faces. I try to link my series with Fleming's as much as possible.
Deborah from Boca Raton, FL: What inspired you to create a villain who believes he's the reincarnation of Pythagoras? (I'm just now reading the chapter where he's introduced.)
Raymond Benson: As I said before, I was researching mathematicians and came upon him. He had all this weird stuff with triangles and monads and duads and vegetarianism.... He had "students" who weren't allowed to speak, only listen.... Then his followers carried on for some time after his death.
Melissa from Oak Park, IL: I am sure you get this all the time, but who do you think is the best actor to have played Bond? Dalton?
Raymond Benson: Sean Connery will always be my favorite because I grew up with him. But I think Timothy Dalton was the most "accurate" in terms of what Fleming wrote.
Charlie from Boston, MA: Good evening, Mr. Benson. How much of an influence were the original Bond books? How "close to the script" did you stay?
Raymond Benson: The original Fleming books are a big influence. They were what really made me a Bond fan for life. I've tried my best to bring back Fleming's Bond -- the hard-drinking, hard-smoking, womanizing rake we all know and love!
Scott Ehlers from Westwood, CA: Who do you think is the best Bond director? Are you at all involved in the movie production? Any screenwriting in the future?
Raymond Benson: Terence Young, definitely. He created the style of the films, and IMHO the first two are the best in the series. I'm not involved at all with the films, although I wrote the novelization of TOMORROW NEVER DIES.
Peter Kim from Springfield, VA: Are there any plans on making either ZERO MINUS TEN or THE FACTS OF DEATH into movies?
Raymond Benson: I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Deborah from Boca Raton, FL: Any chance THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION will be updated and published in the near future? It is
the definitive guide to the world of 007!
Raymond Benson: Thank you. No, there are no plans at the moment. It's strange, I've tried to get it republished, but no publishers are interested. They feel it's "had its day." I suppose now there are several other books out there that they perceive as competition. It's also a bit tricky now that I'm the Bond author -- how do I critique myself?
John from JWC901@aol.com: Who is your favorite Bond villain?
Raymond Benson: Goldfinger in the films, Hugo Drax in the books.
Brian from Hoboken, NJ: Good evening, Mr. Benson. What type of research do you do for your Bond books? Do you research Bond's character? How is that done?
Raymond Benson: I do tons of research, including traveling to the locations. For THE FACTS OF DEATH I visited Greece and Cyprus. Cyprus was very cool, walking across the Green Line between the Greek section and the Turkish section. The U.N. peacekeeping troops were eyeing me the whole time. No photographs allowed. Tanks...overturned cars still there from 1974...a real no-man's-land.
Montgomery from Livingston, NJ: Do you think Bond is timeless? How difficult is it to have his character adapt to the times? How does the '90s Bond differ from the '60s Bond? Does he even?
Raymond Benson: I think the character of Bond is timeless. He is an archetype. The '90s Bond differs from the '60s Bond only in the things around him. He is basically the same! (In my books, that is.)
Montgomery from Cherry Hill, NC: Do you think your Bond books have a style of their own? I remember reading countless Bond books as a kid and having such fond memories.... Are your books similar to the "old school" Bond books? Thanks, just asking.
Raymond Benson: I like to think so, or at least I hope so. I'll never write like Ian Fleming, but hopefully I've been able to capture his world -- the feel of his books and the character.
Derek from Hanover, NH: Do you have a favorite Bond movie? What about a few of your favorite Bond movies? Why?
Raymond Benson: FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE is my favorite Bond movie and book. I also like "Dr. No," "Goldfinger," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," and "Thunderball" (top five)! They were the quintessential Bond films, they started it all -- they were also closer to what Fleming wrote than the ones that followed.
Tim from Summit, NJ: How did you get into writing these Bond books?
Raymond Benson: I've been a fan all my life. I wrote THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION in the early '80s, published in 1984, and got to know the Fleming family and Glidrose Publications (Fleming's literary company) at that time. We became friends and have stayed in touch over the years. When John Gardner decided not to do any more books, they called me! I'm still pinching myself!
Roger from Akron, OH: Do you plan on writing any more short stories ?
Raymond Benson: As a matter of fact, yes. Watch this space, especially the Playboy space... ! :)
S.M. from Chicago, IL: Could you do some comparing of THE FACTS OF DEATH with your first novel, ZERO MINUS TEN? In any terms you'd like. Thanks.
Raymond Benson: I think THE FACTS OF DEATH is better! I'll always have a fondness for ZERO MINUS TEN because it was my first one, but looking at it now, I can see that it's a "first novel." BTW -- it's just now coming out in paperback from Jove Books. It should appear in the stores within the next couple of weeks.
Hutton from Washington, DC: What do you think was the worst Bond movie? Who in your estimation was the worst Bond?
Raymond Benson: Well, the worst Bond movie is "Casino Royale," which was really a spoof made by another production company. After that, I'd have to say "Moonraker," because it was just too goofy for me. I don't have a "worst" Bond, because they all brought something different to the role.
Bill Kanas from New York: When writing, whose image do you picture as Bond -- any of the actors, or is it a more generic 007?
Raymond Benson: Hi, Bill! When I first read the Fleming books, I didn't picture Sean Connery, or any of the other subsequent actors. It was a shadowy figure that Fleming described, with a scar on his right cheek. He's the guy I picture when I write, although I've been told by readers, "I hear Pierce Brosnan say that line!" or "I can see Sean Connery doing that bit!"
Paul from New York City: How is the novelization process different from the writing original Bond books? Have you written any non-Bond fiction? How is that process different?
Raymond Benson: The novelization was fun, but it was a rush job. I had six weeks to do it! It was fun because I got to add my own two cents to the story that was already there. I added some back-story to the Wai Lin character and to the villain. Hopefully I fleshed it out some. I've also just written a non-Bond novel, which is now in the hands of my agent. I'm waiting to hear his verdict! It's very different from Bond -- it's more of a mystery-drama set in Texas, kind of Larry McMurtry meets David Lynch!
Eugene from Durham, NC: Will you make any appearances for this book? Are there Bond conventions? Do you ever read at them?
Raymond Benson: I have already done signings in Austin, Texas, at Chuy's Restaurant (a location in the book!) and in Chicago. I'll be at the Wizard World Chicago convention in Chicago July 17-19. I'm signing at Mysterious Books in L.A. on August 8. Yes, there are Bond conventions every now and then, and I try to attend when there are.
M.R. from Texas: Mr. Benson, I am delighted that you are so comfy.... What part of a day are you most creative, and do you dream a lot?
Raymond Benson: I'm at my best in the mornings before lunch, and after 10pm at night! My worst is mid-afternoon. I just want to have a siesta!
Kim from Ft. Collins, CO: Hello, Raymond. Do you have a favorite recurring Bond character? Who? Does Moneypenny make an appearance in THE FACTS OF DEATH?
Raymond Benson: My favorite recurring character would be Felix Leiter. I like the old M, too, which is why I brought him back in the new book. Yes, Moneypenny is in it, too. I've introduced a new recurring character, Helena Marksbury, who is Bond's personal assistant (like Loelia Ponsonby and Mary Goodnight in the Fleming books).
Kirby from Plano, TX: Do you consider yourself an Ian Fleming and James Bond expert?
Raymond Benson: There's always something to learn about Fleming and Bond... :)
Bill Kanas from New York: I'm surprised no one's asked this yet, so here goes -- can you tell us anything about your next Bond book?
Raymond Benson: Well, it doesn't have a title yet! It takes place in the Bahamas, England, Belgium, and Nepal! It's more of a John Buchan/"North by Northwest" style of espionage plot that involves a McGuffin and a race between the various characters to retrieve it across the continents!
Deborah from Boca Raton, FL: Why does Glidrose Productions choose the book title instead of allowing you freedom of choice?
Raymond Benson: They don't necessarily choose it. It's a collaborative effort between me, Glidrose, and the American and British publishers!
Deborah from Boca Raton, FL: Would you ever write a Bond adventure in the first person, i.e., from 007's perspective?
Raymond Benson: I don't think so, although it might make an interesting experiment. Maybe a short story?
Katherine from Austin, TX: Will you be coming back to Austin with James Bond? I was very glad to meet you here, even when the books sold out you were really nice.
Raymond Benson: Why, thank you very much! I don't know if Bond will be coming back to Austin, but I will. It's "home" to me!
Bill Kanas from New York: Do you have any plans to create an international criminal/terrorist organization in your books, or to bring back SPECTRE?
Raymond Benson: Yes, I plan to create an international organization, (see next book) but not SPECTRE. They're a dead horse. :)
Moderator: Thank you, Raymond Benson! Best of luck with THE FACTS OF DEATH. Do you have any closing comments for the online audience?
Raymond Benson: Thanks for having me! Make it a Bond summer... THE FACTS OF DEATH is good beach reading! :)
