Each new post might delve more deeply into a particular work by Poul Anderson, currently
Mother Of Kings, or might instead veer in a different direction, as long as it is relevant - or sometimes irrelevant. Anderson contributed to many series created by other authors and also wrote an sf James Bond. (
See comments.) Established authors have been writing James Bond novels. What might Anderson have done with Bond? Something high tech and sfnal while also recalling the War and the Cold War and revealing the hidden motivation behind SMERSH or SPECTRE?
This question is occasioned by just having seen the new Bond film, having not seen Bond for years. Of course, the films are different. This kind of prequel moves backwards but also sideways in time. We are supposed to be viewing earlier events but the action is still set in the present day! Blofeld has a Polish accent - correct - and we see him acquiring the facial scar that he had when we first saw him played by Donald Pleasance.
Of course, Anderson, if he had got involved, would have written a novel or a short story, not a film script.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I'm puzzled by this sentence of yours from the first paragraph: "Anderson contributed to many series created by other authors and also wrote an sf James Bond." I can't recall PA writing a story set in Ian Fleming's 007 series. Unless you meant the Dominic Flandry stories. Or have I somehow missed a James Bond story written by Anderson?'
And the first Dominic Flandry stories were actually written and pub. before Fleming pub. his first James Bond adventures.
Sean
Sean,
Sorry. By "...an sf James Bond...," I meant Flandry. Cutting corners, using "James Bond" as a generic phrase for a certain kind of fictional secret agent. Of course, the fact that Flandry was published first shows that he was not an imitation.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Now I understand what you meant! I fear I was interpreting what you wrote too literally! Yes, "James Bond" has become emblematic of the secret service genre. And my preference still lies with the earlier 007 books, when SMERSH was what Bond primarily opposed. I simply don't find SPECTRE convincing.
Of the two series, however, I believe the Dominic Flandry stories to be the better. Flandry himself was a much more rounded, deeply thought out character than was James Bond. And, as you said, not an imitation of Bond!
Sean
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