This looks like it's going to be more in lines with Raymond Benson's classic The James Bond Bedside Companion or Simpson & Lane's The Bond Files in that it will cover the entire Bond phenomenon in books, films, and comics. It's been a long time since we've gotten a truly comprehensive reference book on 007 (one that doesn't limit Bond's entire history to twenty-something films), and the word "unofficial" doesn't trouble me one bit. In fact, I see that as a plus. Really looking forward to this.
Thanks to Anders Frejdh and his awesome From Sweden With Love website for the tip. You can follow the latest on this book at The James Bond Lexicon on Tumblr.
This looks great. It will be good to have a reference book that includes Bond in comics.
ReplyDeleteCool! This does indeed look like a good one. Porter already wrote a good book exclusively dedicated to the comics, and I'd love to see him expand on that. John, I'm glad to see you list The Bond Files as a good example of these books. That's exactly how I like a guide like this: with plenty of opinions thrown in! Some people aren't into that, but I think it makes it a lot more interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Bedside Companion is the best ever.
Unofficial can mean full of gossip and rumour but it can also mean author opinion which only enhances the critique of the book/film/comic etc. it's quite tiresome reading so many official books that all say The Man with the Golden Gun is, say, as good a film as Goldfinger for the privilege of using some film stills. A good example is Licence to Thrill by James Chapman which has no stills, no authorisation and is full of honest, almost highbrow, critique.
ReplyDelete