:: wikimiki.org ::

The Moneypenny Diaries

The Moneypenny Diaries

The Moneypenny Diaries is a planned trilogy of novels chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond stories. The series is penned by Samantha Weinberg under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook, who is depicted as the books "editor". The first instalment, subtitled Guardian Angel was released in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2005 by John Murray publishers; no North American publication had been announced as of late November 2005. Weinberg has indicated the second volume of this series (title to be announced) is tentatively scheduled for publication in October 2006 . Weinberg is the first woman to write an officially licensed James Bond-related novel.

Plot outline

The first diary fills in the gaps between a number of agent 007's missions including the period between On Her Majesty's Secret Service and You Only Live Twice, but also includes an entire backstory for Moneypenny. For the first time since Fleming introduced the character alongside Bond in Casino Royale, Moneypenny is given a first name: Jane.

An authorised book?

Although it has since been announced as an official book from Ian Fleming Publications, the holder of the literary rights to James Bond, there was some confusion and even deception prior to release as to whether the book was actually authorised by them. The trilogy had originally been touted as the secret journal of a "real" Miss Moneypenny and that James Bond was a possible pseudonym for a genuine intelligence officer, the idea of which was perhaps influenced similarily to John Pearson's 1973 authorised biography of James Bond. James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 was based on the obituary in Ian Fleming's You Only Live Twice in which Fleming hints that Bond is perhaps a real man. An investigation by The London Sunday Times into whether or not The Moneypenny Diaries were in some way real forced John Murray publishers to admit that the novel was in fact a "spoof". Prior to the admission, Kate Westbrook was said to be niece of the "real" Jane Moneypenny and that the diaries were discovered after her death in 1990. It was also claimed that Westbrook was a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, however, the college replied stating no such person was in employment there. In an interview, Weinberg revealed that the 'Kate Westbrook' subterfuge stretched as far as her wearing a wig and coloured contact lenses for media interviews and at the launch party. The novel was officially recognized as an authorised book from Ian Fleming Publications on the day of the book's publication in the UK, October 10, 2005. A side-effect of the deception resulted in a delay in this book finding an American publisher.

References

# # #

External links

- [http://www.ianflemingcentre.com/ Ian Fleming Publications official website] Moneypenny Diaries, The Moneypenny Diaries, The

Trilogy

A trilogy is a set of three works of art, usually literature or film, that develop a single theme over three works. They may tell an extended story, such as Isaac Asimov's original Foundation series; or involve the same characters or the same setting, as in the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson; or have more tenuous connections, as in the surreal Nova trilogy novels of William S. Burroughs. Trilogies have a long history. In the Dionysia festival, for example, trilogies were performed followed by a fourth satyr play. The Oresteia is the only surviving trilogy of these ancient Greek plays, originally performed at the festival in Athens in 458 BC. In principle, each work in a trilogy stands by itself. However, what is called a trilogy is sometimes just a larger single work divided into three. Works may become trilogies for other reasons; for instance the original Foundation series was originally eight short stories and novelettes, and the division into books can be considered more or less accidental. The Gormenghast trilogy is a trilogy by default, as Mervyn Peake planned to write more than three books about the Gormenghast world. It is not uncommon for longer series to be created, such as The Alexandria Quartet novels by Lawrence Durrell or the open-ended series of James Bond movies. Creators of trilogies may later extend the series by adding more works, and whether the original three works continue to be considered a trilogy varies. Asimov's Foundation series was comprised of three books for many decades, but was enlarged in the author's later life, and the original three books are often considered a trilogy. The first three novels in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series were dubbed a trilogy, but after the series extended to a total of five novels, author Douglas Adams, for humorous effect, continued to dub the series a trilogy for the rest of his life. Similarly, the afterwords of Piers Anthony's Xanth books jokingly refer to those books as being 2 trilogies (both now rather overgrown). Certain trios of works are often considered a trilogy even if they're part of a greater series or saga. For example, although the Star Wars film series is comprised of six episodes, episodes I, II, and III are considered one trilogy (the "prequel trilogy"), while episodes IV, V, and VI are considered another (the "original trilogy"). The video games Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Metal Gear Solid 3 are considered a trilogy, despite being preceded by Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 and followed by Metal Gear Solid 4. The video games Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas are also considered a trilogy (the "Grand Theft Auto III Trilogy") despite being preceded by Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto 2 and followed by Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. The cult console role playing games Final Fantasy I, II, and III are considered one trilogy (the "NES trilogy"), because they were originally developed for the NES (or Famicom in Japan), while in the same instance, Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI are considered another trilogy (the "SNES trilogy"), despite being succeeded by Final Fantasy VII and further installments of the Final Fantasy series. Other times, a trio of works ceases to be known as a trilogy if additional works or sequels are added. The films Batman, Batman Returns, and Batman Forever were released on home video as the "Batman Trilogy", but after the release of Batman and Robin, the series became known as the "Batman Legacy". Similarly, the films Alien, Aliens and Alien³ were referred to as the "Alien Trilogy" until the release of Alien: Resurrection, after which it came to be known as the "Alien Quadrilogy". Sometimes a trio of works is known as a trilogy not in regard to the series continuity, but rather to the creator (author, director, etc). If a person creates three unrelated works, they may come to be known as "the [creator's name] trilogy". For example, before Quentin Tarantino's fourth film (Kill Bill) was released, his previous three films (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Jackie Brown) were sometimes referred to as "the Quentin Tarantino trilogy". Also, three works with similar themes from a creator may come to be known as a trilogy, especially if produced one after the other. The Steven Spielberg films A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report, and Catch Me If You Can are unoffcially known as "the running man trilogy". Trilogies differ from a triptych, which is a set of three related or connected paintings that are created at one time and designed to be viewed as a single work.

Famous trilogies

Novels

- U.S.A., three novels by John dos Passos
- American Trilogy by Philip Roth including American Pastoral, I Married a Communist and The Human Stain
- The Gormenghast trilogy by Mervyn Peake
- The Salterton, Deptford and Cornish trilogies of Robertson Davies
- The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis
- The Condor Trilogy by Jin Yong: The Legend of the Condor Heroes (She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan), The Return of the Condor Heroes (Shen Diao Xia Lu), and The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber (Yi Tian Tu Long Ji).
- The Dune Trilogy, on the rule of Paul Atreides was later expanded to six novels, with two more in production based on Herbert's posthumous notes.
- The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies, in which each book explores how a different character reacts to the same event.
- Ogniem i mieczem (With Fire and Sword), Potop (The Deluge) and Pan Wołodyjowski (Fire in the Steppe) by Henryk Sienkiewicz – a series of historical novels set in 17th century Poland. Note that this does not include The Lord of the Rings. Although initially published in three volumes, The Lord of the Rings is actually a single work. Tolkien himself divided the novel into six books plus five appendices in keeping with the literary device wherein Tolkien pretends to have "discovered" Middle-earth and to be describing it as befits a scholar of linguistics and ancient history. Ironically, in the 1960s when it burst into worldwide popularity, fans dubbed it a trilogy (or even the trilogy). It is also available in both one-volume and seven-volume editions.

Plays

- The Oedipus Trilogy by Sophocles: Oedipus The King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone

Movies

- The Godfather movie trilogy by director Francis Ford Coppola
- Three Colors movie trilogy by director Krzysztof Kieślowski
- The Star Wars movies - now a double trilogy, or sextology/hexology
- Indiana Jones movies - possibly a future tetralogy
- Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movies
- Back to the Future Trilogy
- The Matrix trilogy
- The Hannibal Lecter trilogy, namely The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon and Hannibal.
- The Terminator series
- The Jurassic Park movies
- The Chris Van Allsburg Trilogy with Jumanji, Polar Express, and Zathura
- The Porky's movies
- The Scream trilogy
- The "Dollars Trilogy" starring Clint Eastwood and directed by Sergio Leone, including A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
- The Looney Tunes "Duck Season/Wabbit Season" trilogy, directed by Chuck Jones and featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd: Rabbit Fire, Rabbit Seasoning, and Duck! Rabbit! Duck!
- Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits, Brazil, and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, the theme being "the ages of man": youth, adulthood, old age. Also known as the "Trilogy of the Imagination"

Video Games

- The Sonic The Hedgehog trilogy, produced on Genesis and starring Sonic: Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3
- The Super Mario Bros. trilogy, produced on NES starring Mario and Luigi: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3
- The Donkey Kong Country trilogy, produced on Super NES and starring Donkey Kong: Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Country 3, then came out on Game Boy Advance.
- The Kirby's Dream Land trilogy, two produced on Game Boy and one on SNES including Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3
- The Sonic Advance trilogy, produced on Game Boy Advance including Sonic Advance, Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Advance 3
- The Donkey Kong Land trilogy, produced on Game Boy including Donkey Kong Land, Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong Land 3
- Ninja Gaiden trilogy, produced on NES and remade for SNES including Ninja Gaiden, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom

M (James Bond)

M is the title and code letter for James Bond's boss and fictional head of the British Secret Intelligence Service or MI6. The title "M" is believed to derive from the first real life head of MI6, Mansfield Smith-Cumming, who used his initial "C" to indicate he had seen a paper and so became referred to as "C", a practice which carried on with his successors.

Admiral Sir Miles Messervy

In the Bond books M is named as Rear Admiral Sir Miles Messervy (the name, hinted at throughout the series, was finally revealed in The Man with the Golden Gun, Ian Fleming's final Bond novel). In the movies only his first name, Miles, was revealed (in The Spy Who Loved Me), and he also has the rank of Admiral. It is assumed that the M of the movies and of Fleming's books is the same person. In the books M clearly has a liking for Bond, and they have obviously had a long professional relationship. M bends the rules for Bond on several occasions. At one point Bond attempts to assassinate M, as a result of extreme Soviet brainwashing, but M insists that Bond be rehabilitated rather than punished. In the first post-Fleming book Colonel Sun M is kidnapped from his home, Quarterdeck, and Bond goes to great lengths to rescue him. In the later books of John Gardner, M/Messervy protects Bond even more from the new, less aggressive, climate in the Secret Service, saying that 'sometime this country will need a blunt instrument'. In the movies the relationship is similar. In the movies the role of Messervy (M) was played by Bernard Lee from the first movie, Dr. No, until Moonraker (1979). Lee died in 1981 and out of respect the character was removed from that year's For Your Eyes Only (1981) (with M's lines given to either his Chief of Staff or Q). The film version of Dr. No suggests that Messervy is a relatively recent appointee to the position of M (he boasts about his ability to reduce the number of operative casualties since taking the job) suggesting someone else held the job before him. In the books, John Gardner makes references to M's predecessors in Scorpius, again suggesting that Messervy is not the first M. Also in the film version of Dr. No, M is heard to call himself head of MI5 (the actor originally said MI6, but for reasons unknown was overdubbed prior to the film's release); this contradicts later films that state he is in charge of MI6. A portrait of him can be seen in the Scottish MI6 headquarters in The World Is Not Enough.

Messervy in real life

The character of M is apocryphally based on Rear Admiral John H. Godfrey who was the Director of the British Department of Naval Intelligence during World War II. During this time, Ian Fleming, the creator and author of the James Bond novels, was his assistant. However, Godfrey and Fleming were close friends and on first name terms unlike M and Bond in the novels. Other names that have from time to time been referenced as a possible resemblance include Maxwell Knight, former head of counter-subversion in MI5 and Maurice Buckmaster, head of Section F of the SOE. Fleming Biographer John Pearson states in his 1966 book The Life of Ian Fleming that M may in fact be based on Fleming's own mother. Pearson writes, :"There is reason for thinking that a more telling lead to the real identity of M lies in the fact that as a boy Fleming often called his mother M. [...] While Fleming was young, his mother was certainly one of the few people he was frightened of, and her sterness toward him, her unexplained demands, and her remorseless insistence on success find a curious and constant echo in the way M handles that hard-ridden, hard-killing agent, 007." — John Pearson (1966)

Featured in:

- Dr. No (1962)
- From Russia With Love (1963)
- Goldfinger (1964)
- Thunderball (1965)
- You Only Live Twice (1967)
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- Live and Let Die (1973)
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
- Moonraker (1979)
Robert Brown as M
After Lee's death in 1981, the producers decided to hire actor Robert Brown to continue the role of M in the James Bond films. Brown picks up the role in Octopussy however, it is never explicitly stated onscreen whether Robert Brown's character is intended to be the same person played by Bernard Lee, or if he was intended to be Admiral Hargreaves, the role played by Brown in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, though the later Bond books retain Messervy. One thing to note is that in the pre-title credits to The Living Daylights, M's insignia suggests he is a Rear Admiral, which would mean if he was Hargreaves then he was demoted since Hargreaves' insignia in The Spy Who Loved Me suggests he is a Vice Admiral. The personality of Brown's M lacks a sense of humor and has absolutely no tolerance whatsoever for Bond's antics. Brown's M came off tougher than any other M, wasting no time to revoke Bond's licence to kill in the film Licence to Kill when Bond went off on a vendetta.
Featured In:

- Octopussy (1983)
- A View to a Kill (1985)
- The Living Daylights (1987)
- Licence to Kill (1989)
Edward Fox as M
In 1983's unofficial Never Say Never Again, it is clearly stated that a new M is in post, played by Edward Fox. This M is portrayed as being concerned with making the books balance, constantly testing agents and being quite open about his low regard for Bond, three character traits that Judi Dench's M also shares in her first movie, GoldenEye.
Featured in:

- Never Say Never Again (1983)
Judi Dench as M
After the long period between Licence to Kill and GoldenEye, the producers brought in Dame Judi Dench to take over as the new M. In reality, the character may have been based on Stella Rimmington, the head of the real MI5. Judi Dench clearly plays a new person appointed to the position of M (putting to rest a long time debate over the nature of the character). Her real name has yet to be revealed in the films, but recent Bond novelist Raymond Benson gives her the name Barbara Mawdsley in his books. In the films she is very cold, blunt and not at all anything like the previous M's. In her first film, GoldenEye, she comes right out and tells Bond that she thinks he's a "sexist, misogynist dinosaur, a relic of the Cold War". Because of these characteristics some MI6 agents have referred to her as "the evil queen of numbers" (an appropriate remark considering the fact that Dench has portrayed two English queens - Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria). In her later films it appears she takes on a more "caring" role of Bond especially after Bond saves her in The World Is Not Enough, although in Die Another Day they're at odds with each again over Bond being disavowed and abandoned to torture in North Korea. This is shown in a humorous way when Bond is reinstated and in a simulator. He takes out all of the attackers, except for one, holding a gun to M's head. Bond stays still for a moment, as if thinking, and then shoots M, so he can get at the attacker, which is when Q steps in and says "You're not supposed to shoot your own boss, 007!" Although it would appear that Dench's M and Bond don't get along too well, M still has a high respect for Bond on a professional basis that her predecessors had as well. Judi Dench is to continue the role for the next film, Casino Royale in 2006 starring Daniel Craig as James Bond.
Featured in:

- GoldenEye (1995)
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
- The World Is Not Enough (1999)
- Die Another Day (2002)
- Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale 1967 spoof
The 1967 film spoof Casino Royale featured not one but two M's. The first was played by John Huston. In this film (which is not considered an official Bond film), M's real name is McTarry (first name not mentioned), and he is killed when he (for some reason) orders the military to fire mortars at Sir James Bond's mansion when the retired spy refuses to return to duty. The first quarter of the film featured Bond's subsequent visit to McTarry Castle on a quest to return the only piece of M's remains recovered after the attack -- his toupee, which is thereafter referred to as a "hair-loom". Subsequently, Sir James Bond (David Niven) becomes the new M and proceeds to order that all MI6 agents male and female be renamed "James Bond 007" in order to confuse the enemy... and the audience.
See also

- List of James Bond allies
- The Avengers (film) contains the characters Father (The Avengers) and Mother (The Avengers), which are similar to M in the James Bond universe.
References

-
- The Man Who Was M, Anthony Masters, Basil Blackwell ISBN 0-631-13392-5
External links

- [http://www.mjnewton.demon.co.uk/bond/mult_m.htm The 'Bond Informant' on M] M

James Bond

James Bond, also known as 007 (pronounced "double-oh seven"), is a fictional British spy introduced by writer Ian Fleming in 1953. Fleming wrote numerous novels and short stories based upon the character and, after his death in 1964, further literary adventures were written by Kingsley Amis (pseudonym "Robert Markham"), John Pearson, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, and Charlie Higson; in addition, Christopher Wood wrote two screenplay novelizations and other authors have also written various unofficial permutations of the character. Although initially made famous through the novels, James Bond is now probably best known from the EON Productions film series. Twenty official and two unofficial films have been made featuring this character. Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman produced most of the official films up until 1974 when Broccoli became the sole producer. His daughter, Barbara Broccoli, and his stepson, Michael G. Wilson, carried on the production duties beginning in 1995. To date, six actors have been signed to portray 007 in the official series (in chronological order):
- Sean Connery
- George Lazenby
- Roger Moore
- Timothy Dalton
- Pierce Brosnan
- Daniel Craig, announced October 2005 The 21st official film, Casino Royale, is in pre-production and is slated for a November 17, 2006, release with Craig as Bond. Broccoli's family company, Danjaq, LLC, has co-owned the James Bond film series with United Artists Corporation since the mid-1970s, when Saltzman sold UA his share of Danjaq. Currently, Columbia Pictures and MGM (United Artists' parent) co-distribute the series. Two other James Bond films were made independently of EON: the comedy Casino Royale starring David Niven (1967), and Never Say Never Again, a remake of Thunderball starring Sean Connery (1983). An American television adaptation of Fleming's first novel, Casino Royale, also aired in 1954 starring Barry Nelson. These three productions, not having originated with EON, are not considered to be official Bond films, although MGM/Sony now owns the distribution rights to them In addition to novels and films, Bond is a prominent character in many computer and video games, comic strips and comic books and has been the subject of many parodies.

Overview

parodies

The character

Commander James Bond is an agent of the international arm of the British Secret Service, now known as MI6, under which he holds the code number "007". The 'double-oh' prefix indicates his discretionary licence to kill in the performance of his duties. Fleming named James Bond after an ornithologist of the same name who had written Birds of the West Indies. Fleming, a keen birdwatcher, was in Jamaica with a copy of Bond's field guide when he chose Bond's name for the lead character of his first novel, Casino Royale in 1953. He later explained that the man's name was "brief, unromantic, Anglo-Saxon, and yet very masculine… just what I needed." The look of James Bond is famed for being "suave and sophisticated." In Casino Royale the character Vesper Lynd says of Bond, "He reminds me rather of Hoagy Carmichael, but there is something cold and ruthless." Carmichael would later be the basis as James Bond for artist Mike Grell and his series of James Bond comic books, while the Hoagy Carmichael description would be repeated in later Bond stories written by John Gardner. Fleming drew inspiration for the Bond character from his personal life; the author was known for his jetsetting lifestyle and reputation as a womanizer. Fleming was also inspired by his contemporaries in British Intelligence during World War II, specifically events that were purported to have taken place at the Estoril Casino in Estoril, Portugal, where spies of warring regimes mingled with European royalty. This atmosphere inspired Fleming's imagination and set the scene for his first Bond novel, Casino Royale. (See Inspirations for James Bond.) Bond is the consummate womaniser, drinker, and smoker. According to a [http://home.earthlink.net/~atomic_rom/007/ website] detailing Bond’s drinking habits, the agent consumed 102 alcoholic beverages in the films, and well over 300 in Fleming's novels. On film, Bond drinks champagne 32 times, and 20 vodka martinis. In the novels, he has a strong preference for bourbon. The literary 007 is a heavy cigarette smoker, at one point smoking up to 60 a day. Bond quit smoking when Gardner authored the stories in the 1980s. On film, Bond has been off and on. During both the Connery and Dalton films Bond was a smoker, while during Moore's and Brosnan's tenure he doesn't smoke cigarettes, although he does occasionally smoke cigars. The last time Bond used cigarettes in film was in Licence to Kill. The cinematic Bond had the character quirk of being a "know-it-all." In Goldfinger, he calculates in his head how many trucks it takes to transport all the gold in Fort Knox, and how long the gold would be radioactive after Goldfinger's bomb had exploded. Bond's "genius" became a running joke during Moore's era. It was virtually eliminated during Dalton's tenure as 007.

The franchise

genius's favourite books.]] The Bond franchise is currently the second all-time highest grossing film franchise in history, after Star Wars, and one of the longest running film series in history, spanning 20 official films, 2 unofficial films, 1 TV episode based on Casino Royale, and a cartoon television series spinoff. A new movie, Casino Royale, is currently in pre-production with an expected release in 2006. The James Bond novels and movies have ranged from realistic spy drama to science fiction. The original books by Fleming are usually dark – lacking fantasy or gadgets. Instead, they established the formula of unique villains, outlandish plots, and voluptuous women who tend to fall in love with Bond at first sight (the feeling often being mutual.) The films expanded on Fleming's books, adding gadgets from Q-Branch, and death-defying stunts, and often abandoning the original plotlines for more outlandish and cinema-friendly adventures. Cinematic Bond adventures were initially influenced by earlier spy thrillers such as North by Northwest, Saboteur, and Journey Into Fear, but later entries became formulaic dramas where Bond saves the world from apocalyptic madmen. Inevitably, a villain tries to kill Bond with a deathtrap during which the villain reveals vital information; Bond later escapes and uses the information to thwart the evil plot. In many cases, the villain then dies at Bond's hands, although early Bond films often ended with the villain either escaping or being killed by someone else. The first actor to play Bond was American Barry Nelson, in the 1954 CBS television production of Casino Royale in which the character became a U.S. agent named "Jimmy Bond." In 1956, Bob Holness provided the voice of Bond in a South African radio adaptation of Moonraker. Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman started the official cinematic run of Bond in 1962, with Dr. No starring Sean Connery. Their production company, EON Productions (supposedly an acronym for 'Everything Or Nothing', which was their motto), set up a semi-regular schedule of releases (initially annually, then usually once every two years) until 1989. Every Bond film has been a box office success to a lesser or greater degree. They continue to earn substantial profits after their theatrical run via videotape, DVD, and television broadcasts. In the UK, Bond holds three of the top five top spots of the most-watched television movies. By the 1980s, many critics had grown tired of the films, commenting that the perennial sexism and glamorous locales had become outdated, and that Bond's smooth, unruffled exterior didn't mesh with competing movies like Die Hard. The hard-edge of Timothy Dalton in the Bond movies of the late 80s met a mixed response from moviegoers; some welcomed the earthier style reminiscent of Fleming's character, while others missed the light-hearted approach which characterised the Roger Moore era. While Licence to Kill (1989) was financially successful, it did not prove as popular as previous Bond films. Licence to Kills relative failure is usually blamed on a poor promotional campaign in the United States, Dalton's darker portrayal of Bond, and it being the first Bond film to be rated PG-13 in the U.S. and "15" in the U.K.. A new Bond film was announced for release in 1991; however, legal wrangling over ownership of the character led to a protracted delay that would keep Bond off movie screens for the next six years during which time, Dalton's career had moved on. The 1990s saw a revival and renewal of the series beginning with GoldenEye in 1995. Pierce Brosnan filled Bond’s shoes with an elegant mix of Sean Connery cool and Roger Moore wit. James Bond has long been a household name and remains a huge influence within the cinematic spy film genre. The Austin Powers series and other parodies such as Johnny English (2003), and Casino Royale (1967) are testaments to Bond's prominence in popular culture (see: James Bond parodies). 1960s TV imitations of James Bond such as I Spy, Get Smart, The Wild Wild West, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. went on to became popular successes in their own right. (Fleming contributed to the creation of U.N.C.L.E.; the show's lead character, "Napoleon Solo," was named after a character in Fleming's novel Goldfinger and Fleming also suggested the character name April Dancer, which was later used in the spinoff series The Girl from U.N.C.L.E..)
Biography of James Bond
James Bond is the son of a Scottish father, Andrew Bond, and a Swiss mother, Monique Delacroix, both of whom died in a mountain climbing accident in the Aiguilles Rouges, when Bond was 11 years old. James went to live with his Aunt, Miss Charmian Bond, in Kent. Bond's family motto, which was later adopted by James Bond during "Operation Corona" in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service is Orbis non sufficit (Latin for "The world is not enough.") An interesting, if wholly non-canon, conjecture about the Bond lineage can be found in Alan Moore's comic book series, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, set in Victorian England. In it, the portly, sinister, and secretive MI6 agent placed in charge of the League is named Campion Bond. His official title as director of the top-secret team is M, an obvious reference to the Bond mythos. Although Moore makes no overt connection between Bond and Campion, the saturation of literary reference in the comics has led fans to propose that Campion is meant to be an ancestor of the modern secret agent. His first name, Campion, is believed to be a reference to fictional detective Albert Campion. With the exception of the Young Bond series of novels by Charlie Higson launched in 2005, Bond for the most part is an ageless character in both films and literature. He is roughly in his late thirties (the age of 37 can be deduced from Moonraker). According to John Pearson's James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007, Bond was born on November 11, 1920; no Fleming novel supports this date. According to an obituary of James Bond in the novel You Only Live Twice, Bond left school when he was 17 years old and joined the Ministry of Defence in 1941. If Bond was 17 in 1941, then he was born in 1924. Fleming also establishes that Bond bought his first car, a Bentley (driven in several early novels and the second Bond film, From Russia with Love), in 1933, contradicting both birthdates—he would have been too young to buy a car had he been born in either 1920 or 1924, though he might have purchased the vehicle at a later date. Many Fleming biographers agree that Fleming never really intended to write as many James Bond adventures as he did and to keep writing the novels he had to "tinker with Bond's early life" and change dates to ensure Bond was the appropriate age for the service, particularly due to a statement in Moonraker that 007 faced mandatory retirement from the 00 Section at age 45. The issue of the car is one such example. Ian Fleming Publications recognised this issue for their new series of novels featuring Bond as a teenager in the 1930s and along with its author, Charlie Higson, defined Bond being born in the year 1920 (no specific date has thus far been declared). The continuation Bond novels by John Gardner and Raymond Benson published between 1981 and 2002 depict Bond as being active in the present day (with Gardner in particular tying Bond to then-current events such as the 1991 Gulf War.) Gardner depicts Bond as being in early middle age at the time of Licence Renewed, making it likely that his version of the character must have been born sometime after that of Fleming's Bond. Benson's Bond appears to be patterned after Pierce Brosnan's film portrayal, suggesting that he was born in the early 1950s. It is also debated where James Bond was born. According to Pearson, Bond was born near Essen, Germany; however, Charlie Higson, in his novel SilverFin claims Bond was born in Switzerland. Bond briefly attended Eton College starting at the age of 12, but was expelled after two halves when some "alleged" troubles with one of his maids came to light. In Fleming's short story "From a View to a Kill," Bond admits to losing his virginity on his first visit to Paris at the age of 16. Gardner's novel Brokenclaw also references this moment in Bond's life. After Eton, Bond attended and continued his education in the prestigious Fettes College in Edinburgh, Scotland. In "Octopussy", Fleming writes that Bond briefly attended the University of Geneva. With the exception of Fettes, Bond's attendance at these schools parallels Fleming's own life, as he attended these same schools. In 1941, Bond lied about his age in order to enter the Royal Navy's Volunteer Reserve during World War II, from which he emerged with the rank of Commander before joining MI6. During his tenure writing James Bond novels in the 1980s and 1990s, Gardner promoted Bond to Captain, but he was subsequently demoted back to Commander in Benson's novels without explanation. In both the literary and cinematic versions of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, James Bond marries, but his bride, Teresa di Vicenzo (Tracy), is killed on their wedding day by his archenemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld; the event resonates in both versions of the character for many years thereafter. In the novels, Bond gets revenge in the following novel, You Only Live Twice, when he by chance comes across Blofeld in Japan, whilst the cinematic Bond takes on Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever with mixed results. Bond had one child, by Kissy Suzuki in You Only Live Twice, although he did not know of the boy's existence until sometime later. Exactly when he learned this is not known; however he is aware of his son, James Suzuki, by the time of Raymond Benson's short story "Blast From the Past." A second (non-canonical) son is suggested in the Marvel Comics series Master of Kung Fu. Clive Reston, a supporting character in the series, resembles Bond in many respects and is an MI-6 agent himself. While it is never stated explicitly, dialogue strongly hints that Reston is Bond's son and the grand-nephew of Sherlock Holmes. In his fictional biographies, author Philip Jose Farmer suggests that Bond belongs in the Wold Newton family tree along with Tarzan, Doc Savage, and many other fictional heroes. Followers of Farmer's speculations have greatly elaborated on Bond's family. In the novels (notably From Russia, With Love), Bond's physical description has generally been consistent: a three-inch, vertical scar on his left cheek (absent from the cinematic version); blue-grey eyes; a "cruel" mouth; short, dark hair, a comma of which falls on his forehead (greying at the temples in Gardner's novels); and (after Casino Royale) the faint scar of the Russian cyrillic letter "Ш" (SH) on the back of one of his hands (carved by a SMERSH agent). The literary and cinematic secret agent's attitude towards his job is similar. Although licensed to kill, Bond dislikes taking life—resorting to flippant jokes and off-hand remarks as after-the-fact relief, often misinterpreted as cold-bloodedness. Pearson's biography (disputed canonically) suggests Bond first killed as a teenager. The novel Goldfinger begins with Bond being haunted by memories of the small-time, Mexican gunman he had killed with his bare hands days earlier. In the films, there is a subtle hint in GoldenEye that he might be haunted so, and, in The World Is Not Enough, he admits that cold-blooded killing is a filthy business. Nonetheless, James Bond kills when needed, and on film commits acts that might be considered murder in other circumstances (in Dr. No, shooting Professor Dent in the back; killing the unarmed Elektra King in The World Is Not Enough). The literary James Bond was reserved in his licensed killing; there are Fleming works in which Bond does not kill anyone. The cinematic Bond is famous for ordering his vodka martinis "shaken, not stirred." The literary Bond prefers vodka, but also drinks gin martinis, and in Casino Royale orders a martini that includes both types of liquor. Bond initially calls it "The Vesper" martini, after his lover in that book, Vesper Lynd. Throughout the novels, 007 orders his martinis with a slice of lemon peel (Fleming felt that olives were added by bartenders to decrease the amount of liquor in the drink), although this only occurs on film in Dr. No. In real life, martini bars often dub a martini made "shaken, not stirred" as a "Martini James Bond." (See martini cocktail for a detailed description of how a shaken martini differs from a stirred one). In the novels, most of the drinks that Bond has—beyond Casino Royale—aren't martinis at all. Age is the notable difference between the literary and the cinematic versions of James Bond. As noted above, per Fleming's novel Moonraker, agent 007 faced mandatory retirement from active duty at age 45, while many of the films feature a considerably older hero. Assuming the correctness of either the 1920 or 1924 birthdates, Fleming's Bond would have retired between 1964 (coincidentally the year Fleming died) and 1969 (after Colonel Suns 1968 publication). Pearson's biography suggests Bond continued working for MI6 as a special agent, beyond retirement age, and continued serving as agent 007 into the 1970s. John Gardner's version of James Bond is a man born after Fleming's version, since he remains an active agent in the 1980s and the 1990s, while Benson's hero serves as 007 in the 1990s and 2000s, suggesting a later birthdate than Gardner's version. The cinematic James Bond (introduced in 1962) already had a history with MI6. In Dr. No, when reluctantly re-equipped with a 7.65 mm Walther PPK pistol replacing his under-powered .25 ACP calibre Beretta automatic pistol, agent 007 protests, telling M that he has used the weapon for 10 years, suggesting he has been a secret agent for at least that long. Since Dr. No in both the literary and cinematic versions, Bond has used a Walther PPK in almost every adventure. In the film Tomorrow Never Dies, Bond updates his gun to the latest model of the Walther P99. In the novels, Gardner replaced the PPK (eventually) with an ASP 9mm. The cinematic Bond is a graduate with a degree in Oriental languages from Cambridge University, as stated in You Only Live Twice. Bond can also be seen in other films speaking a variety of different languages, most notably Russian, which he uses in The World Is Not Enough. Although never stated outright, in his books, Fleming drops hints that Bond was smuggled into Hungary during its anti-Soviet uprising in 1956. A popular legend holds that a British secret agent was sent to Hungary to attempt to train the rebels, although they eventually lost. Using his literary licence, Fleming implies that Bond was this agent.

Novels

By Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming In January 1952, Ian Fleming began work on his first James Bond novel. At the time, Fleming was the Foreign Manager for Kemsley Newspapers, an organisation owned by the London Sunday Times. Upon accepting the job, Fleming asked that he be allowed two months vacation per year. Every year thereafter until his death in 1964, Fleming would retreat for the first two months of the year to his Jamaican house, "Goldeneye", to write a James Bond novel. Between 1953 and 1966, twelve James Bond novels and two short story collections by Fleming were published, with one novel and one short story collection issued posthumously. To this day, it is still debated whether Fleming himself actually finished 1965's The Man with the Golden Gun, as he died very soon after completing the book. His first anthology of short stories, For Your Eyes Only, mostly consisted of converted screenplays for a CBS television series based on the character. When the project fell through, Fleming turned them into short stories: (i) "From a View to a Kill", (ii) "For Your Eyes Only", (iii) "Risico", plus two additional stories, "The Hildebrand Rarity" and "Quantum of Solace", which were previously published. The second anthology, Octopussy and The Living Daylights (in many editions titled only Octopussy), originally only contained two short stories, "Octopussy" and "The Living Daylights"; a third story, "The Property of a Lady" was added in the 1967 paperback edition, and a fourth, "007 in New York", was added in 2002.

Post-Fleming James Bond novels

007 in New York Following Fleming's death in 1964, Glidrose Productions, publishers of the James Bond novels, planned a new book series, credited to the pseudonym "Robert Markham" and written by a rotating series of authors. Ultimately, only one Markham novel saw print, 1968's Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis. Amis had previously written two books on the world of James Bond, the 1964 essay The James Bond Dossier and the tongue-in-cheek 1965 release The Book of Bond, or Every Man His Own 007 (written under the pseudonym "Lt.-Col. William ("Bill") Tanner", a recurring character in the Bond novels. Amis had also been claimed for many years as the ghost writer of The Man with the Golden Gun, although this has been debunked by numerous sources. See The controversy over The Man with the Golden Gun.) In 1973, Fleming biographer John Pearson was commissioned by Glidrose to biograph the fictional character James Bond. Pearson wrote James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 in the first person as if meeting the secret agent himself. The book was well-received by aficionados—readers and viewers, alike. Since the book has many discrepancies with Fleming's Bond (for example his birth year), the canonical status of James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 is debated among fans—some consider it apocryphal, though at least one publisher issued it as an official novel along with the rest of Fleming's series. Glidrose reportedly considered a new series of novels written by Pearson, but this did not come to pass. Prior to writing this, Pearson had written an early biography of Ian Fleming, The Life of Ian Fleming. In 1977, the film The Spy Who Loved Me was released and was subsequently novelised and published by Glidrose due to the radical difference between the script and Fleming's novel of the same name. This would happen again with 1979's Moonraker. Both novelisations were written by screenwriter Christopher Wood and were the first official novelisations, although technically, Fleming's Thunderball was a novelisation having been based on scripts by himself, Kevin McClory, and Jack Whittingham (although it predated the movie), and the For Your Eyes Only collection was also, for the most part, based upon unproduced scripts. In the 1980s, the series was finally revived with new novels by John Gardner; between 1981 and 1996, he wrote fourteen James Bond novels and two screenplay novelisations, surpassing Fleming's original output. The biggest change in Gardner's series was updating 007's world to the 1980s; however, it would keep the characters the same age as they were in Fleming's novels. Generally Gardner's series is considered a success although their canonical status is disputed. In 1996, Gardner retired from writing James Bond books due to ill health, and American Raymond Benson quickly replaced him. As a James Bond novelist, Benson was initially controversial for being American, and for ignoring much of the continuity established by Gardner. Benson had previously written The James Bond Bedside Companion, a book dedicated to Ian Fleming, the official novels, and the films. The book was initially released in 1984 and later updated in 1988. Benson also contributed to the creation of several modules in the popular James Bond 007 role-playing game in the 1980s. Benson wrote six James Bond novels, three novelisations, and three short stories. Benson abruptly resigned as Bond novelist at the end of 2002, despite having previously announced plans to write a short story collection. Low sales figures for the books, and plans by Ian Fleming Publications to focus on reissuing Fleming's original novels for the 50th anniversary of the character, were among reasons speculated by fans as to why Benson departed. The year 2003 marked the first year since 1980 that a new James Bond novel had not been published. On August 28, 2005, Ian Fleming Publications confirmed it is planning to publish a one-off adult Bond novel in 2008 to mark what would have been Ian Fleming's 100th birthday. This would feature the adult version of the character as opposed to the "Young Bond" character of the recent Charlie Higson books (see below). Although it has been suggested a "big name" author might take on the task, the publishers have yet to approach anyone about this project [http://www.ianflemingcentre.com/index.cfm?page=news].

Young Bond

In April 2004, Ian Fleming Publications (Glidrose) announced a new series of James Bond books. Instead of continuing from where Raymond Benson ended in 2002, the new series would feature James Bond as a thirteen-year-old boy attending Eton College. Written by Charlie Higson (The Fast Show) the series is expected to align with the adult Bond's back-story established by Fleming and Fleming only. Since the concept was announced the series has taken heavy criticism for being aimed at the "Harry Potter audience" and has been seen by some as a desperate attempt to find a new audience for Bond. Regardless, the first novel became a bestseller in the United Kingdom and was released to good reviews. A second novel is due for release in January 2006. The series is currently planned out for five novels according to Charlie Higson. The Young Bond series is expected to be expanded to include graphic novels in 2006. It is currently unknown whether these will be adaptations of Higson's books or original adventures.

The Moneypenny Diaries

A new trilogy of novels "edited" by Samantha Weinberg under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook entitled The Moneypenny Diaries was released by John Murray publishers that centres on the character of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary. The first instalment of the trilogy, subtitled Guardian Angel, was released on October 10, 2005. Weinberg is the first woman to write officially licensed Bond-related fiction. The novels had originally been touted as the secret journal of a "real" Miss Moneypenny and that James Bond was a possible pseudonym for a genuine intelligence officer, an idea shared by John Pearson's earlier biography, James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007. John Murry admitted on August 28, 2005 that the books were a spoof after an investigation by The Sunday Times of London. Ian Fleming Publications, who had previously refused to comment as to whether the book was authorised, officially confirmed the book was and always had been a project by them on the day of the book's publication. A second volume has been tentatively scheduled for publication in October 2006.[http://commanderbond.net/Public/Stories/2999-1.shtml]

Other Bond-related fiction

In 1967, Glidrose authorised publication of 003½: The Adventures of James Bond Junior written by Arthur Calder-Marshall under the pseudonym R D Mascott. This book is for young-adult readers, and chronicles the adventures of 007's nephew (despite the inaccurate title). An early 1990s animated television series, James Bond Jr, ran for 65 episodes and spawned a six-episode novelisation series written by John Peel under the pseudonym John Vincent. (There appears to be no connection between this series and the 1967 book by Marshall). Russians were often the villains in Fleming's Cold War-era novels in at least some form. In 1968, they hit back with a spy novel of their own called The Zakhov Mission by Andrei Guliashki, in which a communist hero finally and forcefully defeats 007. In addition to numerous fan fiction pieces written since the character was created, there have been two stories written by well-known authors claiming to have been contracted by Glidrose. The first in 1966, was Per Fine Ounce by Geoffrey Jenkins, a friend of Ian Fleming who claimed to have developed with Fleming a diamond-smuggling storyline similar to Diamonds Are Forever as early as the 1950s. According to the book The Bond Files by Andy Lane and Paul Simpson, soon after Ian Fleming died, Glidrose Productions commissioned Jenkins to write a James Bond novel. The novel was never published. Some sources have suggested that Jenkins novel was to be published under the Markham pseudonym. The second story, 1985's The Killing Zone by Jim Hatfield goes so far as to have been privately published as well as claim on the cover that it was published by Glidrose; however it is highly unlikely that Glidrose contacted Hatfield to write a novel since at the time John Gardner was the official author. The text of The Killing Zone is available on the Internet and can be found [http://www.universalexports.net/Books/killingzone.shtml here]. In 1997, the British publisher B.T. Batsford produced Your Deal, Mr. Bond, a collection of bridge-related short stories by Phillip King and Robert King. The title story features James Bond, M, and other characters and features an epic bridge game between Bond and the villain, Saladin. No credit is given to Ian Fleming Publications, suggesting this rare story may have been unauthorised; a photo of Sean Connery as Bond is featured on the cover of the book.

Films

Official

The James Bond film series has its own traditions, many of which date back to the very first movie in 1962. Since Dr. No, every official James Bond film begins with what is known as the James Bond gun barrel sequence, which introduces agent 007. The gun barrel is seen from the assassin's perspective—looking down at a walking James Bond, who quickly turns and shoots; the scene reddens (signifying the spilling of the gunman's blood), the gun barrel dissolves to a white circle, and the film begins. James Bond gun barrel sequence After the gun barrel sequence, every film starting with From Russia with Love (1963), would start with a pre-credits teaser, also popularly known as the "opening gambit." Usually the scene features 007 finishing up a previous case before taking on the case from the film, and does not always relate to his main mission. Some of the teasers tie in with the plot of the film (as in Live and Let Die). Since The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977, they have often involved attention-grabbing action sequences, which have tended to become larger and more elaborate with each successive film. The 1999 film The World Is Not Enough currently holds the record as the longest Bond teaser ever, running more than 15 minutes; most teasers run for less than five. 1999]] When the teaser sequence is finished, the opening credits begin during which an arty display of scantily clad and even (discreetly) naked females can be seen doing a variety of activities from dancing, jumping on a trampoline, to shooting weapons. This sequence is a trademark and a staple of the James Bond films. The best known of the Bond title designers is Maurice Binder, who created these sequences for fourteen 007 films from 1962 to 1989. Since Binder's death in 1991, Daniel Kleinman has designed the credits and has introduced CG elements not present during Binder's era. While the credits run, the main theme of the film is usually sung by a popular artist of the time. For the most part, the credits are unrelated to the plot of the film, although the design may reflect an overall theme (for example, You Only Live Twice uses a Japanese motif as well as images of a volcano, both of which are elements of the movie itself). For Your Eyes Only begins with Sheena Easton singing the title song on-screen. Die Another Day was unusual in that the images shown in that film's opening credits advance the storyline. The Bond films are unusual in retaining full opening and closing credits; since the late 1970s it has become common for most films to save detailed credits for the end, with only principal actors and crew listed at the beginning. Agent 007's famous introduction, "Bond. James Bond" became a catch phrase after it was first muttered (with a cigarette in the corner of his mouth) by Sean Connery in Dr. No. Since then, the phrase has entered the lexicon of Western popular culture as the epitome of polished, understated machismo. On June 21, 2005 the catch phrase was honoured as the 22nd greatest quote in cinema history by the American Film Institute as part of their 100 Years Series . The catch phrase, "a martini. Shaken, not stirred," first stated in Goldfinger (although not the first time Bond has a martini) was also honoured as #90 on the same list. Every film, except Dr. No (1962) and "Thunderball" (1965), has the line: "James Bond will return. . ." or "James Bond will be back" during or after the final credits. Up until Octopussy (1983) the end-credit line would also name the next title in the film series ("James Bond will return in..."). Over the years the films have incorrectly named the sequel three times. The first, 1964's Goldfinger, in early prints announced Bond to return in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, however, the producers changed their mind shortly after release and subsequently made the correction in future prints of the film. In 1977, The Spy Who Loved Me stated Bond would return in For Your Eyes Only, however, EON Productions had decided to instead take advantage of the Star Wars space craze and release a film adaptation of Fleming's Moonraker, which was changed to a plot involving outer space. Thirdly, Octopussy (1983) incorrectly states the title of the next film as From A View To A Kill, the original literary title of A View to a Kill. Every aficionado has a favourite James Bond: Sean Connery—the tough guy, his machismo ready beneath the polished persona, George Lazenby—the controversial ultra-macho man, equally loved and despised, Roger Moore—the sophisticate, rarely mussing his hair whilst saving the world, Timothy Dalton—the hard-edged literary character, and Pierce Brosnan—the polished man of action. On October 14, 2005, EON Productions announced that Daniel Craig would be the sixth official James Bond and will star in the latest 007 adventure, Casino Royale in 2006. Work is also already underway on the script for the follow-up film, currently referred to by its working title, Bond 22 There's also lively debate on the best Bond movie, with most major film critics giving the top mark to either From Russia With Love (Connery's favourite, as he re-asserted in a 2002 ABC interview with Sam Donaldson) or its brassy followup, Goldfinger. Despite George Lazenby's short tenure in the tuxedo, some reviewers have also warmed up to On Her Majesty's Secret Service as a quality Bond film. [http://commanderbond.net/Public/Stories/2964-1.shtml]. Sam Donaldson] Sam Donaldson] Sam Donaldson] Sam Donaldson] Sam Donaldson] Sam Donaldson]

Unofficial

In 1954, CBS paid Ian Fleming $1,000 US for the rights to adapt Casino Royale into a one hour television adventure as part of their Climax! series. The episode featured American Barry Nelson in the role of "Jimmy Bond", an agent for the fictional "Combined Intelligence" agency. The rights to Casino Royale were subsequently sold to producer Charles K. Feldman who turned Fleming's first novel into a spoof featuring actor David Niven as one of six James Bonds. The instrumental theme music was a hit for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. For more information, see the history of Casino Royale. When plans for a James Bond film were scrapped in the late 1950s, a story treatment entitled Thunderball, written by Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham, was adapted as Fleming's ninth Bond novel. Initially the novel only credited Fleming. McClory filed a lawsuit that would eventually award him the film rights to the novel in 1963. Afterwards McClory made a deal with EON Productions to produce a film adaptation starring Sean Connery. The deal specifically stated that McClory couldn't reproduce another adaptation until a set period of time had elapsed. McClory did so in 1983 by producing the film Never Say Never Again, which featured Sean Connery for a seventh time as 007. Never Say Never Again was not made by Broccoli's production company, EON Productions, and is, therefore, not considered a part of the official film series. A second attempt by McClory to remake Thunderball in the 1990s with Sony Pictures was halted by legal action which resulted in Sony Pictures abandoning their aspirations for a rival James Bond series. McClory to this day still claims to own the film rights to Thunderball, though MGM and EON claim those rights have expired. For more in-depth information, see the controversy over Thunderball.

Other films pertaining to James Bond

The James Bond films and novels have been repeatedly parodied and copied since the introduction of the onscreen character in 1962. Some of these parodies have been successful box office draws such as the Austin Powers series of films by writer and actor Mike Myers and the "Flint" series starring James Coburn as Derek Flint in films such as Our Man Flint (1966) and In Like Flint (1967). There have also been various films that have attempted to copy Bond's successful features such as the most recent xXx. The Jason Bourne series of movies, based on the novels by Robert Ludlum, have also been compared to James Bond, although the Bourne films do not share many elements of the Bond formula. A reunion television movie, The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1983) featured a cameo by George Lazenby as James Bond from On Her Majesty's Secret Service; (for legal reasons, his character was credited as "JB"). Ian Fleming helped create the original The Man from U.N.C.L.E. TV series in the 1960s, so "JB's" appearance is a tribute.

Music

"The James Bond Theme" was written by Monty Norman and was first orchestrated by the John Barry Orchestra for 1962's Dr. No, although the actual authorship of the music has been a matter of controversy for many years. Barry went on to compose the scores for eleven Bond films in addition to his uncredited contribution to Dr. No, and is credited with the creation of "007", which was used as an alternate Bond theme in several films, and the popular orchestrated theme "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Both "The James Bond Theme" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" have been remixed a number of times by popular artists, including Art of Noise, Moby, Paul Oakenfold, and the Propellerheads. Barry's legacy was followed by David Arnold, in addition to other well-known composers and record producers such as George Martin, Bill Conti, Michael Kamen, Marvin Hamlisch, and Eric Serra. Arnold is the series' current composer of choice, and was recently signed to compose the score for the his fourth consecutive Bond film, Casino Royale. The Bond films are known for their theme songs heard during the title credits, sung by well-known popular singers (which have included Tina Turner, Wings, Tom Jones, Madonna, and Duran Duran, among many others.) Shirley Bassey performed three themes in total, and is the only singer to have been associated with more than one film. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the only Bond film with a solely instrumental theme. The main theme for Dr. No is the "James Bond Theme", although the opening credits also include an untitled bongo interlude, and concludes with a vocal Calypso-flavoured rendition of "Three Blind Mice" entitled "Kingston Calypso" that sets the scene. From Russia With Love also opens with an instrumental version over the title credits (which then segues into the James Bond Theme), but Matt Monro's vocal version also appears twice in the film, including the closing credits; the Monro version is generally considered the film's main theme, even though it doesn't appear during the opening credits.

Video games

Pseudonym

A pseudonym (Greek: false name) is a fictitious name used by an individual as an alternative to his or her legal name. A pseudonym is distinct from an allonym, which is the name of another actual person assumed by one person, usually historical, in authorship of a work of art; e.g., when ghostwriting a book or play, or in parody, or when using a front such as by screenwriters blacklisted in Hollywood in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. To be pseudonymous means that the person is using a pseudonym. In some cases, the pseudonym has become the legal name of the person using it.

Pseudonyms in print

When used by an author, a pseudonym is also called a pen name (or in French nom de plume.) Some authors use pseudonyms for a variety of reasons; for example, to experiment with a new genre without the risk of upsetting regular readers. One author may have several pseudonyms depending on the genre. This use of pseudonyms is especially common if the new genre is of a somewhat risqué nature; such was the case of Pauline Réage, the pseudonym under which an editorial secretary with a reputation of near-prudery published Histoire d'O (Story of O), an erotic novel of sadomasochism and sexual slavery. Occasionally, a pseudonym is employed to avoid overexposure. Prolific authors for pulp magazines often had two and sometimes three short stories appearing in one issue of a magazine; the editor would create several fictitious author names so that readers would not realize this. Popular authors also sometimes use pseudonyms to distinguish different types of writing. For instance, mathematician Charles Dodgson used Lewis Carroll for his fantastic fiction. Science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein set his early stories in a single future history; when he wrote stories not in this setting he used pseudonyms to avoid confusing readers. He also wrote stories under pseudonyms so that John W. Campbell could publish more of his work in his magazine at the same time. These stories were later reprinted under his real name. Pseudepigraphy, a particular form of pseudonym or pen name, is the technique of adopting the name of well-known figures as the publicly ascribed author on whom the actual writers attempt to pass off their work — typically to attain greater interest or credibility or pious tradition. It was traditionally employed in the Western world from Hellenistic times all the way up to the Middle Ages, particularly in theology and scripture. Examples include Pseudo-Dionysius and the author of the Book of Enoch, or, according to liberal scholars, the ascribed Solomonic authorship of the Song of Songs. A pseudonym may also be used to protect the writer, as in the case of Andy McNab the former SAS soldier famous for his book about a failed SAS mission titled Bravo Two Zero. (However, some critics have suggested that the primary motivation here may have been to boost the mystique of the SAS to help market McNab's books.) Ibn Warraq has been used by dissident Muslim authors.

Regnal name

In many monarchies, the prince starting his reign chooses his official name (regnal name) to be used hence, which may differ from his (birth) name till then; sometimes he selects one of his existing names, sometimes a completely different one. The same is true of the newly elected Pope, where it fits just as well in the monastic tradition of choosing a new religious name when entering orders. The choice of an existing name may simply be a matter of tradition or intend to honour a specific predecessor, and/or emphasize the hereditary legitimity of succession, or may actually convey a programme or intention.

Nom de guerre

Pseudonyms are adopted by resistance fighters, terrorists and guerrillas often to make enquiries more difficult, to seek and create an aura of mystery, and to protect their families from reprisal, although other reasons may often be included. The expression nom de guerre (IPA: /nɒm də gɛɹ/, "name of war") is often used for such pseudonyms (though this expression is rarely, if ever, actually used in French). It is occasionally used as a stylish substitute for nom de plume. Noms de guerre were frequently adopted by recruits in the French Foreign Legion as part of the break with their past lives. Pseudonyms used by some members of the French resistance were integrated into their last names after World War II; for instance, Jacques Delmas, alias Chaban, became Jacques Chaban-Delmas. Within Communist parties and Trotskyist organisations noms de guerre are usually known as party names. This took hold because revolutionaries were often persecuted by states (and also, in the case of Trotskyists, by pro-Soviet communist parties). Not only this, Athos, Porthos and Aramis in The Three Musketeers used those names instead of their real names: Le Comte de la Fère, M. du Vallon, and Chevalier d'Herblay, respectively. Some of the more famous noms de guerre include:
- Che Guevara
- Carlos the Jackal
- Abu Mazen is the nom de guerre of Mahmoud Abbas, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority
- Abu Ammar was PLO leader Yasser Arafat's nom de guerre
- Abu Ala is the nom de guerre of Ahmed Qurei
- Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, Jordanian terrorist with the possible real name "Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh" Some famous party names include:
- Fahd
- Lenin
- Freddy Forrest (Raya Dunayevskaya) and Johnston CLR James.

The origin of "nom de guerre"

The assigning and adopting of noms de guerre was a long standing tradition in the French army, it certainly existed before 1651. In 1716 the practice became more formalised and the French army required all regular soldiers to have a nom de guerre. The names could be arrived at through the choice of the soldier, or perhaps the soldier’s company captain. Some of the naming practices adopted by particular companies enabled the men to be identifiable as members of their companies, much like a serial number: Practices such as assigning men the names of vegetables (the Company of Casaux of the Régiment de Boulonnois-infantrie, between 1764 to 1768). These names would be retained by the soldiers when they left service and would often be passed on to their wives and children. It is important to understand the old French practice of assigning Noms de guerre when tracing French family histories. Source: The Military Roots of the 'dit' Names by Luc Lépine (From December 2002 Connections © 2002 QFHS) Translated by Lorraine Gosselin. Sourced from: Quebec Family History Society website (http://www.cam.org/~qfhs/ main page) (http://www.cam.org/~qfhs/lib_connart4.html sourced page)

Pseudonyms in entertainment

When used by an actor, performer, or model, a pseudonym is a stage name or screen name. Actors — and others in show business — rarely use a pseudonym to disguise themselves. Actors who are members of a less-privileged ethnic or religious group have often adopted stage names, typically changing their surname or entire name to mask their original background — as has been done in other fields as well. This phenomenon was common in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, as ethnic minorities began to attain a greater role in acting and films, yet social trends had not yet reached the point where such minorities would be accepted with their original non-mainstream identity. Popular Jewish comedian and "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart was born Jonathan Stewart Leibowitz. When asked why he dropped Leibowitz in a "60 Minutes" interview, Stewart explained that it "sounded too Hollywood". John Wayne, building a reputation as a tough guy, felt that his given name, Marion Morrison, did not connote the image he sought to assume. Stan Laurel, born Arthur Stanley Jefferson, was apparently happy to be known as Stan Jefferson until he realised that it had thirteen letters. In many cases, a screen name was constructed simply because a studio executive did not like the actor's real name. Today, the most common reason for a performer to adopt a pseudonym is that someone else has already achieved fame with that name. Performing arts guilds (SAG, WGA, AFTRA, etc.) enforce rules on the use of names formerly registered for credits, generally refusing to allow an identical name to be used again. In some cases, a stage name is intended to separate the public persona from the private life. But while keeping a real name for private use may help one go unrecognized in public, it can rarely be kept entirely secret and may become an item of gossip in itself. In the music world, pseudonyms have been used to allow artists to collaborate with artists on other labels while avoiding the need to gain permission from their own labels. George Harrison, for example, played guitar on Cream's song "Badge" (which he also co-wrote with Eric Clapton). He was credited on the recording as "L'Angelo Mysterioso" ("The Mysterious Angel"). Most hip hop artists prefer to use a pseudonym that represents some variation of their name, personality, or interests. Prime examples include Ol' Dirty Bastard (who was known under at least six aliases), Diddy (formerly known as Sean Combs, P. Diddy, and Puff Daddy), Ludacris, LL Cool J, and Chingy. See List of hip hop musicians.

Other pseudonyms

Others in public life have adopted pseudonyms for many reasons. In the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries, it was established practice for political articles to be signed with pseudonyms, the most famous American example being the pen name Publius, used by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, in writing The Federalist Papers. Malcolm X, the civil rights campaigner, (born Malcolm Little), adopted the 'X' to represent his unknown African ancestral name. Many Jewish politicians re-adopted Hebrew family names on return to Israel, dropping westernized versions that may have been in the family for generations; Golda Meir, for example, was born Golda Mabovitz in Russia, and lived in USA before emigrating to Palestine; she adopted her Hebrew name on becoming a government minister in 1956. Famous pseudonyms of people who were neither authors nor actors include:
- Le Corbusier, the architect, was Charles Édouard Jeanneret.
- Aphex Twin, prolific techno artist Richard D. James, who uses up to 11 other different names on various releases.
- Alan Smithee is a name commonly used by directors who want to disown their own movie.
- George Spelvin and Georgina Spelvin are names used in American theater when the actor playing the part is unknown at printing time, wishes to remain anonymous, or the part is double cast or played by an actor who plays more than one character in the cast.
- Luther Blissett is a shared pseudonym often used for activist and artistic purposes, especially in the Italian art scene.
- David Agnew is used on BBC programmes where a writer's name cannot be used for contractual reasons.
- Nicolas Bourbaki was a famous pseudonym for a group of mathematicians.
- Student was William Sealey Gosset, discoverer of Student's t-distribution in statistics.
- Hambali is Riduan Isamuddin, the leader of Jemaah Islamiah, a terrorist group; he was born Encep Nurjaman On the internet, pseudonymous remailers utilising cryptography can be used to achieve persistent pseudonymity, so that two-way communication can be achieved, and reputations can be established without linking a physical identity to a pseudonym. Users on Namespaces such as Wikipedia also often use a pseudonym instead of their birth names.

External links

- [http://www.famousfolk.com/ An extensive list of pseudonyms]
- [http://go.to/realnames List of pseudonyms]
- [http://www.trussel.com/books/pseudo.htm Another list of pseudonyms]
- [http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl101.html The U.S. copyright status of pseudonyms]
- Category:Semantics

October 10

October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). There are 82 days remaining.

Events

- 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was decapitated by forces under Caliph Yazid I. This is commemorated by Shi'a Muslims as Aashurah.
- 732 - Battle of Tours: Near Poitiers, France, leader of the Franks Charles Martel and his men, defeat a large army of Moors, stopping the Muslims from spreading into Western Europe. The governor of Cordoba, Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, is killed during the battle.
- 1471 - Battle of Brunkeberg in Stockholm: Sten Sture the Elder, the Regent of Sweden, with help of farmers and miners, repels an attack by Christian I, King of Denmark.
- 1575 - Battle of Dormans: Catholic forces under Duke Henry of Guise defeated the Protestants, capturing Philippe de Mornay among others.
- 1582 - Due to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
- 1631 - A Saxon army takes over