Archive-name: james-bond/FAQ
Posting-Frequency: 9th and 24th of each month
Version: 2.3

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                          ALT.FAN.JAMES-BOND FAQ v 2.3
 
           [Created September 18th, 1996, Updated October 22nd, 1996]

           by Panos Sambrakos, Bryan Krofchok and David C. Morefield
          
******************************************************************************
 
 
      Welcome to the new and improved alt.fan.james-bond Frequently Asked 
Questions. This is an original work partly based on version 1.0 by David Marsh
first created in November 1994.  As new members come online every day -- some 
old Bond fans, some new ones -- there's a need to answer questions beginners 
have, and cover the history of this group and what it is all about.
	
      As of version 2.2 the FAQ has been promoted to the status of an 
"official" Internet FAQ. It has now been approved by the moderators of the
"news.answers" newsgroup, it is crossposted to the news.answers and 
alt.answers newsgroups and it is being archived at many places around the 
net. 

- ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/james-bond/FAQ
- ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/alt.fan.james-bond/alt.fan.james-bond_FAQ

You can also get it by email by sending a message to: mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu
writing in the body:  "send usenet/news.answers/james-bond/FAQ"

On the Web, the FAQ can be retrieved from the "Bond's Bookshelf" site:
http://www.Gsu.EDU/~mccbmk/Bond/afjb-faq.txt

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	 
      This document has been divided into several sections, which are listed 
below. NOTE: Please use a monospaced typeface so that lists appear properly.
 
         1] What is alt.fan.james-bond?
         2] What's with all the initials?
         3] Just who is this James Bond guy anyway?
         4] So what are the movies?
         5] Some of these actors look awfully old. When were they born?
         6] Of the four actors, who made the best Bond?
         7] Pardon me if this has been asked before, but...
         8] Who's Kevin McClory and why does NSNA look like "Thunderball"?
         9] Why did George Lazenby star in only one Bond film?
        10] Why Timothy Dalton only made two?
	  11] Who else was offered the Bond role?
        12] Hey! I heard a new James Bond film is being made! Any news?
        13] So what are these novels everyone keeps talking about?
        14] That's a lot of books! What order should I read them in?
        15] Is there a James Bond fan club?
        16] Is there a James Bond Web site?
        17] Is there a James Bond IRC channel?
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
1] WHAT IS ALT.FAN.JAMES-BOND?
        
      Alt.fan.james-bond (its full name includes "On Her Majesty's Secret
Service ... and secret linen too" for reasons that are now, thankfully, lost 
to history), was originally created in 1992. It is a newsgroup devoted to all 
things Bondian. Anything even remotely having to do with Bond is considered a 
valid topic of discussion. You name it: movies, books, spoofs, etc. Bond 
novelists Ian Fleming, Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, and Raymond Benson are 
also fair game, as are any of the people connected with the Bond films. In 
general, any topic that would cause your family members or friends to roll 
their eyes toward the heavens and exclaim, "Oh, no... not BOND again!" is 
welcome here. (All other topics should be referred to the alt.sex.bondage 
newsgroup.)
 
      PLEASE NOTE: alt.fan.james-bond is *not* a moderated newsgroup. Never 
has been, and hopefully never will be. Thus, lots of stupid flame wars start 
when people pay us a short visit just to annoy everyone. *Whenever* someone 
starts saying things like "James Bond sucks," "What the hell are you all
talking about in here?," etc., please do NOT respond. It only makes the guy
stay longer. Just ignore him totally or -- if you must -- answer via private
email. (Note: Posts advancing the theory that James Bond sucks usually bear a
creative subject line like...well... "James Bond Sucks." This will be your 
tip-off.) Also, please avoid responding to folks asking "How many Bond films 
are there?," etc.  Just point them to the FAQ (that's what it's here for!) or 
one of the many Bond Web pages. And try to avoid the same old "My TOP-TEN 
list" posts. Try to say something original, or at least *review* the films or 
books. Don't just list them.
 
 
2] WHAT'S WITH ALL THE INITIALS?
 
      There are several acronyms that are used to save space (and typing!).
Some are common to all newsgroups, like LOL (Laughing Out Loud),
ROFLOL (Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud) BRLCFH (Broke Ribs Laughing --
Call For Help), but others are more "Bond specific." They represent the 
titles of the various Bond movies and are listed, along with the movies 
in Section 4.

        There are some others you might come across. Some real ones:

-EON:     Eon Productions Ltd., "Everything or Nothing". The company formed
          by Broccoli and Saltzman in 1961 to produce the Bond films.

-DANJAQ:  Danjaq, S.A., "Dana - Jaqueline" (Broccoli's and Saltzman's wifes'
          names). Swiss company made up of Eon Productions and United Artists.

        And some fictional ones: 

-SPECTRE: The Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge,  
          and Extorsion. Criminal organization Bond comes against in the later
          novels and most of the early movies. Lead by Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

-SMERSH:  Conjunction of two Russian words: "Smyert Shpionam" ("Death to 
          Spies"). Soviet Secret Service's murder organization that Bond comes
          against in most of the early novels.
 
 
3] JUST WHO IS THIS JAMES BOND GUY ANYWAY?
 
     James Bond, 007, is a fictional British secret agent created by Ian 
Fleming in the 1950s. His first appearance was in the novel "Casino Royale" 
(1953), but he did not gain the large following he now enjoys until the late 
1950s. As a possessor of the coveted 'Double O' prefix, James Bond is one of 
an elite number of British Secret Service members with a 'licence to kill'.
 
     James Bond has appeared in books and movies for over four decades, 
earning a legion of fans in the process. Ian Fleming wrote 14 books about 
Bond, and only stopped when he died on 12 August 1964. Well known British 
author Kingsley Amis was then offered a chance to continue the series, but he 
bowed out after producing only one book (under the pseudonym Robert Markham). 
It was not until 1981 that the Bond series was revived once again, 
with British author John Gardner publishing a new novel almost every year 
until the Spring of 1996 (he retired upon reaching his 14th book). American 
Raymond Benson, author of the famed "James Bond Bedside Companion," will 
assume the mantle of Ian Fleming with a new book to be released in 1997.
 
      James Bond first appeared on the big screen in 1962 in "Dr. No," 
starring Sean Connery as 007. Over the following years, James Bond has 
appeared in 17 "official" films starring five different actors. (Two 
"unofficial" films currently hover just outside the canon, starring more
"James Bonds" than we care to count.)
 
 
4] SO WHAT ARE THE MOVIES?
 
 TITLE                            YEAR  STAR           TIME  ACRONYM
 -----                            ----  ----           ----  ---------
 Casino Royale (A)                1954  Barry Nelson     60  (none)
 Doctor No                        1962  Sean Connery    111  Dr. No/DN
 From Russia With Love            1963  Sean Connery    118  FRWL
 Goldfinger                       1964  Sean Connery    111  GF
 Thunderball                      1965  Sean Connery    129  TB
 You Only Live Twice              1967  Sean Connery    116  YOLT
 Casino Royale (B)                1967  David Niven     130  CR
 On Her Majesty's Secret Service  1969  George Lazenby  140  OHMSS
 Diamonds Are Forever             1971  Sean Connery    119  DAF
 Live And Let Die                 1973  Roger Moore     121  LALD
 The Man with the Golden Gun      1974  Roger Moore     125  TMWTGG
 The Spy Who Loved Me             1977  Roger Moore     125  TSWLM
 Moonraker                        1979  Roger Moore     126  (C)
 For Your Eyes Only               1981  Roger Moore     127  FYEO
 Octopussy                        1983  Roger Moore     130  OC
 Never Say Never Again (B)        1983  Sean Connery    137  NSNA
 A View to a Kill                 1985  Roger Moore     131  AVTAK
 The Living Daylights             1987  Timothy Dalton  130  TLD
 Licence to Kill                  1989  Timothy Dalton  135  LTK
 GoldenEye                        1995  Pierce Brosnan  ???  GE
 
 (A) James Bond first appeared on the small screen. A television production
     of "Casino Royale" appeared as part of the CBS Climax! anthology series
     on the 21st of October, 1954.
 
 (B) Non-canonical entries. The film version of "Casino Royale" was a James 
     Bond spoof, while "Never Say Never Again" was a remake of "Thunderball."
 
 (C) No common acronym exists, but since nobody really cares for this film 
     anyway, it doesn't really matter...
 
 
5] SOME OF THESE ACTORS LOOK AWFULLY OLD. WHEN WERE THEY BORN?
 
 You're right. They "are" old! (The fact that Roger Moore is older than Sean 
 Connery is an essential piece of trivia that can be used to win bets.)
 
      ACTOR            BIRTHDATE
      --------------   ------------------
      Roger Moore      October 14, 1927
      Sean Connery     August 25, 1930
      George Lazenby   September 5, 1939
      Timothy Dalton   March 21, 1946
      Pierce Brosnan   May 16, 1953 
 

6] OF THE FOUR ACTORS, WHO MADE THE BEST BOND?
 
      What are you trying to do ... start a holy war? Whenever a question 
along these lines is posted to alt.fan.james-bond, the thread usually goes 
something like this:
 
      A1: Sean Connery! The first and "still" the best!
      A2: Roger Moore! He took Bond to new heights of fun!
      A3: George Lazenby! He was never given a chance!
      A4: MAKE A BAZILLION DOLLARS AN HOUR HARVESTING EAR FUNGUS!
      A5: Timothy Dalton! He was the closest to the books!
      A6: Pierce Brosnan! He was always meant to play Bond!
      A1: Roger Moore sucks! Sean rules!
      etc., etc., ad nauseam...
 
Everyone has a favorite Bond, and it all depends what you like. As the old 
saying goes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion -- just as long as
they agree that Sean Connery was the best James Bond.  ;-)
 
 
7] PARDON ME IF THIS HAS BEEN ASKED BEFORE, BUT...

    Hey look, if you even *think* it's an old question, then it probably is.  
With new folks constantly wandering through, a number of questions are bound 
to keep popping up again and again.  Just remember that some of us have been 
here for a long time, and these topics lose their appeal the hundredth time 
around. Most folks in the group will tolerate an old question with a mere 
sigh, but a few of us are close to snapping, so to avoid being painted head to
toe with gold paint, or force-fed a compressed air pellet and inflated to 
death, please check here first for the answer to your question.

For instance:

Q: What's the name of Blofeld's cat?
A: We don't know, okay?  The cat's name is never mentioned in the films (and 
   Blofeld doesn't even HAVE a cat in the books), so any other answer is just 
   a guess.  The cat might look cool on film, but let's face it, any name at 
   all would've been a distraction. ("This control room is now impregnable, 
   Mr. Bond.  Isn't that right, Fluffy?")

Q: Hey! In DAF, Bond's car goes in the alley on the right set of wheels and 
   comes out on the left set!  Is this a blooper?
A: Yes and no.  The filmmakers attempted to correct this error with a brief 
   segment showing a close-up of Bond and Tiffany as the car tilts from one 
   side to the other.  However, this should still be impossible considering 
   the width of the alley.

Q: Is it true that the Bond girl in FYEO used to be a man?
A: Again, yes and no.  One of the bikini-clad women hanging out at Gonzales' 
   pool is a British actress named "Tula," who later grabbed headlines by 
   revealing she had started life as a man.  Although the world press played 
   up the Bond angle ("Even 007 can't tell the difference!"), Tula's role in 
   the film was actually very minor.  The actual "Bond girl" of the film is 
   Carole Bouquet, today a respected actress in her native France, where 
   historically it is easier to tell the gals from the guys.

Q: Is that a gun-barrel, a gun-sight, or ane eye?
A: It's a gun-barrel! 
   Maurice Binder, the designer of almost all the Bond films' titles, has 
   said in numerous interviews that it is a gun-barrel. He says that he       
   designed that sequence in a hurry because he had a meeting with the        
   producers in twenty minutes, back when they were making Dr.No. He 
   apparently went into a lot of trouble while shooting it. They tried
   photographing it by punching a hole in a piece of cardboard but when one   
   end was in focus the other wasn't! So they used a real gun-barrel. Binder 
   borrowed a gun from a shop at Piccadilly and opened the barrel so the    
   camera could look into it. 

   He originally filmed it with Bob Simmons, Sean Connery's double. Over the  
   years there have been another 6 times the gun-barrel opening was filmed.
   In 1965 for Thunderball, with Sean Connery this time, as the sequence was 
   filmed for the scope format. In 1967 with George Lazenby for OHMSS. In 1973
   with Roger Moore for LALD. In 1977 again with Moore for TSWLM since they   
   had to do it again for scope. In 1987 with Dalton for TLD. And most       
   recenlty with Pierce Brosnan in 1995 for GoldenEye, the first time the gun- 
   barrel was a computer generated image designed by Daniel Kleinman since    
   Binder is not with us anymore...

Q: I heard they wanted Jimmy Stewart to play Bond in "Dr. No." What were they, 
   nuts?
A: It is true that a "James Steart" once appeared on Ian Fleming's "short 
   list" of actors he felt suitable for the role of Bond. However, this was 
   NOT the American actor we know from "It's A Wonderful Life," but a young 
   Britisher who later went on to fame in films like "King Solomon's Gold" 
   under his new name, Stewart Granger.

Q: Was that Blofeld in the opening sequence of FYEO?
A: We're meant to think so, but in 1981 EON was legally barred from mentioning 
   Blofeld by name (a court had ruled that "Blofeld" and "SPECTRE" were owned 
   by rival producer Kevin McClory).  How this "Blofeld" returned to the bald 
   and crippled state of OHMSS (1969) after a healthier, hairier turn in DAF 
   (1971) is anybody's guess.

Q: ...and what's with that crack about a "stainless steel delicatessen?"
A: Oy, what a headache THIS one is!  Maybe "Blofeld's" making an "in"joke 
   about the way all the Bond-villains' hide-outs seem to be decorated in 
   stainless steel.  Or maybe he thinks Roger Moore would be at home among 
   other "hams."  Whatever the case, the deli joke is a half-baked piece of 
   bologna that most Bond gourmands find indigestible.

Q: Is it true that Blofeld's cat used to be a man?
A: No, this is only a rumor.  However, Largo's sharks were actually disguised 
   otters.


8] WHO'S KEVIN McCLORY AND WHY DOES "NSNA" LOOK LIKE "THUNDERBALL"?

        Kevin McClory is a film producer who first made plans with Ian Fleming
to produce the first ever James Bond feature film back in 1958. He wrote a 
script along with Fleming and screenwriter Jack Whitingham originally called 
"Longitude 78 West" in 1959. When the project fell through Fleming used the 
story as the basis for his 1961 Bond novel "Thunderball", without however 
mentioning either McClory or Whitingham. McClory, having read an advance copy,
unsuccessfully attempted then to block Jonathan Cape's publication of 
"Thunderball" in March of 1961 -- less than a week before the book's debut in 
the UK. This resulted in the famous 1963 trial (which caused much damage to 
Ian's already pour health) and the outcome was that all future publications of
the novel would state that "It is based on a screen treatment by Kevin 
McClory, Jack Whitingham, and Ian Fleming", in *that* order. Furthermore 
McClory acquired all movie rights to the story and its various treatments 
refered to as "The film scripts".

        He has ever since, with one way or another, been trying to make Bond 
films based on those rights. He first made it with his 1965 colaboration with 
EON productions for which he co-produced "Thunderball". In exchange he 
abandoned all claims for another 10 years after the initial release of the 
film. When in January 1976 the rights came back to him he started making plans
for another Bond film. This time he wrote an original script along with Len 
Deighton and Sean Connery himself, called "Warhead 8". When legal battle 
started again by EON he was finally forced to only produce a direct remake of 
"Thunderball". The result was 1983's release of "Never Say Never Again".

        Also, McClory is supposedly the owner of SPECTRE and Blofeld, thus EON
has never used it since the early 70's. (The villian in TSWLM was originally 
SPECTRE). Blofeld made a cameo appearance in 1981 in the precredit sequence of
FYEO although he was never really identified as being Blofeld. Desposing of 
him early in the film was the way Broccoli was saying Bond could go on without
SPECTRE.

        McClory has been continuing his efforts to make more out of his 
rights, even to the present day. Back in the Dalton days he was said to have 
approached Brosnan to play Bond in his own independent film! You can always 
expect further developments in the years to come...

   ***BREAKING NEWS***	  "McClory is at it again!!!"   ***BREAKING NEWS***

	Only a few days ago he announced that he'll have a new Bond film next
year titled "Warhead 2000 A.D." He's reportedly said that Timothy Dalton is
considered for the role of 007!...
	

9] WHY DID GEORGE LAZENBY STAR IN ONLY ONE BOND FILM?

        The short answer is: because Lazenby met with a cold reception from 
audiences and critics who felt he didn't measure up to Sean Connery's 007. 
The longer answer includes behind-the-scenes bickering between Lazenby and 
several key figures at EON.
        
        Stepping into the Bond role at a mere 29 years of age, Lazenby 
possessed the physical presence and athletic agility of a good Bond, but not 
the level of acting experience the role demanded, nor the emotional maturity 
to deal with sudden stardom.  Shortly after being cast in OHMSS, he told LIFE 
magazine, "I'm really looking forward to being Bond, for the bread and the 
birds."

	Lazenby soon found that being Bond was also about hard work -- and 
often tremendous pressure -- on the set.  When he decided that director Peter 
Hunt wasn't sympathetic to his needs, he complained publicly. Friction grew 
between the two men, and eventually spilled over into other relationships on 
the film, egged on by an eager press.  International headlines featured tales 
of a "running feud" between Lazenby and Diana Rigg, stories both stars deny to 
this day.  Eventually Lazenby managed to tick off the producers as well, like 
when he insisted on sporting long hair and a beard to OHMSS's American 
premiere.

        But ultimately, it all came down to the box office.  OHMSS was 
released in 1969 to public indifference and negative reviews. Although many 
things factored into this, including the absence (for the first time ever) of 
Connery, and a bold deviation from the expected Bond formula, most folks were 
content to blame the whole thing on Lazenby, and the producers by now were in 
no mood to defend him.  For 1971's DAF, Connery was cajoled into the role once 
more, and in 1973 the producers broke with the tradition of casting unknowns, 
electing instead to hire international television star Roger Moore.

        Lazenby would go on to spoof the Bond image in various projects over 
the years, appearing as a thinly disguised "007" in, among other things, the 
TV movie "Return of the Man from UNCLE" and the recent CD-Rom game, "Spy Hunt"
In time, many Bond fans would come to regard OHMSS as a high point in the 
series.


10] WHY TIMOTHY DALTON ONLY MADE TWO?

         Timothy Dalton was first approached for the Bond role back in 1971
after Sean Connery said he'd "never" do it again. Dalton was making a name for
himself in those days with his work in such films as "The Lion in Winter."
In a 1987 interview on the "Good Morning America" show, (and elsewhere), 
Dalton said he turned down the role in '71 because he was "too young" for it, 
and because of the imposing legacy of his predecessor. ("You don't follow Sean
Connery!" he reasoned). Roger Moore accepted the role, and by some accounts, 
EON flirted with Dalton several more times, whenever Moore threatened to leave
the series.  In 1986 Roger Moore retired from the part for good and Dalton 
finally said "yes" to Bond, after EON's first choice -- Pierce Brosnan -- was 
forced to leave the running. 

         Dalton's first Bond film, "The Living Daylights," was written with 
Brosnan in mind and a number of changes had to be made at the last moment. 
His next, "Licence To Kill" was written to showcase his particular strengths 
as an actor, but ultimately the film was a box-office disappointment in the 
US. Many opinions have been offered to explain this, but much of the blame can
be pinned on the lackluster advertising campaign mounted by MGM/UA, easily the
weakest ever for a Bond film. The studio was at the time embroiled in huge 
legal and financial troubles that would more than once put them at odds with 
EON, and most of its efforts were aimed at merely staying afloat.  Still, in a
summer where Bond would have to battle Batman and Indiana Jones for box office
bucks, this inattentiveness proved devastating.

        Nonetheless, LTK enjoyed huge popularity abroad and plans proceeded 
for "Bond 17," with Timothy Dalton still signed on for that film and at least 
one more.  Then MGM/UA struck again, selling the television rights to the Bond
series to broadcaster Ted Turner, and incurring the anger of the Broccoli 
camp. Legal battles began that would continue in various forms to create an 
unprecedented five year draught during which no 007 pictures would be made.

        When at last these issues were resolved and work resumed on Bond 17 
(eventually known as "Goldeneye"), Dalton surprised many by announcing he 
would NOT return as Bond.  The public, he said, had associated him with the 
role for eight years, and that was long enough for him.  He was eager to move 
on to new challenges.  He left the 007 family in the spring of 1994 (although 
off-screen he remains a close friend of the Broccoli family). EON initiated a 
"hunt" for the new Bond and in June they announced (to almost no one's 
surprise) that Pierce Brosnan would at last be handed the "licence to kill".

        Rumors that Dalton was forced out of the role, either by Broccoli or 
MGM/UA, are just that: rumors.  Cubby Broccoli and his daughter (now series 
producer) Barbara Broccoli have stated many times that they were disappointed 
to lose Dalton.  The official account endorsed by Dalton, EON, and MGM/UA, is 
that Dalton left the series of his own accord. Anything else is idle 
speculation.


11] WHO ELSE WAS CONSIDERED FOR THE BOND ROLE?

	Sometimes it seems like every good-looking actor who has (or can 
fake!) a British accent has been mentioned as "the next James Bond."  But it 
can be difficult telling who were the real contenders, thanks to (a) unfounded 
rumors from gossip columns and usenet posts, (b) false claims by actors 
looking to jump-start their careers and (c) EON's eternal insistence that 
whoever currently has the role was "the only choice right from the beginning!" 
(Yeah, right!)

	The following is a partial list of wannabes and also-rans who have 
some connection to 007 that can be documented by more reliable sources.

MICHAEL BILLINGTON: best known for his role on the cult favorite TV show 
  "UFO," he screen-tested to play Bond in LALD.  Cubby Broccoli was impressed 
  enough to later cast him as Sergei Barsov, lover of Agent XXX and victim of 
  Bond's lethal ski-pole in TSWLM. (Billington's "UFO" co-star Ed Bishop 
  appeared in YOLT as a NASA technician and in DAF as "Klaus Hergesheimer, 
  checking radiation shields.")

JAMES BROLIN: yes, you read that right: the American star of "Hotel" and 
  current spokesman for a chain of transmission repair shops actually got as 
  far as a screen test opposite Maud Adams when Roger Moore threatened to bail 
  out of "Octopussy." If that thought doesn't tie a knot in your stomach, 
  you're made of sterner stuff than we are!

JOHN GAVIN: on paper, at least, he actually WAS James Bond.  In 1970 he was 
  signed to play 007 starting with DAF, but stepped aside when Connery was 
  wooed into a comeback.  Gavin impressed audiences with his work in "Psycho" 
  and "Spartacus," but his greatest role came much later, as U.S. Ambassador 
  to Mexico during the Reagan Administration. (On the other hand, he let Franz 
  Sanchez come to power, so how great was he, really?)

JULIAN GLOVER: yep, the evil Kristatos of FYEO said in a 1981 interview with 
  Starlog Magazine that he was one of many to try out for Bond in LALD.  But 
  he admitted, "we all knew Roger would get it." Don't feel too bad for him -- 
  unlike most failed Bonds, Glover got his revenge, dragging Roger Moore 
  across a corral reef in FYEO and shooting Sean Connery in the gut in 
  "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."  Beats crying in your beer any day.

DAVID HASSELHOFF: Just kidding! But it got your attention, didn't it?

PATRICK MCGOOHAN: here's a guy who just couldn't get away from the spy  biz -- 
  after turning down the Bond role in "Dr. No" for "moral reasons," he ended 
  up starring as not one but TWO of TV's greatest superspies -- "Danger Man" 
  (aka "Secret Agent Man") and "The Prisoner."

SAM NEILL: having made his mark as "Reilly, Ace of Spies," Neill screen tested 
  in 1986, and in the wake of collapsed negotiations with Pierce Brosnan, a 
  TLD casting director told PEOPLE magazine that Neill stood "a very good 
  chance indeed" of becoming Bond.  But less than two weeks later Timothy 
  Dalton got the nod.

JOHN RICHARDSON, HANS DE VRIES, ROBERT CAMPBELL, ANTHONY ROGERS --  four of 
  the five finalists for the Bond role, as featured in the October 11, 1968 
  issue of LIFE magazine (titled "Who Would YOU Pick To Be the Next James 
  Bond?").  The job went to finalist number five, George Lazenby (inspiring 
  the obvious response, "I demand a recount!").  These four fellows most 
  likely took up residence in the Milli Vanilli Home for Victims of Career 
  Disasters.


12] HEY! I HEARD A NEW BOND FILM IS BEING MADE! ANY NEWS?
 
      The only confirmed news is that Pierce Brosnan stars in it and that the 
script is still being written by Bruce Feirstein (who co-wrote "GoldenEye").
Apparently Roger Spottiswoode is going to direct. It's supposed to start 
filming in January of 1997, for a Fall 1997 release.
 
     There are a *lot* of rumors out there about the story and the cast. Most
of these are entertained at the following website:
 
      http://www.islandnet.com/~corona/films/details/jb18.html
 
 
13] SO, WHAT ARE THESE NOVELS THAT EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT?
 
      There have been several fictional works featuring James Bond. Ian 
Fleming wrote them in the 50s and 60s, Kingsley Amis tried his hand at it in 
1968, and John Gardner continued the series in the 80s and 90s. Next year, 
renowned Bond fan and computer game designer Raymond Benson will try his hand
as he assumes the mantle of the "Man With The Golden Typewriter."
 
 
 Title                               Author          fn.  Year
 ----------------------------------  --------------  ---  ----
 Casino Royale                       Ian Fleming          1953
 Live And Let Die                    Ian Fleming          1954
 Moonraker                           Ian Fleming          1955
 Diamonds Are Forever                Ian Fleming          1956
 From Russia, With Love              Ian Fleming          1957
 Doctor No                           Ian Fleming          1958
 Goldfinger                          Ian Fleming          1959
 For Your Eyes Only                  Ian Fleming          1960
 Thunderball                         Ian Fleming     (A)  1961
 The Spy Who Loved Me                Ian Fleming          1962
 On Her Majesty's Secret Service     Ian Fleming          1963
 You Only Live Twice                 Ian Fleming          1964
 007 In New York (short story)       Ian Fleming     (B)  1964
 The Man With The Golden Gun         Ian Fleming          1965
 Octopussy And The Living Daylights  Ian Fleming     (C)  1966
 Colonel Sun                         Kingsley Amis   (D)  1968
 The Spy Who Loved Me                Chris Wood      (E)  1977
 Moonraker                           Chris Wood      (E)  1979
 Licence Renewed                     John Gardner         1981
 For Special Services                John Gardner         1982
 Icebreaker                          John Gardner         1983
 Role Of Honour                      John Gardner         1984
 Nobody Lives For Ever               John Gardner         1986
 No Deals, Mr. Bond                  John Gardner         1987
 Scorpius                            John Gardner         1988
 Win, Lose Or Die                    John Gardner         1989
 Brokenclaw                          John Gardner         1990
 Licence To Kill                     John Gardner    (E)  1990
 The Man From Barbarossa             John Gardner         1991
 Death Is Forever                    John Gardner         1992
 Never Send Flowers                  John Gardner         1993
 SeaFire                             John Gardner         1994
 GoldenEye                           John Gardner    (E)  1995
 Cold (Cold Fall in the U.S.)        John Gardner         1996
 Blast From The Past (short story)   Raymond Benson  (F)  1997
 Zero Minus Ten                      Raymond Benson       1997
 
 (A) Based on a treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Wittingham, and Ian Fleming
 (B) This one only appears in American Editions of Fleming's 
     "Thrilling Cities"
 (C) Some versions of the book are simply titled "Octopussy," and often 
     contain a third short story, titled "The Property Of A Lady."
 (D) Under the pseudonym of Robert Markham
 (E) A novelization of the film
 (F) To be published in the January 1997 issue of "Playboy" magazine
 
 
14] THAT'S A LOT OF BOOKS! WHAT ORDER SHOULD I READ THEM IN?
 
      Everyone seems to have a different idea on this as well. The books 
follow a chronological sequence, and later books occasionally refer to other
earlier books, but you can read most of them in any order you like. However, 
it is highly recommended that you at least read "From Russia, With Love" 
before "Dr. No" (and be grateful that you do not have to wait for a year 
between novels!). Also, please be aware that "Thunderball," "OHMSS," "YOLT," 
and "TMWTGG" form a loose 'quadrilogy' that should be read in order.
 
 
15] IS THERE A JAMES BOND FAN CLUB?
 
      There are several. Before joining any of them, however, you might want 
to ask around the newsgroup for opinions, since some clubs have better 
reputations than others.
 
The James Bond 007 Fan Club
P.O. Box 007
Addlestone Weybridge Surrey
KT15 1DY ENGLAND
 
The Bondmanian Society      (in the U.S.: The Bondmanian Society   )
15 Crathie Place            (             1807 Augusta Ct., Apt. 10)
Wrexham, Clwyd, Wales       (             Lexington, KY  40505     )
 
The Ian Fleming Foundation  (e-mail: iff@aol.com)
P.O. Box 6897
Santa Barbara, CA  93160

Club James Bond 007         (in the U.S.: Club James Bond 007           )
BP 6090                     (             BOX 205                       )
96468 Lyon Cedex 06         (             263 Central Avenue Jersey City)
FRANCE                      (             NJ 07307 USA                  )
 
 
16] IS THERE A JAMES BOND WEB SITE?
 
      There are a LOT of Bond web sites these days, with a new one seemingly 
cropping up every other week. Here's a list of "recommended" sites:
 
    - James Bond Agent 007, OHMSS (http://www.mcs.net/~klast/www/bond.html)
 
      One of the very first to appear, and certainly one of the best sites
      on the net. Includes many pointers to other pages, and is frequently
      updated. Run by alt.fan.james-bond celebrity Kimberly Last. A must!
 
    - OO7 News (http://www.ionet.net/~jrumley/bond.html)
 
      A relatively new site, but a personal favorite with up-to-the-minute
      Bond news.

    - The Official James Bond 007 home page
      (http://mgmua.com/interactive/bond/)

      Not fully operational yet. Promises to be the ultimate Bond page!

    - The James Bond Movie Page (http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dcs3pjb/jb/jbhome.html)
 
      The first Bond website. A great place for beginners, covering all of the
      films in detail. With some rare photos, and film reviews.
 
    - Bond's Bookshelf (http://www.gsu.edu/~mccbmk/Bond)
 
      The definitive work on the printed Bond (and we're not just saying that
      because its maintainer also happens to contribute to this FAQ!). Runs
      the gamut of books directly and indirectly related to Bond, and also
      features a new "Bond chronology."
 
    - The Ian Fleming Foundation Home Page (http://users.aol.com/iff)
 
      Covers the activities and publications of the IFF.
 
    - TBS James Bond site (http://www.turner.com/jamesbond)
 
      Nothing special, really, but has some original "Bond art," and lists the
      upcoming airings of the Bond films ... on TBS, of course.
 
    - Commander's Club (http://www.commanders.com/~bond)
 
      Features a unique Bond collection on-line, among other original things.
 
    - Nuv's OO7 Shrine (http://www.macronet.com/~jbond/007.html)

      Has *many* multimedia files. QuickTime movies of Bond trailers, radio
      spots, the works!
 
    - James Bond Multimedia Archive 
      (http://www.duke.edu/~jcb1/bond/index.html)
 
      A *huge* collection of photos, movies, sounds, posters, items, etc.
      Unfortunately, this one is currently off-line! :-(
 
    - Club James Bond (http://click.rever.fr/JamesBond/DEFAULT.html)
 
      A website maintained by the French Bond fan club, featuring its
      publications and some exclusive photos and articles -- especially
      on the filming of GoldenEye.
 
    - MGM/UA GoldenEye Site (http://www.mgmua.com/bond/index.html)
 
      The official GoldenEye site, with lots of graphics and multimedia. Very
      well designed (for 1995 standards).
 
    - UIP GoldenEye site (http://www.uip.com/lingos/uk/Goldeneye/index.html)
 
      Not much except a large collection of official stills from the film.
 
    - The GoldenEye Store (http://www.goldeneye.themes.com)
 
      Features T-shirts, magazines, and computer games that can be purchased
      online.
 
    - James Bond Movie Posters (http://www.musicman.com/mp/jb/jb.html)
 
      Has online photos of almost *all* the various Bond film posters.
 
    - The Next James Bond Movie
      (http://www.islandnet.com/~corona/films/details/jb18.html)
     
      As noted previously, the Bond 18 "rumor page."
 
 
17] IS THERE A JAMES BOND IRC CHANNEL?
 
      IRC channels are created "on-air". They are dynamic and can be created 
by anyone and will stay on as long someone is in them. In the past, some Bond 
fans used to have IRC discussions on channel #goldeneye in the days when the 
film was still in production. We can recommend a time and place for all of us 
to meet, however:
 
    Join the #goldeneye channel, Saturdays and Sundays 
         from 19:00 to 20:00 CET (Central European Time, Paris),
     which is 13:00 to 14:00 EST (Eastern Standard Time, New York).

        It would be a good idea if you could all connect to an "undernet" IRC 
server. A small list of servers follows:

Vancouver.BC.CA.undernet.org
Manhattan.KS.US.undernet.org
Austin.TX.US.undernet.org 
Washington.DC.US.undernet.org 
Pittsburgh.PA.US.undernet.org 
Chicago.IL.US.undernet.org 
Chicago-1.IL.US.undernet.org 
Phoenix.AZ.US.undernet.org 
Sandiego.CA.US.undernet.org 
Atlanta.GA.US.undernet.org 
Saltlake.UT.US.undernet.org 
Amsterdam.NL.EU.undernet.org 
London.UK.EU.undernet.org 
Espoo.FI.EU.undernet.org 
Luxembourg.LU.EU.undernet.org 

Undernet IRC FAQ  - ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/alt.irc.undernet
For IRC help/Undernet information, check out http://www.undernet.org 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Well, that's about it. Please send a message pointing out errors to 
Panos Sambrakos via e-mail (address below). These will be fixed in the next 
version. All kinds of comments, suggestions and discussions on the contents of
this document are welcome in the newsgroup alt.fan.james-bond.
 
 
 ........................................................................
 : Panos Sambrakos                ::                                    :
 : boldman@hol.gr                 ::    'The Internet is not enough'    :
 : IFF Athens Bureau              ::                                    :
 :................................::....................................:
 

 Bryan Krofchok (krofchok@gsu.edu)
 "Bond's Bookshelf"
 

 David Morefield (dmorefie@saturn.vcu.edu)
 "Do you expect me to talk, Goldfinger?"
 "Yes, Mr. Bond.  And if that laser keeps moving, I expect it will be 
 in a very high voice!"

******************************************************************************

........................................................................
: Panos Sambrakos                ::                                    :
: boldman@hol.gr                 ::    'The Internet is not enough'    :
: IFF Athens Bureau              ::                                    :
:................................::....................................:

