are new, effecient an~ potent ... His cars are fast . His foes are fiendish ... His women are beautiful . His manner is smooth and sophisticated. He is . Bond, James Bond, secret service agent supreme!
James Bond is the fictional creation of
Ian Lancaster Fleming. Ian Fleming was an english novelist born May 28, 1908 in London. Fleming gradua ted from Eton and from Sandhorst Military Academy just outside of London. Fleming went to Moscow to become a correspondent for the Reuters News Agency in 1929, but returned to London in 1933, to join a firm of stockbrokers.
He joined the Navy in 1936, and he did
espionage work during World War 11. He worked as an assistant to the director of British Nael lntell egence. Fleming used personal experience from the war to write his Bond novels.
In 1944 he joined the staff of the London
Sunday Times. In 1945 he was made assistant manager of the newspaper. Fleming later died in London on August 12, 1964 at the age of 56.
Fleming's Bond novels became popular in
the 1960s. John F. Kennedy was a great fan of James Bond, that aided his popularity status. 3
James Bond's "007"ment that he could kill
at his discretion. Bond is the senior of three double 0 agents, 008, and 009.
Several movies have been made from Bond
novels: "Dr. No" (1962), "From Russia With Love" (1963), "Goldfinger" (1964), "Thunderba11" (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" (19977), "Moonraker" (1979), "For Your Eyes Only" (1981), and upcoming are "Octopussy I,'and "Never Say Never Again". In these movies, Bond is por trayed by Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Although neither of thise actors is quite the Bond conceived by F1eming-- urbane, with a scar down his left cheek, ruthless eyes, and a cruel mouth-- the series has been a great success and shows no signs of slowing.
Bond's superior is named "M"': a chap by
the name of "Q" produces many technological ginnnicks which assist 007 in his defense of the free world. CIA agent Felix Leiter works with Bond whenever Great Britian and the United States are required to join forces.
Among Bond's many foes have been the drug
peddling Mr. Big; would-be world conqueror Ernst Stavro B1ofe1dj the space colonist Drax; and, we can't forget, Mr. Goldfinger. 4
Married briefly to a girl' named Tracy, Bond
was made a widower through funfire in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".
During the years Bond has used many hand
weapons: the .25 Beretta; which "Q" sarcastically dismissed as a "lady's gun"; to the .38 Colt Police Positive; the Colt .45 automatic; .38 Smith & Wesson Centennial Airweight; and, his favorite, The Walther PPK 7.56mm carried in the famous Berns-Martian trip1e draw holster ..
Bond has done most range work with either
the Colt .45, which was far too heavy and difficult to use in field operations, or the old stand-by .38 Cobra, 007's long-term favorite snub-nosed revolver for undercover use. Bond, naturally, did not disclose the fact that he carried an unauthorized Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum in a secret compartment in his car.
Bond had a number of cars ranging from a
gray Abstom-Martian, a handsome Lot~s, a turbo charged Saab. All of Bond's cars hqd the following characteristics built into them: ejector seat in the rassenger position, bullet proof glass, solid rubber tires, shell proof armored screen which can be raised from the rear of the car, stiffened chasis and body work to allow ramming, extendab~e/retract able scythe blades in hubcaps, submachine guns in front in front and rear bumpers, oil slick dropped from rear, smoke screen released from rear, windshield obscuring spray from rear, gun in side mirrors, sealable rear compartment with gas dispenser, rotating 1iscense plates, and communication and surveillance equipment. The Lotus had the built-in ability to 5
became a submarine.
We have become so accustomed to James Bond gadgets
which boggle the mind that I would like to point out to any unbelievers that all the "har-dwar-e.' used by Bond in his movies are genuine. Everything provided by the t1Q~t_ branch and carried by Bond - even the modifications to his cars, are obtainable on the open market •. , .. ,REALLY]]]
The directors of Glidrose Publications, Ltd.,
owners of the James Bond literary copyright, ap pointed John Gardner to undertake the somewhat daunt ing task of picking up where Mr. Ian Fleming left off in transporting "001" into the 1980 "5 •••• Good News for Bond fans] Bibliography
"Fleming, Ian Lancaster," The World Book Encyclopedia
1978. Vol. 7, p, 207.
"Fleming, Lan ;" Encyclopedia Americana 1981. Vol. 11
p. 388.
Gardner, John. "'License' F.enewed u . New York: Berkley,
1982.
Rovin, jeff. "tIThe Fantasy Almahac". Toronto: Clarke,
Irwin and, Co, Ltd., 1979 (p. 44)
Rasmussen, Merle "Top Sec re t ". Lake Geneva: TSR Hobbies