James Bond and Moonraker

James Bond and Moonraker

1979 Triad Panther British paperback edition
Author Christopher Wood
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Series James Bond
Genre Spy fiction
Publisher Jonathan Cape, Triad Panther
Publication date
 1979
Media type Hardback, Paperback
Pages 222 pp

James Bond and Moonraker is a novelization by Christopher Wood of the James Bond film Moonraker. Its name was changed to avoid confusion with Fleming's novel. It was released in 1979.[1]

Plot

British Secret Service agent James Bond, codename 007, must prevent Sir Hugo Drax's plan to murder the entire human race and then restart humanity from outer space.

Background

The screenplay of Moonraker differed so much from Ian Fleming's novel that Eon Productions authorized the film's screenwriter, Christopher Wood to write a novelization based upon the film, as he had done for The Spy Who Loved Me.

As with the first novelization, Wood had no input from, or communication with Glidrose Publications. Instead he worked directly with Jonathan Cape publisher Tom Maschler.[2]

Unlike Wood's first novelization, which showed a significant difference to the actual film, in James Bond and Moonraker, Wood writes a virtually direct novelization of the screenplay.[1] The only noticeable differences between the novelization and the screenplay for Moonraker is that there is no mention of Dolly, Jaws' girlfriend, and his characterization stays true to Wood's description as being a mute. In addition, at the conclusion of the Venetian canal chase sequence, Bond's gondola does not sprout a flotation device and ascend to St. Mark's square as it does in the film.

Reception

Wood's second novelization was barely reviewed. Syndicated columnist Bob Greene was scathing. He said the novelization was "dreary and schlocky and juvenile; it lacks all of the wonderful tension and personality of the original Fleming book. James Bond would be embarrassed to be in it. [...] In the meantime, shed a tear for Ian Fleming and James Bond. And don't, under any circumstances, buy the "Moonraker" you see in the stores today. Hold out for the real thing. If you can't find it in the attic, come over and I'll lend you mine."[3]

The Los Angeles Times critic claimed that Ian Fleming "would have cringed at the writing to be found in this book."[4]

Despite this, Wood's novel became a bestseller,[5] remaining on the London Times bestseller list for some time.[6]

After the release of the novel, Eon Productions chose not to commission novelizations of the next few Bond films; not until Licence to Kill ten years later in 1989, would there be a Bond film novelization.

Publication history

References

  1. 1 2 "Christopher Wood Interview". MI6-HQ.COM. February 6, 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  2. ↑ Wood, Christopher (2006). James Bond, The Spy I Loved. Twenty First Century Publishers. p. 167. ISBN 9781904433538.
  3. ↑ Greene, Bob (30 Jul 1979). "The Guns of James Bond Still Bang but Words Whimper". The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia). p. 2.
  4. ↑ "A Yank Who Couldn't Tell a Lie?". Los Angeles Times. 23 August 1979. p. E25.
  5. ↑ Life Books (2012). LIFE: 50 Years of James Bond. Des Moines: Time Inc. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-61893-031-6.
  6. ↑ Rye, Graham (August 1979). "007 News: Christopher Wood’s James Bond & Moonraker novelization climbing best seller list". OO7 (2).
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