Developing 007

Since his debut on the paperback rack in 1953, Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 has become a staple of pop culture. However, fans of the films far outnumber readers of Fleming's original novels, which is a shame. If you've ever wondered how closely the films followed the books they are based on, this is the tome for you as it charts the writing process of the novels and the screenplays based upon them. In the books, you'll see Bond save London from the Moonraker rocket, battle a giant squid on the island of Dr. No, and take down the diamond-smuggling Spangled Mob outside of Las Vegas. In discarded screenplays, you'll see 007 trail Hugo Drax to Loch Ness, team with Goldfinger's twin brother to take down Blofeld, and become a SPECTRE double agent. Lastly, in addition to EON's classic productions beginning with Dr. No (1962), this book also charts the history of forgotten outliers like the 1954 Climax! live TV episode devoted to Casino Royale along with the 1967 big budget spoof starring Peter Sellers and David Niven.