James Bond and Moonraker

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]

James Bond and Moonraker
1979 Triad Panther British paperback edition
AuthorChristopher Wood
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesJames Bond
GenreSpy fiction
PublisherJonathan Cape, Triad Panther
Publication date
1979
Media typeHardback, Paperback
Pages222 pp

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 authorised 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 from 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 characterisation 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 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.

Publication history
  • UK first hardback edition: 1979 Jonathan Cape
  • UK first paperback edition: 1979 Triad Panther
  • U.S. first paperback edition: 1979 Jove Books
  • UK first hardcover large print edition: 1980 Chivers Press
  • French first edition: 1979 Fleuve noir James Bond 007 et le Moonraker trans. André Gard
  • German first edition: 1979 Goldmann Moonraker streng geheim: 007 erobert d. Weltraum trans. Tony Westermayr
  • Dutch first edition: 1979 A. W. Bruna James Bond en de Moonraker trans. David Brisk
  • Spanish first edition: 1979 Bruguera Moonraker trans. José M Pomares
  • Japanese first edition: 1979 Hayakawa Zero zero sebun to mūnreikā trans. Kazuo Inoue
  • Italian first edition: 1995 Mondadori Moonraker: Operazione Spazio trans.Stefano Di Marino
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References
  1. "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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