John Brosnan Dies at 58
John Brosnan, author of the landmark first examination of the James Bond film phenomenon, James Bond in the Cinema, was found dead in his home in South Harrow. His death was reported on 11 April. Friends had become alarmed at his absence over Easter, and gained access to his flat. He had died in his sleep, possibly several days earlier. An autopsy determined that the cause of death was acute pancreatitis.
James Bond in the Cinema first edition, 1972
Brosnan was born in 1947 in Perth, Western Australia, and became active as a sci-fi fan in the mid 1960s. By 1970 he had moved to London, where he settled for good. Brosnan published at least 23 novels in his lifetime. His collaborations with Leroy Kettle were pseudonymous; the best known of these horror tales is probably Bedlam (1992), the film version of which (Beyond Bedlam) gave Liz Hurley her first main role. More ambitious science-fiction novels, under his own name, included the Sky Lords novels from 1988, and his last published novel, Mothership (2004). He had already completed a draft of the sequel at the time of his death.
But to Bond fans Brosnan (no relation to Pierce) is best known as the author of James Bond in the Cinema, the first book written about the 007 film phenomena. It was first published in the UK and U.S. in 1972 and covered the series up to Diamonds Are Forever. A revised edition in 1981, published only in the U.S., covered the series up to Moonraker. For Bond fans of the Connery and Moore era, James Bond in the Cinema was an essential part of any Bond collection.
CBn offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Brosnan.