Why Lee Child Turned Down The Centenary Novel
It was reported back in April 2006 that Lee Child would definitely not be writing the Ian Fleming Centenary novel, due for release in 2008.
According to a new interview at K1Bond007, Child explains why he turned down the opportunity to write the novel…
Twice over the period of five years they’ve asked me to write the series, no regrets really because I think it is a thankless task in terms of first financial remuneration, as the terms were more favourable to the Ian Fleming estate than to me, and secondly there is the technical and cultural aspect. I see this as an impossible job as it’s now 2007, around 50 years on from the world that James Bond first appeared in. The world has changed, and one of the reasons the world has changed is because of James Bond, this country has altered its cultural frame of reference because of things like James Bond, so any follow-up fifty years later would be somewhat self-referential, and reading the book would be like watching an ABBA tribute band–i.e. what’s the point?
Lee Child
Recently, CBn reported that Ken Follett, despite voicing his interest in the job, had not been asked.
Keep watching CBn for all the latest literary James Bond news.