YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Jamesbond_ The big lit news of last week (it happened after last week's Yay or Nay Wednesday, okay?!) was that Sebastian Faulks has taken over Ian Fleming's gig as writer of the James Bond novels. The new Bond book, which was kept a closely-guarded secret until it was finished, will be released in May 2008 and is called Devil May Care. Its release will mark 100 years since Fleming's birth. [Via The Guardian].

But what do you think to the concept of taking over a popular series after the writer's death - is it a heart-warming tribute or close to sacrilegious? Are there any great series that should be revived, or should they always die with the author? And if you're a writer, do you care what happens after you die or do you want your work left alone?

SO: passing the literary baton: is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?

Yay or Nay archives.

[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Dollymix, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]

Melanie

My husband is a fan of Fleming&#39s. Hubby says the writing is good and Bond&#39s character is a little different from the man they portray on the screen. Which makes me wonder if a new writer would "get" it and keep the original written version of Bond. Or I wonder if he would try to make Bond the way he thinks Bond should be (if that makes any sense). If he does try to reinvent Bond, I think &#39sacrilege&#39 would be a good word to use in describing it.

Really, no matter what the new writer comes up with, it won&#39t be the same. I don&#39t think it can be the same. So, Nay.

Shanna Swendson

I&#39m kind of torn. I think it depends on the kind of series. When it&#39s something more like James Bond, where there&#39s no overall story arc, just lots of individual adventures with a recurring character, that seems more open to multiple authors -- like, say, the Nancy Drew books, which weren&#39t all written by one person in spite of the Carolyn Keene name on the cover.

Where I have a problem is if there is a story arc, especially one that&#39s concluded. Then I don&#39t think it should be dug up and continued by anyone else. For instance, after Harry Potter book 7, if that&#39s where Rowling wants to end it, it should end that way. I don&#39t want any other writer coming along fifty years from now and writing Harry Potter at Oxford or as an adult, or anything like that. The exception might be if the author dies before completing the series, and then someone finishes the series based on the author&#39s notes.

I don&#39t want anyone else touching my characters, but then I don&#39t feel I&#39m in too much danger as my publisher doesn&#39t even want me to complete the series, let alone anyone else!

Lucie Simone

I&#39ve never read any of the Bond novels, but it does seem like sacrilege to continue an author&#39s work when that author dies. So, I guess my answer is nay. However, when you&#39ve got a franchise like Bond, I&#39m sure the guys with the money will do anything to keep it going.

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY - Comments

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