Movin' on up: UHPD occupies new station

Library history reflected in exhibit

By J.R. Gonzales
Daily Cougar Staff

Although James Bond has often been criticized as a chauvinist, author Raymond Benson said he has recently noticed a new demographic taking an interest in the double agent's tales.

"I think there's a lot of women who like the exotic locales, some of the romance parts of it," Benson said. "I think this conception that Bond is sexist is really not true. He's always treated women that he likes with a great deal of respect."

Raymond Benson

Benson spoke at a Champions-area Barnes and Noble book store Sunday to promote High Time to Kill, the first title in a Bond trilogy. He is the fourth author to pen the Bond novels, which now number more than 30.

The Odessa-born Benson has written three short stories, three novels and novelizations of the last two Bond films since 1997. He is the first American to write the Bond novels.

Creative control of the character is shared between Benson and the estate of Ian Fleming, Bond's creator. Although he has the opportunity to take Bond to different locales -- Texas, in one instance -- he can only develop Bond's character to a certain point.

"I know what Bond can do and what he can't do, and I'm not going to have him become a pianist or something like that," Benson said.

If anything, Benson said he's developed Bond to be more like Fleming originally intended him.

"I've brought back Fleming's hard drinker, hard smoker, hard gambler ... because that's what the fans wanted," he said.

Veteran Bond fan Jay Anz, who was in the audience Sunday, said it won't be too long before Benson's Bond makes it to the silver screen.

"It'll happen," he said. "I think it's just going to be a matter of time."