Raymond Benson

Raymond Benson
RBinPerson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Raymond Benson
Birth place	Midland, Texas
Occupation	Author, Video game designer
Nationality	American
Genre	Spy fiction, Thriller
Notableworks	James Bond novels

Raymond Benson. An American author and game designer best known for his official contributions to the James Bond literary franchise. Between 1997 and 2003, he penned a series of original 007 novels, short stories, and novelizations, becoming the first American writer authorized by Glidrose Publications to continue the adventures of the iconic MI6 agent. His diverse career also encompasses work in the video game industry, original thrillers, and contributions to musical theatre.

Biography

Born in Midland, Texas, he developed an early passion for the arts, particularly film and music. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied Theatre and began writing and directing plays. His fascination with James Bond led him to become a noted scholar on the subject, founding the James Bond 007 Fan Club and authoring the critical reference work The James Bond Bedside Companion. He later moved to New York City to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, working initially in musical theatre administration for organizations like the New York City Opera and the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Career

His literary career was launched when the Ian Fleming estate, through Glidrose Publications, selected him to write new James Bond adventures. His first novel, Zero Minus Ten, was published in 1997, followed by others including The Facts of Death and High Time to Kill. He also wrote the novelizations for the Pierce Brosnan-era films Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough, as well as the first 007 novel based on a video game, Everything or Nothing. Beyond Bond, he has authored original thriller series such as the Black Stiletto saga and the Tommy Gun series. In video game design, he served as a writer and designer for companies like Sierra On-Line and Spyglass Entertainment, working on titles such as The Dame Was Loaded and Robert E. Lee: Civil War General.

Bibliography

His bibliography is anchored by his James Bond novels, which include original works like Zero Minus Ten (1997), The Facts of Death (1998), High Time to Kill (1999), DoubleShot (2000), Never Dream of Dying (2001), and The Man with the Red Tattoo (2002). His film novelizations encompass Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002). Significant non-007 works include the Black Stiletto series, a historical thriller saga beginning with The Black Stiletto (2011), and the Tommy Gun series, starting with The President's Pilot. His earlier reference book, The James Bond Bedside Companion (1984), remains a notable work of fandom scholarship.

Filmography

His direct involvement in film primarily consists of writing the novelizations for Eon Productions' James Bond films starring Pierce Brosnan: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Die Another Day (2002). While not a screenwriter, his literary adaptations helped bridge the film and publishing branches of the 007 franchise. His original characters, such as the Black Stiletto, have been optioned for potential television and film development.

Awards and nominations

His work has been recognized by several organizations within the thriller and mystery writing community. He received the American Authors Association's Golden Quill Award for his novel A Hard Day's Death. His Black Stiletto series was a finalist for the Thriller Award presented by the International Thriller Writers organization. For his contributions to James Bond literature, he was honored by the Ian Fleming estate and remains a popular guest at fan conventions such as BondCon and Mystery Writers of America events.

Category:American novelists Category:James Bond writers Category:Video game designers