CommanderBond.net

From Death's Door

I'm excited to say that Thomas Clink's fantastic Fan Fiction novel From Death's Door is now available from CommanderBond.net. I first read the first chapters of this story years ago at a now defunct Bond website and was pleased to find it again after that site disapeared. Anyway, I'm quite proud to have the story here. (Mr. Clink is known in these forums as clinkeroo.) You can read Thomas' complete story by following this link.

The file requires Acrobat Reader 4.0 or better.

Thank you, Evan. I'm looking forward to receiving some feedback from the knowledgeable fan base here at CBn, even if it's just to point out that I spelled "practise" using the American "practice" three times in the story. Those of you who've read my posts here and on the newsgroup know that I'm very dedicated to Fleming's vision of Bond, and I would like to think this story pays tribute to the man whose novels I fell in love with nearly three decades ago.
Thanks for your time, I think you folks are going to like this one.

clinkeroo

Just read the first couple of pages but what I read was great and hopefully I can finish it by the end of the weekend.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, DanMan.

Danman,
If all works well, it should hit pace for you in Chapter Three, and by the end of Four, you should be hooked. Let me know if you have any questions, or spot something amiss along the way.
Thanks,
clinkeroo

Clinkeroo,
I'm actually reading FDD. I find it good and hope to go on until the end.
When do you imagine this story a=occur in James Bond bio? Wich year?
As M is Sir Miles it is before 1995 unless in your world there is no new M?

QUOTE

Originally posted by Cesari Clinkeroo, I'm actually reading FDD. I find it good and hope to go on until the end. When do you imagine this story a=occur in James Bond bio? Wich year? As M is Sir Miles it is before 1995 unless in your world there is no new M?

I’m curious what clinkeroo will answer for this.

When I read it I pictured it as a modern day tale, but with only the Fleming books as its backdrop. Of course, I know the book was started years ago (and I started reading it years ago), so putting it back a couple of years to behind 1995 is not really a problem. I think that the fact there are a few things that don’t jive with the Benson books, (Felix’s woman, etc.) got me thinking that way. But that did nothing to me to hinder my enjoyment of this story. From Death’s Door is pure Fleming’s 007, and that is what I want in a Bond story; official or not.

Cesari,
Glad to hear you're enjoying it. I took the same rule in hand that Glidrose gave to Raymond when he began his stories. In reference to Gardner, Amis, Pearson, etc. they told him to keep what he wanted to keep, and ignore what he wanted to ignore. FDD was almost entirely written before Never Dream of Dying came out, in fact, the first four chapters and the plot outline were done in 1998 after The Facts of Death was published. The references to public Irish figures and the splintering of the FLNC would put the story right about 1998.
When I heard that Raymond was writing about Corsica and Marc-Ange in NDOD, I stopped my own story for about five months in order to see what Raymond had done, I didn't want the two stories to run down the same path for a multitude of reasons. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Benson, and love his work, but upon reading NDOD I was extremely put back by his handling of Marc-Ange's character and his approach to the Corsican people in general. It just didn't have the flavor of the country as I saw (tasted?) it. This gave me more inspiration to complete the story, and to get it right.
I tend to ignore those aspects of Raymond's novels that are associated with the movies. I approach the movies as I would a girlfriend whom I have much affection for. I approach the Fleming novels as I would a wife, someone who is the love of my life. And as in real life, you should never confuse your wife with your girlfriend, the results can be disastrous. In fairness, Raymond was forced by Glidrose to marry the two worlds, but the new M, cars with flying drones, and the like, really have no place in Fleming's world. M was always intended to be Bond's father figure, and in many respects Bond's feelings for M represented his grumbling, but loving feelings, toward the whole of the service.
Since Bond's parents died when he was young, M was Bond's paternal figure, and England, herself, was his maternal figure. Therein lies the explanation of why Bond can be such a lone and rough character, and yet still have unwavering dedication and patriotism; a true tarnished knight, a modern Lancelot du lac.
In a perfect world, where I would be given the opportunity to actually publish FDD in my own time and place, I would most likely edit it's historical content so it would fit into a late-60's to very early-70's time frame, in order to fit better with Fleming's vision of the character. Mr. * is right, my Bond is set in the world of Fleming and Amis, with only hints to the other authors.

An aside- Lord knows I'm not very politically correct, but I notice you list France as your location. Please note that some of the opinions toward France are those of Fleming's Bond (never confused with a Francophile) and the FLNC, and are not those of this author. There's enough misunderstanding right now between our two countries. In fact, my French is a little rough, if you spot any errors in my phrasing, please let me know, and I'll see if Evan will let me make the corrections.

Thanks, and enjoy the story,
clinkeroo

Thanks Clinkeroo for your answer and your explanations. I understand better the way you wrote your novel.
Why the way Raymond approached in NDOD Corsican people is a problem for you?
Don't worry about my touchiness according to the way you or Bond consider french people in your novel. I can read non "francophile" words about my country and laugh about them.
I was very involve in the researches for NDOD as I became Raymond driver, translator and guide in Corsica. But I can read different view of that island or france in general without getting excited.
Generally I like the way Fleming talks about France. I find it so funny!!!
I hope you get the same spirit!
News when I will be more deeper in the book

Cesari,
In the beginning of OHMSS, Bond is rather rough with his opinions of the Corsicans, making the island seem like nothing but a breeding ground for cut throat animals, but by the end of the novel, his opinions have evolved, and he is actually a brother at arms with Draco and his crew. Draco had become one of Fleming's honorable bandits, much like Columbo and a slew of others. To change this is IMHO not in line with Fleming's original intent and character. Raymond seemed to go right for the former, without any of the latter; it was as if the character evolution of the second half of OHMSS had never happened. Marc-Ange went from being a man Bond couldn't help but like, to an evil, twisted man. It was if I wrote a Bond novel where Felix was a foul mouthed heroin addict who like chasing after men; it would not be Fleming's Felix, it would be my own creation contrary to what had been published before. I don't want to throw out too many spoilers, but the family death plot device that Raymond used to explain this transformation was rather contrived, and to put it bluntly, Marc-Ange was Marc-Ange in name only, he was not the character that Fleming created.
My comment regarding the Corsican people was based on Raymond not having many redeeming Corsican characters. They are either criminals or simple-minded mystics. I would have like to have seen some of their immense dedication to their families, some of their big-heartedness, some of their pride, some of their independence, some more of their food, multiculturalism, and language. Make them real, rather than stock villains and stock villagers. One of my criticisms of Raymond's writing is that he seems to come up with a plot, and then bends a culture, or a country, to fit that plot. I have always thought that if you breathe real life into characters and cultures, you let them dictate their actions, and in turn, the direction of the story.
It felt strange, too, having Bond think such warm thoughts of France, when Fleming had been rather harsh on Frenchmen. I believe in those sections we were seeing France through Raymond's eyes, rather than Bond's. This would most likely be a complement to you, and the favorable impression your company and touring must have left with him.
I remember you mentioning your touring with RB in a prior post, and I echo the sentiments of many others when I say I envy you the experience. How great would it be to have a few days to pick that mind of his? I know a bit about literature, but I can’t imagine anyone on this planet knows Bond like Mr. Benson. It would have been fun to take him on a tour of my beloved Detroit, a city that Fleming savaged almost as much as France, but we would have had to of found a Kevlar vest that fit him first .
C’est la vie,

So Thomas, have you actually visited Corsica? It certainly seemed as if you have in your book. Of course, not having actually set foot near that half of the world myself, you could have been describing Dearborn and I would have been none the wiser.

I know with my fan fiction, I had actually visited all of the locations I used with the exception of the interior scenes at the Navy Pier, which I used floor plans and photos to form my description. I’m curious about how you handled your locations.

Only in my dreams and my mind's eye. I relied heavily on research, interviews with some Metro native Corsicans, and a whole ton of reading. Many of those pauses in the writing of the story that the folks at Fanfiction.net wanted to string me up for were due to my extensive reading on the subject. I really should make an acknowledgement page now that the story is in a more solid form, but I would be especially remiss if I didn't mention the works of the historian Dorothy Carrington (The Dream-Hunters of Corsica, Napoleon and His Parents, The Traveller's Eye, This Corsica: A Complete Guide, Corsica: Portrait of a Granite Island.) Much of the Corsican flavor of my novel comes from her dedication to the history and the people of the island.
The hardest parts of my research were into the FLNC. Corsica's main business is tourism, and the powers that be wisely do not like to advertise the separatists and terrorists. I actually had to turn to the organizations themselves for info. I did the same with the IRA. I find it kind of funny having done all this work on terrorism and weaponry, not to mention that I'm from Dearborn (the largest Arabic population center outside of the Middle East); I'm sure the good old Patriot Act has my name highlighted somewhere.
I also delved deeply into Corsican food, always an integral part of the Fleming sweep. Thank God I love garlic, but my kids had to eat a lot of Mac and cheese and corn dogs while I experimented.
I also researched the amazing musical tradition of Napoleon’s island, and listened to only Corsican music while I was writing the Corsican sections. I also did the same with the Irish chapters. When I was younger, I used to think this technique was hokey, but it really does work.
All together, I spent more than a year-and-a-half researching Corsica, and I'm fairly confident that much of it came out in the writing.
Given the opportunity and funds, I would love to visit, but like you, Evan, I've stayed on this side of the pond (Canada, the States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, the Caribbean). It would be hard creating the Fleming sweep just sticking to those places. At least if I ever do get over there I'll know where to go. The jet-setting world of Bond is an expensive one to emulate for a theater manager.
Hell, sections of my next Bond story are in China, and I've already spent six months on that, but I don't think I'll be visiting.