Wikipedia rumour links Lee Child with next 007 continuation novel

18-Jul-2011 • Literary

Given the free reign that anyone has to edit almost any page, rumours posted on Wikipedia have almost the credibility of a Rupert Murdoch tabloid newspaper, but this one is interesting than most as it has history.

According to an edit made by a German user on 19th June 2011 to Lee Child's 'Jack Reacher' page, the author may be in line for the next James Bond continuation novel next year.

The update reads: "The schedule for the Reacher series - previously one-per-year - was stepped up with 61 HOURS/WORTH DYING FOR both released in 2010. This was done in order to make room for Child penning the next James Bond novel for Ian Fleming Publications in 2012."

Lee Child is no stranger to the James Bond franchise, having turned down offers to pen a 007 adventure more than once.

Back in April 2007, the thriller blog 'Shots' interviewed Lee Child and asked him about Ian Fleming Publications offering him the job. He said, "Twice over the period of five years theyâve 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 itâs 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 â i.e. whatâs the point?"

The technical and cultural obstacles have been taken care of thanks to author Jeffery Deaver bringing Bond in to 2011 and rebooting the character in "Carte Blanche".

Thanks to `Kevin` for the alert.