An author has described writing a James Bond series for young readers as a "daunting responsibility". Award-winning crime writer Mike Craven was approached by Ian Fleming Publications to pen a new adventure where the fictional spy trains 12 to 13-year-olds to be 00 agents. Craven, an army veteran from Carlisle, said he had already been piled on by Bond "purists" telling him to stay true to the lore in James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy, which is expected to be published next summer. "The legacy of this character is just astonishing," he said. "It's one that you can't mess with - he's part of our national identity." James Bond was created by Ian Fleming in the 1950s and led to a film franchise that made 007 instantly recognisable across the world. Craven was told he had free licence with the story, but he could not contradict previous works. "So any character who Ian Fleming killed off, like say Goldfinger or Blofeld, you can't resurrect," he told BBC Radio Cumbria. The writer said he was warned he could become a "target for all the Bond fanatics out there" but it had been "a lot of fun". He said one of the reasons he took on a children's book series was to help "move the dial" on literacy in young people. "I think only one in three children now read for pleasure, which is pretty sad because when I was growing up that was my main form of entertainment," he said. When asked how he was changing his writing to suit a younger age group, he said he was putting less swearing in. M.W. Craven's James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy will be published next June. Follow BBC Cumbria onX,Facebook,NextdoorandInstagram.
Writing new Bond book 'daunting responsibility'
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"Mike Craven Discusses Challenges of Writing New James Bond Book for Young Readers"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Mike Craven, an acclaimed crime novelist, has expressed the weight of responsibility he feels in writing a new James Bond book aimed at young readers. Commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications, Craven's upcoming book, 'James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy', will focus on the iconic spy training 12 to 13-year-olds to become 00 agents. As a veteran from Carlisle, Craven has faced pressure from Bond 'purists' who insist he remain faithful to the established lore of the character. He acknowledges the immense legacy of James Bond, a figure created by Ian Fleming in the 1950s, whose influence has permeated global culture through a successful film franchise. This legacy is one that Craven is determined not to compromise, as he navigates the constraints of the character's established history while crafting a new narrative for younger audiences.
Craven has been granted creative freedom in developing the story, with the caveat that he cannot contradict previous works, particularly by avoiding the resurrection of characters killed off by Fleming, such as Goldfinger or Blofeld. Despite the challenges and potential backlash from devoted fans of the franchise, Craven describes the experience as enjoyable. He also aims to address the concerning trend of declining literacy among children, noting that only one in three children read for pleasure today, a stark contrast to his own childhood. To make the book suitable for a younger demographic, he is consciously reducing the use of profanity in his writing. 'James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy' is set to be released in June 2024, and Craven hopes it will inspire a renewed interest in reading among children, reflecting his commitment to fostering literacy through engaging storytelling.
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