Interviews
Before the live bn.com chat, Raymond Benson agreed to answer some of our questions.Q:
Can you remember a specific writer or voice that inspired you to write?
A:
Well, Ian Fleming, obviously. He's always been my favorite. I consider his novels to be classics. As far as other novelists go, I'm a big fan of Ruth Rendell, Richard Adams, Kingsley Amis, J. D. Salinger, Ed McBain, Stephen King, John Grisham, and Larry McMurtry.
Q:
Have you given a book as a gift recently? Which one?
A:
My own! To friends, family, et cetera.
Q:
What is your favorite James Bond line? Your favorite contraption?
A:
I prefer passages from the novels rather than one-liners from the films. There were some brilliant passages in the Fleming books...such as the entire centipede sequence in Dr. No, Bond's musings on relationships in Casino Royale, or the sequence in the sunken Vulcan in Thunderball. My favorite device in the films would have to be the Aston Martin DB5 from "Goldfinger."
Q:
If you could describe James Bond with one word, what would it be?
A:
Cool.
Q:
Do you have anything in common with James Bond?
A:
Only a love of the opposite sex. The dangerous stuff he can have.
Q:
What are your favorite James Bond books? Movies?
A:
Books: From Russia with Love, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Dr. No, Thunderball. Films: "From Russia with Love," "Dr. No," "Goldfinger," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Thunderball."
Q:
Is writing books similar to composing music?
A:
Not for me. Composing music for me comes from an emotional center somewhere inside that hurts if I don't sit down and let it out at the piano. Writing is a different kind of hurt, but it's more cerebral and painstaking in the process of actually doing it.
Q:
What composing have you done?
A:
I've done a lot of personal compositions: new-agey solo piano pieces, some music for computer games, a lot of theater music -- usually collaborating with a playwright by putting music to his lyrics. I appear as a solo act on an Italian import CD called "Giant for a Life: A Tribute to Gentle Giant," which is a tribute to a '70s progressive rock band.
