Raymond Benson

Yay!

35 years ago this month I was hired by Origin Systems in Austin TX to write computer games. This jumpstarted a 7 year career that eventually involved working for 4 different firms across the USA. Designing complex games honed my fiction-penning skills, preparing me to be a novelist a little later.

My review of the The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of "Eclipse Series 8: LUBITSCH MUSICALS" (The Love Parade, Monte Carlo, The Smiling Lieutenant, One Hour With You) is now up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...
@criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

My review of the book, "A PLACE BOTH WONDERFUL AND STRANGE: THE EXTRAORDINARY UNTOLD HISTORY OF TWIN PEAKS" by Scott Meslow, is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

No, it's not a movie poster, but it should be. At the Culver Theater the other night when I did the Intro for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

Reminder: I am introducing "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (& signing stuff*), Jan 27, Culver Theater, Culver City, CA. Hosted by Bond group To Live and Let Die in L.A.
THERE WILL BE A SURPRISE SPECIAL GUEST
Talks 7pm. Movie 7:30.
web.theculvertheater.com/films/From-C...
(*no book sales at event)

#TBT Throw Back Thursday
15 Years Ago, Jan 2011, HOMEFRONT: THE VOICE OF FREEDOM was a tie-in prequel novel to a videogame created by THQ in collaboration with John Milius. I consider the book one of my better videogame-to-novel projects. (PS: The book is still available, tinyurl.com/53w8xr96 ).

The new issue of the UK magazine, EDGE, has a short piece on my history with James Bond games and my tie-ins of videogames-to-novels.

My review of The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray (and 4K UHD) release of Michael Curtiz's "CAPTAIN BLOOD" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...
@criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

Want to see/hear my "James Bond Phenomenon" media presentation at your library or group meeting? I'm part of the Chicago Writers Association's Speakers Bureau. chicagowrites.org/speakers_bureau

Happy New Year to all, from us.

My review of the new book "HITCHCOCK & HERRMANN" by Steven C. Smith is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

#TBT Throw Back Thursday
60 Years Ago, December 25.
These treasures were occupying my day.
Happy Belated Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to all!

I'm in.

Tickets for entire experience are $75 each but only if you add promo code UNDERGROUND and adding Underground Reception when buying tickets through the link above.

Join me at the CSO's presentation of "2001: A Space Odyssey" with LIVE musical accompaniment on Jan 10... I will be at the Underground Reception at 5:30pm doing an Intro for the film and Q&A, with food and beverages and ambient music by Club Drippy... film at 7:30. cso.org/concerts-tic...

Hard to believe it's been 45 years.
He was indeed a flawed person but at the time, for my generation, he was more than just a musician. He was a symbol of hope, peace, and love, and of a movement toward something... better. His senseless death hit me profoundly, as it did many. RIP John Lennon.

My review of Decal Releasing's new Blu-ray release of Rob Reiner's 2025 sequel, "SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES," with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, is up at Cinema Retro :
www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

My review of Kino Lorber Studio Classics' new Blu-ray release of "FRENCH NOIR COLLECTION II" (with "Rhine Virgin," "The Beast is Loose," "Trapped by Fear," and "The Passion of Slow Fire") is up at Cinema Retro : www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...
@kinolorber.com

My review of Kino Lorber Studio Classics' new Blu-ray release of Sam Wood's "FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

Great release and I enjoyed your essay. (And the transfer is fantastic)

YouTube video by Justin Chapman Well Read with Justin Chapman - Ep. 24 - Raymond Benson

@raymondbenson.bsky.social, author of the new #FelixLeiter novel "The Hook and the Eye" (as well as 6 #JamesBond continuation novels and 3 Bond movie adaptation novels) is the guest on the latest episode of my TV show "Well Read with Justin Chapman." youtu.be/3aABPmDsCco #IanFleming #RaymondBenson

You're my new best friend.

If it's marked "sold out," they are restocking very soon!

The Hook And The Eye Paperback Book - By Raymond Benson The Hook and the Eye is a mystery, a romance, a spy story, a road trip tale and a postcard of a lost Americana. It is Raymond Benson at his very best.

Ian Fleming Publications is now shipping WORLDWIDE! No matter where you are, you can get the print edition of THE HOOK AND THE EYE (and their other books, too). (And this Felix Leiter adventure is still available as an e-book, too.)
ianflemingshop.com/products/the...

Looking toward the Caribbean from Ian Fleming's Goldeneye home in Jamaica, painted by Noel Coward.

The new "Mr. Scorsese" doc is great! Just curious why they skipped right over "Hugo" but covered every other film. The first episode, with his background in Little Italy and his friends shown, explained a lot!

I love it. I've heard though that the colors look... off... in the new 4K. Blue looks greenish. True? (Haven't received my review copy for Cinema Retro yet.)

I was at the USA premiere at Radio City Music Hall in NYC... trembling with the knowledge that I couldn't reveal to anyone that I had just been asked to write the continuation novels.

Just a PSA... Happy to say that THE HOOK AND THE EYE is selling briskly! But since the holidays are on their way, a reminder that there are over 40 other titles available. While most are out of print in physical form, they all exist as e-books, some with prices as low as $1.99. tinyurl.com/2dr4ewj3