Mark Edlitz - The Many Lives of James Bond: How the Creators of 007 Have Decoded the Superspy

Mark Edlitz has worked as a writer and producer for ABC News, NBC-Uni, CNBC, Discovery ID, and for National Geographic Channels Brain Games.

Edlitzs writings about pop culture have appeared in The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times Hero Complex, Moviefone, and Empire magazine online.

He wrote and directed the award-winning independent film The Eden Myth and directed Jedi Junkies, a documentary about extreme Star Wars fans.

His book How to Be a Superhero includes interviews with actors who have played superheroes over the past seven decades.

Edlitz lives in New York with his wife and two children.

I want to express my deep gratitude for the many people who helped with this book. I am enormously grateful to Elliot Ravetz, my first reader and biggest advocate. I oer everlasting thanks to my mother Sandra Edlitz, who drove me to see A View to a Kill on two consecutive nights, and to my late father Robert Edlitz who is never far from my thoughts and who playfully sang the Moonraker theme song while playing charades. Id like to give thanks to Gail Ravetz, who found the Gilbert action figures at a flea market. I extend love to my sister Tracy who, as she points out, shares the same name as Bonds wife. I am grateful to the support from Joan and Irving Shapiro, who looked after my children while I visited the Bond museum during our trip to London. In addition to enabling my Bond fandom, they have all been consistent sources of joy and love.

Special thanks go to Jerry Kolber and Adam Davis, my dear friends who support me in all my endeavors. Additional thanks go to David Mamet, Charles Salzberg, Mark Viseglia, Renee Jamieson, Ben Ohmart, Paul Talbot, Jim Graham, Vilma Vias, Andrew Read, and Liz Bigger.

I extend my gratitude to the kind people who helped facilitate these interviews, including Gareth Owen, Andrea Stahn, Kyle McGinnis, Marcel Damen, Nikki Weiss, Bruce Kaufman, Adam Sherwin, Ginger Mason, Lauren Macpherson, Chloe Saxby, and Michelle Danso. Additional thanks go to Jim Davis, John Stawarz, and Amber Libke for their assistance with transcriptions.

Bond scholars who have generously supported my eorts and have given me valuable guidance include Raymond Benson of The James Bond Bedside Companion and a Bond continuation author, Bruce Scivally of James Bond: The Legacy, Brian McKaig of The Bondologist Blog, Peter Lorenz of Illustrated 007, Matt Spaiser of The Suits of James Bond, Mark OConnell, author of Catching Bullets, Clinton Rawls of Comics Royale, and Ajay Chowdhury, coauthor of Some Kind of Hero.

I deeply appreciate Lee Pfeier, coauthor of The Incredible World of 007; Andrew Lane, coauthor of The Bond Files; Bruce Scivally, coauthor of James Bond: The Legacy; and James Chapman, author of Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films for their kind words about the book and their support.

Numerous websites exhibit a breath taking knowledge of 007, including Commander Bond, Artistic Licence Renewed, 007 Magazine, Archivo 007, James Bond 007 Comic Art, Absolutely James Bond, From Sweden with Love, Illustrated 007, MI6, The Bondologist Blog, James Bond Jr. Online, The Spy Command, The Book Bond, Bond Lifestyle, The 007 Dossier, and James Bond Memes. Writers who were instrumental in shaping my interest in Bond include Steven Jay Rubin, Raymond Benson, John Brosnan, John Cork, John Pearson, Kingsley Amis, Graham Rye, Lee Pfeier, Philip Lisa, Philip Gurin, James Chapman, and Richard Schenkman. The passion that the Bondologists of the James Bond Podcast feel for their subject matter is infectious.

I am overjoyed to include Pat Carbajals stunning illustrations in this book.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to my agents Alyssa Jennette and Ellen Scordato at Stonesong for their support and counsel.

Immeasurable appreciation goes to Rick Rinehart at Rowman & Littlefield, who made working with him a joy and whose instincts and advice were always exceptional. Additional thanks go to Kristen Mellitt, Erin McGarvey, and to the entire team at R&L for their behind-the-scenes eorts and for enhancing this book immeasurably.

I am deeply indebted to all the artists in the book who spoke with me. They were all generous with their time and insights.

Above all, I wanted to express my love and gratitude for Dr. Suzie Shapiro, my wise, supportive, and beautiful wife and for Ben and Sophie, my wonderful, fun, thoughtful, caring, loving, and kooky children.

I was not able to interview every actor who has played James Bond. But their insights are valuable, so I have compiled the following sourced quotes in which some of the notable performers discuss their work and reflect on their contribution to the Bond legacy.