Books like James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007

5 STARS. Simply put, the greatest non-Fleming Bond book ever written. I cannot believe I only just discovered it as a result of reading Raymond Benson’s Bond Bedside Companion. He mentioned this book multiple times and I decided to check it out. The premise: James Bond was a real man who knew Ian Fleming. The author, John Pearson, stumbles upon this fact and is eventually permitted to write a biography of Bond as follow-up to his Fleming biography. James Bond is in his early fifties and weighing his next move: to resign from the Service or continue on. Not only do familiar faces pop up, but during the interviews of Bond for the book, 007 recounts his entire life story. Having read the Young Bond novels, all of the Fleming’s, and all of the post-Fleming novels, this book reads like a greatest hits. It very perfectly weaves the tapestry between the stories all the while adding brand new stories in-between. It’s unbelievable. Bond’s early days, his relationship with his parents, his multiple meetings with Fleming, his first two kills, his first meeting with M, the friends, foes and females, and everything that happens in-between what we’ve read before is all included. The new stories Pearson has created display the capture and climax scenes and add even more depth to the character and his relationships with others. It progresses and ends perfectly.5 stars