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Raymond Benson

From Alfawiki
Raymond Benson
Born1955
Midland, Texas, U.S.
OccupationAuthor
Years active1984–present
Known forJames Bond novels, The Black Stiletto series

Raymond Benson (born 1955) is an American author recognized for his contributions to the James Bond literary series between 1997 and 2003.

Early life and education

Born in Midland, Texas, Benson completed his studies at Permian High School in Odessa in 1973. His early passions included piano and theater, culminating in his appointment as vice president of his high school's drama club. He pursued higher education at the University of Texas at Austin, earning a degree in Drama Production with a focus on Directing, and subsequently directed theatrical performances in New York City.

James Bond works

In 1984, Benson wrote The James Bond Bedside Companion, an extensive reference covering Ian Fleming’s life, the official Bond novels, and films. This work was revised in 1988 and later issued digitally, earning a nomination for an Edgar Award.

During the mid-1980s, Benson extended his involvement with the Bond franchise by developing computer games such as James Bond 007: A View to a Kill (1985) and Goldfinger (1986), along with co-writing a module for the James Bond 007 role-playing game.

After John Gardner stepped down in 1996, Glidrose Publications appointed Benson to carry on the James Bond novel series. Although his American nationality and divergence from Gardner’s narrative continuity initially sparked debate, Benson actively promoted his work across UK and European markets through book tours and signings with publishers like Hodder & Stoughton. Over his tenure, he produced six original Bond novels, three film novelizations, and three short stories—the first new Bond short fiction since Fleming—published in magazines including Playboy and TV Guide, later gathered into collections.

With the transition of Glidrose to Ian Fleming Publications, Benson’s novel High Time to Kill marked the new branding. He concluded his role as Bond author in 2003.

Notable publications by Benson include:

  1. "Blast from the Past" (short story, 1997)
  2. Zero Minus Ten (1997)
  3. Tomorrow Never Dies (novelization, 1997)
  4. The Facts of Death (1998)
  5. "Midsummer Night's Doom" (short story, 1999)
  6. "Live at Five" (short story, 1999)
  7. The World Is Not Enough (novelization, 1999)
  8. High Time to Kill (1999)
  9. DoubleShot (2000)
  10. Never Dream of Dying (2001)
  11. The Man with the Red Tattoo (2002)
  12. Die Another Day (novelization, 2002)
  13. The Hook and the Eye (Felix Leiter Novel, 2025)

Benson’s novel The Man with the Red Tattoo inspired the establishment of a museum dedicated to it by Japan’s Kagawa Prefecture in 2005, which also appointed him as a Goodwill Ambassador.

In 2008, several of Benson’s James Bond novels were compiled into omnibus editions titled The Union Trilogy: Three 007 Novels, followed by another compilation called Choice of Weapons released in 2010.

In April 2014, Benson collaborated with fellow former Bond author Jeffery Deaver as co-editor on the anthology Ice Cold--Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War, supported by Mystery Writers of America, featuring stories centered around Cold War espionage.

On August 12, 2023, Ian Fleming Publications announced a UK reissue of Benson’s debut Bond novel, Zero Minus Ten, alongside works by other continuation authors. Later, on January 29, 2024, they revealed plans for an e-book omnibus called James Bond: The Raymond Benson Years, which collects his six original Bond novels.

On March 26, 2025, Ian Fleming Publications unveiled Benson’s forthcoming first-ever Felix Leiter novel—focusing on Bond’s American ally—titled The Hook and the Eye. Set during Fleming’s original 1950s era timeline, it will initially be released as a serialized e-book before becoming available in print.

Other works

Following his tenure as a Bond novelist, Benson expanded his repertoire by releasing multiple suspense thrillers, such as Face Blind (2003), Evil Hours (2004), the Shamus Award-nominated Dark Side of the Morgue (2009), The Secrets on Chicory Lane (2017), and The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way (2022). Additionally, he authored the non-fiction work The Pocket Essential Guide to Jethro Tull in 2002.

Benson earned the IPPY Gold Medal in the Mystery category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards for his novel The Mad, Mad Murders of Marigold Way.

In 2004, Benson initiated writing two novels inspired by the video game franchise Splinter Cell, published under the alias David Michaels. The first installment, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, was released in 2004, followed by Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Operation Barracuda in 2005.

The year 2008 saw Benson penning A Hard Day's Death, a story centered on a private detective investigating a rock star’s demise. This work was succeeded by a sequel, Dark Side of the Morgue (2009), which garnered a nomination for a Shamus Award. Both novels, along with an additional short story, were compiled into an e-book collection titled The Rock 'n' Roll Detective's Greatest Hits in 2011.

Benson also adapted video games into novels, including Metal Gear Solid (2008) and its follow-up, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2009). His contribution to the Gabriel Hunt pulp series came with Hunt Through Napoleon's Web, initially released as an e-book in 2010 and subsequently in print in 2011.

Continuing his involvement with video game adaptations, Benson co-wrote Homefront--the Voice of Freedom alongside John Milius in 2011; this novel serves as a prequel to THQ’s Homefront. In 2012, it was announced that he would author Hitman: Damnation, a prequel tied to Square Enix’s Hitman: Absolution.

Benson debuted his "women's action/adventure thriller" series with the release of The Black Stiletto in September 2011. Prior to the novel’s publication, he offered readers a complimentary e-book short story titled "The Black Stiletto's Autograph." The series expanded with four sequels: Black & White (2012), Stars & Stripes (2013), Secrets & Lies (2014), and the concluding volume, Endings & Beginnings (2014).

On October 14, 2015, it was publicized that Mila Kunis would serve as executive producer for a television adaptation of The Black Stiletto, developed by ABC Studios.

Fiction

Non-fiction

Short stories

  • 1997 "Blast from the Past," published in ‘’Playboy,’’ January 1997 issue
  • 1999 "Midsummer Night's Doom," featured in ‘’Playboy,’’ January 1999 issue
  • 1999 "Live at Five," printed in ‘’TV Guide,’’ November 13, 1999 edition
  • 2006 "Thumbs Down," released as Amazon Shorts content
  • 2006 "The Plagiarist," also part of Amazon Shorts collection
  • 2006 "Another Rock 'n' Roll Hit," included within crime anthology ‘’These Guns for Hire’’
  • 2009 "On the Threshold of a Death," appearing in ‘’Crimespree,’’ May 2009 issue
  • 2009 "After the Gig," published by Popcorn Fiction online platform
  • 2011 "The Devil is a Gentleman," featured in fantasy anthology ‘’Boondocks Fantasy’’
  • 2011 "The Black Stiletto’s Autograph," serving as a promotional teaser for ‘’The Black Stiletto,’’ distributed via Smashwords
  • 2013 "Once Upon a Time in the Woods," included within crime anthology ‘’Kwik Krimes’’
  • 2014 "Ghosts," part of ‘’Mystery Writers of America Presents Ice Cold--Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War,’’ co-edited by Jeffery Deaver and Benson himself
  • 2014 "To Be or Not to Be," featured in anthology ‘’Europa Universalis IV--What If?’’
  • 2015 Collection titled ’’12+1—Twelve Short Thrillers and a Play,’’ compiling both previously published and unpublished works
  • 2016 "The Purple Bag," presented as a six-part online serialized thriller
  • 2017 "The MacGuffin," an e-book encompassing the entirety of the original online serial initially named "The Purple Bag"
  • 2023 "Sea People," included within anthology ‘’Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2022’’
  • 2023 "The Beat," featured in anthology ‘’Brutal & Strange: Stories Inspired by the Songs of Elvis Costello’’

Produced musical compositions for theatre and film

  • 1972 Score for ’’On Borrowed Time’’ with book by Paul Osborne.
  • 1974 Music composed for ’’Out of Gas,’’ book and lyrics by Michael Robert David.
  • 1975 Musical score for ’’Hugo Martyr,’’ book and lyrics by Jeffrey Kindley.
  • 1975 Composition for ’’The Resurrection of Jackie Cramer,’’ book and lyrics by Frank Gagliano, staged productions occurred in 1976, 1979, and 1980.
  • 1976 Score created for ’’Primer for City Dwellers,’’ book and lyrics written by Bertolt Brecht.
  • 1976 Musical composition for ’’Paper Tiger,’’ with book and lyrics by Thomas Brasch, production performed in 1980.
  • 1977 Lyrics contribution to ’’Clue,’’ written by Stuart Howard.
  • 1978 Music setting for ’’Alice in Wonderland,’’ lyrics authored by Lewis Carroll.
  • 1979 Score composed for ’’Miss Julie,’’ play written by August Strindberg, production staged in 1982.
  • 1981 Musical composition for ’’I Can't Imagine Tomorrow,’’ play authored by Tennessee Williams.
  • 1981 Score created for ’’Deirdre,’’ book and lyrics by Norman Morrow.
  • 1984 Music composed for ’’The Man Who Could See Through Time,’’ play written by Terri Wagener.
  • 1984 Score contribution for ’’Charlotte’s Web,’’ play authored by Joe Robinette, production held in 1985.
  • 1987 Musical composition for ’’The Lucky Chance,’’ play written by Aphra Behn.
  • 1989 Score created for ’’Hyde Park,’’ play authored by James Shirley.
  • 2019 Music produced for short film ’’Ghosts in the Ink,’’ directed by Phil McCarron and Igor Lewicki.

Produced plays

  • 1977 Authored book and composed score for musical play ’’Clue.’’
  • 2005 Co-wrote play titled ’’Second Chance’’ alongside Doug Redenius.

Computer games

  • 1985 Served as Designer/Writer on ’’Stephen King's The Mist’’ developed by Mindscape.
  • 1985 Worked as Designer/Writer on Mindscape’s ’’A View to a Kill.’’
  • 1986 Contributed as Designer/Writer to Mindscape’s adaptation of ’’Goldfinger.’’
  • 1992 Held roles of Story Director, Head Writer, and Composer ("Love Theme") on Origin Systems' ‘‘Ultima VII: The Black Gate.’’
  • 1992 Co-composed score for Origin Systems' ‘‘Ultima: Runes of Virtue.’’
  • 1993 Co-writer on ‘‘Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle’’ produced by Origin Systems.
  • 1993 Designer/Writer role on MicroProse’s ‘‘Return of the Phantom.’’
  • 1994 Story Director, Head Writer, and Composer ("Frederico’s Song") on Viacom New Media’s ‘‘Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Tale of Orpheo’s Curse.’’
  • 1995 Designer/Writer contributions to Viacom New Media’s ‘‘The Indian in the Cupboard.’’
  • 1995 Served as Designer/Writer on ‘‘Dark Seed II’’ developed by Cyberdreams.

Role-playing game

  • 1986 Designed and wrote ‘‘You Only Live Twice II: Back of Beyond’’ published by Victory Games, Inc.
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