Bond, James Bond

[TPFKA@W]

I read an explanation that describes the different looking Bonds, and the Bond longevity. It stated that Bond was simply a designation for the agents and that the name went to the agent who was previously known by another name.

Now I haven't seen a Bond movie in many years, and saw none of them after Pierce Brosnan's first one or maybe 2, and have read none of the books thus am no authority on the topic.

Anyone know if this is the intent set down in the original books? Do different agents fill in on the Bond name or is this simply a build up when they present us with our first Bond of color?
Or female Bond, or a transgender Bond?

That would make him sort of Green Lantern-ish, wouldn't it? Thus he could be any color of flesh and female, gay or lesbian and it would fit. Otherwise a pox upon them for changing the standard.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I do not think that Ian Fleming had any such notion. Bond was Bond. But if there is suddenly a felt "need" to explain within the story-lines (as opposed to the real life fact of aging actors) why there have already been different faces to the name, then I'd say that this is a ploy to justify possible changes in gender/orientation in the future.

But who is making this "explanation"? Is it anyone connected with actual production of books/movies or just some blogger sounding off?

[Big RR]

I agree with Meade; in fact, as I recall James Bond was a Commander in the British Navy (under that name) before he became 007 and got his license to kill. The number 007 may have been passed on within British intelligence, but I do not think the name James Bond was.

ETA: A couple of other things come to mind. In On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Bond marries a girl at the end and she is addressed as Mrs. Bond or Tracy Bond by people on both sides (M14 and Spectre, I think). of course, she has to die at the end (a married James Bond would be like a married Captain Kirk), but I do think she was mentioned in one or two Roger Moore movies (before I gave up on the franchise); also, I did see a recent Bond movie, Skyfall, that identified Skyfall as the ancestral Bond estate. I guess it could just be a cover, but it seemed like it was a familial estate and not something cooked up by M14.

[Bicycle Bill]

This is just some theory/crackpot notion that arose from the fandom.  Probably the same people who watch "Doctor Who" and accept the plot device of "regeneration".  This is why every time you turn around there's a new "Doctor" who looks nothing at all like the old one ...
because he's not a human, he's a "Time Lord" (whateverinthehell that is!) and it's a biological function of his race that allows for a change of cellular structure and appearance as they recovered following a potentially "fatal" injury.

James Bond is James Bond, and when the character finally does die for keeps there will not be another. Even when Bond did supposedly "die" (faking his own death by being trapped and machine-gunned in a Murphy bed in "You Only Live Twice") the bogus 'obituary' referred to him as 'Commander James Bond'.  So if another agent were to suddenly pop up and say "My name is Bond ... James Bond" to someone from Smersh or SPECTRE, he might as well be wearing a flashing neon sign reading "BRITISH AGENT HERE!!"

-"BB"-

[Gob]

Bond should be a black, disabled, lesbian, refugee, single parent.

[Lord Jim]

Bond should be a black, disabled, lesbian, refugee, single parent.

Who doesn't smoke, has joined AA and GA, and taken a vow of celibacy....

ETA:

Oh, and is also attending anger management classes...

[MajGenl.Meade]

Bond should be a black, disabled, lesbian, refugee, single parent.

Save me from going to the movies anyway.