Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The James Bond Dossier | 1965 | Raymond Benson | Buy |
| 2 | The James Bond Bedside Companion | 1984 | Raymond Benson | Buy |
Raymond Benson’s two non-fiction Bond books reflect his deep knowledge of the franchise long before he was tapped to write official continuation novels. The James Bond Dossier appeared in 1965 and offered an early critical look at Ian Fleming’s creation. The James Bond Bedside Companion, published in 1984, became the more widely known of the two, covering the novels, the films, and the broader Bond phenomenon in detail.
The Bedside Companion was well received by fans and critics, and it played a direct role in Benson’s later career. When Glidrose Publications (now Ian Fleming Publications) was looking for a new Bond novelist after John Gardner stepped down in 1996, Benson’s scholarship made him a strong candidate. He got the job, becoming the first American to write official Bond continuation fiction.