Novels. Bond Novels.

Even as I was putting together a post that dwelt somewhat on "I don't read as much prose fiction as I could, caught between supposing I'm overwhelmed by the subtle complexity of anything 'respectable' and looking down on everything else," I was working through some novels I'd found in a somewhat unusual way. A few years ago, I heard that "life plus" copyright terms on novels are shorter in Canada than in some countries, and that Ian Fleming's James Bond novels were now in the public domain. An anthology of new, unauthorized stories marked that news, but I suppose that, along with wondering about "fanfiction" being one of those things I don't read much any more such that it threatens to feel about the personal hangups and dissatisfactions of others on display, I wasn't familiar with the original work to begin with. Then, I happened on an offbranch of "Project Gutenberg" that did offer ebook versions of most of the original novels, and other works from authors who died as late as the 1960s. (I've also managed to read Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, and found it interesting. Since then, however, I've been ordered to take umbrage at the revised continental trade deal threatening to extend copyright terms up here. Although concerned, I'm also just trying to save what's available now to my own computer.)
( Reputation and discovery )