The next James Bond books are to be written by a woman who will introduce a diverse cast of new agents after the Ian Fleming estate set out plans for the next stage of the spy story.
Kim Sherwood, best known for her 2018 book Testament, will write three novels with the first due to come out in September next year.
The publishers Harper Collins have promised a trilogy of “audacious, pacy, sexy and irresistibly entertaining” stories which are “respectful of Fleming’s original genius and yet refreshingly modern”.
The first book does not yet have a title but a synopsis reveals the plot will feature James Bond going missing, presumed captured or killed. It is up to a “new generation” of agents to battle a global threat while M and Moneypenny search for a mole within MI6.
This has led to fears among Bond fans that the central character will not feature in person at all in the stories.
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Sherwood, 32, who lectures on creative writing at Edinburgh University, said: “James Bond has remained an evergreen symbol for Britain because he changes with us. It’s incredible to have the opportunity to bring the books into the 21st century and create new heroes for our time.
“As a teenager, I chose Fleming when my English teacher asked us to write about an author we admired — I still have the school report. Since then, I’ve dreamt of writing James Bond.”
Fleming wrote 14 Bond novels while Kingsley Amis, Sebastian Faulks and Anthony Horowitz have each written further works.
