James Bond Books Modified To Not Offend the “New Generation”

A recurring issue nowadays is modifying classic creations for potentially offensive content. Several initiatives seek to protect new audiences, guarding them so as not to hurt their feelings or offend them. This also applies to books, as the publisher edited and censored James Bond books to avoid offending people in the 21st century.

The books belong to Ian Fleming’s publisher, who oversees the editing and publishing of the texts. This modification will affect all the titles and will add an indication that it is a revised copy instead of one of the originals. The publisher also commented that they will try to keep it as close as possible to the original facts written in the first editions.

Report on New Modification of James Bond Books

Image: MGM/UA Distribution Co.

A recently published report announced that Ian Fleming Publishers will edit the James Bond books. The reason for this is the growing sensitivity of the 21st-century generation. Some complaints prompted the decision to remove all content deemed obscene. We also learned that they will clear any comments that could be considered racist. 

This recent decision was reported by The Sunday Telegraph. They documented that Ian Fleming publisher will edit the books before the 70th anniversary of the James Bond books franchise. The publisher expects that all volumes of the adventures of Agent 007 will be completed by April 2023.

At this point, the edition covers from Casino Royale to Octopussy and will be made by the company that owns the copyright, Ian Fleming Publications. They will make the changes, then perform a second review to determine if all sensitive content was removed.

In addition, they commented that they will leave a marker to warn the reader that it is one of the new editions of the James Bond books. This text will read. “This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace. Several updates have been made in this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set”.

This New Trend Not Only Applies to 007 Creations

MGM/UA Distribution Co.

This move to change content is not limited to James Bond books. It was already seen in television programs and other literary texts in the 20th century. The sensibility of the new generation is forcing all publishers to review their writings. They want to determine if they are suitable for the new generation.

An example of this type of action was the Roald Dahl series. The publisher reviewed them to determine if it contained obscene or high-impact scenes or parts. One book reviewed was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the book on which the 1970s movie was based.

The issue with the new generation, called by some “the glass generation”, brings diverse comments. Some need to accommodate the contents, as they did with the James Bond books. Others are against this trend, as it creates people with a poor and weak mentality in difficult situations.

Featured Image Via Ian Fleming 

I am a circus aerialist influenced by Dick Grayson and Spider-Man. Fortunate to write about the characters that inspired me. I also have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in International Trade.