Raymond Benson Plans West Coast Appearance

Former James Bond novelist and all-around 007 expert Raymond Benson (whose James Bond Bedside Companion is still the essential work on the subject, even two decades after its last edition) will make a rare West Coast appearance this August. Benson will sign his latest books, the rock'n'roll mystery A Hard Day's Death and the spy video game adaptation Metal Gear Solid (which is getting some nice displays at Borders right now), and present a slideshow lecture entitled "The James Bond Phenomenon" in celebration of Ian Fleming's Centenary. This all goes down at one of my favorite Los Angeles independent bookstores, The Mystery Bookstore on Broxton Avenue in Westwood, at 12:30pm on Saturday, August 9. Angelenos, mark your calenders!