35 years ago this month I was hired by Origin Systems in Austin TX to write computer games. This jumpstarted a 7 year career that eventually involved working for 4 different firms across the USA. Designing complex games honed my fiction-penning skills, preparing me to be a novelist a little later.

My review of the The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of "Eclipse Series 8: LUBITSCH MUSICALS" (The Love Parade, Monte Carlo, The Smiling Lieutenant, One Hour With You) is now up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

My review of the book, "A PLACE BOTH WONDERFUL AND STRANGE: THE EXTRAORDINARY UNTOLD HISTORY OF TWIN PEAKS" by Scott Meslow, is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

No, it's not a movie poster, but it should be. At the Culver Theater the other night when I did the Intro for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

Reminder: I am introducing "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (& signing stuff*), Jan 27, Culver Theater, Culver City, CA. Hosted by Bond group To Live and Let Die in L.A. THERE WILL BE A SURPRISE SPECIAL GUEST Talks 7pm. Movie 7:30. web.theculvertheater.com/films/From-C... (*no book sales at event)

#TBT Throw Back Thursday 15 Years Ago, Jan 2011, HOMEFRONT: THE VOICE OF FREEDOM was a tie-in prequel novel to a videogame created by THQ in collaboration with John Milius. I consider the book one of my better videogame-to-novel projects. (PS: The book is still available, tinyurl.com/53w8xr96 ).

The new issue of the UK magazine, EDGE, has a short piece on my history with James Bond games and my tie-ins of videogames-to-novels.

My review of The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray (and 4K UHD) release of Michael Curtiz's "CAPTAIN BLOOD" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

Want to see/hear my "James Bond Phenomenon" media presentation at your library or group meeting? I'm part of the Chicago Writers Association's Speakers Bureau. chicagowrites.org/speakers_bureau

Happy New Year to all, from us.

My review of the new book "HITCHCOCK & HERRMANN" by Steven C. Smith is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

#TBT Throw Back Thursday 60 Years Ago, December 25. These treasures were occupying my day. Happy Belated Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to all!

Join me at the CSO's presentation of "2001: A Space Odyssey" with LIVE musical accompaniment on Jan 10... I will be at the Underground Reception at 5:30pm doing an Intro for the film and Q&A, with food and beverages and ambient music by Club Drippy... film at 7:30. cso.org/concerts-tic...

Hard to believe it's been 45 years. He was indeed a flawed person but at the time, for my generation, he was more than just a musician. He was a symbol of hope, peace, and love, and of a movement toward something... better. His senseless death hit me profoundly, as it did many. RIP John Lennon.

My review of Decal Releasing's new Blu-ray release of Rob Reiner's 2025 sequel, "SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES," with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, is up at Cinema Retro : www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

My review of Kino Lorber Studio Classics' new Blu-ray release of "FRENCH NOIR COLLECTION II" (with "Rhine Virgin," "The Beast is Loose," "Trapped by Fear," and "The Passion of Slow Fire") is up at Cinema Retro : www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @kinolorber.com

My review of Kino Lorber Studio Classics' new Blu-ray release of Sam Wood's "FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar...

@raymondbenson.bsky.social, author of the new #FelixLeiter novel "The Hook and the Eye" (as well as 6 #JamesBond continuation novels and 3 Bond movie adaptation novels) is the guest on the latest episode of my TV show "Well Read with Justin Chapman." youtu.be/3aABPmDsCco #IanFleming #RaymondBenson

Ian Fleming Publications is now shipping WORLDWIDE! No matter where you are, you can get the print edition of THE HOOK AND THE EYE (and their other books, too). (And this Felix Leiter adventure is still available as an e-book, too.) ianflemingshop.com/products/the...

Looking toward the Caribbean from Ian Fleming's Goldeneye home in Jamaica, painted by Noel Coward.

Just a PSA... Happy to say that THE HOOK AND THE EYE is selling briskly! But since the holidays are on their way, a reminder that there are over 40 other titles available. While most are out of print in physical form, they all exist as e-books, some with prices as low as $1.99. tinyurl.com/2dr4ewj3

L.A. area peeps! I will be introducing a screening of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (and signing stuff*), January 27, 2026, at the Culver Theater, Culver City. web.theculvertheater.com/films/From-C... (*no book sales at event, but I will sign what you bring) A "To Live and Let Die in LA" event.

My review of Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury's new book on James Bond Film Locations, "DARKER THAN THE SUN," is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @quartobooksuk.bsky.social @aceajay.bsky.social @ohmssmatt.bsky.social

Highly recommend the new 5-part doc about Martin Scorsese, "Mr. Scorsese," on Apple TV. All the films are covered except 1, they skipped right over "Hugo," a fave, so that's my only quibble. Other than that, this is one of the better filmmaker docs I've ever seen. @tvplusupdates.bsky.social

Signed copies of THE HOOK AND THE EYE are now available from Ian Fleming Publications! (Also the 2023 reprint of ZERO MINUS TEN!) 🕵️The Hook and the Eye - bit.ly/THATE_signed 💥Zero Minus Ten - bit.ly/ZMT_signed

Episode Ten (the finale) of "Hooked on Leiter," covering chapters 32-35 of THE HOOK AND THE EYE, is now up at IanFleming.com. The entire video can be viewed at www.ianfleming.com/hooked-on-le... !

My review of the new coffee-table book "Martin Scorsese: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work" by Ian Nathan, is up at Cinema Retro : cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @quartobooksuk.bsky.social

Reminder: THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 5pm (Cocktails) 5:30 (Presentation): "THE CINEMATRIC LEGACY OF DAVID LYNCH" at the Barrington White House, Barrington, IL. Cocktails followed by a multi-media presentation by yours truly. www.barringtonswhitehouse.com/event/raymon...

My review of Kino Lorber Studio Classics' new Blu-ray release of Cliff Owens' THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW (with Peter Sellers) is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @kinolorber.com

My review of The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray (and 4K UHD) release of Ken Russell's "ALTERED STATES" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

UPDATED TIME. 5pm, not 6pm. Please join me for Cocktails and a Presentation with Film Clips of THE CINEMATIC LEGACY OF DAVID LYNCH, at the Barrington White House, Thursday, October 23, 5pm. Details in link below. www.barringtonswhitehouse.com/event/raymon...

JAMES BOND'S STATESIDE COMPANION - Catching RAYMOND BENSON & THE HOOK AN THE EYE as 007's newest novel becomes a paperback leiter via a London launch night & a celebration of Fleming's right hand man... youtu.be/RiSonombvfs #FelixLeiter #TheHookandtheEye #RaymondBenson @raymondbenson.bsky.social

Fun interview with Terrance Layhew on his Suit Up podcast, all about Felix Leiter, THE HOOK AND THE EYE, film noir, and other zany topics! terrancelayhew.com/with-raymond... youtu.be/Ngcx38cfXzs

The paperback print edition of THE HOOK AND THE EYE will be available October 7. Order directly from Ian Fleming Publications: www.ianfleming.com/items/the-ho...

Episode Nine of "Hooked on Leiter," covering chapters 29-31 of THE HOOK AND THE EYE, is now up at IanFleming.com. The entire video can be viewed at www.ianfleming.com/hooked-on-le... !

My review of The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of Wes Anderson's "THE FRENCH DISPATCH" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

My review of Kino Lorber Studio Classics' new 4K/UHD-Blu-ray release of Jean-Pierre Melville's "BOB LE FLAMBEUR" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @kinolorber.com

My review of The Criterion Collection's new 4K UHD/Blu-ray release of Akira Kurosawa's "HIGH AND LOW" (plus a brief review of Spike Lee's remake, "HIGHEST 2 LOWEST") is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

"Hooked on Leiter" Episode 8, covering Chapters 25-28 of THE HOOK AND THE EYE, is now up at ianfleming.com! You can see the entire video at bit.ly/hooked-on-le... !

My review of Kino Lorber's new Blu-ray release of Woody Allen's "SCOOP" with Scarlett Johansson is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @kinolorber.com

My review of "THE MOVIE PUZZLE BOOK" By Ian Smith and Dr. Gareth Moore, from Ivy Press/Quarto Group, is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @quartobooksuk.bsky.social

My review of the book "DAVID LYNCH: HIS WORK, HIS WORLDS" by Tom Huddleston (Frances Lincoln / Quarto Books) is now up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @quartobooksuk.bsky.social

"Hooked on Leiter" Episode 7, covering chapters 21-24 of THE HOOK AND THE EYE, is now up at IanFleming.com! Preview below, but you can see the entire video at bit.ly/hooked-on-le... !

Calvin Dyson reviews my 2001 Bond novel NEVER DREAM OF DYING! Oh my! www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJVt...

Episode 6 of "Hooked on Leiter," covering chapters 18-20, the behind-the-scenes video series about THE HOOK AND THE EYE, is now up at ianfleming.com, at: www.ianfleming.com/hooked-on-le...

#TBT Throw Back Thursday How many of you were also members of the M.M.M.S. (the Merry Marvel Marching Society) 60 years ago or so? Listening to that Marvel Bullpen record ("The Voices of Marvel") again on YouTube still makes me laugh: www.youtube.com/watch?v=27g3...

My review of The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray box set edition of Francois Truffaut's THE ADVENTURES OF ANTOINE DOINEL (containing THE 400 BLOWS and other titles) is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social

Episode Five of "Hooked on Leiter" behind the scenes videos is now up at Ian Fleming Publications, covering chapters 15-17 of THE HOOK AND THE EYE. Preview below, full video at : bit.ly/hooked-on-le...

My review of The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of Mike Nichols' "CARNAL KNOWLEDGE" is up at Cinema Retro: www.cinemaretro.com/index.php/ar... @criterion.bsky.social @criteriondaily.bsky.social