This might seem strange, someone writing as someone else, but I have discovered that this is nothing new. Apparently Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum are both franchises and have a bank of writers turning out stuff on their behalf, which explains their prolific writing!
Of course, ‘ghost writing’ is nothing new. I don’t think anyone really thinks that footballers and their WAGS are that literate to actually write their own biographies (forgive me if I do any injustice to celebrities here) or when we receive charity letters from chief executives. These are written by copywriters at direct marketing agencies to ensure they are at their most persuasive.
The Guardian makes the point that Faulkes will be under the spotlight. First because he is Faulks and secondly because this is prime geek territory. Attention to detail from character detail to literary style, i.e. short sentences, will all come under close scrutiny.
When I was as theological college, I remember standing in the queue for lunch with my Old Testament lecturer where he was discussing his latest work in progress, a commentary on Isaiah. It is long thought by most respectable scholars that there were in fact two authors of the book, which they have dubbed Deutro-Isaiah. However, my now retired lecturer thought he had unearthed as many as 18 scribblers, as the words shifted so frequently in tone and style. Maybe he is right. Only God knows.
Does this take anything away from the Word? Of course not, the Word remains the inspired Word of God, so therefore it doesn’t matter if there is more than one author. (I’ll let you know if Faulks pulls it off as Fleming .) The first five books are traditionally seen as being authored by Moses, but the reality is they would have been recorded by his people around him.
Truth is truth and we all take inspiration from the one
author of life. Meanwhile, I must get back to my little bit of escapism as I
sit on yet another delayed train into Liverpool Street. Now if I was Bond I
would have got out the micro-glider and simply soared above the tedious
disruptions.
ASD.







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