Jim Hatfield:
A Ruse By Any Other Name Is Still A Ruse
THE KILLING ZONE - In this new high voltage spy thriller, Secret Agent 007 must "liquidate" ruthless billionaire kingpin Klaus Doberman. But James Bond has his hands full as he battles a luscious lady assassin who offers lethal love Russian style and a slit-eyed Oriental sadist who is an elusive and deadly Ninja. Aided by his sex-galore confederate Lotta Head and his old CIA buddy Felix Leiter, 007 is pitted against Klaus Doberman in his heavily armed fortress high in the Mexican Sierra Madres... in the most bloodcurdling death duel in the great Bond saga.
In 1985, author Jim Hatfield wrote the novel THE KILLING ZONE. It was the only year author John Gardner did not release a new OO7 novel.
Most Bond fans probably do not remember this novel and the reasons are quite simple. The book was never published in mass quantities. It was, however, printed in small quantities - perhaps only 50 or 100 copies.
It is the only novel where Bond's friend, Chief of Staff Bill Tanner, is murdered. Major Anya Amasova returns to do battle with OO7 and - - do I dare to say this - - James Bond is killed and buried at sea.
Now comes the question which has been floating around the Internet for years. Is the novel THE KILLING ZONE an official James Bond novel or simply a fan fiction wannabe?
Mr. Hatfield wrote an acknowledgment at the beginning of his novel saying:
I would like, especially, to thank the Board of Directors of Glidrose Publications Limited, the owners of the James Bond literary copyright, for inviting me to follow in Ian Fleming's somewhat daunting footsteps.
All of the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
THE KILLING ZONE: A James Bond Adventure
A CHARTER BOOK, London
Copyright 1985 by Glidrose Publications Limited and Jim Hatfield
Dr. Shatterhand decided to do a little investigation by contacting the people at Glidrose Publications or The Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., as it is known today. Ms. Zoë Watkins is the Publications Manager and she was so kind to e-mail me this response.
Dear Dr. Shatterhand,
Thank you for your enquiry to ianflemingcentre.com. THE KILLING ZONE was not authorized by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd (formerly Glidrose) and I'm afraid I can't therefore give you any further information on it.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely,
Zoë Watkins
Publications Manager
So there you have it. Mr. Hatfield's novel is a glorified fan fiction story. Written by a man who was arrested for trying to kill a former co-worker, allegedly attempting to purloin credit cards, and writing the book in 2000 titled FAVORITE SON, accusing President George W. Bush of being a cocaine, pot-smoking alcoholic party animal.
Mr. Hatfield committed suicide in 2001.