Raymond Benson

Raymond Benson is a renowned American author, best known for his work in mystery, spy fiction, and suspense thriller genres. He was born on September 5, 1955, in Midland, Texas, and completed his high school education at Permian High School in Odessa. Benson's interests in piano, drama, and history led him to pursue a degree in Drama Production from the University of Texas in Austin. Later, he became involved in the design of computer games and wrote a James Bond book, 'The James Bond Beside Companion' in 1984, which received an Edgar Award nomination for Critical Work.

In 1996, Benson became the third and first American continuation author of the official James Bond 007 novels, taking over from John Gardner. His appointment was controversial due to his nationality, and he also faced criticism for ignoring the continuity that Gardner had established. However, Benson proved himself by promoting his Bond books regularly in the United Kingdom and occasionally in mainland Europe. During his tenure as the official James Bond author, he wrote six original titles and three film novelizations, between 1996-2002.

Apart from his James Bond novels, Benson is also the author of the best-selling and acclaimed five-book serial, THE BLACK STILETTO (2011-2014). His latest novel, THE MAD, MAD MURDERS OF MARIGOLD WAY, will be released in 2022. He has written a total of forty published titles, including original thrillers like 'EVIL HOURS,' 'TORMENT--A LOVE STORY,' and 'ARTIFACT OF EVIL.' Benson is also a prolific tie-in writer, having written the first two best-selling TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL novels, as well as novelizations of popular videogames such as METAL GEAR SOLID, METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY, and HITMAN. His classic reference book, 'THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION,' is available as a Kindle e-book, along with his other works.