Literary 007 returns to social media

Part of the original Twitter home page for @JB_UnivEX

The literary James Bond is about to make a return to social media, starting Aug. 19.

Starting in 2018 and running into early 2019, @JB_UnivEx provided a look at what the literary James Bond would have done on Twitter.

Because Bond’s missions were classified, @JB_UnivEx often couldn’t state what was really happening — and that was part of the fun. Also, late in the run, literary Bond (brainwashed by the Soviets at the time) saw From Russia With Love in the theater and took issue with it.

Now, @JB_UnivEx had edited those original tweets. It appears there will be some new graphics. Also, the exploits will now be on Instagram and Facebook as well.

Here are a couple of tweets that were put out to promote his return.

1 Jun 52: Just setting up my social media accounts. I will be sharing my life as an Import & Export merchant, splitting my time between travelling the world and living in my flat in Chelsea. #MyFirstTweet #FirstPost pic.twitter.com/68QEH9vsfX

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) August 14, 2019

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By popular demand, #JamesBond will return on Monday 19 August 2019 in #CasinoRoyale.

Follow his adventures exclusively on your preferred social media service:
Twitter: https://t.co/MZSfTfMxS7
Instagram: https://t.co/PTfIqV6YbH
Facebook: https://t.co/VICAQs86sF pic.twitter.com/SkgjqMXwCd

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) August 15, 2019

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Literary 007 Twitter completes his journey

Part of the Twitter home page for @JB_UnivEX

@JB_UnivEX has completed his 14-year journey (a little over a year in real time) showing what it might be like if the literary James Bond were on Twitter.

The literary Bond, of course, was bound by the Official Secrets Act. So he couldn’t *really* say what was going on. But for those who read Ian Fleming’s original novels and short stories could follow the unfolding events.

One of the challenges for @JB_UnivEX was how Fleming himself wasn’t consistent with his own timeline. So, the Twitter account attempted to bring order to things.

For example, it began the events of the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service novel. Then, Bond had to make a quick trip to Canada to deal with the events of The Spy Who Loved Me novel before resuming the Majesty’s tale.

The blog first did its first post about @JB_UnivEX in April 2018 as Casino Royale was wrapping up. In the back of my mind, I was curious how he’d handle the conclusion of You Only Live Twice with a Bond suffering from amnesia.

This was how:

10 Oct 62: My name is Taro Todaroki, I live on a Japanese island called Kuro with my girlfriend Kissy and will be tweeting about my life as a fisherman. #MyFirstTweet

— Taro Todaroki (@Taro__Todoroki) May 7, 2019

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Another highlight was when a brainwashed Bond arrived in London early in the events of The Man With the Golden Gun novel. Brainwashed Bond decides to take in a movie before going to MI6 headquarters.

5 Nov 63: Not sure I will bother with any other Sean Connery films. Lotte Lenya’s character is a extremely mean and one-eyed interpretation of a patriotic Soviet soldier who has clearly been brainwashed by capitalism pic.twitter.com/kdcFFo8tcV

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) May 18, 2019

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In any event, for fans of the literary Bond (and 007 in general), it has been a great ride. This was the final tweet in character. We’re told the more than 2,300 tweets will be re-edited and represented in the future. However, there are no plans to do the continuation novels.

27 Feb 64: Goodnight really is an angel. But at the same time, I know, deep down, that love from her or from any other woman, is not enough for me. It would be like taking “a room with a view”. For me, the same view will always pall.

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) June 14, 2019

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If the literary James Bond were on Twitter

Part of the Twitter home page for @JB_UnivEX

Ever wonder what it would be like if the literary James Bond had been on Twitter? Well, @JB_UnivEx on Twitter has one interpretation.

The Twitter account debuted March 13, as Mr. Bond makes his first post.

1 Jun 52: Just setting up my Twitter. I will be tweeting about my life as an Import & Export merchant, splitting my time between travelling the world and living in my flat in Chelsea. #MyFirstTweet

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) March 13, 2018

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Of course, Bond knows that Twitter is not a secured form of communication. That’s part of the fun of the @JB_UnivEX feed as Bond uses code names and euphemisms in his tweets.

2 Jun 52: Called upstairs to see the Managing Director, I am being sent to France on a business trip. Universal Export is looking at importing some radios.

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) March 14, 2018

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2 Jun 52: Stack of reading matter, Head of Sales has put together an ambitious and (in my view) quite risky plan.

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) March 14, 2018

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Bond’s image on the Twitter handle is Hoagy Carmichael, keeping with Ian Fleming’s description. The blog doesn’t want to give too much away. But the events in France have concluded and he’s on his way home, expressing himself in a Twitter sort of way.

21 Jul 52: Leaving Royale and heading back to London now. A month ago I was thinking of resigning from Universal Export, now I feel more focused than ever on my job. #ExportingIsGREAT

— James Bond (1952-64) (@JB_UnivEx) April 5, 2018

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We’ll have to see how the literary Bond in the Twitterverse unfolds. The blog suspects this would qualify as fair use for being a parody (an obviously affectionate one).