Ian Fleming may have died in 1964, but it hasn't slowed down his most famous creation, Commander James Bond. Besides the string of movies more than twenty novels by other writers have been released since (along with a series of "Young Bond" young adult books). The latest, Devil May Care, was specially commissioned by the Fleming estate to commemorate what would have been the writer's 100th birthday.

The book was released to huge fanfare, complete with a theme song picked from 500 entrants and a £1500 "Bentley Bond Special Edition" book designed by the carmaker. But even though the estate hoped that the book would make the lucrative leap to the screen, Eon Productions, the company that's owned the rights to the Bond film franchise since the 1950s, passed. Devil May Care takes place in 1967, which is why Eon says they won't be using it; why do a retro piece when Daniel Craig's rebooted, updated Bond is a certifiable hit?

Devil May Care was written by Sebastian Faulks, a well-known British novelist, in just six weeks -- which to some reviewers, at least, showed in the finished product. (To be fair, apparently that was Fleming's M.O., too, but here's another hint why Eon might not want it: the bad guy has a monkey paw for a hand.)

Since the surprise success of Dr. No in 1962, more than a few people have tried to cash in on a Bond movie. In 1955 Fleming had separately sold the rights to Casino Royale, his first Bond novel, and in 1967 an independently produced spoof starring Orson Welles, David Niven, and Woody Allen -- among hundreds of others -- was released.

Fleming's novel Thunderball was based on a script treatment co-written by Kevin McClory, who retained part of the rights. In 1983, Warner Brothers released Never Say Never Again, a retelling of Thunderball starring Sean Connery rather than Roger Moore, who'd taken over the "official" series. In 1997, Sony bought those rights from McClory, intending to start their own Bond franchise, but legal wrangling ended the squabble and since Eon have wrapped up the rights to those two movies, too. Nobody can legally make a James Bond movie without their say-so.

So at least for now, Bond is sticking to the present. Quantum of Solace, Craig's second turn as 007, uses the title of a Fleming short story, but the story is new, picking up immediately after Casino Royale ends.

I have a feeling the fans won't be too upset. A villain with a monkey hand? What next, metal teeth?

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