The Lone Star College-Montgomery Lyceum Speaker Series invites the community to an up-close and personal look at the James Bond phenomenon, presented by noted Bond expert and author, Raymond Benson. The presentation takes place on Thursday, April 21, at 12 p.m., in the college’s new Music Hall (Building H), Room 102 (Recital Hall).
 
Benson’s presentation is free to the public and refreshments will be provided. A meet-and-greet reception will start at 11:30 a.m. in the same location.
 
Benson, a novelist with over 20 published books including many James Bond 007 continuation novels, will provide an entertaining and informative journey into the world of Bond creator Ian Fleming. He will show how Fleming created 007, portray the rise of Bond as a cultural icon through books and films, and discuss his own involvement in the Bond franchise.

Benson was commissioned by the James Bond literary copyright holders to take over writing the 007 novels between 1996-2002. His first entry in the series, “Zero Minus Ten,” was published in 1997 and serialized in Playboy Magazine, and a 007 short story (“Blast From the Past”) appeared in the January 1997 issue of Playboy. Benson’s novelizations of the Bond films “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “The World is Not Enough,” and “Die Another Day” were also published in 1997, 1999, and 2002, respectively.  His book “The James Bond Bedside Companion” was first published in 1984 and was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America for Best Biographical/Critical Work. His books, “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell” and its sequel, “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell – Operation Barracuda” (both written with the pseudonym “David Michaels”), were NY Times Best-Sellers in 2004 and 2005.  

Among his work as a game designer, Benson wrote and designed Dark Seed, a sequel to Cyberdreams Inc.'s award-winning graphic adventure based on the works of horror/fantasy artist H. R. Giger. He also spent over a decade in New York City, directing numerous stage productions and composing music for many shows, including Lincoln Center Institute's touring production of “Charlotte’s Web,” the world premiere of Thomas Brasch's “Paper Tiger,” and Frank Gagliano's “The Resurrection of Jackie Cramer.” Benson has taught courses in film genres and history at New York’s New School for Social Research, Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and currently presents Film Studies lectures with Daily Herald movie critic Dann Gire.

The Lyceum Speaker Series at LSC-Montgomery provides a variety of free lectures throughout the fall and spring semesters that are based on sociological, historical, economical, political, psychological, and spiritual views. All students, staff, and faculty, as well as community members, are invited to attend any Lyceum event throughout the year.
  
For more information about this presentation, please visit www.LoneStar.edu/lyceum-montgomery; or contact Linda Woodward at 936.273.7228 or linda.woodward@LoneStar.edu.
 
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
 
With more than 69,000 students in credit classes for spring 2011, and a total enrollment of more than 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.