James Bond Now Has an 'Outspoken Gay Friend'

James Bond is getting a modern makeover in author Anthony Horowitz's new Bond novel, Trigger Mortis. Not only does the British secret agent have a live-in girlfriend, he also has an "outspoken gay friend" according to The Telegraph.

Pussy Galore makes a comeback as 007's love interest in the novel and the two have settled into a bumpy life of domesticity in Chelsea in the late 1950's. It is the first time any of Bond's paramours have returned following their story arc in a previous novel.

In Goldfinger, Pussy Galore is portrayed as a lesbian who becomes so overcome with lust for 007 she can't resist his charms. "One of the challenges of writing the book was that attitude that a heterosexual man can change a woman's life and make her go weak at the knees," Horowitz told British radio station RTE. "That's something that would be challenged, I think, in the 21st century. So it's how do you square that circle? How do you remain true to the original creation and concept and yet at the same time not offend people in the 21st century?"

"If you read Trigger Mortis, you'll see actually there is a little twist to the tale in that particular story which I think sort of pays him off for his slightly patronizing attitude."

The author also added in a gay friend for the super spy as part of the effort to modernize the hero for today's audience. Bond's misogyny and chain smoking were also targeted.

"He does smoke cigarettes, he smokes many, many cigarettes. But then what I do is I nudge him with a little reference to a newspaper article he happens to glance at which just reminds him that these things will give him cancer. With women, he has this sort of patronising carnal attitude with them which is absolutely accurate to the Bond of the books. But then by creating very strong women he is given quite a run for his money and his attitudes are challenged.

"I also gave him a very outspoken gay friend, who chides him and says 'come on Bond, you're living in the 20th century now, not the Middle Ages.'"

Trigger Mortis is available on Amazon and in bookstores now.