Friday, December 28, 2007

DMC gets Amazon Product Description

The official Amazon Product/Book Description for Devil May Care has appeared on the Canadian Amazon website.

Book Description
Bond is back with a license to thrill. Forty-three years ago, Ian Fleming wrote his last great 007 adventure. Now, in Devil May Care, the world’s most iconic spy returns in a Cold War story spanning the world’s exotic locations. By invitation of the Fleming estate to mark the centenary of his birth, acclaimed novelist Sebastian Faulks picks up where Fleming left off, writing a tour de force that will electrify every James Bond fan. A fitting tribute to the Bond tradition, Devil May Care stands on its own as a triumph of witty prose and plenty of double-0 action.

MORE THAN 100 MILLION BOND BOOKS HAVE BEEN SOLD AND OVER HALF THE WORLD’S POPULATION HAS SEEN A BOND FILM.

“In his house in Jamaica, Ian Fleming used to write a thousand words in the morning, then go snorkeling, have a cocktail, lunch on the terrace, more diving, another thousand words in the late afternoon, then more martinis and glamorous women. In my house in London, I followed this routine exactly, apart from the cocktails, the lunch, and the snorkeling.” Sebastian Faulks

“He has an ability to write convincingly in whichever period or genre he chooses. . . Sebastian couldn’t have written a better book to celebrate Ian’s 100th birthday.” Corinne Turner, managing director of Ian Fleming Publications Limited

About the Author
SEBASTIAN FAULKS worked as a journalist before taking up writing full time in 1991. He is the author of ten books including Charlotte Gray and Birdsong, for which he was voted author of the year by the British Book Awards. Faulks has published eight books in the United States, including the recently released Engleby. He lives in London.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The Ian Fleming origin of "Manny the Girl"

We all know Charlie Higson has been planting references to the original Ian Fleming novels in his Young Bond series. Some have been easy to spot -- such as Bond seeing the doorway of Universal Exports in Double or Die. Some have been a little more obscure -- such as Bond witnessing a circus performance by The Mighty Donovan in SilverFin. But here’s a Fleming reference that may have gone unnoticed by even the most studied Bond aficionado.

In Hurricane Gold we meet the brain damaged henchman “Manny the Girl.” Higson tells us Manny received his nicknamed because his M.O. of robbing banks dressed as a woman. Great stuff. But could this nickname also have its roots in Fleming?

On page 113 of James Bond The Man and His World by Henry Chancellor (an excellent book I highly recommend) we get a rare peek at a list of unused character names from an Ian Fleming notebook. Among gems like Betty Freshette, Pearl Dazzle, Pelikan Strat, and Doctor Thong we find...

“Manny the Girl.”

Have you spotted any other Fleming references in the Young Bond series that may have been missed. If so, drop us an email.

License revoked or renewed? Will James Bond be 007 in DMC?

As I sit and digest my Christmas dinner and enjoy a vacation from the picket lines, my thoughts turn to next year and the release of Sebastian Faulks' Devil May Care, which sees the return of the adult James Bond 007.

But wait. Can this James Bond still be "007"?

Here's the thing. Bond's double-O status is revoked in Ian Fleming's You Only Live Twice. Is it restored in The Man With The Golden Gun? I don't recall, but considering Bond's inauspicious return to the secret service (as a brainwashed Russian assassin), I don't think it is. Also, according to the very fine James Bond The Man and His World by Henry Chancellor, mandatory retirement for a Double-oh is age 45. If we accept the generally agreed upon 1920 birth date, James Bond is 46 or 47 in 1967 when Devil May Care takes place. So even if his license to kill was resorted in The Man With The Golden Gun or after, Bond has hit the retirement age.

Taking all this into account, how can Bond possibly be "007" in Devil May Care?

Now, it's possible Faulks will simply blow past all this and stamp his Bond as Agent 007 as Kingsley Amis did in Colonel Sun. This wouldn't send me into fits. I'm not really a stickler for continuity when it comes to James Bond (if I were, I'd have to accept that Bond is 82 in The Man With The Red Tattoo).

However, if Devil May Care aspires to be a true continuation of the Fleming canon as advertised (with Faulks "writing as Ian Fleming") the uncertain status of James Bond's famous double-oh number should be addressed, wouldn't you think?

Just another aspect of this book to look forward to.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Centenary website launched

Ian Fleming Publications has launched a new website, IanFlemingCentenary.com, devoted to next year's Centenary events and publications.

New to the line-up of events is the exhibit "Bond Bound: Ian Fleming & The Art of Cover Design," which charts the role of artists and designers in creating and defining the Bond look from Casino Royale through Young Bond, The Moneypenny Diaries, and Devil May Care. The exhibit will be on show at the Fleming Collection gallery from 22 April to 28 June 2008.

The site will be regularly updated throughout the centenary year.

Devil May Care worldwide publishers

New website IanFlemingCentenary.com has posted a list of Devil May Care's International publishers. The new adult Bond novel by Sebastian Faulks will be released worldwide on May 28, 2008, the Centenary of Ian Fleming's birth.

Devil May Care publishers listed alphabetically by country.

BRAZIL - Record
CZECH REPUBLIC - XYZ
FINLAND - Gummerus
FRANCE - Flammarion
GERMANY - Heyne
GREECE - Oceanida
HOLLAND - Bruna
HUNGARY - Alexandra
ISRAEL - Penn
ITALY - Piemme
MACEDONIA - Kultura
NORWAY - Schibsteds
POLAND - Ksiazki
PORTUGAL - Civilizacao
SPAIN - Seix Barral
SWEDEN - Forum

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Marketing Young Bond

Sister site The Young Bond Dossier has an interview today with Justin Renard, former Marketing Officer with Penguin/Puffin who worked on the Young Bond series...notably, the Double or Die poll campaign.

CLICK TO READ

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Blast from the past: Benson returns in 2008

Great news today! K1Bond007.com reports that Pegasus Books will re-publish a selection of Raymond Benson's James Bond novels in an omnibus edition in October 2008.

The collection will contain the "Union Trilogy"-- High Time To Kill, Doubleshot, and Never Dream of Dying... plus, as a bonus, the complete uncut short story Blast From The Past.

Blast From The Past originally appeared in the January 1997 issue of Playboy in a truncated version (image right). The full-length version was published in Italian and in French. This will be its first appearance in English.

Raymond will provide a new introduction to the book. A title for the collection has not yet been selected. Pegasus hopes to publish a second volume of Benson's remaining 007 novels and short stories in 2009.

Friday, December 14, 2007

CBn swings with Final Fling cover art

CommanderBond.net has exclusively revealed cover art for the final book in Samantha Weinberg’s Moneypenny Diaries trilogy, Final Fling. The artwork is once again by Stina Persson who did the cover for the Secret Servant paperback.


Final Fling
will be released in the UK in May 2008 and available to pre-order now on Amazon.co.uk. CLICK HERE to read plot details about this final Moneypenny novel.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Shark Bait released in UK

Titan Books latest collection of classic James strips, Shark Bait, is in UK stores now. The final cover art (right) is different than what is currently shown on Amazon (which still shows a January 25, 2008 release date).

The Shark Bait collection includes the title story along with "Doomcrack" and "The Xanadu Connection," plus an introduction by Caroline Bliss, and Part II of Alan Porter’s very fine feature on James Bond in U.S. comics.

Shark Bait will be released in the U.S. on June 27, 2008.

Moneypenny goes Green

Moneypenny Diaries author Samantha Weinberg has launched a new blog Green Wife devoted to environmental activism. Samantha is married to Mark Fletcher, wildlife film maker, and Green Party parliamentary candidate. In her blog, Samantha shares her families personal adventures trying to live as Green a lifestyle as they can.

We all know Samantha is a talented and witty writer, so this blog is a must read. Bookmark...and recycle!

Samantha Weinberg's concluding book in her Moneypenny Diaries trilogy, Final Fling, will be released in the UK in May 2008. The Moneypenny Diaries (book 1) is due for release in the U.S. on May 13, 2008.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

German Devil May Care

CommanderBond.net has discovered that the German edition of Sebastian Faulks Devil May Care will be called Der Tod ist nur der Anfang (“Death Is Only The Beginning”).

The book will be published as a hardcover by Heyne Verlag in May 2008. The translation will be done by Jürgen Bürger.

Der Tod ist nur der Anfang can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.de.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Double or Die U.S. cover art

This has certainly been the week for James Bond cover art. We started off with the cover of Sebastian Faulks upcoming Devil May Care...and now The Young Bond Dossier brings us a first look at the U.S. hardcover art for Charlie Higson's third Young Bond novel, Double or Die.



Double or Die will be released by Hyperion Books on April 22, 2008. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.com.

UPDATE: Author Charlie Higson has given The Young Bond Dossier his reaction to the cover. Click here to check it out.

Signed Casino Royale fetches £20,000

A signed first edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale sold for £20,000.00 ($40,576.00) in a Bloomsbury auction. The book carried the inscription: "To / the power behind / the publishers' throne! / from / the author / May 1953". The auction recieved 15 bids.

A second unsigned copy fetched £5,500.00 (
$11,158.40). This is somewhat low for a Casino first, which typically sell for between £10,000-£15,000. Even though the auction described the book as being in "Fine" condition, the dust jacket did have several small tears which may explain the lower price.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

First Look: Paradise Plot (prototype) cover art

Our friends at Titan Books have provided us with an exclusive first look at cover art for The Paradise Plot, due for release July 15, 2008. At this stage, the art is just a prototype and may change. (Click image to enlarge)

The Paradise Plot collection includes the title story along with Deathmask (there will only be two stories in the collection this time). Titan says they have not yet decided who will be providing the introduction.

The Paradise Plot is available for pre-order at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Official website update

The official Penguin 007 website has updated with a nifty new image of the Devil May Care book and dust jacket which was revealed yesterday.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW UPDATED SITE.

CHARLIE HIGSON on the return of the adult Bond

On May 28, 2008, the adult James Bond will return in the new book Devil May Care, and Young Bond author Charlie Higson has some friendly words of warning for author Sebastian Faulks.

“I think Sebastian probably doesn't know what he has let himself in for,” Charlie recently told The Guardian. “He will find himself completely immersed in the world of Bond and for ever after will be pursued as a Bond author. He will now find himself getting requests to do photo shoots wearing the odd tuxedo, and I imagine he'll say no, but after a while you sort of give in. That's the thing about James Bond. It just turns everyone into kids.”

When asked if he’s read the new book, Charlie says, “No. No. God, you know how secretive IFP are. I did know the name before the announcement, but not long before. As you know, they play their cards very close to their chest. But I am hoping I will get a kind of proof copy. I’m really excited to see what Sebastian Faulks has done with it and what he’ll come up with. I think that’s going to be a really terrific book.”

Sunday, December 2, 2007

DEVIL MAY CARE COVER ART!

The jacket image for Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks is unveiled today by publisher Penguin. The cover features model Tuuli Shipster, muse of the British photographer, Rankin (whose subjects include Young Bond author Charlie Higson).


Tuuli is just one of the elements on the cover of the eagerly-awaited new Bond book. The cover image features a blood red flower with the silhouette of a naked woman as its stem, against a black background – strictly for your eyes only.

Alex Clarke, Penguin Editor of Devil May Care, says: "The cover had to be something stylish and sophisticated - all the things that one associates with Fleming's James Bond. With such a great concept the challenge was then to find the perfect girl to bring it to life. We just knew the moment we saw her that Tuuli was our Bond girl.”

The jacket image was created by the award winning design agency, The Partners, who work with some of Britain’s oldest heritage brands including Jaguar, Wedgwood, Harrods, the BBC and The National Gallery.

Jack Renwick, Creative Director, The Partners says: “It’s an honour to become a small part of Bond’s rich visual history. Bond is sex, intrigue and violence. We wanted to capture this and give a subtle nod to the familiar, iconic Bond images of old. It is with great pride that The Partners adds Penguin’s latest Bond to their portfolio.”

The cover photograph was taken by British photographer and commercials director, Kevin Summers.

Devil May Care will be published in hardback by Penguin Books in the UK and its territories (Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Europe) on 28th May 2008. It will be published around the world on the same date, in all major (and many minor) languages. Many of the publishers will be using this jacket.

Model Bond Girl: Tuuli Shipster

Penguin has revealed that the model featured on the cover of Devil May Care is Tuuli Shipster, daughter of a diplomat and muse of the British photographer, Rankin (whose subjects include Young Bond author Charlie Higson).

Tuuli began her modelling career at the age of 16 when she joined top modelling agency Storm. She is well travelled and has lived all over the world in countries including Russia, India and South Africa. Tuuli studied at Marlborough College and gained 5 A Levels in Russian, Politics, Maths, English, and General Studies. During her gap year she starred in a hugely successful advertising campaign for Pretty Polly which marked the beginning of her modelling career.

Campaigns with Arena, Cosmopolitan, Jitrois, Harpers Bazaar, Byblos Blu and a role in Richard Curtis' Love Actually followed. This encouraged her to pursue her fashion career as opposed to a life of academia. It was on a shoot for Elle Macpherson Intimates that she met Rankin and so began a professional partnership on many photographic projects - including a 40 page spread for German publication Quest and a book, Tuulitastic: A Photographic Love Letter - that has spanned three years.

Tuuli says: “I was thrilled that Penguin chose me to be their Bond girl. It’s fantastic to be involved with something so iconic.”

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