Orion reveals five more JOHN GARDNER covers

Orion Books have pulled the wraps off five more covers for their John Gardner James Bond paperback reprints. Scorpius, Win Lose or Die, Licence To Kill, The Man From Barbarossa, and Death Is Forever will all be released on August 2, 2012.

Being Saturday, these low res images are the best I could get from the Orion website. But come Monday I should be able to score much better images. I'm also looking into whether cover art for Brokenclaw is available, as that has now been moved up to July 5 along with No Deals Mr. Bond. These cover designs are all by Dan Mogford.

Visit our special Gardner Renewed page for links and updated release dates for all the Gardner-Bond reprints in the U.S. and UK.

Now UPDATED with higher res images. Click to enlarge.

New JAMES BOND POSTER BOOK coming in September

Yet another James Bond 50th Anniversary tie-in book has been announced. James Bond: 50 Years of Movie Posters will be released by DK Books on September 3, 2012. Amazon shows the book as being 304 pages.

The last James Bond poster book was released in 2001 (an updated version that added Die Another Day came out in 2004), so I think we're due for a new book that collects the Craig era posters, including, presumably, SKYFALL.

Pre-order James Bond: 50 Years of Movie Posters

UPDATE: I sent an email to DK seeing if I could get a review copy of this book, but didn't hear back. And it's not (just) because I'd like a free copy. I really think this book needs a proper review by a real Bond fan who has the other poster books and can tell you what's different and special about this one. Why this is a must buy...or not.

I've posted a thread at the CBn Forums to solicite opinions from other Bond fans before taking the plunge.

CARTE BLANCHE UK paperback cover art revealed

Here is the surprising new cover art for the UK paperback edition of Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver. It's radically different than the UK trade paperback edition, and also different from the artwork currently showing on Amazon. Publisher Hodder & Stoughton has really gone in a completely new direction with this paperback, and I like that!

The Carte Blanche mass market paperback is due for release on May 24, 2012 and can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.co.uk.

Thanks to Sarah at IFP and Helena at Hodder and Stoughton.

Look inside the 'CARTE BLANCHE' RED EDITION (video)

Some Bond fans and book collectors were somewhat disappointed with Waterstone's Special Edition of Jeffery Deaver's Carte Blanche, which was basically the regular hardcover in a box with a surprisingly steep price tag. Also disappointing was the price of £1000 for the beautiful Bentley Special Edition, which put it well out of reach for most fans.

I'm not sure if this had anything to do with Hodder & Stoughton's decision to release a third Special Edition of Carte Blanche several months after the book had come out in stores. But I am certainly glad they did, because the Carte Blanche Red Edition is definitely the book to get!

Not only is the Red Edition gorgeous -- it's basically the super pricey Bentley Edition with a red cover -- but it is also eminently affordable at £100. And at the moment it's discounted 35% on Amazon.co.uk, bringing the price down to £65 (with free shipping in the UK).

Instead of me writing about the book and explaining all the coolness within, I've shot a video which I think does the job just as well.

The Carte Blanche Red Edition is limited to 500 copies and can be purchased at Amazon.co.uk.

Thanks to Vickie Boff at Hodder and Stoughton.

Top Gear looks at the history of SAAB

Here is a terrific history of the Saab Motor Company from Top Gear. This will help all you youngsters understand why it wasn't unusual at all that John Gardner put 007 in a Saab in 1980. They sing the praises of the Saab 99 Turbo, which was the predecessor to Bond's 900 Turbo. Unfortunately, they don't include Bond's car in their story, but it's still worth watching. And like the Top Gear guys, I too am going to miss Saab.

Click here to head my own history of James Bond's Saab.

CARTE BLANCHE released in Germany

It's taken a while, but Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver has finally been released in Germany with a translation by Thomas Haufschild and as an audiobook read by Dietmar Wunder. Cover art is below. You can buy it on Amazon.de.

Details of Jeffery Deaver's German book tour can be found at his official website.

CARTE BLANCHE RED EDITION in hand

Thanks to the good folks at Hodder & Stoughton, I've scored a limited Carte Blanche Red Edition. It's gorgeous! Watch for my hands-on review with more photos and video showing the embedded bullet, etc., soon.

You can purchase the Carte Blanche Red Edition at Amazon.co.uk.

UPDATE: Look inside the Carte Blanche Red Edition (video)

Pegasus sets release date for two more JOHN GARDNER U.S. paperbacks

Amazon.com is now listing two more U.S. John Gardner James Bond paperback reprints from Pegasus. No Deals, Mr. Bond and Scorpius will be released on October 15, 2012.

The good folks at Pegasus have kindly given me a sneak peek at the Dan Mogford cover art for both books. What's nice is this gives us our first look at what will likely be the UK cover art for Scoprius as well. I like!

• Pre-order No Deals Mr. Bond on Amazon
• Pre-order Scorpius on Amazon

Visit our special Gardner Renewed page for links and release date updates for all the Gardner-Bond reprints in the U.S. and UK.

JOHN GARDNER U.S. (true) first edition hardcovers

Having posted the Ian Fleming U.S. hardcovers the other day, I figured I'd roll right into the U.S. hardcover first editions of the James Bond continuation novels by John Gardner.

The Licence To Kill I've included above is a U.S. hardcover bookclub edition, which I think sits nicely among these. While the Mysterious Press released three hardcover special editions in the U.S., this book club edition proceeded those. There was no U.S. hardcover for GoldenEye. Death Is Forever originally came with a sticker affixed to the cover which you can see here.

Now, before someone dumps on these U.S. designs in comparison to the admittedly more attractive UK covers (which I'll post at a later date), know that I don't hate these. In fact, I really like them! A lot of this has to do with nostalgia, as I can recall the moment when and where I found every new edition. But I also like that they remained uniform throughout Gardner's 16 year reign. They line-up nicely on the shelf. And the popping primary colors did not look out of place among other mystery/espionage books on bookstore shelves at the time (think about the Dick Francis hardcovers).

It should also be noted that apart from the last two books, all the U.S. editions proceeded the UK versions, so these are the "true firsts." In some cases the U.S. texts are also more complete than what was published in the UK, the most dramatic example being that only the U.S. edition of COLD (retitled Cold Fall) features the Book One/Book Two structure.

So, sure, they're a little fugly, but... Respect!

Publication:

License Renewed – Richard Marek, April 27, 1981.
For Special Services – McCann and Geoghegan, May 3, 1982.
Icebreaker - Putnam, March 27, 1983.
Role of Honor - Putnam, September 1984.
Nobody Lives Forever - Putnam, May 1986.
No Deals, Mr. Bond - Putnam, April, 1987.
Scorpius - Putnam, May 9, 1988.
Win Lose or Die - Putnam, July 1989.
Licence To Kill – Charter Book Club, 1989.
Brokenclaw - Putnam, July 17, 1990.
The Man From Barbarossa – Putnam, May 1991.
Death Is Forever - Putnam, June 1992.
Never Send Flowers - Putnam, May 31, 1993.
SeaFire - Putnam, August 31, 1994.
Cold Fall - Putnam, June 1996.

Queen Anne Press to release IAN FLEMING: THE BIBLIOGRAPHY in October

Here's some great news! Queen Anne Press (who released the ultimate Ian Fleming Collection in 2008) have announced a new publication, Ian Fleming: The Bibliography, for release in October 2012. Here are the details from the official press release:

IAN FLEMING: THE BIBLIOGRAPHY

by Jon Gilbert

Summary 

A comprehensive description of Ian Fleming’s literary oeuvre that ranges from the first draft of Casino Royale in 1952 to editions still being published sixty years later. Unparalleled in scope and scholarship, this is a critical reference book for fans of one of the twentieth century’s greatest thriller writers.

Description

Ian Fleming was a journalist, publisher, travel writer, motor enthusiast, card player, accomplished golfer and noted bibliophile, but above all he was the creator of secret agent James Bond 007, an icon of popular culture.

Much has been written about Fleming and his legendary creation, but until now there has been no serious bibliographical account of his published work. Ian Fleming: The Bibliography is not only an indispensable source of information for collectors, enthusiasts, libraries and booksellers alike, but an entertaining and informative volume that will appeal to anyone interested in the James Bond phenomenon. It covers every aspect of Fleming's writing, from the manuscript stage, through typescripts, uncorrected proofs, advance and review copies, first and subsequent impressions, paperback printings, omnibus and collected editions, as well as periodical appearances, comic strip adaptations, young reader and large print editions published in Britain and America. There are sections covering Fleming’s more obscure literary endeavours, as well as his published reviews and interviews. Each main entry includes an engaging narrative on the conception, editorial process and marketing of the novel, complemented by a full list of source books. Biographies of Fleming's closest confidants are provided, and a detailed chronology of the author's life completes this bibliographical masterpiece.

The work has been compiled with the approval of Ian Fleming’s literary estate and the assistance of the Ian Fleming Foundation.

The Author 

Jon Gilbert is perhaps the foremost expert on the works of Ian Fleming and the literary history of James Bond. Through Adrian Harrington Ltd, he has become an internationally renowned dealer in rare Fleming material. Ian Fleming: The Bibliography is the result of both a career immersed in the writings of Ian Fleming, and three years intensive research following Fleming’s centenary year in 2008.

Format and Binding styles

Hardback, 700 pages with over 1000 illustrations (many in colour), available in standard and deluxe editions. Full details to be confirmed. Standard Edition - Price: £150 (to be confirmed) ISBN: to be announced Deluxe Edition - Price: £250 (TBC)

Available from Queen Anne Press

www.queenannepress.com

Thanks to Andres Frejdh at From Sweden With Love and Matt Sherman of James BONDLIST (billiards.about.com) for the tip.