A new edition of Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis is published today in France by Cherche Midi with a translation by France-Marie Watkins. Originally published in 1968, Colonel Sun was the very first James Bond continuation novel.
American publisher Harper Collins has revealed some cover art for their Ian Fleming reprints next year. Pretty uninspired. Not much more to say than that.
Presumably these are not the covers for the new IFP published Bond novels in the UK that will mark the 70th Anniversary next year. Those should be something special.
Thanks to Brisco at Double O Section for the alert.
The Folio Society has released their next illustrated slip-cased Ian Fleming classic, For Your Eyes Only.
Readers might be familiar with the titles of the stories contained within For Your Eyes Only, but the adventures they depict might surprise them. As well as the expected – and eagerly anticipated – danger, thrills and action that Bond is so well known for, these five stories peel back the layers of Fleming’s complex hero, revealing, as crime writer Ian Rankin describes it, ‘a James Bond few of us have had the good fortune to meet’. Series artist Fay Dalton returns to provide her own irresistible spin on MI6’s greatest, with seven full-colour illustrations and an especially dramatic slipcase. The smart binding design calls to mind Bond’s impeccably tailored suits, making this another unmissable entry in the ever-popular Folio Bond collection.
Cover art for the U.S. edition of Kim Sherwood's Double or Nothing has been revealed on Amazon.com. Pretty much the same as the UK cover, but with some differences in the text and typeface.
The U.S. edition of Double or Nothing will be released on April 11, 2023 and can be pre-ordered now.
As promised, Ian Fleming Publications have made a big announcement on this "James Bond Day." Below is their press release in full:
Welcome home, 007: Ian Fleming Publications to publish James Bond books under its own imprint in spring 2023
LONDON. Today, Wednesday 5 October, ‘James Bond Day’: Ian Fleming Publications Ltd (IFPL) announces plans to publish Ian Fleming’s books under its own imprint – a move that marks an exciting future for 007.
Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, the family company that owns the literary copyright in his books, will be honouring the legacy of James Bond’s creator by producing its own editions of the 007 novels as well as non-fiction and the children’s classic Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.
The imprint – Ian Fleming Publications – will launch fresh editions in the UK and Commonwealth markets in spring 2023. Fleming’s original Bond novels and short story collections will be available from 13 April, exactly 70 years to the day after Ian Fleming first introduced special agent 007 to the world with the publication of Casino Royale. To date, since 1953, more than one hundred million Bond books have been sold worldwide.
Initially, new editions of the original adventures will be released in paperback and as eBooks, with covers by the design company Webb & Webb. Prestige hardbacks and limited editions will follow.The logo for Ian Fleming Publications and The Ian Fleming Estate has long been the swallow tail hummingbird and it will be used as the colophon on books published by the imprint. The swallow tail hummingbird – or ‘doctor bird’ – is the national bird of Jamaica, the spiritual home of James Bond and where Ian Fleming famously wrote the legendary adventures. The doctor bird logo is the Fleming mark of authenticity and quality.
Ian Fleming Publications will be led by Managing Director Corinne Turner, alongside Simon Ward, Publishing Manager.
Corinne Turner comments: “IFPL has enjoyed many years' collaboration with publishing partners Random House and Penguin, but we feel it is time for a change of direction. The 70th anniversary of Casino Royale is an ideal opportunity to bring publication of Ian’s books in-house, enabling us to engage directly with readers and fans. We hope our new editions will reach as wide an audience as possible, attracting long-time readers as well those who have yet to discover the Bond novels.”
Fergus Fleming, Ian Fleming’s nephew, adds: “Before he wrote best-selling novels, Ian was a publisher. That IFP should publish his own books completes the circle.”
The website – www.ianfleming.com – already a destination for anyone interested in Fleming, his life and his literary works, will be developed throughout 2023 to house a direct-to-consumer shop, as well as newsletters, competitions, features and treasures from the archive. There will be exclusives and bonus content for those who sign up to the mailing list.
The Curtis Brown Group, IFPL’s literary agent, will continue to manage subsidiary rights licensing for the new imprint. Jonny Geller, CEO said: “Ian Fleming Publications has always been an innovative, dynamic and inventive manager of Ian Fleming’s work and everyone at Curtis Brown is looking forward to working with them on this next exciting stage. Finding a new generation of readers of James Bond has always been the top priority and IFPL’s publishing plans of the classic original novels will do this with huge energy and creativity.”
Ian Fleming Publications will be working closely with core high street retailers, independent book shops and libraries to ensure Ian’s 007 stories can be accessed by everyone. Sales and distribution will be handled by Turnaround, while Faber Factory will be handling the eBooks.
The move marks a new direction for Ian Fleming publishing as the 10-year licensing agreement with Penguin Random House (Vintage), for the UK and Commonwealth, comes to an end. IFPL will continue to work with partners internationally.
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Last week I had the pleasure of attending the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Ian Fleming Foundation at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA. The Petersen currently has the "Bond in Motion" exhibition featuring cars from the IFF collection (and few on loan from Eon). It was a marvelous night packed with Bond VIPs. I was very excited to meet Lucy Fleming's son, Robert Laycock, although we talked Houdini rather than 007. Great to see Bond author Raymond Benson and his lovely family in attendance. It was also nice to reconnect with many Bond friends I haven't seen in a long time.
Gloria Hendry, Maud Adams, and Luciana Paluzzi there to provide Bond Girl glamor. As you can see below, Luciana still knows how to mount a motorcycle, even when it's a snow mobile.
