Sunday, April 20, 2008

U.S. covers for Devil May Care and Quantum of Solace

Cover art for the U.S. editions of Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks and the Quantum of Solace Ian Fleming short story collection have been revealed.

Beauties!

2 comments:

  1. Dear Zencat,

    Hello! I am familiar with your website and I have a book you may be interested in reviewing for it. Yes, I am trying to lure you out of retirement! :-)

    THE BATTLE FOR BOND by Robert Sellers tells the story behind the story that is James Bond. Replete with all of the drama of a Bond film, this book is a tale of bitter recriminations, betrayal, multi-million dollar lawsuits and even death. I have pasted the description for the book below. If you would like a copy for coverage on your site, please forward me a US mailing address of the interested contributor. I will have a book sent to their attention right away.

    Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. I look forward to working with you soon!

    Best,
    Lisa
    --
    Lisa Roe
    Online Publicist

    onlinepublicist@gmail.com
    --

    'THE BATTLE FOR BOND will undoubtedly become the most important book ever published about the evolution of Ian Fleming's James Bond from Fifties' literary sensation to Sixties' cinematic icon. Sellers' book is a 'must read' for anyone who considers themselves either a Bond aficionado or a serious student of the history of cinema.'
    -Graham Rye, Editor and Publisher of 007 Magazine

    'Every so often, the law shakes off its cobwebs to produce a story far too improbable even for the silver screen -- too fabulous even for the world of 007. This is one of those occasions, for the case before us has it all.'
    -A US Judge's 2001 summing up of Kevin McClory's 40-year dispute over the parentage and ownership of the movie James Bond

    --

    THE BATTLE FOR BOND by Robert Sellers
    Published by Tomahawk Press and Distributed by Midpoint Trade Books NYC, Inc.
    ISBN: 978-0953192632, Paperback $32.00, 272 pages, glossy color & B&W photos

    So controversial, the sale of this book has been banned in the UK...

    THE BATTLE FOR BOND, by Robert Sellers, unravels the untold story behind the most controversial part of the James Bond legend using previously unpublished material including letters and private documents. It is a tale of bitter recriminations, betrayal, multi-million dollar lawsuits and even death.

    It starts way back in 1959 when colourful Irish film producer Kevin McClory collaborated with Ian Fleming and Hollywood screenwriter Jack Whittingham on a screenplay for what was intended to be the first ever James Bond film, entitled Thunderball. When the project collapsed, Fleming instead used its plot as the basis for his next Bond novel, but without permission. An incensed McClory and Whittingham sued. The resulting trial was one of the most high profile and complex of the 1960s. Essentially the creator of the 20th century’s greatest fictional character was in the dock, accused of plagiarism.

    Already gravely ill, many of Fleming’s friends feared the pressure of the trial would have a detrimental effect on his health. Tragically they were proved right when only a few months later Fleming died of a massive heart attack aged only 56. As for Kevin McClory, he became a millionaire over night, winning the film rights to Thunderball. He was now in the enviable position of being able to make his own 007 movie. But the already established Sean Connery series was a hard act to compete with and McClory instead decided to join forces with Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman in a one-off deal to co-produce Thunderball.

    Released in time for Christmas 1965, Thunderball was the Star Wars of its day, becoming one of the most successful films in movie history. Part of McClory’s court victory entitled him to remake Thunderball at a future date, resulting in 1983s Never Say Never Again, which saw Sean Connery returning to the Bond role after a 12 year absence and was the film that Broccoli tried desperately to ban. Following its success McClory tried in vain to start his own 007 film series, using the rights he owned in Thunderball, but was thwarted at every turn in a succession of increasingly hostile legal battles against Broccoli and Bond studio MGM. McClory even made the claim that he was co-creator of the cinematic James Bond character and demanded a share in the three billion dollars of profits the 007 series had earned.

    Even in the late 1990s McClory was still determined to make more Bond films and in one last giant court battle the entire future of James Bond was to be decided. Would the Broccoli family and MGM, home to the 007 series since 1962, emerge triumphant? Or would Kevin McClory’s 40-year claims on the Bond character succeed?

    In preparing the book the author was granted exclusive access to a wealth of previously unpublished material including hundreds of letters from the principal characters in the Thunderball story, including Fleming himself, business and private documents and never before seen papers from the 1963 court case. And also the five different screenplays that were written for Thunderball - two from Fleming and three from Jack Whittingham.

    The author also interviewed many of the actors and production people who worked on Thunderball and Never Say Never Again. Their memories and colorful anecdotes bring to life two of the most successful and universally popular Bond movies of all time.

    ---

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, I think this book came out today and I'm planning on picking it up just as soon as I get out of work. Thanks for posting the info. I was wondering where you got your profile picture from (Colonel Sun?)
    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete

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