WHATCULTURE.COM counts down the "10 Unadapted 007 Stories We’d Love To See Made Next"

Whatculture.com has posted a blog counting down 10 continuation novels that could make good Bond films. It's a pretty thoughtful list, although I would have swapped out #4 Scorpius in favor of Brokenclaw, which I think could make a great Craig-era Bond. Read: "Bond 24: 10 Unadapted 007 Stories We’d Love To See Made Next."

If you don't feel like clicking through, here's the list:

10. High Time To Kill (Raymond Benson)

9. Young Bond (Charlie Higson)

8. License Renewed (John Gardner)

7. For Special Services (John Gardner)

6. Icebreaker (John Gardner)

5. Devil May Care (Sebastian Faulks)

4. Scorpius (John Gardner)

3. Colonel Sun (Kingsley Amis)

2. The Man With The Red Tattoo (Raymond Benson)

1. Carte Blanche (Jeffery Deaver)

BOND READS BOND

Check out this terrific photo of Sean Connery on the set of Dr. No with a copy of Ian Fleming's The Spy Who Loved Me. I've never see this shot before.

This comes from reader Gordon Li who shared this on The Book Bond Facebook page. Thank you, Gordon.

Has WILLIAM BOYD been given a license to kill 007?

Here's something a little curious. I'm told that bookmakers Ladbrokes in the UK are taking bets on whether James Bond lives or dies in the new 007 novel by William Boyd due out Sept. 26, 2013.

Maybe this is nothing. Bookmakers take bets on just about anything that can be bet on (or so I'm told). But would they really set up betting on something in which the outcome is 100% assured? Did they do this for other Bond books or films? Might Ladbrokes have some deep insider information on the new Bond novel?

Has IFP given William Boyd permission of kill off James Bond!?

Of course, Bond could always "die" as he did in From Russia With Love and You Only Live Twice. But maybe there's something much, much larger in the works here. We were all surprised when, after the much-hyped reboot of Carte Blanche, IFP announced that this new novel would be set back in 1969. Could this be because the plan is to now end the "classic Bond" timeline? Might IFP now go back and do more Young Bond novels (as has been rumored) and/or leap ahead and continue on with the new Carte Blanche timeline? Might Ian Fleming's James Bond never see 1970?

Of course, this would mean the Pearson/Wood/Gardner/Benson novels exist in their own unique timeline, which would be fine because I think most fans agree these books were in a separate universe anyway.

This would certainly be a bold and provocative move by IFP. But they are known for making bold and provocative moves with the literary Bond franchise lately. It would also be a way to make the Boyd novel yet another "event" book.

Yes, I think this is just crazy enough to be conceivable. Do you?

Place your bets...

Boyd's Bond will be released by Jonathan Cape in the UK on September 26, 2013 (Amazon.co.uk) and by HarperCollins in the U.S. on October 8, 2013 (Amazon.com).

THE NEW MISSION

Ian Fleming Publications has announced Sept. 26, 2013 as the UK release date of the new James Bond novel by William Boyd and have launched the official website. Here is the full press release:

James Bond: The New Mission 26.9.13

Publication date of William Boyd’s Bond book announced

www.jamesbondthenewmission.co.uk

The new James Bond continuation novel by international bestseller William Boyd will be published on Thursday 26 September 2013, it is announced today. The book, as yet untitled, is one of the most eagerly anticipated publications of the year and will be published in the UK by Jonathan Cape – Ian Fleming’s original publisher and an imprint of Vintage Publishing. 

The build-up begins with the launch of a website – www.jamesbondthenewmission.co.uk – dedicated to the new book, where fans can register to hear the latest news about the book as it’s released. The publication date is revealed on the same day that Skyfall is released on DVD in the UK. 

The name and plot of the book remain a closely guarded secret, but it is confirmed that the story will take place in 1969, featuring a slightly older 007 at the age of 45. Boyd’s book will make a return to ‘classic Bond’, as Sebastian Faulks did with Devil May Care in 2008. 

The new book will be published at the same time internationally, with HarperCollins publishing in Canada and the U.S. 

2013 is an exciting year for Bond publishing, as 13 April marks the 60th anniversary of Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel, Casino Royale. To celebrate, Random House will be releasing new editions of Fleming’s non-fiction books Thrilling Cities and The Diamond Smugglers in the UK on this date.

Thanks as always to IFP and Four Coleman Getty. 

U.S. teaser art revealed for BOYD'S BOND

Teaser cover art for the U.S. edition of William Boyd's upcoming James Bond novel has appeared on Amazon.com. It begins!

William Boyd's still untitled Bond will be published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on Sept. 26 and HarperCollins in the U.S and Canada on October 8, 2013.

UPDATE: Official UK press release and UK teaser art here.

Pre-order BOYD'S BOND in Large Print and for Kindle

William Boyd's upcoming Untitled James Bond novel is now available for pre-order in the U.S. as a Large Print paperback and Kindle eBook. A listing for the hardcover edition appeared on Amazon last week. The book will be released in the U.S. on October 8, 2013.

Continuing our starvation diet in regards to info on the new Bond, the Kindle version only says this under the Book Description:

Unti Bond Novel by William Boyd has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

No word from IFP on when we might get a title. The title and cover art of the last Bond novel, Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver, was revealed in January of the release year. Of course, that book was a Summer release and Boyd's Bond is scheduled for Fall.

Hardcover, Large Print, and Kindle eBook

Buy SKYFALL and support THE BOOK BOND

Do you want Skyfall on DVD, Blu-Ray, or HD streaming? Do you want to help out The Book Bond? Then all you need to do is buy the latest Bond via the links below. Buying anything on Amazon via any link here on The Book Bond gives me a tiny cut and allows me to support my own Bond habit. There's no difference in price, you'll always get the lowest price Amazon is offering at that moment. Thank you!

U.S.

Blu-ray + DVD combo. Regular DVD. HD steaming.

UK

Blu-ray + DVD combo. Regular DVD. Blu-ray Triple pack.

Ian Fleming honored during SKYFALL's BAFTA win

Skyfall won the award for Outstanding British Film at the 2013 BAFTA Awards tonight in London. During their acceptance speeches, both producer Michael G. Wilson and director Sam Mendes gave a special thanks and tribute to Ian Fleming. Mendes even quoted from Casino Royale. Perfect.

Skyfall, which is officially the most successful James Bond movie ever, is released on Tuesday on DVD and Blu-Ray.

"UNTITLED BOND NOVEL" hits U.S. Amazon

The U.S. edition of new James Bond novel by William Boyd has just appeared on Amazon.com as "Unti Bond Novel." The listing shows Harper as the publisher and a October 8, 2013 release date.

View on Amazon.com

The UK edition from Jonathan Cape is also now listed on Amazon.co.uk.

LINK: Casino Royale’s 60th to be celebrated at University of Illinois

The HMSS Weblog has details of the 60th anniversary celebration of the publication of Casino Royale at the University of Illinois starting in April. Alumnus Michael VanBlaricum, President of The Ian Fleming Foundation (and the man who mentored me in putting together my own first edition Fleming collection), will curate the multi-venue exhibition. Click the headline to read the details at The HMSS Weblog.