Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Official YOUNG BOND website gets a makeover

In anticipation of Steve Cole's first Young Bond novel due out November 6, 2014, the official Young Bond website at www.youngbond.com has received a makeover. The site now features the new Young Bond logo and links to the latest printings of all the books. It's also teases that "we'll be revealing the cover and title very soon," so you might want to go and sign-up for the new Young Bond newsletter now.

www.youngbond.com

In his first Young Bond book, Steve Cole picks up where Charlie Higson left off and throws James Bond into action in Hollywood, CA.

Pre-order Untitled Young Bond by Steve Cole on Amazon.co.uk.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

German reprint of COLONEL SUN in September

Yesterday we had news that the first three John Gardner James Bond novels will be reprinted in Germany with cover art by Michael Gillette. Now comes word that the first continuation novel, Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis, will also be reprinted in Germany with a Gillette cover...and here it is!


Like the Gardner titles, the publisher is Cross Cult and the release date is September 2014.

A big thank you to "boeserzwlling" for making this discovery.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Cover art for new JOHN GARDNER German reprints

The first three James Bond novels by John Gardner will be reprinted in German with original cover art by Michael Gillette. You'll recall that Gillette did the covers for the Centenary editions of the Ian Fleming novels in 2008. Below are Gillette's covers for License Renewed, For Special Services, and Icebreaker, which come courtesy of Simon Gardner. Publication dates are yet to be announced.

License Renewed
For Special Services
Icebreaker
Thank you, Simon.

Monday, April 21, 2014

RAYMOND BENSON on James Bond Radio

James Bond Radio, a terrific podcast devoted to all things 007, has scored an interview with former James Bond continuation novelist, Raymond Benson.

On today’s show we talk to James Bond author Raymond Benson. In our first celebrity interview, we hear all about the process behind writing a Bond novel, from the research, to outlining the story. We hear the incredible story behind how Raymond got the job, the amazing travel stories and his friendship with a certain Mr. Hugh Hefner. Do not miss this episode!

You can also Like James Bond Radio on Facebook.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Irish Motorist on 007's SAAB and that bloody Alan Dukes!

Reader Donal Rogers from Ireland has sent over this terrific article from the June 1983 issue of Irish Motorist about James Bond's new choice of car, the Saab 900 Turbo. Of course, by 1983 we were three books into the John Gardner cycle, so I'm not sure how "new" the Saab really was at this time. But it's a fun article and I especially love the mid-article rant about...Alan Dukes?

Donal tells me, "Alan Dukes was the Irish Minister for Finance at the time the article and so would have been responsible for difficult national budgets at a time of severe economic crisis for Ireland in the early 1980s."

I also like the expression of dismay that Bond is "now a regular jogger." I had to think about it, but I do recall that Bond does go jogging while at the Anton Murik estate in License Renewed, but I'm pretty sure it's so he can surveil the property.

Anyway, enjoy this blast from Ireland's past.

Click to enlarge.

Thank you Donal.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Book tells the story of GOLDENEYE and the birth of Bond

A new book by Matthew Parker is set to be published in August to mark the 50th Anniversary of the death of Ian Fleming. GOLDENEYE: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming’s Jamaica tells the story of the creation of James Bond at Ian Fleming's legendary home in Jamaica. Matthew Parker, an expert on the history of Jamaica, had exclusive access to the Goldeneye archive. He also conducted interviews with local personalities who knew Fleming and are part of the Bond story.


GOLDENEYE: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming’s Jamaica will be published in the UK by Pegasus and Hutchinson on August 14, 2014. Pre-order on Amazon.co.uk.

Thanks to Ian Fleming Publications.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Near fine first edition CASINO ROYALE sells for $40,461

A first edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale, judged to be in Near Fine condition, sold today at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury auction of Modern Literature for £19,500 + 24% buyers premium. This adds up to $40,461 in U.S. dollars.

This might be a record for an unsigned Casino Royale. Certainly condition had everything to do with the final sales price. (Although judging by the auction photo, I still believe my own copy to be in better condition, and I might need to consider selling. Just saying.)

The auction also sold several other Ian Fleming firsts, including a Live And Let Die for $13,486 (including premium). You can check out the full list HERE.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

LIVE AND LET DIE turns 60

Today marks the 60th anniversary of Ian Fleming's second James Bond novel, Live And Let Die, which was published April 5, 1954 by Jonathan Cape in the UK. Here's my own first edition hardcover. Still looking pretty good after 60 years!


Thanks to my good buddy Anders Frejdh of From Sweden With Love for the reminder of this milestone.

Friday, April 4, 2014

CASINO ROYALE poster art by Spineless Classics

Spineless Classics has created a unique Casino Royale poster by condensing the full text of the Ian Fleming novel – including chapter titles and all the original formatting – onto a single page, shaping a work of art out of the words.


Carl Pappenheim, Managing Director and Founder of Spineless Classics, said: "Winning a license to sell a Bond novel in this format is a shot on target for us; it is something for which fans have been asking and we’re really pleased with the results."

The Casino Royale print measures 70cm x 100cm and costs £39.99 unframed. It is available now from www.spinelessclassics.com.



Thanks to Ian Fleming Publications.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Pegasus WILL complete their GARDNER set in the U.S.

You might have noticed that, with the release of The Man From Barbarossa and Death Is Forever in January, that there are no new John Gardner James Bond reprints from Pegasus listed on Amazon as upcoming. Does this mean the publisher will not complete their set of reprints in the U.S.?

I put the question to the good folks at Pegasus, and they have confirmed that they will release the remaining John Gardner titles, although they may hold off until closer to the release of Bond 24 in Fall 2015 to take advantage of the publicity.

So while U.S. Bond fans will have to wait, know that you will eventually get a full set of John Gardner OO7 reprints.

Thanks to Claiborne Hancock at Pegasus Books for the info.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Kevin Collette examines LES ENNEMIS DE JAMES BOND

Our good friend Kevin Collette has published a new book about the OO7 phenomena called, The Enemies of James Bond - How to Destroy the World in Style. The book is in French, but contains more than 40 never-before-seen images from the author's collection.

This book is written with a tongue-in-cheek approach, examining the role of the Bond villain in book and film and, among other topics, questions "why the heck no Bond villain has decided to just shoot 007 in the head once and for all!"

The book was launched last week at an event with Moonraker girls Nicaise Jean-Louis and Diane Thierry-Mieg.

LES ENNEMIS DE JAMES BOND - Comment détruire le monde avec style can be purchased at Camion Noir. A Kindle edition is is available from Amazon.co.uk.

Congratulations Kevin.

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