James Bond and the end of MASS MARKET paperbacks

Below is a story from NPR about the imminent demise of the mass market paperback book. Mass market (MMP) refers to books typically sized 4x7. The idea was that they could fit in a pocket or handbag, and could be sold on uniform displays, such as rotating spindles (people of a certain age certainly remember these). The mass market format was how most people consumed books, including James Bond books. For more, listen to the story below.

This got me thinking: what was the last James Bond mass market paperback? 

One candidate is Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks, released by Vintage in the U.S. in May 2009. Interestingly, a trade paperback (classified as any book larger than a mass market) with different cover art was released at the same time.

Vintage, May 2009.

While Devil May Care may have been the last traditional mass market paperback, there is another candidate for the last. Jeffery Deaver's Carte Blanche was released as an oddly-sized paperback in the U.S. by Pocket Star in February 2012. It's very close to a mass market. In fact, the width is exactly the same. However, it's about half an inch taller. In my bookseller days, I would struggle with whether to ring this up as a mass market or trade paperback, and I'm still not sure today. Nevertheless, it did come after Devil May Care, so this might indeed be the last James Bond mass market paperback. It's just not a classic example.

Pocket Star Books, February 2012.

Mass markets vanished much earlier in the UK. As far as I know, Raymond Benson's The Man With The Red Tattoo was the last new James Bond novel released as a mass market paperback by Coronet in 2003. After this, all new James Bond paperbacks in the UK were released as trade paperbacks.

Coronet, 2003.

What about Fleming? This 2006 edition of Casino Royale is the last U.S. mass market Fleming title I'm aware of. It also got a trade paperback release. I was pretty excited when this appeared, as it fits beautifully on my shelf of mass market movie tie-in Bonds.

Penguin Books, 2006.

In the UK, Penguin released the Quantum of Solace collection as a mass market paperback in 2008. This is the last UK mass market paperback on my shelf (it completes my UK movie tie-in shelf). As I don't collect later Fleming titles, I don't know if this was the last UK mass market paperback. But it could be!

Penguin, 2008.

Here's a nice video by a bright young YouTuber about the history and demise of mass market paperbacks.

Have I overlooked something? What do you think of the Carte Blanche paperback? Should it be disqualified? Are you sad about the end of mass market books? Sound off in the comments below.

Happy New Year!

New CASINO ROYALE published in Poland

Ian Fleming's Casino Royale is published today in Poland by Skarpa Warszawska. The book was last published in Poland in 2006. Below is the cover art. Hopefully, the other books will follow soon.

Marcin Tadera of jamesbond.org.pl for the info and image.

CASINO ROYALE Collector's Edition

Ian Fleming Publications is offering a special edition of their new Casino Royale hardcover featuring gilt-silver sprayed edges. Only 250 are being produced. Purchase by clicking the image below.

Folio Society limited edition CASINO ROYALE

The Folio Society has announced a limited edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale to mark the book's 70th anniversary. Looks nice, but at $725, this one might be for few eyes only.

Celebrating 70 years since publication, Folio’s fabulous anniversary edition of Casino Royale, limited to 750 numbered copies, exudes sophistication and glamour. Bound in blocked leather and signed by artist Fay Dalton, this is the perfect collector’s edition of Fleming’s first Bond novel.

Casino Royale Limited Edition can be purchased from the Folio Society website.

Also available: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For You Eyes Only, Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man With The Golden Gun.

IFP reveals new 70th Anniversary logo

In celebration of #CasinoRoyale turning 70 this year, we are beyond thrilled to share our brand new #70yearsof007 logo. Here's to a Bond-tastic 2023. pic.twitter.com/dAGYjPvtoH

— Ian Fleming (@TheIanFleming) January 4, 2023

Anniversary BONDS for 2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to another year of The Book Bond. Here's a rundown of the Bond novels that will be celebrating notable anniversaries this year. Break out the bookmarks and champagne!

70th Anniversary

"This is the big one, Double-Oh-Seven." This year sees the 70th Anniversary of the book that started it all. Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on April 13, 1953. It wouldn't be released in the U.S. until the following year.

60th Anniversary

Another Fleming classic, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, turns 60 this year. In this one Bond gets married and, well, you know the story! O.H.M.S.S. was published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on April 1, 1963. It was released in the U.S. in August by the New American Library.

50th Anniversary

This overlooked continuation novel is, IMHO, a true gem! James Bond The Authorized Biography of 007 by John Pearson was first published in 1973 by Sidgwick & Jackson in the UK and William Morrow & Co. in the U.S. [Read: THE BEST JAMES BOND NOVEL YOU'VE NEVER READ.]

40th Anniversary

My personal favorite John Gardner Bond novel, Icebreaker, marks its 40th. In this one 007 heads to the frozen forests of Northern Finland to battle Neo-Nazis. The first U.S. edition (pictured) was published by Putnam around April 1, 1983. The UK edition by Jonathan Cape arrived on July 7, 1983. 

30th Anniversary

John Gardner's 12th original James Bond novel, Never Send Flowers, finds 007 facing off with a psychotic actor. A late era Gardner novel that I've always liked. The U.S. edition from Putnam was published on May 31, 1993. The UK edition (pictured) was released by Hodder & Stoughton on July 15, 1993.

25th Anniversary

A strong second novel from Raymond Benson, The Facts of Death finds 007 on a mission in Greece and Cyprus. The UK edition was released by Hodder & Stoughton on May 7, 1998. The U.S. edition from Putnam followed on June 15, 1998.

10th Anniversary

SOLO by William Boyd turns 10 this year. I really like this novel about the older 007 on a mission in Africa. The UK edition was released by Hodder & Stoughton on September 26, 2013. The U.S. edition from Putnam was released on October 8, 2013. [Read: SOLO is the thinking man's OO7.]

A good line-up of anniversary Bonds this year if I do say so myself. Happy reading!

HARPER COLLINS reveals 2023 cover art

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.

CASINO ROYALE first edition (video)

The good folks at Peter Harrington Books show the details of a true Casino Royale first edition by Ian Fleming. Enjoy.

CASINO ROYALE with Horowitz intro released today

A special edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale with an introduction by Anthony Horowitz is released today in the UK.

Purchase at Amazon.co.uk

Dynamite's CASINO ROYALE released today

Dynamite's graphic novel adaptation of Ian Fleming's classic Casino Royale is released today (at last!).

Ian Fleming's literary debut of British Secret Service agent 007 is stylishly adapted to the sequential art medium by Van Jensen and Denis Calero in the official James Bond: Casino Royale graphic novel. Sent to a French casino in Royale-les-Eaux, Bond aims to eliminate the threat of the deadly Le Chiffre by bankrupting the ruthless SMERSH operative at the baccarat table. However, when the luck of the draw favors his enemy, 007 becomes the target of assassins and torturers in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse.

Purchase Casino Royale from Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK). Amazon still shows an April 24 release date, but according to both Dynamite and IFP, the book is out now.

OO7 Magazine #50 to be released in printed edition

Having released a printed edition of OO7 Magazine #49, Graham Rye will now released a printed version of OO7 Magazine #50, which will complete the printed run of OO7 issues 1-55. Issues 49 & 50 were previously only available as online publications.

This issue works as a book Bond tie-in as it covers the release of the 2006 film adaptation of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig. It also includes an article called "The World Would Disagree" about Ian Fleming before Bond.

You can pre-order OO7 Magazine #50 at the OO7 Magazine website. Shipping starts April 23.

'FOREVER AND A DAY' UK COVER ART REVEALED

The UK cover art for Anthony Horowitz's new Bond novel Forever and a Day has been revealed with a trailer. Very nice!

At the Ian Fleming Publications website you can see the full wrap-around cover (love that they used a Beretta) and also lean details of a new edition of Casino Royale with introduction by Anthony Horowitz.

Pre-order Forever and a Day UK edition at Amazon.co.uk (May 31)

Pre-order Forever and a Day U.S. edition at Amazon.com (Nov. 6)

IAN FLEMING Vintage Classic hardcovers released

Three new "Vintage Classic" hardcover editions of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale, Live and Let Die and Goldfinger have been released in the UK.  The books sport beautiful original cover art and endpapers by Levente Szabo, and include never-before-seen material from the Ian Fleming and Jonathan Cape archives, including letters, documents and photographs. Each book also has an introduction by writer, flim-maker and James Bond expert John Cork.

Purchase from Amazon.co.uk: Casino Royale | Live and Let Die | Goldfinger.

IFP reveals new JAMES BOND hardcovers

Ian Fleming Publications has officially revealed the three new James Bond hardcovers to be released by Vintage Classic in the UK in November. The books include new introductions by John Cork.

Introducing, new Ian Fleming hardback special editions of 3 of James Bond's finest adventures. Vintage UK will be releasing these fantastic new editions of CASINO ROYALE, LIVE AND LET DIE and GOLDFINGER in November 2017. 

The editions include brand new introductions from Bond expert and writer John Cork, with scintillating new designs by Brisk Graphics artist Levente Szabo.

Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk: Casino Royale | Live and Let Die | Goldfinger.

New VINTAGE CLASSICS James Bond covers previewed

Draft covers for the upcoming Vintage Classic James Bond hardcovers have appeared on Amazon. Below are Casino Royale and Live and Let Die. If you click over to the CommaderBond.net Twitter, you can also see Goldfinger (which is not currently shown on Amazon). Very nice!

Thanks to CommanderBond.net on Twitter @CBn007.

Dynamite's CASINO ROYALE graphic novel in October

After being delayed, Dynamite's adaption of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale is now due out October 17, 2017 [see UPDATE]. The Amazon listing also shows cover art, but notes that "Final Cover May Vary." Below is part of the official press release.

Award-winning writer Van Jansen and artist Dennis Calero  have been selected as the creative team to bring the very first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, to the pages of comics for the first time in the series' history. Set for release in October, the 160-page graphic novel will transport 007 fans back to the 1950's with its stylish artwork and classic story!

Writer Van Jansen says, "There's a very obvious reason why I wanted to tackle the adaptation of Casino Royale: because it's James damned Bond! Also, when I cracked open Ian Fleming's first 007 novel (I had read it years before), it immediately appealed to me as a great creative challenge. Fleming's prose is powered by his descriptive punch, an eye for detail that captures the post-World War II time period in full color, from decadent meals to the intricacies of baccarat to the sinister machinations of Le Chiffre. It's a heady book, diving deep into the character of Bond. Adapting it into comic book form meant creating some fun new approaches to storytelling, to recast a familiar tale as something that hasn't been seen before. Also, it's James damned Bond!"

Pre-order Casino Royale from Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK).

UPDATE: The above cover art has now been removed from Amazon and the release date keeps getting pushed back. At the moment, Amazon shows December 26, but don't be surprised if it gets pushed back to sometime in 2018. I'll report when it's finally released.

CASINO ROYALE (the movie) turns 10

Today marks the tenth anniversary of Daniel Craig's debut as James Bond in Casino Royale. The film was an adaptation of Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel. A great book and a great film. Below is a trade paperback from Penguin which re-released the book with movie poster art.

For the record, the Bond book that year was Charlie Higson's Blood Fever, which many consider the best of the Young Bond novels. So this was a good year for Bond!

For more tie-in editions CLICK HERE.

From the CZECH REPUBLIC with Love

Here are several unique James Bond covers from the Czech Republic sent over by Bond collector Lukáš Berný from Prague. The first block of covers are from 1968-1992. While the use of Sean Connery is obvious, the eagle-eyed among you might also spot Timothy Dalton in the artwork.

Below is a newer series which, according to Lukáš, are now quite rare in his country. These were released by Delfin between 1997-2002. The publisher released the six Fleming titles picture here: Live And Let Die, Diamonds Are Forever, Moonraker, Thunderball, From Russia With Love and For Your Eyes Only.

Thank you Lukáš!

Dynamite's CASINO ROYALE graphic novel in November

Amazon now has a listing for a Dynamite hardcover graphic novel of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale written by Van Jensen with art by Matthew Southworth. Release date shows as November 22, 2016.

Ian Fleming's literary debut of British Secret Service agent 007 is stylishly adapted to the sequential art medium by Van Jensen and Matt Southworth in the official James Bond: Casino Royale graphic novel. Sent to a French casino in Royale-les-Eaux, Bond aims to eliminate the threat of the deadly Le Chiffre by bankrupting the ruthless SMERSH operative at the baccarat table. However, when the luck of the draw favors his enemy, 007 becomes the target of assassins and torturers in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse.

You can pre-order the Casino Royale graphic novel at Amazon (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK).

UPDATE: The release date now shows as November 14, 2017.

Casino Royale (1959) UK paperback

This is a 4th paperback edition of Casino Royale by Ian Fleming published by Great Pan in 1959. Love the cover art by Peff and the copy on the back. I also like that the grey matches the UK hardcover.

Title: Casino Royale

Author: Ian Fleming

Year: 1959
Edition: 4th Printing

Publisher: PAN Books (Great Pan)

Also see: JAMES BOND UK first edition paperbacks 1955-1979.