From Italy FOR SPECIAL SERVICES

This is an Italian trade paperback edition of John Gardner's second James Bond novel, For Special Services (1982), with terrific cover art. Apart from the Conneryesque silhouette, the Saab, and the oh-so-'80s Bond girl, I love that the gun Bond is holding is the Heckler & Koch VP70, which is unique to this book. Gardner tried three different handguns for 007 before settling on the ASP in his fourth book, Role of Honor.

All the John Gardner James Bond novels were recently reprinted. Visit The Book Bond's special Gardner Renewed page for links to all the Gardner-Bond reprints in the U.S. and UK.

Meet the real Major Boothroyd

Check out this sensational video of Geoffrey Boothroyd -- the real-life "Major Boothroyd" (aka Q) from the Ian Fleming novels -- discussing the guns of James Bond. This promotional video was made during the production of Goldfinger and first aired on the BBC. It can also be found on the Dr. No DVD.

Thanks to CEL Welsh for the tip.

This is James Bond's new gun

According to today's excerpt in The Times, James Bond will be using a Walther PPS in Jeffery Deaver's Carte Blanche.

The Walther "Police Pistol Slim" is a variant on the P99 (the gun Bond has been carrying in the last several movies) designed to be easily concealed with a 1.04 inch profile. That makes it smaller and lighter than both the PPK and P99. It comes in both 9mm and S&W 40.

Sounds like a perfect choice. Deaver is keeping in the Walther tradition, but going with a gun that makes sense for James Bond's line of work (the P99 was somewhat ridiculous in this regard).

Thanks to Jim, Captain Tightpants, and Jeff007 of the CBn forums.

Charlie Higson confirms Apache in YOUNG BOND 3

Author Charlie Higson has confirmed for me that the Apache weapon discovered by reader Kevin Wells (aka K1Bond007 on the CBn forums) is indeed the weapon that will feature in Young Bond Book 3.

“Nice work on the apache pics. You've nailed it. Although my version has a slight adaptation to the knuckle dusters in that the gun doesn't have to be reversed to use them. I saw some pictures of these nasty little guns when i was researching weapons in Blood Fever and just knew that I had to use them in a book. Little boys love this sort of thing.”

Charlie had offered a challenge to fans to try and find a picture of the mystery weapon online.

Charlie also graciously commented on the suggestion of using the Apache on the cover of Book 3 in a sort of homage to the classic Richard Chopping From Russia With Love cover art.

“We can't use guns on the cover of a kids book, however (quite right too!) maybe if we ever do adult versions of the books we can use them - I love the mock up cover the fans made.”

A very big thanks Charlie Higson for giving me the scoop, and congratulations to Kevin for “nailing it.”

Young Bond Book 3 sees James searching for a kidnapped professor in the darkest corners of 1930s London. It’s due for release in the UK on January 4, 2007.