IFP announces releases for 2024

Ian Fleming Publications have announced their plans for 2024. Full press release below.

IFPL Announcement – What We Have Planned For 2024

As we make our way through the cold and blustery days of January, instead of lighting our 70th cigarette of the day, let’s instead look ahead to what’s coming in 2024. We’re very excited to share with you our plans for the year ahead and stay tuned for some surprises in the months to come…

Our first 2024 title to announce is a new eBook-only omnibus that collects Raymond Benson's six original Bond novels together into a single eBook.

James Bond: The Raymond Benson Years includes the classic books Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death, High Time to Kill, DoubleShot, Never Dream of Dying and The Man with the Red Tattoo.

James Bond: The Raymond Benson Years will be published on 26 February. It is available for pre-order HERE.

Next up, we're thrilled to announce that on 6 June, just in time for King Charles' official birthday, we'll be publishing a paperback edition of Charlie Higson's Sunday Times bestselling On His Majesty's Secret Service. The paperback edition will feature some exclusive new content, and we'll be sharing the new cover soon. As with the hardback, all royalties from the new edition will continue to go to support the work of the National Literacy Trust.

2024 marks 60 years since the publication of Ian Fleming's classic children's story about a flying car and the adventure of a lifetime, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. To celebrate this anniversary, we'll be publishing a new paperback edition of this beloved tale on 13 June. Aimed at young readers and featuring brand new illustrations, it's not the only thing we have planned this year to celebrate the world’s most famous flying car... Keep an eye on the skies, as we'll be revealing both the illustrator and cover of the new paperback version soon!

In time for James Bond Day in October, we'll be releasing fourteen beautiful new hardback editions of Ian Fleming's original Bond stories. From Casino Royale to Octopussy, start clearing some space on your shelves! Stay tuned for word on some exciting surprises, including the artist of the new covers...

That concludes the titles we'll be publishing ourselves, but we'd be remiss not to mention the titles coming from our partners too.

The first issue of a new blockbuster Bond comics run, penned by superstar writer Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher) was published 17 January.  In Your Cold, Cold Heart the humour is black, the blood is red and the drinks are crystal clear. Order your copy of James Bond: 007 (2024) #1 online or from your local comic shop, and issue #2 will be out in February.

Don't miss the second instalment in Kim Sherwood's explosive Double O series, A Spy Like Me, publishing in the US on 23 April and the UK on 25 April from HarperCollins. Johanna Harwood, Agent 003, is on the hunt – for revenge and for James Bond…

Our friends over at the Folio Society also have something special in store for you this year, but our lips are sealed for now.

Finally, our team is working hard to improve our online web shop. This year we'll be adding the option to buy eBooks of our titles direct from us - after purchase these will be distributed by email via BookFunnel, and will be available to download and send to your preferred device. We're also working to expand the areas we ship to, beyond just the UK & USA. Keep an eye on our socials for announcements of when both eBooks and expanded shipping options are live.

P.S. We recommend you start work on your golf game…

Thank you, IFP, for keeping the Bond flag flying!

New Bond book from CHARLIE HIGSON coming May 4

Some fantastic news this morning from Ian Fleming Publications. The great Charlie Higson, author of the Young Bond novels (and my favorite continuation author) has written a new adult James Bond book set to be published May 4, 2023. Yes, that's in just a month! Here's the full press release from IFP.

On His Majesty’s Secret Service:

Charlie Higson commissioned to write new James Bond adventure to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III

Published 4 May 2023, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust

LONDON. Charlie Higson, author of the bestselling Young Bond series, has been commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications to write a new James Bond adventure to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, it is announced today, Friday 31 March.

On His Majesty’s Secret Service will be published on Thursday 4 May ahead of the Coronation on Saturday 6 May – and 60 years after the publication of Ian Fleming’s tenth novel, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in 1963. All royalties from the sale of the book will go to support the work of the UK charity, the National Literacy Trust.

The action of this entirely new 007 adventure brings Bond into the present day. It is the 4th of May, two days before the coronation of King Charles III and the world's favourite spy has his work cut out for him. Bond is sent at the last minute to thwart an attempt to disrupt the Coronation by the wealthy, eccentric and self-styled Athelstan of Wessex, who is on a deadly mission of his own to teach the United Kingdom a lesson. Can Bond dismantle his shady plans and defeat his privately hired team of mercenaries?

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, comments: “The Coronation of King Charles III is a momentous occasion for the country. We asked ourselves how we at Ian Fleming Publications could celebrate it, and the answer seemed obvious. Ian Fleming’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was first published on 1st April 1963. What better way, sixty years on, to mark this new chapter in history than with a brand new story: On His Majesty’s Secret Service? We shared our thoughts with Charlie, and he was delighted to take on the challenge of writing a Bond adventure in time for publication in May. Together we hope this book will give valuable support to the National Literacy Trust.”

Charlie Higson’s phenomenally successful Young Bond series has sold over a million copies in the UK alone and has been translated into more than 24 different languages. He adds:

“When IFP came to me with the idea of writing an adult Bond story a little more than a month ago, I was thrilled – until I realised it had to be ready for the Coronation in May. Getting it written and turned around in such a short space of time was going to be as tense and heart-pounding as any Bond mission. Although, of course, nobody would actually be shooting at me. But I’ve been thinking about writing an adult Bond adventure ever since working on the Young Bond books, and he came bursting out of me with both fists flying. It was all I could do to keep up with him and get his story down on paper. Fleming famously wrote fast, and I channelled that energy. And now it’s so exciting for me to finally enter the world of grown-up Bond. Everything you want from a Bond story is in there – sex, violence, cars, a colourful villain with a nasty henchman, and of course, Bond himself. So well-known and yet so unknowable.”

Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literary Trust, says: “James Bond has been creating avid readers for seventy years and we are delighted that the royalties from On His Majesty’s Secret Service will go towards our own not-so-secret mission: to support the literacy skills of children and adults in the nation’s most disadvantaged areas. We hope that this partnership will create a whole new generation of readers, who will continue to discover the thrills of Bond for years to come.”

This brand new James Bond adventure arrives during a momentous year for Ian Fleming Publications. 13 April 2023 marks 70 years since the initial publication of Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. The company are celebrating 70 years of 007 throughout 2023, with many events planned, including the release of the Bond books under their own imprint on 13 April.

On His Majesty’s Secret Service is published by Ian Fleming Publications. It will be available digitally as an eBook, as an audiobook (read by Charlie Higson), and as a hardback, online and in bookshops from 4 May.

This is great news and I can't wait to add this next Bond adventure to my shelf. 

You can pre-order On His Majesty's Secret Service by Charlie Higson from Amazon.co.uk.

IFP to publish BOND books under its own imprint in 2023

As promised, Ian Fleming Publications have made a big announcement on this "James Bond Day." Below is their press release in full:

Welcome home, 007: Ian Fleming Publications to publish James Bond books under its own imprint in spring 2023

LONDON. Today, Wednesday 5 October, ‘James Bond Day’: Ian Fleming Publications Ltd (IFPL) announces plans to publish Ian Fleming’s books under its own imprint – a move that marks an exciting future for 007.

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, the family company that owns the literary copyright in his books, will be honouring the legacy of James Bond’s creator by producing its own editions of the 007 novels as well as non-fiction and the children’s classic Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.

The imprint – Ian Fleming Publications – will launch fresh editions in the UK and Commonwealth markets in spring 2023. Fleming’s original Bond novels and short story collections will be available from 13 April, exactly 70 years to the day after Ian Fleming first introduced special agent 007 to the world with the publication of Casino Royale. To date, since 1953, more than one hundred million Bond books have been sold worldwide.

Initially, new editions of the original adventures will be released in paperback and as eBooks, with covers by the design company Webb & Webb. Prestige hardbacks and limited editions will follow.

The logo for Ian Fleming Publications and The Ian Fleming Estate has long been the swallow tail hummingbird and it will be used as the colophon on books published by the imprint. The swallow tail hummingbird – or ‘doctor bird’ – is the national bird of Jamaica, the spiritual home of James Bond and where Ian Fleming famously wrote the legendary adventures. The doctor bird logo is the Fleming mark of authenticity and quality.

Ian Fleming Publications will be led by Managing Director Corinne Turner, alongside Simon Ward, Publishing Manager.

Corinne Turner comments: “IFPL has enjoyed many years' collaboration with publishing partners Random House and Penguin, but we feel it is time for a change of direction. The 70th anniversary of Casino Royale is an ideal opportunity to bring publication of Ian’s books in-house, enabling us to engage directly with readers and fans. We hope our new editions will reach as wide an audience as possible, attracting long-time readers as well those who have yet to discover the Bond novels.”

Fergus Fleming, Ian Fleming’s nephew, adds: “Before he wrote best-selling novels, Ian was a publisher. That IFP should publish his own books completes the circle.”

The website – www.ianfleming.com – already a destination for anyone interested in Fleming, his life and his literary works, will be developed throughout 2023 to house a direct-to-consumer shop, as well as newsletters, competitions, features and treasures from the archive. There will be exclusives and bonus content for those who sign up to the mailing list.

The Curtis Brown Group, IFPL’s literary agent, will continue to manage subsidiary rights licensing for the new imprint. Jonny Geller, CEO said: “Ian Fleming Publications has always been an innovative, dynamic and inventive manager of Ian Fleming’s work and everyone at Curtis Brown is looking forward to working with them on this next exciting stage. Finding a new generation of readers of James Bond has always been the top priority and IFPL’s publishing plans of the classic original novels will do this with huge energy and creativity.”

Ian Fleming Publications will be working closely with core high street retailers, independent book shops and libraries to ensure Ian’s 007 stories can be accessed by everyone. Sales and distribution will be handled by Turnaround, while Faber Factory will be handling the eBooks.

The move marks a new direction for Ian Fleming publishing as the 10-year licensing agreement with Penguin Random House (Vintage), for the UK and Commonwealth, comes to an end. IFPL will continue to work with partners internationally.

Prepare to be SHAKEN

Today comes news of a unique new James Bond book, created in collaboration with IFP, along with the first look at the cover art. 

Mitchell Beazley acquires Shaken the official James Bond 

cocktail book in collaboration with The Ian Fleming Estate

‘It’s just that I’d rather die of drink than of thirst.’ 

- Thunderball, Ian Fleming

Mitchell Beazley (part of the Octopus Publishing Group) today announced the acquisition of Shaken: Drinking with James Bond & Ian Fleming, the official cocktail book. It has been created in close  collaboration with the Ian Fleming Estate and Ian Fleming Publications. Octopus Publisher Alison Starling acquired world rights all languages from Gordon Wise at Curtis Brown.

Shaken explores James Bond creator Ian Fleming's writings on the pleasures of drinking and offers 50 cocktail recipes created by the co-founders of award-winning bar Swift – Edmund Weil (who is related to Fleming), Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson. Fergus Fleming has written a foreword.

From the very first 007 novel, Casino Royale, in which Bond christens The Vesper, to the immortal lines, ‘shaken and not stirred’, which first appeared in print in Diamonds Are Forever, strong, carefully crafted cocktails are an essential component of every Bond story. With ten classic drinks from the pages of the novels, plus forty brand-new recipes inspired by the people, places and plots of the original novels, Shaken offers both a dazzling selection of delicious cocktails and a glorious celebration of Fleming’s writing on a subject he was fascinated by.

Ian Fleming was born in London in 1908 and died in 1964. His first novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953. It introduced James Bond, Agent 007, to the world and was an instant success. Fleming went on to write thirteen other Bond books, which spawned one of the most successful and well-known film franchises ever. The James Bond books have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 20 languages. There are 26 films and counting.

In 2016 Edmund Weil and his wife Rosie Stimpson, the duo behind celebrated London speakeasies Nightjar and Oriole, teamed up with bar industry legends Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson to open Bar Swift in Soho. It has achieved early renown, picking up the Time Out Best New Bar award in its first year.

Alison Starling at Octopus said of the announcement, ‘When Gordon Wise mentioned this idea at last year’s London Book Fair I jumped at the chance to acquire the book. It has been a huge privilege to work with the Ian Fleming Estate on this the first official James Bond cocktail book and bringing the award-winning team from Bar Swift into the mix has only added to the quality (and enjoyment) of the project.’

Georgia Grimond of the Fleming Estate commented, ‘Fleming was a stickler for well made and delicious things in life. Long before many others, he was writing in detail about how best to enjoy a good drink so it has been a delight to bring his writing, expertise and ingenious names to new audiences as well as those that know him and Bond well.’

Shaken will be published by Mitchell Beazley on 6th September 2018 at £15 in hardback. It can be pre-ordered from Amazon.co.uk.

Anthony Horowitz's new Bond is FOREVER AND A DAY

Ian Fleming Publications and Jonathan Cape have revealed the title, release date, and plot details for Anthony Horowitz's new Bond novel, Forever and a Day.

'007 is dead'

FOREVER AND A DAY: explosive prequel to 

Casino Royale by Anthony Horowitz announced

Anthony Horowitz’s second James Bond novel using original material by Ian Fleming will be published on Thursday 31 May 2018, it is announced today. Forever and a Day is a prequel to Casino Royale, Fleming’s first 007 novel, and will explore the origins of the world’s most famous secret agent. 

*** 

‘M laid down his pipe and stared at it tetchily. “We have no choice. We’re just going to bring forward this other chap you’ve been preparing. But you didn’t tell me his name.”

“It’s Bond, sir,” the Chief of Staff replied.

“James Bond.”’ 

The sea keeps its secrets. But not this time. 

One body. Three bullets. 007 floats in the waters of Marseille, killed by an unknown hand. 

It’s time for a new agent to step up. Time for a new weapon in the war against organised crime.

It’s time for James Bond to earn his licence to kill. 

This is the story of the birth of a legend, in the brutal underworld of the French Riviera. 

*** 

Forever and a Day will be published in the UK by Jonathan Cape – Ian Fleming’s original publisher and an imprint of Vintage Publishing.

‘I couldn't have been happier when the Ian Fleming estate invited me back to write a second Bond. I very much enjoyed writing Forever and a Day, exploring what might have been Bond’s first mission and imagining some of the forces that might have turned him into the iconic figure that the whole world knows. I hope Ian Fleming would have approved!’ – Anthony Horowitz 

’This is an excellent novel in the best tradition of Ian Fleming. His family would like to congratulate Anthony on such a superb achievement’ – Fergus Fleming, nephew of Ian Fleming and Chairman of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. 

‘Anthony Horowitz has written the ultimate Bond novel – Forever and a Day is a thrilling ride from the very first page. It’s a book that will not only appeal to Bond fans but it will introduce Bond to a whole new generation of readers with the extraordinary story of how he got his licence to kill.’ – Michal Shavit, Publishing Director, Jonathan Cape

Pre-order Forever and a Day at Amazon.co.uk.

Dynamite to explore backstory of 'M' in new comic

Dynamite has announced a new one-shot comic that will explore the backstory of James Bond's boss "M". James Bond: M will be relased in February 2018. Below is the cover art and press release.

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES NEW JAMES BOND: M ONE-SHOT 

Writer Declan Shalvey and Artist PJ Holden Tapped to Serve as

Creative Team Behind the All-New 007 One-Shot! 

November 21, 2017, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment and Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. are pleased to announce that superstar writer Declan Shalvey and artist PJ Holden have been tapped to helm the latest entry into the James Bond universe with James Bond: M. The new one-shot will delve into the back-story of Bond's superior, M, and his time in the field prior to his ascension as head of England's MI6. The standalone story, which features 40-pages of heart-stopping international intrigue and espionage, is set for launch in February 2018! 

James Bond's superior, code-named M, scrambles MI6's secret agents across the globe. Sometimes, he knowingly sends them to their deaths, for the greater good. But a traumatic event from M's early days in the field returns to haunt him, forcing M to return to Belfast, the scene of a crime…HIS crime.

Writer Declan Shalvey says, "I'm delighted to play around in the Bond playpen for this one-shot. Myself and PJ Holden have talked a lot about what we'd like to see in this story, we want to take a British spy and put him in a world that is both foreign and familiar. Belfast is such a unique place and a really great opportunity to do something different with a Bond character yet will still feel very much of that world. PJ is such a fantastic storyteller, I'm excited to see what he does with this story, being from Belfast himself. I love one-shots, and I know that PJ, along with Dearbhla Kelly are going to make this a beautiful package." 

Raised in the West of Ireland, a graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design, and winner of an Eagle Award for Hero Killer, his first published comic, Declan Shalvey's first professional work was in the UK scene with noir indie-books and adaptations of classical literature. He later came to prominence in the American market with his moody, atmospheric work with his arc on Moon Knight. He has since worked with several large publishers to write the hit series Civil War II, Deadpool vs Old Man Logan, and Venomverse: War Stories.

Artist PJ Holden says, "Look I've walked the streets of Belfast checking dead letter drops and wanting to be a super spy since I was 7 years old, I'm pumped and primed for this. Bringing Bond's boss M to Belfast is the job I was born for." 

PJ Holden is a Belfast-based artist that began his comic book career in 1997 with Fantagraphic's Holy Cross #3, before finding critical acclaim 3 years later for his work on 2000 AD and Judge Dredd. Holden saw his big break in the America market with his mini-series Fearless before forming his own company, Infurious Comics, which aims to produce mobile comics for iOS devices, Holden himself designed the Comic Reader App in order to facilitate the project, which the BBC referred to as one of "four pioneering web innovations" flying the flag for UK digital innovation. 

"It is always such an honor to work with a master like Declan Shalvey, and we're excited to see his unique take on the Bond Universe and working together again with PJ (Holden)," says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher for Dynamite. "We're certain that with his unbelievable ability to craft an intricate story, combined with the stunning artwork of PJ Holden, M's long overdue profile will be as superior as the character himself!" 

James Bond: M will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' December 2017 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in February 2018. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of James Bond: M with their local comic book retailers. James Bond: M will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, Madefire, and Dark Horse Digital.

Dynamite announces JAMES BOND: THE BODY for 2018

Dynamite has announced their next Jame Bond 007 story arc, The Body by Ales Kot. The six-part series will begin in January 2018. Below are details.

October 4, 2017, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment is pleased to announce that Ales Kot, the Czech-born writer best known for his work on the popular series Zero and Secret Avengers, has been tapped to helm the latest entry into the James Bond universe with James Bond: The Body. The latest tale of international intrigue and espionage will feature six issues, each with an original story line that will unite the full series, and is set for a January 2018 launch! 

As Bond undergoes a post-mission medical examination, he relays the story of his previous mission to the examiner. Each cut, bruise, and broken bone connected to a specific event of the mission. A connection is made between two people with different purposes: one to save lives, the other to take them. 

Writer Ales Kot says, "I'm honored to be working on the original James Bond -- a complicated character that reflects my interest in war, violence and power. I took the project on because I was encouraged to explore these interests and take Bond to places and situations he rarely, if ever, experienced in fiction -- and see what truly makes him tick." 

"We've been putting this together with Ales for some time now and it's rewarding that we're finally there," says Joseph Rybandt, Executive Editor for Dynamite. "He's got a grand vision for Bond that is unlike anything we've done to date, which bespeaks of his innovation and creative place in comics." 

James Bond: the Body #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' November 2017 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in January 2018.

ANTHONY HOROWITZ TO PEN SECOND BOND NOVEL IN 2018

Huge news today! IFP has announced that Anthony Horowitz will return to pen a second James Bond novel to be published in 2018. Here's the full press release from The Bookseller.

Novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz is writing a new James Bond novel for "Ian Fleming’s original publisher", Vintage imprint Jonathan Cape.

Horowitz was invited to write a second official James Bond novel by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd after the success of his 2015 bestseller, Trigger Mortis, published by Orion in September last year.

The news Jonathan Cape will publish the new Bond book follows swiftly on the heels of news Horowitz is writing a new series of 'whodunnit’ crime novels for Century and Arrow.

As yet untitled, the setting will be "period Bond" and the story will again feature previously unpublished material by Fleming.

UK and Commonwealth rights were acquired for Cape by Richard Cable, m.d. of Vintage, and Michal Shavit, publishing director at Jonathan Cape, to publish in spring 2018. Rights were sold in the English language by Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, on behalf of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd and The Ian Fleming Estate.

Cable said: "We are delighted to welcome Anthony Horowitz and a new James Bond novel to Jonathan Cape, Ian Fleming’s publisher. Anthony’s first Bond novel, Trigger Mortis, was a great critical and commercial success, and we know that there are thousands of Bond fans who will be thrilled that Anthony has taken on the challenge once again."

Horowitz said: "Writing Trigger Mortis was a pleasure and I was delighted by the positive response when it was published. And I was thrilled when the Ian Fleming estate asked me to come back. How could I refuse? I can't wait to return to the world of James Bond."

Horowitz is the fourth author in recent years to be invited by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd to write an official Bond novel, following in the footsteps of William Boyd, whose Solo was published in 2013, the American thriller writer Jeffery Deaver, who wrote Carte Blanche in 2011, and Sebastian Faulks, whose Devil May Care was published to mark Ian Fleming’s centenary in 2008.

Horowitz has written over 40 books including the teen spy series Alex Rider, which is estimated to have sold 19m copies worldwide and was adapted into the movie "Stormbreaker" in 2006. He is also a writer for adults and was commissioned by the Conan Doyle Estate and Orion Books to write a new Sherlock Holmes novel. The House of Silk was published in November 2011, selling more than 35 countries around the world. He is also behind television series including "Midsomer Murders" and "Foyle's War".

Corinne Turner, m.d. of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that Anthony Horowitz is going to write a second James Bond novel with inspiration again from original Fleming material, and of course delighted that Bond will be back home at Jonathan Cape. Trigger Mortis was a superb book, full of energy, wit, twists and turns, and we can’t wait to see what Anthony comes up with next."

Horowitz last night (3rd October) launched Magpie Murders, a standalone crime novel inspired by Agatha Christie and the golden age of crime fiction, which publishes on Thursday (6th October). In the spirit of the night, attendees were asked to solve a riddle to find the venue, the 1901 Art Club, where an intimate gathering took place.

In addition to Trigger Mortis, Orion has also published a set of Sherlock Holmes novels by Horowitz, including The House of Silk.

Thanks to Double O Section for first alerting me to the news.

TRIGGER MORTIS: UNLOCKING BOND experience in UK

Today we have updated information on Waterstones Piccadilly's special "interactive pop-up experience" that will be part of the UK launch of Anthony Horowitz's Trigger Mortis, starting off with a slick new poster.

TRIGGER MORTIS: UNLOCKING BOND

An interactive pop-up experience inspired by Anthony Horowitz’s new James Bond novel

Monday 7th to Sunday 13th September 2015 at Waterstones Piccadilly, 203/206 Piccadilly, London SW1Y 6WW

To mark the publication of one of the most anticipated books of the year, an interactive pop-up experience, inspired by Anthony Horowitz's novel set in 1957, is being installed at Waterstones Piccadilly, London for one week only.

• Visitors will be transported back to the late 1950s with walls, shelves and tables filled with books, artefacts, prints and memorabilia of the era

• In true Bond style, unlocking secret codes and solving clues will lead customers to a secret antechamber where they will find themselves inside the pages of Trigger Mortis

• An audio as well as visual experience, visitors will be able to enjoy Selma star David Oyelowo's reading of Trigger Mortis. 

Produced by the team behind Les Enfants Terribles' smash-hit immersive show Alice's Adventures Underground and the creative director behind Secret Cinema's Back to the Future, TRIGGER MORTIS: UNLOCKING BOND is guaranteed to intrigue and delight. 

The pop-up experience will open exclusively to ticket-holders attending the publication launch with Anthony Horowitz on Monday 7th September, tickets for which are on sale at https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-anthony-horowitz/london-piccadilly. The space will then be open to the general public from Tuesday 8th September to Sunday 13th September. Visiting the pop-up is free, however to participate in the Trigger Mortis challenge a copy of the book must be purchased.

Trigger Mortis is based in part on unpublished Ian Fleming material. It will be released on September 8, 2015 in both the U.S. and UK.

Pre-order Trigger Mortis U.S. edition.

Pre-order Trigger Mortis UK edition.

THE NEW BOND NOVEL IS: 'TRIGGER MORTIS'

The cover and title for Anthony Horowitz's new James Bond novel is here! On September 8, 2015, James Bond (and Pussy Galore!) will be back in TRIGGER MORTIS.

Here's the full official press release:

JAMES BOND RACES AGAINST A COUNTDOWN TO TERROR IN
TRIGGER MORTIS
Anthony Horowitz lifts lid on title of new 007 novel and announces “Pussy Galore is back!”

Anthony Horowitz reveals today (28th May), on what would have been James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s 107th birthday, that his forthcoming official 007 adventure is to be titled Trigger Mortis. In a move that will whet the appetite of fans worldwide and is unprecedented among recent Bond novels – the contents have always been shrouded in mystery until publication – Horowitz divulges that the secret agent’s new adventure begins in 1957, two weeks after the events of Fleming’s Goldfinger. Horowitz places Bond in the middle of the Soviet-American Space Race as the United States prepares for a critical rocket launch, and brings back the most famous Bond Girl of all: Pussy Galore!

Horowitz is the latest contemporary novelist to tackle literature’s greatest action hero, and the first to place his work directly within Fleming’s original canon. As well as Pussy Galore, the book features: brand new Bond Girl Jeopardy Lane; Jai Seung Sin, a sadistic, scheming Korean adversary hell-bent on vengeance; and breathless, globe-trotting adventure. Uniquely among latter-day Bond authors, Horowitz has included original Ian Fleming material: a treatment for Murder on Wheels, an episode of a television series that was never made. Fleming’s text sees Bond in the high-octane world of motor racing and it is his never-used plot that kicks off the action of Trigger Mortis.

Anthony Horowitz said: “It was always my intention to go back to the true Bond, which is to say, the Bond that Fleming created and it was a fantastic bonus having some original, unseen material from the master to launch my story. I was so glad that I was allowed to set the book two weeks after my favourite Bond novel, Goldfinger, and I'm delighted that Pussy Galore is back! It was great fun revisiting the most famous Bond Girl of all - although she is by no means the only dangerous lady in Trigger Mortis. I hope fans enjoy it. My aim was to make this the most authentic James Bond novel anyone could have written.

Trigger Mortis will be published on 8th September by Orion Publishing.

#TriggerMortis

Click to pre-order Trigger Mortis UK edition.

Click to pre-order Trigger Mortis U.S. edition.

James Bond fansites take stand against Sony hacking

A group of responsible James Bond fansite edtors have drafted a joint statement agreeing to not disseminate information about the new James Bond film gathered from the recent Sony hacking. I wholeheartedly support this action and add myself to this commitment. Here is the statement in full as published at CommanderBond.net:

Joint statement by James Bond fansite editors

Regarding the leaking of the confidential SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT correspondence and ‘SPECTRE’ script drafts

As editors of the websites James Bond Brasil (jamesbondbrasil.com), James Bond-magasinet (jamesbondnorge.no), The Bond Bulletin (thebondbulletin.blogspot.de) as well as the James Bond Club Germany (james-bond-club.de), we, Marcos Kontze, Morten Steingrimsen, Benjamin Lind and Andreas Pott wish to state, that we will not publish or write about any information that has been circulating in media and on the web, and has been illegally obtained from Sony Pictures Entertainment in the recent hacker attack.

Furthermore, we refuse to comment on the content and nature of the above mentioned informations, to divulge this content in any form or respond to any queries regarding to it.

The intention of our websites and the content published within is to inform other Bond Fans about current developments, events and stories from the James Bond universe and not to damage the people who put a lot of work and effort into the making of the Bond Films that we all love and admire. We feel that enough damage and disrespect has been done and sincerely wish Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM and EON Productions that a swift resolution of the matter can be achieved.

Marcos Kontze – Editor, ‘James Bond Brasil’

Morten Steingrimsen – Editor, ‘James Bond-magasinet’

Benjamin Lind – Editor, ‘The Bond Bulletin’ & ‘Adviser of James Bond Club Germany’

Andreas Pott – President of the ‘James Bond Club Germany’

David Winter - Editor of ‘CommanderBond.net’

John Cox - Editor of ‘The Book Bond’

Read: Official statement on SPECTRE at 007.com.

JAMES BOND RETURNS TO COMICS IN 2015

And the good news just keeps on coming! Today it's announce that Ian Fleming Publications has teamed with Dynimite Comics to produce a new series of James Bond graphic novels and comics in 2015. The new books will chronicle James Bond's early career in the Secret Service. Here's the full press release:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT

WITH IAN FLEMING PUBLICATIONS LTD.

PLANS TO BRING BRITISH ICON JAMES BOND 007 TO COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND DIGITAL COMICS IN 2015

October 7th, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, a leading publisher of English language comic books and graphic novels, is proud to announce their partnership with Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., (IFPL) the company that owns and administers the literary copyright of Ian Fleming’s published works, including his fourteen James Bond books.

Under their agreement, negotiated by Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, Dynamite has been granted worldwide rights to publish comic books, digital comics and graphic novels starring 007, Fleming’s iconic secret agent will re-live the exploits that have thrilled and captivated fans for over half a century in fresh visual adaptations of the classic Bond stories.

Moreover, Dynamite plans to create a series of brand new adventures unveiling the defining – and largely undocumented – early years of Bond’s career. These new stories will draw inspiration from the Fleming canon to explore Bond’s ‘origins’: his raw early years before he gambled with his life in the first novel, Casino Royale (1953). Some other familiar faces from the expansive 007 mythos will also make appearances in this series - criminal masterminds, hired henchmen, glamorous Bond Girls and secret service allies – alongside all-new characters.

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications said “It’s over sixty years since the publication of Casino Royale, and now more than ever it’s an exciting time to be a Bond fan. We’re thrilled that 007 will be revisiting the world of comics, as Fleming’s novels have a long and successful history in this medium, ever since they began to be published as newspaper comic strips in the late fifties. Dynamite are the perfect partners to take on the challenge of continuing this legacy, and we are very much looking forward to working with them.”

“In the journey of discovering new readers for Ian Fleming’s classic Bond stories, we are delighted to be partnering with Dynamite in exploring different ways to broaden the audience. Visually and literally, James Bond will have a new face.” states Jonny Geller, Joint CEO Curtis Brown.

“Ian Fleming’s James Bond is one the best-known characters in the world, yet we know very little of his background and beginnings. The Bond villains are some of the most memorable figures in Popular culture…where did they come from? And in some cases, where did they go?" states Editor Mike Lake.

"James Bond is one of the greatest cultural icons in the world. His author and creator, Ian Fleming, was not only in touch with popular culture in his time, but also saw ahead of his time, and his written work will outlive us all," says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. "The character, the structure, and the source material is so incredibly strong. The original prose storytelling serves as the basis for one of the most successful film franchises ever, a franchise that reinvents itself to be in tune with each generation. By doing so, it allows the character to be an ever-progressive pop culture phenomenon, one that energizes existing fans and engages new fans, thus helping to ensure that Bond's relevance and importance will live on forever. The high-octane action, the charm, the unquestionable allure of this man of action - it all stems from Ian Fleming. We are excited to build upon Fleming's source material with new canonical stories, and are honored at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to be able to bring new stories to fans around the world."

Ian Fleming’s World War II service as assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence in London granted him a wealth of experience in the world of espionage, on which he drew when writing his novels. Fleming published fourteen James Bond titles and lived to witness their enormous success in print and on film. His cultural legacy has thrived for over fifty years, as millions of readers worldwide continue to discover and enjoy his work.

Dynamite plans to launch its first James Bond comic books in 2015, soliciting periodical issues in Diamond Comic Distributors' Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market. Digital and print editions will be available simultaneously through such platforms as Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital. Original graphic novels and collections will be released through the comic book specialty market, digital platforms, and numerous book market channels including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and more.

You can read an overview of James Bond's illustrated history HERE.

ANTHONY HOROWITZ TO WRITE NEW JAMES BOND NOVEL!

Ian Fleming Publications have just announced the next adult James Bond continuation novel will be written by Anthony Horowitz. Here's the full press release which just landed in my email:

ANTHONY HOROWITZ TO PEN NEW JAMES BOND NOVEL INSPIRED BY ORIGINAL UNSEEN FLEMING MATERIAL

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., The Ian Fleming Estate, the Orion Publishing Group, and HarperCollins US and Canada are delighted to announce that international bestselling and award-winning writer Anthony Horowitz is at work on an official new James Bond novel. Currently dubbed Project One, the novel is due for worldwide release on 8th September 2015.

The new book by Horowitz – a lifelong fan of Ian Fleming – will be set in the 1950s and will be unique among the modern James Bond novels, in that a section will contain previously unseen material written by Fleming to which Horowitz has had exclusive access.

Jessie Grimond, great-niece of Ian Fleming, said: “In the 1950s Ian Fleming wrote several episode treatments for a James Bond television series. But it never came to be made and he ended up turning most of the plots into the short stories that are now in the collections For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and The Living Daylights. However, there are a few plot outlines which he never used and which, till now, have never been published, or aired. Given that Anthony is as brilliant a screenwriter as he is a novelist, we thought it would be exciting to see what he would do with one of them.”

The treatment chosen by Horowitz, which will serve as a starting point for his novel, is entitled Murder on Wheels, and follows Bond on a mission into the world of motor racing. Familiar characters in the TV treatment include ‘M’ and Miss Moneypenny.

One of the country’s most prolific and successful writers, Horowitz has over 40 books to his name. His recent Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, sold in more than 35 countries, whilst his bestselling teen spy series, Alex Rider, has sold more than 19 million copies worldwide. As a TV screenwriter he created both Midsomer Murdersand the BAFTA-winning Foyle’s War.

Horowitz said: "It's no secret that Ian Fleming's extraordinary character has had a profound influence on my life, so when the estate approached me to write a new James Bond novel how could I possibly refuse? It's a huge challenge – more difficult even than Sherlock Holmes in some ways – but having original, unpublished material by Fleming has been an inspiration. This is a book I had to write."

Lucy Fleming, niece of Ian Fleming, said: “We are thrilled that Anthony has taken on the Bond mantle, and can’t wait to read his novel. Anthony is a brilliant writer, as his millions of fans around the world demonstrate. He has an exceptional skill for writing spy thrillers in particular, and it is this coupled with the original Fleming material and his knowledge of and enthusiasm for Bond, which makes for a really exciting proposition.”

Malcolm Edwards, Deputy CEO and Group Publisher, Orion Publishing Group, said: “James Bond and Anthony Horowitz is a match made in publishing heaven. Anthony is a writer of exceptional skill and I have no doubt he will deliver a book that will resonate and delight Bond fans around the globe. For our part, we will publish the book in a way that celebrates the legacy of literary Bond and mount a campaign that will make publication day one of the biggest publishing events of 2015.”

Jonathan Burnham, Senior Vice President and Publisher, HarperCollins US, said: “HarperCollins is thrilled to be publishing the new James Bond novel in the United States and Canada. Anthony Horowitz is an author of exceptional skill and range – his Sherlock Holmes novel, House of Silk, displayed his amazing ability to reanimate fictional characters to create a new and powerful narrative. The combination of this talent, his inventiveness and brilliance as a novelist, and his access to hitherto unpublished Fleming material, makes this a uniquely exciting event for all James Bond fans.”

The book will be published by Orion Publishing Group in the UK, and by HarperCollins in the United States. The book rights were sold in the English language by Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, on behalf of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd and The Ian Fleming Estate. International rights will be offered at the forthcoming Frankfurt Book Fair on October 6.

Further announcements about the project will follow in 2015.

I thought Horowitz's recent official Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, was brilliant, so I'm very excited about this choice. And James Bond in the world of auto racing... Yes please!

Jon Gilbert's IAN FLEMING THE BIBLIOGRAPHY wins the ILAB Breslauer Prize

Ian Fleming The Bibliography by Jon Gilbert has won the prestigious International League of Antiquarian Booksellers Breslauer Prize for Bibliography. Below is the official press release from the ILAB website.

AND THE WINNER IS ... JAMES BOND!

16th ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography

The ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography, given every fourth year to the most outstanding scholarly book about books and worth $10.000, is one of the most prestigious prizes in the field of bibliography.

The Jury, consisting of Felix de Marez Oyens (President of the B.H. Breslauer Foundation), David Adams (Manchester University), Jean-Marc Chatelain (Bibliothèque Nationale de France), Poul Jan Poulsen (Aldus Antikvariat, Denmark), Umberto Pregliasco (Libreria Antiquaria Pregliasco, Italy) and Arnoud Gerits (A. Gerits & Son, The Netherlands), has honoured Jon Gilbert with the 16th Prize for his outstanding and superb bibliography on Ian Fleming and his works:

JON GILBERT: IAN FLEMING. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY

Preface by Fergus Fleming. Foreword by Michael L. Vanblaricum. Edited by Brad Frank. London, Queen Anne Press, 2012.

The quality of the submitted books was high and many books needed a thorough discussion: the diversity of subjects was impressive, the scholarship and devotion put into each and every publication could only evoke admiration. The Jury realized that it was discussing, in many cases, lifelong interest and devotion to a certain subject or topic, and that many authors have worked on their bibliography in evenings, during week-ends and during holidays as many authors have a day-to-day professional life, often outside the world of books.

The Jury did not come easily to this decision: there were many books of impressive quality that might have been awarded the Prize as well. But the task of any Jury is, at the end of the day, to make a decision, and the Jury awarded Jon Gilbert’s book: an outstanding work of meticulous scholarship, covering every aspect of Fleming’s writings, manuscripts, proofs, corrected or uncorrected, first and all later impressions, paperback editions and all subsequent printings and editions. It gives insight into the conception of a book, the editorial process, in short, Jon Gilbert's work covers all that possibly is to know, all one can possibly know, about Fleming and his writings. And it not only shows that modern authors are collectible, but also that modern authors merit exhaustive bibliographical scholarship. Ian Fleming. The Bibliography is, in itself, an encouragement to collect and outstanding proof that bibliographical scholarship is not limited to pre-1900 books and authors. Jon Gilbert’s book has set a standard that will not easily be equalled and is, in every aspect, a most deserved winner of the 16th ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography.

The 16th Prize will be awarded in an official ceremony during the 41st Congress of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), preceded by ILAB’s International Antiquarian Book Fair, both in Paris in April 2014, and both coinciding with celebrations around the 100th anniversary of the Syndicat national de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (SLAM).

Arnoud Gerits (Secretary, ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography)

Congratulations Jon! Definitely deserving.

You can buy Ian Fleming The Bibliography on Amazon.com.

OFFICIAL: YOUNG BOND RETURNS IN 2014

Ian Fleming Publications announced today that the bestselling Young Bond series will return in Fall of 2014 in the first of four new books penned by author Steve Cole. Here's the official press release:

Steve Cole (Photo © Paul Wilkinson)

We are delighted to announce that a new series of four YOUNG BOND titles will be published by Random House from Autumn 2014, penned by Steve Cole.

Cole, who takes over from the original creator of Young Bond, Charlie Higson, is the author of a number of hugely successful children’s books – including the Astrosaurs series and several authorised Doctor Who novels. He is a lifelong fan of Fleming’s Bond novels:

‘I first encountered Bond in print as a teenager, when I read From a View to a Kill. Fleming´s writing was so vivid and authentic, Bond and the world he inhabited seemed suddenly real to me – and the danger and glamour led me through book after book. It´s both a thrilling privilege and an exciting challenge now to be shaping a new era in the life of such an iconic character – with many firsts and surprises to come as James´s life in the dangerous 1930s develops.’ 

Cole’s first Young Bond novel will launch with a bang in Autumn 2014. It will be published in hardback on RHCP’s highly respected Jonathan Cape children’s imprint.

Whilst Higson’s five novels chart Bond’s childhood at Eton and his introduction to the world of espionage, Cole’s first title will pick up where By Royal Command (2008) left off and will follow teenage James in the aftermath of his expulsion from Eton. This period in Bond’s life has never been explored before and readers can expect all the thrills, action, glamour and tension that are the essential ingredients of a classic Bond adventure.

Philippa Dickinson, Managing Director of Random House Children’s Publishing, says, ‘I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Ian Fleming Publications to publish a new quartet of Young Bond adventures. The period when James Bond would have been a teenager was an extraordinary time – a perfect setting for thrilling storytelling for young adults. Steve Cole is an exceptional storyteller with a wonderful ability to connect with his readers. A winning combination.’

Random House Children’s Publishing have acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in four titles from Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, the first of which will be published in hardback in Autumn 2014. Corinne Turner, Managing Director of IFPL, comments, ‘Steve Cole is an imaginative and engaging author whose plots are addictive and gripping, so we were thrilled when he agreed to steer Young Bond through his mid-teen years. As publishers of Ian Fleming’s original Bond books and William Boyd’s new Bond continuation novel, SOLO, Random House are the perfect partner to work with us in bringing the next generation of Young Bond books to life. On behalf of Ian Fleming Publications and the Fleming family, I’d like to welcome Steve Cole to the exciting world of 007 – we can’t wait to see what scrapes James gets into next.’

Exciting news! (And it looks like there was some validity in this after all.)

Click here to read my five part series on The Secret History of Young James Bond.

What can I say?! I'm writing Young Bond! #YoungBond @RHKidsUK http://t.co/GrTDMYqNSf
— Steve Cole (@SteveColeBooks) October 9, 2013

The Ian Fleming estate have just announced that @SteveColeBooks will be writing some new Young Bond books. Good luck, mate. It'll be fun.
— charlie higson (@monstroso) October 9, 2013

OO7 GOES 'SOLO' TODAY!

The new James Bond novel Solo by William Boyd is released today in the UK. The book sees 007 in action in West Africa and Washington D.C. in 1969. Solo is published by the original Bond publisher Jonathan Cape, and is the 51st (by my count) James Bond novel.

Solo by William Boyd
Published by Jonathan Cape on 26 September 2013
Hardback: £18.99
Unabridged audiobook in CD and digital download: RRP £18.99

It is 1969 and James Bond is about to go solo, recklessly motivated by revenge.

Having just celebrated his 45th birthday at The Dorchester, Bond is summoned to headquarters to receive an unusual assignment in Africa. A seasoned veteran of the service, 007 is sent to single-handedly stop a civil war in the small West African nation of Zanzarim. A feverish mission ensues, revealing a twisting conspiracy that extends further than Bond ever imagined.

Aided by a beautiful accomplice and hindered by the local militia, he undergoes a scarring experience which compels him to ignore M’s orders in pursuit of this own brand of justice. Bond’s renegade action leads him to Washington, D.C., where he discovers a web of geopolitical intrigue and witnesses fresh horrors.

Even if Bond succeeds in exacting his revenge, a man with two faces will come to stalk his every waking moment.

Solo combines the glamour and excitement of Ian Fleming’s original novels with the masterful storytelling of William Boyd. A stylish novel with an endlessly surprising plot, a vivid sense of time and place and a deep understanding of human nature, it brings together two of the best in their respective fields, James Bond and William Boyd.

Boyd was first introduced to Fleming’s novels by his father in the sixties. He comments, ‘When Ian Fleming Publications invited me to write the new James Bond novel I didn’t hesitate. I accepted at once - for me the prospect appeared incredibly exciting and stimulating - a once-in-a-lifetime challenge.’

This book sees James Bond returning to Jonathan Cape, Ian Fleming’s original publisher, who published Fleming’s first novel, Casino Royale, sixty years ago. Solo will be published by HarperCollins in Canada and the U.S. on 8 October.

William Boyd Biography

Born in Accra Ghana in 1952, William Boyd was educated at Gordonstoun School and attended the universities of Nice, Glasgow and Jesus College, Oxford. His novels and short stories have garnered many awards, including the Whitbread, the Somerset Maugham Award, the Jonathan Llewellyn Rhys Prize, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Prix Jean Monnet and the Costa Novel of the Year. William Boyd is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He has been presented with honorary Doctorates in Literature from the Universities of St Andrews, Stirling, Glasgow and Dundee and was awarded the CBE in 2005.

As a screenwriter Boyd has written a number of feature films and television productions including adaptions of his own novels - Stars and Bars (1987), A Good Man in Africa (1993); Armadillo (2001) and Any Human Heart – a four-part drama for Channel 4 in 2010 – which garnered much critical acclaim.

He is married and divides his time between London and the South-West of France.

You can purchase the UK edition of Solo now on Amazon.co.uk  The U.S. edition from HarperCollins will be released on October 8 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.

THE FINAL UK COVER ART FOR 'SOLO' IS HERE!

Ian Fleming Publications and Jonathan Cape have revealed the UK cover art for Solo, the new James Bond novel by William Boyd. Here is the full press release:

Cover revealed for new James Bond novel, Solo

Dominic West announced as voice of audiobook

www.jamesbondsolo.co.uk / #BondSolo

As anticipation builds for the publication of the new James Bond novel, Solo by William Boyd, Jonathan Cape is delighted to reveal the official cover today, Thursday 1 August 2013. They have also announced that British actor Dominic West will be the narrator of the audiobook edition of Solo.

The cover, which has been designed by renowned Random House Creative Director Suzanne Dean, features a stunning retro-inspired die-cut design including, amongst other things, bullet holes. Dean took her inspiration from the 1960s setting of the book and design heroes including Saul Bass, who was also the inspiration for Random House’s Vintage Classics Ian Fleming series.

In true James Bond style, the primary colours and bullet holes of the dust jacket hint at danger, adventure and espionage – whilst removing the outer dust jacket playfully reveals a red hardcover printed with bullet burns and a gecko, a reference to James Bond’s African mission in the book.

Suzanne Dean, who has been praised by authors including Julian Barnes and whose other work includes the covers of Ian McEwan’s Atonement and Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, commented on her design:

‘A new Bond cover needs to do a lot of things at once. It needs to appeal to literary and commercial audiences, both fans of the original 14 Fleming books and film fans. It needs to reflect both the content of the novel and capture the reader’s imagination.

‘William Boyd has chosen to set Solo in 1969, and achieving this period feel was one of my core aims when designing the cover, whilst also ensuring that the book retained a fresh and contemporary lay-out. I didn’t want just to depict a cinematic image, but rather to try and reflect the essence of Ian Fleming’s original novels as well William Boyd’s own take on James Bond.’

A version of this cover will also be featured on the audiobook edition of Solo, read by Dominic West. West is perhaps best-known for his roles in the HBO series The Wire, BBC Two series The Hour and, most recently, BBC4’s biopic Burton and Taylor, where he played the title role of Richard Burton opposite Helena Bonham Carter. Richard Cable, Managing Director, Vintage Publishing, comments:

‘We are thrilled to have such a distinguished actor as Dominic West reading Solo. It’s the perfect combination of reader and text. Audio listeners are in for a real treat!

Click to enlarge

Suzanne Dean’s full statement on the design of Solo

‘A new Bond cover needs to do a lot of things at once. It needs to appeal to literary and commercial audiences, both fans of the original 14 Fleming books and film fans. It needs to reflect both the content of the novel and capture the reader’s imagination.

William Boyd has chosen to set Solo in 1969, and achieving this period feel was one of my core aims when designing the cover, whilst also ensuring that the book retained a fresh and contemporary lay-out. I didn’t want just to depict a cinematic image, but rather to try and reflect the essence of Ian Fleming’s original novels as well William Boyd’s own take on James Bond.

Inspiration came from my design heroes Paul Rand, Alvin Lustig and Saul Bass, all of whom were practicing in the sixties and whose style evokes a sense of the time. Saul Bass, a graphic designer and filmmaker, was perhaps best known for his design of film posters and motion- picture title sequences, including Psycho, The Man with the Golden Arm, and North by Northwest. He once described his main goal for his title sequences as being to ‘try to reach for a simple, visual phrase that tells you what the picture is all about and evokes the essence of the story’. Alvin Lustig rejected the typical cover design that summarised a book through one general image. His method was to read a text and get the feel of the author's creative drive, then to restate it in his own graphic terms.

I used the title of the book – Solo – as my starting point. In the book, Bond goes on an unauthorised solo mission, recklessly motivated by revenge. I had always been keen, since finding out the title, that there might be a way to use the two o’s within Solo and link it to the zeros in 007. I used the font Folio, a sans-serif font designed by Konrad Bauer and Walter Baum in 1957 which became popular during the sixties. It has a strong circular ‘o’ in its bold version, which formed an important feature within the design. In my design, the shadows thrown by the overlaying letters suggest hidden danger and tension, whilst the final ‘o’ in Solo suggests a door, or an escape route. The die cut holes in the dust jacket are an abstraction of bullet holes, and represent a pivotal part of the novel. The holes on the Solo cover reveal a flash of the red binding below; when you remove the dustjacket, the binding playfully reveals a gecko – a reference to Bond’s African mission in the book – and burn holes from the bullets, giving drama and an interactive expression to the whole package.’

I really like this cover and the design on the red boards (a salamander, eh?). And how cool is it to see the traditional Jonathan Cape logo back on the spine of a Bond book. Of course, I'm instantly reminded of the first U.S. edition of Ian Fleming's The Man With The Golden Gun, which also used cut out bullet holes as part of its cover design.

Solo will be released by Jonathan Cape in the UK on September 26, 2013. You can pre-order now on Amazon.co.uk.

UPDATE: AND NOW HERE'S THE FINAL U.S. COVER ART FOR 'SOLO'

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. 

Behind the scenes with the Croatian DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER cover art team

PRESS RELEASE:
Croatian Special Edition

of Ian Fleming’s Diamonds Are Forever

Presented at a Gala Event in Zagreb

ZAGREB, October 3, 2012 – “I knew you all expected Mr. Bond to show up for his promotion,” said David Slinn, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, “but he is currently at an undisclosed location, performing undisclosed duties.” His excellency was addressing an audience of some hundred people, gathered in good cheer at the Café Kinoteka in Zagreb on September 19th for the unveiling of the first Croatian edition of Ian Fleming’s Diamonds Are Forever, joining numerous Olympic and Paralympic athletes freshly returned from their successes at the 2012 London Games.

The UK Embassy and the Bond publisher, Algoritam, used the opportunity to not only present a classic Fleming title to the local audiences, but to also congratulate the athletes on the Olympic achievements that inspired the nation. Mr. Slinn was joined on the stage by Vladimir Cvetković Sever, the imprint’s editor, translator and creative director, and Lana Petanić, who portrays the book’s indefatigable female lead, Tiffany Case, on the cover. The assembly was greeted by Fergus Fleming, the Chairman of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., in a letter which stated, “This latest volume is a splendid addition to the annals of Agent 007, and I wish it every success.” It was the fifth in a unique line of Ian Fleming Bond covers which Algoritam has been producing, under license from IFP, since 2008.

“The challenge for this cover,” said Cvetković Sever, “was to connote the brilliance and timelessness of diamonds without depicting any, as Tiffany Case does not wear them in the story. So it was a stroke of good fortune when we secured Lana’s participation. She is not only one of Croatia’s top models, but her looks easily rival those of any currently working supermodel anywhere in the world. With Lana aboard, we had our diamond, cut and polished; we could concentrate on the character she so fully embodies.”

Photographer Belizar Valić and Tiffany Case model Lana Petanić on set.    

This restrained approach extended to the photographer. As luck would have it, Belizar Valić has had prior experience working with Petanić in various fashion editorials over the years. The Diamonds Are Forever cover photoshoot marked one of his rare returns to the kind of work he loved to do before turning his full attention to Sonic Models, the modelling agency which he runs with his partner and this book’s stylist, Iva Tuđa. “Early on, Vladimir decided to depict the iconic Tiffany Case scene, the introduction of her character as she gazes in the mirror of her dressing table, wearing black lingerie, while Feuilles Mortes plays in the background,” said Valić. “He drove us crazy with that song, in half a dozen different covers ranging from Yves Montand to Iggy Pop! But it certainly helped create the mood. Lana had a lot of Tiffany in her, and she was able to pull off the character’s emotion without any extraneous help from my lighting. In creating a character that is designed to have only two or three photos to exist in, I let her face tell the story, while concentrating on simply staying true to her portrayal.”

The final cover design depicts Case in a very feminine purple room, its dilapidation suggested only by the state of the dressing table mirrors and its rough surfaces. Staring into her own eyes on the front cover, she notices an imaginary Bond and begins to turn on the spine thumbnail, revealing her full figure to the reader’s gaze only on the back cover. “Years ago, a Croatian stylist referred to Lana’s legs as belonging to the Aston Martin class,” noted Cvetković Sever. “I learned of his comment much later, but I found it more than fitting – and true – once she became a Bond Girl.”

The result is the softest and most feminine of the five Bond covers produced in Croatia so far, true to every aspect of Ian Fleming’s prose – from the gaudy setting of the fictional Trafalgar Hotel to the chatoyance in Tiffany’s eyes – while capturing both the period and the continuing appeal of the original text. “I’ve had people comment on how perfectly these images capture the fifties, or the seventies, or the eighties look,” added Cvetković Sever wryly. “That is the true beauty of the original Bond Girls – they belong to every era. Due to Ian Fleming’s insistence on a natural, timeless look, with little makeup, simple hairstyles and no nail varnish, these ladies have lived on as symbols of grace, courage, determination and fortitude in the pages of his prose. Despite being grounded in their time and place, they go on forever. And each model we’ve had the fortune to work with has embodied her own character flawlessly, while putting her own unique spin on it; it is our hope that in presenting the first flesh and blood Bond Girls as written, we have hewed as closely as possible to Ian Fleming’s mental image of them.”

Despite being one of the fastest translators in Croatia – last year, he shared George R.R. Martin’s “gold medal” for producing the world’s first translation of his bestselling A Dance with Dragons – Cvetković Sever takes his time with the Fleming material, producing roughly one translation per year. “Simply put, these books are a labour of love,” he concludes. “Every pixel on their covers has to be just right, and so does every term and every comma in the actual text. Diamonds Are Forever had offered its readers their initial glimpse under the shady canopy of the illicit diamond trading, and that sorry business has continued to bring misfortune to Africa and every other part of the pipeline that Fleming so memorably began to depict.” “Alas, we didn’t actually have a Bond to put an end to these things in the mid-fifties,” added Petanić, who researched her role thoroughly. “There are other women living Tiffany’s life at this very moment, and we were all quite aware of that sobering fact as we worked on this cover.”

The first Croatian edition of Diamonds Are Forever is currently available in Croatian bookstores; the search for the perfect model to portray Tatiana Romanova in From Russia with Love has already begun.

Makeup artist Kristina Hošnjak, stylist Iva Tuđa, model Lana Petanić and 
creative director Vladimir Cvetković Sever at the Croatian Diamonds Are Forever 
photoshoot in the Jadran Film Studios.