LINK: Deciphering Fleming: Uncorrected proofs

Here's an excellent article by Peter Crush about Ian Fleming proofs. Click the headline or the image below to have a read at James Bond First Editions.

The Young Bond PROOFS

I was surprised at how popular the Raymond Benson James Bond proofs were that I just sold on eBay and shared here. So I thought I'd share my set of Young Bond proofs. I don't have plan to sell these, but still thought people would enjoy a look.

For the final two Higson books the publisher released what might be more accurately called Galleys. But as far as I know, these were the only advance copies. Hurricane Gold came in two variants.

The only proof I have for the Steve Cole books is Shoot To Kill. I don't know if proofs exist for his other three books.

U.S. publisher Miramax produced proofs for the first two Charlie Higson books. As far as I know, these are the only U.S. proofs for any of the Young Bond titles.

The Benson PROOFS

Here are the U.S. uncorrected proofs for Raymond Benson's six James Bond novels, which have just listed for sale on eBay. (I'm thinning out my Bond collection.) But I realized I never did a post to document them, so here they are!

FOREVER AND A DAY Waterstones edition contains extra Ian Fleming material

As with Trigger Mortis, the Waterstones editions of Forever and a Day by Anthony Horowitz contain original Ian Fleming material in the back of the book that does not appear in the regular trade first editions. This time the dust-jacket is the same, but the book's page edges are yellow.

The only other special this time that I'm aware of is the Goldsboro Limited, which comes signed and numbered and has blue page edges (no extra content). That edition sold out in pre-orders.

There was also a hardback proof with slightly different boards and endpapers that advertise the novel. The proof did not come in a dust-jacket.

Happy hunting!

Do Not Disturb

"OO7 is here, sir." #foreverandaday @AnthonyHorowitz pic.twitter.com/rSv6h9d5FZ

— The Book Bond (@TheBookBond) May 11, 2018

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Forever and a Day by Anthony Horowitz is a prequel to Ian Fleming's Casino Royale. It will be released by Jonathan Cape in the UK on May 31 and in the U.S. by Harper Collins on November 6, 2018.

TRIGGER MORTIS U.S. proof

Looks like U.S. publisher Harper Collins has also issued a Trigger Mortis proof, although not quite in the same spectacular fashion as in the UK. Note the cover includes a blurb reading: "Pussy Galore is Back!" This doesn't appear on the online cover art. I wonder if this will appear on the final book jacket?

Click to enlarge.

I don't have one of these in hand myself. This image comes from @MatthewChernov on Twitter who reports: "So far, so excellent."

Trigger Mortis is based in part on unpublished Ian Fleming material. Locations include Germany and the United States. 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.

TRIGGER MORTIS limited edition proof

Yesterday I was thrilled to receive in the mail a Trigger Mortis limited edition proof. The proof came boxed and wrapped in plain paper with a period flavor, much like the announcement postcards that were sent out a few weeks ago. The proof is a hardback signed and numbered by author Anthony Horowitz. It came with a press release and a special letter from Horowitz that reads in part:

Orion have produced this limited, signed edition proof and let me say straight away that I'm delighted with the cover design and the embossed hardboard which quietly references Goldfinger – as you'll see, the story begins two weeks after that particular mission ends. Very, very few copies are going out. You are among the first to be reading this.

Thank you Anthony Horowitz, Orion, IFP, and the good folks at Riot Communications for giving me the opportunity to read Trigger Mortis early. Can't wait!

Trigger Mortis will be released on September 8, 2015 in both the U.S. and UK.

Pre-order Trigger Mortis UK edition.

Pre-order Trigger Mortis U.S. edition.

Another title, MISTER Gardner?

This is a proof edition of John Gardner's fifth original James Bond novel. Made for reviewers and not for sale, proofs are collectible as they are technically the true first printings and can sometimes contains differences from the final book. This is the only Gardner proof I own. I got this because there is a major difference from the released book right on the cover. Can you spot what it is?

The difference is the title. Here it is, No Deals, Mister Bond, with "Mister" spelled out. When the book was released the title read, No Deals, Mr. Bond, using the abbreviation. Exciting, isn't it?

Of course, No Deals, Mr. Bond is generally considered the worst title of any James Bond book. Gardner's working title, which he shared in an interview with The Armchair Detective (Vol. 19, No. 3), was Tomorrow Always Comes, which is certainly better. I've also always thought the villain's name, Blackfriar, would have made a decent title. How they arrived at No Deals, Mr. Bond is a mystery to me.

"The sixth Bond synopsis has been accepted. And I think it will probably be called Tomorrow Always Comes." - John Gardner, November 20, 1985

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