The surprising scarcity of Steve Cole's last two YOUNG BOND books

Every collector knows that some books marketed as a "limited edition" can turn out to be anything but. Or, even if limited (i.e., expensive), they never really become desirable enough to increase in value, and often decrease. This has happened with some of the recent James Bond continuation novels, which have seen multiple "special" and "limited edition" releases. But many can still be found at their original price or lower.

The exception appears to be the last two Steve Cole Young Bond novels, Strike Lightning and Red Nemesis, both of which were released as a "limited edition" hardcovers at the same time as the paperback editions. These hardcovers have proved to be very elusive and are now listing online for quite a bit of money. That is if they show up at all. At the moment, I can't locate a single copy of Red Nemesis. Chances are this final book may have had an especially small print run.

Publishers sometimes print only what is pre-ordered. This is what happened with the John Gardner novels. Gardner's later books are harder to find than his earlier works, with his last book, COLD, especially difficult to find in hardcover. But it now looks like Red Nemesis might be even harder to find than COLD, and this only a few year after publication.

So if you bought these at the time...feel good about it!

Thanks to Tanner at Double O Section for the alert.

RED NEMESIS unabridged audio book released

An unabridged audiobook of Steve Cole's final Young Bond novel, Red Nemesis, is released today by Whole Story Audio Books. It runs 6 discs and is read by Nathaniel Parker.

James is on home soil when he receives a package with a message from beyond the grave. The package s mysterious contents put James at the heart of a long-running plot that, if it runs its course, will paint London s streets red with blood. Not only will James have to fight to stay alive and save the country he loves, but to clear the Bond family name, which he holds so dear. The stakes couldn t be higher, and James doesn t know who he can trust . . .

Purchase at Amazon.co.uk

RED NEMESIS eBook now available in U.S.

Steve Cole's final Young Bond novel Red Nemesis is now available as a Kindle eBook in the U.S. The eBook is released by IFP and sports unique original cover art (below). Steve's four Young Bond novels have only been released as eBooks in the U.S.

Purchase Red Nemesis for Kindle at Amazon

RED NEMESIS working titles revealed

In an interview at the official Ian Fleming Publications website, author Steve Cole revealed two unused working titles for his just released final Young Bond novel, Red Nemesis:

"For the synopsis it was named On Moscow's Orders as a counterpoint to Charlie Higson's By Royal Command. Then the first draft it was called Dance With Death, which ultimately felt too generic. [...] I made a list of possible titles and Red Nemesis really seemed to sum it up, the idea how importantly dangerous the Soviet Union will figure in Bond's life. It also syllabically matched book three, Strike Lightning, just as Heads You Die matches Shoot To Kill. So that appealed to the nerd in me."

Read the full interview at Ian Fleming Publications

Red Nemesis is available in the UK in paperback and as a limited hardcover. The hardcover edition can also be found on the U.S. Amazon.

YOUNG BOND 'RED NEMESIS' OUT TODAY IN THE UK

Steve Cole's fourth and final Young Bond novel Red Nemesis is released today in the UK in paperback and as a limited hardcover. (The hardcover can also be found via third party on the U.S. Amazon.) Red Nemesis sees the young James Bond traveling to Moscow following up on a clue discovered in the backpack of his deceased father.

I already have mine in hand and I can't wait to dive in!

Steve's other Young Bond adventures are Shoot To Kill, Heads You Die, and the superb Strike Lightning.

Steve Cole reveals RED NEMESIS special specials

Steve Cole has given fans a peek at the endpapers of his new Young Bond, Red Nemesis, and also revealed that there will be 5 special "red adorned" editions mixed into the stock of signed limited hardcovers.

Detail of endpapers for the RED NEMESIS #YoungBond limited edition hardback out May 4th. 5 special copies signed and adorned in red! pic.twitter.com/INaRb6DfKn

— Steve Cole (@SteveColeBooks) April 21, 2017

Red Nemesis will be released on May 4 in the UK in hardcover and paperback. Pre-order at Amazon.co.uk.

IFP spills new RED NEMESIS plot detail

In their own reveal of the Red Nemesis cover art on Instagram, Ian Fleming Publications has revealed a new plot detail...

Hardback cover art for Red Nemesis, the new Young Bond book by Steve Cole, out in May 2017. The 9th book in the series sees young James set on a deeply personal mission after his father's backpack is discovered and delivered to his Aunt Charmian. The hardback special edition will feature extra material #youngbond #007 #stevecole #bond #jamesbond #rednemesis #red #1930s #bookstagram @penguinrandomhouse

A post shared by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. (@ianflemings007) on Mar 25, 2017 at 5:03am PDT

Pre-order Red Nemesis in hardcover or paperback from Amazon.co.uk.

RED NEMESIS hardcover jacket art revealed

Today I'm excited to reveal cover art for the limited signed hardcover edition of Steve Cole's next Young Bond novel, Red Nemesis. The book will be released in the UK on May 4. The hardcover will contain extra content not available in the paperback edition. Also below is text from the hardcover jacket that gives new clues what to expect from Steve's final Young Bond adventure.

Bond fans old and new will be thrilled with Steve Cole's skillful IFPL-approved elucidation of James Bond's mysterious family history . . .

Steve Cole's final addition to the Young Bond cannon brings James to the brink of destruction in a blistering adventure that comes to a climax in the iconic heart of London. This story shows the young James coming into his own as a proto-spy, and a showdown with a high-level MI6 double-agent, that references classic Bond adventures and is full of Soviet intrigue, cements Bond's hero status on home turf.

Pre-order Red Nemesis in hardcover or paperback from Amazon.co.uk.

Tomorrow's Nemesis

Tomorrow I will reveal cover art for the hardcover edition of Steve Cole's next Young Bond adventure Red Nemesis. The book is due for release in the UK on May 4.

RED NEMESIS is finished

Author Steve Cole reports on twitter that his fourth and final Young Bond novel Red Nemesis is off to the printers. He also shared a new image.

Final checks and corrections completed. #YoungBond Red Nemesis is off to print! pic.twitter.com/OJ1Ha3xHiB

— Steve Cole (@SteveColeBooks) February 15, 2017

Red Nemesis will be released on May 4, 2017. You can pre-order the paperback and limited edition hardcover on Amazon.co.uk.

RED NEMESIS cover art revealed

Cover art for Steve Cole's fourth and final Young Bond adventure Red Nemesis has been revealed. The book will be released in paperback and as a limited edition hardcover on May 4, 2017.

James is on home soil when he receives a package with a message from beyond the grave. The package’s mysterious contents put James at the heart of a long-running plot that, if it runs its course, will paint London’s streets red with blood. Not only will James have to fight to stay alive and save the country he loves, but to clear the Bond family name, which he holds so dear. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and James doesn’t know who he can trust . . .

Pre-order Red Nemesis at Amazon.co.uk.

RED NEMESIS pre-order and plot description

Steve Cole's fourth Young Bond adventure Red Nemesis is now available for pre-order at Amazon.co.uk. As with the last two books, Red Nemesis will be released simultaneously in hardcover and paperback. It's due for release on May 4, 2017.

Amazon has also revealed a plot description:

James is back in Steve Cole's fourth and final blistering Young Bond adventure . . .

James is on home soil when he receives a package with a message from beyond the grave. The package’s mysterious contents put James at the heart of a long-running plot that, if it runs its course, will paint London’s streets red with blood. Not only will James have to fight to stay alive and save the country he loves, but to clear the Bond family name, which he holds so dear. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and James doesn’t know who he can trust . . .

This year has seen the release of two Young Bond books, Heads You Die and the excellent Strike Lightning. The plot description confirms that this will be Steve Cole's final Young Bond novel.

Pre-order Red Nemesis at Amazon.co.uk.

NEXT YOUNG BOND BOOK TITLE REVEALED

Today we have a nice surprise. Penguin Random House Children’s Books has revealed the title for Steve Cole's next Young Bond novel:

RED NEMESIS

Red Nemesis will be released on May 4, 2017. Steve has referred to this fourth book as being an "epic" Young Bond adventure.

This year has seen the release of two Young Bond books, Heads You Die and Strike Lightning.

Red Nemesis will be Steve Cole's final Young Bond novel.

STEVE COLE delivers fourth Young Bond

Steve Cole has revealed on Twitter that he has turned in the manuscript for his fourth Young Bond novel. When Cole was announced as the new Young Bond author, it was said that he would pen a total of four books.

@AshleyB71957875 I've just handed in book 4 #whatididonmysummerholidays

— Steve Cole (@SteveColeBooks) August 19, 2016

Steve's third Young Bond, Strike Lightning, is due for release in the UK on September 1st.