The Folio Society releases FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

The Folio Society has released their next illustrated slip-cased Ian Fleming classic, For Your Eyes Only.

Readers might be familiar with the titles of the stories contained within For Your Eyes Only, but the adventures they depict might surprise them. As well as the expected – and eagerly anticipated – danger, thrills and action that Bond is so well known for, these five stories peel back the layers of Fleming’s complex hero, revealing, as crime writer Ian Rankin describes it, ‘a James Bond few of us have had the good fortune to meet’. Series artist Fay Dalton returns to provide her own irresistible spin on MI6’s greatest, with seven full-colour illustrations and an especially dramatic slipcase. The smart binding design calls to mind Bond’s impeccably tailored suits, making this another unmissable entry in the ever-popular Folio Bond collection.

For Your Eyes Only Folio 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, Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man With The Golden Gun.

Two Moneypenny short stories now FREE on Kindle

IFP is offering Samantha Weinberg's two Moneypenny short stories in a FREE Kindle collection called The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Chapters. 

Kate Westbrook, niece of the intrepid Miss Moneypenny and editor of her famous diaries, has uncovered two more of her aunt's formerly-classified adventures. 

 Short stories First Date and For Your Eyes Only, James offer a tantalising (and candid) glimpse into the life of James Bond's confidante and co-conspiritor: the ever-resourceful Miss Moneypenny...

 

"First Date" was originally published November 11, 2006 issue of The Spectator and "For Your Eyes Only, James" first appeared in the November 2006 issue of Tatler. 

The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Chapters is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

James Bond Origin short story in November PLAYBOY

Double O Section has landed the scoop that a 6-page illustrated short story by James Bond Origin author Jeff Parker and artist Bob Q will appear in the November-December issue of Playboy magazine. Below is part of the Dynamite press release.

October 18, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment and Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. announced today that the latest James Bond series, James Bond Origin, from Jeff Parker and artist Bob Q will have a standalone story in the upcoming issue of Playboy magazine! 

Fans can read an exclusive six-page story from the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed Dynamite series, James Bond Origin, which takes readers back to March 1941 and tells the definitive account of James Bond’s exploits during World War II. The November/December 2018 issue of Playboy will be available at newsstands everywhere October 30th with digital editions available today for desktop and mobile devices through Playboy.com. 

Speaking about the opportunity, writer Jeff Parker said, “the team of James Bond Origin recently had the chance to create a short Bond story for Playboy, calling back to the days when the Ian Fleming short stories would run in the magazine beginning with “The Hildebrand Rarity” in the March 1960 issue.”

Thanks to Double O Section.

Higson's A HARD MAN TO KILL released as eBook

Charlie Higson's Young Bond short story A Hard Man To Kill is now available as an eBook at Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK).

A luxurious cruise
A deadly prisoner
A desperate scheme
Can James Bond overcome the chaos before it’s too late?

A Hard Man To Kill was first published in 2009 as part of the book Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier. The story is set between the books Hurricane Gold and By Royal Command and takes place aboard an ocean liner. It's an excellent story that also sees the return of Wilder Lawless from SilverFin.

In a recent tweet, author Charlie Higson said: "I liked writing this story and fully intended to do more with the characters, but alas it wasn’t to be."

You can read more about A Hard Man To Kill at www.ianfleming.com. For a full history of Charlie Higson's Young Bond series, check out: The Secret History of Young James Bond.

When 007 met HUGH HEFNER

The sad news this week is that Hugh Hefner, legendary founder of Playboy, has died at age 91. Hefner was a big fan of Ian Fleming and James Bond and did a great deal to popularize the super spy in America in the 1960s.

Bond's first appearance in Playboy was the short story The Hildebrand Rarity, published in the March 1960 issue. This was followed by a serialization of On Her Majesty's Secret Service in the April, May, and June 1963 issues. Next came the short story The Property of a Lady in January 1964. The same year saw the serialization of You Only Live Twice in the April, May, and June issues. The Man With The Golden Gun came in the April, May, June and July of 1965. The final Fleming story Octopussy appeared in the March and April 1966 issues.

Playboy continued it's James Bond association by featuring a Bond Girl pictorial for almost every film of the 1970s and 1980s. Then in January 1997, the literary James Bond returned with an original short story, Blast From The Past, penned by new James Bond continuation author Raymond Benson. This was followed by excerpts of his Bond novels Zero Minus Ten (April & May 1997), The Facts of Death (July 1998), and Doubleshot (June 2000).

But perhaps the greatest fusion of James Bond and Playboy came in the January 1999 issue with an original story by Benson that featured 007 at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Bond even meets Hugh Hefner himself!

Raymond discussed the story with me in our 2004 CBN Interview.

This story was done in-between The Facts of Death and High Time to Kill. It was summer of 1998 and I was in the middle of writing HTTK. Playboy was about to celebrate its 45th anniversary with the January 1999 issue, which they were already planning and putting together. (They must have all the material for an issue at least four months prior to its publication, and the issue usually hits the stand one month before the cover date; thus the January 1999 issue is actually on sale in December 1998).

I honestly can’t remember who thought of doing a Bond short story again for the 45th anniversary issue, but I suggested doing a sort of humorous tale in which Bond meets Hugh Hefner. Since Hef was a huge Bond fan, had published Ian Fleming, and lived a Bondian lifestyle–and Bond was the ultimate playboy–it seemed to make sense. At least it was a nudge, nudge, wink, wink concept that everyone felt was appropriate. In the summer of 1998, Hef was about to throw the first “Midsummer Night’s Dream” party in five years–the last one was in 1993, I think–in which the guests must arrive in sleepwear. He had just separated from his wife Kimberley and was in party mode. He was also living with three blonde girlfriends. So it was to be a big event, with 1000 people invited.

I think it was Hef’s personal assistant that suggested setting the story at the Midsummer Night’s Dream party. This is now an annual event, held the first weekend of every August. Since Hef would appear in the story as himself, it also made sense to feature two real-life Playmates as the Bond-girls. Hef’s office put me in touch with Lisa Dergan, Miss July 1998, and Victoria Zdrok, Miss October 1994. I had wanted a Russian girl and Victoria fit the bill–I actually requested her. Lisa was suggested by Hef’s office. I interviewed them both by phone and then met them in person later on several occasions.

I wrote the first draft of the story in July but I needed to fill it in with authenticity. So my wife and I were invited to attend the pajama party! It’s safe to say that it was the party to end all parties–at least from our limited perspective. The women wore lingerie and the men wore pajamas and it was just as I describe in the story. The food and drink was fantastic and the eye candy was phenomenal. It was a fairly surreal experience–at one point, around 3am, my wife and I found ourselves on the dance floor two feet away from the likes of Jim Carrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Pamela Anderson. We met all sorts of other celebrities and Hollywood’s beautiful people. It was certainly a unique research trip.

Back home, I finished the story quickly and turned it in before the end of the month. Other celebrities and real people are mentioned in the story, but the villain’s name was based on my good friend Doug Redenius, the vice president of the Ian Fleming Foundation. I called him “Anton” Redenius in the story. As I said before, this story wasn’t meant to be taken seriously–it was all in good fun.

Midsummer Night's Doom appeared in the January 1999 issue of Playboy with artwork (at the top of this post) by John Rush. It was also included in the 2010 book, Choice of Weapons.

You can read Raymond Benson's own personal tribute to Hugh Hefner at CinemaRetro.

R.I.P. Mr. Hefner. Thank you for all you did for 007.

A HARD MAN TO KILL on new Ian Fleming website

Ian Fleming Publications has launched a completely redesigned website today. Browsing the new site offerings, I spotted what appears to be an upcoming eBook edition of Charlie Higson's Young Bond short story, A Hard Man To Kill.

A Hard Man To Kill was first published in 2009 as part of the book Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier. The story is set between the books Hurricane Gold and By Royal Command and takes place aboard an ocean liner. It's an excellent story that also sees the return of Wilder Lawless from SilverFin. This marks its first availability in a solo edition.

While A Hard Man To Kill is listed in the new Ian Fleming website shop, the "Buy Now" link doesn't yet work, so consider this one a preview.

Check out the new Ian Fleming website at www.ianfleming.com. You can also follow on Twitter and Facebook.

Is there a new unofficial James Bond book out there?

The new anthology, Licence Expired: The Unauthorized James Bond, was scheduled for release yesterday in Canada. Amazon.ca still shows the book as not yet released, but publisher ChiZine appears to have had a launch party in Toronto. Have any of our friends in Canada spotted one in bookstores?

Here's a rundown on the book (explaining how it even exists) as well as a listing of all the stories and authors from ChiZine:

In Paris, James Bond meets his match over appetizers and cocktails—with an aperitif of industrial espionage and chilly sadism. Off the coast of Australia, he learns about a whole new level of betrayal under the scorching light of a ball of thunder. In Siberia, he dreams of endless carnage while his fate is decided by one of his most cunning enemies and perhaps the greatest of his many loves.

And in Canada, James Bond finds freedom.

In January 2015, the world’s most famous secret agent entered the public domain in Canada—one of the few remaining countries in the world that subscribe to the Berne Convention and allow copyright to extend not 70 but just 50 years past the death of the work’s creator. Licence Expired: The Unauthorized James Bond, lives in this shadow space of copyright law: a collection of 19 new, exciting, transformative James Bond stories by a diverse crew of 21st-century authors.

Collected herein are new stories about Secret Agent 007, as the late Ian Fleming imagined and described him: a psychically wounded veteran of the Second World War and soldier of the Cold War, who treated his accumulated injuries with sex, alcohol, nicotine, and adrenaline. He was a good lover but a terrible prospect.

He was James Bond.

And in Licence Expired, James Bond is back.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction by Matt Sherman
• Foreword: The Bitch is Dead Now by David Nickle
• “One Is Sorrow” by Jacqueline Baker
• “The Gale of the World” by Robert J. Wiersema
• “Red Indians” by Richard Lee Byers
• “The Gladiator Lie” by Kelly Robson
• “Half the Sky” by E.L. Chen
• “In Havana” by Jeffrey Ford
• “Mastering the Art of French Killing” by Michael Skeet
• “A Dirty Business” by Iain McLaughlin
• “Sorrow’s Spy” by Catherine McLeod
• “Mosaic” by Karl Schroeder
• “The Spy Who Remembered Me” by James Alan Gardner
• “Daedelus” by Jamie Mason
• “Through Your Eyes Only” by A.M. Dellamonica
• “Two Graves” by Ian Rogers
• “No Mr. Bond” by Charles Stross
• “The Man with the Beholden Gun: an e-pistol-ary story by some other Ian Fleming” by Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer
• “The Cyclorama” by Laird Barron
• “You Never Love Once” by Claude Lalumière
• “Not an Honourable Disease” by Corey Redekop
• Afterword by Madeline Ashby

Licence Expired: The Unauthorized James Bond  is listed on Amazon.ca and Indigo.ca, although it appears it cannot be purchased if you have an address outside of Canada.

UPDATE: The book is indeed released, but get getting a copy outside Canada is a bit of a trick. Amazon.ca will only ship to addresses within the country. But copies are starting to circulate via secondhand dealers. Happy hunting!

LICENCE EXPIRED: The Unauthorized James Bond

It looks like independent publisher ChiZine is making good with their promise to publish an unauthorized anthology of James Bond short stories. Amazon.ca now has a pre-order listing for Licence Expired: The Unauthorized James Bond along with pretty cool cover art. Release date is November 17, 2015.

An anthology of collected stories from various Canadian authors, based on Ian Fleming's fourteen published Bond novels, edited by Canadian genre authors Madeline Ashby and David Nickle. To be published in Canada only.

Back in January it was widely reported that James Bond had entered the public domain in Canada, clearing the way for unauthorized books. This is the first one out of the gate and up on Amazon. We'll see what happens!

When Bond went LIVE AT FIVE

Check out this artwork for Raymond Benson's short story Live At Five. The story appeared in TV Guide in November 1999 as part of a special issue showcasing The World Is Not Enough (recall that Raymond wrote the novelization for that film). I love how it evokes the classic Signet series artwork with Fleming's name running down the edge.

Live At Five is a unique Bond short story in that it's a "flashback" adventure set in the year 1985 (a year without a Gardner novel, which may or may not have been intentional on Raymond's part). In it, Bond travels to Chicago to help a Russian ice-skater defect with the help of a television news reporter, Janet Davis. In my CBn Interview with Raymond, he recalled:

"The idea for the plot had to do with a Russian defector, an ice skater. In order for that to make any sense, the story had to take place prior to 1989, before the fall of the Soviet Union. Simple as that. So I framed the bulk of the story within the context of Bond remembering the events of that time prior to meeting the girl again in the present. The story has a nice twist, I think, when the identity of the girl is revealed."

Live At Five was included in the 2011 anthology collection of Raymond's Bond work, Choice of Weapons.

RAYMOND BENSON offers up "12+1: Twelve Short Thrillers and a Play"

A new anthology of short stories by former Bond author Raymond Benson, 12+1: Twelve Short Thrillers and a Play, has been released as an eBook by Crossroad Press. Here is a description:

From internationally-acclaimed author Raymond Benson, “12 + 1” is a collection of previously published mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, and fantasy, all told with wry humor and in the spirit of The Twilight Zone--plus some unpublished works such as “The Heart of Erzulie,” “Fortunata-697,” and the stage play “Second Chance.” Spies and detectives, rock ‘n’ roll crime, time travel, androids, alternate history, an encounter with St. Peter, and even The Black Stiletto, all in one compact anthology.

This description should make fans of the literary Bond sit up and take notice. In 2004, Raymond revealed that he had written an unpublished James Bond short story called, "The Heart of Erzulie."

But before we get too excited, know that the story in this collection is not Raymond's Bond story. The main character in this story is named Brock Fuller. However, it's not impossible to imagine that at least some elements of the Bond story (the Erzulie voodoo legend at the very least) find their way into this one, so this is something fans of Raymond's Bond might want to check out.

Purchase 12+1: Twelve Short Thrillers and a Play at Amazon.com.

Publisher announces plans for an UNAUTHORIZED James Bond anthology

Independent Toronto publisher ChiZine Publications has announced that it will release an unauthorized anthology of James Bond short stories in November called, Licence Expired: The Unauthorized James Bond. The press release comes on the heels of an article on io9 which claims James Bond is now public domain in Canada.

"We want to feature original, transformative stories set in the world of Secret Agent 007," says co-editor David Nickle. "We're hoping our contributors will combine the guilty-pleasure excitement of the vintage Fleming experience with a modern critique of it."

"This is an opportunity to comment on the Bond universe from within it," adds Madeline Ashby. "We're specifically looking for writers and stories that would make Fleming roll in his grave."

So how real is this?

Well, if you check out this interview, you'll see that this is all a prelude to a Kickstarter campaign, so I'm skeptical. (I don't trust Kickstarter, having seen one too many scams.) I'm also skeptical of the claim of Bond being public domain in Canada. I think both Danjaq and IFP might have something to say about that.

When asked if they are worried about being sued, a representative of ChiZine states: "Of course I am. Isn’t everyone? But it’s worth the risk. After all. You only live twice."

I'll believe it when I see it.

Daniel Craig on the unused IAN FLEMING Bond titles

BBC News has posted an audio clip from an interview with Daniel Craig getting his reactions to the unused Ian Fleming James Bond titles. When asked if he would star in a film with the following titles, Craig responded:

Risico - "Yeah, that's alright."

The Hildebrand Rarity - "Yeah, but that one came up a few years ago, I think that did, and they've not thought about naming a film after that. Yeah, maybe alright."

The Property of a Lady - "Ohhh... Sounds a bit like sort of a ladies magazine. I'm not sure that's a [interviewer interrupts before Craig can finish]."

007 in New York - "Is that a short story? Not the most exciting title I've ever heard."

Craig is currently shooting the new Bond film SPECTRE in central London. Photos from the shoot by the Daily Mail (above) have given rise to speculation that Bond's flat will be seen in the new film. If so, this will be the first appearance of Bond's home since Live and Let Die in 1973, and only the third time it's been seen on film.

Thanks to my friends at CommanderBond.net for this tip.

15 YEARS OF 'BONDAGE'

Are you into Bondage?

…Magazine, that is?

Bondage was the official magazine of the James Bond 007 Fan Club (not to be confused with the James Bond International Fan Club, publishers of OO7 Magazine). The "American club" — as it was called back in the day — was run by Richard Schenkman from 1974 to 1989.

While Bondage never grew as thick nor as slick as its overseas counterpart OO7, its content was always first class. In the pages of Bondage you could find lengthy in-dept interviews with such Bond luminaries as Cubby Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Tom Mankiewicz, John Glen, and John Gardner. The magazine published several Ian Fleming short stories that had never been published in America, and one of its major contributors was the yet-to-be-named continuation author Raymond Benson. The club and magazine served Bond fans for 15 years, and within the pages of Bondage are facts and photos found nowhere else.

Today back issues of Bondage are hot collectibles. While issues 1 to 7 are exceedingly rare, the remaining ten issues can be found at reasonable prices. But which issue contains that choice interview or story that you simply must have?

To help you on your search, here is a complete checklist bibliography of Bondage magazine — the covers, the content, and some choice news and rumours that didn’t always turn out to be true. Happy hunting.

BONDAGE:

A Complete Bibliography – 1974 to 1989

Bondage – No. 1, June 1974
12 pages

NEWS: Eon tells the club the next Bond film after The Man With The Golden Gun will be Moonraker. Eon says it will adapt the Ian Fleming short stories. Alice Copper’s musical version of The Man With The Golden Gun will not be used after all. The Man With The Golden Gun started shooting in April on schedule.
BOND ON T.V. From Russia With Love airs on ABC with cuts even worse than Goldfinger. Will we see a YOLT/DAF theatrical double bill re-release in the future?
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? David Hedison appeared on T.V.’s Cannon. Sean Connery is filming Ransom and will next do Murder on the Orient Express.
REVIEW: Zardoz starring Sean Connery.
TOYS & GAMES: Live and Let Die tarot card set still available.
KUNG FU BOND? With The Man With The Golden Gun, is James Bond becoming a follower instead of a trendsetter?
BONDED RECIPES, EDITORIAL, SURVEYS.


Bondage – No. 2, December 1974
Special The Man With The Golden Gun Issue
12 pages

REPORT: The Man With The Golden Gun – Cubby and Harry have done it again!
LOCATIONS: A report on filming The Man With The Golden Gun in the Gulf of Siam, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
AT THE STUDIO: The Man With The Golden Gun at Pinewood and the huge Solar Energy Plant set.
SPECIAL NOTE: Eon Productions tells the club that the next Bond film will not be Moonraker as reported in issue #1, but The Spy Who Loved Me.
SOME FACTS ON THE STARS: Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, and Herve Villechaize profiled.
BONDED RECIPES: “Scrambled Eggs James Bond” (from 007 in New York).
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Sean Connery is now filming Murder on the Orient Express.
MISC, QUIZZES, HOW TO JOIN THE CLUB.


Bondage – No. 3, January 1977
20 pages

NEWS: Saltzman spits!
NEWS: Double Double-Oh-Seven Next Year by Bob Forlini (news of rival Kevin McClory film, James Bond of the Secret Service).
PREVIEW: The Spy Who Love Me by Richard Schenkman.
ARTICLE: Russia Dealing Bonds.
PICTORIAL: The Man With The Golden Gun car jump. Fan poster art by Tom Bennett
HISTORY: James Bond’s Aston Martin.
BONDED RECIPES: Chinese Fired Rice.
ARTICLE: Is Spy Moore’s Last Bond?
REVIEW: The Spy Who Loved Me: A review of Fleming’s Novel.
ARTICLE: Why So Many Felix Leiters? by Bob Forlini.
CAST & CREDITS: The Spy Who Loved Me.


Bondage – No. 4, Summer 1977
20 pages

THE BIG NEWS: While Octopussy and Moonraker were also being considered, it has been decided that For Your Eyes Only will be the next Bond film.
MUSIC: Marvin Hamlisch and Nobody Does It Better.
HISTORY: Portrait of M by Robert Forlini.
ARTICLE: The Women of The Spy Who Love Me.
LITERATURE: The Little-Known Ian Fleming/James Bond Short Stories by Saul Fischer.
SPECIAL STILL PICTORIAL: Connery meeting the Queen at the You Only Live Twice premiere. Roger Moore workout for The Man With The Golden Gun.
OPINION: Roger Moore in Bond’s Future? by Richard Schenkman.
VEHICLES: Getting around in Spy, a look at the Lotus and the wetbike.
BONDED RECIPES: Green Street Spaghetti.


Bondage – No. 5, Winter 1978
20 pages

NEWS: Nothing yet on “Eyes Only”. Tom Mankiewicz has submitted several story ideas. Cubby scouting Venezuela, Brazil (Rio), Argentina, and Paris as possible locations.
INTERVIEW: Q&A With Albert R. Broccoli.
MUSIC: John Barry and Bond by Paul Harrod.
PICTORIAL on the production of The Spy Who Love Me (including rare pic of Roger Moore and David Niven together on the set).
ARTICLE: Bond’s Weaponry by Robert Forlini.
CLUB MERCHANDISE
SPECIAL STILL PICTORIAL: George Lazenby’s Bond-like Sony T.V. commercial in pictures and text.
BONDED RECIPES: Roast Beaver (!) and Roast Duck.


Bondage – No. 6, Summer 1978
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Special
20 pages

NEWS: Moonraker Launched! New film started shooting August 14. James Bond of the Secret Service back off the ground as well.
INTERVIEW: George Lazenby: Ten Years Later Q&A.
HISTORY: Das grosse Erlebnis – Piz Gloria by Tom Bennett.
PICTORIAL: Peter Hunt: A Director’s Scrapbook. Personal pics from the production of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
ARTICLE: The Original James Bond Car, My Life With 007′s Aston Martin DB5 by Jerry Lee.
CLUB MERCHANDISE
SPECIAL PICTORIAL: Roger Moore and Lois Chiles in Paris on the first day of shooting Moonraker.


Bondage – No. 7, Summer 1979
20 pages

CLUB MEMBERS NOTICES: Club Moonraker coverage will appear in the new sci-fi magazine, Questar.
INTERVIEW: Q&A with Kevin McClory by Richard Schenkman.
FAN ART: Club Member Artwork.
PICTORIAL: Moonraker.
CLUB MERCHANDISE
ARTICLE: James Bond in the Classroom by Fred R. Eicheiman, Ed.D.
ARTICLE: The Spy Who Lived Twice by Saul Fischer. A comparrison of the many similarities between The Spy Who Loved Me and You Only Live Twice.


Bondage – Number 8, 1980
20 pages

CLUB MEMBERS NOTICES: Pics of club members personalized 007 license plates.
INTERVIEW: Q&A with screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz by Richard Schenkman.
BOND BOOKSHELF: Colonel Sun, The Book of Bond, and The James Bond Dossier.
ARTICLE: Moonraker From Book to Film by Andy East.
HISTORY: On the Set of Diamonds Are Forever by Robert Short.
ARTICLE: Ken Adam Talks About the Production Design of Moonraker.
FAN FILM REPORT: The Spy Who Did It Better by Mark Pirro.
BOOKS: Writing The James Bond Films: A Behind the Scenes History by Steve Rubin.
INTERVIEW: An Exclusive Interview With “James Bond” by Danny Biederman.
TRVIA: The James Bond Quizbook.


Bondage – Number 9, 1980
20 pages

INTERVIEW: Q&A with 007′s “Special Effects Wizard” Derek Meddings by Richard Schenkman.
HISTORY: James Bond’s Hardware by Ian Fleming. (Remarkable article written by Fleming in 1957.)
INTERVIEW: A Panel Discussion with Albert R. Broccoli, Lewis Gilbert, and Ken Adam held at the Museum of Modern Art June 29-30, 1979.
LITERATURE: My Friend the Octopus by Ian Fleming. (Little-know Fleming story from 1957.)
INTERVIEW: Bob Simmons by Richard Schenkman.
TRVIA: James Bond 007 Quizbook.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING.


Bondage – Number 10, 1981
24 pages

IN MEMORIAM: Peter Sellers, John Lennon, Bernard Lee.
INTERVIEW: Q&A with Terence Young at the Festival du Film by Richard Schenkman.
INTERVIEW: Richard Schenkman talks with associate producer Stanley Sopel.
LITERATURE: Treasures of the Sea by Ian Fleming. (Another little-know Fleming story from 1957.)
HISTORY: THUNDERBALL Open end Interviews with Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, and Terence Young from 1965.
INTERVIEW: Maurice Binder at the Museum of Modern Art.
ADVERT: The Illustrated James Bond, 007, a James Bond 007 Fan Club publication.


Bondage – Number 11, 1982
25 pages

INTERVIEW: John Gardner: A talk with the man holding James Bond’s literary license by Richard Schenkman.
INTERVIEW: For Your Eyes Only press junket coverage by Richard Schenkman. Q&A interviews with: Topol, Julian Glover, Sheena Easton, Maurice Binder, Robbin Young (flower shop girl), Cubby Broccoli, and Roger Moore.
MERCHANDISE: For Your Eyes Only posters.
QUIZ/GAMES: The 007 Night Spot.
MUSIC: Twisting with James
BOOKS: Publish or Perish: Writing The James Bond Films: A Behind the Scenes History by Stephen Jay Rubin.
ARTICLE: The strange case of the two prettiest women in For Your Eyes Only…one who wasn’t in the film and the other was a man!


Bondage – Number 12, 1983
20 pages

INTERVIEW: The John Glen Interview by Richard Schenkman and Tom Sciacca (including details on Octopussy).
HISTORY: A Visit to the Lilly Library by Raymond Benson. Benson reports on the Fleming archive while doing his research for The James Bond Bedside Companion.
MERCHANDISE: The August Halle Productions gunbarrel lithograph.
REPORT: Never Say Never Again by Richard Schenkman (includes pic of cut scenes).
HISTORY: Talking with Bond: Pino Locchi, the Italian Voice of 007.
INTERVIEW: The Lois Maxwell Interview by Mark Greenberg.


Bondage – Number 13, 1984
20 pages

LITERATURE: “How To Write a Thriller” by Ian Fleming. Amazing article by Fleming from 1962. Illustrated by George Almond.
INTERVIEW: A Dialogue with Kingsley Amis by Raymond Benson (infamous interview in which the author of Colonel Sun trashes the first two Gardner novels.)
REPORT: HOLLYWOOD! Picture coverage from both the premieres of Octopussy and Never Say Never Again.
HISTORY: On the Set of Diamonds Are Forever by Danny Biederman.
MERCHANDISE: Final chance to get the August Halle Productions gunbarrel lithograph.
INTERVIEW: The Adolfo Celi Interview by Piero Corsini.


Bondage – Number 14, 1985
20 pages

INTERVIEW: The 1985 Model: John Gardner by Richard Schenkman.
GAMING: Be Your Own James Bond: A Look at the James Bond 007 Role-Playing Game by Raymond Benson.
REPORT: A View To A Kill (includs pics from cut “Zorin protestors” sequence).
REPORT: James Bond in San Francisco by Rick Johnson.
OBITUARY: Ivar Bryce 1906 – 1985, A Remembrance.
REPORT: Sean Connery: Harvard Man of the Year. A full report with pics from the Hasty Pudding Theatricals 1984 banquet.
MERCHANDISE: Vintage Bond Corgi’s for sale.


Bondage – Number 15, May 1987
20 pages

HISTORY: Casino Royale: The Forgotten Bond by Leonard Thomason.
REPORT: On the Set of The Living Daylights: A Reporters Notebook by Richard Schenkman.
INTERVIEW: A Conversation with Timothy Dalton by Richard Schenkman.
REPORT: SOLD! A report on the sale of the Aston martin DB5 by Raymond Benson.
LITERATURE: “Treasure Hunt in Eden” by Ian Fleming. Part One: Pirate Gold. (Story written by Ian Fleming in 1958 printed here in American for the first time.)
BACK ISSUES.


Bondage – Number 16, Winter 1989
23 pages

LITERATURE: “Treasure Hunt in Eden” by Ian Fleming. Part Two: Butterflies and Beachcombers. Illustrated by George Almond.
MUSIC/BOOKS: The Soundtracks to the Novels by Raymond Benson. Researched by Mark Atkins. (A terrific examination of the music contained in the works of Ian Fleming.)
REPORT: Report from the Set of License To Kill by Richard Schenkman.
INTERVIEW: Timothy Dalton Revisited by Richard Schenkman. (Interview contains pics of cuts scenes, and an ominous prediction by Dalton that he “has a feeling” that Licence To Kill will be “the end of the lot.” Not just his last Bond…but the last Bond altogether!)


Bondage – Number 17, Summer 1989
28 pages

TELEVISION: Fleming’s Life Depicted in Goldeneye. Report on TV movie starring Charles Dance.
LITERATURE: “Treasure Hunt in Eden” by Ian Fleming. Part Three: Gold or No Gold?
TELEVISION /HISTORY: Ian Fleming’s Other Spy by Jon E. Heitland. (A look at Ian Fleming’s involvement in the creation of Napoleon Solo and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.)
INTERVIEWS: Chatting at the Plaza. Press junket interviews with John Glen and Talisa Soto from Licence To Kill (with a promise that other interviews would appear in Bondage #18).
LOCATIONS: Everyman His Own 007 by Richard Schenkman. (Terrific collection of fan photos and remembrances of visiting Bond sets and Bond locales.)
INTERVIEW: A Visit to the James Bond Classroom. Raymond Benson interviews Michael G. Wilson and director of publicity Saul Cooper.
BACK ISSUES & BOOKS.

This first appeared on CommanderBond.net.

The Making of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS

Here's news that both excellent and frustrating. Charles Helfenstein, who wrote the superb The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, has now written the definitive book on The Making of The Living Daylights, Timothy Dalton's 1987 debut James Bond film based loosely on the Ian Fleming short story of the same name.

The frustrating part is that the book was released back on October 5 and is currently out of stock on Amazon. Not only did I not know this book came out, but I didn't even know Charles was working on it!

I don't have the book in hand to give an opinion of it, but if Charles' OHMSS book is any indicator, then this book will be excellent.

Hopefully its unavailability on Amazon is only temporary.

UPDATE: A quick update from the author himself. The book was copyrighted Oct 5, but only released recently, so this wasn't missed for as long as I thought. Also, the book is readily available from BN.com.

UPDATE 2: My book arrived today and I've had a quick flip through it and...OMG!...this is a masterwork. If you have to forgo all the other 50th Anniversary whatnot to get this book, DO IT! You have been advised.

Link: Dan Stevens reads THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS

Benson's Choice of Weapons now 60% off

If you haven't yet picked up Raymond Benson's second anthology of 007 work, Choice of Weapons, now is a great time to do so. It is currently a whopping 60% off at Amazon.com. However, know these are remaindered books, so condition might not be the best.

The collection includes the novels Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death, The Man With The Red Tattoo, and the hard-to-find short stories "Live At Five" and "Midsummer Night's Doom."

For news about Raymond's current and upcoming original work visit his official website.

Raymond Benson's Choice of Weapons released

Raymond Benson's second anthology of 007 work, Choice of Weapons, has been released by Pegasus.

The collection includes the novels Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death, The Man With The Red Tattoo, and the short stories "Live At Five" and "Midsummer Night's Doom." Until now, "Live At Five" had only been available in a 1999 issue of TV Guide.

Choice of Weapons can be purchased at Amazon.com. For news about Raymond's current and upcoming original work visit his official website.

Danger Society US release remains unlikely

It’s starting to look less and less likely that the Young Bond companion book, Danger Society The Young Bond Dossier, which was recently released in paperback in the UK, will be released in any form in the USA.

I confirmed at Comic Con that there are still no plans by Disney to publish this latest Young Bond release. However, they did spark to my suggestion that they consider including the original Charlie Higson short story, “A Hard Man To Kill”, in their paperback edition of By Royal Command, due out in May 2011. (Of course, they might have just been humoring this mad fanboy.)

The good news is the UK paperback edition of Danger Society The Young Bond Dossier is currently 38% off at Amazon.co.uk, so U.S. fans who want this excellent book can purchase it for about the same total price as a U.S. hardcover.

Lost James Bond short story uncovered

A long forgotten James Bond short story, possibly written by Dr. No/From Russian With Love screenwriter Johanna Harwood, has been revealed on The Young Bond Dossier.

The story is called “Some Are Born Great” and was first published in the September 3, 1959 issue of Nursery World. The story details an intense card game with Bond facing off against an unseen opponent, only to reveal in the end that it's a game of "Snap" and this is a prepubescent James Bond playing against a nanny.

The story was discovered by author Charles Helfenstein while researching in his major new book, The Making of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (Amazon, Amazon.co.uk).

Click here to read "Some Are Born Great" at The Young Bond Dossier.

Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier released in paperback

The paperback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier is released today in the UK by Puffin Books.

Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier is the complete and definitive guide to the world and adventures of Young Bond. Packed with information, illustrations, and a brand-new adventure by Charlie Higson, A Hard Man To Kill, this book is both a must-have for Young Bond fans and a perfect introduction to the megaselling series.

Also released today is the paperback edition of Charlie Higson's non-Bond horror novel, The Enemy.

Purchase Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier on Amazon.