Anniversary BONDS for 2024

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to another year of The Book Bond. Here's a rundown of the Bond novels that will be celebrating notable anniversaries this year. Break out the bookmarks and champagne!

70th Anniversary

Ian Fleming's second Bond novel brings 007 to the United States on the trail of gangsters and pirate treasure. Live and Let Die was published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on April 5, 1954.

60th Anniversary

Ian Fleming sends James Bond to Japan in You Only Live Twice, published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on March 26, 1964. It was released in the U.S. in August by the New American Library.

40th Anniversary

John Gardner planned to take a break after his inital three book contract, but 1984 saw the suprise publication of his fourth Bond, Role of Honor, relased by Putnam in the U.S. in September and Jonathan Cape in the UK on October 4.

30th Anniversary

John Garder nears the end of his run with his 13th orginal Bond adventure, SeaFire, first published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton in August 1994 and by Putnam in the U.S. in September. 

25th Anniversary

My favorite Raymond Benson Bond novel, High Time To Kill, turns 25 this year. The book was published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton on May 6, 1999. The U.S. edition from Putnam (pictured here) was published on June 7, 1999.

10th Anniversary

Steve Cole continues the Young Bond series with his debute novel, Shoot To Kill, which finds young James in action in Hollywood. The book was released in the UK by Random House on November 6, 2014. There was no U.S. release.

Happy reading!

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 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

STEVE COLE's farewell present

Check out this tweet from the now former Young Bond author Steve Cole.

Farewell to #YoungBond dinner this evening! Was presented with this artwork. Huge thanks to @TheIanFleming and @PenguinRHUK for everything. pic.twitter.com/2zAdxuLA8u

— Steve Cole (@SteveColeBooks) May 9, 2017

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.

RED NEMESIS hardcovers signed and ready to ship

Author Steve Cole has signed the full stock of limited Red Nemesis hardcovers, as you can see below from his recent tweet. The book will be relased on May 4. It can be pre-orderd at Amazon.co.uk.

Just signed limited edition run of collector's hardbacks for #YoungBond Red Nemesis, on sale May 4th pic.twitter.com/cxGyYn2QQ0

— Steve Cole (@SteveColeBooks) March 31, 2017

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.

Steve Cole YOUNG BOND novels coming to Germany

Steve Cole's first two Young Bond novels, Shoot To Kill and Heads You Die, will be released in Germany in May with translations by Leo H. Strohm. Below are the (okay) covers.

Thanks to CommanderBond.net on Twitter.

UPDATE: It appears publisher KJB has decided to abandoned the above designs and will release the books with cover art based on the UK editions (below).

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.

STRIKE LIGHTNING eBook now available in U.S.

Steve Cole's latest Young Bond novel Strike Lightning is now available as a Kindle eBook in the U.S. from IFP. As always, they've created unique original cover art for the eBook release. So far, Steve's Young Bond novels have only been released as eBooks in the U.S.

Purchase Strike Lightning for Kindle at Amazon

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'S NEW YOUNG BOND 'STRIKES' TODAY IN UK

Steve Cole's third Young Bond novel Strike Lightning is released today in the UK in paperback and as a limited hardcover.

Steve Cole's first two Young Bond novels were serviceable adventures with some good ideas. But Strike Lightning is a HUGE step up. In my opinion, this is far and away Steve's best Young Bond novel, and one that even challenges Charlie Higson's books. I'd even place it in my top ten best James Bond continuation novels.

What I like best about this adventure is it has a strong narrative flow and a great sense of the period (which was almost completely absent from Heads You Die). Also, this time Steve doesn't overpopulate the book with Bond's friends along for the ride. Here we only have a Bond ally (Perry Mandeville) and a Bond girl (Kitty Drift). Classic. In fact, this one truly nails all the aspects of a classic James Bond adventure, and continues the story of Young Bond very effectively. This feels like the book we've been waiting for.

Congrats to Steve Cole. His third strike is a HIT!

No sign yet of a U.S. eBook, but know that the UK editions are available via third party sellers on the U.S. Amazon.com.