Anniversary BONDS for 2025

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 third Bond novel finds 007 tangling with the megalomanic Elon Musk. I mean Hugo Drax! Moonraker was published by Jonathan Cape on April 5, 1955 in the UK, and in the U.S. by Macmillian on September 20, 1955.

🌴

60th Anniversary

Ian Fleming's final James Bond novel was published posthumously by Jonathan Cape in the UK on April 1, 1965. It was released in the U.S. in August 1965, by New American Library.

 🎯

40th Anniversary

John Gardner took 1985 off, but that didn't mean there wasn't a 007 novel that year...if you knew Jim Hatfield. CLICK HERE for the strange tale of this first unofficial James Bond novel, which turns 40 this year.

 👁

30th Anniversary

John Gardner's novelization of the great comeback James Bond film GoldenEye released in November 1995. A rare hardcover edition was published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton.

 👯‍♂️

25th Anniversary

Raymond Benson's fourth original James Bond novel, Doubleshot, turns 25. The book was published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton on May 4, 2000. The U.S. edition from Putnam was published on June 5, 2000. 

 💉

20th Anniversary

The terrific Young Bond series by Charlie Higson was launched 20 years ago with the first book, SilverFin. Published in the UK by Puffin on March 3, 2005. The U.S. edition from Hyperion was published on April 27, 2005. 

 🏁

10th Anniversary

Anthony Horowitz's excellent debut continuation novel Trigger Mortis turns ten this year. Released simultaneously in the UK and U.S. on September 8, 2015.

Happy reading!

Folio Society releases THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN

The Folio Society has released their next illustrated slip-cased Ian Fleming classic, The Man with the Golden Gun.

The twelfth volume in The Folio Society’s spectacular and best-selling James Bond series, The Man with the Golden Gun sees the world’s greatest super spy tackle his most dangerous assignment. 

For The Man with the Golden Gun, series artist Fay Dalton returns with her incomparable vision of Bond and his glamorous, deadly and action-packed world. This gorgeous edition features seven full-colour illustrations, a pictorial slipcase and a binding inspired by Bond’s own impeccable suits. The final full-length novel in the James Bond collection is an unmissable volume for fans and collectors alike. 

Written while Fleming was very ill and published eight months after his death, The Man with the Golden Gun sees Bond once again faced with his own mortality. However, being Bond, he faces the possibility head on, taking risks and repeatedly snatching victory from the jaws of certain death. Perhaps fittingly for the last Bond adventure, Fleming sets this in his beloved Jamaica. His lavish descriptions of exotic locations have always been one of the highlights of the series, and Fleming’s portrayal of Jamaica is especially evocative. The beachside bars, the dusty inland towns and the dangerous mangrove swamps are all alive with the hum of insects and the scent of rum. 

Captured by the KGB and brainwashed into making an assassination attempt on his own commander, James Bond is a shadow of his former self. When his mind is set free of insidious Russian influences, Bond is sent after Francisco ‘Pistols’ Scaramanga, a lethal assassin with a penchant for flashy hardware: the former circus performer’s signature weapon is a gold-plated Colt.45. Bond must infiltrate Scaramanga’s closest confidants, or risk being on the end of a lethal golden bullet...

The Man with the Golden Gun 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 on BBC Radio 4

A new radio drama adaptation of Ian Fleming's The Man With The Golden Gun will air on March 14, 2020 on BBC Radio 4. Below are details.

Ian Fleming’s psycho-political Cold War thriller, written in 1964 and dramatised by Archie Scottney. James Bond’s obit appears in the Times. But suddenly he’s back in London with murder on his mind. Brainwashed by the Russians? 

M gives him one more chance - terminate international assassin, Francisco Scaramanga.
Bond infiltrates the killer’s Jamaican HQ. But 007 has a conscience. Can he eliminate the butcher in cold blood? Will his cover be blown? 

A stellar cast includes Toby Stephen's return as 007. Cuban/American star Guillermo Diaz excels as psychopath Scaramanga and Janie Dee returns as Moneypenny, with John Standing as M and Moira Quirk as a feisty Mary Goodnight. 

Martin Jarvis directs and is the voice of Ian Fleming in a dazzling Caribbean soundscape with specially composed music by A-Mnemonic. 

Cast:
James Bond ….. Toby Stephens
Scaramanga ….. Guillermo Diaz
M ….. John Standing
Chief-of-Staff ….. Lloyd Owen
Moneypenny ….. Janie Dee
Townsend ….. Simon Templeman
Professor Gillian ….. Lisa Dillon
Tiffy ….. Monica McSwain
Mary Goodnight ….. Moira Quirk
Paradise ….. Seamus Dever
Gengerella ….. Tim Dekay
Hendricks ….. Matthew Wolf
Binion ….. André Sogliuzzo
Garfinkel ….. Darren Richardson
Ruby ….. Anna Mathias
Leiter ….. Josh Stamberg
Nicholson ….. JD Cullum
Doctor ….. Gilbert Glenn Brown
Matron ….. Inger Tudor
Cargill ….. John Cothran
Telephonists ….. Anna-Louise Plowman, Paula Jane Newman, Anna Lyse Erikson
Newsreader ….. Brian Perkins
Fleming ….. Martin Jarvis
Other parts by members of the cast 

Specially composed music: A-Mnemonic.
Sound Design: Mark Holden
Dramatised by Archie Scottney
Director: Martin Jarvis 

Producer: Rosalind Ayres
A Jarvis and Ayres production for BBC Radio 4.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Ultra-rare The Man With The Golden Gun variant shows up in donation bin

3AW News has a report on a rare variant edition of Ian Fleming's The Man With The Golden Gun with embossed golden gun on front board that turned up in the donation bin of a charity bookstore in Sunshine, Australia.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Thanks to Patrick Donahue for the alert.

The "real" JAMES BOND

Yesterday Sir Roger Moore died at age 89. Bond fans have been pouring out their grief and also sharing their memories of the man who made more official James Bond movies than any other actor.

As I posted yesterday, Roger Moore was my James Bond. In fact, the very first image I ever saw of James Bond was this 1974 Signet tie-in edition of Ian Fleming's The Man With The Golden Gun. When I finally saw my first James Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever (the ABC television premiere), I remember feeling confused and a little disappointed that the man in the movie was not the sleek, cool guy from this book cover -- the "real" James Bond.

Roger Moore has graced many book covers as the quintessential representation of James Bond. In 1990, a full set of the Ian Fleming novels were released in Turkey, all sporting original Roger Moore artwork. In 1985 a set of four Find Your Fate novels were published with terrific Roger covers. He's also shown up on many of the John Gardner novels.

And of all the tributes and articles about Roger yesterday, this piece by A.O. Scott in the New York Times really resonated with me personally, and very much nailed why I consider Roger Moore my Bond and, yes, maybe even the "best" Bond.

Roger Moore Was the Best Bond Because He Was the Gen X Bond

Kenneth Branagh and David Tennant read BOND

Kenneth Branagh reading The Man With The Golden Gun? David Tennant reading On Her Majesty's Secret Service? It's true!

Ian Fleming Publications and AudioGO (the new name for BBC Audiobooks) announced today that the classic Ian Fleming James Bond novels will be released as audiobooks read by some of the UKs most talented actors. Here is the full press release:

For Your Ears Only…
Bond is back with an all-star cast from the cream of British acting talent 

Thursday 6th September 2012 will mark a hugely significant event for James Bond fans everywhere. The launch of Ian Fleming’s classic Bond novels, read by a stellar selection of brilliant readers!

Three years in the making, the project has seen distinguished director Enyd Williams and Lucy Fleming for Ian Fleming Publications, working with twelve British acting icons to create an exciting, modern ‘007 reloaded’ take on the new, unabridged recordings of these remarkable books.

Now AudioGO, the UK’s leading audiobook publisher and distributor, has been appointed, with sole distribution rights for this fabulous collection.

“AudioGO is extremely pleased and excited to be working with Ian Fleming Publications on the release of twelve brand new James Bond audio recordings. These classic, timeless stories, when combined with the excellent calibre of star readers, will make for a truly entertaining and compelling listening experience.”

Mike Bowen – Managing Director

“I am delighted to say that Ian Fleming Publications and AudioGO are thrilled to be working together to present some of Britain’s best-known actors reading Ian’s classic Bond novels, for your ears only...”

Lucy Fleming

So who’s involved? Well, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is read by the remarkable David Tennant, while Bill Nighy brings his unique talents to Moonraker. Rosamund Pike delivers an intriguing take on The Spy Who Loved Me. Whilst Hugh Bonneville delivers a dynamic reading of the ever-popular Goldfinger and Dan Stevens reads the classic Casino Royale. 

Here's the full line-up of readers:

• Casino Royale read by Dan Stevens
• Live and Let Die read by Rory Kinnear
• Moonraker read by Bill Nighy
• Diamonds Are Forever read by Damian Lewis
• From Russia With Love read by Toby Stephens
• Doctor No read by Hugh Quarshie
• Goldfinger read by Hugh Bonneville
• Thunderball read by Jason Isaacs
• The Spy Who Loved Me read by Rosamund Pike
• On Her Majesty's Secret Service read by David Tennant
• You Only Live Twice read by Martin Jarvis
• The Man With The Golden Gun read by Kenneth Branagh

Each fantastic new Bond title will be available to pre-order on 1st August, and download or purchase on CD from 6th September 2012.

For news, artwork and samples, keep checking the BOND RELOADED page on Facebook.