The lost John Gardner comic strip adaptations

OO7 Magazine Online recently revealed that at least two John Gardner James Bond continuation novels, Icebreaker (1983) and Role of Honor (1984), were adapted into comic strip form, most likely to run as part of the Daily Express series. Unfortunately, these adaptations appear to have never been published.

Now thanks to OO7 publisher and editor Graham Rye (who owns the original artwork) here's a look at a panel from Role of Honor.

Click to enlarge

Courtesy of 007 MAGAZINE (to view the remainder of the exclusive images of these strips visit www.007magazine.co.uk and subscribe to 007 MAGAZINE OnLine).

Jeffery Deaver says CARTE BLANCHE has gone to EON

Jack Riccardi interviewed Bond author Jeffery Deaver on KTSA today. It's clear Riccardi is a Bond fan and this is a good interview.

A few points to note; Deaver again says he's open to writing another Bond novel should IFP want him back. He also says Carte Blanche has "gone to" Eon (the Bond film producers), and sounds optimistic about its chances of being made into a film (but so was Sebastian Faulks).

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW

Flashback: ROLE OF HONOR, 1984

Just for fun, here's an advert from 1984 for John Gardner's fourth James Bond novel, Role of Honor. I believe this appeared in Publisher's Weekly. At the time it was thought Gardner was going to take a year break after his third Bond novel, Icebreaker, so the announcement of a new Bond book for 1984 was a great surprise!

Role of Honor will be released on July 7 as part of the Orion's special re-issuing of the classic John Gardner James Bond titles to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of License Renewed.

CARTE BLANCHE #5 on New York Times Best Sellers list

In its debute week, Jeffery Deaver's Carte Blanche has landed at #5 in the New York Times Best Sellers list for Hardcover Fiction. The list reflects sales for the week ending June 18, 2011.

While sales of Carte Blanche in the UK are not quite as strong as Sebastian Faulks' Devil May Care, it is outselling the Faulks novel in the U.S. Devil May Care only made it as high as #8 on the New York Times list.

Thanks to Ryan Rose.

Charlie Higson tweets "major announcement" upcoming

Okay, Charlie Higson has a lot of irons in the fire and a runaway success with his new Enemy series, so I doubt this "major announcement in a couple of weeks" has anything to do with James Bond. But we can still hope, right? More Young Bond? Higson writing the next adult continuation novel?

UPDATE: Charlie just tweeted his announcement. The Fast Show is coming back.

Jeffery Deaver brings CARTE BLANCHE to L.A.

Reigning Bond continuation novelist Jeffery Deaver appeared last night at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills as part of his ongoing Carte Blanche U.S. book tour. There was a good turnout for the 8pm event, which was hosted by the Rare Bird Lit.

Deaver spoke for about 45 minutes, reflecting on his process of writing, how it's a business to him, how he outlines and revises, and how he came to write Carte Blanche. In the audience were many L.A.-based Bond aficionados, including the eminent John Cork and Collin Stutz (co-author of The James Bond Encyclopedia), as well as Double O Section's Matthew Bradford.

During the Q&A session, Deaver didn't give up any secrets of what IFP might have planned next for Bond (despite our best efforts to get him to do so). He said he's turning his attention of his next Kathryn Dance novel (set in...Fresno?) and has no set plans to return to Bond. However, he did feel he set-up some things in Carte Blanche that other authors could explore if they like (presumably Steel Cartridge).

I asked Deaver about the title, which he said was suggested by his editor. Unfortunately, he didn't reveal any rejected or working titles (a particular fascination for me).

Afterwards Deaver signed all the books and generously posed for photos with all the attendees, including yours truly. Inside my own copy of Carte Blanche he wrote, "It means a lot to me that you enjoyed it!" :)

All in all, it was another terrific L.A. Bond event, and it was great to see Jeffery Deaver in person and so many of my Bond friends.

Photos by Athena Stamos, Girl From LA Photography

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd appoints Curtis Brown as new agents for Bond

Press Release: Ian Fleming Publications Ltd has appointed Jonny Geller and Curtis Brown to represent the Ian Fleming James Bond novels and future James Bond literary works, worldwide.

Following the great success of Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver, Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks and the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson, Ian Fleming Publications looks forward to providing further enjoyment for the millions of James Bond fans, both young and old, and for future generations.

Corinne Turner, MD of IFPL, said:

"In these changing times, it is important that there is a co-ordinated representation of the Ian Fleming Bond novels and our new 007 projects worldwide, and we are very excited by the prospect of working with a literary agency that combines over one hundred years of experience with such a bright, enthusiastic and forward-thinking team."

Jonny Geller, MD of Curtis Brown books division, said:

"This is a huge honour for our agency. Ian Fleming is quite simply one of the world's most successful and well –managed literary estates. The aim for us is clear: to marshall all of Curtis Brown's resources to bring a new generation of readers to Ian Fleming's work. By using the specialist skills of different agents within Curtis Brown we intend to build on the wonderful work that the Fleming company has already achieved."

Curtis Brown will also look after the James Bond novels written by Kingsley Amis, John Gardner and Raymond Benson as well as translation rights in the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson.

FIRST SET OF JOHN GARDNER 007 REPRINTS RELEASED TODAY

The first three hardcover reprints of the classic John Gardner James Bond novels are released today by Swordfish/Orion Books. The titles are License Renewed (first published in 1981), For Special Services (1982), and Icebreaker (1983). The books each feature their beautiful original cover art (above). The cover for License Renewed is done by Richard Chopping, who provided covers for many of the Fleming titles.

Rowland White, Non-fiction Publishing Director and Publisher of Swordfish says: “As I grew up in the 1980s, John Gardner’s Bond was, to a large extent, my Bond. I missed out on the chance to anticipate the publication of a new Bond from Ian Fleming. Instead I looked forward to my next fix of 007 from the hand of John Gardner. It’s a huge pleasure and privilege to now have the opportunity to publish new editions of these classic thrillers on the Swordfish list.”

John Gardner

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd said “We are delighted that the 30th anniversary of the first Gardner Bond novel is being celebrated with such a lovely edition. I can’t imagine a more fitting tribute to one of our longest serving and most dedicated Bond authors.”

Simon Gardner, the author's son, said "My father, John Edmund Gardner, was extremely proud to have been asked to take on the role of Bond continuation novelist, and if he were alive today he would be overjoyed to see his Bond novels back in print for a new generation of fans to enjoy. On behalf of the family, I would like to say how pleased we all are that The Orion Publishing Group are re-printing these first five novels, complete with their original jackets. It is very exciting that these will be released under Orion's new imprint, Swordfish. We all find it hard to believe it is the 30th anniversary of the publication of Licence Renewed."

Personally, I'm extremely excited about the release of these books. I also grew up with Gardner's Bond. I can recall when and where I got every book, and who I was at the time. The Gardner books are really what made me such a fan of the literary 007. I also lobbied for 30th Anniversary editions, so this is a dream come true. I'm thrilled that younger fans can now rediscover John Gardner's James Bond for themselves.

Orion will release Role of Honor and Nobody Lives Forever in July. They will then release a Box Set of all five hardcover reprints in November, and then ALL the John Gardner James Bond novels in paperback with all-new cover art throughout 2012 and 2013. For the full release timeline, visit our special Gardner Renewed page.

Original ads for License Renewed, For Special Services, and Icebreaker

Jeffery Deaver open to writing another Bond novel

Jeffery Deaver tells the Star-Telegram that he's open to the idea of penning another James Bond novel:

"It was a one-book contract, with the understanding that I had to get right back to writing my own books," he says. "I'm currently working on my next Kathryn Dance book [fourth in the series]. Then I have a Lincoln Rhyme book that is due next year for publication in 2013 [No. 10 in the series]."

That said, when it comes to Bond, Deaver will never say never again.

"If Carte Blanche were to become a publishing phenomena, if it turns into, say, James Bond and the Deathly Hallows, then I would certainly be interested in revisiting it," he says. "But I would never not write my own books. Basically, we left it pretty much in the air for now."

I, for one, would love to see Deaver return!

Jeremy Northam to read new Gardner Bond audiobooks

Jeremy Northam will read the new John Gardner James Bond audiobooks from Orion. Northam last read the audiobook for Sebastian Faulks' 2008 Centenary Bond novel, Devil May Care.

Northam's first reading, For Special Services, will be released this Thursday, June 23, along with the first three Gardner books in special hardcover reprints. License Renewed will be release on July 7.

Artwork for the audiobooks has been revealed on the Orion website. They feature the original UK cover art along with the new 007 logo. Northam's audio readings will also be available as digital downloads from audible.co.uk.