Limited John Gardner THE JAMES BOND COLLECTION box set released in UK

The John Gardner JAMES BOND COLLECTION box set from Orion Books has been released in the UK. Limited to an initial print run of 200, the set contains the new hardcover reprints of Gardner's first five 007 novels: Licence Renewed, For Special Services, Icebreaker, Role of Honour, and Nobody Lives For Ever. The books all feature their original UK cover art.

The set is currently 44% off at Amazon.co.uk, bringing the price down from £80.00 to £44.80.

Visit our special Gardner Renewed page for information and links for all the current and upcoming John Gardner-James Bond reprints in the UK and U.S.

The John Gardner James Bond Box Set features the original UK cover art (above).

Spy novel pulled for plagiarizing Fleming and Gardner

The L.A. Times reports that the new spy novel, Assassin of Secrets by Q.R. Markham, was pulled today after publisher Mulholland Books, an imprint of Little, Brown, said it discovered that numerous passages where "lifted from a variety of classic and contemporary spy novels", including the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming and John Gardner.

In a statement, Michael Pietsch, executive vice president and publisher of Little, Brown and Co., said: "Upon investigation, it was clear the passages in question were lifted, and Little, Brown determined that the only course of action was to immediately recall books from retailers across the country."

While the publisher did not say how they discovered the plagiarism, some of the detective work appears to belong to the crew over at the CommanderBond.net forums, who spotted several passages in the book that where lifted directly from John Gardner's Licence Renewed and Nobody Lives Forever.

Even the author's name, Q.R. Markham, appears to be lifted from a Bond novel. "Robert Markham" was the pseudonym used by Kingsley Amis for his continuation Bond novel, Colonel Sun.

Simon Gardner, son of the late John Gardner, wrote today on Facebook:

"I do hope the exposure of this act of plagiarism will act as a lesson to others that think they might try to dupe publishers and the public alike. Whether the authors are alive or dead, there are enough fans of popular fiction to come down fast and hard on anyone who tries to rip off their favourite authors. That is the power of fans and I salute and thank you all on behalf of John Edmund Gardner."

Now I think we need to find out who is hiding behind the name Q.R. Markham?

UPDATE: According to publishers Marketplace news director Sarah Weinman, Q.R. Markham is really Quentin Rowan, a co-owner of Spoonbill & Sugartown in Williamsburg. The blog Reluctant Habits (which posted his photo below) reveals that he also plagiarized some of Raymond Benson's Bond work.

"Q.R. Markham" aka Quentin Rowan

BBC Radio revives Fleming's 007 in JUNK BOND

Friends out of England are telling me that last weekend BBC Radio 4 aired a four and a half minute Bond parody called Junk Bond as their "Book at Breakfast."

The segment featured 007 being briefed by M on the current EU financial crisis, of which Bond is blissfully unaware.

The piece was written in the style of Ian Fleming "by a famous but secret author" and read by Goldfinger's Bond Girl, Shirley Eaton (right).

Bantam's BOND

Well, the last series I featured here, the Jove paperbacks, received a drubbing in the comments, with several of my UK friends complaining (justifiably) that they were far too "American" in their look and design. So to redeem the USA, here is another U.S. series -- which I'd say is just as "American" in look and vibe -- but one that I find pretty darn terrific! In fact, as far as cover paintings go, this might actually be one of the very best paperback series of them all, and it's a shame Bantam only did a handful of the books in this style.

Bantam first entered the Bond game in May 1969 when it published the paperback edition of Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis. The book featured original cover art by the great Frank C. McCarthy, who in conjunction with Robert McGinnis painted the classic Bond movie posters for Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Then, starting in May 1971, Bantam released more Bond titles with McCarthy artwork, including Casino Royale, From Russia With Love, and Doctor No. The new series featured a bold JAMES BOND down the side and a tag-line touting the books a "All-Time" Bestsellers. Bantam would also reissue Colonel Sun with the new series look (this is a rare one), and finished off the year with a tie-in edition of Diamonds are Forever featuring movie poster art.

Bantam came back in June 1972 with a new edition of Goldfinger featuring McCarthy artwork that offered a rare glimpse of nudity. While they kept the "All-Time" tag, they didn't continue the series look, but instead established a new visual link -- first established on their Diamonds Are Forever tie-in -- of featuring the 007 movie logo on the backs of the books. In March 1973 they released Moonraker with the 007 logo backing and the same font as their DAF tie-in, but with very different "mod" cover art by an uncredited artist (which I still love as representative of its time). Perhaps had they continued the series we would have gotten more mod Bond covers like this?

Bantam concluded their run with a Live and Let Die tie-in released in July 1973. Ironically, this one would not feature the 007 movie logo on the back.

Speaking of movie art, elements of McCarthy's Colonel Sun artwork would later find their way onto the Thai poster for Never Say Never Again (1983).

Bantam's two movie tie-in editions.

Bantam U.S. paperback publication order:

Colonel Sun - May 1969

Casino Royale - May 1971

From Russia With Love - May 1971

Doctor No - July 1971

Colonel Sun (series art reissue) - ?

Diamond Are Forever (movie tie-in) - December 1971

Goldfinger - June 1972

Moonraker - March 1973

Live And Let Die (movie tie-in) - July 1973

Bantam's COLONEL

Here's a look at the first U.S. paperback edition of Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis. The book was published by Bantam in May 1969. What makes this cover notable is the artwork is by the great Frank C. McCarthy, who in conjunction with Robert McGinnis painted the classic Bond movie posters for Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Always loved this cover.

Tomorrow I'll take a look back at Bantam's other McCarthy-Bond covers.

Ralph Fiennes: "I like the books even more than the films."

IFC.com has an exclusive interview with Ralph Fiennes who was not part of the official Skyfall press conference yesterday. As you can see from the quote above, he's a fan of the book Bond, just like us. But the real mystery is who does he play in Skyfall? A man with a cat, perhaps? (That's the hot rumor.) Click the headline to have a read at IFC.com.

Will the next Bond novel be SKYFALL?

Eon Productions held a press conference in London today and confirmed that the title of the next James Bond film, due for release in October 2012, is SKYFALL. This is the first time since 2002's Die Another Day that a non-Fleming title has been used for a Bond film.

So why is this exciting for us here at The Book Bond? Because if Ian Fleming Publications follows their established pattern, this means we could get a novelization of SKYFALL next year.

With the exception of the two Christopher Wood novelizations in the 1970s, the rule has been that IFP reissues tie-in reprints of the original book when the filmmakers use a Fleming title (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace), but commission a full novelization when they use an original title (The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day).

So if we are to get a SKYFALL novelization, the real mystery is who will write it? Since 1989 the authors of the novelizations have been the reigning continuation novelist. However, as we saw with Devil May Care and Carte Blanche, IFP is currently contracting authors one book at a time. So who might they turn to for SKYFALL? A past continuation author like Raymond Benson or Charlie Higson? Or will we get an entirely new author?

This will, of course, be something we will stay on top of here at The Book Bond. But here's hoping that next year James Bond will be back -- on the written page -- in SKYFALL!

(My two cents on what was revealed today: The title is decent, but I can't say I'm a huge fan of the plot description. I think we've had WAY too much M in these movies lately, now it's all about M. And, of course, this time it's personal...again. Excited about China though.)

UPDATE: OFFICIAL: NO 'SKYFALL' NOVELIZATION (DANG IT)

TITLE CONFIRMED

The title of the next James Bond film, due for release in October 2012, has been confirmed as Cold Fall. I mean SkyFall! (Man, that just keeps happening, doesn't it?)

Locations are London, Scotland, Turkey and China. The Bond Girl names are Severin and Eve, played by Bérénice Marlohe and Naomie Harris. No word on the name of the villain, who will be played by Javier Bardem. The official plot description reads:

"In SKYFALL, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

You can read the full press release here.

JOHN GARDNER UK paperbacks release dates shuffle

According to Amazon, the release dates for the John Gardner UK paperback reprints from Orion have shuffled.

The good news is Brokenclaw and Licence To Kill, which had been listed as coming out in 2013, have been pulled forward to November 8, 2012. The bad news is Icebreaker has been pushed to May 10, 2012. Licence Renewed and For Special Services will now be the only books released on February 2, 2012.

There are still no announced release dates for the last six books.

I have a feeling this won't be the last shuffle, so to keep up with all the changing release dates, keep a watch on our Gardner Renewed page.

UPDATE: Looks like they've shuffled again. Not going to report on every move -- I will just keep my Gardner Renewed page updated.

The JOVE paperbacks

Continuing our look back at the Ian Fleming paperbacks, here is an American series that divides fans. These eight paperbacks from Jove look like they belong to the 1970s, but were actually released in 1980-81. (Jove's first Bond book had been the Christopher Wood novelization of James Bond and Moonraker in 1979.)

At the time, I was not a fan. The artwork by Barnett Plotkin looked dated even back then, and the cover of Goldfinger (the first book released in February 1980) looked like it belonged on a Danielle Steel novel. But over the years I've come to like these covers and this series as a representative of the times. I also like how each cover carries a nice individual tag line -- "James Bond Takes on The Bomb." Nice.

Of this series, Live and Let Die is a tricky one to find. For Your Eyes Only was released with a cover blurb touting what was then the latest Bond film, For Your Eyes Only starring Roger Moore. I'm not sure if there was ever a version published without the blurb. Moonraker was the last book released in July 1981.

In 2008 the Royal Mail issued commemorative James Bond stamps, and used several of these covers as artwork. Barnett Plotkin's original art can be purchased as limited edition prints at James Bond Illustrations.

Jove U.S. paperback publication order:

Goldfinger - February 1980
From Russia With Love - March 1980
Diamonds Are Forever - April 1980
Dr. No - May 1980
Live And Let Die - June 1980
Casino Royale - July 1980
For Your Eyes Only - June 1981
Moonraker - July 1981