Official YOUNG BOND website gets a makeover

In anticipation of Steve Cole's first Young Bond novel due out November 6, 2014, the official Young Bond website at www.youngbond.com has received a makeover. The site now features the new Young Bond logo and links to the latest printings of all the books. It's also teases that "we'll be revealing the cover and title very soon," so you might want to go and sign-up for the new Young Bond newsletter now.

www.youngbond.com

In his first Young Bond book, Steve Cole picks up where Charlie Higson left off and throws James Bond into action in Hollywood, CA.

Pre-order Untitled Young Bond by Steve Cole on Amazon.co.uk.

German reprint of COLONEL SUN in September

Yesterday we had news that the first three John Gardner James Bond novels will be reprinted in Germany with cover art by Michael Gillette. Now comes word that the first continuation novel, Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis, will also be reprinted in Germany with a Gillette cover...and here it is!

Like the Gardner titles, the publisher is Cross Cult and the release date is September 2014.

A big thank you to "boeserzwlling" for making this discovery.

Cover art for new JOHN GARDNER German reprints

The first three James Bond novels by John Gardner will be reprinted in German with original cover art by Michael Gillette. You'll recall that Gillette did the covers for the Centenary editions of the Ian Fleming novels in 2008. Below are Gillette's covers for License Renewed, For Special Services, and Icebreaker, which come courtesy of Simon Gardner. Publication dates are yet to be announced.

License Renewed

For Special Services

Icebreaker

Thank you, Simon.

RAYMOND BENSON on James Bond Radio

James Bond Radio, a terrific podcast devoted to all things 007, has scored an interview with former James Bond continuation novelist, Raymond Benson.

On today’s show we talk to James Bond author Raymond Benson. In our first celebrity interview, we hear all about the process behind writing a Bond novel, from the research, to outlining the story. We hear the incredible story behind how Raymond got the job, the amazing travel stories and his friendship with a certain Mr. Hugh Hefner. Do not miss this episode!

Click here to listen at James Bond Radio

You can also Like James Bond Radio on Facebook.

Irish Motorist on 007's SAAB and that bloody Alan Dukes!

Reader Donal Rogers from Ireland has sent over this terrific article from the June 1983 issue of Irish Motorist about James Bond's new choice of car, the Saab 900 Turbo. Of course, by 1983 we were three books into the John Gardner cycle, so I'm not sure how "new" the Saab really was at this time. But it's a fun article and I especially love the mid-article rant about...Alan Dukes?

Donal tells me, "Alan Dukes was the Irish Minister for Finance at the time the article and so would have been responsible for difficult national budgets at a time of severe economic crisis for Ireland in the early 1980s."

I also like the expression of dismay that Bond is "now a regular jogger." I had to think about it, but I do recall that Bond does go jogging while at the Anton Murik estate in License Renewed, but I'm pretty sure it's so he can surveil the property.

Anyway, enjoy this blast from Ireland's past.

Click to enlarge.

Thank you Donal.