Happy New Year! In Goldfinger, James Bond said, “If I fail to report, 008 replaces me.” Unfortunately, ’007 failed to report and it’s been replaced by ’008. I trust it will be more successful!

Please forgive me for the lame introduction but it’s true, this year is going to be a huge success. Huge may be an understatement because 2008 is not only going to be better than 2007, it has the potential to be the best year for James Bond since the height of Bondmania in the ’60s. Right now, you may think I’m over exaggerating but as you read on, you will see what I’m talking about. 2008: Looking Forward is the most comprehensive Looking Forward article to date and the fifth in the series. You won’t be disappointed this year!¹ While researching and compiling information for this article, I wet my pants (exaggeration?) in excitement for what’s in store for us in the upcoming months.

Usually, I start off by listing some of this year’s film and novel anniversaries but I’ve decided not to bore you this year (Live And Let Die turns thirty-five years old!). Instead, I want to talk about the man we all know and love – Ian Fleming. 28th May marks the centenary² of the birth of Mr. Fleming or Mr. Flemming (you know who you are). To celebrate the occasion, Ian Fleming Publications (IFP) has a massive line up of new releases for the people that made Ian Fleming one of the bestselling authors of the 20th century – you, the Bond fan. These new releases, or gifts as I like to call them, can be viewed at IanFlemingCentenary.com and include:

• The first adult James Bond continuation novel in six years, Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks. This novel is due in bookstores on 28th May and marks the first time ever an adult Bond novel has been a period piece.³
• The currently untitled Young Bond 5 and The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling. These highly anticipated novels conclude the Young Bond and Miss Jane Moneypenny sagas, respectively. Two questions will be answered: Does one of the boys’ maids see James’s young Bond? And is Bond, Miss Moneypenny’s final fling? As the Young Bond saga ends, graphic novel adaptations of the series will begin to be released in 2008 starting with SilverFin. All three of these releases are for the United Kingdom only (for now).
• A special stamp collection released by Royal Mail⁴ to commemorate Ian Fleming’s birth as well as the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Doctor No. The other novels featured are Casino Royale, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia, with Love, Goldfinger and For Your Eyes Only. See: James Bond Stamps Coming In January 2008
• A special logo just for the centenary put out by IFP. It looks great at IanFlemingCentenary.com! Penguin Books’ graphics department also got fancy and unveiled a Penguin 007 logo on Penguin007.com. This brand new Penguin 007 logo will be slapped on new hardback editions of all fourteen of Fleming’s original Bond novels! Unfortunately, these are only available in the United Kingdom.⁵ See: New Hardback Editions Of Ian Fleming’s James Bond Novels Available To Pre-order
• Last but not least, things IFP have up their sleeves that have yet to be announced or prematurely put up on Amazon.com/Amazon.co.uk.

If that didn’t knock your socks off, you’re probably not a big reader so here’s something just for you! On 7th November, Bond 22 starring Daniel Craig will be released in theaters in the United Kingdom and the United States. This highly anticipated sequel picks up a few minutes after Casino Royale and will probably beat Madagascar: The Crate Escape at the box office in its opening weekend. Dancing penguins may be able to beat 007 but a movie featuring a talking giraffe voiced by the guy that played Ross on Friends can’t. You can quote me on that.

Still boycotting the James Bond films because they star Daniel Craig? Then maybe you’ll enjoying killing him in Activision’s video game adaptation of ‘Bond 22’? No release date has been set yet but I speculate it will be released in the United States on 4th November, the Tuesday before Bond 22’s Friday release. Like voodoo instead of video games? Then buy the Daniel Craig as James Bond 12” Sideshow Collectibles figure and poke it with needles. That’ll surely make Bond 22 flop prompting Eon to rehire Pierce Brosnan! Again, no release date has been set but there’s a good chance we’ll get it in 2008.

2008 has something for every Bond fan whether you saw the Sean Connery Bond films in theater as a lad or whether you were born during the infamous six-year hiatus. If this article didn’t tickle your fancy then perhaps you’re at the wrong site? I heard J.J. Abrams’ remake of Star Trek will be released this year on Christmas Day. Maybe you’ll enjoy that.

Live long and prosper!

LOOKING FORWARD WILL RETURN

¹ Some readers were disappointed when I wrote, “Sadly, 2004 does not see the release of Bond 21 or the rumored Jinx spin-off,” in 2004: Looking Forward.

² Americans, “centenary” is a fancy word for “centennial” which is just a fancy name for hundredth anniversary.

³ No Colonel Sun isn’t a period piece. It took place in the ‘60s because it was written forty years ago in 1968. Nice try, though.

⁴ Royal Mail is the United Kingdom’s equivalent of the United States Postal Service (USPS). The difference lies in the price per stamp and the quality of commemorative stamp collections (Americans got the thirtieth anniversary Star Wars stamp collection in 2007).

⁵ That’s okay because the pages in my paperback editions from 2002-2004 aren’t yellow yet.

Film Anniversaries

• 45th: Dr. No (1963) - 8 May (US)
• 45th: From Russia with Love (1963) - 10 October (UK)
• 35th: Live and Let Die (1973) - 27 June (US) & 6 July (UK)
• 25th: Never Say Never Again (1983) - 7 October (US) & 14 December (UK)
• 25th: Octopussy (1983) - 6 June (UK) & 10 June (US)

Novel Anniversaries

• 55th: Casino Royale (1953) by Ian Fleming
• 50th: Doctor No (1958) by Ian Fleming
• 45th: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963) by Ian Fleming
• 40th: Colonel Sun (1968) by Kingsley Amis (Robert Markham)
• 35th: James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 (1973) by John Pearson
• 25th: Icebreaker (1983) by John Gardner
• 20th: Scorpius (1988) by John Gardner
• 15th: Never Send Flowers (1993) by John Gardner
• 10th: The Facts of Death (1998) by Raymond Benson

Bond 22 Releases

• 6 November: Germany & the Netherlands
• 7 November: United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, Denmark, Sweden & Turkey
• 13 November: Australia

Novel Releases

• 8 April: Double or Die (Audiobook) by Charlie Higson (US)
• 22 April: Double or Die (Hardcover) by Charlie Higson (US)
• 1 May: James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 (Softcover) by John Pearson (UK)
• 1 May: The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling (Hardcover) by Samantha Weinberg (Kate Westbrook) (UK)
• 13 May: The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel by Samantha Weinberg (Kate Westbrook) (US)
• 28 May: Devil May Care (Hardcover) by Sebastian Faulks (UK & US)
• 28 May: Devil May Care (Audiobook & Large Print) by Sebastian Faulks (US)
• 28 May: Hurricane Gold (Softcover) by Charlie Higson (UK)
• 4 September: Young Bond 5 (Hardcover) by Charlie Higson (UK)
• 4 September: SilverFin (Graphic Novel) by Charlie Higson & Kev Walker (UK)
• ? October: The Union Trilogy (Omnibus) by Raymond Benson (US)

Activision’s Video Game Release(s)

• ?: Bond 22

Titan Books Releases

• 25 January: James Bond: Shark Bait (UK)
• 12 February: James Bond: Shark Bait (US)
• 27 June: James Bond: The Paradise Plot (UK)
• 15 July: James Bond: The Paradise Plot (US)

Sideshow Collectibles Release(s)

• Daniel Craig as James Bond 12” Figure?

Miscellaneous Release(s)

• 8 January: Royal Mail’s James Bond Stamp Collection (UK)

007 Actor Birthdays

• 2 March: Daniel Craig (2006-Present) - 40 y/o
• 21 March: Timothy Dalton (1987-1989) - 64y/o
• 16 May: Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002) - 55 y/o
• 25 August: Sean Connery (1962-1967;1971;1983) - 78 y/o
• 9 September: George Lazenby (1969) - 69 y/o
• 14 October: Roger Moore (1973-1985) - 81 y/o

To discuss 007 in ’008 visit this thread on the CBn Forums.