CommanderBond.net

'Thrilling Cities' And 'The Diamond Smugglers' Reprints

Non-Bond Fleming works forthcoming in centenary year

Ian Fleming's 'Thrilling Cities' Coming In July 2008

Non-Bond book available for pre-order online at Amazon.co.uk

That's excellent news!

As a huge fan of Fleming's Bond books I am ashamed to say I haven't read either of these yet, save for 007 in New York which I believe was a part of his Thrilling Cities collection.

I'll be buying these prints for sure. What exactly was his work "The Diamond Smugglers"? Was it a journalistic report on a real smuggling ring?

Something along those lines, I think. I saw it in a used book store once (RIP that store), but I didn't get it because it sounded boring to me. So I'll probably skip on that reprint, but a new copy of Thrilling Cities sounds good.

I'll get The Diamond Smugglers in any case, I'm curious now.

I'm pretty sure that The Diamond Smugglers was a fictional work.

I read part one of Thrilling Cities - it was nice to read something new by Fleming (as in something I hadn't read before) but the real value in it was the anachronism. The descriptions of most of the locations are very dated. You do, however, in places, see hints at inspirations for the Bond novels.

Oh, terrific. Just after I splashed out a fortune online to own THRILLING CITIES (and I paid for it in two volumes, too).

Ah, well. Should've known that a reprint might have been on the cards and waited. Anyway, splendid news.

Don't know much about this DIAMOND SMUGGLERS book, though. What's the deal? Recommended?

Yes, but tragicaly the german fans don't get a new issue. I think they never had an issue, by the way. It's really sad that the german market doesn't appreciate these great books and even the legendary bond novels.

The only available novels are: Casino Royale & Devil May Care.

By the way "Devil May Care" gets the creepiest german title. It's called "Tod ist nur der Anfang", wich means "Death is only the begining".

Non-fiction, it appears: "The true story of the million carat network and the challenge faced by Chief Sir Percy Sillitoe and his private anti-smuggling squad."

Oh, that's great news. Thank you Skudor for the information. I'm glad to hear.

It is non-fiction. I have a first edition (but, alas, no dustjacket), and have read it. It's basically a journalistic account of diamond smuggling from Africa, some of the high-brow methods used by smugglers, and the work of the investigators trying to stop the smuggling. I found it really interesting, and some of the stories almost make good Bond-ian scenes (and would have had Fleming taken and added his magic to them in one of his novels).
Basically, if you want to learn a bit about diamonds and diamond smuggling in the 1950s it makes a good read. Worth picking up if you're a Fleming fan and crave his writing.

Outstanding news! They really seem to be going the extra mile this year to incorporate anything and everything Fleming-related.



Worth a try, in my opinion. You can usually locate a fairly cheap paperback copy on eBay or Half.com if you're not completely sold on it.

Been a while since I read it, but it acts as a fairly solid companion piece to 1956's Diamonds Are Forever. Much more informal (kind of a "documentary book"), but Fleming tries to get some action in there.

Some blurbs from the UK Pan edition;

"Master thriller writer Ian Fleming tells the true story of the fight against the web of intrigue which covered two continents--and it is as exciting and gripping as any work of fiction."

"The fantastic but true story of the world's greatest smuggling racket."

Yes, I'm really interested. We don't have that much Fleming/Bond-reading in germay, so I'm glad for every piece I can get.
You have probably read, that Germany only has two bond novels to buy. I'm buying the stuff I need via e-Bay.

Leon, Kilroy and Loomis - to add my 2 cents to the mix, i concur that the Diamond Smugglers is certainly worth a read as it contains some vintage Fleming descriptions, locations and shady characters.

And as Qwerty said, "DS" serves as a companion to "Diamonds are Forever" and can be read before or after for a richer experience.

I would also like to point out that many of the issues in the book relating to diamond smuggling are still current today, some 45 years later!!! So the book is not so out of date as people may assume.

Give it a go.