Charlie Higson's 'Hurricane Gold' Sells Over 50,000 Copies

According to a report posted at the Young Bond Dossier, Hurricane Gold, the fourth Young James Bond novel by Charlie Higson, has sold more than 55,000 copies in the UK since it’s hardback release in early September 2007.

The site notes that along with the newest Alex Rider adventure, Snakehead, Young Bond is driving children’s book sales this Christmas.

Hurricane Gold was first released in hardback edition in the UK on 6 September. A paperback edition featuring all new artwork will follow on 28 May 2008 (a month already overflowing with literary 007 releases).

The fifth and final James Bond adenture by Higson (which currently has the working title The Shadow War will hit bookshelves on 4 September of next year.

• Order the UK hardback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK paperback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Hurricane Gold and Young Bond coverage. To keep track of all the upcoming 007 releases, events, television shows, and more–just keep your eyes on the CBn Calendar, located on the right panel of our main page.

The Blades Library Book Club: Brokenclaw

Welcome back to The Blades Library Book Club – the place for quality discussions of the books of James Bond!

John Gardner’s Brokenclaw

Every two months a James Bond 007 novel is chosen for the club members to read. A thread is posted in the club forums listing locations on where you can find the novel. Discussions about the book will go on as the book is read and when it is finished. Another thread will be created so that club members can post their review and give a rating on the current book.

All fans of the Literary Bond are eligible for membership. All you need to do to sign up is register on the CBn Forums (it’s free and only takes a minute) and then post your name in the sign up thread.

The Book Club’s Twenty-fourth Book

Currently we are progressing though the James Bond 007 novels in chronological order, since quite a number of members are using the club as an opportunity to read the books for the very first time. The club has just finished all fourteen of the Ian Fleming novels as well as the one-time-only Bond novel by Kingsley Amis, Colonel Sun. Most recently, the club moved onto the John Gardner era, and now continues with his ninth novel: Brokenclaw.

Obtaining The Book

Ordering online should be fairly easy. Brokenclaw can be ordered online (although in used condition) from the following sources:

• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.com
• eBay

Discuss other places to buy Brokenclaw or where you got your copy in this thread.

Discuss The Book While Reading

Want to talk about the book while reading it? Post a new thread in The Blades Library.

Review And Rate The Book

After you have finished reading Brokenclaw, you can discuss it with other club members in The Blades Library, and give the book your personal rating out of five in this thread.

If you have any questions or suggestions just post them in a new thread. Happy reading.

*New* Archive Of All Past Read Books

Additionally, club members can review or comment on any of the past read books in the club any time they want. Click here for the full archive of the past read books in the club.

Previous Books Read

• Win, Lose Or Die: October 2007 – November 2007
• Scorpius: August 2007 – September 2007
• No Deals, Mr. Bond: June 2007 – July 2007
• Nobody Lives Forever: April 2007 – May 2007
• Role Of Honour: February 2007 – March 2007
• Icebreaker: December 2006 – January 2007
• For Special Services: October 2006 – November 2006
• Licence Renewed: August 2006 – September 2006
• Colonel Sun: June 2006 – July 2006
• Octopussy & The Living Daylights: April 2006 – May 2006
• The Man With The Golden Gun: February 2006 – March 2006
• You Only Live Twice: December 2005 – January 2006
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: October 2005 – November 2005
• The Spy Who Loved Me: August 2005 – September 2005
• Thunderball: June 2005 – July 2005
• For Your Eyes Only: April 2005 – May 2005
• Goldfinger: February 2005 – March 2005
• Doctor No: December 2004 – January 2005
• From Russia, With Love: September 2004 – November 2004
• Diamonds Are Forever: July 2004 – August 2004
• Moonraker: May 2004 – June 2004
• Live and Let Die: May 2003 – June 2003
• Casino Royale: March 2003 – April 2003

Exclusive: 'The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling' Cover Artwork Revealed

CommanderBond.net can today exclusively reveal the cover artwork that will be featured on the third and final novel in Samantha Weinberg’s The Moneypenny Diaries trilogy, Final Fling.

The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling

As first mentioned in early September, the cover artwork for Final Fling is based upon the same design created by artist Stina Persson for the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant.

Final Fling will be set in Jamaica, the Outer Hebrides (an island chain off the west coast of the west coast of Scotland), Cambridge, and London. The novel’s action is planned to be split between Jane Moneypenny’s 1964/65 diaries and the contemporary adventures of her neice, Kate Westbrook. The full blurb follows:

Final Fling combines the excitement of a cold war spy thriller with the mystery of a contemporary detective story. In the 1964/65 volume of her private diaries, Jane Moneypenny reports her demotion from the position of M’s secretary as the British Secret Intelligence Service is hit by a series of defection scandals. Facing considerable personal danger, she combines forces with 007 in a resolve to smoke out the mole she is convinced is buried deep in the heart of the Office. But, when Bond is sacked and M is forced into retirement, Moneypenny finds herself on her own…

Forty-two years later, Miss Moneypenny’s niece and heir, Kate Westbrook, starts to suspect that her aunt’s death was no accident. She is sure the clues to what happened lie in the search for the mole. As she pieces them together, however, she realizes that there are significant forces who are determined to prevent her finding the truth.

From the glamour of 1960s Jamaica to the treacherous beaches of the Outer Hebrides, Final Fling reveals just how far people are prepared to go to defend – or betray – their beliefs, and relates the life and death, and surprising final love, of the world’s most famous fictional secretary.

The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is due for release on 1 May 2008 and can be pre-ordered from amazon.co.uk. A UK paperback is expected to follow in March 2009.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest literary James Bond news. To keep track of all the upcoming 007 releases, events, television shows, and more–just keep your eyes on the CBn Calendar, located on the right panel of our main page.

'Shark Bait' James Bond Collection Now Available In UK

Despite a release date listing of 25 January 2008 on amazon, The Literary 007 website informs us that Shark Bait, the newest James Bond 007 collection from Titan Books, is available now in UK stores.

In addition to the title story, the Shark Bait collection also includes The Xanadu Connection (originally not syndicated in the UK) and Doomcrack. The latter represents the first of ultimately five Bond comic strips serialised in the Daily Star and is the one and only time Harry North served as the artist.

Furthermore, this Bond collection also features the second part of an article centering on the 007 adventures in US comic strips. Caroline Bliss (Miss Moneypenny in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill) provides the introduction. Click here to view the brand new (and final) cover artwork for the collection.

Titan’s Shark Bait collection will be released in the US on 12 February 2008.

Stay tuned for CommanderBond.net for all the latest news on the Titan James Bond comic strip releases.

Looking Back: 'Die Another Day'

The CBn ‘Looking Back’ series now moves onto Raymond Benson’s third and final James Bond novelisation, Die Another Day. The book was first released in early November 2002, just a few weeks before the theatrical premiere of Pierce Brosnan’s fourth 007 film of the same name. CBn takes a look back at Die Another Day—included are publication details, the original jacket blurbs and trivia notes about the book.

The action-packed story begins in the demilitarised zone between North and South Koreas with a spectacular high-speed hovercraft chase.

From Hong Kong to Cuba to London, Bond continues his quest to unmask a traitor and prevent a war of catastrophic consequence—but not without the help and hindrance of two mysterious femmes fatales.

Hot on the trail of the principal villains, Bond travels to Iceland where he experiences at first hand the power of an amazing new weapon before a dramatic confrontation with his main adversary back in Korea where it all started.

UK First Edition Hodder & Stoughton Hardback

Trivia

Bond author Raymond Benson

A production error of the UK 1st edition Hodder & Stoughton hardback of Die Another Day resulted in several copies, the exact number is unknown, that had pages cut short. As a result, a second corrected edition was quickly produced, making the 1st edition of this novelisation even more difficult to obtain.

Amazon UK and Amazon US originally featured the cover of this novelisation as based upon the first gun on ice teaser poster of the film. It was ultimately changed to the generic blue poster art featuring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry.

While the Walther PPK was featured in the previous Bond novelisation, The World Is Not Enough (despite the switch to the P99 in Tomorrow Never Dies before that), here 007 is once again using the P99.

Like previous James Bond novelisations by Benson, there was no regular US hardback printing of Die Another Day.

While Tomorrow Never Dies remains the most difficult of all the Raymond Benson James Bond novels and novelisations to obtain in UK 1st hardback printing, copies of the hardback edition of Die Another Day are somewhat easier and cheaper to come by.

The UK and US large print edition of the novelisation features the same cover art used for the UK Hodder & Stoughton hardback edition.

While being promoted to the captain status in later John Gardner James Bond novels, here 007 is a commander once again.

When danger becomes a temptation, when every move brings you closer to the edge, when you live each day like it’s your last—there’s a surprise around every curve…

From North Korea to Iceland, Bond circles the world in his quest to unmask a traitor and prevent a war of catastrophic proportions. Crossing paths with beautiful allies and deadly assassins in a high-octane action adventure of intrigue, revenge and betrayal, never has Bond been so vulnerable, nor so dangerous…

US Boulevard Paperback

Release Timeline

• 2002: 1st British Hodder & Stoughton Hardback Edition
• 2002: 1st British Coronet Paperback Edition
• 2002: 1st American Boulevard Paperback Edition
• 2003: 1st American Windsor/Chivers Press/Thorndike Large Print Hardback Edition
• 2004: 1st American Windsor/Chivers Press/Thorndike Large Print Hardback Edition

Your Own Opinion On Die Another Day

Want to share your thoughts and opinion on Raymond Benson’s Die Another Day? Feel free to discuss the novelisation by visiting this thread and give the novelisation your personal rating in this thread on the CommanderBond.net Forums.

German Title For 'Devil May Care' Revealed

“Devil May Care will be published around the world on the same date, in all major (and many minor) languages.” With this particular sentence from the Devil May Care cover art press release, news like this was to be expected. After the title of the Dutch edition of Sebastian Faulks’ James Bond novel was revealed two weeks ago, the first details on the German version appeared today.

UK cover art for Devil May Care

The Ian Fleming Centenary Novel will be named Der Tod ist nur der Anfang (“Death Is Only The Beginning”) in Germany and it will be published by Heyne Verlag under the label Diana Hardcover Edition (Diana Verlag is a subdivision of Heyne Verlags, which belongs to Random House). The translation will be done by Jürgen Bürger. The choice of Heyne as German publisher does not come as a surprise, as they bought the German rights for all James Bond novels in 2003. No specific details on the cover could be obtained, but, to again quote the above mentioned press release: “Many of the [foreign] publishers will be using this jacket.”

The German edition will have have 320 pages. The retail price will be 12.95 Euros in Germany, 13.40 in Austria and 23.90 ChF in Switzerland (ISBN: 978-3-453-26602-5).

• Order ‘Der Tod ist nur der Anfang’ from Amazon.de

Win Penguin 007 Fleming Boxset

CBn is giving forum members the chance to win the recently released Ian Fleming boxset, featuring all 14 paperback novels with Rich Fahey’s amazing cover art.

The boxset has a RRP of around £100, but one lucky member will win one for absolutely nothing, and just in time for Christmas!

This competition is open to all members of CBn. You must be a registered member of the CBn Forums and answer the following questions correctly to be eligible to win. Not yet a member of CBn? Register here now–it’s free and only takes a minute!

To enter, answer the following questions and send a Communiqué/Private Message on the CBn Forums to ‘CBn Competition’ (Subject: CBn Fleming Boxset) by Midnight GMT on Thursday, 13 December 2007 (simply click on the link in this paragraph).

1. Who created the cover art featured in this boxset?
2. What was Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel?
3. What is your CBn forum screen name?
4. What country do you live in?

All those who answer correctly will be put into a drawing and the winner will be sent a Communiqué/Private Message via the CBn Forums to the Screen Name they provided to inform them of their winning. The winner must respond to this PM by midnight GMT on the 15 December 2007 with the requested information (name, mailing address, etc) or another drawing will be held. The winner will be announced once shipping information has been received. The item will be shipped from the UK. In the event that a prize has been stolen or mishandled during shipment, CBn will not be able to replace the specific item–this has yet to be a problem.

'The Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis' Coming In May '08

Kingsley Amis

Amazon.com is currently listing a new book entitled The Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis, due for release in May of next year.

Amis is best known by James Bond fans for his one and only continuation novel in the literary 007 canon, 1968’s Colonel Sun. In addition, Amis also wrote 1965’s The James Bond Dossier, which was a critical analysis of the Ian Fleming Bond novels and The Book Of Bond Or, Every Man His Own 007, published under the pseudonym ‘Lt Col. William (‘Bill’) Tanner.’

While there are no publication blurbs offering any specific details on The Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis yet, amazon lists Amis and Christopher Hitchens as the authors. Hitchens provided the introduction to the 2002 UK Penguin omnibus collection of From Russia with Love, Dr. No and Goldfinger.

The Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis will be published by Bloomsbury USA on 13 May 2008. CommanderBond.net will keep you updated as further details are revealed.

Order The Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis hardback from Amazon.com.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest literary James Bond news.

'Double Or Die' US Cover Artwork Revealed

The cover artwork for the US edition of Charlie Higson’s third Young James Bond novel, Double or Die, has been revealed today at the Young Bond Dossier.

The cover for the US hardback edition of Double or Die (click here to view) features James and one of the Smith brothers in the dark North London cemetery–a scene which was one of the novel’s many highlights.

The artwork was designed by Kev Walker (who also provided the original cover artwork for the US edition of Blood Fever).

Young Bond fans can currently pre-order the US hardback of Double or Die from amazon.com. It is due for release on 22 April 2008:

• Order the US hardback edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com
• Order the US audiobook edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Young Bond and literary 007 news.

'Devil May Care' Cover Art Unveiled

Devil May Care cover

Ian Fleming Publications have unveiled the cover art for Sebastian Faulks’ highly-anticipated novel, Devil May Care. The book will be released to mark the centenary of the birth of James Bond author Ian Fleming.

The novel will be published all around the world “all major (and many minor) languages” on 28 May 2008. In the UK and its territories, Devil May Care will be published by Penguin Books (under their new Penguin 007 imprint), while in the US, the book will be released by Doubleday. Many of the publishers will use this artwork.

The full press release from Ian Fleming Publications follows.

First glimpse of Penguin’s new Bond book, ‘Devil May Care’

James Bond is renowned for his impeccable taste when it comes to women, and the girl on the front of the brand new Bond book will leave you both shaken and stirred.

The jacket image for Devil May Care, written by Sebastian Faulks, is unveiled today (Monday 3rd December). It features the model Tuuli Shipster, muse of the British photographer, Rankin.

Tuuli says: “I was thrilled that Penguin chose me to be their Bond girl. It’s fantastic to be involved with something so iconic.”

Tuuli, the daughter of a diplomat, is just one of the elements on the cover of the eagerly-awaited new Bond book. The cover image features a blood red flower with the silhouette of a naked woman as its stem, against a black background – strictly for your eyes only.

Alex Clarke, Penguin Editor of Devil May Care, says: “The cover had to be something stylish and sophisticated – all the things that one associates with Fleming’s James Bond. With such a great concept the challenge was then to find the perfect girl to bring it to life. We just knew the moment we saw her that Tuuli was our Bond girl.”

The jacket image was created by the award winning design agency, The Partners, who work with some of Britain’s oldest heritage brands including Jaguar, Wedgwood, Harrods, the BBC and The National Gallery.

Jack Renwick, Creative Director, The Partners says: “It’s an honour to become a small part of Bond’s rich visual history. Bond is sex, intrigue and violence. We wanted to capture this and give a subtle nod to the familiar, iconic Bond images of old. It is with great pride that The Partners adds Penguin’s latest Bond to their portfolio.”

The cover photograph was taken by British photographer and commercials director, Kevin Summers.

Devil May Care is written by best selling author Sebastian Faulks and is set in the Cold War. It will be published by Penguin on 28th May 2008 to mark the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth. Alongside the publication of Devil May Care, there is a year long programme of projects planned for the centenary, including exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and the Fleming Collection and special Ian Fleming’s James Bond stamps issued by the Royal Mail.

Ian Fleming’s 14 James Bond novels will also be republished on 28 May 2008 under the Penguin 007 imprint.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the most up-to-date literary James Bond news on the web.