Fanblog SpyVibe feels for collectors’ pulses

Ian Fleming - The Bibliography

In a series of several collector-related features, running under the title For Your Shelf Only, fellow Bond fan and writer Jason Whiton takes a closer look at the delights of collecting Bond memorabilia. The first is an exclusive interview with author and rare bookseller Jon Gilbert. Gilbert talks about his experiences of collecting unusual Fleming material for two decades and lets us in on the fascination of the chase. On top he lets us peek into the contents of his upcoming and long-awaited tome IAN FLEMING – THE BIBLIOGRAPHY. Fleming collectors will be

You can read the interview and the further features here.

Thanks to Jason for alarming us.

Raymond Benson's The Black Stiletto

Former James Bond continuation novelist (1996-2002) Raymond Benson has been hard at work on his new book: The Black Stiletto.

The Black Stiletto cover

Could Martin Talbot’s elderly, Alzheimer-stricken mother really have been the Black Stiletto? When Martin discovers several volumes of diaries hidden by his mother Judy he is stunned beyond all imagination. His mother, the underground heroine of yesteryear? Could it be true? Talbot is filled with doubt and disbelief. But the reappearance of one of the Stiletto’s old enemies with a thirst for merciless revenge makes the story more than real and could imperil the life of not only the Stiletto, but her son and granddaughter as well.

The book’s media-stocked website, www.TheBlackStiletto.net, is freshly launched; featuring video, photos, and illustrations of the mysterious crime-fighter. The site also includes praise from Jeffery Deaver, author of the new James Bond novel Carte Blanche.

Visit the web-site and check out the book trailer for everything you need to know before diving into the pages of The Black Stiletto!

The Black Stiletto will be released on September 5, 2011. In fact you can already pre-order the hardcover on Amazon.com where an E-book will later be made available. Also “Like” The Black Stiletto on Facebook.

James Bond is back in a Bentley

We’ve known James Bond would be back in a Bentley for his upcoming literary reboot novel Carte Blanche, but now there’s a press release with a number of good pictures. All the pictures are of Jeffery Deaver in or outside of Bond’s new Bentley Continental GT from his time in Dubai. Full press release below.

Press Release

BOND GIVES BENTLEY CARTE BLANCHE

Bond is back, and as ever he is sporting the best in luxury cars. In the pages of Carte Blanche,the new James Bond book by international best-selling author Jeffery Deaver, the fictional British spy has continued with his classic preference of luxury sports car by selecting the breathtaking new Bentley Continental GT as his transport of choice.

Carte Blanche is due to be published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK on May 26, a few days before the anniversary of Fleming’s birthday. It has been commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

The book is partly set in Dubai, which is where the author and the new Bond car have been spotted, outside the InterContinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City. Bond’s new Continental GT certainly suits his character, with a fabled 6.0-litre, W12, twin-turbo engine capable of producing 567 bhp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

While James Bond’s new car may be better suited for a secret agent in understated tones, the author of the book admired a less inconspicuous model. Set in stunning white with a blood-red interior, the new Continental GT mixes svelte good looks with power, poise and exceptional prowess. The hand-stitched leather interior contains all the high-tech gadgetry Bond could ever need. And with the famed sound dampening that only lets through the captivating sound of the wonderful engine, the cabin provides a true Quantum of Solace for Fleming’s jet-setting gentleman spy.

Jeffery Deaver sampled the stunning vehicle on his recent visit to the Emirates, where he commented, “I’m really excited about being back in Dubai. It is an inspirational and awe-inspiring city and makes a perfect Bond location-especially for a novel that pushes our hero to new extremes.”

Regarding the book’s title, which was revealed in January, Deaver added: “In the world of espionage, giving an agent carte blanche on a mission comes with an enormous amount of trust and constantly tests both personal and professional judgement. Part of the nonstop suspense in the novel is the looming question of what is acceptable in matters of national and international security. Are there lines that even James Bond should not cross?”

The James Bond of Ian Fleming’s original novels also opted for a Bentley. The world’s most famous spy would choose nothing less than the scintillating performance and second-to-none quality of the classic luxury car.

Jeffery Deaver has written 28 novels and sold more than 20m books worldwide. He is best known for his Kathryn Dance and Lincoln Rhyme books, most notably The Bone Collector, which was adapted for film in 1999, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Before becoming a full-time author, Deaver was a journalist, like Fleming, and attorney. He started writing suspense novels on the long commute to and from his office on Wall Street. His books are now translated into 25 languages and he lives in North Carolina.

Carte Blanche US cover art unveiled

Following the recent announcement of Jeffery Deaver’s upcoming James Bond novel Carte Blanche in Dubai, we now have the US cover art from US publisher Simon & Schuster. Big tip of the hat to The Book Bond for the find.

Carte Blanche press release

Press Release

The new James Bond book, due to be published later this year and written by best-selling thriller writer Jeffery Deaver, is to be called Carte Blanche. Its title and cover artwork are unveiled today (Monday 17th January), at a special launch event at the InterContinental Hotel in Dubai.

Like Fleming, Jeffery Deaver takes inspiration from exotic locations around the world, and after visiting Dubai for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature last year he decided to set part of Carte Blanche in the United Arab Emirates City.

Carte Blanche is due to be published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK, a few days before Fleming’s birthday, on 26th May 2011. It has been commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

Jeffery Deaver comments, “I’m really excited about being back in Dubai. It is an inspirational and awe-inspiring city and makes a perfect Bond location—especially for a novel that pushes our hero to new extremes.”

Regarding the book’s title, Deaver added, “In the world of espionage, giving an agent carte blanche on a mission comes with an enormous amount of trust and constantly tests both personal and professional judgement. Part of the nonstop suspense in the novel is the looming question of what is acceptable in matters of national and international security. Are there lines that even James Bond should not cross?”

Unlike the most recent James Bond book, Sebastian Faulks’ period piece Devil May Care, Jeffery Deaver’s Bond will have a contemporary setting. As part of his latest assignment, the modern-day secret agent travels with Emirates Airline and spends a number of thrilling hours in Dubai both meeting up with an old friend and tracking a very disturbing villain.

The novel’s setting encompasses Deira and Port Saeed, and the history of the Emirates provides an exciting backdrop for some heart-stopping action.

Bond is renowned for visiting the most exotic and glamorous of cities and this is the first time Dubai has featured in a James Bond novel.

Jeffery Deaver will be making a special appearance at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, on Tuesday 18th January, when he will be speaking about his love of Bond and his experience of writing Carte Blanche.

Carte Blanche also features Fleming’s favourite car – a Bentley. Historically, Bond owned three Bentley cars in the course of the fourteen original novels written by Ian Fleming and, bringing the plot completely up to date, Bond drives a Bentley Continental GT in the new book.

Jeffery Deaver has written 28 novels and sold more than 20 million books worldwide. He is best known for his Kathryn Dance and Lincoln Rhyme books, most notably The Bone Collector, which was adapted for film in 1999, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Before becoming a full-time author, Deaver was a journalist, like Fleming, and attorney. He started writing suspense novels on the long commute to and from his office on Wall Street. His books are now translated into 25 languages and he lives in North Carolina.

Carte Blanche; Project X title revealed

Project X is now Carte Blanche. In Dubai new James Bond author Jeffery Deaver announced the title of his new James Bond novel formerly known as Project X and gave a first look at the cover art.

A new website was simultaneously launched at 007carteblanche.co.uk.

Carte Blanche will be published by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK on 26 May 2011 (2 days prior to Ian Fleming’s birthday) and in the US by Simon & Schuster on June 14.

Deaver to reveal Project X title and cover in Dubai

On 18 January new James Bond author Jeffery Deaver will be in Dubai for the 2011 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature where he’ll be sitting down and talking about James Bond with local radio and TV presenter Shahnaz Pakhravan. Among the topics being discussed by Deaver will be his writing of Project X, his love of 007 and insights into stepping into Ian Fleming’s shoes. Jeffery will also be sharing with the audience new tidbits about the upcoming Bond adventure. The event will be taking place at the Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association at Al Mamzar.

Of most interest, however, Deaver has revealed on Twitter that fans will finally get to see the book’s title and cover art.

Project X – working title only – will be published on 28 May 2011 by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US.

Young Bond hits the back burner

Despite having a website, if you want to find out what Young Bond author Charlie Higson is up to nowadays all the juicy details can be found on his Twitter account. There’s been talk about the possibility of a Young Bond series 2 as recently as July 2010, and that could still happen, but it’s definitely hit the back burner due to Higson’s busy schedule. Via Twitter he writes:

“I have sadly had to draw a line under Young Bond for now. Too busy on other projects.”
– Charlie Higson

Another missed posting on his Twitter account was the announcement for the title of the third book in his horror series that began with The Enemy in 2009 and was followed by The Dead the following year. In September of this year be on the look out for The Fear. Oh, and as of 11 January, he finished it.

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Deaver's Edge published, talks Bond

US cover art for Edge by Jeffery Deaver

James Bond literary fans are hopefully well aware of Project X, the James Bond literary reboot by American author Jeffery Deaver that brings Ian Fleming’s character into the modern era similar to 2006’s Casino Royale. That book gets published next year in May, but in 2010 its author has been quite busy with two new novels hitting store shelves. In June his publisher Simon & Schuster released The Burning Wire, the ninth novel in the Lincoln Rhymes series of books. Additionally Deaver also had a short story published in June in a book called Stories that was edited together by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio. This November Deaver’s new standalone novel, Edge was published. Edge tells the tale of Washington D.C. police detective Ryan Kessler who is targeted by a ruthless lifter (a man who specializes in extracting information from his victims by any means necessary) named Henry Loving. Kessler is then put under government protection, specifically by a protection officer named Corte.

“Deaver unveils some nifty new tricks in this edge-of-your-seat thriller . . . Deaver’s first first-person narrator, Corte, is an exciting new weapon in the author’s arsenal of memorable characters.”
—Publishers Weekly

“In Mr. Deaver’s kaleidoscope world, the odds seem to change with each turn of the page.”
— Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal

Promoting this new novel Deaver sat down with USA Today and talked mainly about Bond although Deaver can’t mention anything about the story or even the locations in Project X with the exception of London. What he did mention most have us have already known, but he did drop this interesting quote: “I get him into a lot of trouble in the book,” Deaver says. “The poor guy. I almost feel bad for him. He doesn’t get a lot of rest.” If you don’t know much about Deaver, give this article a read. A lot of interesting information on him. Did you know that Deaver raises champion briards? Two of them have won best of breed at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Bond novels launch as eBooks in the UK

Starting on 4 November 2010, Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels will make their way onto digital store shelves at major retailers such as Amazon and Waterstone’s. Fleming’s 007 novels have been available in the United States in a digital format since Fleming’s Centenary celebration in 2008, but this marks the first time for the UK. Corinne Turner, Managing Director at Ian Fleming Publications said, “Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels to be read and enjoyed by everyone, and we are always looking for opportunities to introduce new audiences to Bond’s adventures. Fleming loved good, new technology, and I am sure he would have been thrilled by the idea of his books being available electronically.” Previously only Sebastian Faulks’ novel Devil May Care was available digitally in the UK.

Further Bond adventures not written by Fleming such as Charlie Higson’s Young Bond series will also premiere as eBooks starting in December. In all Fleming wrote fourteen James Bond novels:

• Casino Royale (1953)
• Live and Let Die (1954)
• Moonraker (1955)
• Diamonds Are Forever (1956)
• From Russia with Love (1957)
• Dr. No (1958)
• Goldfinger (1959)
• For your Eyes Only (1960)
• Thunderball (1961)
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)
• You Only Live Twice (1964)
• The Man With The Golden Gun (1965)
• Octopussy and the Living Daylights (1966)

Press Release

James Bond novels launch as eBooks in the UK

Ian Fleming’s classic James Bond novels are to be published for the first time in the UK as eBooks on 4 November 2010. The 14 books, which include Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, From Russia with Love and Dr No, will be sold under the Ian Fleming Publications Ltd imprint and will be available through major retailers including Amazon and Waterstone’s. The eBooks will be priced in line with the lowest-priced Bond paperback editions available on the market.

Corinne Turner, Managing Director, Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, comments: “Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels to be read and enjoyed by everyone, and we are always looking for opportunities to introduce new audiences to Bond’s adventures. Fleming loved good, new technology, and I am sure he would have been thrilled by the idea of his books being available electronically.”

Fleming’s James Bond novels first launched as eBooks in the United States to mark the Ian Fleming centenary in 2008 and were sold through Sony’s special edition 007 Reader and the Amazon Kindle. The availability of the eBooks in the US marked a new chapter in Bond publishing, and it is anticipated that this success will be matched with the forthcoming UK launch.

Further James Bond titles including Charlie Higson’s bestselling Young Bond series will follow from December.

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