Sebastian Faulks' Pisatache published in paperback in UK

Sebastian Faulks’ Pistache

A new paperback edition of Pistache, a collection of fanciful, satirical and surprising parodies, squibs and pastiches from Devil May Care author Sebastian Faulks, is now available to pick up in the UK.

Originally released in hardback in late 2006, this amusing collection featured the author’s first take on a James Bond adventure (of sorts) with the inclusion of Ian Fleming Thinks Even James Bond Goes Shopping, a story featuring 007 on a dangerous mission in a supermarket.

For a more detailed look at this Bond parody, check out the CommanderBond.net article: Even James Bond Goes Shopping.

Pistache is published by Arrow Books Ltd. and retails for £6.99. The title can currently be ordered online at a discounted price:

• Order the UK paperback edition of Pistache from Amazon.co.uk

Keep visiting the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for the most up-to-date literary 007 coverage on the web.

Faulks on Fiction: The Secret Life of the Novel

A new book from James Bond centenary author Sebastian Faulks is on the horizon: Faulks on Fiction: The Secret Life of the Novel.

Faulks on Fiction will be published to coincide with a major BBC series (more on that in this CommanderBond.net article). The book will feature the Devil May Care author’s take on many enduring character types from over the centuries and ‘a unique social history of Britain’.

The full publisher’s blurb follows below:

The British invented the novel, with the publication of Robinson Crusoe in 1719 marking the arrival of a new and revolutionary form of art. But it’s equally true, as Sebastian Faulks makes clear in this remarkable book, that the novel invented the British: for the first time there was a form of art that reflected the experiences of ordinary people and provided characters that served as true cultural touchstones.

In The Secret Life of the English Novel, Faulks explores enduring character types from over the centuries—Heroes from Tom Jones to John Self, Lovers from Mr Darcy to Lady Chatterly, Villains from Fagin to Barbara Covett, and Snobs from Emma Woodhouse to James Bond—and shows us how they mapped and inspired the British psyche, and continue to do so.

Published to coincide with a major BBC series, The Secret Life of the English Novel is a subjective and opinionated look at the psychology of the British through their literature, and a unique social history of Britain from one of our most respected writers.

Faulks on Fiction: The Secret Life of the Novel is currently scheduled for a late 2010/early 2011 release date. The book can currently be pre-ordered in hardback, retailing for £20.00, from Amazon.co.uk:

• Order the UK hardback edition of Faulks on Fiction: The Secret Life of the Novel from Amazon.co.uk

For up-to-the-minute literary James Bond coverage, always turn your browsers to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums.

Sebastian Faulks' A Week in December arrives in paperback in UK

A Week in December, the latest novel from Devil May Care author Sebastian Faulks, has debuted in paperback this month in the UK.

Originally published late last year in the UK and this past March in the UK, this new book is the first contemporary novel written by Faulks. Besides his 2008 Ian Fleming centenary James Bond adventure, some of his other works include Birdsong, Human Traces and Engelby.

This new paperback edition is published by Hutchinson and retails for £12.99.

The official publication blurb follows:

Sebastian Faulks’ A Week in December

A Week in December is Sebastian Faulks’ first wholly contemporary novel. Set in London, it’s a brilliant social satire, structured like a thriller, that takes place over the course of a single week at the end of 2007.

It brings together an intriguing cast of characters, each apparently in his or her own world but – as gradually becomes clear – ultimately intricately related. The anti-hero, John Veals, is a shadily successful and boundlessly ambitious Dickensian figure who is trading billions and other characters include a teenage Muslim fanatic, a Polish footballer, a female tube driver, a literary critic, a care worker and a chutney tycoon. As the story builds to its climax, Faulks pulls together powerful ideas about family, money, religion, and the way we live now.

• Order the UK hardback edition of A Week in December from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of A Week in December from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK paperback edition of A Week in December from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the US hardback edition of A Week in December from Amazon.com

For up-to-the-minute literary James Bond coverage, always turn your browsers to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums.

Pistache Returns by Sebastian Faulks due November 2010

Ian Fleming centenary author Sebastian Faulks has a new story collection scheduled for release later this year: Pistache Returns.

It was only days ago that CommanderBond.net reported that Faulks’ original Pistache collection (which features the comic story Ian Fleming Thinks Even James Bond Goes Shopping) would be getting a paperback reprint in the UK this June.

Like the original, Pistache Returns promises more parodies and more pastiches. The blurb follows:

Sebastian Faulks’ Pistache Returns

A collection of fanciful, satirical and surprising parodies, squibs and pastiches inspired by The Write Stuff on BBC Radio 4.

Pistache (pis-tash): a friendly spoof or parody of another’s work. [Deriv. uncertain. Possibly a cross between pastiche and p**stake.]

From the writer of such brilliant parodies as Thomas Hardy’s football report and Dan Brown’s visit to the cash dispenser, comes another collection of witty pastiches.

Pistache Returns will be published in hardback by Hutchinson and retail for £12.99. It is due for release on 4 November 2010 and can currently be pre-ordered from Amazon.co.uk:

• Order the UK hardback edition of Pistache Returns from Amazon.co.uk

Keep visiting the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for the most up-to-date literary 007 coverage on the web.

Sebastian Faulks' A Week in December set for March release in US

A Week in December, the latest novel from Devil May Care author Sebastian Faulks, is due to be released in the US this upcoming March.

This new book is the first contemporary novel written by Faulks. Besides his 2008 Ian Fleming centenary James Bond adventure, some of his other works include Birdsong, Human Traces and Engelby.

First released in the UK in September of last year, the US release date is currently scheduled for 9 March.

The official publication blurb follows:

Sebastian Faulks’ A Week in December

A Week in December is Sebastian Faulks’ first wholly contemporary novel. Set in London, it’s a brilliant social satire, structured like a thriller, that takes place over the course of a single week at the end of 2007.

It brings together an intriguing cast of characters, each apparently in his or her own world but – as gradually becomes clear – ultimately intricately related. The anti-hero, John Veals, is a shadily successful and boundlessly ambitious Dickensian figure who is trading billions and other characters include a teenage Muslim fanatic, a Polish footballer, a female tube driver, a literary critic, a care worker and a chutney tycoon. As the story builds to its climax, Faulks pulls together powerful ideas about family, money, religion, and the way we live now.

To be published by Doubleday, the US edition of A Week in December will retail for $27.95 and can currently be pre-ordered online:

• Order the UK hardback edition of A Week in December from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of A Week in December from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the US hardback edition of A Week in December from Amazon.com

For up-to-the-minute literary James Bond coverage, always turn your browsers to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums.

007 parody by Sebastian Faulks to get paperback reprint this year

Sebastian Faulks’ Pistache

A new paperback edition of Pistache, a collection of fanciful, satirical and surprising parodies, squibs and pastiches from Devil May Care author Sebastian Faulks, is due to be released this June in the UK.

Originally released in late 2006, this amusing collection featured the author’s first take on a James Bond adventure (of sorts) with the inclusion of Ian Fleming Thinks Even James Bond Goes Shopping, a story featuring 007 on a dangerous mission in a supermarket.

For a more detailed look at this Bond parody, check out the CommanderBond.net article: Even James Bond Goes Shopping.

Pistache will be published by Arrow Books Ltd. on 3 June 2010 and will retail for £6.99. Pre-order at a discounted price now at Amazon.co.uk…

• Order the UK paperback edition of Pistache from Amazon.co.uk

Keep visiting the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for the most up-to-date literary 007 coverage on the web.

Sebastian Faulks to present The Secret Life Of The Novel

Sebastian Faulks

In 2010 the BBC will be celebrating the power of the British novel with a major four-part documentary series presented by best selling novelist and James Bond centenary author Sebastian Faulks (The Girl At The L’ion Dor, Birdsong, Devil May Care).

The Secret Life Of The Novel will look at the history of the novel through its characters—each episode focusing on a different archetype and looking at how they have developed over the centuries: The Hero, The Lover, The Snob, The Villain.

Journeying around the country, with the occasional foray abroad, Sebastian will use his unique personal knowledge of characterisation to get under the skin of some familiar and not-so-familiar characters of British literature.

From Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe to Martin Amis’s John Self; Jane Austen’s Emma to Monica Ali’s Chanu; Sebastian will put them all on the psychiatrist’s couch.

Mark Bell, Arts Commissioning Editor, commented: “Sebastian is an insider, a novelist with a real understanding of the craft. Booking him to front a four-part series on BBC Two about how characterisation works is really exciting. It demonstrates the type of bold arts programming the BBC is committed to delivering.”

The Secret Life Of The Novel is a four x 60-minute series produced by BBC Vision.

Executive producer is Basil Comely and the commissioning editor is Mark Bell.

The series is expected to transmit in Spring 2010 and will start shooting this Autumn.

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page and our Twitter feed for the most up-to-date literary 007 coverage on the web.

In conversation with Sebastian Faulks at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Sebastian Faulks

While Young Bond author Charlie Higson is set to take the stage at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in roughly a week from now, literary 007 fans attending tomorrow will be treated to an appearance by Sebastian Faulks.

The author of James Bond centenary novel Devil May Care will be giving a talk tomorrow night, 9 October, at the Everyman Theatre.

Faulks will be discussing his critically acclaimed novels, including the just recently published A Week in December.

The event (#23) kicks off at 8:45pm and will last for 75 minutes. Reserved ticket prices are £8.00.

For full details on attending, visit the official Cheltenham Literature Festival website.

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page and our Twitter feed for the most up-to-date literary 007 coverage on the web.

Sebastian Faulks' A Week In December published in UK

This week marks the release of A Week in December, the newest novel from Sebastian Faulks, who wrote last year’s Ian Fleming centenary novel, Devil May Care.

This new (non-Bond) title is the first contemporary novel written by Faulks. A Week in December is published in hardback by Hutchinson on 3 September in the UK and is currently available to order from Amazon.co.uk. A release in the US will follow on 27 October.

For those interested in this latest novel from Faulks, The Guardian newspaper has a review up now.

The publication blurb follows:

Sebastian Faulks

A Week in December is Sebastian Faulks’ first wholly contemporary novel. Set in London, it’s a brilliant social satire, structured like a thriller, that takes place over the course of a single week at the end of 2007.

It brings together an intriguing cast of characters, each apparently in his or her own world but – as gradually becomes clear – ultimately intricately related. The anti-hero, John Veals, is a shadily successful and boundlessly ambitious Dickensian figure who is trading billions and other characters include a teenage Muslim fanatic, a Polish footballer, a female tube driver, a literary critic, a care worker and a chutney tycoon. As the story builds to its climax, Faulks pulls together powerful ideas about family, money, religion, and the way we live now.

• Order the UK hardback edition of A Week in December from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of A Week in December from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the US hardback edition of A Week in December from Amazon.com

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for the most up-to-date literary 007 coverage on the web.

Faulks hopes for Devil May Care adaptation

The James Bond International Fan Club relays a report from the Evening Standard last month in which novelist Sebastian Faulks reveals he’d like to see his bestselling 007 novel Devil May Care adapted for the screen.

Devil May Care

“One lives in hope,” the author said, adding, “Daniel Craig is a good Bond but I thought there was a little too much running and jumping in [Quantum of Solace] and the romance went out of it. It’s time to bring that back.”

Eon Productions had previously ruled out an adaptation of Devil May Care. “We love the book, but because it is set in the 1960s, we haven’t considered making it in the near future,” producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson said at the time.

Faulks responded, “I would have thought that if you could move Casino Royale from the 1950s you could move Devil May Care from the sixties. But Eon know what they are doing.”

Reports surfaced last month that Eon are eying the Middle Eastern drug trade – a key element of Devil May Care – as a possible storyline for the twenty-third Bond film, which is currently in development.

Devil May Care was released in paperback in May. The James Bond International Fan Club claims Penguin are hoping the paperback edition will outsell last year’s hardcover. The publisher are also said to be looking into new ways to market Ian Fleming’s original Bond novels.

Keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page – as well as our new Twitter feed – for all the latest literary James Bond news and coverage.