Dame Shirley Bassey has a licence to thrill

More than 50 years on and Dame Shirley Bassey still has an undeniable licence to thrill.

NME reports that the three-time James Bond title theme performer wowed the London crowd on Friday night as she celebrated her longstanding music career with a Electric Proms show with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Dame Shirley performed a selection of her classic hits along with a few new tracks from her soon-to-be-released album The Performance (which is produced by current 007 composer David Arnold and includes a composition from John Barry and Don Black amongst many other notable names in the music business).

She chose her 1971 Bond theme Diamonds are Forever to kick off the show. ‘It’s nice to be back for the first time since Glastonbury,’ she told the crowd before she quipped. ‘I gather you were all there in your wellies, like me?’

The grand event was brought to a close with a performance of the showstopping Goldfinger.

For an indepth interview with Dame Shirley, visit this article in The Guardian.

The Performance album is due for release on 9 November and can currently be pre-ordered online:

• Order Shirley Bassey’s The Performance from Amazon.co.uk

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page—and our Twitter feed—for more news on this exciting album.

Daniel Craig on Bond 23: 'We start the end of next year.'

Daniel Craig has just put the Bond 23 timeline into perspective, stating that production is set to kick off in the second half of 2010.

Daniel Craig

The comment was made by Craig after a performance of his Broadway play A Steady Rain alongside Hugh Jackman. While signing autographs and posing for photos with fans, one female member in the crowd asked when the next James Bond film was coming out—to which Craig replied ‘Uh, we start the end of the next year, so…’

To view the brief Craig comment, visit this YouTube link (and scroll forward almost one minute in).

CommanderBond.net readers will recall that producer Michael G. Wilson had stated that work had begun on Bond 23 earlier this year, although he failed to divulge any specifics. With Craig’s latest comment now, it seems fairly certain that we’ll be back to a three-year wait between Bond films.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date Bond coverage on the net.

Quantum of Solace Game Walkthrough (PS2) – Opera House (4)

Quantum of Solace: The Game (PS2)

Mission 4: Opera House

Walkthrough by: CBn Forum member Jaws0178

1. To start with, as soon as you get control of James Bond, crouch or slowly jog up behind the first baddie. If you run up behind him, he will hear you. Once you have gotten the earwig that he so graciously donates to your cause, grab his gun, you will notice a pillar and a piece of machinery behind it. You can do this next bit a couple of ways. Either you can either use the steel around the pillar for cover, or you can use the piece of machinery for cover. The important thing to using the steel however, is that as soon as you shoot the box hanging on the crane, immediately dive to your left where the machinery is. If you look out the window which will be behind you, you will notice said box. When you shoot the box, the two villains will go to investigate, at which point you can run to the door on the far left. Be warned however, it takes them a couple of seconds to investigate, so don’t go running out as soon as you have shot the box.

Quantum of Solace

2. Once you get outside, you will notice a henchman walking up the stairs. Make sure you are still crouched and follow him. You can either subdue him, or shoot him, personally it is more fun to subdue him. Climb the steps and you will hear audio feedback. Run to the container with the blue tarp to your left, the reason being that there is a hostile coming to investigate the noise. Sneak to the left edge of the container and, using the triangle button, turn to next edge of the container. Once the hostile has turned the malfunctioning amp off, look out and shoot him in the head. [Tip from Blonde Bond at the CommanderBond.net Discussion Forums: On the opera level you can dispatch two enemies using the console. There should automatically be a high pitch sound coming out of the speakers and the first guard should come to check the console. Take him out, then press the console yourself, hide behind the boxes and take care of the second goon. Then move up the stairs crouching and use the smoke machine. The guards shouldn’t be facing you when you do this. While there’s smoke, just use it as your cover and sneak to the ladders.] I have done this one myself and can tell you it works.

3. Now, if you do not use the tip above, or just want to do it a different way, you are going to have to backtrack a little bit. Go back to where you dispatched the first outside guard, look to the left of the way you came (to the left of the stairs leading down) and you will notice another set of stairs leading up to an incline. Take these stairs and walk up to the incline.

4. When you reach the aforementioned incline, Tanner will warn you about the surveillance cameras. To the right of the first camera on the wall, there is a hacking station. Hack the cameras as normal. It is five digits, and you have 24 seconds in which to do it. (Remember, you are after the green arrows, not the red ones). Once you have successfully hacked the cameras, you can eliminate the guard that is standing there. Remember not to make your presence known.

5. Now, once you have dealt with the guard, stand where he was, and you will notice a little white “starburst” on a spotlight machine. Walk up to it, and Tanner will tell you not to be too loud. Press the X button, and immediately turn around, and run to the boxes on your right (they are right next to the machine you pressed). Use the boxes for cover while the henchman investigates. Once he has turned it off, he will look around for a few seconds and then he will start to walk back to his previous position. Now is your chance. Remember to remain crouched down (something I have learned playing this game is that when the objectives say “stealth”, it is a pretty good idea to remain crouched). Once he has been taken care of, you have two choices, you can either use the boxes and score another kill, or you can run across the way toward the stage and continue the mission. As long as you are crouched, you do not have to kill him. It is your choice.

Quantum of Solace

6. Now, whichever one you choose, you will be winding up on the stage. Run across it to the ladder on the far right side. Climb up one ladder and you will come to a landing with another ladder to your left. Climb this ladder and you will hear a voice making a report. When you get to the top, you will notice that he has his back to you. Use this opportunity to sneak up behind him and subdue him. Once you have done this, continue on to your right til you get to the control room wall. (The building with the door in front of you). About halfway down the wall, go into cover mode. If you look out towards the boxes, you will notice three cans of paint sitting on top of a box. Shoot at the paint cans to attract the attention of the guard in the control room. Make sure he can not see you when he comes out. You can either subdue him, or straight out kill him. As usual, it is more fun to subdue him. Run into the now vacated control room, and you will see a box to your left with a rifle inside of it and also a door with a lock on the other side. The door leads to the stage. You can either shoot it or run up to it and press the X button. It is not required for the door to be open, but it is a nice thing to do just in case. Once you have done this, walk up to the bank of monitors, and press the X button.

7. You have been discovered. You can pretty much throw stealth out the window now. Use the boxes in front of you for cover because across the way from you there are men with rifles, looking to take you out. Here’s how it works, from where you are now, there are two men in the tower where the spotlight is coming from. On the far left where you came up the ladders there are two more men. Coming from behind the control room is another man, with a machine gun. I would recommend taking out the two snipers on the right first though since you are there anyway. Once they are gone, run across to the other side, taking out the hostile with the machine gun along the way (you have to shoot him for the fourth sniper to appear, and you also have to shoot the two on the left tower for the fifth sniper to appear). They are located on the top where the spotlights are, and also on the landing below (the fifth sniper is also on the second landing). Once you have taken the snipers out, run along the opposite way to reach a second ladder.

8. Once you get to the bottom of the ladder, because the hostiles have dropped the stage, you can not get out the way you came in. Use the box in front of you as cover, and take out the hostiles that are coming your way (there should be four of them). Once they have been dealt with, move along to the left until you reach an opening. There is a box in front of this opening. Use it for cover. Once the hostiles are gone (be warned, at least two of them throw grenades) and if you have followed step three of this walkthrough, this area should seem familiar to you.

9. In this area, past the first box, cover is very scarce until you get to the other box at the turning point on the ramp. Also, be aware that once you get up against the box, you can not use the right edge of the box to break cover because if you try to do so, it will treat the railway as cover as well, and you will get owned. Once you have defeated the enemies run directly to the box below the second set of stairs. Use the box as cover as another goon comes running. Take this goon out. There are a few more goons in this area. Once they have all been dispatched, you have a direct path to the double doors ahead and to the right. The doors lead to an area under the stage with another set of double doors with a green light above it. Go through the doors. I would recommend reloading everything before continuing on from here, cause you ain’t done yet. Once you are through the doors, you will find a set of steps. At the bottom of them is a door, and a hacking station. It is three digits and you have 17 seconds to figure it out.

10. Once you are through the doors, you will be on the docks. Walking around the docks triggers a cutscene where three baddies on a boat are looking for you. Once you have control of Bond again, find some cover, and use it. Shoot at the red fuel tank across the dock from you. It will explode with satisfying results. Once it has blown, continue using the boxes as cover, moving along the docks. Three more bad guys are going to appear from the other end. As long as you use cover, you can dispatch them easily. Now you are going to have to break cover once you have reached the set of black boxes about halfway down the docks to get the next set of boxes. Now, sometimes there is a goon in the boathouse, it depends on how fast you get there. Sometimes he will come out to get you. Turn left at the boathouse and you will see a gate. Open this and immediately dive for the two metal footlockers to the left before the second gate. You will meet with some resistance here. You will notice a big box at the end with the little “Gee, let me think” starburst. Fire at it with your SMG to bring it crashing down. Be warned as well, some of the opposition will toss grenades. Once they are all dealt with, climb up the stairs and down the walkway to end the level.

Mission Complete.

Quantum of Solace is currently available on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, Nintendo DS and Windows PC platforms in the UK and US. Click here to order.

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date coverage of Activision’s Quantum of Solace.

James Bond: Behind the scenes with the World's Favorite Secret Agent

ABOUT THE EVENT

For almost 50 years, the name Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli has been synonymous with the most prolific and longest running film franchise in cinema, Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Beginning with Dr. No in 1962, Broccoli transformed Fleming’s novels into a groundbreaking and trendsetting pop-culture phenomenon.

Presented in celebration of the Cubby Broccoli centennial, this three-day festival will feature screenings, discussions and an exhibit examining the impact of the Bond series and the producer who brought it to the big screen. Film screenings will include at least one film starring each of the five actors who have played Bond, from Dr. No to Casino Royale. Panel discussions will feature key figures from the Bond franchise and the Broccoli family. Additionally, an exhibit featuring a wide array of gadgets and props from the films will be on display during the festival.

SCHEDULE OF SCREENINGS

7:00 P.M. — Dr. No (1962), 110 minutes
Written by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood and Berkely Mather
Directed by Terence Young
MAKE A RESERVATION

Bond’s first adventure starring Sean Connery sees him travel to Jamaica to investigate the death of a British agent. There, he joins forces with CIA agent Felix Leiter and the beautiful Honey Ryder as his mission leads him to the island home of the sinister Dr. Julius No. Confronting lethal assassins, femme fatales and poisonous spiders in his search for the truth, Bond uncovers Dr. No’s evil plans for world domination.

9:00 P.M. — Goldfinger (1964), 110 minutes
Written by Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn, Directed by Guy Hamilton
MAKE A RESERVATION

Bond (Sean Connery) must investigate a powerful bullion dealer named Auric Goldfinger as he uncovers a plan to plunge the west into economic chaos. Bond’s mission takes him to Fort Knox, where he must team up with beautiful pilot Pussy Galore and stop the mastermind before it’s too late. First, however, Bond must come face to face with Goldfinger’s chief henchman – Oddjob.

12:00 P.M. — On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), 142 minutes
Written by Richard Maibaum and Simon Raven, Directed by Peter Hunt
MAKE A RESERVATION

Bond (George Lazenby) comes up against Blofeld once more as he tries to thwart his latest plan – unleashing a plague through a group of brainwashed “angels of death” unless his demands are met. As usual intelligence sources fail, Bond enlists the help of crime boss Draco as the trail leads to the mountains of Switzerland. Bond encounters many seductive women, but none so beautiful as Tracy di Vicenzo, Draco’s daughter.

2:40 P.M. — Live And Let Die (1973), 121 minutes
Written by Tom Mankiewicz, Directed by Guy Hamilton
MAKE A RESERVATION

When Bond (Roger Moore) travels to New York to look into the deaths of three fellow agents, he soon becomes the next target. Mr. Big aka Dr. Kananga is flooding the US market with free heroin with the intention of driving out competitors and creating millions of new addicts in a globally threatening scheme. Bond must work his magic on Kananga’s beautiful tarot card reader, Solitaire, in order to unravel the mastermind’s plan.

5:00 P.M. — Panel Discussion: James Bond Today
MAKE A RESERVATION

A conversation about James Bond in the 21st century, featuring Screenwriters Robert Wade and Neal Purvis (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace), Director Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) and longtime Stunt Coordinator Vic Armstrong. Moderated by SCA Professor Rick Jewell.

6:45 P.M. — The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), 125 minutes
Written by Richard Maibaum and Christopher Wood, Directed by Lewis Gilbert
MAKE A RESERVATION

Bond (Roger Moore) teams up with beautiful Russian agent Anya Amasova to find the truth behind the abduction of several US and Russian submarines by a massive underwater craft. With global tensions heightened to the brink of war, Bond must foil the evil Karl Stromberg’s plan for nuclear holocaust before it’s too late. To complete this mission however, 007 must first battle one of his most challenging adversaries – the seemingly indestructible Jaws.

9:00 P.M. — The Living Daylights (1987), 130 minutes
Written by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson, Directed by John Glen
MAKE A RESERVATION

After Bond (Timothy Dalton) helps a Russian officer to defect, the intelligence community is shocked when he goes missing from his remote hiding place. 007 follows a trail that leads him to the gorgeous cello-playing Kara Milovy and to a complex weapons scheme with global implications. Bond’s mission culminates in an epic battle in the Afghanistan desert.

12:30 P.M. — GoldenEye (1995), 130 minutes
Written by Michael France, Jeffrey Caine and Bruce Feirstein
Directed by Martin Campbell
MAKE A RESERVATION

Bond (Pierce Brosnan) races to Russia to find the access codes for “GoldenEye”, an incredible space weapon that can fire a devastating electromagnetic pulse toward Earth. However, he has an opponent who anticipates his every move – Alec Trevelyan, formerly 006. 007 must battle Trevelyan’s deadly allies, the psychotic General Orumov and the lethal assassin, Xenia Onatopp. Bond calls upon his sharp wits and killer instinct as the horrifying extent of Trevelyan’s plans is revealed.

2:50 P.M. — Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), 119 minutes
Written by Bruce Feirstein, Directed by Roger Spottiswoode
MAKE A RESERVATION

Someone is pitting the world’s superpowers against each other. When a British warship is mysteriously destroyed in Chinese waters, the world teeters on the brink of World War III. Bond’s trail leads him to media mastermind Elliot Carver, who can influence world events as easily as changing headlines. In his way is Carver’s ruthless chief of security, Stamper, and an army of henchmen. Together with the stunning yet deadly Chinese agent Wai Lin, 007 (Pierce Brosnan) must race to stop the mastermind’s plans before the world descends into chaos.

5:00 P.M. — Panel Discussion: Cubby Broccoli, Producer
MAKE A RESERVATION

A conversation about legendary Bond franchise producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli in celebration of his centennial, featuring family members Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, Actor Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz (Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun), Actor Richard Kiel (“Jaws”, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker) and Actress Maud Adams (“Octopussy”, Octopussy, The Man With the Golden Gun). Moderated by SCA Professor Rick Jewell.

6:40 P.M. — Catered Reception in Queen’s Courtyard
NO RESERVATION NECESSARY

8:00 P.M. — Casino Royale (2006), 144 minutes
Written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis, Directed by Martin Campbell
MAKE A RESERVATION

In his first mission, newly-appointed 00, James Bond (Daniel Craig), must stop Le Chiffre, banker for the world’s terrorists, from winning back his money in a high-stakes poker game. Along with a beautiful Treasury agent and the MI6 man in Montenegro, 007 will discover not only the dangerous organization behind his enemy, but the worst of all truths: to trust no one.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

James Bond Today

Vic Armstrong

Marc Forster (Director), a BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated director, made his directorial debut in 2000 with a psychological horror movie entitled Everything Put Together, which he also co-wrote. The film premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival and Forster went on to direct a string of critically acclaimed blockbuster hits including, most recently, The Kite Runner, based on Khaled Hosseini’s best seller. Although born in Germany, Forster was raised in Switzerland where he attended the famous Institut Montana Zugerberg. However, his early ambition was to make films and in 1990 he moved to America to study film at New York University. Forster commented, “When you grow up like that and suddenly you decide you intend to make movies, everybody says it’s impossible, but here I am and I’m living my dream.”

Today, Forster’s impressive filmography includes Monsters Ball (2001), which received two Oscar® nominations with Halle Berry winning Best Actress, and Finding Neverland (2004); a film based on the semi-autobiographical story of the friendship between J.M. Barrie and the single mother who lived next door with her four boys. Finding Neverland, starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, received seven Academy Award⪚ nominations, five Golden Globe nominations and eleven BAFTA nominations all including Best Picture. Forster was also nominated Best Director by his peers at the Directors Guild Of America. In 2005, Forster helmed the reality bending thriller Stay starring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts and went on to direct the hit comedy Stranger Than Fiction, with Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Queen Latifah, the following year.

Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (Writers) had their first success in 1991 with the screenplay of the controversial screen drama Let Him Have It, a true story about the killing of a policeman. The critically acclaimed film, directed by Peter Medak, was screened for Parliament and played a part in Derek Bentley’s eventual posthumous pardon. They have since worked in a variety of genres with screenplays such as The Wasp Factory, an adaptation of Iain Banks’ novel for director Stephen Daldry, and Plunkett & Macleane, starring Robert Carlyle and Liv Tyler.

Between writing James Bond films The World is Not Enough and 2002’s Die Another Day, they worked on The Italian Job, starring Mark Wahlberg and Edward Norton, and Johnny English, starring Rowan Atkinson and John Malkovich. They then wrote and co-produced Return to Sender for director Bille August and performed the same duties on Stoned for director Stephen Woolley, before writing the screenplay for Casino Royale. After delivering their screenplay for Quantum of Solace, they wrote Barbarella for director Robert Rodriguez, to be produced in 2009 by Dino DeLaurentiis, and have adapted John Le Carre’s latest novel, The Mission Song, for producers Simon Channing-Williams and Gail Egan. Their most recent collaboration is with director John Carney, on an adaptation of an M.R. James horror story, Casting the Runes. They are currently producing The Little Red Car, a comedy from their own script set in Paris and directed by Hattie Dalton.

Cubby Broccoli, Producer

Maud Adams (Actress, “Octopussy”)

Barbara Broccoli (Producer) has worked on the James Bond films for many years. Starting her career as an assistant director on Octopussy and A View to a Kill, Barbara worked her way up to become associate producer and then earning her first producer credit on GoldenEye, most recently producing Quantum of Solace with her brother Michael Wilson. In 2003, together with Dana Broccoli and Michael Wilson, Barbara produced the award winning stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which opened to rave reviews in London and later in New York. Barbara was awarded the OBE in the Queens New Years Honours 2008.

Richard Kiel (Actor, “Jaws”)

Tom Mankiewicz (Writer)

Michael G. Wilson (Writer, Producer) joined EON Productions in 1972 and was named Assistant to the Producer on The Spy Who Loved Me. He became Executive Producer on Moonraker and continued with that credit on the following two Bond films. He co-wrote For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and License to Kill. When James Bond returned to the big screen after an absence of six years, Wilson produced the hugely successful GoldenEye with his sister Barbara Broccoli, followed by the blockbuster releases Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. He was awarded the OBE in the Queens New Years Honours 2008.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Rick Jewell is a professor in the School of Cinematic Arts where he holds the Hugh M. Hefner Chair for the Study of American Film. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Vanderbilt University and Master’s Degree from the University of Florida, Dr. Jewell began his doctoral studies at USC in 1972, started teaching in 1974 and became a full-time faculty member in 1976. From 1985-1990, Dr. Jewell served as chair of the Critical Studies Program and from 1995 through 2004 he was the School’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Professor Jewell’s latest book is The Golden Age of Cinema: Hollywood, 1929-1945 (2007).

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

The exhibit will feature noteworthy artifacts from the spy thriller series as well as additional films from Broccoli’s career. Some of the items on display include an early draft of the script for Dr. No, the metal teeth worn by assassin Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me, the Versace evening dress worn by Halle Berry in Die Another Day, the red velvet dress worn by Jane Seymour in Live and Let Die, the mock Fabergé Egg from Octopussy, the Algerian love knot necklace worn by Eva Green in Casino Royale, the golden gun from The Man with the Golden Gun, Sean Connery’s coat from Dr. No, among many other costumes, cinema artwork, film stills and Bond spy gadgets.

The exhibit will take place in the Hugh M. Hefner Exhibition Space in the George Lucas Building Lobby, East wing of the SCA complex.

ABOUT CHECK-IN & RESERVATIONS

All screenings are free of charge and open to all USC students, faculty, staff and alumni. The theater will be OVERBOOKED to ensure capacity and the RSVP list will be honored on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no reserved seating. Please bring a photo ID or print out of your reservation confirmation, which will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 30 minutes prior to showtime.

ABOUT PARKING

The USC School of Cinematic Arts is located at 900 W. 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90007. Parking passes may be purchased for $8.00 at USC Entrance Gate #5, located at the intersection of W. Jefferson Blvd. & McClintock Avenue. We recommend parking in outdoor Lot M or V, or Parking Structure D, at the far end of 34th Street. Please note that Parking Structure D cannot accommodate tall vehicles such as SUVs. Metered street parking is also available along Jefferson Blvd.

For additional details, visit the official USC website.

Be sure to keep checking the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest James Bond-related news.

2009 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger award winner announced

The Crime Writers Association and Cactus Television last night hosted the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards, at which the 2009 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger was presented. John Hart was named the winner for his third book, The Last Child.

The awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, boasted an array of famous faces from the worlds of screen and books, and was hosted by comedian Alan Davies. The culmination of a six-week season of ITV3 crime and drama programming, the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2009 will be televised on ITV3 on Tuesday, 27th October at 9pm.

The CWA Dagger Awards celebrate the very best in crime and thriller writing, and are the longest established literary awards in the UK. These premier awards in crime fiction are recognised internationally as a mark of excellence.

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

Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier shipping early

Even though it isn’t due to be officially released until next week, the Young Bond Dossier passes along the news that a few online retailers are already shipping copies of Charlie Higson’s Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier.

Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier

Literary James Bond fans can order the book now from Waterstone’s and Amazon.co.uk, with both sites displaying ‘in stock’ messages:

• Order the UK hardback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK hardback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier from Waterstones.com

Touted as the complete and definitive guide to Higson’s Young Bond, the aptly-titled Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier will include in-depth character profiles, information on the cars, weapons and exotic locations, plus photographs, maps, and illustrations by artist Kev Walker.

As an added bonus, the book will also feature a brand new Young Bond story by Higson entitled A Hard Man to Kill. For more details on that story, click here.

Be sure to keep checking the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest Young Bond-related news.

Discuss this Young Bond news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum in the world.

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The History of 30 Assault Unit: Ian Fleming's Red Indians now available

Despite having it’s release date shifted several times online, Craig Cabell’s new book, The History of 30 Assault Unit: Ian Fleming’s Red Indians, is now available to order in the UK.

The History of 30 Assault Unit: Ian Fleming’s Red Indians

As earlier reported by CommanderBond.net, this latest book by Cabell takes an indepth look at James Bond creator Ian Fleming and his role with the 30AU (30 Assault Unit)—a unit he set up during World War II in 1942.

The book follows the release of last year’s Ian Fleming’s Secret War (also by Cabell), which focused on the activities of Fleming and his role with the 30AU—a unit he set up during World War II in 1942, while he served as the personal assistant to the director of naval intelligence. It’s goal was to undertake top secret intelligence-gathering missions, going in before Allied troops to make sure vital information was not destroyed.

Cabell has said that the unit ultimately served as inspiration for the creation of the 007 character.

The History of 30 Assault Unit: Ian Fleming’s Red Indians is published in hardback by Pen & Sword Military. Retailing for £19.99, it can currently be ordered online at a discounted price:

• Order The History of 30 Assault Unit: Ian Fleming’s Red Indians from Amazon.co.uk

For up-to-the-minute literary James Bond coverage, always turn your browsers to the CommanderBond.net main page. Be sure to check out our Twitter feed as well.

Pre-order Raymond Benson's Choice of Weapons: Three 007 Novels

Choice of Weapons: Three 007 Novels, the second James Bond anthology from author Raymond Benson, is now available to pre-order on Amazon.com.

Raymond Benson

To be published by Pegasus Books, the 864-page trade paperback will retail for $19.95 and is due for release on 17 August 2010. Click here to view the cover artwork.

This latest collection will bring together Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death and The Man with the Red Tattoo. As an added bonus, the Midsummer Night’s Doom and Live at Five short stories, both originally published in 1999, will also be included.

Literary 007 fans will recall that last year marked the release of The Union Trilogy—the first anthology of Benson Bond adventures. As was the case with that collection, Benson will once again provide an all-new introduction for this one.

• Order the US paperback edition of Choice of Weapons: Three 007 Novels from Amazon.com

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

Project Pinewood comes to a halt

Plans for a 100-acre, £200 million expansion of Pinewood Studios—the home of James Bond—have come to a halt.

The plans were unanimously rejected by the South Bucks District Council (SBDC) planners after a mass demonstration this afternoon, according to the Bucks Free Press.

More than 100 protesters from the ‘Stop Project Pinewood’ group were at the South Bucks District Council building as the planning committee discussed the proposal to build new film sets along with 1,400 homes on Green Belt land in Iver Heath.

New features would have included permanent film lots—such as a row of New York brownstone apartments, a Parisian square and a Venice canal, reducing the amount of international travel filmmakers would have had to make in order to film at such locations. Pinewood was also planning to incorporate up to 1,400 new flats, which was forecasted to generate as many as 1,600 new jobs.

It has further been reported that Birmingham is being considered as a possible alternative for the controversial expansion.

Be sure to keep checking the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest James Bond-related news.

Richard 'Jaws' Kiel to attend Germany's Movie Days Memorabilia Convention

James Bond fans in Germany will definitely want to take note of this upcoming event: Richard Kiel, famous for his role as steel-toothed villain Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, will be attending the Movie Days Memorabilia Convention.

Richard Kiel with Sir Roger Moore

This two-day event will feature numerous film stars in attendance and will take place from 28-29 November at the Braunschweig Convention Center. Opening hours are from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday and 11:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday.

A huge selection of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, posters, photos, comics, signed autographs, action figures, statues, manga, merchandise, masks, videogames and much more will be available on the more than 300 display tables.

Furthermore, Andreas Wisniewski (Necros in The Living Daylights) and Jeremy Bulloch (Smithers in For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and an HMS Ranger crewman in The Spy Who Loved Me) will also be attending.

For full details, visit the official Movie Days website.

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