James Bond Movie Marathons On Spike TV In June-August

Spike TV will be returning once again with another ‘Breakfest With Bond’ marathon in July and August.

Tune in for all the 007 action you can get with a different James Bond movie each morning, Monday through Friday at 9:00am, beginning Tuesday, 29 July and ending Friday, 29 August. The schedule for the first week of the marathon follows:

• Tuesday, 29 July:
• Tomorrow Never Dies: James Bond heads to stop a media mogul’s plan to induce war between China and the UK in order to obtain exclusive global media coverage. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce and Michelle Yeoh.

• Wednesday, 30 July:
• The World is not Enough: James Bond uncovers a nuclear plot when he protects an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can’t feel pain. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau and Robert Carlyle.

• Thursday, 31 July:
• The Spy Who Loved Me: James Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads with the help of a KGB agent whose lover he killed. Starring Roger Moore, Barbara Bach and Curd Jurgens.

• Friday, 1 August:
• The Living Daylights: James Bond is living on the edge to stop an evil arms dealer from starting another world war. Bond crosses all seven continents in order to stop the evil Whitaker and General Koskov. Starring Timothy Dalton, Maryam d’Abo and Jeroen Krabbe.

There will also be a one day only James Bond movie marathon on Monday, 30 June, starting at 9:30am. The line-up includes:

• Monday, 30 June:
• 9:30am – GoldenEye: James Bond teams up with the lone survivor of a destroyed Russian research center to stop the hijacking of a nuclear space weapon by a fellow agent believed to be dead. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean and Famke Janssen.
• 12:30pm – The World is not Enough: James Bond uncovers a nuclear plot when he protects an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can’t feel pain. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau and Robert Carlyle.
• 3:30pm – Tomorrow Never Dies: James Bond heads to stop a media mogul’s plan to induce war between China and the UK in order to obtain exclusive global media coverage. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce and Michelle Yeoh.
• 6:00pm – GoldenEye: James Bond teams up with the lone survivor of a destroyed Russian research center to stop the hijacking of a nuclear space weapon by a fellow agent believed to be dead. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean and Famke Janssen.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest on 007-related events happening around the world.

'GoldenEye: Rogue Agent' Now Xbox 360 Compatible

The 2004 James Bond video game GoldenEye: Rogue Agent is now coming back into focus by being added to the official Xbox 360 compatibility list.

Spong reports that the original Xbox game is being made compatible with the next-generation Xbox 360.

Upon its initial release four years ago, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent was met with mediocre reviews and generally considered a disappointment after the more successful Everything or Nothing and James Bond 007: NightFire.

2002’s James Bond 007: NightFire is currently listed on the Xbox 360 compatibility list as well.

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest coverage of James Bond video games.

'The Paradise Plot' James Bond Collection' Now Shipping

Although it technically isn’t due for release until 27 June in the UK, the newest collection from Titan Books, The Paradise Plot is currently shipping from Amazon.co.uk.

This collection features Deathmask in addition to the title story and is introduced by Moonraker Bond girl Lois Chiles. As with the previous Death Wing and Shark Bait collections, Alan J. Porter contributes a new article on the US comic book adventures of Bond in this collection.

As previously reported on CommanderBond.net, what is especially interesting to note about both of the stories in this 007 collection (originally syndicated in 1981-83) is that they marked the first time that long-time writer Jim Lawrence and artist John McLusky had worked together on the Bond adventures.

The Paradise Plot will be released in the US on 8 July.

The legend continues! Stand by for more adventures with the world’s greatest and most famous secret agent, James Bond, as some of his most thrilling missions are collected for the first time ever in a deluxe collectors’ library edition! In this latest action-packed volume, Bond teams up with fellow 00 agent Suzi Kew once again on another sun-soaked escapade, The Paradise Plot. Not seen since its original publication in a British newspaper, this ultra rare adventure finally returns to print!

This new, never-before-collected edition also features Lawrence and McLusky’s rarely seen story Deathmask, plus a new introduction by one of the Bond girls and an exclusive feature on rare and unusual James Bond comics from around the world!

Stay tuned to the CBn main page for complete coverage of the Titan James Bond releases.

Titan's James Bond Lives On: 'The Girl Machine' Coming In 2009

It seems that the illustrated James Bond is going to be sticking around.

Two months ago, it was disappointingly revealed that publisher Titan Books had put their final two 007 collections, The Girl Machine and Nightbird, on the backburner indefinitely due to licencing and copyright issues.

Now, it appears that at the very least, those issues surrounding The Girl Machine collection have been straightened out as this title is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com, with a US release date scheduled for 3 March 2009.

In addition to the title story, the Girl Machine collection will also include Beware Of Butterflies and The Nevsky Nude stories. All three were penned by Jim Lawrence and drawn by Yaroslav Horak and originally syndicated in 1973/74.

A UK release date is yet to be announced for this specific collection.

Details regarding the Nightbird collection–which will bring together the final three stories in Titan’s James Bond collection–remain yet to be announced.

Keep your eyes glued to the CommanderBond.net main page for complete coverage of all the latest Titan James Bond releases–including the upcoming Paradise Plot and Polestar collections.

Scroll below for CBn’s full list of all the Titan collections currently available.

'Ian Fleming's Secret War' Coming To US In October '08

Craig Cabell’s upcoming book, Ian Fleming’s Secret War is now scheduled for release in the United States this October.

The book centers on the activities of the James Bond creator and his role with the 30AU (30 Assault Unit)–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.

Ian Fleming’s Secret War

While his extravagant and glamorous lifestyle is well known, little has been published concerning Ian Fleming’s contribution during the Second World War.

In the very early days of the War, Fleming was earmarked by the Director ofNaval Intelligence as his ‘right hand man’. From the outset he was in the centre of events, meeting with key political and military figures as well as those of exceptional intelligence, experience and courage. All this was to give him invaluable background when he came to write the Bond novels.

The author has uncovered through official documentation, private papers and contacts the depth of Fleming’s work in Naval Intelligence. Fascinating insights of those he worked with and details of covert trips to Europe and North Africa emerge.

Fleming was closely associated with 30 Assault Unit, a crack team of Commandos who took the fight to the enemy. The book reveals both the history of 30 AU and Fleming’s role.

Ian Fleming’s Secret War will first hit bookshelves on 18 August in the UK. The 224-page hardback, published by Pen & Sword Military, can currently be pre-ordered online:

• Order Ian Fleming’s Secret War from Amazon.co.uk
• Order Ian Fleming’s Secret War from Amazon.com

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

'Hurricane Gold' US Hardback Available For Pre-order

The Young Bond Dossier alerts us today that two of Charlie Higson’s Young James Bond adventures are now listed for pre-order at Amazon.com.

First up is the author’s fourth Young Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold. The title will debut in US hardback on 7 April 2009. Like the previous three novels in the US, it will be published by Hyperion and retail for $16.99.

Also listed is the US paperback edition of Double or Die. Following up the hardback release this past April, this paperback edition will be published on 10 March 2009. Retail price is $7.99.

Cover artwork for both releases is yet to be revealed, although we do have a sneak peek at the prototype artwork for Hurricane Gold.

Pre-order online:

• Order the US hardback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.com
• Order the US paperback edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com

As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Young Bond coverage.

The Blades Library Book Club: Never Send Flowers

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

John Gardner’s Never Send Flowers

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 27th 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 twelfth novel: 1993’s Never Send Flowers.

Obtaining The Book

Ordering online should be fairly easy. Never Send Flowers can be ordered online (although in used condition) from the following sources:

• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.com
• eBay

Discuss other places to buy Never Send Flowers 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 Never Send Flowers, 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

• Death Is Forever: April 2008 – May 2008
• The Man From Barbarossa: February 2008 – March 2008
• Brokenclaw: December 2007 – January 2008
• 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

New Bond Girl Covers Mix Literary And Cinematic 007 Together

Moonraker

As previously reported on CommanderBond.net, all 14 of Ian Fleming’s original James Bond adventures were reprinted at the end of May to tie in with the centenary of the 007 creator.

Released under the new ‘Penguin 007’ imprint and labeled as the ‘2008 Centenary Editions’, these reprints have quickly become known as the Bond girl covers thanks to the work of cover artist Michael Gillette.

In an article posted at icWales, Gillette discusses how he came to work on the project and how these new covers fuse the literary and cinematic James Bond together.

‘I was approached by Jon Grey, a designer whom I knew socially from my time in London,’ said Gillette. ‘He told me the general idea for the project–typography on naked ladies’ backs. It was hard to say no to that. And it was an iconic job, so I was very glad to be asked, quite an honour in fact.

Doctor No

‘The concept was devised by Penguin and Jon. They initially asked me to paint a girl for Casino Royale and I realised this was a great opportunity to produce the total look, as it were, for the whole collection.’

As earlier noted, the actual process of working on the covers was a very hectic time for artist, with him completing one and then moving right onto the next.

Gillette admitted he wasn’t a huge fan of the Bond novels, but would pick From Russia with Love if forced to choose a favourite. ‘I think I probably enjoyed them more as artifacts,’ he said.

When asked if there were any restrictions on what he could or couldn’t do with the designs, Gillette said: ‘The Bond Estate won’t allow nudity, so that’s why there are so many backs. No nipples for sure.’

Octopussy and The Living Daylights

‘However, Penguin and Jon were very supportive of the way I took it. The directive was to keep them filmic–they obviously reference the classic ’60s /’70s cinematic Bond rather than the ’50s literary Bond. I’m aware that there is quite a difference.’

‘The films are foremost in people’s perceptions of Bond, so it is understandable that Penguin would want something that will bring filmgoers to the bookshelves,’ he continued. ‘Only a couple are very specific to the text.’

‘In Dr. No, for instance, he describes the Bond girl of the book Honey Ryder, as the “Birth of Venus” seen from behind, but with the buttocks of a boy. I’m sure Bond purists will cough up a kidney at the inaccuracies, but it was really more about creating archetypes of Bond, rather than direct representations of the stories.’

The new Bond hardbacks sporting the Gillette covers are available now in the UK and can also be ordered online from Amazon.co.uk:

Keep watching CBn for all the latest literary James Bond news and 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.

Pierce Brosnan Receives Maverick Award At Maui Film Festival

Former 007 star Pierce Brosnan was at the Maui Film Festival this past Thursday to accept the Maverick Award–reports the Maui News.

Pierce Brosnan

Brosnan received the award ‘in honor of his commitment to make movies that matter as well as his long-standing efforts to work for environmental justice and the triumph of the spirit of all life on earth.’

‘I’m deeply proud to be here,’ started Brosnan, just as the rain began to downpour at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa festival. Not one to miss a beat, he quickly added: ‘We’re having a little blessing.’

Following up tributes for actors Virginia Madsen and Dennis Quaid, Brosnan described his own acting career as a ‘work in progress.’

‘Someone like Mr. Dennis Quaid and myself are people in our 50s. You have a career, you’ve built up a reputation, you want to stay at the table as long as you can and you want to be able to grow,’ he said.

‘You want to be able to create interesting roles. That comes about by being courageous and adventuresome and leaping off into the wild blue yonder and trying to do something different.’

‘I’ve made a very good career on the back of Remington Steele and James Bond. I suppose that’s what I’ll be known for. But now, what else? What else do you have up your sleeve.’

Speaking about his role in the 2005 dark comedy The Matador (which earned him a Golden Globe nomination), Brosnan said the film wasn’t so much a commentary on the smoothness of James Bond, ‘but just a bloody great script and a subversive piece of material that found me at the right time, on the cusp of change.’

‘My work in the theater before I came to America was very diverse, be it that I was very young, at age 22, 23, 24, 25. I worked with really amazing people, Franco Zeffirelli, Tennessee Williams, and some people you would never know of. I came to America and found my niche being dashing and suave, and I ran like hell with it. So I could be commercial, so I could make money, so I could have a great life and hopefully within it, do things that were rough and edgy.’

Brosnan’s next film, Mamma Mia! hits theatres next month and finds him acting alongside Meryl Streep. ‘You see all these faces float before you,’ he said, referring to her numerous unforgettable roles in the past. ‘And she’s a team player,’ he added, referring to the musical and dance challenges this film adaptation brought on.

Mamma Mia! opens on 2 July in the UK and on the 18th in the US.

Summing things up, Brosnan said: ‘It’s all a responsibility to the writer, to how good the material is,’ he said. ‘You always have a responsibility to the writer, first and foremost. If you get caught up in the rest of it, you’ll fall apart.’

For his part, he concluded, ‘I’m having the time of my life. It’s kind of beginning all over again.’

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest James Bond 007 coverage.

James Bond's 'Little Nellie' Heading To Norfolk And Suffolk Aviation Museum

You Only Live Twice

‘Little Nellie’ will soon have a new home.

The popular autogyro from Sean Connery’s fifth James Bond film, 1967’s You Only Live Twice is to become the star exhibit at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum in Flixton–reports EDP24.

Designed and flown in the 007 film by Wing Commander Ken Wallis, the autogyro is currently part of the ‘For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond’ exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Following his career in the RAF, Wallis invented the autogyro and has sinced set 34 world records with it. ‘Little Nellie’ is apart of his collection that will be going on display at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum.

‘They do a splendid job at the museum,’ said Wallis. ‘It is a great honour and a pleasure to be involved with them.’

‘Little Nellie will be there, with the cases she appears to come out of [as featured in You Only Live Twice]. Her sisters will all be there.’

A planning application has also been submitted for an extension which will be bigger than one the museum already has permission for. Museum chairman Ian Hancock said: ‘The Ken Wallis collection is of international importance. Thousands of autogyros have been built to his design. It is worth saving for the nation and for Suffolk.’

‘The collection has a high value, especially Little Nellie, but it is the sentimental value and the importance of the collection that we value. He just wants to make sure his collection is saved for the nation and is not broken up. Obviously we are grateful but we would rather not have it, because we want him to live for a long time.’

The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation museum is open Sunday to Thursday in summer, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday in winter. Admission is free.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest James Bond news and coverage.