Ian Fleming's 'For Your Eyes Only' Audio CD Coming In October '08

Literary 007 fans can pre-order the For Your Eyes Only Audio CD or CD-ROM collection by Ian Fleming (and read by Robert Whitfield) on Amazon.com.

The Fleming short story collection is being released as an obvious tie-in to the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, which hits theatres in October/November.

The For Your Eyes Only collection will be released on Audio CD or CD-ROM on 1 October and will retail for $19.95 and $29.95, respectively. They will be published by Blackstone Audiobooks.

Pre-order online:

• Order For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming (read by Robert Whitfield) from Amazon.com (Audio CD)
• Order For Your Eyes Only by Ian Fleming (read by Robert Whitfield) from Amazon.com (CD-ROM)

Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net for the most complete literary James Bond coverage on the web. 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.

Catch Samantha Weinberg At Calcot Manor's Meet-The-Author Lunch

The centenary events keep rolling in.

SoGlos.com reports that James Bond author Samantha Weinberg will be appearing at Calcot Manor’s Meet-The-Author lunch on Monday May 12, 2008.

Weinberg, author of three novels based on Miss Moneypenny’s exploits (including the recently-published The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling), will be at the Cotswolds event answering questions from the floor and signing copies of her new book.

Tickets cost £25, with lunch including a two-course meal and a glass of wine.

For more information, contact Calcot Manor on (01666) 890391.

Final Fling was published in the United Kingdom earlier this month, while Weinberg’s first novel, Guardian Angel, will be published in the United States next week.

Keep your web browsers locked on CommanderBond.net for the latest literary James Bond news.

Miss Moneypenny's Missions In Current Starlog Issue

The newest issue of Starlog magazine (#366), containing an interview with Samantha Weinberg, author of The Moneypenny Diaries trilogy, is now available in bookstores.

This interview comes just as Weinberg’s Moneypenny series is about to finally make its debut in the US with the publication of Guardian Angel on 13 May.

Weinberg, who writes under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook, is the author of the three Moneypenny Diaries novels: Guardian Angel, Secret Servant and Final Fling (the latter just released earlier this month in the UK).

Focusing the attention on the right-hand woman of James Bond, the three novels are set at various time points throughout the 1960s.

Guardian Angel, which was first published in October 2005 in the UK, centers around the Cuban Missile Crisis. Secret Servant saw Jane Moneypenny embroiled in a dangerous Russian mission and Final Fling brings the series to a close.

Click here for the CBn Interview with Samantha Weinberg.

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.

Ben MacIntyre Book Signing, 14 May

Ben MacIntyre, author of the centenary exhibition accompaniment, For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming And James Bond, will be signing copies of the book at The Fleming Collection on Wednesday, 14 May.

MacIntyre, who is also a columnist and associate editor of The Times, will be present at the gallery (currently hosting the Bond Bound exhibition) at 1 p.m. for the signing.

For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming And James Bond looks at how the character of 007 emerged from Ian Fleming’s wartime background.

To order a copy for signing or to reserve a signed copy, call The Fleming Collection at 020 7409 5730.

Stay tuned to CBn for the latest James Bond news.

Connecting The Villains Of 'Quantum of Solace'

WARNING: Plot spoilers

Stax at IGN and Rotten Tomatoes recently visited the Quantum of Solace set in Austria for a closer look at the villains in this 22nd James Bond film.

‘The way we finished up in Casino Royale was with a man who’d lost something that was taken away from him. The woman that he loved killed herself because he thought she was guilty because she was double-crossing him. And he never had the chance to go: “Why?”,’ said Daniel Craig during during a roundtable interview. ‘That’s where we start the story and he’s looking for that quantum of solace. He’s looking for that little bit, but he can’t be open about it because it’s a sign of weakness. It gets very complicated but then [the title] also ties in to who the bad guys are.’

Explaining what sets the villains of Quantum of Solace–including Dominic Green (Mathieu Amalic), Elvis (Anatole Taubman), Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) and General Medrano (Joaquín Cosio)–apart from others in the Bond series, director Marc Forster said: ‘I just find it interesting that everyone today–and that’s why I wanted to have Greene in there when Paul [Haggis] and I were working on the script together–everybody presents themselves today as green is so fashionable. Everyone’s trying to be green, every corporation … so I think it’s something one has to look at very carefully.’

‘To be a James Bond, 007, you have to have killed two persons. So you are an assassin and you are also a secret agent but you’re also a broken heart. They wrote the script with that concept.’ – Mathieu Amalric on the character of 007

In one of the scenes observed at the Seebühne floating stage on Lake Constance in Bregenz, 007 is tracking down Mr. White early on in the film. Bond observes his target making contact with other villains in the audience as the Tosca performance continues.

Quantum Of Solace Bregenz Set Visit

Summing up the scene, Forster said: ‘Bond is trying to figure out who these people are and what is the relationship between them, because he’s realizing just how many there are. He’s trying to figure out how they are connected because the interesting thing is we have several bad guys in this movie. Dominic Greene is the lead one but there are a couple of other ones and he’s trying to connect them all.’

‘Tosca has a parallel to the story I’m telling,’ Forster added as a reason for choosing the location for Quantum of Solace.

‘Last time Bond spent the whole of Casino Royale learning the lesson that you don’t kill people before you ask them the important questions. He learned that; he shot me in the knee,’ said Christensen of his character ‘Mr. White’ in the film. ‘So we start the next one with him asking me the questions. And then he screws up and stuff happens.’

‘We’ve got a single character who’s trying to make some sense of the world and fighting against perceived evil. But he’s also very independent and therefore he should always remain non-political.’ – Daniel Craig

On comparing the intricate mix of reality and fantasy that make up the film, Amalric said: ‘If it was realistic the evil would win because that’s what would happen today. That’s why I think it’s called Quantum of Solace. It’s quite ironic. It’s as if Bond was saying, “Please, can I stop running? Maybe if the evil wins I can have some peace and go home and just sleep.” And I like that because everybody knows there’s going to be a 23rd film. The poor guy will just keep running and searching for the next villain and the next evil.’

There’s much more. Check out the following two set reports for further information on the involvement of Mr. White and all the villains in the film, the low-key approach taken with the Bond baddies, Craig on 007, Forster on locations and classic Bond, and several other Quantum-related details.

Quantum of Evil
(IGN)

For Your Eyes Only: RT in Austria with James Bond
(Rotten Tomatoes)

Additionally, 13 new behind-the-scenes photos of Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Amalric, Christensen, and others have been added online: Click Here

CommanderBond.net will keep you updated with all the latest news and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Sneak Peek At Forthcoming James Bond Centenary Hardbacks

In January of this year, CommanderBond.net revealed the new cover artwork that would adorn the forthcoming re-release of all 14 Ian Fleming James Bond novels as part of the centenary celebrations in May.

K1Bond007 got a closer look at the covers (with artwork created by Michael Gillette), including the entire Casino Royale dustjacket on display.

These new editions of the original Bond adventures will be published as part of the new Penguin 007 imprint and can currently be ordered for a discounted price at Amazon.co.uk.

They are due for release on 29 May–one day after Sebastian Faulks’ own Bond novel, Devil May Care, makes its debut.

Purchase the hardback reprints of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels from Amazon:

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.

'Special Effects Superman: The Art And Effects Of Derek Meddings'

A new book celebrating special effects wizard Derek Meddings has been announced.

007 fans best know Meddings for his visual effects and miniature effects contributions on the following six James Bond films: Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and GoldenEye.

Written by Martin Shubrook and Paul Shubrook, Special Effects Superman: The Art And Effects Of Derek Meddings will include more than 300 photographs from the numerous films Meddings worked on and stories from those who worked alongside him. A foreward by Sir Roger Moore will also be included.

After his career in the film industry took flight with Gerry Anderson in 1957, Derek Meddings proceeded to head the effects team and design every major vehicle for the hit British television series, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and UFO. When the Anderson studio closed in 1970, Derek moved into movies and headed the effects on over 20 motion pictures.

His effects accolades include; six James Bond films from Roger Moore’s Live and Let Die to Pierce Brosnan’s GoldenEye, Batman, Supergirl, Santa Claus: The Movie and The Neverending Story. Derek Meddings also headed the miniature effects on the first two Superman films and won an Oscar for his achievements on Superman: The Movie.

Special Effects Superman is a tribute to Derek Meddings and his amazing career. The book will include over 300 ‘on set’ photographs from the Meddings family collection and stories from those who worked with Derek throughout his career.

Special Effects Superman: The Art And Effects Of Derek Meddings will be published as a 160-page hardback by Shubrook Bros. Publications on 1 October 2008 and can be pre-ordered online:

Order Special Effects Superman: The Art And Effects Of Derek Meddings from www.meddingsbook.com

The book will retail for £25 in the UK.

As always, keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest literary James Bond news.

Sir Sean Connery To Attend Edinburgh International Film Festival

Sir Sean Connery is set to attend this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival in mid-June.

Connery will be making an appearance along with co-patron Tilda Swinton at what is known as the longest continually-running film festival in the world. 142 feature-length films from 29 countries will make up this year’s event, scheduled from 18-29 June.

The full press release follows:

Veteran actor Sir Sean Connery and Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton are due to attend this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, organisers revealed.

The two stars are patrons of the event, which holds the honour of being the longest continually-running film festival in the world. The announcement came as final programme details for the event, which has now moved to a new slot in the calendar, were revealed.

Festival chiefs said next month’s event will showcase 142 feature-length films from 29 countries, including 15 world premieres.

Among the movies being shown for the first time anywhere are opening film The Edge Of Love, starring Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller, and Faintheart, which will close the festival. The decision was taken last year to move the festival from August to June.

Organisers believe the new slot will give them room for the festival to expand.

Artistic director Hannah McGill said: “We have a terrifically exciting programme this year, which is the happy result of a very enthusiastic response from distributors and filmmakers.

“From powerful artistic and political statements to works of pure, escapist entertainment, I think this is a festival that reflects an active, vibrant world film culture – and suits the diverse and daring tastes of our audience.”

Scottish culture minister Linda Fabiani said: “Scotland’s diverse and vibrant cultural life is one of our defining features.

“It is the energy, commitment and creativity of Edinburgh’s festivals which together make Edinburgh the world’s pre-eminent festival city, attracting tourists and showcasing Scottish talent on the international stage.

“As the world’s longest continuously-running film festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival holds a very special place in the hearts of film enthusiasts and professionals. It undoubtedly deserves its excellent reputation and I am sure they will build on this with the 2008 programme and their move to a new position in the calendar.”

For further details about the event, including the full line-up of films, visit the official website.

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

'The Spy Who Loved Me' – The Reunion

Following up Bondstars’ Goldfinger: The Reunion this past April, news has emerged on an upcoming event centered on another popular James Bond film: The Spy Who Loved Me.

Details from the official website follow:

The Spy Who Loved Me – The Reunion

When: Sunday October 19th 2008 (Times TBC)
Where: Pinewood Studios, London, England

After the huge success of our Goldfinger event in April we decided to celebrate another Bond classic and Sir Roger Moore’s personal favourite – The Spy Who Loved Me.

The event will include:

• Members of the cast and crew in attendance
• Memorabilia stalls
• The Pinewood Studios tour
• Buffet lunch
• A digital screening of The Spy Who Loved Me in Pinewood’s state of the art screening theatre.
• A Q & A with the cast and crew

An Evening With Sir Roger Moore

In the evening we are holding a special gala dinner in honour of our very special guest – Sir Roger Moore. The event is to tie in with the launch of his autobiography and also in support of Unicef. This will be followed by an on stage interview where Sir Roger will recall stories and anecdotes from his incredible career.

For full terms and conditions, information on payment details or to purchase tickets (prices TBC), visit Bondstars.com.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest details on upcoming James Bond events.

Limited Edition Signed And Slipcased 'Devil May Care'

Following up yesterday’s announcement of a Bentley Special Series edition of Sebastian Faulks’ forthcoming James Bond novel, Devil May Care, there comes news of yet another collector’s edition.

Due for release in June is the Limited Edition Signed & Slipcased Devil May Care.

Limited to 500 copies worldwide, this special hardback edition will retail for £100 and be available to order from Hatchards Bookshop.

DEVIL MAY CARE (LIMITED EDITION SIGNED & SLIPCASED VERSION)
by SEBASTIAN FAULKS writing as IAN FLEMING

This new adventure of the iconic spy James Bond has been written by leading novelist Sebastian Faulks in celebration of the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth. The plot of Devil May Care remains wrapped in mystery. Safe to say, it is set in the Cold War and features all the sophisticated glamour, daredevil thrills and edge-of-the-seat excitement we would expect of 007. A fitting tribute to Fleming’s legacy.

This special edition comes in a red velvet box with the book nestling in black silk. Inside the front cover is a certificate from the Fleming estate. The book has the jacket printed straight onto boards (so is different from the standard edition). It also comes with a ribbon and silver edged pages. These books are signed and numbered out of 500.

THESE BOOKS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN JUNE.

£100 | Hardback | 9780718154493

CommanderBond.net will keep you updated on this special edition of Devil May Care.

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.