"M" Back In Action?

British tabloid The Sun landed a scoop while interviewing Dame Judi Dench on the red carpet at the National Movie Awards last month.

When asked what to expect in the next James Bond film, Dame Judi replied, “I don’t know. All I’ve been told is to stand by for, I think, December. I think I might get away again, too.”

“M” was last seen in the field while briefing Daniel Craig’s 007 in the Bahamas in Casino Royale.

The James Bond franchise won big at the awards, held on 29 September, with Casino Royale scooping Best Action Film, while the series itself won the special recognition award.

While accepting the latter, Bond producer Michael G. Wilson refused to reveal any details about Bond 22. “You’ll just have to come and see it,” he said.

Stay tuned to the new-look CommanderBond.net main page for the latest Bond 22 news.

The Blades Library Book Club: Win, Lose Or Die

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

John Gardner’s Win, Lose Or Die

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 Twenty-third 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 eighth novel: Win, Lose Or Die.

Obtaining The Book

Ordering online should be fairly easy. Win, Lose Or Die can be ordered online (although in used condition) from the following sources:

• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.com
• eBay

Discuss other places to buy Win, Lose Or Die 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 Win, Lose Or Die, 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

• 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

Sir Roger Moore Lands Walk Of Fame Star On Eve Of 80th Birthday

Former James Bond, Sir Roger Moore, has been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, just three days before his 80th birthday.

Sir Roger Moore was honoured with the 2350th star on the strip

Moore, who succeeded Sean Connery in 1973’s Live And Let Die, landed the 2350th star to appear on the famous strip. Fittingly, the actor’s plaque is situated in front of 7007 Hollywood Boulevard.

Upon reflecting on his recruitment to Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Sir Roger received a large cheer from the crowd in attendance. “I’m very, very grateful I managed to make seven of those,” Moore said. “Sadly, I had to retire from Bond, because the girls were all getting too young. Or I was getting too old. I can’t remember which.”

The event’s guest speakers included two-time Felix Leiter, David Hedison, and Stefanie Powers, who co-starred with Moore in Escape To Athena. His wife, two sons and daughter (who cameoed in Die Another Day) were also in attendance, as was Richard “Jaws” Kiel.

Born on 14 October 1927, Roger Moore rose to fame in the TV series’, The Persuaders and The Saint, before joining the James Bond franchise. Following the release of 1985’s A View To A Kill, Moore retired from the 007 series. In recent years, he has been strongly involved in humanitarian work with UNICEF, earning him his knighthood in 2003. On Wednesday, Sir Roger announced the publication of his autobiography, tentatively titled, My Word Is My Bond.

John Cox brings CBn exclusive pictures and video from the event.

Stay tuned to the new-look CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest James Bond news.

Programme And Registration Details For 'Bond, James Bond' Symposium

Back in August, CommanderBond.net first brought you details of the “Bond, James Bond” symposium at Hofstra University, New York on 6, 7 and 8 November.

The conference, bookended by pre- and post-symposium events, will feature appearances by continuation novelist Raymond Benson, Licence To Kill‘s Robert Davi, 007 screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz, Bond documentary producer Lee Pfieffer, Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Annotations And Chronologies For Ian Fleming’s Bond Stories writer John Griswold and The Ultimate James Bond Fan Book author Deborah Lipp.

The symposium features a range of screenings, presentations, panels and discussions, concluding with a concert by Hofstra Entertainment.

The complete programme and registration pack can now be downloaded by clicking the image below (Adobe Acrobat required).

Click to download the programme and registration pack for the “Bond, James Bond” symposium

For further contact information, visit the Hofstra Cultural Center website.

Keep watching the new-look CBn main page for all the latest details on James Bond events.

Discuss this 007 symposium in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet.

Tom Mankiewicz To Take Part In 'Bond, James Bond' Symposium

CBn previously reported earlier this year that several notable figures in the world of James Bond, including Raymond Benson, Robert Davi and Lee Pfeiffer would be attending the ‘Bond, James Bond–the World of 007’ symposium at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York which is taking place in November 2007.

We have since learned that Tom Mankiewicz, best known by Bond fans for the screenplays to Diamonds Are Forever, Live And Let Die and The Man With The Golden Gun, will also be participating in the event via a video conference.

In addition, John Griswold, author of 2005’s Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies for Ian Fleming’s Bond Stories, has also been added to the guest list.

The Hofstra Cultural Center has plans underway for a conference on James Bond, Bond, James Bond: The World of 007, that will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 6, 7, and 8, 2007. Events will include the screening of a number of Bond films, panel discussions on topics related to Bond including Bond villians, Bond women and Bond gadgets; examination of Bond on the page and Bond on the screen, with the inclusion of a celebrity or two associated with the Bond films.

Panels and presentations include the following:

• Raymond Benson on “The James Bond Phenomenon”
• “Bond’s Weapons, Gadgets and Cars – Science, Fantasy, Commerce”
• “Bond Girls Grow Up”
• “A Bond Pot-Pourri,” featuring the presentations “The Psyche of a Bond Collector;” “Enigma Variations: The SPECTRE in Ian Fleming’s Thunderball and Terence Young’s Film;” and “Helm, Matt Helm: A Comparison of James Bond and His Chief American Rival”
• “Playing a Bond Villain”: actor Robert Davi interviewed by Lee Pfeiffer
• “Writing Bond” – panel discussion featuring authors, Raymond Benson, Lois Gresh, John Griswold, Deborah Lipp and Lee Pfeiffer (to be followed by a book signing)
• Cocktail hour and dinner, featuring a piano medley of Bond music by Raymond Benson.

Pre-Symposium Film Screenings of Bond Films:

• October 16: Dr. No (1962) and Casino Royale (2006)
• October 23: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) and Live and Let Die (1973)
• October 30: Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983)
• November 6: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) and GoldenEye (1995)
• November 7: Licence to Kill (1989) – with an introduction by Robert Davi and Die Another Day (2002)

Films will be shown from 6:30 to 11 p.m. The October 16 and 23 screenings will be held at the Multipurpose Room East, located in the Mack Student Center on Hofstra’s North Campus. The October 30, November 6 and 7 screenings will be at the Guthart Cultural Center Theater, located on the first floor of Hofstra’s Axinn Library on the South Campus.

For further information, visit this updated page on the official website or phone 516-463-5669.

Keep watching CBn for all the latest details on James Bond events.

Discuss this James Bond news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet. With thanks to Ginny Greenberg.

Related Articles

• Raymond Benson Is Distinguished Scholar For James Bond Conference

'Bond 22' Plot "Tossed Out"?

In a previously undiscovered interview, Bond 22 writer Paul Haggis revealed to Esquire that his original storyline for the film was “tossed out” during development.

Paul Haggis

In the interview, dated 11 September, the Oscar-winner told the magazine that the script for Bond 22 has been “tougher than Casino Royale, which wasn’t a small amount of work, but there was an existing book.”

Haggis continued, “I thought I had come up with a terrific plot, and we’d worked it all the way through, and yesterday we tossed it out.”

The extent of Paul Haggis’ rewrite of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade’s Bond 22 script has been a topic of discussion among James Bond fans; the general consensus appears to be that his contribution toward the film has been considerably larger than that of Casino Royale.

In his most recent public appearance on 19 September, the screenwriter revealed he was “on page 45” of the latest 007 script and was headed to Italy to continue writing.

Meanwhile, ComingSoon.net has landed a list of projects that studios are hoping to get off the ground before the possible Writers Guild, Directors Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes hit Hollywood. The list pegs Bond 22 as having a production start date of 8 January 2008, just under a month later than previously indicated. However, it is understood the film was originally due to begin filming in January, before being bumped forward to a December start date.

Keep your browsers on CommanderBond.net for the latest Bond 22 news.

New 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' For Centenary

Ian Fleming’s classic children’s tale, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be republished this May as part of the James Bond author’s centenary celebrations.

The “lavish, highly collectable edition” of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

According to the latest Puffin catalogue, the book will be reprinted in a “fabulous new gift edition”, complete with original illustrations by John Burningham.

First published in 1964, Fleming’s story of a highly unique car has become a classic, later being adapted as a film (produced by Albert R. Broccoli) and stage production.

The book will be republished in hardback in May 2008 and will retail for £14.99.

In addition to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, May will also see the publication of Sebastian Faulks’ Devil May Care, Samantha Weinberg’s The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling and Kev Walker’s graphic novelisation of Charlie Higson’s SilverFin, as well as an exhibition dedicated to the 007 author.

Stay tuned to CBn for the latest news on the Ian Fleming Centenary.

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

Sir Roger Moore Announces His Autobiography

Just days before his 80th birthday, Sir Roger Moore has announced that he will be writing his autobiography.

The book will be ghostwritten by Gareth Owen, Sir Roger’s personal assistant and author of film books including The Pinewood Story. He said: ‘Turning 80 is a milestone, a time to reflect. It’ll be a frank and fun book, but he’s not interested in digging the dirt.’

In a note circulated to publishers today, Sir Roger said:

Over the years it has been suggested, many times, that I should sit down and write my memoirs.

I never thought it would actually be of any interest, and so with that thought and a full workload I always had an excuse to politely decline!

However, my wife and children constantly say, in response to stories or anecdotes I share over the dinner table, that I should definitely write them down. Perhaps they’re afraid that the onset of old age will cause me to forget them? Or perhaps, more correctly, they are right in reminding me that I have known so many wonderful people, and experienced so many joys and good fortune in my life that I should share the tales. They assure me that people will be interested.

I’m not looking to dish dirt or recycle sleaze stories, goodness knows there is enough of that in the world; but rather I would like to write a warm, amusing, and maybe even slightly emotional volume that tells my story; corrects some of the inaccuracies previously reported; offers an insight into the world of a jobbing actor and retired 007; and reflects my love of life. I may even be able inspire others to look at themselves, as I did in 1991 when I became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and realise that giving is far more rewarding, and helping those less fortunate is by far the most special thing you can do.

I think it will be fun. I’m looking forward to it. And remember, My Word Is My Bond…

Sir Roger Moore KBE

The Book Standard reports that the biography currently has the working title My Word is My Bond and agent Lesley Pollinger is rumoured to be opening the Frankfurt bidding at £1 million for world rights.

The former James Bond actor will also be receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame tomorrow at 11:30 AM. Located at 7007 Hollywood Blvd., Moore’s star will be the 2,350th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest coverage of this newly announced autobiography by Sir Roger Moore and all 007 news.