'The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling' Available For Pre-order

While James Bond fans were treated to two Young Bond books in 2007, readers of The Moneypenny Diaries were left hanging.

In May 2008, the wait will be over, as the third and final instalment in Samantha Weinberg’s trilogy, Final Fling, will hit bookstores. The novel can now be pre-ordered for £17.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

Final Fling continues the publication of Miss Jane Moneypenny’s diaries – and her niece, Kate Westbrook’s efforts to solve the mysteries that lie within.

Earlier this week, CBn relayed an exclusive from The Young Bond Dossier, that revealed the novel will be set in Jamaica, the Outer Hebrides (an island chain off the west coast of Scotland), Cambridge, and London. The action will also be split almost evenly between Miss Moneypenny’s diaries and Kate Westbrook’s contemporary exploits. A mystery romance will also blossom!

Cover art for The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is forthcoming, but will be based upon the artwork of the UK paperback edition of Secret Servant.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Moneypenny Diaries news.

Pre-order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Discuss Miss Moneypenny’s Final Fling in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the Internet.

Related articles

• The Samantha Weinberg CBn Interview
• CBn Reviews ‘The Moneypenny Diaries’ #2: Secret Servant

David Arnold Confirmed For 2007 BBC Electric Proms

James Bond composer David Arnold has been confirmed for this year’s BBC Electric Proms event.

Arnold will be teaming up with Kaiser Chiefs on 26 October for a new approach to the arrangement and performance of some of their best-known tracks. In an article posted at NME.com, Arnold said: ‘Hopefully under the umbrella of the Electric Proms we can throw away the rule book of what you can or can’t do with a rock band and a bunch of musicians that you may not expect to seem on stage with them.’

Other notable performers at the event will include Candie Payne, Terry Hall, Jamie Cullum and Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess. Producer Mark Ronson will also be performing alongside Lily Allen and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The 2007 BBC Electric Proms will run from 24 to 28 October at venues around Camden.

Festival director Lorna Clarke said: ‘I am delighted that the first artists on this year’s line up have embraced the central challenge of the Electric Proms–to create new moments in music.’

‘I know that they will give our broadcast audiences across the country something truly special.’

Tickets for the event go on sale at noon on 12 September. For ticket availability and further details, visit the official website.

Keep watching CBn for all the latest James Bond news.

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

Dan Bradley Is 'Bond 22' Second Unit Director

The Hollywood Reporter revealed today that Dan Bradley will be the second unit director for the upcoming 22nd James Bond pic.

Bradley most recently served as second unit director and stunt coodinator on The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. His very extensive resumé also includes second unit director roles on Seabiscuit, Swordfish, Spider-man 2, Spiderman-3 and Superman Returns. He is currently working on the fourth Indiana Jones film.

Bradley choreographed and directed the critically-acclaimed fight scenes and car chases in the two most recent Jason Bourne films, directed by Paul Greengrass. The 007 producers reportedly want Bradley to work in a similar capacity to build upon the gritty, realistic style established in Casino Royale.

In an interview with the Bourne Stunt Simulator, an enthusiastic Bradley even hinted at what vehicles we can expect to see in Bond 22. “I’m hearing that there’s Aston Martin and GT40s in the next Bond. I can’t wait.”Ironically, Bradley takes over from Casino Royale‘s Alexander Witt, who was second unit director on The Bourne Identity.

He joins director Marc Forster, writers Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis and production designer Dennis Gassner, as part of the growing Bond 22 crew.

It is also worth noting that the IMDb lists Casino Royale stunt coordinator Gary Powell as part of the Bond 22 crew; Powell worked with Bradley on The Bourne Ultimatum. Oscar-nominee and regular Forster collaborator Matt Chesse has also been listed as Bond 22‘s editor.

Keep watching CBn for all the latest Bond 22 news.

Where Will Miss Moneypenny Have Her 'Final Fling'?

The Young Bond Dossier has landed a very nice scoop about the final instalment in Samantha Weinberg’s James Bond spin-off series, The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling.

According to the site, the novel will be set in Jamaica, the Outer Hebrides (an island chain off the west coast of Scotland), Cambridge, and London.

The action will also be split almost evenly between Jane Moneypenny’s diaries and the contemporary adventures of her neice, Kate Westbrook. Final Fling will also see a romance blossom… but, intriguingly, we don’t know whom it involves!

The Young Bond Dossier has revealed that the cover art will be based on the paperback artwork for Secret Servant, and also confirmed what CBn first reported on Sunday – that Final Fling will hit shelves in May 2008.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the information on the release of The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling, as well as all the latest literary James Bond news.

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Discuss Miss Moneypenny’s Final Fling in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet. Thanks to CBn Forum member ‘zencat.’

Related articles

• The Samantha Weinberg CBn Interview
• CBn Reviews ‘The Moneypenny Diaries’ #2: Secret Servant

Third Wave Of Individual James Bond 007 'Ultimate Edition' DVDs Released

The third wave of the individual ‘Ultimate Edition’ James Bond 007 DVDs are now available to order in the US. They are featured in normal DVD case packaging, and not the slimcases contained in the current boxed sets.

Currently discounted to $11.19 and available to order at amazon.com, the titles include: Dr. No, Diamonds Are Forever, Live And Let Die, Octopussy, A View To A Kill and Tomorrow Never Dies.

Keep in mind that these are the single-disc editions. There are no special features, with the exception of audio commentaries. The cover artwork remains the same as that used for the four US boxed set collections. They are featured in normal DVD case packaging, and not the slimcases contained in the current boxed sets.

Note that the new individual DVDs for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Die Another Day are not yet listed on amazon. In related news, the newly announced monster box set, which includes 2006’s Casino Royale is available to pre-order online. It will be released on 6 November 2007.

Click here for CommanderBond.net’s full round-up of all the latest James Bond 007 ‘Ultimate Edition’ DVD news: front and back cover art, box cover art, worldwide release dates, menu and screen caps, new certificates, ordering details, special features, technical specs, and more.

Keep watching CBn for all the latest James Bond 007 news.

'Hurricane Gold' Game Coming 6 September

The latest Danger Society newsletter is out – and it contains the news a game based on the new Young Bond novel Hurricane Gold is coming to the official Young Bond website.

The newsletter reveals that James Bond fans can log onto www.youngbond.com from 6 September – the official release date of Hurricane Gold – to play the game. The website previously featured games based on SilverFin and Blood Fever – but not Double Or Die.

Fans were also reminded of this Thursday’s all-gold Hurricane Gold launch party at Piccadilly Waterstone’s in London, for which tickets are still available. For details, click here.

Be sure to check out CBn’s brand new interview with Young Bond author, Charlie Higson!

Order the UK hardback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk.

Pre-order the UK audiobook edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk.

Keep watching CBn for more Hurricane Gold and Young Bond coverage.

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

Possible Swiss 'Bond 22' Location Details

Last month, CBn reported on the Film Location Switzerland (the Swiss Film Commission) bid to see the next James Bond film set in the country. Word at the time was that “nothing’s definite yet, but the chances are good.”

Now, further details have emerged on the locations suggested by Film Location Switzerland’s André Brice, courtesy of Swiss news site, Zentralschweiz Online.

The site reports that Lucerne, in central Switzerland, and the Gotthard area were both suggested to Bond 22 director, Marc Forster, who is said to be delighted with the locations. However, the decision does not lie exclusively with Forster, who receives many location suggestions each day.

With a population of over 57,000, Lucerne rests on the shores of Lake Lucerne and has gorgeous views of Mount Pilatus and Rigi. It is perhaps most well-known for the remarkable Chapel Bridge, which dates back to 1333.

Meanwhile, parts of the Gotthard area featured in Goldfinger. A number of mountain passes lead over the Gotthard massif, while a network of tunnels lie beneath the mountains. Not traditionally a tourist area, the Gotthard region was once the core of Switzerland’s “Réduit” defence concept, an Alpine fortress with infrastructured caverns, bunkers and camouflaged weapons.

The Swiss Alps were first mentioned as a possible location for the next 007 outing in June by Forster himself. Forster said at the time, “There can’t be any better place than the alps. No matter if you plan to do romantic scenes or hard action, the alps will be the perfect background for a Bond movie.”

Further fueling rumours was the snippet from this year’s BondStars events that Bond 22 would see Daniel Craig hitting the slopes.

Keep watching CBn for all the latest Bond 22 news.

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Signed Copies Of 'Hurricane Gold' Showing Up On eBay

As previously reported, Young James Bond author Charlie Higson had signed 1500 copies of his newest novel, Hurricane Gold.

For those outside the UK (where these copies can be found in independent bookstores), a few of these signed copies of Hurricane Gold are starting to show up on eBay.

As was the case with previous signed/limited edition copies of SilverFin and Blood Fever, somewhere out there is a lucky #007 copy of the book. If you happen to come across it, be sure to let us know on the CBn Forums.

Additionally, if you haven’t yet checked out the all new CBn interview with Charlie Higson, be sure to click here!

Order the UK hardback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk.

Order the UK audiobook edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk.

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

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

'For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond' Listed On Amazon

As previously reported by CBn, a new book entitled For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond by Ben Macintyre to accompany the Ian Fleming centenary exhibition was announced and planned for release in April 2008.

007 fans can now pre-order For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond from amazon.co.uk. The book, published by Bloomsbury Publishing, is set to be released on 7 April and will retail for £20.00. The full blurb:

Published to coincide with the 2008 Imperial War Museum exhibition of the same name, this is a thrilling stand-alone book that looks into the entwined worlds of James Bond and Ian Fleming. The book and exhibition will explore how Fleming’s 007 emerged against the background of the Second World War and the Cold War, and how Bond’s world was based on the realities (and fantasies) of Fleming’s life as a wartime spy-master and peacetime bon viveur. They will show how the film version of Bond evolved for a later age, and answer a question that has obsessed generations of Bond fans over the years: where does the world of Ian Fleming end, and that of James Bond begin? Stylishly illustrated, this book will incorporate a treasure-trove of gadgets, costumes, props, and storyboards from the films – Daniel Craig’s blood-stained shirt from Casino Royale, the Aston Martin DB5, complete with weaponry – as well as memorabilia from Fleming’s personal archive: his smoking jacket, the manuscript for Casino Royale, his golden typewriter, his guns, and much more. Alongside this array of extraordinary visuals, Ben Macintyre tells the story of how Fleming created the most popular legend of all time.

Order the UK hardback edition of For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond from Amazon.co.uk.

Click here for CBn’s full coverage of the Fleming exhibition, which is set to run from 25 April 2008 through 1 March 2009 at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Stay tuned to CBn for further details on Ben Macintyre’s For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond and complete coverage of the Ian Fleming centenary events.

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

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• New Book To Accompany Ian Fleming Centenary Exhibition Coming In April 2008
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'The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling' Now Due May 2008

Fans of Samantha Weinberg’s The Moneypenny Diaries are now one step closer to having closure to the series’ mysteries, as the third volume is bumped forward to a May 2008 release.

The release date for the book has been shunted about quite a bit, from a proposed April 2008 release to July 2008. Now, an Amazon.co.uk listing for the large-format international paperback shows a 1 May 2008 release. This release date would also coincide with the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth.

May 2008 will see the release of a mass of literary 007 material to coincide with the Ian Fleming centenary, including Sebastian Faulks’ Devil May Care, the reissued paperback of John Pearson’s James Bond: The Authorised Biography Of 007 and the SilverFin graphic novel.

Once again written under the Kate Westbrook alias, Final Fling continues on from the events that took place in 2005’s Guardian Angel and 2006’s Secret Servant.

Stay tuned to CBn for details on the UK hardback release of The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling, as well as all the latest literary James Bond news.

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Discuss Miss Moneypenny’s Final Fling in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet. Thanks to CBn Forum member ‘zencat.’

Related Articles

• The Samantha Weinberg CBn Interview
• CBn Reviews ‘The Moneypenny Diaries’ #2: Secret Servant