'James Bond and Philosophy' Coming In September

A new book on 007 is slated for release in 2006. James Bond and Philosophy, edited by James B. South and Jacob M. Held is due for release on 23 September 2006 from both Amazon US and Amazon UK.

This new Bond book is made up of 15 essays covering the ‘hidden issues in Bond’s world’ as PGW reports. At 320 pages in length, the book will be published by the Open Court Publishing Company and can currently be pre-ordered from Amazon US for a discounted price of $11.67. The description blurb follows:

“Bond. James Bond.” Since Sean Connery first uttered that iconic phrase in Dr. No, more than one quarter of the world’s population has seen a 007 film. Witty and urbane, Bond seduces and kills with equal ease — often, it seems, with equal enthusiasm. This enthusiasm, coupled with his freedom to do what is forbidden to everyone else, evokes fascinating philosophical questions. Here, 15 witty, thought-provoking essays discuss hidden issues in Bond’s world, from his carnal pleasures to his license to kill. Among the lively topics explored are Bond’s relation to existentialism, including his graduation “beyond good and evil”; his objectification of women; the paradox of breaking the law in order to ultimately uphold it like any “stupid policeman”; the personality of 007 in terms of Plato’s moral psychology; and the Hegelian quest for recognition evinced by Bond villains. A reference guide to all the Bond movies rounds out the book’s many pleasures.

Publishers Group West (PGW)

Be sure to stay tuned to CBn for further news on James Bond and Philosophy.

Pre-order ‘James Bond and Philosophy’ by James B. South and Jacob M. Held

Pre-order the UK edition of ‘The Man Who Saved Britain’ from Amazon.co.uk (28 September 2006)

Pre-order the US edition of ‘The Man Who Saved Britain’ from Amazon.com (28 September 2006)

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

James Bond Submarine Up For Auction

James Bond collector’s take notice. The submarine from the 007 film The Spy Who Loved Me is up for auction by Heritage Auction Galleries. A prototype of the “Shark Hunter II” mini-sub, it was produced by Perry Oceanographics.

The full description follows:

“The Spy Who Loved Me” Submarine. This functional submersible was used in the 1977 James Bond thriller “The Spy Who Loved Me.” A prototype for the “Shark Hunter II” series produced by Perry Oceanographics, this mini-sub was designed for transporting personnel, conducting underwater surveys, and to serve as a recreational vehicle. Representatives from Pinewood Studios visited the builder to negotiate the propulsion and ballast for the submersible Lotus Esprit used in the movie, when they caught a glimpse of the Shark Hunter hull. So enamored were they with it, that the script was rewritten to include the sub in an astounding underwater chase scene. Features include an aluminum and fiberglass hull, brushless electric motor, and stainless steel aircraft control cables. Maximum depth: 450 feet. Top speed: 3.5 kys. Battery duration: 5-6 hours. Range: 18-20 miles. Torpedoes: none (sorry). Yellow with black detailing, seats two, and is 15 feet in length. Includes wheeled transport trailer, a history of the sub from designer Richard Brown, and list of operational guidelines from previous owner Tom Kolodner. Estimate: $13,000 – up.

Heritage Auction Galleries

The aubmarine is under the ‘2006 April Music Memorabilia Auction #622’ auction name and has a current bid of $1300. At this point in time, 9 days remain for absentee bidding on this James Bond item. Full details including many different photographs of the submarine can be found at the Heritage Auction Galleries site.

Discuss this article in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. With thanks to CBn forum member ‘zencat.’

'From Russia With Love' On PSP Released In US

Originally delayed from a mid-March release, the Sony PSP platform of the newest Electronic Arts (EA) James Bond 007 game, From Russia With Love, starring Sean Connery as agent 007 is now shipping in the US. The game is set for PSP release on 13 April 2006 in the UK.

The game can be ordered from amazon.com for $39.99. As IT News reports, ‘Players can invest in their character and customize the ultimate Bond for a whole new level of gameplay options, including an all new single player mode consisting of 8 exciting missions, multiplayer mode with ad-hoc wireless, 16 new Bond challenges, several new unlockable Bond villains and classic Bond gadgets and weapons.’

The original press release from EA follows:

EA Announces From Russia With Love Videogame for the PSP; Sean Connery’s James Bond to Make His First Appearance on the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R) Portable)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 7, 2005–Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced plans for a PSP(TM) version of the latest installment in the widely successful James Bond(TM) videogame franchise, From Russia With Love(TM), starring Academy Award(R)-winner, Sir Sean Connery. The highly anticipated game is scheduled to ship this fall on the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube(TM) under the EA(TM) brand. The announced PSP version is scheduled to ship in early 2006.

From Russia With Love, the videogame, will be based on the classic Bond film but also will feature new plot twists, gadgets and characters. Sir Sean Connery, appearing in his first-ever videogame, lent his voice and likeness to the project.

From Russia With Love(TM) for the PSP(TM) system gives players the opportunity to experience the timeless fiction of the classic James Bond movie on the go. Invest in your character and customize Bond for a whole new level of gameplay options.

Officially licensed by MGM Interactive, From Russia With Love is being developed by EA’s Redwood Shores, Calif. Development studio. This game has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information about the PSP game, visit www.007.ea.com.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on James Bond 007: From Russia With Love.

Order ‘From Russia With Love’

• Sony PSP: Amazon.co.uk (13 April 2006) or Amazon.com
• Microsoft Xbox: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Sony PlayStation 2: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Nintendo GameCube: Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

'The Science Of James Bond' Coming In August

Adding to an already packed list of James Bond novels and books set for release in 2006 is The Science of James Bond: From Bullets to Bowler Hats to Boat Jumps, the Real Technology behind 007’s Fabulous Films by Lois H. Gresh and Robert Weinberg. Initially set for release in April of this year, the book will be released 25 August 2006. It is published by Wiley Publishers, 224 pages in length, and can be pre-ordered from amazon.com for $24.95. No Amazon UK release is currently scheduled.

The book, which features an introduction by past literary 007 author Raymond Benson, covers the science of James Bond: the gadgets, cars, and technology. Trivia lists and questions of ‘possible or impossible,’ according to Wiley Publishers are asked throughout. The full description follows:

While many people dream about Bond’s sartorial, gambling, and sexual skills, they also dream about his gadgets: the Walther PPK gun, golden guns, ray guns, and rocket-firing cigarettes; spy shaving kit, poisonous shoes, homing device buttons; Geiger counter wrist watch, television wrist watch, buzz saw wrist watch; decoders, voice synthesizers, cameras, decapitating tea trays, killer hookahs, moonbuggies, underwater propulsion devices, mini-jets, and cars cars cars. And that’s just a small glimpse at the vast array of super-science gadgets issued by Q Division to Agent 007. This book is about the gadgets, the science, the cars, and the technology. How realistic are James Bond’s adventures and all the equipment that goes with them? How believable is Jaws, who chews through metal? Just how easy is it to crack into all those top-secret facilities to save the world? Is James Bond rooted in science, or are his adventures and the technology that fills them science fiction?

This book answers the question that moviegoers find themselves asking after watching the newest Bond movies — possible or impossible? Most chapters are wrapped around a Bond gadget — whether it’s his cars, his explosives, or his super secret messages. Other chapters delve into the origins of Mr. Bond – the world of real spies – or the plausibility of a memorable villains’ psychopathic plans. (Could you, in fact, build a headquarter inside a volcano?) Whether Bond’s adventures are in the air or under sea, our authors discover if there’s fact behind the fiction.

There are plenty of movie trivia lists (“Who was the best James Bond?”, “The Bond Cars,” “The 00 Secret Agents”), as well as an introduction by Raymond Benson, the author of several 007 novels. Benson is a Bond addict who, like this book’s reader, wonders if a gondola can turn into a hydrofoil. Additionally, simple diagrams explain several difficult concepts, such as lift (on a chapter about flying cars).

Wiley Publishers

Be sure to stay tuned to CBn for further news on The Science of James Bond: From Bullets to Bowler Hats to Boat Jumps, the Real Technology behind 007’s Fabulous Films.

Pre-order the U.S. hardback edition of ‘The Science of James Bond: From Bullets to Bowler Hats to Boat Jumps, the Real Technology behind 007’s Fabulous Films’ from Amazon.com (25 August 2006)

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

Casino Royale Movie Tie-in Edition

The mystery of whether IFP and Eon Productions would commission an original movie novelization of Casino Royale or just reissue the Fleming novel has today been solved, reports The Young Bond Dossier.

According to this listing on Amazon.com, Ian Fleming’s original Casino Royale novel will be released as a paperback movie tie-in edition on October 31, 2006. The book will be published by Penguin and clock in at 240 pages. No doubt, the cover art will be the official movie poster art or image of new James Bond Daniel Craig.

Both John Gardner and Raymond Benson penned novelizations of the Bond films made during their tenures as official continuation novelists. However, these films were made from original screenplays not based on any single Fleming work.

The new Casino Royale film is based entirely on Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel and retains many of the major elements found in the 1953 original.

This is actually the second time Fleming’s Casino Royale has been issued as a movie tie-in. In 1967 Signet in the U.S. and Pan in the UK released tie-in editions featuring the poster art for the unofficial film produced by Charles K. Feldman.

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006. Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is currently being filmed in the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Italy and the UK.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

'SilverFin' Paperback Officially Released In US

The US paperback edition of Charlie Higson’s first Young Bond novel, SilverFin has officially been released in US stores.

While initially set for a 1 April 2006 release date, some copies slipped out early on amazon.com. For the Bond fans waiting to obtain this novel from their local bookstores, now is the time to start shopping for it. It is published by Miramax and retails for $6.99. Note that this is not to be confused with the more rare Special Edition US paperback edition which was revealed by The Young Bond Dossier and CBn.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Literary 007 news and coverage.

Order the U.S. paperback edition of SilverFin from Amazon.com

Pre-order the U.S. hardback edition of Blood Fever from Amazon.com (1 June 2006)

Discuss the Young Bond series in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

'The Man Who Saved Britain' Coming In June

News of a James Bond book called The Man Who Saved Britain first came to light on CBn back in August of 2005, but little was inititally known. Now it can be confirmed that this book really is coming, and soon: it will be released on 2 June 2006 in the UK and can be pre-ordered from amazon.co.uk. The book will be published by Picador, 300 pages in length, and has a current cost of £9.89 (cover art can also be viewed on amazon.co.uk).

Written by Simon Winder, the book was initially described as ‘”a funny, serious history of post-Colonial Britain as seen through the eyes of James Bond, part memoir, part history.’ A more complete blurb of the book found on both amazon sites (they differ slightly) describes it as:

Bond. James Bond. The ultimate British hero — suave, stoic, gadget-driven — he was more than anything the necessary invention of a traumatized country whose self-image as a great power had just been shattered by the Second World War. Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, was an upper-class wastrel who had found purpose and excitement in the war, and to whom, like so many others, its end was a terrible disappointment?the elation of survival stifled by the reality of the new British impotence. In 1952 Fleming set out to repair this damage. By inventing the magical, parallel world of secret British greatness and glamour, he fabricated an icon that has endured long past its maker’s death.

To grow up in England in the 1970s was to grow up with James Bond, and The Man Who Saved Britain is first of all the story of the author’ relationship with the “national religion.” Simon Winder lovingly and ruefully re-creates the nadirs and humiliations of fandom while illuminating what Bond’s evolution — from books to film, from his roots in the 1940s to his “managed decline” today — says about the conservative movement, sex, the monarchy, food, attitudes toward America, class, and everything in between. The Man Who Saved Britain is an insightful and, above all, entertaining exploration of postwar Britain through the palliative influence of one of its most legendary icons, the larger-than-life Agent 007.

amazon.com

What is also somewhat interesting to note is that amazon.com cites the complete title as The Man Who Saved Britain : A Personal Journey into the Disturbing World of James Bond. It will be released on 17 October 2006 in the US; published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The current pre-order price is $15.60.

Be sure to stay tuned to CBn for further news on Simon Winder’s The Man Who Saved Britain.

Pre-order ‘The Man Who Saved Britain’ by Simon Winder

Pre-order the UK hardback edition of ‘The Man Who Saved Britain’ from Amazon.co.uk (2 June 2006)

Pre-order the U.S. hardback edition of ‘The Man Who Saved Britain’ from Amazon.com (17 October 2006)

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

Upcoming Charlie Higson Appearances In May

For fans of Young Bond, author Charlie Higson will be making two appearances in May to promote his two novels, SilverFin and Blood Fever – reports The Young Bond Dossier.

The author will be appearing at two events which are apart of the Guardian Hay Festival. The first, on 29 May, will feature Charlie Higson joining judges Kate Thompson and Julia Eccleshare at the Guardian Prize Party. The second, on the 30th, will feature an introduction to Young Bond with an interview between Higson and critic Damian Kelleher. Both events are £4. Arrangements can be made through http://www.hayfestival.com or 0870 990 1299.

Guardian Prize Party
4pm, 29 May, 2006
Cost: £4
For further information, phone 0870 990 1299 or visit http://www.hayfestival.com

Young Bond Interview with Damian Kelleher
1pm, 30 May, 2006
Cost: £4
For further information, phone 0870 990 1299 or visit http://www.hayfestival.com

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Young Bond news.

To discuss this article visit this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the web.
With thanks to CBn Forum Member ‘zencat’.

The CBn Dossier, March '06

Welcome to the March 2006 CBn Dossier, a wrap-up of all the James Bond 007 news and rumours for the month. Wellwellwell, folks, wasn’t March a really interesting month? All kinds of book news, and tons of information – real information, as in pictures, interviews and TV coverage – on Casino Royale. Putting this dossier together proved to be a real task, so here we go. It does not contain spoilers (but some of the links do) or April Fools jokes.

This month’s CBn Dossier will be delivered by Heiko Baumann.

Enjoy.

The Literary 007

Despite a release date of April 1st 2006, copies of the US paperback edition of SilverFin have slipped out early not only on eBay, but also – later in the month – on amazon.com. Good news for collectors, such as John “zencat” Cox of YoungBond fansite The Young Bond Dossier, who revealed that the US edition of Blood Fever (scheduled for release in June 2006) will look completely different (which can be viewed here) to the UK edition and, unlike the US edition of SilverFin, will be unedited. Speaking of SilverFin: Collectors should take note that there are obviously two different versions of the US paperback available. The German edition of Blood Fever, Zurück kommt nur der Tod, was finally released in mid March. UK based fans of the Young Bond series, however, should not miss the opportunity to discuss all things Young Bond with author Charlie Higson at Foyles bookstore in London on April 12th.

Good news as well for fans of the the illustrated 007: Titan books revealed the final cover artwork for their The Golden Ghost story collection (to be released on April 21st) and confirmed to CBn that the next volume of their James Bond graphic novels will be Trouble Spot, additionally containing the stories Isle of Condors, The League of Vampires and Die With My Boots On. The release of Trouble Spot is scheduled for September 2006 in the UK. Titan’s Colonel Sun, due for release on May 1st in the USA is now available for pre-order on amazon.com at a discounted price.

Further book news include the announcement that James Bond – The Legacy is to be reprinted in August 2006, and also, Deborah Lipp’s The Ultimate James Bond Fan Book is finally scheduled for release on May 30th 2006.

Casino Galore / I must be dreaming…

Remember the old times when we had a new Daniel Craig and/or Casino Royale bashing in the tabloids every day? Didn’t we all love this? While some less confident members of the fan community used the opportunity to further elaborate their concerns on the direction the franchise is going, other Bond fans stood startling in disbelief about how many buckets of malice were poured over their beloved franchise and the current embodiment of everyone’s favourite superspy. Deep down inside, everyone knew that most stories were just the usual made-up tabloid rubbish. Just look what was made out of a “press release”, sent to the right (or wrong, if you prefer) places by some teenage fanboys (and girls) and their infamous website, which the author refuses to name here. Nothing more of this humbug! Still, a bitter taste remains with serious Bondophiles about the image that was pinned on all Bond fans throughout the world. The quintessence of venting the fans’ anger over the misdoings of tabloids and rabid naysayers was worded by CBn’s own Paul Dunphy, first in the CBn podcast from March 8th, and a few days later in written form in his great editorial ‘Daniel Craig Ate My Hamster’. The piece almost became redundant, because between writing, recording and publishing the article, Barbara Broccoli herself stepped up to the plate and commented in Variety magazine on some of the nonsense: “His teeth are fine, his driving is fine, he doesn’t have heat rash and he’s not afraid of the water.” The article did also shed some interesting light on the working relationship between Eon and Sony.

And then, Casino Royale really hit the media, and it seemed like the whole bickering of the past few weeks was forgotten after some “distinguished representatives of the world press” were invited to a visit of the Casino Royale set in the Bahamas. Fans and detractors were literally flooded with not only interesting, but also positive reports and headlines from major news outlets all over the world. And this time, it wasn’t just rumours or blury spy pictures… Set pictures, cast pictures, behing the secenes footage and loads of interviews. Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Daniel Craig, Martin Campbel, Eva Green, Caterina Murino and others spoke out in interviews, setting the record straight on many things and false rumours that had been reported before, but also revealing lots of interesting news and tidbits. Frankly said, it’s a bit too much to summarize it all in this Dossier, especially as there would be tons of spoilers in it – and frankly said, I don’t really want to put together all the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle. Many of us will know more than enough about this movie, come November 17th – I, for one, wouldn’t mind having at least a few surprises when I finally get to see the finished product. Instead, CBn gives you the opportunity to decide for yourself what you want to read (and more important: what not) with this choice of links to Casino Royale stories of the past month:

WARNING: Some of the following links may contain spoilers.

• CBn exclusive “Madagascar” set pictures thanks to our man in the Bahamas, Harry Wyckhoff (1) and
  (2, Contains spoilers)
• CBn’s report on the finale in Venice (Spoilers)
• Interview with Michael G. Wilson and report from the Nassau Guardian
• Details from the Pre-Credits and pictures (‘Relax, Girls,he’s a real Bond after all’) from The Sun and Empire Online
• TV footage from the BBC
• Later in the month, BBC1 delivered a report with some amazing images, in Film 2006 with Jonathan Ross
• ‘Bond reloads his image’ – an article from USA Today
• A report fom Sky News
• Coverage from Extra TV, featuring Interviews with Eva Green, Caterina Murino and Daniel Craig
• SuperHeroHype (a derivate of ComingSoon.net): Daniel Craig and Barbara Broccoli on Casino Royale
• More interviews with Green, Murino and Craig on Entertainment Tonight
• Tidbits on the torture sequence from LSE
• Interesting news and insights from Martin Campbell in Swiss ‘Sonntagszeitung’ (in German). CBn’s English summary of the article contains minor spoilers!
• TV interviews with Green, Murino, Craig and Sebastien Foucan from Moviefone
• …and of course 007 Magazine with a Special Report on Casino Royale

The News Is Not Enough

Still not enough for this month? Oh, this insaturable Bond bunch with their thirst for news, news and more news… Okay, what else did we have? A number of stories that would have gained more attention in other times, but found themselves burried by the Casino Royale media blitz.

It almost went unnoticed that one of the reports mentioned a new name in the Bond family: Alexander Witt, who has previously worked on movies like Hannibal and The Bourne Identity is 2nd unit director for Casino Royale, replacing Bond veteran Vic Armstrong.

German actor Ulrich Matthes (known for the portrayal of Joseph Goebbels in the 2004 movie Downfall) has told German weekly paper “Die Zeit” that he was offered to play Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, but had to decline as he was already commited otherwise. Eon then hired Mads Mikkelsen for the job.

The release of the latest James Bond game, From Russia With Love, for Sony PSP has been pushed back to April (14th in the UK, 4th in the US).

Role of Honour

CBn wishes to congratulate Sir Tom Jones for his knighthood, which he received on March 29th from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Congratulations also to Timothy Dalton, who celebrated his 60th birthday on March 21st, and last but not least to the first Bond girl, Ursula Andress – Honey Ryder in Dr. No – who turned 70 on March 19th.

And that’s all for this month.

Or maybe not…

Just in case you want to know what didn’t happen: Unfortunately, SilverFin did not win the British Book Award for Children’s Book of the Year.

With over 500,000 posts and endless discussion topics, there has never been a better time to join the CBn Forums to discuss Casino Royale and all other James Bond topics. Registration is free and only takes a minute. It’s safe to say that as Bond fans, we have a lot to look forward to. As always, stay tuned to CBn for daily coverage of all things James Bond.

To discuss this month’s CBn Dossier visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

Related Links

• The CBn Dossier, February ’06
• The CBn Dossier, January ’06
• The CBn Dossier, December ’05
• The CBn Dossier, November ’05
• The CBn Dossier, October ’05
• The CBn Dossier, Special Edition covering ‘Casino Royale’
• The CBn Dossier, September ’05
• The CBn Dossier, August ’05
• The CBn Dossier, July ’05
• The CBn Dossier, June ’05
• The CBn Dossier, May ’05
• The CBn Dossier, April ’05
• The CBn Dossier, March ’05
• The CBn Dossier, February ’05

New CBn Podcast online

Our new podcast episode for the 31th of March, is now available. We cover the latest news on the filming and the onsluaght of PR of Casino Royale, updates on the literary side of Bond.

Download Enhanced or Standard.

If you’re subscribed via iTunes, under your Podcast section, click the ‘Update’ button to have the new episode downloaded automatically for you. If you have iTunes installed correctly Click here to subscribe. Or you can find details on how to do this here.

You can download all episodes directly from the bottom of this page.

Enjoy – the only James Bond podcast on the ‘net!

You can give feedback on the latest podcast episode in this thread.