'Blood Fever' Breaks Out!

Blood Fever has broken out early in the UK, with Amazon.co.uk now shipping the new Young Bond novel!

Hot on the heels of Charlie Higson’s successful debut, SilverFin, comes the second book chronicling the adventures of a teenage James Bond.

In Blood Fever, James travels to Sardinia where he becomes engaged in an evil plot involving art theft, smuggling, pirates and a mad Italian count bent on restoring the Holy Roman Empire. Young Bond also endures what author Charlie Higson calls a “nasty” torture scene.

Accompanying Blood Fever‘s release is a massive £120,000 marketing push including a “high-impact” television campaign and the first Young Bond mobile phone game from Player One, SilverFin.

Further, Puffin Books and Player One are hosting the Young Bond Stunt Academy at Eton, the climax of an exciting competition that will result in one lucky Young Bond fan becoming immortalised as a character in both the next Young Bond book and mobile phone game. The Academy will be held 5 January, 2006, the official release date of Blood Fever.

The U.S. edition of Blood Fever is due for release in June.

The UK edition of Blood Fever confirms that the third entry in the Young Bond series is due for release in January 2007. Click here for the first details of this yet-to-be-titled book.

Stay tuned to CBn for full coverage of the Young Bond series.

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

Buy ‘Blood Fever’

Order the UK paperback edition of Blood Fever from Amazon.co.uk (5 January, 2006)

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

Next EA Game Is 'Casino Royale'

CBn has confirmed that the next James Bond video game from EA will be Casino Royale, based on the upcoming 21st Bond film which sees the début of Daniel Craig as 007. The game is planned to be released in conjunction with the movie in November 2006.

EA’s Casino Royale will feature a likeness of Craig as Bond and, per Eon’s requirements, will follow the plotline of the movie very closely.

CBn has not been able to confirm reports by gaming site kotaku.com that the game has been put on hold.

Meanwhile, EA’s From Russia With Love, which saw the return of Sean Connery as 007, has experienced disappointing sales in the US and UK. The game is currently number 20 on the UK charts while in the US it has failed to chart in the top 20 at all.

Discuss this story in the CBn Forums.

The Blades Library Book Club: You Only Live Twice

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

Every two months a 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 for the CBn Forums and then post your name in the sign up thread.

The Book Club’s Twelfth Book

Currently we are progressing though the James Bond 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. Therefore, You Only Live Twice will be the book in the hands of readers for December 2005. You Only Live Twice, written in 1964, is Fleming’s twelfth Bond novel.

Obtaining The Book

Ordering online should be quite easy. You Only Live Twice can be ordered online from the following sources:

• BN.com
• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.com

Online sources for other older versions of You Only Live Twice:

• Bookfinder.com
• eBay

Discuss other places to buy You Only Live Twice 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. Be sure to title the thread with You Only Live Twice and the chapter number you have read through.

Review And Rate The Book

After you have finished reading You Only Live Twice, you can dicuss 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.

Previous Books Read

• 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

Daniel Craig's Agent Shuffle

Before signing on to the 007 role, Daniel Craig was represented in the US by WMA (William Morris Agency) but he left the agency early this year.

During the time Craig was looking for new representation in the US the deal was made for him to be the new James Bond. Suspicion was that the timing of his exit from WMA was not coincidental as he did not pay commissions on his rich Bond deal to any Hollywood agency.

He didn’t drop his agent in the UK though, ICM (International Creative Management). And now just last week Craig signed with what is considered the largest and most powerful Hollywood talent agency, CAA (Creative Arts Agency).

To discuss this article visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

'Starfire' to Feature in Titan's 'The Golden Ghost' Collection

A nice surprise is in store for the illustrated James Bond fans. The most recently announced 007 collection from Titan, The Golden Ghost, which features the title story as well as Fear Face and Double Jeopardy, will have a fourth story added: Starfire.

All four stories were originally published in 1970 and 1971, and this Titan collection–due out 21 April 2006 in the UK–will be the first time ever they have been collected together. The synopsis from Titan (at this point, not mentioning the addition of Starfire) follows:

The legend continues! Stand by for more adventures with the world’s greatest secret agent, as some of his most thrilling missions are collected for the first time ever! When SPECTRE contact the Secret Service, offering information about a soon-to-be-launched nuclear-powered airship called “The Golden Ghost”, Bond is sent to investigate. But is the airship really in danger, or is Madame Spectra luring 007 into a death trap? This new, never-before-collected edition also collects “Fear Face” and “Double Jeopardy”. Plus a new introduction and exclusive feature material!

As always, stay tuned to CBn for all the upcoming details!

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums. With many thanks to zencat.

Purchase all the Titan 007 graphic novels from Amazon:

• The Man With The Golden Gun
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Octopussy
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Goldfinger
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Casino Royale
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Dr. No
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• The Spy Who Loved Me
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Colonel Sun (Pre-order: 23 December, 2005)
  – Amazon.co.uk
• The Golden Ghost (Pre-order: 21 April, 2005)
  – Amazon.co.uk

Charity 'Diamonds Are Forever' Ball

The UK charity, Little Havens Children’s Hospice, is organising a charity ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ ball for next year.

Drinks will be served shaken, not stirred at the upcoming “Diamonds are Forever Ball”, in aid of Little Havens Children’s Hospice.

Based on the popular James Bond films, the event will be taking place in the gorgeous setting of the Walled Garden at Braxted Park, Witham on Saturday 18th March 2006.

Guests will be treated to a Champagne reception and a sumptuous three course meal. Music will be provided by the Jazz Dynamos, who have recently played for Sir Paul McCartney!

The 007 theme will run throughout the evening, with lots of surprises as the night unfolds. In addition to the fine dining, charity raffle, special guests and our very own Casino Royale, guests will also have the chance to bid in the auction and take home some wonderful prizes.

The whole James Bond enterprise is entering a new era, with Daniel Craig announced as the new spy hero. The “Diamonds are Forever Ball” is the perfect excuse to get in the mood for the new movie Casino Royale, due for release in November 2006.

Events Manager Lauretta Fox says, “This really is an event to be seen at. It will be very glamorous with a fantastic atmosphere. We have also arranged a few surprises for guests, which will be unveiled on the night. This event will not only be a memorable night for all those who attend, but will also raise a significant amount of money for Little Havens.”

Little Havens Children’s Hospice is based in Thundersley, but looks after children from all around Essex. It provides regular respite, end-of-life care and bereavement support to children and their families who are affected by a life-limiting or life-threatening illness. It costs £1.6 million to keep providing these services each year, yet only 2% comes from the Government. The rest is generated by kind donations, legacies and fundraising events such as this Ball.

Tickets are now on sale for this prestigious event, costing £75 per person with tables of 10 available, making them a perfect Christmas present for a loved one or even your work place! To reserve tickets, discuss sponsorship packages or to donate an auction prize please call Events Manager Lauretta Fox on 01702 220 312.

Seal Lined Up to Play Henchman?

English pop singer Sealhenry Olumide Samuel, better known as Seal ("Love’s
divine"), is to join the cast for Casino Royale, "News of the World" reports.
According to the British paper, the husband of German super model Heidi Klum is
going to play a henchman called "Solari".

What this news makes interesting is the fact that it is said that Seal is
going to play an African money launderer. As
revealed
earlier by CBn, the subject of money-laundering is in fact a key element of
the plot of Casino Royale: As in the novel, money won and lost at the gambling
tables will have deadly implications for the Western world. Interesting, too, is the fact that Casino Royale was originally supposed to be shot in South Africa.

German tabloid "BILD", who picked up the story earlier today, quotes an
insider: "Seal has auditioned several times for this film and everyone was
delighted!" BILD also did a very clever thing (well, for a tabloid, that is) by asking
Eon Productions if there was something to the rumour. A spokesperson said that "We
can’t comment yet".

Born February 19, 1963, In London, England, Seal worked as designer of
leather clothing and as an electrical engineer, before he became a pop singer in
the late 1980s. He has received several Brit Awards and Grammy nominations.

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

Seal as a henchman? Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

Titan's 'Colonel Sun' Now Shipping

Titan’s eighth James Bond graphic novel collection, Colonel Sun, is now available to order from Amazon.co.uk.

The book compiles two strips: Colonel Sun and River of Death.

Colonel Sun is based on the very first 007 continuation novel by Kingsley Amis (under the pseudonym of Robert Markham), published in 1968. In it, Bond travels to Greece where he becomes embroiled in a Chinese sadist’s scheme to sabotage a Soviet conference and frame the British for the attack. In River of Death, 007 heads to the Amazon to take on the evil Dr. Cat who is injecting a deadly venom into animals to commit murders around the globe.

Both strips were originally published in the Daily Express from 1969.

Titan recently announced The Golden Ghost as their next collection, compiling The Golden Ghost, Fear Face and Double Jeopardy for the first time (pre-order here).

Update (14 Dec, 2005):

Titan Books have supplied CBn with the final cover art for Colonel Sun.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

Related links

• When Bond Battled Dinosaurs
• Pre-Order Titan’s ‘Colonel Sun’
• ‘River of Death’ to Be Included in Titan’s ‘Colonel Sun’
• Confirmed – ‘Colonel Sun’ Next From Titan

Purchase all the Titan 007 graphic novels from Amazon:

• The Man With The Golden Gun
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Octopussy
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Goldfinger
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Casino Royale
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Dr. No
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• The Spy Who Loved Me
  – Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Colonel Sun
  – Amazon.co.uk
• The Golden Ghost (Pre-order: 21 April, 2005)
  – Amazon.co.uk

CBn Reviews Moonraker Moore

Christmas is coming and we know you’re wishing for Moore than ever this year. Santa Claus would love to stuff your stocking with Sideshow Collectables, especially their newest James Bond figure — Moonraker Moore. So we hope you’ve been good this year!

From Oluf Hartvigson, the Sideshow sculptor who brought us such other 007 figures as George Lazenby and Telly Savalas from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Timothy Dalton and Robert Davi from License to Kill has now come out with his eighth James Bond figure — Roger Moore (James Bond) from Moonraker!

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Order from: Sideshow.com

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Oluf has done two other Roger Moore figures from Live and Let Die and The Man with The Golden Gun, both of which had a different head sculpt. Thankfully Moonraker Moore has yet another new head sculpt to really distinguish this figure from the rest.

Moonraker Moore has over 30 points of articulation, which have improves since their last James Bond figure, Wai Lin. I didn’t think any more mobility improvements were possible, but they proved me wrong.

This version of Roger Moore comes with a Moonraker laser gun, wrist watch dart gun and a movie specific figure. The Sideshow exclusive version also includes an x-ray machine disguised as a cigarette case. He comes outfitted in a fully detailed yellow flight suit and astronaut boots.

Following the James Bond figure box style, Roger Moore’s packaging features a print of the US movie poster with James Bond (Roger Moore), Dr. Holly Goodhead (Lois Chiles) and Jaws (Richard Kiel).

To discuss Moonraker Moore visit this thread on the CBn Forums.
Thanks for Sideshow Collectables.

Dame Judi Dench Discusses 'Royale' Reprisal

In an interview with About.com, Dame Judi Dench has once again confirmed she will reprise her role as “M” in the upcoming James Bond film, Casino Royale, but is yet to meet with director Martin Campbell.

“I haven’t seen Martin since we did GoldenEye,” she said. “I haven’t seen him. I haven’t seen him lately, just been told I’m going to do it. And he’ll tell me how to do it.”

Asked why, earlier this year, she firmly asserted that Pierce Brosnan would return to the role, Dench went coy, revealing she had read about it in the media.

“I’m not allowed to say that because I said that last time and I got into deep trouble just because I read it in a paper. I was in terrible trouble when I went home.”

Nonetheless, the actress is excited to be starring in the upcoming film, opposite new 007, Daniel Craig. “I’m not [surprised they chose Daniel Craig as the new James Bond] … I’m absolutely thrilled for him.”

And what of her future in the role? “Well, it can’t be indefinite. She’d drop off. I’m surprised I’m in this one. But she’d drop off, poor old thing.”

Casino Royale begins production next month for a November 2006 release.

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