IFP Confirms New Books & Fleming Biopic

The official Ian Fleming Publications website has updated their news section confirming several projects first reported on CBn, including a new James Bond “Companion” by Henry Chancellor and a BBC biopic about Ian Fleming.

03/06/05 – Intelligence update
Due to the fact that all IFPL HQ staff have been on assignment on Project SilverFin, it has been some time since Miss Moneypenny’s last operation report. She’s delighted, therefore, to let all operatives know that the SilverFin launch has been enormously successful, with over 50,000 copies of the book in the hands of fellow agents to date and arrangements in place to date for foreign translations in Brazil, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Sweden. Our sister website, youngbond.com continues to develop.

The manuscript of YB2 has been safely delivered and according to the powder-room grapevine, it is fantastic. The as yet untitled Book 2 will be published in the UK in January 2006.

Meanwhile, Henry Chancellor’s JAMES BOND: THE MAN AND HIS WORLD, (subtitled the Official Companion to Ian Fleming’s Original Creation) will be published in hardback, by John Murray, on October 24th. This work, in which the joint copyright is held by IFPL, is the first of its kind to use visual imagery from the extensive IFPL archive, and provides a historical and social context for the Bond novels.

Biographical info on the author:

Henry Chancellor was born in London in 1968. He grew up in East Anglia and went to Trinity College, Cambridge. He is the author of the highly acclaimed Colditz: The Definitive History. His remarkable television series, Escape from Colditz, was twelve years in the making, won sweeping critical praise and has been shown all over the world.

Extract from the cover copy: “For over half a century the Bond novels have entertained millions around the world. But no book has used the Fleming archive to explore the three-dimensional world of this quintessential secret agent, revealing what inspired it, and who inspired him. Complete, authoritative and entertaining, it will take you on a journey through myth and reality, from Moscow to Mayfair, the bedroom to the war-room, the casino to the villain’s lair.”

The autumn programme of events relating to Fleming’s Bond will continue with the first transmission, on BBC One, of Ian Fleming: A Life in Pictures, which will star Ben Daniels as Ian Fleming. Further details on transmission date to follow.

John Griswold’s book ‘Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies for Ian Fleming’s Bond Stories’ has now been published by Author House (www.authorhouse.com). An absolute labour of love, it provides extensive annotations and chronologies to the Fleming Bond novels and includes an introduction by Andrew Lycett.

By the author:

“Ever wonder what Ian was referring to when he mentioned ‘Grandmother’s Steps’ (AKA: Grandmothers’ Steps) in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service or when he compared ‘The Cannonball’ in Diamonds Are Forever to the ‘Highland Light’ class of locomotive? How about his reference to the ‘girl in the balloon bet’ in Moonraker and, what about the details of the hand-by-hand play of the Moonraker contract bridge game? What is the origin of the name ‘Shatterhand’? What did the hole-by-hole layout of the Royal St Marks golf course in Goldfinger look like? Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies for Ian Fleming’s Bond Stories has the answers.”

You can discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

Related Links

• New James Bond ‘Companion’ Coming in Fall
  
• ‘Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies’
  
• First Details of New Ian Fleming Biopic Emerge
• Charlie Higson Q&A Reveals More on Young Bond 2

CBn Visits 'Club Aston'

Aston Martin. In the automotive world, the name is revered and respected among car aficionados. In the world of James Bond, it’s as easily associated with a Walther PPK, Vodka Martini and a license to kill.

Happily, you only need a license to drive…and about $200,000 lying about.

CommanderBond.net was recently contacted by the PR firm representing Galpin Ford in Van Nuys, California, (the #1 Ford dealership in all aspects for the past 15 years) who asked if we would be interested in a personal tour of their new 2.5 million dollar Aston Martin showroom, ‘Club Aston’, where we would be treated as if we were all purchasing a Vanquish.

Galpin also handles Volvo and Jaguar sales and is only one of two Aston Martin dealerships in California. The other being Rolls Royce of Beverly Hills.

Last Wednesday, May 25, myself along with CBn Team Members Athena Stamos (Athena007) and John Cox (zencat) arrived at the dealership and were warmly greeted by sales director Joe Van De Veere who was very giving of his time and information. Joe is an Aston Martin expert and appreciative of our equal expertise on the world of 007.

## Let the games begin

The showroom is only accessible by one of two means. A private door located outside near the service department, or the main entrance on the second floor of the rather regal showroom. Both require a pass card and an actual thumbprint scan — It’s not just a novel idea, it truly works. Once your print is scanned your entire customer information immediately appears on Joe’s computer and he knows what to do.

The Front Entrance (left) and The Back Entrance (center, right)

A large cylindrical steel door rotates to reveal a circular chamber and cues any music the customer wishes. On this day, the familiar strains of Goldeneye greeted us and then revealed what is simply called “Club Aston”.

At first you’d wonder if you were entering an elegant hotel lounge. Certainly not a car dealership. A fireplace, leather chairs and couches, walls covered in suede, a 50 inch plasma screen and a second smaller one complete with wireless internet access set over a large walnut grain bar (should one wish to toast their purchase or delivery of their Aston Martin), take up the first room.

The shelves surrounding the fireplace and TV are filled with books covering a variety subjects from travel to wine and cigars, some rare first editions of classic literature and, of course, James Bond. Copies of both James Bond: The Legacy and Bond Girls are Forever were prominently displayed.

The center piece of the showroom is a polished black granite mirror finished turntable surrounded by curtains with a swirled steel ceiling design that cannot help but evoke the notion of the famous gunbarrel sequence. Fitted in to this ceiling is a computer controlled lighting system that can produce a variety of different effects. As our Team entered, a shear curtain slid aside to reveal a new black DB9 slowly rotating on the turntable. Joe then explained how it works when you decide to purchase.

To quote Roger Moore (James Bond) from Moonraker upon glimpsing the Drax residence:

> Good Lord?

An Aston Martin DB9 on the Turntable in Club Aston

Via an LCD touch screen located at the bar, he brought both screens to life. One showing a promotional Aston Martin video and the other giving almost Q Branch specs on the Aston Martin of your choice where one is able to design the colours (interior and exterior) and any “optional extras” you may desire. While there are a wide selection of colours available (they have done over 3,000), Aston Martin can match any colour you may wish or provide. Three of Galpin’s customers have had their Aston’s exterior colour matched to their own eye colour. The most popular has been, and will probably continue to be, the famous “Silver Birch”.

Having completed your design specs, and presuming your check is good, the process begins. From completion of order to delivery, the average time frame is around sixty days. All of Aston Martin’s cars are hand built in England.

When your car is ready, another part of the showroom comes into play. It’s actually not a room, but a vault. A large circular steel vault door that looks like it could house Fort Knox with keypad entry sits on the other side of the turntable just off the lounge. Built at a cost of $800,000 dollars, this is where your new Aston Martin will be waiting. Quoting room designer, Beau Boeckmann:

> This is a place that will make a billionaire say, ‘Wow!’

Many celebrities have purchased their own Aston Martin from Galpin and indulged in Club Aston. The showroom opened in April of 2005 with a gala event attended by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a host of celebrities. The Aston on display was Cubby Broccoli’s own 1987 black Volante convertible. One quote from actor Wilmer Valeramma (Fez of That 70’s Show fame) summed it up:

> When I walked in and heard that [Bond] music kick in, I knew I wanted to buy whatever was in that room.

The Club Aston Vault

Of course there was one actor who couldn’t attend due to a schedule conflict, Pierce Brosnan. Galpin personally delivered his Vanquish to his Malibu home and still services the car for Bond #5. Several LA based CBn members have caught a glimpse of Pierce in his silver birch Vanquish zipping about town. He still has yet to visit the showroom, but Pierce, it’s worth your time mate.

Joe continued with some history of exactly how impressive Aston Martin has been as a company with some stats and trivia that really does establish this as one of the finest hand-built motor car companies of the world. Since 1918, 88% of all Aston Martin’s are still registered and actively driven. Joe seems pleasantly surprised to learn that in the new Young Bond novel SilverFin, James learns to drive on a 1.5 Liter Bamford & Martin Sidevalue Short Chassis Tourer (one of the earliest cars built by “Aston” Martin). With a tap of his wireless keyboard, Joe called up CommanderBond.net on Club Aston’s plasma computer screen and promptly bookmarked the site. Yes, CBn is now part of the Club Aston experience.

Joe then gave us the scoop on Casino Royale and Aston Martin’s involvement.

Bond (whoever it may be) will be driving the new Vantage V8 (CBn Story). The first will be available in February of 2006 (probably the first seven or eight will end up in the hands of Vic Armstrong and his boys depending what they have planned) and a convertible model will follow within the first six months. It is to be an “entry level” car and priced between $110,000 to $130,000 — but is “the most important car Aston Martin has ever built.” That’s both the word from Joe and Aston Martin. Joe also promised when the first Vantage hits the showroom floor, CBn will get a call.

Our time in the Club Aston came to a close but not before an inspection of the DB9 and then the Vanquish on their main showroom floor.

Joe described how one should treat one of these magnificent automobiles:

> Drive it like you stole it.

Damn better than:

> Now pay attention 007.

The Showroom A.M. V12 Vanquish with Sticker Shock

Then the fun began for all three of us after our lovely Athena simply asked:

> Can we go for a ride?

Joe’s response (with a sly grin):

> OK — Twist my arm.

Within minutes a beautiful DB9 was available and we each took a turn. Bamboo dash, concealed flip-up GPS flat screen, push-button transmission available for automatic driving, and Formula-1 style “paddle shifters” on either side of the steering wheel for manual or “sports” driving. Left to go down, right to go up.

Zencat and myself allowed the “ladies first” policy and Athena was off for a quick spin with Joe. After a minute or so as we stood in the lot waiting, Zencat pondered:

> Think they’re coming back?

I replied with;

> Athena’s probably thrown Joe out and is headed for Mexico. She’ll be there in less than an hour in that thing.

Joe Van De Veere takes CBn for a testdrive in a DB9

Soon, we heard the now familiar sound of the twin exhausts — incredibly distinctive — and they rolled back in. Now it was my turn. The car goes around corners like a bullet train as if it was bolted to the road. At one point Joe went (on an open stretch) from 0-95+ in less than six seconds — which for the record is the equivalent of 7 G’s in the centrifuge. I’m not that old, but I think the skin being pulled back on my face took off a couple of years in my looks.

Even before Zencat left for his test-drive, I was already calculating my available cash in my stock portfolio and debating a second mortgage…and it would be worth every cent.

So, in conclusion, Aston Martin is the company it is because of what they do and how they continue to do it, Not just because of the company they keep — Bond doesn’t hurt though.

A few closing notes just as an FYI: This showroom is NOT a tourist attraction for Bond Fans. It’s a place of business. We were all (those present and the CBn Team) quite honoured by this exclusive look into a something that only few shall glimpse. If you’ve enjoyed this article and are thinking “Hey, I’ll go check this out.” — WRONG, Unless you’re there to do business and purchase an Aston, don’t bother.

You’re either an owner or there by appointment only. Joe can tell the difference. However, if you’re in the market and committed to a purchase, the people at Galpin and Joe are the kind you want to deal with when buying into a tradition such as Aston Martin… Not to mention buying a car that costs more than most people’s homes.

If you’re going to buy an Aston Martin, call Galpin Ford. They’ll get you in touch with Joe and you can talk about it.

To discuss Club Aston visit this thread on the CBn Forums

This article was contributed to by Team members Athena Stamos (Athena007) and John Cox (zencat), always a pleasure my friends. Pictures by/copyright Athena Stamos.

Special thanks to Ben Cooke of Arlene Howard Management LA for contacting us regarding this and even more special thanks and much appreciation to Mr. Joe Van De Veere Sales director of Galpin Aston Martin for giving us so much of his time and even bothering to add CBn to the Club Aston computer desktop.

Charlie Higson Q&A Reveals More on Young Bond 2

Charlie Higson was put in the hotseat in CBBC’s Newsround, as fans had the opportunity to quiz the author about SilverFin, the Young Bond series and life in general. The interview contains questions from fans aged 11 to 16, both young males and females, a sign of the market Higson has tapped with his series.

Young Bond Book 2 was a hot topic and Higson dropped some interesting hints of what to expect, responding to questions from eager fans, including CBn’s own Chris Wright. Whilst Higson has offered numerous tidbits about his next novel, which is due out in January 2006, the pieces are still falling into place. Higson’s latest interview offers the most detailed clues yet…

Higson also revealed that Book 2 will hint at the significance of the number seven (as in “007”) in Bond’s life. Check out the entire interview here, in which Higson discusses the teen spy genre, a potential Young Bond film series, who he would like to see as Bond #6 and more.

Meanwhile, SilverFin continues to slither its way around the globe, having most recently found its way to Australia. Australian stores have begun stocking the novel, whilst various Australian online retailers are now shipping SilverFin, including QBD.

There are a total of five books planned in the Young Bond series.

The CBn Dossier, May '05

Mostly Harmless

In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the mighty computer Deep Thought, after considerable cogitating, produces as the Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything, the number 42; upon understandable complaints, the computer remarked that the question had not been specific enough.

Doubtless after equivalent Deep Thinking, Michael G. Wilson produced the following nine Ultimate Answers, ostensibly about Casino Royale. Quite what the Ultimate Questions were is moot. Accordingly, mooting ahoy…

• “I don’t know which actor” [“Which actor provided the voice of Teddy Ruxpin in “Teddy Ruxpin IV: Teddy Ruxpin goes to Hell?”]
• “January 17” [“In 1983, when was which Breakfast TV was broadcast in the UK?”]
• “October 19 2006” [“When’s Big Sam Allardyce’s 50th birthday?”]
• “Aston Martin” [“How would the name Martin Aston appear in a school register?”]
• “Casino Royale” [“For the lyricists amongst us, what’s the best rhyme for “Casino Royale” then?”]
• “Martin Campbell” [“Which company has, since 1980, developed an effective and cohesive commercial property consultancy in the Richmond-upon-Thames area, which is based upon a core activity of commercial property agency supported by strong professional disciplines, with the aim of safeguarding the commercial property interests of both owners and tenants?”]
• “Prague and South Africa” [“Where’s cheap?”]
• “Yes, Judi Dench will be back” [“Will there be any scenes set in a distillery?”]
• “No, Halle Berry won’t reprise” [“What’s the latest you’ve heard on “Catwoman II: More Kitty Litter?”]

Some tricky questions there, so top marks to the chap who lives “in a fishbowl”.

Further mooting by CBn Forum members at this thread. Given the reference to South Africa, query whether some almost forgotten ruminating about the Sun City complex on CBn suggested the idea to him.

As for these suggested locations, the first tabloid cry of “Czech mate, Mr Bond” is overdue and if South Africa is gospel, one awaits the inevitable headlines “The Mandela with the Golden Gun” or “The Veld is Not Enough” with a heavy heart. Although it seems a bit odd that Northern France doesn’t (yet) appear on the slate, plausible that Prague could pass for it, so those wedded to the book shouldn’t worry. Yet.

As always, CBn will keep you up to speed with developments, and let you know when Mr Wilson next plays Jeopardy.

“Hey, what the Hell is this? A perverts’ convention or something?”

CBn members DLibrasnow, Doctor Shatterhand and Doublenoughtspy were plenty fortunate enough to drop in on Lana Wood to reminisce about the making of Diamonds are Forever – read about the time she quizzed them about her night attire here, and the quote of the month from our own Mr Helfenstein (“Speaking of lingerie…”).

You think this title’s bad? Given that the only real alternative is a spectacularly vulgar play on the good lady’s name, in pursuing its rigid standards CBn would never stoop to heading any of its pieces “CBn gets Wood”.

CBn gets Wood

In July 2005, the Internet will celebrate 5 years of being married to CBn (apparently the “wood” wedding anniversary, no mucky chuckling at the back there); some special things planned (beyond “just” being the www resource for Bond news, views and abuse (para-rhyme)).

Stick around for some “interesting stuff” in the lead-up to our anniversary. We have asked Eon whether they would be prepared to let us have the name of the new Bond on the anniversary date. They haven’t actually said no. Well, not yet, anyway.

In other news, the CBn Forums celebrated reaching 4007 members, and we thank you all for making CBn the place to come to discuss Bond, speculate about the future of the character and defame people in an entirely conscience-free environment. Particular gratitude to those of you who keep linking us to Wal-Mart bargains. Ta.

For $28 million you can buy either…

a ) 70% of Mr Brosnan in Casino Royale; or

b ) 100% of Mr Broccoli’s house.

Your choice, really.

Although query whether Michael Wilson should have the house, given that at present he claims to be living “in a fishbowl”, which can’t be very comfy.

May the Fourth be with You

On 4 May, it appeared that MGM had a James Bond 6 (or, if you count Casino Royale version 1.0, James Bond 312): Daniel Craig. Bit of a pity, according to Mr Craig himself, that Eon didn’t appear aware of it. Not much of a story, as it turned out, but really couldn’t resist the title here. Not much of a story there, either…

So – who runs the show?

“There’s been some sort of move in my direction but there’s been a move in a lot of people’s direction. Possibly it’s a way of trying to raise debate. They throw out some names and then people start discussing it and then they can make a decision.”

He may not be everyone’s favourite, nor everyone’s idea of the cinematic James Bond, nor someone people have actually heard of. But Daniel Craig came up with an interesting suggestion in there that fansites such as CBn and AJB and others are seen as a valuable resource for reaction to suggestions for Bond 6. Vote Jack Davenport. So, in answer to the question… you do…

On the basis that this Daniel Craig stuff is accurate, George Lazenby is no longer the briefest official Bond: Daniel Craig appears to have had the role vote Jack Davenport for about… ooh… twelve minutes.

And then Fishbowl Boy chipped in. So, as with almost every other month, we end this one being blitzed with numerous possibilities vote Jack Davenport, but knowing increasingly less. Odd, that.

Oh, the usual rubbish…

Pierce is in, says Dench. No he’s not, says… er …Dench. Gary Stretch, perhaps? Or some chap from ER? Julian McMahon? Or a 22 year-old? Or a 52 year-old? “Why won’t they give it to me? Nurr, don’t want it anyway”, “says” Owen.

Yawn.

Writing Young Bond is like making love to a beautiful woman

Well, he didn’t say that really, but Charlie Higson was traditionally engaging and amusing when CBn members attended a couple of stops on his US promotional tour for Young Bond 1, SilverFin. First up, zencat and Athena in Los Angeles, and then the unstoppable trio of DLibrasnow, Doctor Shatterhand and Doublenoughtspy (“3D”) in Arlington. Lots of splendid information about the genesis of both YB1 and YB2 – which sounds fascinating; stick with CBn for further updates in the run-up to its release in early 2006.

Regrettably, Mr Helfenstein forgot to raise his trademark lingerie query, which seems like something of a missed opportunity.

In other literary developments, two unutterably fascinating sounding books are heading our way – Ian Fleming’s James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies and James Bond: The Man and his World – the Official Companion. All sounds very promising. Just when the film series seems to be disappearing up its own… fishbowl, the literary side is chugging along very merrily. Excellent.

Spot the Dog: The Moneypenny Diaries. Young Bond 2. Large print version of Raymond Benson’s The World Is Not Enough. Only one of these concepts is not sanctioned by the heirs of Ian Fleming. Arguably, it’s not that easy to tell, at first glance…

Shame though – Moneypenny as Bridget Jones? “Monday 6th June. Bought new bottle of scotch for M. V. pleased. Silly old bag. Sent 113 expendable agents to their deaths by mistake. Tried to delete Microsoft bloody paperclip office help thing, appeared to have nuked Zurich. V. naughty! Fantasised about JB then cried self to sleep. V. good. At 10 a.m. – vv bad. 3 cigarettes, half a rock of crack and a bottle of WKD – at least the fitness regime is holding up.” Well, I’d buy it.

OK, but will they keep the gypsy girl fight?

If EA manages to achieve this with the From Russia with Love game previewed at E3 and enjoyed greatly by our Athena007, then it may well indeed be the massive and (ahem) stimulating success it already promises to be. The promise of being able to interact with such an environment… hmm…

Fnarr…

Without whom…

28 May was the anniversary of Ian Fleming’s birth. It’s that simple.

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

Related Links

• The CBn Dossier, April ’05
• The CBn Dossier, March ’05
• The CBn Dossier, February ’05

Phil Meheux to Lens 'Casino Royale'

We may not be getting any closer to knowing the answer to the big question of who will play James Bond, but the pieces of the puzzle are slowly falling into place for Casino Royale‘s behind-the-scenes stars.

The IMDb has updated its cast and crew listing for the twenty-first Bond picture to include Phil Meheux as the film’s cinematographer. Meheux’s addition should come as no surprise to followers of Campbell’s films, as the duo have worked together on every feature film Campbell has made since 1988’s Criminal Law (with the exception of Vertical Limit, which, curiously, was lensed by Die Another Day‘s director of photography, David Tattersall), including Campbell’s first Bond outing, GoldenEye.

Although the IMDb’s listings should be taken with a grain of salt (the website still lists John Cleese’s involvement in the film, despite the fact that the last we had heard, the current Casino Royale script did not feature the character of Q), Meheux’s past involvement with Campbell’s movies strongly indicate that Casino Royale will, too, be added to their joint resumé.

The IMDb’s listing is currently rounded out by the usual Bond suspects, including costume designer Lindy Hemming, production designer Peter Lamont, casting director Debbie McWilliams and post-production supervisor Michael Solinger.

Cameras are set to roll on Casino Royale early next year for a November 2006 release.

Slowly, but surely, ‘Casino Royale’ is coming together.
Discuss this latest news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

UPDATE (30 Jun, 2005): CBn can now confirm that Phil Meheux is locked in as cinematographer for Casino Royale.

Related Articles:

• ‘Royale’ Revelations from Purvis & Wade
• Campbell Chats ‘Casino’
• LICENCE REVOKED

Looking Back: No Deals, Mr. Bond

In May of 1987 John Gardner’s sixth James Bond 007 novel, No Deals, Mr. Bond, was published. Continuing on after his previous James Bond novels Licence Renewed, For Special Services, Icebreaker, Role Of Honour, and Nobody Lives Forever this sixth original 007 adventure continued on after the SPECTRE series had ended with the previous novel. CBn takes a look back at No Deals, Mr. Bond. Included are trivia notes about the book and CBn forum fan reactions.

UK First Edition

Between the Danish island of Bornholm and the Baltic coast of East Germany a nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy surfaces under the cloak of darkness. James Bond and two marines slip quietly from the forward hatch into their powered inflatable and set off for a lonely beach where they are to collect two young women who have to get out in their socks. Planted to seduce communist agents to run for cover in the West, they have been rumbled by the other side. Bond little knows that this routine exercise is but the prelude to a nerve-racking game of bluff and double bluff, played with consummate skill by his own chief M against the East German HVA and the elite branch of the KGB, formed out of Bond’s old adversary SMERSH.

Over a plain lunch in the sober dining room in Blades, Bond learns of M’s predicament. He cannot tell the police what he knows about the series of grisly murders of young women, found with their tongues removed, which occupy the day’s headlines. Two of his undercover ‘plants’ have gone; Bond must find three others and conduct them to safety before they meet a similar fate. The first he spirits away from her Mayfair salon just as the next strike is made, taking her with him to the Irish Republic in pursuit of the second. But the urbane HVA boss, Maxim Smolin, is ahead of him this time, despite the astute ministrations of the Irish police. The KGB is soon on the scene, but nothing is at all what it seems, and Bond finds he needs all his wits to negotiate the labyrinth of double-crossing that is to lead him to a bewildering showdown in a remote corner of the Kowloon province of Hong Kong.

There, with only the trusted belt of secret weapons specially devised by Q branch, he has to fight a terrifying duel in the dark, with all the cards in the hands of his opponents. No Deals, Mr. Bond is the sixth and by far the best of John Gardner’s 007 adventures.

UK First Edition Hardback

Trivia

• John Gardner’s original title was Tomorrow Always Comes.
• Gardner recalls horrific titles such as “Oh No Mr. Bond!” and “Bond Fights Back!” before they settled on No Deals, Mr. Bond.
• The US paperback was the only one of the Gardner series to have a “National Bestseller” caption listed on the spine.
• US readers received a free Casino Royale novel as a giveaway when they purchased the hardback of this sixth John Gardner 007 novel.
• The artwork on the UK edition of No Deals, Mr. Bond represented the new style of the UK covers, as the Jonathan Cape styled covers had ended with his previous book.

Release Timeline

• 1987: 1st British Hardback Edition
• 1987: 1st American Putnam Hardback Edition
• 1987: 2nd British Hardback Edition
• 1987: 1st British Guild Bookclub Edition
• 1987: 1st British Coronet Paperback Edition
• 1988: 1st American Charter Paperback Edition
• 1988: 2nd British Guild Bookclub Edition
• 1993: Reprint British Coronet Paperback Edition

Relationship to the film series

German Paperback

• No Deals, Mr. Bond: M tells Bond the #1 rule is there will be “no deals” if he’s captured.
• Die Another Day (2002) – Bond tells M he understands the #1 rule is there will be “no deals” if he’s captured.
• No Deals, Mr. Bond: Bond kills love interest turned villain Heather Dare in cold blood at the end of the novel.
• The World Is Not Enough (1999) – Bond kills love interest turned villain Electra King in cold blood at the end of the film.
• No Deals, Mr. Bond: Gardner’s original title was Tomorrow Always Comes.
• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – Tomorrow Never Dies?

Forum Reviews

I’ve just re-read No Deals, Mr. Bond. I find it interesting. I like the car chase in Ireland and most of all the climax in Hong Kong. The gladiator-like chase is really amazing.

CBn Forum member Cesari

Despite its really bad title No Deals, Mr. Bond ranks as my favorite John Gardner novel after Icebreaker – I thought Gardner wove a really interesting and involving narrative.

CBn Forum member DLibrasnow

Luckily, it was one of my first Gardner novels. It has really great thrills. Nice plot and nice locations. The usual Gardner overdose of needless doublecrosses, though. Still it works, and rocks!

CBn Forum member Grubozaboyschikov

See Death is Forever – this is essentially the same idea. As far as this goes, traitor, hotel rooms and overloaded technical descriptions all present but it’s beginning to feel a bit mechanical; the first evidence of JG’s boredom with it all?

CBn Forum member Jim

US Hardback

Gardner appears in the last two, to be thankfully getting away from “the formula.” The Bond formula is great on screen, and great when done by Fleming, but Gardner was getting too, well, formulaic. You know; who’s the bad guy, follow the bad guy to his lair, bring the girl with you…there was still plenty of that, but the storyline here (and to a small degree, the last two) are beginning to remind me of LeCarre. And that’s a good thing. Blown networks, safe houses, even a paper chase, that sort of thing. I like the gradual change in Gardner.

One thing that does get annoying (as someone else pointed out on another thread) is the constant double-triple cross. I loved it in Icebreaker, because I wasn’t expecting it. But now, every single novel has it. There had to be one in No Deals, Mr. Bond, otherwise that network couldn’t have been blown, that was fine, but at the end, when Murray appears out of nowhere was just horrible.

But I did like No Deals, Mr. Bond, even if the title still has me scratching my head.

CBn Forum member Jriv71

For me, No Deals, Mr Bond is his best book. All it lacks is a slightly stronger villain, General Chernov was quite nasty, but he lacked a bit of depth to his character I thought.

CBn Forum member scaramanga

Large Print

I?m not sure exactly why, but No Deals, Mr. Bond is one of my least favorite Gardner books. I remember being deeply disappointed by it when it came out in ’87 (yes, I too was getting very tired of the double and triple crosses by then) and when I did my mass re-read of the Gardner books a year or so ago, No Deals, Mr. Bond didn’t improve at all (unlike Role Of Honour and Never Send Flowers).

CBn Forum member zencat

To discuss ‘No Deals, Mr. Bond’ visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

The Looking Back at John Gardner Series:

• Licence Renewed
• For Special Services
• Icebreaker
• Role Of Honour
• Nobody Lives Forever
• No Deals, Mr. Bond
• Scorpius
• Licence To Kill
• Win, Lose Or Die
• Brokenclaw
• The Man From Barbarossa
• Death Is Forever
• Never Send Flowers
• SeaFire
• GoldenEye
• COLD

Related Articles:

• “THE SILVER BEAST”
• “Déjà vu, Mr. Bond?”

BCW8: The Intimate Details

Calling all Bond fans!

Thanks to organizer Matt Sherman we now have all the correct and final gritty details surrounding the 8th annual ‘Bond Collectors Weekend’ which will be held this year in New York City from Thursday, August 25 to Sunday, August 28.

So if you want to ‘Bond’ with other 007 fans, visit James Bond locations and meet 007 celebrities in an intimate setting… sign up quick as attendance is limited to 50 people. See bottom of this article for registration info

BCW8 Package

• A three day/two night stay at The Travel Inn (excludes Thursday night) — including free parking with no “in and out” charges, pool and deck, WiFi Internet and the nearby Bond 45 restaurant.
• Guided tours of several dozen James Bond movie and novel locations (including surprise locations), general NY sightseeing as well (Itinerary is subject to change). Ground transport is included.
• Welcome packet with 007 gifts, including BCW8 Bond Trading Cards Trivia games, Food and Fun all weekend long!
• Luncheon with Bond guests in attendance
• Sir Sean’s 75th Birthday surprise
• 007 Costume Party with themed fun

BCW Itinerary

Thursday August 25

Arriving early? Celebrate Sean Connery’s 75th Birthday with an exotic BCW8 surprise!

Friday August 26

Day: Swim and schmooze above the city at our hotel’s rare New York rooftop pool. Visit locations in Harlem like “Filet Of Soul” (Live & Let Die), and more (Blast from the Past). Mingle with fans and hear the inside dish on Casino Royale (2006)!

Night: Join in on the newly styled memorabilia event “Bondabilia Dash” at 007 o’clock. Then toast and unwind at Sardi’s Restaurant (Diamonds Are Forever).

Felix Leiter: “This is one of the best places in town for beef, and Brizzola’s the best cut of that, straight cut to the bone. Roasted and then broiled.”

Tiffany Case: “It’d take more than Crabmeat Ravigote to get me into bed.”

“…broiled lobsters arrived and they [Bond and Felix] went to work with their nutcrackers.”

Ian Fleming – Diamonds Are Forever

Saturday August 27

Day: We’ll visit the United Nations (Live and Let Die), Rockefeller Center (The Quasimodo Gambit), Central Park (Live and Let Die, Thrilling Cities: 007 in New York) and more from Diamonds Are Forever, For Special Services, Blast from the Past, The Authorized Biography of 007 and other Bond classics. Would you believe there are also points of interest from License to Kill, GoldenEye and Goldfinger on Saturday’s tour as well? It’s true!

Our special BCW backstage tours go behind the scenes of various New York happenings. Stroll, photograph and learn about Bond book and movie locations stretched between the Trump Tower and Embassy Row.

Night: We’ll visit Times Square, with its locations from Ian Fleming’s world, one of the three brightest nightspots on earth. The Saturday night’s annual Costume Bash features a “Casino Royale” theme (of course!) along with competitions, rare videos and music and more. We top off the fun with a champagne toast to unveil the BCW8 Official Poster at Midnight!

Sunday August 28, 2005

Morning: View downtown Bond locations including Die Another Day, Live & Let Die, Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang and more. Again, we will escort you to some wild views of Bond book and film locations. We’ll highlight the very best of the more than 200 NYC Bond locations in our 007 Locations Database. See why 007 loved New York’s attractions, restaurants, theatres and clubs!

Afternoon: Sunday’s party luncheon includes wining and dining with this year’s Special Guests: Geoffrey Holder (Baron Samedi, Live & Let Die), Max Vesterhalt (Casino Girl, For Your Eyes Only), John Griswold (Author, The Annotated Ian Fleming), Michael Di Leo (The Spy Who Thrilled Us), Wesley Britton (Beyond Bond) and Ed Steinberg (Music Videos including AVTAK, TND, DAD).

Registration & Payment Info

Space is limited to 50 people so register ASAP!

BCW Weekend including Hotel

• Singles (one room, one person): $527.75
• Couples (double occupancy) per person: $377.00

BCW Weekend without Hotel

• Per Person admission to all weekend events and tours: $227.00

Additional hotel nights (before or after)

• Single or Double occupancy: $177.75 per night

To Register (or ask questions) – Contact

EXECUTIVE TRAVEL
(attn: Matt Sherman – BCW8)
2711 NW 42 Place
Gainesville, FL 32605
1-352-373-1992 (USA)
[email protected]

We accept credit card (Amex, Discover, Visa, Mastercard) payments, checks and money orders to book your BCW trip.

To discuss BCW8 visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

Check out last years BCW…

• “BCW-007: James Bond Locations! Locations! Locations!“

New 'From Russia With Love' Screenshots

As a thank you to CBn for our ‘From Russia With Love’ at E3 report, EA Games has provided us with 3 CBn-exclusive screenshots from the London Level of the game.

+ Left Pic: The party at the Thames River is interrupted
+ Center Pic: James Bond fights at the Thames River
+ Right Pic: Jet Packing around Big Ben

London is the very the first level in the game. James Bond is attending a party near the Thames River during which there is an attack on Parliament and the Prime Minister’s daughter is kidnapped. 007 is called in. After much ground maneuvering and taking out enemies while on top a chandelier you will use your jetpack (which is equipped with both rocket launchers and machine guns) and fly up around Big Ben to take out more enemies and then face off with the Helicopter that contains the prime minister’s daughter and her captors. The rescue scene is Bond movie spectacular as 007 flies through the firey falling helicopter to rescues the girl.

London level description
from CBn’s ‘From Russia With Love’ at E3 article

Also visit:

• EA’s Official FRWL site to view the E3 trailer: FRWL Attract Video
• CVG for FRWL Multiplayer Screenshots
• TeamXBox for more London Level Screens

CBn Reviews 'You Only Live Twice'

Over the last several months, members of the CBn Forum have been reviewing all the James Bond films in the “Countdown Threads“. If you wish to join in on the forum discussion all you have to do is register. Now here are some select reviews, varying in opinions, of You Only Live Twice…

‘You Only Live Twice’ -by DLibrasnow

‘You Only Love Twice’ litho by Jeff Marshall

Yes, it’s the one with the hollowed out volcano and what a fun ride it is too. It should come as no surprise to anyone that for me (who ranked the earily similar plot-wise The Spy Who Loved Me at #2 and is a fan of Roger Moore’s portrayal) that You Only Live Twice is high on my list of favorite Connery movies.

It’s fun and zany and like a Godzilla movie on steroids Bond is plunged into a kinetic, energized Japan. A country that is reeling from an identity crisis following a humiliating defeat in WWII for the traditional nation and the onslaught of 1960s pop culture of which the Bond phenomenon was a major part.

Connery for his part looks bored and tired with the role and so the film makers understandably have loaded this movie with special effects, martial arts fighting, gimmicks and yes, a hollowed out volcano. All in the hopes that Connery will get lost in the mix and his lack of enthusiasm for the part less evident as the viewers senses are assaulted by a vibrant concoction composed of all the spectacle and wonder that screenwriter Dahl and director Lewis Gilbert could conceive.

The mission seems ripped from the headlines to use an old cliché. The time is the late 1960s and with the US and USSR locked in a race for the dominance of space, the two nations are both having capsules hijacked by some unknown power. Of course in the hyperactive paranoia of the Cold War – each blames the other. But Britain, in its infinite wisdom, stands by their claim that their tracking placed the object (that seized an American rocket) land somewhere in the sea of Japan.

The movie begins with one of my all-time favorite pre-credits sequences. Bond is in bed with an attractive Chinese girl. In what appears to be a double-cross however she pushes a button that sends the bed into the wall before letting a couple of assassins in who pepper the bed with bullet holes. Having the hero “killed off” at the beginning of the movie is a gimmick that has been copied often (and in fact first echos the opening of From Russia With Love. But Gilbert crafts it expertly.

A solid entry in the Bond series – too light for some, but certainly a lot of fun throughout.

‘You Only Live Twice’ -by freemo

Fourth place in my “all-Connery Top Six” goes to You Only Live Twice. I know story wise it’s completely different to the book, and alot of people don’t like that, but I think the film to a degree has the spirit of the book about it. Like the book the film is set in Japan, and gives a real good look at the place, and like the book the film has this stench of death that hangs around (yeah, I know people die in all the Bond films, but with Twice it always seems to be just when you’ve gotten comfortable, them WHAM!, Henderson gets a knife in the back, or Aki is posioned. Hell, even Bond dies at the start of this one).

Naturally “Little Nellie”, Tanaka’s Ninja Army, and Blofeld’s volcano headquarters are what You Only Live Twice is best remembered for, but I like just as much the first half of the film: Bond going around town following leads, Bond getting a traditional Japanese bath, etc.

Also has my favorite score, and runs neck and neck with Live And Let Die for my favorite title song.

Top stuff.

‘You Only Live Twice’ -by Genrewriter

A good, entertaining effort but it really tries too hard to top Thunderball and like Moonraker, just doesn’t hit the marks it needs to hit to top the preceeding film. Connery seems to be phoning it in and while the set design is incredible as usual, the action of the volcano opening and closing gets to be a bit tedious after a while, especially during the final forty minutes or so. The finale itself is basically little mjore than a huge shootout followed by a adequate brawl with Blofeld’s henchman and a nice race against the clock.

As for positive points, I’ve always loved Donald Pleasence as Blofeld. While he’s not a physical match for the Fleming character, he does make a strong impression and if you recall a passage in Goldfinger about all the troubles in the world being caused by short men, the casting is quite clever. The Bond girls are decent enough though a little more insight into Kissy would have been good as much of what we hear could almost qualify as Informed Attributes; we don’t really see her in action enough for her to be believable as an agent. The performance is alright but the character is woefully underwritten.

‘You Only Live Twice’ -by Janus Assassin

After some of the earlier great Connery films, You Only Live Twice feels like a let down to me. Maybe it was the setting…maybe it was Connery. I think it was the fact that they totally abandoned Fleming’s book and made the story around a spacecraft capturing other spacecrafts and World War III about to start. Space settings looked very cheesy and bad back in the 1960’s.

‘You Only Live Twice’ -by Moonraker

One of Bond’s most outlandish outings. The plot is unbelievable, and is no where near as good as the novel or close to the story lines. There are good characters but not very good characterisation. The setting and the score are lush and beautiful and Ken Adam’s sets are amazing, but the plot is so far out that I don’t care for the last half.

‘You Only Live Twice’ -by Qwerty

Quite a tough film for me to always classify due to the slightly tiring appearance of Connery, a wide variety of villains and girls and, yet some of the most breathtaking changes made in the film.

First off, the locations. Japan is portrayed quite well in the film, with the cinematography really captivating the viewer. When Bond looks up in the sky to see the dark, orange lit colors, for the three seconds it’s on the screen it works. The fight at Kobe docks certainly does not need explaining for the sheer difference in the way the camera scales further back in the sky.

The villains and girls are an odd bunch, and because this is much like the deal in DAF, it makes them quite hard for me clasify. Blofeld, Osato, Hans, Helga Brandt, Kissy and Aki all do fine in the film, but there could have been several improvements that would make them move from fine villains to excellent ones. Helga Brandt suffered (I think) from not enough screen appearance and chance to develop her character, and I think the idea to catapult off Fiona Volpe’s role was the main reason for her character’s creation.

The music by John Barry is widely regarded as the most, yes that word again, atmospheric of the series, with lush orchestrations underlining the tense action cues. Maurice Binder is at it again with, (I feel) not his most extraordinary work, but excellent none-the-less. Nancy Sinatra’s song is also supreme.

‘You Only Live Twice’ -by Turn

This is the film where the series really got steered off course into the big-budget fantasy land. Some may argue Thunderball was, but this is really the film where Bond became SuperBond and the gadgets took over. Thunderball at least had an interesting story wrapped around the underwater stuff and stunts whereas You Only Live Twice takes the opposite approach and shoehorns other the story around the numerous locations and vehicles.

Part of the problem is letting Roald Dahl, virtually a screenwriting novice, do the script. Richard Maibaum would have lent some continuity at least. I’d like to see the original script, but it’s more like he came up with the big chase ideas first then built the story and it really hurts the whole thing. A great novel was largely wasted here.

We are supposed to suspend disbelief when watching a Bond film, but here it really goes over the edge — Bond stumbles onto a safe and just happens to have a mini safecracker in his pocket; a helicopter appears from nowhere to magnetize a car and dumps it into the bay; a point is made that there is a cave with poisonous gas at one point, then later on people escape through it with no problem; Bond has handy suction cups just perfect for navigating hollow volcanoes he may stumble across. And the fact somebody could hollow out a volcano without anybody noticing. It’s all just too much.

Other problems — none of the girls are particularly memorable. We are already getting Odd Job, Red Grant and Fiona Volpe clones. The dubbing is atrocious. The Little Nelly sequence is overblown with little suspense as Bond pushes nearly every button in the order Q explained them.

Then there’s the sleepwalking Connery. A lot of people claim his worst performance is in Diamonds Are Forever, but I disagree. His performance there is laid back and he seems to have some fun. In You Only Live Twice, his boredom and the problems surrounding the film and his personal life are evident. He gets little chance to display the old charm as he’s mostly busy racing from vehicle to vehicle and location to location. That would be enough to make Ironman Triathlon competitors winded.

I really want to like You Only Live Twice and there are several things to like — John Barry’s score; the scenery; the cinematography; Ken Adam’s sets. You Only Live Twice has an atmosphere unlike most of the other films in the series, making Japan almost alien in nature, so we are often as bewildered as Bond is by the customs and culture. The film really is a feast for the senses. There’s also a nice sense of urgency that the world’s fate is at stake here, something its clones, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker and Tomorrow Never Dies, lack.

Combine those positives with a better story and less emphasis on hardware and spectacle and You Only Live Twice would have been something really special rather than a case of larger-than-life aspects taking over.

Sources: Eon, Sony Considering Young Bonds

The 007 youth movement rolls on. If a series of Young Bond novels wasn’t enough for fans, CBn has learned that Eon Productions and Sony are considering some VERY young actors for the role of James Bond in Casino Royale. Some of the actors being considered are unknowns in their mid and early 20s. One hot contender is only 22.

Clive Owen, who many feel would make an ideal 007, recently expressed puzzlement that he hasn’t been approached for the role. In an interview with UK Cosmopolitan, Owen states, “I’ve always wanted to be James Bond. I’ll pour it all out right now. Why won’t they offer it to me?”

A source had the answer for CBn, “He’s too old.”

The search for a young Bond is justified by the comments of director Martin Campbell that Casino Royale will portray Bond’s first mission as a double-oh agent (leading some to dub the 21st Bond film “Bond Begins”). But is it conceivable that a man could reach the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy and achieve 00 status in the British Secrete Service all by age 22?

This isn’t the first time Eon has considered a radically younger 007. Timothy Dalton was first approached to play Bond when he was only 26 (some sources put his age 24), but told Cubby Broccoli that he felt he was just too young for the part. Most Bond fans agree, saying Bond should be in his 30s at the very least.

However, many don’t realize that we’ve already had a twenty-something 007 in George Lazenby who was only 29 when he slipped on the tux for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. And some shrug their shoulders at age, saying it’s all about the individual actor and how he plays the part. As long as the actor has the gravitas of a Sean Connery, they could accept him as 007.

Bond fans need not panic (or celebrate) just yet. The search for the new 007 is far from over and anything can happen. Despite almost daily tabloid reports of a new “frontrunner,” it’s possible the short list is still very long and final screen-testing may not get underway until Martin Campbell is finished with The Legend of Zorro in mid-summer.

But as it stands at the moment, the idea of a very young 007 is definitely “on the table.”

Discuss this latest news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

Related Articles:

• ‘Royale’ Revelations from Purvis & Wade
• Campbell Chats ‘Casino’
• LICENCE REVOKED