Our friend Peter Crush is back with a look at the final Jonathan Cape hardcover printings of the Ian Fleming James Bond novels. The first two parts are below.
James Bond - the 'final' Jonathan Cape editions: (Part 1)
James Bond Last impressions Part 2: Firsts & Lasts side-by-side
This inspired me to have a look at my own "final" hardcovers. I picked these up in 1987 during my first trip to England. Not a complete set, but all still in beautiful condition.
Interesting article in The Guardian about James Bond entering the public domain in 2035, a mere 10 years from now. I guess I never realized how close this is. Heck, Eon has only managed to make a single (terrible) Bond film in the last 10 years. Maybe this is why Babs decided to cash out. Of course, I'm sure Amazon is aware of this, right? Right??? Anyway, click the headline or the image below to have a read.
From 1 January 2035, those bold enough to look to exploit “book Bond” would still be able to use the character and famous traits such as his “The name’s Bond, James Bond” motto, driving an Aston Martin, and ordering his martinis “shaken, not stirred”. But care would need to be taken not to have Bond drink Bollinger – 007’s go-to champagne in the films – as Fleming’s paper spy was a Taittinger man.
UPDATE: I'm not sure this article has their facts right. The 70 years after the author's death rule applies to works created after 1978. Casino Royale (1953) would fall under the rule of 95 years after publication, if the work was renewed during its 28th year (1981). I would be surprised if it wasn't renewed. That pushes it to 2048.
Ian Fleming Publications has revealed its upcoming releases for 2025 on its website. Among new eBooks and audiobooks will be Talk of the Devil, a collection of Ian Fleming's writing that has only been available as part of an expensive set. The book will be published on April 22 in the UK by Ian Fleming Publications and in the U.S. by HarperCollins.
For the full announcements, click below:
Another breakthrough post by our friend Peter Crush at James Bond First Editions. This time Peter tells us about advanced printings of the Fleming Bond books. This is all new to me! Click the headline or the image below to learn all about them.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to another year of The Book Bond. Here's a rundown of the Bond novels that will be celebrating notable anniversaries this year. Break out the bookmarks and champagne!
🚀
70th Anniversary
Ian Fleming's third Bond novel finds 007 tangling with the megalomanic Elon Musk. I mean Hugo Drax! Moonraker was published by Jonathan Cape on April 5, 1955 in the UK, and in the U.S. by Macmillian on September 20, 1955.
🌴
60th Anniversary
Ian Fleming's final James Bond novel was published posthumously by Jonathan Cape in the UK on April 1, 1965. It was released in the U.S. in August 1965, by New American Library.
🎯
40th Anniversary
John Gardner took 1985 off, but that didn't mean there wasn't a 007 novel that year...if you knew Jim Hatfield. CLICK HERE for the strange tale of this first unofficial James Bond novel, which turns 40 this year.
👁
30th Anniversary
John Gardner's novelization of the great comeback James Bond film GoldenEye released in November 1995. A rare hardcover edition was published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton.
👯♂️
25th Anniversary
Raymond Benson's fourth original James Bond novel, Doubleshot, turns 25. The book was published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton on May 4, 2000. The U.S. edition from Putnam was published on June 5, 2000.
💉
20th Anniversary
The terrific Young Bond series by Charlie Higson was launched 20 years ago with the first book, SilverFin. Published in the UK by Puffin on March 3, 2005. The U.S. edition from Hyperion was published on April 27, 2005.
🏁
10th Anniversary
Anthony Horowitz's excellent debut continuation novel Trigger Mortis turns ten this year. Released simultaneously in the UK and U.S. on September 8, 2015.
Ian Fleming Publications 2024 holiday card points to the release of next year's Quantum of Menace by Vaseem Khan, the first in a new mystery series of books devoted to Q.
An all-new nail-biting Bond mission from superstar Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Giorgio Spalletta is now available in this suitably handsome hardcover edition!
Accused of murder on British soil, James Bond has been branded a traitor by his own government. As M sends the entire double-O division after 007, Bond must go underground with only one ally: Gwendolyn Gann, 003 - another traitor, presumed dead, but secretly on a clandestine mission with global implications! Collects issues #1-6.
Purchase For King and Country at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Our friend Mark Edlitz, author of James Bond After Fleming, is back with a new book collecting interviews with the various James Bond continuation authors. Cool cover and a worthy subject. We love our continuation novels and novelists!
Purchase Keeping 007 Alive: Conversations with James Bond Continuation Authors from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Another knockout post by Peter Crush at James Bond First Editions. I had never heard of the Boots Booklovers editions. Now I know all about them! Click the headline link or the image below to learn all about them yourselves.
