34 replies to this topic

[quantumofsolace]

It's a shame these books have been ignored by most Bond fans. They are almost as good as the Higson books(and that is huge praise), and you should read them. You should be proud of yourself Kate/Samantha! When I first read about them on this site they appeared to be some fan fiction type book and I hated the concept. Shortly after, it was revealed it was an official book. I'm looking forward to Final Fling as the last two have been great and I think any fan of the Fleming Bond novels would like them

[MkB]

I couldn't agree more! IMO, they are very faithful to the Fleming Bond universe (which is not a common characteristic of many direct continuation novels).
I rate these books above the Gardner / Benson ones I've read (no opinion still about Higson ones, I still have to read thel).

[Single-O-Seven]

I don't know if I've completely accepted them as canon, but that's just me. I do enjoy them, and BF was a definite highlight in the literary Bond universe. Seeing Higson write from the perspective of the adult Bond at the end of DOD gave me a thrill, and I wouldn't mind seeing him tackle adult Bond in greater detail (the number of ways he can do this has been shared on these threads over and over). Though I picked up HG when it came out, I've yet indugle, but I understand it's an entertaining read. Here's to By Royal Command!

[sharpshooter]

I have been wary of these books, but I have heard nothing but praise for them. I may go and read the first one.

[Righty007]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

[MkB]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

That's, alas, very understandable
You can order them online in the UK, but I guess it's quite expensive, when the shipping charges are added...

[Single-O-Seven]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

That's, alas, very understandable
You can order them online in the UK, but I guess it's quite expensive, when the shipping charges are added...

Or order them from Canada on Amazon.ca or chapters.indigo.ca. The price will be about equivalent to the US price, and the shipping costs cheaper than what you'd pay from the UK. All the stores here still have all four on shelf, so there should be no trouble getting any one of them.

[MkB]

Or order them from Canada on Amazon.ca or chapters.indigo.ca. The price will be about equivalent to the US price, and the shipping costs cheaper than what you'd pay from the UK. All the stores here still have all four on shelf, so there should be no trouble getting any one of them.

That's a good idea!
Anyway, it's a shame the Moneypenny Diaries haven't been offered a better international distribution. They deserved a better treatement! And besides, the readership of these light and smart books could have been wider than the hardcore Bond fans: people with a taste for spy novels / thrillers set in the 60s should enjoy them too, IMO.
I wonder if they have been translated to any foreign language? I've never heard about that, and if IFP didn't care to distribute the books in the US I doubt it... Such a shame!

[Single-O-Seven]

I'm not sure if TMD have been translated into French here in Canada. What's done in English is often done in French, so it's hard to say.

[MkB]

I'm not sure if TMD have been translated into French here in Canada. What's done in English is often done in French, so it's hard to say.

I've just checked "Kate Westbrook" on Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr, and it looks like there only the original TMD titles are available.

[MarcAngeDraco]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

I have been totally baffled by the bizarre US release schedules for these and the Young Bond books...

[Qwerty]

The first two are quite good and well worth searching for. Hopefully the upcoming US release of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel will gain the series some new readers/fans.

[The diarist]

Hello from Moneypenny land. I wanted to thank you for taking an interest in the Moneypenny books, and to urge those of you on the western side of the pond to dig in, please. I also wanted to assure you that it has not been a matter of ignoring the US fans - nor those around the world; rather, the different publication schedules could be said to have resulted from a combination of bad luck and tactical errors. Anyway, the first of the trilogy comes out in May in the US and, all being well (and given your support), will be followed by volumes 2 & 3. IMO, they get better as they go along - but perhaps I'm biased?

So thanks again, and please continue to spread the word. Now that the film-makers have seemingly dropped Moneypenny - and Lois, sadly, has left HQ - it's up to us to keep her flame burning.

Kate/Samantha/JM

[Trident]

Based on all the fine voices on the Moneypenny Diaries here I decided to order the first two from Amazon today, something I wanted to do for quite a while now. Most recommendations on CBn haven't let me down in the past years and now I'm eager to finally find out about Monneypenny's adventures myself.

[stromberg]

Based on all the fine voices on the Moneypenny Diaries here I decided to order the first two from Amazon today, something I wanted to do for quite a while now. Most recommendations on CBn haven't let me down in the past years and now I'm eager to finally find out about Monneypenny's adventures myself.

Planning on doing this in the near future. Unfortunately, Germany is not exactly the market for adult Bond books*, so I guess there's not too much hope for a German release of the MDs (*whereas YoungBond doesn't look to bad, with SilverFin currently being 7th edition). Would prefer to have one to cross-read with the English one, instead of using a dictionary when in need (doesn't happen too often ).

[MkB]

I wrote it somewhere else on the forum, but IMO adapting TMD as a period piece could prove to be a very interesting experience. Though I doubt it could make it to the silver screen because of the Bond film franchise, it could be a very enjoyable BBC TV production, for instance. Don't you think so?

[Cody]

In my opinion, The Moneypenny Diaries are (along with Pearson's Authorized Biography) the best of the post-Fleming books.

[[dark]]

Hello from Moneypenny land. I wanted to thank you for taking an interest in the Moneypenny books, and to urge those of you on the western side of the pond to dig in, please. I also wanted to assure you that it has not been a matter of ignoring the US fans - nor those around the world; rather, the different publication schedules could be said to have resulted from a combination of bad luck and tactical errors. Anyway, the first of the trilogy comes out in May in the US and, all being well (and given your support), will be followed by volumes 2 & 3. IMO, they get better as they go along - but perhaps I'm biased?

So thanks again, and please continue to spread the word. Now that the film-makers have seemingly dropped Moneypenny - and Lois, sadly, has left HQ - it's up to us to keep her flame burning.

Kate/Samantha/JM

Samantha, don't know if you're still hovering about the CBn Forums, but I'm currently gripped by The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling. I'm about 100 pages in and I can't say I've been this involved in a book in a long time. As much as I want to fly through it, I'm trying to pace myself, knowing this is the final volume of these top-secret, must-read diaries.

Thanks for a wonderful contribution to the 007 saga!

[ImTheMoneypenny]

I have the first one, it's the only one I can get my hands on for now. I love it! Extremely well done!

[Jeff007]

I have the first two books but I'm yet to tackle them. All the comments on this thread are making want to read them just like all the good comments for Young Bond. I'll have to order Final Fling soonest and get started.

[[dark]]

You won't regret it, Jeff. Samantha Weinberg is right up there with Higson as the best continuation novelists ever, in my view.

[tdalton]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

Absolutely. I have been, however, able to locate a copy of the first novel in the series, and when I get the opportunity to, I plan on picking it up and reading it. All of the praise that these novels have been getting has raised my interest in them considerably. There's also the fact that I very much want to read some good, new Bond literature after the disappointment that was Devil May Care.

[[dark]]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

Absolutely. I have been, however, able to locate a copy of the first novel in the series, and when I get the opportunity to, I plan on picking it up and reading it. All of the praise that these novels have been getting has raised my interest in them considerably. There's also the fact that I very much want to read some good, new Bond literature after the disappointment that was Devil May Care.

The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is right up there with By Royal Command for me as the real centenary novels... but be sure you read the first two volumes beforehand. You won't be disappointed!

[tdalton]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

Absolutely. I have been, however, able to locate a copy of the first novel in the series, and when I get the opportunity to, I plan on picking it up and reading it. All of the praise that these novels have been getting has raised my interest in them considerably. There's also the fact that I very much want to read some good, new Bond literature after the disappointment that was Devil May Care.

The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is right up there with By Royal Command for me as the real centenary novels... but be sure you read the first two volumes beforehand. You won't be disappointed!

Luckily, the first in The Moneypenny Diaries is the only one I've been able to locate. From what I've been hearing about them, I'm really excited to finally get my hands on the book and start reading it. My only concern is going to be, after finishing the first novel, is finding a way to get the other two as these novels are impossible to find for whatever reason.

[[dark]]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

Absolutely. I have been, however, able to locate a copy of the first novel in the series, and when I get the opportunity to, I plan on picking it up and reading it. All of the praise that these novels have been getting has raised my interest in them considerably. There's also the fact that I very much want to read some good, new Bond literature after the disappointment that was Devil May Care.

The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is right up there with By Royal Command for me as the real centenary novels... but be sure you read the first two volumes beforehand. You won't be disappointed!

Luckily, the first in The Moneypenny Diaries is the only one I've been able to locate. From what I've been hearing about them, I'm really excited to finally get my hands on the book and start reading it. My only concern is going to be, after finishing the first novel, is finding a way to get the other two as these novels are impossible to find for whatever reason.

Only the first is out in the US. But wherever you are, Amazon.co.uk has all three (The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant and The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling with those terrific Stina Perrson covers!).

[tdalton]

Many US Bond fans have ignored these books because these books ignored us.

Absolutely. I have been, however, able to locate a copy of the first novel in the series, and when I get the opportunity to, I plan on picking it up and reading it. All of the praise that these novels have been getting has raised my interest in them considerably. There's also the fact that I very much want to read some good, new Bond literature after the disappointment that was Devil May Care.

The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is right up there with By Royal Command for me as the real centenary novels... but be sure you read the first two volumes beforehand. You won't be disappointed!

Luckily, the first in The Moneypenny Diaries is the only one I've been able to locate. From what I've been hearing about them, I'm really excited to finally get my hands on the book and start reading it. My only concern is going to be, after finishing the first novel, is finding a way to get the other two as these novels are impossible to find for whatever reason.

Only the first is out in the US. But wherever you are, Amazon.co.uk has all three (The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant and The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling with those terrific Stina Perrson covers!).

Thanks. Didn't know that we only had the first available to us (and even that's practically impossible to find).

[Bryce (003)]

Hello from Moneypenny land. I wanted to thank you for taking an interest in the Moneypenny books, and to urge those of you on the western side of the pond to dig in, please. I also wanted to assure you that it has not been a matter of ignoring the US fans - nor those around the world; rather, the different publication schedules could be said to have resulted from a combination of bad luck and tactical errors. Anyway, the first of the trilogy comes out in May in the US and, all being well (and given your support), will be followed by volumes 2 & 3. IMO, they get better as they go along - but perhaps I'm biased?

So thanks again, and please continue to spread the word. Now that the film-makers have seemingly dropped Moneypenny - and Lois, sadly, has left HQ - it's up to us to keep her flame burning.

Kate/Samantha/JM

Good to have you still lurking about the boards here at the craziest corner of Her Majesty's Secret Service. Trust me, the eternal flame of Moneypenny burns brightly around these parts.

Lovely to have met you at the DMC launch.

[MkB]

To all the CBn-ers who live outside of the UK and struggle to find the Moneypenny Diaries at a reasonable price: this online bookshop offers a FREE delivery worldwide, so it's cheaper than Amazon and its international shipping charges!

http://www.bookdepos...p;search=search

[[dark]]

I highly, highly recommend The Book Depository. Excellent bargains, a huge range of books and very quick (and free!) worldwide shipping. I've been raving about it to everyone I know!

[DAN LIGHTER]

I am a Moneypenny Diary virgin, until it popped through the letterbox today. Thanks to you chaps here (and Zencat saying how collectable they are now) I dived in and the first few pages are already brilliant. I read on.......... If I could get of this dam computer........