117 replies to this topic

[Darth Prefect]

Quick update. I learned the truth about the "Audio Study Guides" listed above. They are, in fact, not study guides at all. They are complete "retellings" of the original Fleming novels. Published by Macmillan English, they come with or without a CD audiobook of the retelling. The web site is www.macmillanenglish.com and I was able to confirm they are retellings and not abridgements because they have some audio samples available. This also confirms that the authors are *not* the readers, although I don't recognize who the readers are and the site doesn't say.

Anyway, here are the retellings from MacMillan:

Casino Royale, Live and Let Die and Diamonds are Forever by Ian Fleming, retold by John Escott

Dr. No by Ian Fleming, retold by F. H. Cornish

Goldfinger by Ian Fleming, retold by Anne Collins

These appear to be recent releases, so there may be more forthcoming.

[Darth Prefect]

Not sure when these came out, but two of the "Moneypenny Diaries", Guardian Angel and Secret Servant are available unabridged on CD from AudioGO (formerly BBC Audiobooks). Both are read by Eleanor Bron.

Also, there is an unabridged audiobook for Jeffrey Deaver's Carte Blanche planned for the UK and another CD release from the US that doesn't indicate whether it is abridged or not. Most likely it will mirror the Devil May Care releases; unabridged CD in the UK, abridged commercial CD in the US as well as unabridged download/library release for the US.

Edited by Darth Prefect, 21 January 2011 - 02:51 PM.

[Iain Brain]

Hi All, great thread how is everyone gettin on finding some of these i have a fair collection myself but i am missing a few but would be more than happy to share and swap with folks i have so far all 15 Flemimgs read by Simon Vance apart from spy who loves me whch is the rula lenska version

colonl sun - simon vance
for special services - johnathon oliver
nobody lives forever - david rintoul
no deals mr bond - reader unknown
scorpius - t chambers
death is forever - simon jones
never send flowers - reader unknown
cold - alexander john
license to kill - david rintoul (one chapter missin)
goldeneye - reader unknown
tomorrow never dies - reader unknown
high time to kill - simon vance
never dream of dying - simon vance
man with the red tatoo - simon vance
die another day - unknown
world is not enough - unknown
devil may care - trystan
silverfin - nathanel parker

hope to hear from you guys soon

[Darth Prefect]

Just found the BBC James Bond "Archive", which has some video (which I can't watch in the US) and audio features from the past:

http://www.bbc.co.uk...ive/james_bond/

Included are several radio features not previously added to the Master List:

"For Your Ears Only" hosted by Lois Maxwell – 1995

Profile; "Guy Hamilton" presented by Terence Kelly – 1974
Woman's Hour; "Lois Maxwell" presented by Jenni Murray – 1995
Books & Company; "James Bond" presented by John Walsh – 1997
Back Row; "David Arnold" presented by Joe Cornish – 2003
PM; "Ian Fleming's 100th Birthday" reporter, Gordon Corera – 2008
Cult Heroes; "James Bond" – 2009

Edited by Darth Prefect, 07 March 2011 - 05:29 PM.

[Iain Brain]

Just a quick update i have managed to track down christopher saul reading icebreaker and simon vance reading ian fleming the man behing james bond as well as the bbc radio plays of casino royale and you only live twice, has anyone managed to get hold of zero minus ten or the man from barbarosa, hope to hear from some of you soon

[Darth Prefect]

Just a quick update i have managed to track down christopher saul reading icebreaker and simon vance reading ian fleming the man behing james bond as well as the bbc radio plays of casino royale and you only live twice, has anyone managed to get hold of zero minus ten or the man from barbarosa, hope to hear from some of you soon

I'm sorry, are you talking about bootlegging copies of James Bond audiobooks? I don't really support that kind of behavior, except for items that are not (and have never been) commercially available. Where non-commercial items are available or airing on radio, I try to post them here.

I do not trade copyrighted material that I acquired through legal means and I certainly hope CBn doesn't condone that sort of thing.

[Darth Prefect]

Some more updates on the German "Hörspiele" (Audio Plays). It seems there have been a large number of them over the years. They all use the original (German) soundtracks from the films and new narration.

Here's what I've been able to confirm:

Jagt Dr. No ("Chasing Dr. No")
Liebes-Grüsse aus Moskau ("With Love from Moscow" - From Russia with Love)
Goldfinger
Diamantenfieber ("Diamonds are Forever")
Man lebt nur zweimal ("You Only Live Twice")
Im Auftrag ihrer Majestät ("On Behalf of Her Majesty" – On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
Leben und sterben lassen ("Live and Let Die")
Der Spion, der mich liebte ("The Spy Who Loved Me")
Der Mann mit dem goldenen Colt ("The Man with the Golden Gun")
Moonraker
In tödlicher Mission ("In Deadly Mission" – For Your Eyes Only)
Octopussy

• published by Europa

Licence to Kill

• unknown publisher

Die Welt ist nicht genug ("The World is Not Enough") – Part 1
Die Welt ist nicht genug ("The World is Not Enough") – Part 2

• published by Universal

Stirb an einem anderen Tag ("Die Another Day")

• unknown publisher

[Iain Brain]

Hi all,

Just to let everyone know it has just been annouced that Toby Stephens will be reading the unabridged version of carte blanche

[sonofbronson]

That's good news. He did well in the BBC radio dramas.

By the way, anyone have a line on Thunderball read by Rufus Sewell? It's the last one I need to purchase. CD or mp3 is better but I'll buy used cassettes as well.

Hi all,

Just to let everyone know it has just been annouced that Toby Stephens will be reading the unabridged version of carte blanche

[Perry]

Don't know if this has been added but I don't think I've seen it:

Richard E. Grant read an abridged version of Thunderball.

[jrcjohnny99]

Not sure where this one fits in!

http://www.pendantaudio.com/bond.php

[Darth Prefect]

Just to let everyone know it has just been annouced that Toby Stephens will be reading the unabridged version of carte blanche

Thanks. I had gotten the word, but hadn't had a chance to post here.

By the way, anyone have a line on Thunderball read by Rufus Sewell? It's the last one I need to purchase. CD or mp3 is better but I'll buy used cassettes as well.

I think I've seen it pop up on ebay.co.uk on occasion and there's a listing on amazon.co.uk, but it doesn't show up very often. That one's going to be tough...

Richard E. Grant read an abridged version of Thunderball.

Hadn't seen that one when I did a hard search. Do you have a link to an image of it?

Not sure where this one fits in!

http://www.pendantaudio.com/bond.php

Short answer: it doesn't. Fan productions (whether original or non-commercial readings) don't really fall under the scope of this list as it now exists. (Not that I've posted it in its full form or anything. It sits on my computer for the moment...)

[Perry]

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...l-/220763410844

[Iain Brain]

Hi All

Got my Audiobook of Carte Blanche Delvered on thursday from smiths and toby stephens does a great job and a pretty good book to highly enjoyable if anyone is interested i have it listed on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=STRK:MESELX:IT

[osric]

I have the Rufus Sewell box set (which includes the Samantha Bond TSWLM) and it's excellent, but it doesnt include 'Thunderball' or 'OHMSS';
were those made availabel separately?

any links on where I can get them?

if anyone doesnt have the Sewell recordings, they are excellent!

Agreed; they are excellent - don't know about TB but OHMSS is available to download from Audible and iTunes. Despite what's claimed above though I'm sure they're abridged as they come in at around the 3hr mark each whereas the unabridged Robert Whitfield ones are considerably longer.

I know the ohmss audio book is abridged as I downloaded it from iTunes and it is definitely missing the fork left to hell chapter which is in the book

[Darth Prefect]

I have the Rufus Sewell box set (which includes the Samantha Bond TSWLM) and it's excellent, but it doesnt include 'Thunderball' or 'OHMSS';
were those made availabel separately?

any links on where I can get them?

if anyone doesnt have the Sewell recordings, they are excellent!

Agreed; they are excellent - don't know about TB but OHMSS is available to download from Audible and iTunes. Despite what's claimed above though I'm sure they're abridged as they come in at around the 3hr mark each whereas the unabridged Robert Whitfield ones are considerably longer.

I know the ohmss audio book is abridged as I downloaded it from iTunes and it is definitely missing the fork left to hell chapter which is in the book

Yes, we have established that the Sewell versions are all abridged.

Edited by Darth Prefect, 31 May 2011 - 12:26 PM.

[Darth Prefect]

Okay, so Raymond Benson's "Die Another Day" read by Michael Page has been re-released by Brilliance Audio as a "Great Low Price" title. The listings all claimed that it was unabridged and the artwork on various web sites supports that. I got my copy, but the actual packaging says "abridged". But the disc count (5) and the running time (6 hours) seems to fit an unabridged reading as originally stated.

Now, I was only aware of an unabridged reading by Michael Page previously, so I'm wondering if this is just a typo on the packaging. The only abridged version I knew of was the Blackstone Audio read by Simon Vance and it comes in at 3 discs.

Anyone else have the original CD release of Page reading "Die Another Day" to confirm the disc count/running time?

[Darth Prefect]

Added "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" read by Richard E. Grant.

Also, the correct title of the German Dr. No is James Bond jagt Dr. No ("James Bond Hunts Dr. No").

[Darth Prefect]

Just noticed that John Gardner's first two Bond novels, Licence Renewed and For Special Services are getting unabridged releases read by Jeremy Northam, who previously read the UK edition of Devil May Care.

Edited by Darth Prefect, 08 June 2011 - 01:01 PM.

[Mr Slate]

This list has an error on it - there is an unabridged version of the James Bond Authroised Biography written by John Pearson read by David Rintoul. I have a copy that I might be able to share with people PM me if you're interested wiht your email address and I'll see what I can do.

Also in the radio play section there is now Goldfinger with Toby Stephens as Bond and Ian Mckellen as Goldfiner. Again PM me for more info.

Edited by Mr Slate, 06 July 2011 - 06:51 AM.

[Darth Prefect]

This list has an error on it - there is an unabridged version of the James Bond Authroised Biography written by John Pearson read by David Rintoul. I have a copy that I might be able to share with people PM me if you're interested wiht your email address and I'll see what I can do.

Also in the radio play section there is now Goldfinger with Toby Stephens as Bond and Ian Mckellen as Goldfiner. Again PM me for more info.

The original list as seen in the first post was the starting point. Both of those items have been mentioned in subsequent posts. At some point I will post a full updated list.

[Darth Prefect]

Quick update to mention "The Living Daylights" read by Dan Stevens last October for BBC Radio 4 Extra.

[larrythefatcat]

Sorry, I only quickly skimmed the thread, but I noticed that the Master List doesn't contain the BBC Goldfinger radio drama which also stars Toby Stephens as Bond (along with Ian McKellen as Goldfinger and Rosamund Pike as Pussy Galore)... I hope I'm not merely parroting someone else here!

Edited by larrythefatcat, 13 January 2012 - 02:00 PM.

[Darth Prefect]

"Carte Blanche" by Jeffery Deaver has been released in Germany with a translation by Thomas Haufschild and read by Dietmar Wunder.

[stromberg]

"Carte Blanche" by Jeffery Deaver has been released in Germany with a translation by Thomas Haufschild and read by Dietmar Wunder.

...who's Daniel Craig's "German voice" in the movies. He was also at the German presentation of CB, both he and Deaver read parts of the book. Was particularly impressed by Wunder's live reading (but didn't get to listen to the audiobook, even tough I have it, signed by Deaver and Wunder). Come to think of it, I should have recorded the whole event...

I know about the "Europa" audioplays (first set of 6 was released 1988, 2nd set was 1989). The were only available on cassette, maybe LP. I have only two cassettes of those (I don't really collect them, but I of course grab it when I happen to stumble upon one of them at a flea market), but I think I've got the whole set as mp3 somewhere. Not certain about the German LTK and DAD audioplays you mention, never heard of those. Have you got any further details on them?

[Darth Prefect]

Not certain about the German LTK and DAD audioplays you mention, never heard of those. Have you got any further details on them?

Unfortunately, no. I got that information almost a year ago and can't re-confirm at this time. I'll probably pull them from the list until they show up again. I've checked my files and can't find an image of either right now. It may have been someone confusing a music soundtrack (which is also sometimes called a "Hörspiel") with an actual "radio play".

Die Welt ist nicht genug is definite, though. I've got both parts heading my way via ebay as we speak.

[Darth Prefect]

A BBC radio program not included for some reason in the "James Bond Archive": Woman's Hour from 2008 - "Ian Fleming Centinary".

http://www.bbc.co.uk...08_09_thu.shtml

Aired to tie in with the theatrical release of "Quantum of Solace".

[Darth Prefect]

Some additions and corrections, mostly from the "talking books for the blind" area:

At some point since I last checked, Final Fling has been released by AudioGo through Audible, read by Eleanor Bron, like the other "Moneypenny" books.

New readings of Carte Blanche: Jim Zeiger for NLS/BPH and Mark Elstob for RNIB. Both debuted this year.

Learned of a reading of No Deals, Mr. Bond by Roger Norman for "Vancouver: Library Services Branch" from 1988.

Reading of Moonraker by Dennis Mayes is actually from the Texas Regional Library, not NLS/BPH

Reading of Live and Let's Dance by Randy Welch is actually from Colorado Talking Books Library, not NLS/BPH.

Added the James Bond Junior novels by Caryn Jenner to the Master List, though no recordings are known to exist.

Edited by Darth Prefect, 06 June 2012 - 05:52 PM.

[Darth Prefect]

Digging around the BBC web site, I found a number of additional radio items:

First, is a fascinating 2004 documentary, "James Bond in Kent". The late Jonathan Witchell, travelling in a vintage Bentley, follows Bond's route to the Moonraker site. Many interesting people are met along the way, including local historians and Fleming's great nephew, the cricket play, Matthew Fleming. Sites visited include a bridge club and the house Fleming owned in Kent. Many excerpts from the books (mostly Moonraker, of course) are read by Jenny Seagrove. It can be heard here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...l_feature.shtml

The audio is not the best (not even the non-location parts) and there is one moment of audio drop-out, but it's still well worth a listen.

Next, another episode of "Woman's Hour" from 2002. "Bond Girls", hosted by Claire Jenkins, is still available here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...13_thu_04.shtml

I had some difficulty getting the old RealAduio link to work, but ultimately I was able to do it by saving the .RAM file and playing it directly in RealPlayer. It has lousy audio, as one would expect from RealAudio circa 2002.

And then there's some entries from "BBC Learning English", which is a site devoted to teaching people English and the stories all emphasize the vocabulary, with presenters often repeating words and giving definitions.

First, a few from around the release of 'Casino Royale'. There's a review of the film, "Entertainment: Casino Royale", found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...ex/page28.shtml

Then, there's "Entertainment: Bond, James Bond", which looks at the history of the Bond films:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...ex/page30.shtml

And, there's "London Life: The Real James Bonds", which looks at two members of MI6:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...ra/page26.shtml

Next, there's "News about Britain: Bond is Back", which talks about 'Devil May Care' and the film 'Quantum of Solace'. It's available to listen and download here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...ames_bond.shtml

Finally, there's "6 Minute English: James Bond" from BBC Learning English, available here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...bond_page.shtml

This one features a surprising number of innaccuracies for a program of a mere six minutes. The two most obvious ones are "Carte Blanche. This is the first story about James Bond that's not written by Ian Fleming." and its partner, "...this is the first book to be set in the 21st Century..."
But they also somehow manage to take Jefferey Deaver's comment "There were some movies we were not allowed to see" to mean "he wasn't allowed to watch any films - or movies." Bizarre.

[larrythefatcat]

Finally, there's "6 Minute English: James Bond" from BBC Learning English, available here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...bond_page.shtml

This one features a surprising number of innaccuracies for a program of a mere six minutes. The two most obvious ones are "Carte Blanche. This is the first story about James Bond that's not written by Ian Fleming." and its partner, "...this is the first book to be set in the 21st Century..."
But they also somehow manage to take Jefferey Deaver's comment "There were some movies we were not allowed to see" to mean "he wasn't allowed to watch any films - or movies." Bizarre.

Well, this seems to be a program aimed at assisting non-native English speakers in their learning of the English language, but I really don't know how something so thoroughly false slipped by the (presumably British) cast and crew.

Edited by larrythefatcat, 10 June 2012 - 04:00 AM.