34 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Now on the CBn main page...

Ian Fleming's From Russia with Love gets the Penguin Decades treatment

1957 James Bond novel to be reissued on 1 April 2010

Ian Fleming's From Russia with Love now shipping from Amazon.co.uk

Special Penguin Decades edition of fifth James Bond novel

[sharpshooter]

I've got no idea what a Walther P99 is doing on the cover of a 1957 story.

[zencat]

Agree. That P99 is very out of place. A Beretta would be correct to the story, a PPK would be acceptable, but not the P99. Not too late to change.

[Righty007]

Looks like the artist went to Google and typed in "james bond gun," "red heart," and "007" and then Photoshopped the images together.

[Mr. Du Pont]

Unless I'm repressing the memory of something more horrendous, that is the worst ing cover to a Bond book I've ever seen.

I'm not even holding it to the Richie Fahey standard. It is just wretchedly amateurish.

[Dell Deaton]

Things I learned en route to learning other things--

"Donegal Grant" was the assassin's "real name" in the original Ian Fleming manuscript. And "for the past ten years," it was "Kurt Granitski."

Looks like Mr. Fleming changed that the night he typed it, on page 7 of From Russia with Love.

[Tybre]

Is it me or does it look like the cover was slapped up in Paint?

[Righty007]

The leaked U.S. cover art for this re-release is way better than this garbage.

[Brisco]

Agree. That P99 is very out of place. A Beretta would be correct to the story, a PPK would be acceptable, but not the P99. Not too late to change.

Absolutely! That P99 doesn't make any sense. And you're right; it's NOT too late to change, so I hope someone is listening. I agree that a Beretta or even a PPK would both be acceptable, but my own inclination would be to pay tribute to Richard Chopping's original cover and go with a snub-nose .38.

Brisco

[K1Bond007]

Well this might be the ugliest Fleming reprint I've seen in awhile.

[DamnCoffee]

This cover is atrocious.

[Mozzer007]

This is by artist Peter Blake of "Sgt Pepper fame", hard to believe I know.

[stromberg]

This is by artist Peter Blake of "Sgt Pepper fame", hard to believe I know.

The Peter Blake? Hard to belive indeed.

[Mark_Hazard]

This is by artist Peter Blake of "Sgt Pepper fame", hard to believe I know.

The Peter Blake? Hard to belive indeed.

Which means that we're stuck with this abomination of a cover, not much chance of him changing it.

And if he wasn't paid enough or getting any royalties prepare to hear him moaning about it for the next 40 odd years.

[Major Tallon]

I agree, GS, with your observations regarding From Russia, With Love. I've commented elsewhere that the manuscipt at the Lilly Library suggests that Fleming knew he had written something special, because he wordsmithed it to death, going back over every page, weighing every sentence, making numerous pen-and-ink alterations. The result reflects the effort. A wonderful book.

[Qwerty]

Ian Fleming's From Russia with Love now shipping from Amazon.co.uk

Special Penguin Decades edition of fifth James Bond novel

[Matt_13]

Looks like some serious time went into that cover...

[Righty007]

I'm a little confused. Why don't we talk about this edition anymore? It comes out June 29, 2010 in the United States.

[Jeff007]

I'm a little confused. Why don't we talk about this edition anymore? It comes out June 29, 2010 in the United States.

Now that is a great cover. Thanks for brining it back up.

[zencat]

Yeah, I might need to get this one. That cover is just too sweet. I'll pass on the other one.

[Qwerty]

I'm a little confused. Why don't we talk about this edition anymore? It comes out June 29, 2010 in the United States.

Absolutely won't be missing out on that one.

[DAN LIGHTER]

I'm a little confused. Why don't we talk about this edition anymore? It comes out June 29, 2010 in the United States.

Good point Righty007, I forgot about that cover. Think I might have to get it.

[zencat]

Out today, btw.

Haven't decided whether I need to get it.

[Mr. Blofeld]

That cover is hideous and inappropriate for a Bond novel...

[zencat]

Well, you need to understand that this a part of the "Penguin Ink" series that reprints select classics with cover art by well-known tattoo artists. Pretty unique, and it's the reason I feel like I should get this. Wonder how large these printings are?

[Righty007]

That cover is hideous and inappropriate for a Bond novel...

Which one are you referring to? The one or the Chris Garver one?

[DamnCoffee]

That cover is hideous and inappropriate for a Bond novel...

Yeah, God forbid we get a Bond novel with a woman on the cover holding a gun. That's just not on!

[Johnboy007]

I'm a little confused. Why don't we talk about this edition anymore? It comes out June 29, 2010 in the United States.

I just saw this for the first time at a Barnes and Noble on Friday.

Thought the cover was cool enough to justify buying it.

[The Shark]

That cover is hideous and inappropriate for a Bond novel...

Yeah, God forbid we get a Bond novel with a woman on the cover holding a gun. That's just not on!

Well it's not exactly true to Fleming, or his particular style. Just look at the First Editions. The whole inane 'girls with guns' thing is something that truly started in the 60s and more prominently in the 70s, and is more associated with the Bond films (particularly the Brosnan pictures) than any of the books.

I never really thought Fleming's Bond girls were emancipated enough to go around wielding firearms. Neither was his Bond as sex crazed as filmic Bond.

I say it's a revisionist look at Fleming, through the tinted glasses of cinematic Bond, and should be frowned upon, not encouraged.

I'll pass.

[Righty007]

I'm a little confused. Why don't we talk about this edition anymore? It comes out June 29, 2010 in the United States.

I just saw this for the first time at a Barnes and Noble on Friday.

Thought the cover was cool enough to justify buying it.

Can you take a picture of it and post it? I'd like to see what an actual copy looks like.