311 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Okay, dang-it, enough is enough. I say it's time to reprint the Gardner Bond novels, and what better time to do than next year for the 30th Anniversary of License Renewed. Call them "The 30th Anniversary Editions" -- a reprinting of the entire series with new uniform cover art and, yes, Role of Honour will be a "restored edition" containing the original excised chapter with Bond and the villain dueling via computer game. With nothing happening on the continunation novel front, this would be a great time to bring back Gardner, and a beautiful thing. Now I don't want to hear any guff from you only-Fleming jags-offs. Because in 2011...

John Gardner LIVES!

[Trident]

God, is it 30 years already??? To think that a child born that year could already be a parent, grandparent even, is a little disturbing.

While I could not promise to buy them myself, I understand the collector's reasons for wanting a new edition with uniform cover art. The Gardners on my own shelf are an unlikely assortment of different editions, covers, sizes. A package wrapping up the entire run in a single style would be welcome.

Apart from that I seem to remember ROH containing a computer game battle between Bond and Holy, in a version of a real-time strategy game (Command&Conquer-like?). Am I wrong?

[zencat]

Apart from that I seem to remember ROH containing a computer game battle between Bond and Holy, in a version of a real-time strategy game (Command&Conquer-like?). Am I wrong?

That was role-playing game -- The Battle of Bunker Hill -- and it replaced the original computer game chapter. Gardner wrote an elaborate computer game between Bond and the villain which he felt was his modern equivalent to the Goldfinger golf match and was key to the book. But they asked him to cut and replace it because of the computer game in NSNA, which turned out to be nothing like it.

These would not only be for collectors, but for normal people and fans that just want to read them. Some of them have been out-of-print for over 20 years. It's nuts.

[Trident]

Ah sorry, I always forget that most Gardners are incredibly hard to come by these days. Didn't know about that particular change because of NSNA; seems a shame.

[zencat]

It would also be nice to decide on a single title for COLD -- COLD or Cold Fall. I say go with whatever Gardner intended (probably COLD) and also investigate JG's intent on whether the two sections ("books") should include the years in which they're set. They are dated in the US edition, but not the UK.

In fact, there are MANY bizarre editorial changes between the US and UK editions. It's almost as bad as Fleming. As they did with Fleming, let's get a definitive, international set that reflects the author's true work. Just another reason I feel like we need a new printing.

[DAN LIGHTER]

30 Years! Where do we sign the petition for them to be re-printed? Love the photo of JC at the PC. That would have been a modern contraption back in the day with the ZX Spectrum to follow. (I loved those rubber keys)

Somthing that can be easlily forgotten is so many of you 80s Kids came to John Gardners Bond before Fleming. Fellow CBn Memebers Craig Arthur, Zencat and Jim all read Gardners books first. (appoligies if that's wrong) Countless others must have had the same love affair with Gardners Bond in the 80's.

Come on IFP, now's the time. It's way over due!

[zencat]

I think I might have read OHMSS first. But I could be wrong about that. License Renewed could very well have been my very first Bond novel. I know I dug it!

BTW, it's very possible IFP could see this thread. Maybe I will even forward the link. Not to be a pest, but I really think this is good idea. It wouldn't hurt if they saw there was a lot of fan support.

[Jim]

Great idea; need these back in the public eye. Woefully underappreciated.

[Trident]

Oh, would seem I'm the senior here. Or is that 'best ager' now? Anyway, you get it, the old geezer. I've read all Flemings first, so Gardner has had a harder time with me (although I was quite freaked-out about the first three). Oh, and Gardner came before Amis for me, or rather 'Markham', as his book wasn't very widely known and his real identity much less even.

Great idea; need these back in the public eye. Woefully underappreciated.

You really started with Gardner??? Well, I never!

[DAN LIGHTER]

I think we need a few more on board here first to get the fire started.

Then if anyone is on first name terms with Fergus Fleming they could pass this on......anyone?

[Bill]

I'm all for it, especially if there previously unpublished material!

I've said it before, but John Gardner's contribution to the Bond canon should not be underestimated. He did more to make Bond viable in both the tense days as the Cold War ended and then even in the post Cold War era. That, along with the fact that his adventures were (aside from the occasional comic book from Eclipse and Dark Horse) the only new Bond material for six whole years, make him a true hero for Bond fans everywhere.

Edited by Bill, 16 April 2010 - 08:45 PM.

[zencat]

That's an excellent point, Bill. He did sustain us during that dark time.

[Single-O-Seven]

I'm all for this. Like all the new Fleming sets that get released, I'd buy this whole set (in one go if it's made available that way). My complete Gardner collection right now is a jumble of various editions, some new off the shelf, some used (the harder to find ones). In any case, I've read them all, and loved a great number of them. Yes - bring them back!!!

[Qwerty]

Love, love, love this idea.

He kept the literary Bond going for 15 years... a little celebration is in order.

[Righty007]

Fantastic idea for a thread.

While the U.S. first editions have a uniform design and look lovely on my shelf, I would certainly buy a new set of Gardner's Bond novels!

Seeing new Gardner editions with cover designs featuring a vintage '80s look would send shivers down my spine.

Anybody notice my For Special Services inspired signature?

[DAN LIGHTER]

Now shall we sign the petition in our screen names or real names? ohh eer!

I have not read all the Gardners, is the Saab a feature through out his Novels?

[zerominus]

A set of stylish hardbacks with dustjackets would be much more appealing than paperbacks, does anyone else concur? Particularly as some of the hardbacks are near impossible to find.

[DAN LIGHTER]

A set of stylish hardbacks with dustjackets would be much more appealing than paperbacks, does anyone else concur? Particularly as some of the hardbacks are near impossible to find.

If I had to choose I would like Hardbacks, but thats just a collectors thing. I think Paperbacks would reach more readers, which is most important, so would have to say Paperbacks. I never knew John Gardner wrote Bond Novels until I joined the forums here. There must be plenty others like that. Readers are missing out. Look at the way Devil May Care sold! Yes it had a massive marketing campaign behind it, but still lets look at how many people wanted to read a Bond book.

[MarkA]

Right I am going to be the party pooper, and this is from someone who has a complete collection of UK Gardner first editions. I was really excited by the idea of the books when they first launched in 1981, but after only about three books I realised they were pretty terrible. That’s the reason why sales dropped off alarmingly. Surely Zencat do you really need another set of books cluttering up your shelves, of which you most probably have countless editions of just to satisfy your collectors mania. All they will do is collect dust. Mine do.

[DAN LIGHTER]

Right I am going to be the party pooper, and this is from someone who has a complete collection of UK Gardner first editions. I was really excited by the idea of the books when they first launched in 1981, but after only about three books I realized they were pretty terrible. That’s the reason why sales dropped off alarmingly. Surely Zencat do you really need another set of books cluttering up your shelves, of which you most probably have countless editions of just to satisfy your collectors mania. All they will do is collect dust. Mine do.

For me, per-say, as I don't have the complete collection I would like to see them re-printed and given a chance to read them all and draw my own conclusions. I dont think this is as much about the collectors. For me it's more about reaching the people that have not read them or didn't even know that there were more Bond books written. The one's that I do own have been sourced from book fairs. So I would bite an arm off to be able to get brand new paperbacks. Get the Penguin logo dusted off.

[MarkA]

For me, per-say, as I don't have the complete collection I would like to see them re-printed and given a chance to read them all and draw my own conclusions. I dont think this is as much about the collectors. For me it's more about reaching the people that have not read them or didn't even know that there were more Bond books written. The one's that I do own have been sourced from book fairs. So I would bite an arm off to be able to get brand new paperbacks. Get the Penguin logo dusted off.

The trouble is would they be a viable commercial proposition. They really didn't sell that great towards the end.

[Righty007]

Look what I've found: http://twitter.com/GardnerRenewed

[DAN LIGHTER]

For me, per-say, as I don't have the complete collection I would like to see them re-printed and given a chance to read them all and draw my own conclusions. I dont think this is as much about the collectors. For me it's more about reaching the people that have not read them or didn't even know that there were more Bond books written. The one's that I do own have been sourced from book fairs. So I would bite an arm off to be able to get brand new paperbacks. Get the Penguin logo dusted off.

The trouble is would they be a viable commercial proposition. They really didn't sell that great towards the end.

As there is no market research we can only second guess. This thread will be the nearest we can come to it.

[David Schofield]

Gardner IS underappreciated. Particularly when one condsiders what came after. I include not just Benson and Faulks in that, but Weinberg and Higson also.

I have the Sunday Times launch article from 1981. Gardner was my first "I was there" lit. Bond (excluding Wood's Moonraker). I was 16 in 1981.

But a "tribute" re-issue? No thanks.

Tributes are for Fleming only. Sorry if that doesn't fit with the theme of this thread.

Non-Flemings are just thrillers using the name James Bond for the lead character.

[MarkA]

Gardner IS underappreciated. Particularly when one condsiders what came after. I include not just Benson and Faulks in that, but Weinberg and Higson also.

The thing is though I think Benson really was rubbish and a terrible writer unlike Gardner who could write no doubt, I really like Higson and especially Weinberg whose Moneypenny Diaries are grossly under appreciated.

[zencat]

Look what I've found: http://twitter.com/GardnerRenewed

[David Schofield]

Gardner IS underappreciated. Particularly when one condsiders what came after. I include not just Benson and Faulks in that, but Weinberg and Higson also.

The thing is though I think Benson really was rubbish and a terrible writer unlike Gardner who could write no doubt, I really like Higson and especially Weinberg whose Moneypenny Diaries are grossly under appreciated.

Agreed, Benson was e. Garder could indeed write, though he wasn't really fully intune with Fleming-Bond. But who was in the 80s until Mr Dalton came along?

Always been pissed off by Weinberg, though she DOES write well: she dosn't know her Fleming and Moneypenny averting WW3 by stopping the Cuban Missile Crisis? Come on...!!! Higson writes about Super Boy.

[zencat]

Hey guys, let try and stay on topic about Gardner and this 30th anniversary idea. We have many, many other threads about the strength and weaknesses of the other continuation authors and books, and it's always an interesting conversation worth having, but I really want this thread to stay focused on JG and his books. Thanks.

[David Schofield]

Hey guys, let try and stay on topic about Gardner and this 30th anniversary idea. We have many, many other threads about the strength and weaknesses of the other continuation authors and books, and it's always an interesting conversation worth having, but I really want this thread to stay focused on JG and his books. Thanks.

Okay, Zen.

I repeat, Gardner was by far the best of the post 1981 continuation novelists.

Does he deserve a uniform tribute reprint (regardless of the economics)? No. The content 'aint gonna change.

[zencat]

Noted.

Hey, maybe we should attach a poll to this thread? But let's make it a simple yes or no (get too cute with too many choices and you never really get a clear result). "Would you like to see John Gardner 30th Anniversary reprints in 2011?" Can one of the mods do this for me? Thanks.