74 replies to this topic

[Coop]

Ugh! And I thought Thunderball and Dr No were bad!

Casino Royale: Dreadful! One of Fleming's best, involving gambling, kidnap, bombings and torture and what do they come up with? A hand with a small gun.

Diamonds Are Forever: Reminds me of the blue diva in Luc Besson's Fifth Element.

From Russia With Love: Probably the most boring Bond promo shot ever taken.

Goldfinger: A model under a sun bed.

Live And Let Die: Nice photo that ties in with a section of the book. Not perfect though.

Moonraker: Argh! That's got to be the worst book cover I've ever seen. A real headache inducer.

OHMSS: Not bad. Not great, but not bad.

You Only Live Twice: Looks like someone's set light to a Connery standee.

In short, a massive disappointment. What were Penguin thinking of? And why has Sir Sean been given the star treatment on three covers when the others have got nothing? I guess they are aiming these books at the armchair Bond viewer who watches the films on ITV every Bank Holiday and thinks Connery was the best. I think they are onto a loser with this strategy.

[zencat]

DOH!

Well, I really hate to say this, but here's to MI6 for scoring the rest of these covers. Of course, they've blocked me from viewing their site so I can't get a look at these dogs myself (but I'm gathering from the reaction they are not much better than Dr. No and TB).

Can someone find a non-MI6 link so the people who are blocked can view them too?

[Simon Bermuda]

Not the best set of Bond covers, to put it mildly - where's the stylistic unity? OHMSS is probably the most dignified and subtle.

My own favourite Bond covers are the early, painted 1950s British Pan editions, followed by the simple, elegant 1960s Pan covers.

[Hawkeye]

well... oh my.





I actually kinda like the moonraker one, ohmss is better, and Diamonds ain't too bad, but overall, yeah, they suck. I bet when Fahey sees these he'll p**s himself.

So Zencat, how come you're blocked from MI6, that's a bit mean isn't it?

Hawkeye

[zencat]

So Zencat, how come you're blocked from MI6, that's a bit mean isn't it?

Go over there and put a link to CBn in their forums and see what happens to you (or how long it lasts). At last count there are about a half dozen CBner's blocked from viewing MI6 (how they get our IPs I don't know, they won't tell us, and it should worry everyone). This is to keep us from "stealing" their "stories" and "news" you see. We've been blocked for about 7 months now...have you noticed how it's slowed us down?

But, back on topic...what are they thinking with these covers? Bleck!

[Loomis]

how they get our IPs I don't know, they won't tell us, and it should worry everyone

Don't sites automatically log the IP of everyone who makes a post? (Registered members, that is.)

If MI6 is somehow obtaining the IPs of all CBners who access it - well, that would be worrying, but I reckon that would be taking us into the realm of impossible feats.

[zencat]

how they get our IPs I don't know, they won't tell us, and it should worry everyone

Don't sites automatically log the IP of everyone who makes a post?

But they've blocked people who have never posted or even registered in the forums.

[Athena007]

ya, being blocked... it's very lame. But everything ZenCat is saying is quite true. They've blocked some people, including me, who've never even posted over at their site.

edit: just noticed Zen already said that right above

[zencat]

And have you noticed how it's slowed Athena down?

This girl is a Bond news machine!

[Loomis]

But they've blocked people who have never posted or even registered in the forums.

Really? I've never registered with them, but I'm not blocked (yet). Then again, I'm not a CBn staffer. I don't see how it's possible to block someone who's never registered, but then again I'm not very technologically savvy - maybe someone like Mr Asterix would be able to explain this.

Very baffled by this, though.

[Qwerty]

Yes, blocked some members are....and look at how the news stories here at CBn have soared and are always the first place I see them!

Always a good show here!

[zencat]

Shhh... Bondola is watching.

[Jim]

Whatever.

Anyway, am I the only person who quite likes the Moonraker one? Seems like that.

The YOLT cover is resolutely uninspired, though. And Thunderball... ye gods and little godlets, that's horrid.

[mccartney007]

Whatever.

Anyway, am I the only person who quite likes the Moonraker one? Seems like that.

The YOLT cover is resolutely uninspired, though. And Thunderball... ye gods and little godlets, that's horrid.

I like the Moonraker too. It's strange, but that's what I like about it.

[zencat]

Are people aware that Penguin Modern Classics already published 6 Fleming titles in 2 omnibus editions in 2002? The cover of the first one was actually pretty cool. I've updated my main page story to include these HERE.

I also added the cover of Casino Royale. IFP just posted it today. I'll add each cover as they come out.

[Loomis]

Not to be too pedantic, zen, but the 2002 omnibus editions were actually part of the Penguin Classics series, rather than Penguin Modern Classics.

[zencat]

Not to be too pedantic, zen, but the 2002 omnibus editions were actually part of the Penguin Classics series, rather than Penguin Modern Classics.

Ah... Thank you, Loomis. I'll make that correction.

[SnakeEyes]

I'm a bit late to the party but, WTF are those covers. Some kind of sick joke?

The stoned Connery one is amusing, but give me a [censored]in break: they suck.

[Roebuck]

Having seen these new British covers, I'm thinking of shelling out for the US editions. Can anyone tell me, are they complete and unabridged?

[Loomis]

Well, I know that "Live and Let Die" has been slightly tampered with, to get rid of all references to the "n" word. Mind you, it's probably the same version that's been knocking around in the States for many years, rather than a new edition.

[Roebuck]

Ta for that. I'll just stick to the standard UK editions then.

[zencat]

Well, I know that "Live and Let Die" has been slightly tampered with, to get rid of all references to the "n" word. Mind you, it's probably the same version that's been knocking around in the States for many years, rather than a new edition.

Actually, the US version is now the UK version - "n" word and all.

[Loomis]

Really? Sorry, Roebuck.

[Roebuck]

Well that puts a different complexion on things.
So I'm safe ordering the US editions after all?
My current Fleming's are a patchwork of different cover styles.

Edited by Roebuck, 29 March 2004 - 10:40 PM.

[zencat]

Well that puts a different complexion on things.
So I'm safe ordering the US editions after all?
My current Fleming's are a patchwork of different cover styles.

You're safe. Get the US editions with their very cool retro covers. The final two are set for release this week.

[Hawkeye]

Indeed, take Zen's advice, the new US covers are even better up close. Got all mine thru my local branch of waterstones. They'll even mail them out to you for a little extra cost.

Hawkeye


PS.
Anyone noticed how the cover for Casino Royale shown on IFP is different to the one originally posted up on MI6 - tho they've altered their page since.
Recap = was bonds hand holding a gun and is now a rather film noiresque casino shot.

Edited by Hawkeye, 29 March 2004 - 10:52 PM.

[Qwerty]

Can't wait...finally the US gets the final two retro ones in only a few days.

[zencat]

PS.
Anyone noticed how the cover for Casino Royale shown on IFP is different to the one originally posted up on MI6 - tho they've altered their page since.
Recap = was bonds hand holding a gun and is now a rather film noiresque casino shot.

Really? Then maybe we need to hold off on judging these covers until we know for sure what they are going to look like. Seeing as IFP posted Casino today, I'd say this one is confirmed...and I do like it -- somewhat.

But I still prefere the US "retro" covers.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

Quite like the OHMSS one.

TB cover is quite..."entertaining," albeit unintentionally so.

[Coop]

Not to be too pedantic, zen, but the 2002 omnibus editions were actually part of the Penguin Classics series, rather than Penguin Modern Classics.

No, they were part of the Modern Classics range.

A grey spine denotes a Modern Classic and a black spine denotes a Classic. To be a Penguin Classic, the book generally has to be published before the year 1900. Modern Classics are anything after, although writers whose work straddles that date (Kipling, Hardy) tend to be classed as one or the other. Kipling is seen as primarily a 20th century writer so is a Modern Classic; Hardy is of the 19th Century so is a Classic. Fleming's work is very much of the post-WW2 20th Century school of writing, so he gets a grey spine for all his books.