97 replies to this topic

[Trempo]

Just finished "Secret Servant". It was an enjoyable read. And it was nice to see how the story was build around the facts we know from the Fleming books. How the other characters acted.
It played between January '63 and April '64 (The period of "The Man with the Golden Gun").
We learned some more of the whereabouts of Moneypennys father and how the Kim Philby case was.
And the end left one wait for the next book. Which I hope will be out soon.

[Brisco]

Today I checked with a third Borders and a third Barnes & Noble store about Tatler magazine and am pleased to say that I finally have some hope. The Borders store had the October issue of Tatler on the shelf while the Barnes & Noble store said they would be getting the November issue on Friday! So, hopefully, I'll snag myself a copy then.

They're out here! For those looking in LA, I was able to find one today at a newsstand on San Vicente in Brentwood, just past the Whole Foods.

I posted a spoiler-free review with info and some pictures of the artwork on my blog.

For those who quibbled about the dates in the first volume of The Moneypenny Diaries (specifically Moneypenny not working for the service yet at the events of CR), this story makes no mention of them. It relates to CR, and Moneypenny certainly knows what happened there, so she COULD have been with MI6 at the time. Of course, she could also have just read the file. But it shouldn't offend the continuity-conscious, anyway! Also, there is no mention of "Bond" not being Bond's real name.

It's a good read!

Brisco

[Double-Oh Agent]

Well, I'm happy to say that today I got a double dose of 007 good fortune. Not only did I pick up my copy of For Your Eyes Only, James in the November issue of Tatler, but I also received my novel of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant. I'm feeling almost as good as James Bond himself after a winning night at Casino Royale.

By the way, I got the Tatler magazine at a Barnes & Noble store. I suppose I shouldn't have been so nervous earlier about the possibility of missing out on it, but being an American, I can't say that I was aware of any of our bookstores carrying the British publication. And when the first few stores I went to didn't have any Tatlers, I'm afraid my trepidation became more acute (aided no doubt by the fact that we don't even have The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel novel over here). Fortunately, my fears were proved baseless as the desired issue has arrived and was eagerly scooped up by me. Now I can't wait to read it. Good hunting to the rest of you.

[David Schofield]

Today I checked with a third Borders and a third Barnes & Noble store about Tatler magazine and am pleased to say that I finally have some hope. The Borders store had the October issue of Tatler on the shelf while the Barnes & Noble store said they would be getting the November issue on Friday! So, hopefully, I'll snag myself a copy then.

They're out here! For those looking in LA, I was able to find one today at a newsstand on San Vicente in Brentwood, just past the Whole Foods.

I posted a spoiler-free review with info and some pictures of the artwork on my blog.

For those who quibbled about the dates in the first volume of The Moneypenny Diaries (specifically Moneypenny not working for the service yet at the events of CR), this story makes no mention of them. It relates to CR, and Moneypenny certainly knows what happened there, so she COULD have been with MI6 at the time. Of course, she could also have just read the file. But it shouldn't offend the continuity-conscious, anyway! Also, there is no mention of "Bond" not being Bond's real name.

It's a good read!

Brisco

Well, it does re-affirm the fact that neither M, Tanner nor Monneypenny were in their positions at the time of CR: all three were appointed in November 1956, which not only contradicts Fleming but also the statements of "For Your Eyes Only, James" by Kate Westbook herself. (As for trying to justify the CR cock-up in Vol 1, even Sam Weinberg on these pages admits it was a research error on her part: Moneypenny is clearly involved in the background to CR, appears in the novel - actually BEFORE joining MI6 in Sam's continuity - and while not explicitly M's secretary in CR, she definately is by LALD).

Other Fleming contractions for those who are interested that sort of thing:

Bond returns from Russia in August 1963 (not Nov as per Fleming), flies after Scaramanga in Nov (not Dec/Jan) and has the MWTGG case resolved by Christmas 1963, not February 1964. Oh, and Universal Exports is not yet Transworld Consortium.

And for those interested in the global canon, we are told Mr and Mrs Hammond are not, by implication, killed by Colonel Sun's henchmen but forced into an old folks home because M became such a pain to live with after retirement.

These are not deal breakers, but like in Vol 1 they seem to me totally unnecssaary. However, it seems true that, as with "For Your Eyes Only, James", the conceit that Bond is not really his name seems to have been dropped.

It is a great shame these Fleming contradictions jar because the plot and narrative of Vol 2 is brilliant and even better than Vol 1.

[OHMSS Spion]

Is there any planned US release date as of yet? Do we even have the first book here?

[Simon]

Is there any planned further interview with Sam?

I've yet to get my copy but will assuredly do so. Would be happy to hear she's back for a Q&A, both in interview and to resurrect her forum name for a while.

[Qwerty]

Is there any planned US release date as of yet? Do we even have the first book here?

Neither books have been released in the US yet.

[zencat]

I've written a review of this very fine second Moneypenny novel HERE.

Bring on Volume 3!

[Loomis]

Your review has me pumped for this one, zencat. Nice work.

Still haven't read the first, though, but it's on my bookshelf and in my reading queue, along with BLOODFEVER. Get around to Westbrook/Weinberg I most certainly shall.

[zencat]

This series is very clever. It sneaks up on you. Things really snap into focus at the end of Vol 2. Almost makes you want to go back and re-read both books. Vol 3 could contain a major bombshell.

Interesting that James is off on a mission to Casablanca at the end of SS, his first mission after TMWTGG. Guess there were a few missions between TMWTGG and Colonel Sun. Centenary novel territory, I wonder?

[Loomis]

This series is very clever. It sneaks up on you. Things really snap into focus at the end of Vol 2. Almost makes you want to go back and re-read both books. Vol 3 could contain a major bombshell.

Really? The mind boggles. We're surely not into "Luke, I am your father" territory, are we?

[Qwerty]

-----UPDATE-----

'The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant' Paperback Coming In July

Pre-order from amazon.co.uk

[Gri007]

I've just began reading 'The Moneypenny Diaries'. I'm halfway through it and am enjoying it. It is an interesting approach on the literal world of 007, but I am surprised at how it passed IFP.

It has been written in the same format as The authorised biograpgy of James Bond.

I am against the idea of this has it as abused Flemings creation. They have just made up a load of about Bond being real and Fleming was hired just to make James Bond seem 'fictional'. Help protect him from SMERSH. Surley this is degrading Fleming, if not disrespecting him. The truth is that James Bond was a character created by Fleming. Not Fleming writing storys just for the sake of protecting the character from SMERSH. It is ludicrouse and obscene.

If anything I'm very surprised that Flemings widow had approved John Pearsons take on the litiral world with the Authorised Biography.

IMO The Moneypenny diaries would have been perfect with out Kate Westbrooks point of view. On a posative note it would make a good film-minus Kate Westbrook POV.

[Qwerty]

Finished Secret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries a few days ago and absolutely loved it. Hard for me to put down throughout.

My full review will be on CBn in the upcoming weeks.

[David Schofield]

I've just began reading 'The Moneypenny Diaries'. I'm halfway through it and am enjoying it. It is an interesting approach on the literal world of 007, but I am surprised at how it passed IFP.

It has been written in the same format as The authorised biograpgy of James Bond.

I am against the idea of this has it as abused Flemings creation. They have just made up a load of about Bond being real and Fleming was hired just to make James Bond seem 'fictional'. Help protect him from SMERSH. Surley this is degrading Fleming, if not disrespecting him. The truth is that James Bond was a character created by Fleming. Not Fleming writing storys just for the sake of protecting the character from SMERSH. It is ludicrouse and obscene.

If anything I'm very surprised that Flemings widow had approved John Pearsons take on the litiral world with the Authorised Biography.

IMO The Moneypenny diaries would have been perfect with out Kate Westbrooks point of view. On a posative note it would make a good film-minus Kate Westbrook POV.

I certainly think this WAS Samantha Weinberg's idea in the first place and quite heavily emphasised that Bond was a "real" person - but not called Bond - and that many of the Fleming facts were, effectively, untruths.

This certainly grated on me, as well as many of the historical inaccuracies, and date alterations.

However, for "Secret Servant", at least the conceit that Bond is not called James Bond has been dropped and I do not recall any mention of Fleming in Vol 2: though undeniably it is explicit in Vol I he was a biographer and not a creator, and not an accurate one at that.

[Gri007]

I some times wonder weather Fleming would have been happy with the idea if he was still alive.

Basically 2 authors (John Pearson and Samanther Weinberg) have made up a story about Fleming not creating Bond at all. It would be like some one saying that Goerge Lucas didn't create star wars.

I mean if Fleming never wrote Bond then we all wouldn't be here on cbn, and that the character of james bond or Miss Moneypenny wouldn't have existed for the two authors as mentioned above to write an indepth look on to the character. This to me doesn't seem to be fair. IMHO they don't really appreciate Fleming for creating the character of Bond.

They make Fleming sound like fraud.

The Moneypenny diaries are very good and i do like that a minor character in the Bond canon is being given a lot more background and gives us the image of what Moneypenny does out of working hours which is fantastic:tup: But without Westbrooks POV. I would defiantly rate as good novel.

[zencat]

I held off on reporting news of the paperback on my website until we had cover art...today we have cover art.

[EDIT: This is NOT the final cover art.]

[Righty007]

They need to release these books in the United States!

[Qwerty]

I held off on reporting news of the paperback on my website until we had cover art...today we have cover art.

Hmm! That's definitely different. Nice to see them mix things up a bit with the cover art.

[zencat]

I held off on reporting news of the paperback on my website until we had cover art...today we have cover art.

Hmm! That's definitely different. Nice to see them mix things up a bit with the cover art.

Whoops! Hold the phone. Our friend "The diarist" has checked in HERE to tell us that is NOT the final cover art. That is rejected art. The final art will be very different.

[Qwerty]

Ah! I liked this one too. Still, looking forward to the actual cover.

[Tiin007]

I held off on reporting news of the paperback on my website until we had cover art...today we have cover art.

Hmm! That's definitely different. Nice to see them mix things up a bit with the cover art.

Whoops! Hold the phone. Our friend "The diarist" has checked in HERE to tell us that is NOT the final cover art. That is rejected art. The final art will be very different.

Good. That was one of the worst covers for a Bond-related book I've ever seen.

[[dark]]

New cover art for Secret Servant has appeared on Amazon.co.uk, but I don't know if it's the final one. Hope it is, because it's quite pulpy!

[zencat]

New cover art for Secret Servant has appeared on Amazon.co.uk, but I don't know if it's the final one. Hope it is, because it's quite pulpy!

Hey, nice!

Thanks for the heads up, [dark].



[EDIT: I've started a Moneypenny Diaries cover gallery on my site and confirmed this IS the final cover.]

[Loomis]

Very nice. Moneypenny's turned into Modesty Blaise. But this baby ain't out till July, eh?

[Tiin007]

New cover art for Secret Servant has appeared on Amazon.co.uk, but I don't know if it's the final one. Hope it is, because it's quite pulpy!

I hate that cover. I wish they stuck to the style of the first book and the hardcover of Secret Servant. Those looked so much better.

[Qwerty]

Very cool cover! Not what I'd imagine as Miss Moneypenny, but I like it nonetheless.

[Qwerty]

-----UPDATE-----

'The Moneypenny Diaries' Vol. 3 Due In April 2008

Plus, 'Secret Servant' UK paperback cover art revealed

[zencat]

Forget the official July 12 release date, the paperback Secret Servant is now shipping.

[Qwerty]

-----UPDATE-----

'The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant' UK Paperback Now Shipping

Order online at amazon.co.uk

Can't beat that discount.