63 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

The artists says on his blog 'Ahhh, the 60s' but he seems to have missed something there: many of the books were written in the 50s.

Good point.

I like these covers, even though they're eye-wateringly kitschy. More Modesty Blaise than Bond. Still, they'll do. Damned if I'm going to buy the books yet again, though.

[Mr. Du Pont]

I gotta say, as I scrolled down through the 14 covers my eyes started to glaze over. These covers just aren't that interesting. Fahey's covers are far more vibrant and detailed. Same idea of having a Bond Girl on every cover, but Fahey worked them into a more intricate and interesting whole.

Now these new ones are far, far better than that awful French cover we saw a few months back, but still rather bland.

Edited by Mr. Du Pont, 13 January 2008 - 05:16 PM.

[AWM]

Don't particuarly like these covers. I find them to be a bit dull. I much prefer the current covers of the UK paperbacks.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

Chalk up another for the "underwhelmed" lot. I'm sure they appeal to some people, and I've got nothing against those who like these and want to buy them, but I just find them terribly stale, especially after the Fahey covers. As it's been pointed out, the apparent Casino Royale '67 inspiration does seem a little off.

Dunno. To me, they just don't look right for the Centenary. No offense to the artist, but they just aren't very...exciting.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I miss the days when Bond actually appeared on the cover of his own books.

There aren't many of those. God, I hope you're not referring to the generic Gardner silhouettes (also on a few Benson). Those were terrible.

I believe he's referring to Colonel Sun; one of the editions featured a big ol' picture of Bond on the cover. I do believe Doctor Shatterhand has it on his website banner.

[Double-Oh Agent]

Can't say I'm too thrilled with these new covers. Appearance-wise they're just okay, but, as has been said, they're too psychadelic '60s and way not classy and sophisticated enough for Ian Fleming's centenary. For a non-centenary release they would probably be fine but not for such a special release. And these covers clearly fall way short of Fahey's ultra-classic and cool covers for the U.S. Penguin paperbacks. That was the type of artwork that should have been on the centenary covers. Anyways, I have to say I'm a little disappointed.

[zencat]

I miss the days when Bond actually appeared on the cover of his own books.

There aren't many of those. God, I hope you're not referring to the generic Gardner silhouettes (also on a few Benson). Those were terrible.

I believe he's referring to Colonel Sun; one of the editions featured a big ol' picture of Bond on the cover. I do believe Doctor Shatterhand has it on his website banner.

He's talking about the first Pan UK paperbacks. They all featured illustrations of Bond in action. Great covers.

[MicroGlobeOne]

I miss the days when Bond actually appeared on the cover of his own books.

There aren't many of those. God, I hope you're not referring to the generic Gardner silhouettes (also on a few Benson). Those were terrible.

I may be in the minority, but I have to disagree regarding the John Gardner hardcovers that each featured a silhouette of James Bond. The Gardner novels were the first Bond novels I ever read, and I was always drawn in by the jacket design. They're very, very simple in their design but there's also something clean and classy about them. You get Bond's name in bold letters up front, you get the title, and you get a quick glimpse of the man in action. For one reason or another--and perhaps this leads to a criticism of narrative rather than design--I always felt they rather suited Gardner's novels.

As for these new Ian Fleming covers by Michael Gillette, I'll agree with the majority. Many of them are rather lovely. The Spy Who Loved Me, for instance, is probably my favorite because of the way its various elements cleverly interlock in the design. Taking in the collection in its entirety, however, gives us a bit too much of the same thing. I think they're quite nice, but they certainly don't surpass the Rich Fahey covers. Mind you, that's not going to stop me from buying the set.

[Trempo]

On the ianflemingcentre.com is today a slightly different version of the Casino Royale cover.

http://www.ianflemin...first-day-cover

But I still didn't get used to it.

Edited by Trempo, 14 January 2008 - 05:24 PM.

[Jim]

Oh, let's have a poll.

Added.

[MkB]

I voted "No". I'm not really overwhelmed... In certain respect, they remind me more of Austin Powers than Bond.

[Qwerty]

"Some but not all" got my vote.

[[dark]]

I like them. They're simple, effective, kitschy, retro, and they look great as a set.

Might finally be time for me to grab the Flemings in a hardcover format.

[zencat]

On the ianflemingcentre.com is today a slightly different version of the Casino Royale cover.

Yep. Looks like the covers posted on Gillette's site are not final.

[[dark]]

Anyone else notice that the title of Octopussy and The Living Daylights is back to just "Octopussy"?

[Qwerty]

Anyone else notice that the title of Octopussy and The Living Daylights is back to just "Octopussy"?

Yeah. Wonder why there is the change this time.

[neversaynever]

On the ianflemingcentre.com is today a slightly different version of the Casino Royale cover.

Yep. Looks like the covers posted on Gillette's site are not final.

Shame - the version on Gillette's site is far superior to the version on ianflemingcentre.com, in my view.

[stamper]

Those covers sucks, mainly because they all the same, and they are all a copy of the original 1967 Casino Royale movie poster. I thought EON was trying to bring back bond to a more serious image, apparently Ian Fleming estate is not on that page. They should have reproduced the original covers, end of story.

[Blofeld's Cat]

On the ianflemingcentre.com is today a slightly different version of the Casino Royale cover.

Yep. Looks like the covers posted on Gillette's site are not final.

May be why he was allowed to post them.

[TGO]

The covers...uh...they're cute. Not better then the pulpy Fahey covers, though.

[pat006]

great artist ! very poor marketing and design
I'll never understand why IFP won't allow bond to appear on the covers!!

[zencat]

On the ianflemingcentre.com is today a slightly different version of the Casino Royale cover.

Yep. Looks like the covers posted on Gillette's site are not final.

The Penguin website now have the covers online. Interestingly, the CR cover matches the art on Gillette's site and not the first day cover. So which is the final?

Dig the addition of the Penguin 007 logo.

[Righty007]

On the ianflemingcentre.com is today a slightly different version of the Casino Royale cover.

Yep. Looks like the covers posted on Gillette's site are not final.

The Penguin website now have the covers online. Interestingly, the CR cover matches the art on Gillette's site and not the first day cover. So which is the final?

The one on Gillette's site is the final version. The art differed for the First Day Cover because it was the First Day Cover (and I still don't really understand what that was exactly).

[Harmsway]

These covers are fair. I appreciate the 1960s pulp vibe, but on the whole, I think they're rather boring.

The Fahey editions are vastly superior.

[Qwerty]

Looks like they've kept the same blurbs as those featured on the Penguin editions.

[Righty007]

Looks like they've kept the same blurbs as those featured on the Penguin editions.

The plot synopsis didn't change.

[[dark]]

They do look awesome as a set.

[Byron]

They do look awesome as a set.

I like them too. However they are overly expensive and i am not prepared to fork out so much for them.

Either wait for a discount sale or cheaper paperback editions.

Of them all i think my fave cover is the "You Only Live Twice" followed by "Casino Royale".

[Qwerty]

They do look awesome as a set.

I like them too. However they are overly expensive and i am not prepared to fork out so much for them.

I was disappointed to see the list price actually go up from 14.99 to 17.99 on amazon.co.uk about a month ago.

[Qwerty]

-----UPDATE-----

Ian Fleming James Bond Hardbacks Now Discounted At Amazon

Featuring new cover artwork by Michael Gillette; due out on 29 May