35 replies to this topic

[[dark]]

'Devil May Care' Launch Plans Unveiled

Penguin promises "massive" marketing campaign

[deth]

wow. Can you imagine how much better the the continuation novels might have faired had they gotten even CLOSE to this kind of press?

[zencat]

I'm so happy I planned a trip to London for the Centenary week. Can't wait to swept up in all this. Guess who's going to be at Waterstone's when the doors open at 8AM? Then it's back to the hotel to read.

BTW, a pic of the Piccadilly ticker can be seen here:
http://www.cpluv.com...omJohnson/20305

[Loomis]

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I'm so stoked for DEVIL MAY CARE that QUANTUM OF SOLACE - which I'm looking forward to and have faith in, make no mistake - is by comparison a mere sideshow. I hope DMC is the spectacular bestseller it so richly deserves to be.

[ACE]

"Ah, Mr Bond, we're expecting you..."
V. excited, natch!

[zencat]

I actually more stoked about all the Bond literary releases this year than QOS. Make no mistake, I can't wait for QOS, but with it's contemporary setting and the whole new interpretation of 007 by Craig, it feels weirdly removed from the whole James Bond 007/Ian Fleming ethos. This isn't a criticism because I love the new approach...it's just a little ironic.

[[dark]]

Make no mistake, I can't wait for QOS, but with it's contemporary setting and the whole new interpretation of 007 by Craig, it feels weirdly removed from the whole James Bond 007/Ian Fleming ethos. This isn't a criticism because I love the new approach...it's just a little ironic.

But isn't Craig's take on Bond the closest we've (ever?) had to Fleming? Granted the time period has changed, but Bond himself is more tonally in line with Fleming than he's been in many, many years. Not to mention the fact we have a Bond film called "Quantum of Solace". Seriously! Who'd have thought?

I do agree with you, though, that the current cinematic Bond does feel somehow removed - not just from 007's other "contemporary" incarnations, but also from what we've seen on-screen before. I think the reason MovieBond feels so far removed is because, in fact, he's really back where he should be, having truly been removed for some time.

[ACE]

Make no mistake, I can't wait for QOS, but with it's contemporary setting and the whole new interpretation of 007 by Craig, it feels weirdly removed from the whole James Bond 007/Ian Fleming ethos. This isn't a criticism because I love the new approach...it's just a little ironic.

But isn't Craig's take on Bond the closest we've (ever?) had to Fleming? Granted the time period has changed, but Bond himself is more tonally in line with Fleming than he's been in many, many years. Not to mention the fact we have a Bond film called "Quantum of Solace". Seriously! Who'd have thought?

I do agree with you, though, that the current cinematic Bond does feel somehow removed - not just from 007's other "contemporary" incarnations, but also from what we've seen on-screen before. I think the reason MovieBond feels so far removed is because, in fact, he's really back where he should be, having truly been removed for some time.

Excellent post [dark], totally agree.

Who'd have thunk it? An essentially faitful adaptation of Casino Royale, a new Bond film called Quantum Of Solace (with the meaning of that short story kept intact), a new Bond novel being a media event (however slight in the US, it still gets ink) and Ian Fleming's life and work celebrated in unprecedented style in major cultural institutions.

2008 is turning out to be 200gr8!!!!

[marktmurphy]

"Ah, Mr Bond, we're expecting you..."
V. excited, natch!

Ah lovely work- nice to see that I'm not the only one who's seen the Waterstones promotion!

[deth]

I'm so happy I planned a trip to London for the Centenary week. Can't wait to swept up in all this. Guess who's going to be at Waterstone's when the doors open at 8AM? Then it's back to the hotel to read.

dude! You're in London and you're gonna spend the day in a hotel reading?

[zencat]

I'm so happy I planned a trip to London for the Centenary week. Can't wait to swept up in all this. Guess who's going to be at Waterstone's when the doors open at 8AM? Then it's back to the hotel to read.

dude! You're in London and you're gonna spend the day in a hotel reading?

Not just reading -- reading the new James Bond novel!

I'll be there for 10 days and I have loads of things planned. I love the idea of spending one whole day in my hotel ordering room service and reading (and then having dinner that night with anyone else who has read the book so we can discuss).

Besides, I have to have the book read so I can visit any DMC London locations the next day.

[Loomis]

Make no mistake, I can't wait for QOS, but with it's contemporary setting and the whole new interpretation of 007 by Craig, it feels weirdly removed from the whole James Bond 007/Ian Fleming ethos. This isn't a criticism because I love the new approach...it's just a little ironic.

But isn't Craig's take on Bond the closest we've (ever?) had to Fleming?

I think doublenoughtspy, for one, would disagree, and I'm sure that there are many Bond fans who'd be with him.

Granted the time period has changed, but Bond himself is more tonally in line with Fleming than he's been in many, many years.

Agreed, but the thing is that Craig's Bond isn't Fleming's Bond on a visual level. Now, please don't get me wrong: I love Craig as 007, indeed I'd unhesitatingly call him the best Bond ever (well, after Connery - obviously), but I'd also have to say that the image of Brosnan as the "traditional", dark-haired Bond would be a much more natural fit with what zen calls "the whole James Bond 007/Ian Fleming ethos", even though there's obviously far less Fleming in Brosnan's actual performances and films than there is in Craig's.

Also, I'm getting a "five minutes into the future" (as I think Cubby used to say) vibe from QoS, to the point where, weirdly, I'm getting a slightly sci-fi-ish feel, although perhaps I'm alone on that one. I know that it's hardly anything major to go on, but the QoS stills I've seen so far have mostly made me think of a slightly higher class MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II, the image of Craig in a tight shirt and shades running about with a gun being particularly instrumental in bringing to mind that Cruisemeister action flick.

I know it seems like I'm getting ridiculously hung up on the blond hair issue and on one single, solitary still that probably doesn't represent anything more than a few seconds of footage in what is doubtless a very good, intelligent and varied film, so don't think I've converted to Craignotbondage. All is good in the world of Bond. Nay, all is great in the world of Bond. But, yeah, there is---- how to put it? Something slightly jarring about Craig and QoS next to DMC (needless to say, Higson's Young Bond and Westbrook's MONEYPENNY DIARIES Bond are both pretty much in their own world too!). But in a good way, of course. Variety being, as ever, the spice of Bond.

[zencat]

"Ah, Mr Bond, we're expecting you..."
V. excited, natch!

Oooo...thanks for the pics, ACE.

[[dark]]

Granted the time period has changed, but Bond himself is more tonally in line with Fleming than he's been in many, many years.

Agreed, but the thing is that Craig's Bond isn't Fleming's Bond on a visual level. Now, please don't get me wrong: I love Craig as 007, indeed I'd unhesitatingly call him the best Bond ever (well, after Connery - obviously), but I'd also have to say that the image of Brosnan as the "traditional", dark-haired Bond would be a much more natural fit with what zen calls "the whole James Bond 007/Ian Fleming ethos", even though there's obviously far less Fleming in Brosnan's actual performances and films than there is in Craig's.

Also, I'm getting a "five minutes into the future" (as I think Cubby used to say) vibe from QoS, to the point where, weirdly, I'm getting a slightly sci-fi-ish feel, although perhaps I'm alone on that one. I know that it's hardly anything major to go on, but the QoS stills I've seen so far have mostly made me think of a slightly higher class MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II, the image of Craig in a tight shirt and shades running about with a gun being particularly instrumental in bringing to mind that Cruisemeister action flick.

I know it seems like I'm getting ridiculously hung up on the blond hair issue and on one single, solitary still that probably doesn't represent anything more than a few seconds of footage in what is doubtless a very good, intelligent and varied film, so don't think I've converted to Craignotbondage.

Brosnan definitely had an advantage when it comes to looks, but he wasn't quite rough around the edges, which is how I picture Fleming's Bond; not a total neanderthal, but with a definite hint of brutality. In that respect, I don't think Craig's Bond is that far removed from Fleming's at all. Sure, there's the now-infamous blond hair and a slightly-too-well-built physique (at least in Casino Royale - I can't really comment on Quantum of Solace stills, as I'm taking every chance I get to stay spoiler-free), but other than that he's pretty much on the money. His facial features in particular are very evocative of what Fleming described. If "looks" also encompasses movements, mannerisms and other ticks, I believe Craig's got it down, too.

All is good in the world of Bond. Nay, all is great in the world of Bond. But, yeah, there is---- how to put it? Something slightly jarring about Craig and QoS next to DMC (needless to say, Higson's Young Bond and Westbrook's MONEYPENNY DIARIES Bond are both pretty much in their own world too!). But in a good way, of course. Variety being, as ever, the spice of Bond.

Right you are: this is easily the best time to be a Bond fan in many years. What feels jarring, to me anyway, is that while we've seen substantial changes in both the literary and filmic Bonds, it's the former that's been given the biggest shake-up; now, it's all about Fleming and only Fleming. It's a shake-up that'll hopefully bring the literary Bond out of its decades-long lull.

[spynovelfan]

Extraordinary.

I hope they give the book a life-jacket.

[Loomis]

Brosnan definitely had an advantage when it comes to looks, but he wasn't quite rough around the edges, which is how I picture Fleming's Bond; not a total neanderthal, but with a definite hint of brutality. In that respect, I don't think Craig's Bond is that far removed from Fleming's at all.

Indeed. Here's how I see it:

Brosnan's Bond looks like Fleming's Bond but doesn't behave like Fleming's Bond.

Craig's Bond doesn't look like Fleming's Bond (on the whole), but behaves like Fleming's Bond.*

So the winner in terms of being Fleming's Bond is - overwhelmingly, and twice on Sundays - Craig's Bond.

His facial features in particular are very evocative of what Fleming described.

Very, very true.

*Except, perhaps, when he's being super-arrogant and lippy, which is arguably Craig's unique contribution to the Bond universe. I can't, for instance, picture Fleming's Bond putting down Vesper on the train the way Craig does in CR, even with the provocation Vesper gives him - Fleming's Bond has always struck me as far too much of a "gentleman", and someone who'd rather be "pwned" by a woman in a confrontation than overstep trad gentlemanly boundaries.

[zencat]

DMC Piccadilly ticker -- the video!

[deth]

DMC Piccadilly ticker -- the video!

wow! thx for the link... that's quite cool!

[ACE]

Extraordinary.

I hope they give the book a life-jacket.

LOL

Granted the time period has changed, but Bond himself is more tonally in line with Fleming than he's been in many, many years.

Agreed, but the thing is that Craig's Bond isn't Fleming's Bond on a visual level.

Ah, but notice [dark] wrote "tonally". He was clever in doing that, he was careful and he was right!

No-one would argue that Craig is Fleming's Bond visually.
And it is true his predecessors were more visually similar to Fleming (but not Fleming either - no scar, no blue eyes, no comma of black hair - though Dalton was closest).

But the spirit and essence is what I'm after, personally. That Dalton DNA. And, IMO, Craig/script/director/Eon captured that.

And a whole lot more besides!

[doublenoughtspy]

I'd like to point out that Ben Macintyre, the author of For Your Eyes Only, Ian Fleming and James Bond, says in the book that Lazenby is the closest to Fleming's Bond. What an intelligent man!

[[dark]]

I'd like to point out that Ben Macintyre, the author of For Your Eyes Only, Ian Fleming and James Bond, says in the book that Lazenby is the closest to Fleming's Bond. What an intelligent man!

Interesting!

I haven't been able to track down a copy of that book yet. Does he give any supporting evidence?

[Loomis]

Extraordinary.

I hope they give the book a life-jacket.

LOL

Granted the time period has changed, but Bond himself is more tonally in line with Fleming than he's been in many, many years.

Agreed, but the thing is that Craig's Bond isn't Fleming's Bond on a visual level.

Ah, but notice [dark] wrote "tonally". He was clever in doing that, he was careful and he was right!

'Course he was. Note that I agreed with him.

As we know, though, and sad to say, Craig's failure* to match Fleming's Bond (more) on a visual level seems to have put some people off bigtime (quite why, I'm not entirely sure - is blond hair really such a dealbreaker, and if so why? But I guess for some folks it is, for some reason), leading to boycotts of the greatest Bond flick ever, and, no, I'm not referring to DIE ANOTHER DAY.

*Or is it Eon's failure? If anyone's to blame for Craig's failure to dye, it must be The Man, no? Fan anger must be directed correctly: barbaranotcubby.com.

[sharpshooter]

DMC is going to be receiving a marketing blitz. This is great news, Bond is back!

[Qwerty]

Just fantastic news. I'd love to see it get this kind of marketing here in the US. How cool it would be to walk in a bookstore and actually see a Bond novel as one of the centers of attention.

[killkenny kid]

Just fantastic news. I'd love to see it get this kind of marketing here in the US. How cool it would be to walk in a bookstore and actually see a Bond novel as one of the centers of attention.

Indeed, all we can do is hope.

[Righty007]

I'd love to see it get this kind of marketing here in the US. How cool it would be to walk in a bookstore and actually see a Bond novel as one of the centers of attention.

That's a dream because Americans are going to get stiffed again. I'd love to be proven wrong but I don't think I will be. Take a look at the one page Devil May Care US website we got. That's a first hand example of the halfhearted US "marketing" for the novel.

[killkenny kid]

Boy, righty. I hope you are wrong of that one, time will tell.

[Qwerty]

I'd love to see it get this kind of marketing here in the US. How cool it would be to walk in a bookstore and actually see a Bond novel as one of the centers of attention.

That's a dream because Americans are going to get stiffed again. I'd love to be proven wrong but I don't think I will be. Take a look at the one page Devil May Care US website we got. That's a first hand example of the halfhearted US "marketing" for the novel.

We won't get the UK treatment, but there's still some time left for them to get the ball moving somewhat.

[Glenn]

It is very interesting, shame that I am not in London at the time.

Though for anybody who is, ask the taxi driver to take you to HMS Belfast at Tower Bridge, not HMS Exter. The Exeter is still an active warship.

[Loomis]

Ultrafanatical Bond memorabilia collectors may wish to pick up a copy of the current issue (16 May - 29 May) of Private Eye.

A cartoon strip featuring Faulks and DEVIL MAY CARE appears on page 27. In the latest instalment of "Snipcock & Tweed", the satirical mag's cartoon about the world of publishing, Faulks is shown introducing himself at a casino as "Faulks, Sebastian Faulks - licensed to make a killing".

Now, it's not particularly funny, but it's further proof that DMC is very, very big news indeed here in Britain, with an extraordinary amount of exposure in unexpected places. Looks like the marketing push is already paying off in spades.

And it's probably the first time ever that a spoof in a major magazine has revolved around a Bond continuation novel!