57 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Second Benson Anthology Announced

Tentatively titled 'Choice of Weapons'

Raymond Benson's Choice of Weapons cover art revealed

Second omnibus of James Bond adventures

Pre-order Raymond Benson's Choice of Weapons: Three 007 Novels

Second James Bond omnibus now listed on Amazon.com

Raymond Benson's Choice of Weapons 007 anthology to launch on 12 September

Plus: Special early print run to debut at Chicago's Printers Row Book Fair in June

From Raymond Benson's official website:

Here's some James Bond news: Pegasus Books will publish a second anthology of Raymond's 007 work, tentatively titled CHOICE OF WEAPONS. It will include the novels ZERO MINUS TEN, THE FACTS OF DEATH, THE MAN WITH THE RED TATTOO, and the short stories LIVE AT FIVE and MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DOOM. Tentative publication date is late spring or early summer 2010.

Good Bond title.

[K1Bond007]

Damn. Beat me to it.

It took me entirely too long to write that short little article.

I can't say that I like the title all that much, but I don't think I can come up with anything better for 3 books and 2 short stories. I'm just happy, I'll finally have the other 2 shorts collected - in something I can read.

[Double-Oh Agent]

This is great news! I was hoping we'd get a second anthology of Raymond Benson's. I am particularly pleased that it will include Midsummer Night's Doom and Live At Five. I still hold out hope that Benson's unpublished short story The Heart Of Erzulie will somehow make it in there too, but it's probably unlikely.

As for the title, Choice Of Weapons, I'm not too excited about it, but it definitely could be worse. If you look at the three novels, though, the title does make sense. Zero Minus Ten has a nuclear bomb, The Facts Of Death features lethal viruses, and The Man With The Red Tattoo has deadly mosquitoes.

I can't wait.

[K1Bond007]

I still hold out hope that Benson's unpublished short story The Heart Of Erzulie will somehow make it in there too, but it's probably unlikely.

Not going to happen. Benson supposedly used some of the elements from that short story in other books of his. I highly doubt it'll ever see the light of day.

[David Schofield]

With a publication date of 2010, they're not exactly rushing to the presses, are they?

That said, anything that keeps lit-Bond - EVEN Benson lit-Bond - published is great news.

Sadly, at least at this time, these publishers have missed the golden opportunity of a volume with Benson's short stories collected. Such a collection would be unique and far more marketable than omnibuses of the novels.

And even those of us with the short stories already would welcome them collected; as I've stated before, having copies of Playaboy around isn't easy when you've got kids in the house.

[[dark]]

Good stuff - interesting title. Wonder if it was one of Benson's. This announcement might persuade me to pick up The Union Trilogy.

[Double-Oh Agent]

Good stuff - interesting title. Wonder if it was one of Benson's. This announcement might persuade me to pick up The Union Trilogy.

You should, if only for the full-length version of Blast From The Past.

[[dark]]

Good stuff - interesting title. Wonder if it was one of Benson's. This announcement might persuade me to pick up The Union Trilogy.

You should, if only for the full-length version of Blast From The Past.

That would be the only reason I would buy this, as I already own the three novels. It's a decent incentive, though.

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

I haven't read any of the Benson Bond novels (although I'm starting HTTK), so I think that this news is GREAT! Is there any idea when this'll be released?

I just saw. Spring or summer 2010...Nevermind.

I've been waiting for a long time to read some of his early Bond stuff...So, I'll only have to wait another 12 months or so.

Edited by danielcraigisjamesbond007, 20 February 2009 - 01:00 PM.

[Qwerty]

Fantastic news to see this announced.

I've been waiting for a long time to read some of his early Bond stuff...So, I'll only have to wait another 12 months or so.

You could always pick up some of his standalone Bond novels (like Zero Minus Ten and The Facts Of Death)from sites like eBay or half.com. They're usually listed there for pretty decent prices.

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

You could always pick up some of his standalone Bond novels (like Zero Minus Ten and The Facts Of Death)from sites like eBay or half.com. They're usually listed there for pretty decent prices.

Well...yeah. But, if I'm going to get CoW (No pun intended), I might as well wait until 2010. Until then, I guess I'll try and find it in a library...

[spynovelfan]

Good stuff - interesting title. Wonder if it was one of Benson's.

Well, it's a chapter title in DR NO, but it wouldn't surprise me if Raymond Benson had suggested it.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Having not yet read the three novels that'll make up the collection is there any real significance in using "Choice of Weapon" as a title?

[K1Bond007]

Having not yet read the three novels that'll make up the collection is there any real significance in using "Choice of Weapon" as a title?

Not that I can think of. I think they probably just took it from Fleming and mean it as a "choice of stories". 2 of the 3 books are about a disease / virus, not a super weapon or anything like that.

[[dark]]

Good stuff - interesting title. Wonder if it was one of Benson's.

Well, it's a chapter title in DR NO...

Good catch - I thought it sounded familiar!

[Blofeld's Cat]

Having not yet read the three novels that'll make up the collection is there any real significance in using "Choice of Weapon" as a title?

Not that I can think of. I think they probably just took it from Fleming and mean it as a "choice of stories". 2 of the 3 books are about a disease / virus, not a super weapon or anything like that.

Fair enough. Because of this 2nd anthology I just might get it AND the "Union Trilogy" one too. I've seen the trade paperback in various bookshops lately.

[Jim]

COW.

Is a leedle unfortunate.

[[dark]]

Because of this 2nd anthology I just might get it AND the "Union Trilogy" one too. I've seen the trade paperback in various bookshops lately.

Really, BC? Could you point me in the right direction?

[Blofeld's Cat]

Because of this 2nd anthology I just might get it AND the "Union Trilogy" one too. I've seen the trade paperback in various bookshops lately.

Really, BC? Could you point me in the right direction?

I've seen it in Borders Parramatta (my local store), and I saw it in Borders city store (Pitt Street Mall) before meeting you and Tim007 yesterday.

BTW Matt, log onto borders.com.au and register for their weekly email voucher offers. Usually get a 20% off voucher to print off but on occasions they do offer up to 40% off vouchers!

[[dark]]

Awesome - cheers, BC! I'll sign up now!

[Blofeld's Cat]

It'll help offset the $46 price tag.

[[dark]]

Used my first voucher today on Watchmen - that free subscription is already paying for itself!

[Blofeld's Cat]

Used my first voucher today on Watchmen - that free subscription is already paying for itself!

LOL! Yeah, that 20% off introductory offer helped get me the first Casino Royale DVD.

[ironwerkz]

Not that there's any indication of it happening, but is there any reason why the Benson film novelizations or the Gardner originals/novelizations couldn't be omnibused in the future?

[Qwerty]

Not that there's any indication of it happening, but is there any reason why the Benson film novelizations or the Gardner originals/novelizations couldn't be omnibused in the future?

There have been a few omnibus collections of the Gardner novels, most recently this one in 2004. Don't see why IFP couldn't continue on with them if they really wanted to.

I personally doubt we'll see any of the novelizations ever repubished since they're more of a "in the moment" sort of deal to tie in with the accompanying film.

[K1Bond007]

Not that there's any indication of it happening, but is there any reason why the Benson film novelizations or the Gardner originals/novelizations couldn't be omnibused in the future?

I don't really see why not. There's probably more difficulty involved though. Not sure how the copyright works since they're "IFP (Glidrose) as Trustee". That might be something they'd have to get the 'okay' from Danjaq on. Of course if there's a market for it, I'm sure they can make it happen. I would think novelizations would be more plentiful in second-hand shops thus reducing the market for them, not to mention that as Qwerty said, the market is already limited since they're adaptations of movies that are widely available. I would think they'd only really sell if they were bundled with other things.

That said, as a Bond fan, I'd still totally buy an adaptation of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace as one book. I think this was a major missed opportunity for both parties.

[Kangch]

The Raymond Benson's official site shows the cover of the omnibus :


http://www.raymondbenson.com/news/

Just beautiful

Edited by Kangch, 22 July 2009 - 06:42 PM.

[Jeff007]

Awesome! It will look great next to the other one. Walther P5 with suppressor I believe on the cover.

[zencat]

I love that it matches The Union Trilogy. They are going to look great as a set.

[Loomis]

I wish they'd just republish the freakin' things individually. I hate reading omnibi. They're so damn heavy and large and unwieldly, and you're guaranteed to crack the spine whatever you do. Blasted things.