2121 replies to this topic

[Jeff007]

BBC News

[Dustin]

Looks ok to me, title's also fairly interesting and not some forgettable kill-death affair.

[Jeff007]

New Twitter

[Jeff007]

Cover revealed but pages remain blank.

[zencat]

Cover revealed but pages remain blank.

Oh, man, I'd love to have one of those!

[Loomis]

Good title - agreed that there's a pleasing echo of CASINO ROYALE. Nice cover, too - unexpectedly minimalist, but quite striking and classy. I originally assumed the smoke on it to be coming from a cigarette, but surely not?

I'd expected to read that the book was called THE MAN FROM DUBAI, or something like that, and to see a very loud and "on-the-nose" cover featuring guns, silhouetted women, sports cars and the like, so this is all rather surprising, intriguing and fairly tasteful. I approve.

[zencat]

Exactly my thoughts, Loomis.

[Matt_13]

Very nice! Now, is this the cover we're all going to get? Or is this the one they'll be using in the UK?

Bentley? Thank you.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Horrible title for me. Even less Bondian than "007 in New York".

[Zorin Industries]

Perfect title. It has gravitas, elegance, mystery and it is deliberately vague - the ideal Bond title. I can't see anyone coming up with anything better for a new 007 novel's identity.

[Quantumofsolace007]

Perfect title in spite of absolutly hating Jeffery Deaver's "the 12th card" I'm quite excited about this novel and hopefully this new series of adult bond novels set in the current day.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Ian aiming at Deaver and the cover designer.

[Matt_13]

I do hope those of us in the US get that very same cover. It's relentlessly classy, simplistic, and will stand out nicely on the book shelf!

So far so good. We have a very Bondian title and book cover, an excellent choice of vehicle, and now all that is really left to judge is the writing itself. The promotion for this book has been and will likely continue to be excellent. We have more than enough to look forward to this year, fantastic stuff! James Bond is back!

[Righty007]

Horrible title for me. Even less Bondian than "007 in New York".

Just because you don't understand it, doesn't necessarily mean it's not Bondian. It echoes Casino Royale for a lot of people including myself, which should say a lot about its legitimacy as a Bond title.

I personally love the title and cover art. My only beef is that the smoke looks like cigarette smoke, which makes no sense considering we were told Bond won't be smoking anymore.

[Marketto007]

Loved the title and everything else. I bet this book is going to be great. By the way, anyone knows which Font they used in the title?

In Brazil, the Book is going to be released by Editora Record with the name "Carta Branca".

xxx

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Horrible title for me. Even less Bondian than "007 in New York".

Just because you don't understand it, doesn't necessarily mean it's not Bondian. It echoes Casino Royale for a lot of people including myself, which should say a lot about its legitimacy as a Bond title.

I personally love the title and cover art. My only beef is that the smoke looks like cigarette smoke, which makes no sense considering we were told Bond won't be smoking anymore.

I do understand it. My mother speaks French, and the meaning was posted before.
Still, I don't liked. Too much simplistic. DEVIL MAY CARE was a lot better. I even prefer PROJECT X.

[terminus]

In contrast to Nicolas, and in line with most of you, I quite like the title - and whilst it doesn't evoke Casino Royale for me, there is something very Bondian about it. I suspect we'll see Bond brought before M and given 'carte blanche' to do whatever it takes to defeat the villain - in some respects, it's almost a 'License to Kill' sort of title. Maybe the 'carte blanche' will replace the famous license - though I doubt it!

[zencat]

I think Carte Blache might be one of the most Flemingesque titles of all the continuation novels. I think it could have multiple meanings as well. "Carte Blanche" might be a reference to Bond's "licence to kill." It's also sort of what this reboot is all about...Deaver has Carte Blanche to reinvent James Bond.

The title and cover is sophisticated, gutsy, confident, and literate. Everything about it echoes the 1953 edition of Casino Royale.

[Zorin Industries]

And CARTE BLANCHE may be more than just a fitting title, but perhaps a brand name, business name, club name, a deadly cocktail (!), a nickname or even a character name.

I can see a film adaptation...

Cate Blanchett is CARTE BLANCHE!

Heck, it might even be all about The White Cartel as run by MR WHITE (!).

On a less flippant note...being "Bondian" is sort of missing the point, no? Being "Bondian" is about hamfisted titles that sound like a Bond title but are bland wannabees like (insert rubbish title of continuation novel of choice where necessary). More often than not, "Bondian" is about lazy acoutrements folk attach to the world of Bond (brassy anthems, slick cars, expensive tipples and double entendre-led lady names). How "Bondian" were Fleming's actual writings?

I agree with Zencat. This is easily one of the stronger continuation novel monikers.

And it is not just cigarettes that give off smoke...

[Righty007]

And it is not just cigarettes that give off smoke...

Of course not but cigarettes give off a thin trail of smoke à la the smoke on the cover.

[Zorin Industries]

My money on the smoke angle is that it is steam coming off a newly baked Stacey Sutton Quiche.

[Loomis]

And it is not just cigarettes that give off smoke...

Of course not but cigarettes give off a thin trail of smoke à la the smoke on the cover.

Yeah, I can see this being taken as cigarette smoke by an awful lot of people. Sure, Bond no longer puffs away, but perhaps the villain smokes (which I guess would make a bad guy seem all the more villainous these days).

[Zorin Industries]

Yes, maybe the villain is ignoring the smoking ban in enclosed spaces? Thinking he can have carte blanche in every gastro pub and high street bar.

[Jeff007]

And it is not just cigarettes that give off smoke...

Of course not but cigarettes give off a thin trail of smoke à la the smoke on the cover.

Yeah, I can see this being taken as cigarette smoke by an awful lot of people. Sure, Bond no longer puffs away, but perhaps the villain smokes (which I guess would make a bad guy seem all the more villainous these days).

Good point Loomis it doesn't have to be Bond.

"The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning."

Cover reminds me of this line.

[zencat]

Maybe this Bond does smoke. He doesn't need to be a role model. He's a killer and a solider. He needs to occasionally have a smoke. Maybe he hates himself for it, but he needs it. Like he needs fine food and sex, because he's always one step away from death. Look at that cover. Look at that title. This is a book for grownups. He can smoke. I'd have no problem with that.

[Harry Fawkes]

Of all the titles out there in the Bond universe, one would have thought that to come up with a fresh, original and most of all exciting title would simply be near impossible.

But no.

Along comes Mr Deaver and presto: one of the best titles I've come across since Fleming's day.

CARTE BLANCHE

Yes, indeed. Well done. It rings true to the incredible world of James Bond.

10 out of 10 and I bloody like it!

[zencat]

Now on the official IFP site.

[Single-O-Seven]

My money on the smoke angle is that it is steam coming off a newly baked Stacey Sutton Quiche.

Actually, I believe the smoke is rising from a pyre of previous continuation novels that Deaver, hopefully, will surpass in quality.

[Righty007]

Maybe this Bond does smoke. He doesn't need to be a role model. He's a killer and a solider. He needs to occasionally have a smoke. Maybe he hates himself for it, but he needs it. Like he needs fine food and sex, because he's always one step away from death. Look at that cover. Look at that title. This is a book for grownups. He can smoke. I'd have no problem with that.

I don't know any James Bond fans that would be against having 007 smoke in CARTE BLANCHE. It's an important part of his character IMO but Jeffery Deaver has told us that his James Bond would no longer smoke.

[zencat]

Question, will there be a different cover for the US, as was the case with Devil May Care?

I've fired off an email to my U.S. contact (who has been very helpful and responsive). It's a Holiday today. Maybe I'll hear something tomorrow.