75 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Big news from IFP! All 14 original Fleming Bond novels will be republished this summer in two new sets and as eBooks by Vintage Books. Vintage is the sister imprint of Bond's original publisher, Jonathan Cape, so this is a homecoming of sorts. Click below for the full press release:

http://www.thebookbo...iginal-ian.html

[zencat]

This interests me:

"The publishing programme will be underpinned by consumer insight to bring a new generation of readers to Ian Fleming’s work and engage people who have recently discovered the Bond brand through the films and computer games."

​This might scare some purists, but this actually excites me. I hope they do some very dynamic action-based cover art (is it too much to hope for the image of Daniel Craig?). We've had a lot of classic and precious treatments of these books -- and we will have that again here with Vintage's other "classic" set, so don't freak out on me for saying this -- but I am totally up for some art that, frankly, dumbs it down a little bit, plays up the red blooded Bondian elements and goes a little commercial. Whatever the equivalent of the pulp cover is today. Bring it! Make 'em look a little fun for crying out loud. Because they are fun.

[Simon]

Interesting.

I do agree about the precious treatments, Richie Fahey's superb design notwithstanding.

Looking forward to see what happens with this.

[glidrose]

Vintage also publish several Kingsley Amis novels.

[thecasinoroyale]

I'm looking forward to any e-book publishing they do, I'd love to get all the Bond books on my Kindle to read, as well as the paper editions.

I agree about the covers...something about the artsy-fartsy covers recently don't excite me one bit...let's have something a bit more loud and proud!

[marktmurphy]

Always looking forward to new covers: I loved the recent sets of painted girls with the typography on their bodies- gorgeous stuff.

[The Shark]

Thought the 2008 Penguin covers were rubbish. Fleming and hippies don't mix.

[marktmurphy]

You surprise me: you're usually so positive.

They're slightly psychedlic; much like Bondmania.

[d21089]

I find Fleming's writing quite psychedelic- though not in the flowers, peace and love way- more in a violent, erotic and wintery kinda way

Edited by d21089, 17 March 2012 - 05:07 PM.

[Professor Dent]

I'm looking forward to any e-book publishing they do, I'd love to get all the Bond books on my Kindle to read, as well as the paper editions.

The Fleming novels & the recent Gardner reissues are available on the Kindle in the UK so you can start building the collection now. :-)

I'll be curious to see what the covers look like but I'm pretty happy with my Fleming Centenary editions.

[zencat]

Vintage also publish several Kingsley Amis novels.

Hey I wonder if that's why Colonel Sun gets such prominent mention in this press release, even though it's not part of this set. Could it be they will release it on its own?

[zencat]

New details. Thrilling Cities and The Diamond Smugglers will be included. Random House might partner on IFP's "new projects". U.S. deal in the works.

http://www.thebookbo...-smugglers.html

[[dark]]

Interesting. Vintage is a classy publisher too. As ever, looking forward to seeing the new cover art, but these things are reprinted every few years. It'd take a hell of a set to get me to upgrade my centenary hardcovers.

A lovely, new Colonel Sun hardcover reprint, on the other hand... where do I preorder?

[zencat]

I skipped the centenary reissues so I might be up for a new set if the covers really grab me.

[glidrose]

Vintage also publish several Kingsley Amis novels.

Hey I wonder if that's why Colonel Sun gets such prominent mention in this press release, even though it's not part of this set. Could it be they will release it on its own?

...Penguin also publish several Amis novels and still no Colonel Sun reprint.

[glidrose]

Thought the 2008 Penguin covers were rubbish. Fleming and hippies don't mix.

For once I agree with you. Those CR'67 rip-off covers were easily the worst.

[Harmsway]

Thought the 2008 Penguin covers were rubbish. Fleming and hippies don't mix.

For once I agree with you. Those CR'67 rip-off covers were easily the worst.

Yeah, a very poor set.

[Dustin]

Can't say I agree. I like the ladies in their different shades quite a lot, a different approach that's still very Bond. Also I don't get a hippie vibe there. The title fonds in some cases pick up the various different film poster styles i.e. 60s/70s styles, see DOCTOR NO and MOONRAKER for example. Overall I find these original, memorable and the execution quite outstanding. I can surely see why their prints sell as good as they do; though I have to admit that I probably would not go out of my way to have a print on one of my walls.

[The Shark]

They're slightly psychedlic; much like Bondmania.

They're more Derek Flint/Austin Powers than Bond. And if it's Bond, it's definitely movie Bond rather than Fleming's.

[Dustin]

They're slightly psychedlic; much like Bondmania.

They're more Derek Flint/Austin Powers than Bond. And if it's Bond, it's definitely movie Bond rather than Fleming's.

Definitely, but I don't have a problem with that; they still are a rather unique set. And Tracy here is a blonde at least.

[The Shark]

Definitely, but I don't have a problem with that; they still are a rather unique set.

No doubt about that, although I'd argue not for the right reasons.

And Tracy here is a blonde at least.

Providing the collars and cuffs match.

[marktmurphy]

They're slightly psychedlic; much like Bondmania.

They're more Derek Flint/Austin Powers than Bond. And if it's Bond, it's definitely movie Bond rather than Fleming's.

They lean towards the movie Bond in as far as they're more 60's than 50's, but that's what Bond is now, and movie and book Bond aren't that dissimilar. They're more artistic than most Bond covers and wink at the pulp thing but in a classy way (unlike those US ones a few years back: too cluttered and far too American pulp; which is reasonable for the market they were for of course). They're a perfect set of Bond covers.

[Dustin]

They're slightly psychedlic; much like Bondmania.

They're more Derek Flint/Austin Powers than Bond. And if it's Bond, it's definitely movie Bond rather than Fleming's.

They lean towards the movie Bond in as far as they're more 60's than 50's, but that's what Bond is now, and movie and book Bond aren't that dissimilar. They're more artistic than most Bond covers and wink at the pulp thing but in a classy way (unlike those US ones a few years back: too cluttered and far too American pulp; which is reasonable for the market they were for of course). They're a perfect set of Bond covers.

By the US ones you mean the Fahey covers? Well, I like them too, they are recreating the pulp feeling nicely while they never drift into spoof-satire-schmalz. I think they are well-conceived and executed with just a mild touch of freshness that keeps them from aping their ancestors. But I certainly never would put a print of them - not even my favourite OHMSS cover - on one of my private walls. Nor my office; you simply can't do that without being a graphic designer yourself.

This is where the Gillette covers shine for me. Each single one is a reflection of film and book elements funnelled into the study of one single female drawing in front of a plain white background, and a distinctive colour tone the novel itself evokes. Red (of course) for FRWL, green (the underwater tint of the Bahamas) for TB, midnight-blue and purple (the nighttime gambling) for CR and so on. No detail of these covers was randomly chosen, each one has its own distinctive meaning for the book or its film. And each cover has its own particular intensity and effect. Nearly all of them I could visualise having on one of my walls.

[zencat]

All the books available for pre-order on Amazon.

http://www.thebookbo...rbacks-hit.html

[zencat]

Amazon announced today as the publisher of the Fleming backlist in the U.S.

http://www.thebookbo...g-backlist.html

[glidrose]

Amazon announced today as the publisher of the Fleming backlist in the U.S.

http://www.thebookbo...g-backlist.html

Is that the best IFP could do? Bit of a let down.

[perdogg]

very ugly.......

http://www.amazon.co...4776328&sr=1-14

http://www.amazon.co...4776217&sr=1-21

[Simon]

Oh dear dear dear.

I think even hardcore zencas may have issues with picking up this set.

[zencat]

Few new details about the U.S. Amazon deal. Paperbacks with "a new look". Barnes & Noble being bitchy about whether they will sell them.

http://www.thebookbo...paperbacks.html

[zencat]

They're okay. I actually really like the LALD. I was expecting something minimalist like this for the Classic set. Nice to see something other than silhouettes and guns. Might make for a very nice looking set.