75 replies to this topic

[perdogg]

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.

Nice find. I've posted on my blog with thanks.

[link removed]

Thank you, I love your blog. Why not go with the original Jonathan Cape covers since getting the original Jonathan Capes for under $100 a piece is very difficult?

[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.

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.

Yeah; I found the Fahey's a bit over-designed: there were so many elements to them. And just a bit too American and knowing. Didn't get the Bond feel right for me.

The Gillette feel like Bond, and they work as rather beautiful artworks too. I'd have one of them on my wall too.

very ugly.......

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

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

Not the worst ever, but I think the designer of the Gardner reprints is more talented.

[glidrose]

I didn't like Fahey or Gillette.

I only truly liked the Chopping Cape editions, and Triad Panther/Granada paperbacks.

Oddly, of the Cape edition continuation novels (Amis, Wood, Gardner's first five, let's pretend NDMB doesn't exist), I think Chopping's LR cover is the weakest. Too cluttered.

For some unknown reason I liked the Coronet FSS and IB covers. Have a soft spot for the Coronet LR cover too though it's hardly top notch.

[marktmurphy]

I've never been fond of Chopping, I'm afraid. A bit too over the top and I just don't like his style of painting: doesn't look very nice to me. And the pine feels a bit cheap: should be walnut for Bond!

[Dustin]

I didn't like Fahey or Gillette.

I only truly liked the Chopping Cape editions, and Triad Panther/Granada paperbacks.

The Panther/Granada covers are truly splendid. Though using just a minimalist theme they are quite distinctive and notably composed, amongst my very favourites.

For years and years I used to wonder what kind of gun that "Collins & Broecke 9mm" was supposed to be. I tried everything in my powers to find out, consulted reference books and archives, talked to gun people, shooters, policemen, all to no avail. Nobody had ever heard about it. I was about to give up and ask around here, when in a quirky turn of fate I decided to have one last try at Google, this time not with the gun but the publisher-cover connection. And all of a sudden there was the remarkable blog Existential Ennui and answered all my questions about the thing here. Interesting backstory.

[Harmsway]

Yeah; I found the Fahey's a bit over-designed: there were so many elements to them. And just a bit too American and knowing. Didn't get the Bond feel right for me.

They're a bit busy, sure, but they're still quite lovely. I do tend to prefer minimalistic covers.

The one set I did genuinely love was the UK one with all the abstract photography. I know it's not all that popular 'round these parts, but if I had to select any complete set of the Bond novels as my favorite, that's the one.

The Gillette feel like Bond, and they work as rather beautiful artworks too. I'd have one of them on my wall too.

I can see why they might work better as a poster, but I'm with Sharky: they're much more Derek Flint than James Bond.

[Syndicate]

I DON'T like the new covers that will be for the new U.S. reprints. They just don't look good at all, I wonder whose ideas was it for covers like that for the U.S.. That person needs to be seated down and have talk to with to change it, and come with better ideas.

These are the covers I have always like, I just wonder can they top them, IF they do change it.



http://img200.images...2/jbdsbc.th.jpg

Edited by Syndicate, 21 April 2012 - 01:57 AM.

[glidrose]

I also liked the old Signet covers. Rather fond of the Bantam Colonel Sun cover too. Really liked the William Morrow hc artwork on Pearson's Bond bio.

And yes, those Gillette covers are more Derek Flint (or even Adam Diment) than Bond.

[perdogg]

The Fahey covers may be a bit busy, but if the novels were published without the any of the titles you would be able to figure out which novel is which. That is the mark of good 007 cover art.

[marktmurphy]

Yeah; I found the Fahey's a bit over-designed: there were so many elements to them. And just a bit too American and knowing. Didn't get the Bond feel right for me.

They're a bit busy, sure, but they're still quite lovely. I do tend to prefer minimalistic covers.

The one set I did genuinely love was the UK one with all the abstract photography. I know it's not all that popular 'round these parts, but if I had to select any complete set of the Bond novels as my favorite, that's the one.

The black ones with a bit of neon, bit of steel etc? Yes, I liked those a lot. Very classy.

The Gillette feel like Bond, and they work as rather beautiful artworks too. I'd have one of them on my wall too.

I can see why they might work better as a poster, but I'm with Sharky: they're much more Derek Flint than James Bond.

They sort of are, but they have just a touch more of fine art about them than complete campery. I think they're lovely.

The new Gardner paperbacks are very nice indeed, though. I'd like to see Flemings like that.

[Harmsway]

The black ones with a bit of neon, bit of steel etc? Yes, I liked those a lot. Very classy.

Yep:



I also dig the Coronet and Pan paperbacks.

The new Gardner paperbacks are very nice indeed, though. I'd like to see Flemings like that.

In concept, they're neat, but if the UK editions are anything like the US editions (which basically use the same art), they look a whole lot worse in person. Very cheap-looking.

[marktmurphy]

No, mine's not cheap-looking. Do yours have spot varnish on the illustrated parts? I was very disappointed to see the US editions ditching the lovely typography.

I loved the Coronet 'James Bond 007' ones too: not very classy perhaps but loads of fun, and they worked as a series.

This is a nice site with lots of the covers: http://www.pizgloria.com/

[Harmsway]

Do yours have spot varnish on the illustrated parts?

Nope.

I loved the Coronet 'James Bond 007' ones too: not very classy perhaps but loads of fun, and they worked as a series.

As far as I'm concerned, they're the most exciting group of Bond covers.

[Simon]

Splendid site!

Not seen that one before.

A small error with the Octopussy Film Tie-in novel which I believe to be this one shown on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3374b57208

Certainly wasn't the one shown.

[marktmurphy]

Do yours have spot varnish on the illustrated parts?

Nope.

Oh that's a shame: the UK ones do, and they have a nice, slightly rough papery, document-wallety stock. The way something's printed can make all the difference.

[Harmsway]

Do yours have spot varnish on the illustrated parts?

Nope.

Oh that's a shame: the UK ones do, and they have a nice, slightly rough papery, document-wallety stock. The way something's printed can make all the difference.

Sounds lovely. Wish our editions were quite so beautiful.

[[dark]]

I've seen both the UK and US versions of the new Gardner paperbacks and there is no comparison - the UK covers are printed on a far superior stock and use gorgeous new typesettings of the novels. Add to that the news of the Role of Honour and Nobody Lives For Ever US paperback continuity gaffes and there's no doubt in my mind about which editions to collect.

[zencat]

Official preview of cover art for the Vintage Classic sets -- a few new ones here that were not leaked on Amazon.

http://www.thebookbo...-cover-art.html

[Jim]

Like them.

[marktmurphy]

They're pretty jazzy; don't mind them at all. Not my favourite set, but it's a good one. Goldfinger's my favourite of that bunch.
Not putting Fleming's name on is bold!

The Secret/Service typography is clever.

[glidrose]

Loathe them. They do look like Saul Bass rejects.

Surprised IFP persuaded Len Deighton to write an intro. Especially after that "Battle for Bond" fracas. Wonder what book he's doing the intro for.

...while they're at it perhaps they can persuade the aging gent to write a Bond short story.

[Harmsway]

Very fine set. I imagine they would look much better as a collected set than as individual volumes, unlike, say, the Fahey covers of not too long ago, which are nice as individual volumes but don't look great when assembled together. Perhaps if they released a box set of these editions, I'd consider picking them up. (I own all the Bond novels, but not a nice, elegant set. These would do.)

[JCRendle]

Made my version for Skyfall here http://debrief.comma...00#entry1197317

[perdogg]

I have noticed that Amazon US has pulled all links to the new series. Any idea what the US editions will be like?

[TheREAL008]

I'm hoping the US paperbacks look slightly (if at all) better.

[S K Y F A L L]

When do the North American covers get showcased? I hope they look like the vintage classic ones.

[zencat]

Okay, these Classic covers have been leaking piecemeal onto Amazon etc., but here now are nice high res images of the FULL SET from our friends at IFP and Random House.

http://www.thebookbo...ge-classic.html

[S K Y F A L L]

The search for Ian Flemings typewriter, has anyone seen this on 007.com? I thought Borsnan got it?

[zencat]

Here are the first seven covers from Vintages other series. Just released today!

http://www.thebookbo...y-one-bond.html

[thecasinoroyale]

Very interesting covers I think Zencat, I like the mystery of "There Is Only One Bond" tagline...I wonder what that is meant to encompass?

And the simplicity, yet again, of a focal point with our man in the foreground. Good imagination!