142 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Orion have sent out a limited edition of 100 signed proofs. I think this is the first time I've ever heard of a signed proof. Pretty nifty:

 

TRIGGER MORTIS limited edition proof

 

Also, Bentley:

 

James Bond will drive a Bentley in TRIGGER MORTIS

[Major Tallon]

Wow, Zencat, I'm impressed!  Congratulations!

[glidrose]

Hurrah! An embossed cover! Haven't had one of those since YOLT in 1964. (At least I don't think so. If I'm wrong, I'm sure somebody will correct me.)

Anybody else a fan of those embossed covers? Frederick Forsyth's UK hardbacks also had them up to "The Fourth Protocol" in 1984.

[dtuba]

Love the title! Very "Flemingesque" to my ears.

 

I probably won't buy it. The only non-IF Bond book I ever liked was Colonel Sun. None of the continuation books written since have appealed to me.

[Trempo]

The German book has also the title 'Trigger Mortis' with the subtitle 'Der Finger Gottes' (The finger of God)
http://www.cross-cul...d-horowitz.html

[ACE]

Trigger Mortis is the best Continuation Bond novel since Colonel Sun. 
It's certainly preferable to the Devil May Care, Carte Blanche and  Solo.

The Fleming fits seemlessly and it is not a cod Film plot.

Sometimes hope is not in vain.

[Vauxhall]

Trigger Mortis is the best Continuation Bond novel since Colonel Sun. 
It's certainly preferable to the Devil May Care, Carte Blanche and  Solo.
The Fleming fits seemlessly and it is not a cod Film plot.
Sometimes hope is not in vain.

Great to hear. An endorsement like that really does get me excited for it (despite the cringing title).

[Harmsway]

I hope I feel the same. A good Bond novel would be a good way to kick off autumn.

[sharpshooter]

It would. A solid adult Bond novel is long overdue, especially now they have the films under control. 

 

I was cautiously optimistic about Trigger Mortis, and with ACE's comments above, I'm starting to be more excited. 

[Marcin]

I've read every Bond novel so far, so I will definitely buy this one to. I've never read any of Mr. Horowitz's books, so honestly I have no idea what to think of him writing a continuation novel. I don't mind using Fleming's source material (why now?), though I also think it's more of a gimmick.
As for the title. I like it. Although its translation into eg. Polish will be impossible.
I'm looking forward to reading it, though previous three novels were terrible (okay, Solo wasn't, but still flawed).
Unfortunately it doesn't really matter if the novel is good or not. The whole "one-shot noted author" concept is ridiculous and that's what really bothers me. What I really want is IFP to pick an author who will have a chance to create his own version of James Bond, like Gardner or Benson did. I don't want to wait another two, three or four years to get another novel that may or may not be great. That nobody knows if it should be a reboot, set in a past or whatever.
And for God's sake, have Charlie Higson write an adult Bond novel!

Edited by Marcin, 17 June 2015 - 08:14 PM.

[tdalton]

 though I also think it's more of a gimmick.
 

 

That's exactly what it is.  

 

After all the criticism that's been (rightly) levied at the recent attempts at the literary Bond, they're most likely bringing this out now because it's probably thought that there's no way that the fan community will criticize a novel that includes prose from Fleming himself.  

 

Then again, that thought process also assumes that the fans will read it.  There are at least some out there that have surely given up on the literary Bond, myself included amongst them, and it will take more than slapping Fleming's name up on the jacket (again) and a good review or two to get us back.  

[glidrose]

Trigger Mortis is the best Continuation Bond novel since Colonel Sun. 
It's certainly preferable to the Devil May Care, Carte Blanche and  Solo.

The Fleming fits seemlessly and it is not a cod Film plot.

Sometimes hope is not in vain.

 

...and the reason you know all this?

[stromberg]

 

Trigger Mortis is the best Continuation Bond novel since Colonel Sun. 
It's certainly preferable to the Devil May Care, Carte Blanche and  Solo.

The Fleming fits seemlessly and it is not a cod Film plot.

Sometimes hope is not in vain.

 

...and the reason you know all this?

 

 

They did send out advance copies already...

http://www.thebookbo...tion-proof.html

 

And I'm very certain that ACE was one of the people on the list.

[glidrose]

Again, thanks for the info. I wasn't doubting him. Just thought perhaps we had an insider on these boards.

 

Oh yes, that's right, publication date is less than three months away.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Just thought perhaps we had an insider on these boards.

The opposite. We have people everywhere.

[Orion]

 

Just thought perhaps we had an insider on these boards.

The opposite. We have people everywhere.

 

Florists use that expression.

 

 

 

Weakest of the three Daniel Craig Bond films it may be, but I still love Quantum Of Solace
 

[Harmsway]

I'm pleased that ACE had a positive response.

I don't need Trigger Mortis to knock it out of the park, but at this stage, even a passable beach read would be a few steps above what we've been getting over the past few decades.

[sharpshooter]

I thought Solo started with promise, but then quickly fell away. A consistent read is all I'm asking for. 

[Vauxhall]

I thought Solo started with promise, but then quickly fell away. A consistent read is all I'm asking for.

Consistently good, hopefully

[dtuba]

Hmmm, maybe I will give it a go.

[marktmurphy]

Trigger Mortis is the best Continuation Bond novel since Colonel Sun. 
It's certainly preferable to the Devil May Care, Carte Blanche and  Solo.

The Fleming fits seemlessly and it is not a cod Film plot.

Sometimes hope is not in vain.

 

Sounds very positive. I read House of Silk and it was very entertaining; I could believe he'll turn in a very solid Bond novel.

 

 

And for God's sake, have Charlie Higson write an adult Bond novel!

 

Yes please!

[ACE]

Again, thanks for the info. I wasn't doubting him. Just thought perhaps we had an insider on these boards.

 

Oh yes, that's right, publication date is less than three months away.

 

Sorry, glidrose, I perhaps should have explained, I have been lucky enough to have been able to read a copy
One is bound by an embargo not to reveal details.

I've read all the Bond Continuation novels with eagerness since the mid-Eighties. Of course they have been of varying quality but I guess I like my literary Bond fix in some shape or form. Ever since the Fleming family took back ownership and control of the literary copyright, I think they have raised the bar on how literary Bond is presented. 

 

The new Bond Continuation novels certainly have a higher profile, better writers and a larger promotional spend and wide-ranging release strategies than they did in the Booker McConnell days.

 

I really like the writing style Boyd used in Solo but his story meandered a bit. It was my favourite of the recent crop of Adult Bond stories.

 

I think Horowitz has got the balance right. His Conan Doyle derivations were expertly written and they were good omens for this.

Plus, he geniunely likes Bond and Fleming, something which infuses the work. At the end of the day, it's merely my opinion, but Trigger Mortis (excellent title IMO!), is a really good read.

 

Oh, and I agree with Marcin and marktmurphy, I think Charlie Higson would write a terrific Adult Bond Continuation novel.

 

Hopefully the literary Bond fans here will be very pleasantly surprised. I'm eager to hear other people's views.
Optimism and enthusiasm sometimes are rewarded!

[Trempo]

On the Facebook side of Cross Cult (German publisher of the Bond books) there is the cover data file of the English Trigger Mortis book.

 

https://www.facebook.com/crosscult

 

[marktmurphy]

'Jeopardy Lane'? Ha!

 

Although her billing as "a girl like no other Bond has encountered" makes it sound worryingly like that song Lola...

[Bryce (003)]

I've been known to place my hopes on a good "Ace". 

 

For me, the latest run of continuation novels have been hit or miss. 

 

CB and Solo stand out. Solo had a personal flavor for myself that I identified with in many respects, and CB felt much like what CR was to the films and even merited two re-reads. 

 

The title gave me a chuckle as it sounded like a Fleming chapter. I like the pitch and the time frame being set back in the Fleming years as opposed to a follow up. I recently re-read both Colonel Sun and Licence Renewed both with much enjoyment as it had been a while for each.

 

Fleming is a tough act to follow, so diving between is certainly a fresh take/approach.

 

Looking forward to it.

[ChickenStu]

I'm actually quite looking forward to this. I don't have particularly high expectations - but who knows? It might be one of the better ones. Here's hoping! 

[JCRendle]

Fan Art poster for the launch:

 

[Guy Haines]

According to the Independent newspaper this morning, there is going to be an audio version of the new book. The headline makes much of the fact that the reader will be the black actor David Oyelowo - "The first black James Bond" is the headline, I think.

Well, if it is an audiobook, as opposed to an adaptation like the Radio 4 plays starring Toby Stephens, then David Oyelowo will not only be playing Bond but every other character as well. But also he won't be the first black actor to have read Bond for an audio book - the "Bond Reloaded" series in 2012 featured Ghanian actor Hugh Quarshie reading the novel Dr No.

What is encouraging is that an award winning actor like David Oyelowo is involved in the Trigger Mortis audio book. I'm looking forward to the novel in print and adding this to my audio book collection.

[Jim]

Didn't Patterson Joseph read SOLO for Radio 4?

[Guy Haines]

Yes he did. Well spotted. Which makes me wonder if this audio version of Trigger Mortis is actually an adaptation? If so, then the Independent headline might be correct - the first black actor to portray Bond as opposed to doing an audio reading of the text.

We'll know one way or another quite soon.