65 replies to this topic

[Guy Haines]

Whilst visiting the bank in my lunchtime today I called in the local WH Smith where, at number two in the book charts is "Some Kind Of Hero - The Remarkable Story Of The James Bond Films" by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury.

I haven't started it yet - this evening most likely - but at 704 pages of fairly closely typed text it looks like it will be quite a detailed read.

Has anyone else out there read it? Once I've plough through I post my thoughts.

(Incidentally, I got my copy with £5.00 off - RRP £25.00, I paid £20.00)

[thecasinoroyale]

Haha, wow you beat me to it! Literally did the same thing on my lunch today at WH Smith to find 'Blood, Sweat And Bond' and noticed this extensive book at #2.

 

Certainly looks a very detailed chart of the current 53 year Bond film history and also what went on behind the scenes. I didn't get a copy as I know I may need that for my Christmas list with so much going on at the moment I won't have dedicated time to read but it certainly does look a super book.

 

I'll be interested to know what people make of it should they make a start on it.

[SecretAgentFan]

Yep, ordered and received it.  Doorstopper indeed.  Looking forward to reading it, have only skimmed some chapters - seems to be well worth the price.

[Guy Haines]

Haha, wow you beat me to it! Literally did the same thing on my lunch today at WH Smith to find 'Blood, Sweat And Bond' and noticed this extensive book at #2.
 
Certainly looks a very detailed chart of the current 53 year Bond film history and also what went on behind the scenes. I didn't get a copy as I know I may need that for my Christmas list with so much going on at the moment I won't have dedicated time to read but it certainly does look a super book.
 
I'll be interested to know what people make of it should they make a start on it.

I was expecting to have to order it online, and was surprised to see it there in my local WH, which being in a medium sized Midlands town rather than city doesn't have the full range of books a city centre branch might have. It's the sort of book I'd normally have to travel to Nottingham or Derby to purchase, so this was a welcome surprise. Maybe the local reaction to SPECTRE has been such that the store decided to cash in.

I like Pierce Brosnan's comment on the back dust cover that "more men have walked on the Moon" than played James Bond - and unlike Apollo, the Bond "programme" is still going!

[stromberg]

Saw it in several bookstores in London last week, but didn't buy it simply because it would have added to much to my luggage weight (and I already was at the limit).

 

A must have for me, especially as I've known one of the authors for years...

[Turn]

Sadly, it looks like we won't get it in the U.S. until at least December. Amazon doesn't give any hint as to when it will be available, if at all, while Barnes and Noble lists its publication date as December 5. Sounds like the book at the top of my Bond want list for the holiday season.

[Hockey Mask]

Amazon has it December 5 as well.

[Grard Bond]

That's not correct. I already recieved it from Amazon last week. Ok, it's the English Amazon, but why not order it from them, if you don't wanna wait?

Edited by Grard Bond, 04 November 2015 - 06:11 PM.

[Turn]

It's not that I don't want to wait. It's just I want it for the best price and that option would likely cost a lot more in shipping. 

 

I was just sort of concerned also as certain Bond books in the past hadn't been available here in the States, such as when the Making of GoldenEye book came out back in '95, before ordering online was really a thing. But there were many more book stores at that time and that never showed up in any near me. Nor did the book on the making of TWINE. Got both of those titles eventually on eBay. 

[SecretAgentFan]

It´s absolutely worth ordering.

[thecasinoroyale]

This is on the Xmas list now!

[Surrie]

The Guardian has just posted an article re: 'Some Kind of Hero' - new literature detailing the ups and downs of the franchise. The article focuses on Brosnan's interview the authors had with him discussing his end to being Bond. 

 

http://www.theguardi...die-another-day

 

Certainly worth a purchase in the new year but unsure how it will be able to live up to 'James Bond - The Legacy'. 

[Dustin]

Well, here are already a couple of impressed buyers...

Topics merged.

[Surrie]

Well, here are already a couple of impressed buyers...

Topics merged.

 

Thanks Dustin!

[ggl]

It looks incredible!

 

[AMC Hornet]

Yesterday I did like the guy in the video above just did, thanks to Mrs. H.

 

Happy holidays and happy reading to all those who also got their Christmas wish.

[Dustin]

Splendid video; congrats, ggl!

As for the book, I lived in houses built of smaller stones, quite impressive.

[ggl]

Splendid video; congrats, ggl!

As for the book, I lived in houses built of smaller stones, quite impressive.

Thanks, Dustin!

 

Now, just need time to start!

[ACE]

It´s absolutely worth ordering.

Thanks SecretAgentFan.

 

It looks incredible!

 

Muchas gracias, ggl

[AMC Hornet]

I'm up to the chapter on FRWL ('I Must Return') and so far I find the anecdotes highly enjoyable, although I tend to stumble over some unfortunate lapses that cropped up during the editing stage. For instance, on account of some wonky punctuation it appears that Terence Young (1915-1994) was "...born in Shanghai; during World War II. He had served in the Guards Armoured Division and after the war directed films in the UK, France and Germany." (p 46)

 

Clearly I missed my calling, living so far away from where publishing happens in Canada - or perhaps I'm the only one who notices this sort of thing. Anyway, I expect the second (revised) edition will be even more enjoyable for those who wait for it.

[SecretAgentFan]

Finally having time to delve deeply into this marvelous book I can only urge anyone with any interest in the Bond films to purchase this.

 

It is the definitive look into the history of how these legendary films were made, researched to the tiniest bit of real information.

 

Major kudos for the authors!

 

This is the book any Bond fan just has to have.  There is no subsitute.

[Surrie]

Had this for Xmas along with 'Blood, Sweat and Bond', can't wait to get stuck in!

[ggl]

 

It´s absolutely worth ordering.

Thanks SecretAgentFan.

 

It looks incredible!

 

Muchas gracias, ggl

 

My pleasure, ACE!

[Yellow Pinky]

About halfway through this right now and it's hugely entertaining!  I'm not finding a lot that I didn't already know, but it's great to have all the behind-the-scenes stories collected together in a single source.  

The editing leaves a bit to be desired with some grammatical errors, the occasional two words jumbled together, and some lack of clarity to quotation sources, mostly due to punctuation lapses (in spite of the GREAT job of quotation source citation throughout), but it is a massive undertaking that still reads well and is a clear love letter to the series.  

Highly recommended!

[Blofeld's Cat]

Why would one want to buy the dribble coming out of Canada at the moment when such a publication as this is available!?

[Simon]

I am afraid the grammatical errors alone will ensure I am not a buyer of this piece of work.  All the positive comments notwithstanding.

 

It would drive me nuts having to put up with that for what I would be assuming to be a professional product.

[AMC Hornet]

I am afraid the grammatical errors alone will ensure I am not a buyer of this piece of work.  All the positive comments notwithstanding.

 

It would drive me nuts having to put up with that for what I would be assuming to be a professional product.

It  has colour pictures....

[Professor Pi]

 

I am afraid the grammatical errors alone will ensure I am not a buyer of this piece of work.  All the positive comments notwithstanding.

 

It would drive me nuts having to put up with that for what I would be assuming to be a professional product.

It  has colour pictures....

 

Are they pop-up?!

[SecretAgentFan]

I am afraid the grammatical errors alone will ensure I am not a buyer of this piece of work.  All the positive comments notwithstanding.

 

It would drive me nuts having to put up with that for what I would be assuming to be a professional product.

 

Don´t worry about that at all.  Every major publication will have the odd mistake in it - it´s called human error.

[MajorB]

Sadly, proofreading and copyediting are often rushed or nonexistent these days. (Thank you, Internet.) I'm an editor, and I've had to learn to shrug off a lot of the errors I see out in the world--things that would indeed have driven me nuts if I let them. I share your pain, Simon, but as Bond says about his third nipple, I've learned to live with it.