New Bond book marks Fleming's 100th birthday
28.05.2008 20:00
Arts
- Source: cbc.ca
 Author Sebastian Faulks loads a car with a briefcase with copies of his new James Bond novel, Devil May Care, at the book's launch in London, Tuesday.Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated PressOne hundred years after the birth of its creator, Ian Fleming, the Bond brand seems as strong as ever. Devil May Care, the latest adventure of James Bond, the world's most famous spy, was written by bestselling British author Sebastian Faulks at the request of the Fleming estate, with publication to coincide with the centenary of Fleming's birth on May 28. The book was launched on Tuesday in London with a blaze of publicity. With Royal Navy helicopters roaring overhead, a military speedboat delivered the first published copies up the Thames river to the HMS Exeter, a destroyer moored near Tower Bridge. With reporters and members of the Fleming family on board, the books were were unpacked and Faulks signed the first seven copies. The books were then taken Waterstone's book store in Piccadilly in a cavalcade of Bentleys. The clamour of fans for the book has been so great that Amazon.co.uk has reported its biggest fiction pre-order of the year. Fans lined up outside Waterstone's overnight Tuesday to buy 200 signed and numbered special editions at $200 US each when the store opened Wednesday morning. The book's publishers, Penguin in Britain and Doubleday in the U.S., hope it will be a new chapter in a series that has sold more than 100 million copies since Fleming's first bond book, Casino Royale, appeared in 1952. The hardcover print run for those two countries alone is reported to be 400,000 copies, and the book is being released in 21 languages. Set in Paris, Rome and the Middle East in 1967, the story features Fleming's key ingredients: exotic locales, action, suspense and sex. Faulks, best known for his literary trilogy Birdsong, Charlotte Gray and The Girl at the Lion D'Or set in the First and Second World Wars, was not the first author commissioned to resurrect Bond after Fleming died in 1964. Kingsley Amis and Jahn Gardiner continued the series with mixed success. Texan writer Raymond Benson wrote the last adult Bond book, The Man with the Red Tattoo, in 2002. And the fifth in Charlie Higson's series about the schoolboy Bond for young readers was published this year. Faulks, 55, took up the story where Fleming left off with Octopussy and the Living Daylights, the last of Fleming's 14 Bond books, which was published after his death in 1966. Having chosen 1967 as the year the adventure would unfold, the subject quickly followed: the international drug trade, a subject Fleming largely ignored. Faulks told Reuters he was somewhat daunted when asked to write as Fleming. But he warmed to the task, emulating Fleming's work schedule and studying his plot lines and prose for inspiration. "In Jamaica, Fleming used to write 1,000 words in the morning, then go snorkelling, have lunch on the terrace, more diving, another 1,000 words in the late afternoon, then Martinis and glamorous women," Faulks said. "In London, I followed this routine, apart from the cocktails, lunch and snorkelling." It is not yet known if the new book will be turned into a Bond film. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKMore Books HeadlinesNew Bond book marks Fleming's 100th birthdayFans of 007 lined up to buy the latest James Bond novel by British author Sebastian Faulks.Washington insider writes scathing critique of Bush administrationIn a scathing new book, a Washington insider calls President George W. Bush to task for selling the war in Iraq with a "political propaganda campaign."Morgan, McNaughton take N.L. book prizes Two well-known authors have taken top prizes in this year's Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards. Biography by Anna Porter among winners of Canadian Jewish Book AwardsAnna Porter is one of the Canadian authors whose works have been acclaimed this year for excellence in writing on Jewish themes and subjects.Bloc blasts author Beaulieu for 'attack' on Michalle JeanBloc Qubcois MP Viviane Barbot blasted an outspoken sovereigntist author for calling the Governor General a "Reine-Ngre," or Negro Queen.More Arts HeadlinesNew theatre festival takes root in L.M. Montgomery's AvonleaA new theatre festival soon to begin in Cavendish, P.E.I., will present a suite of plays dating from the lifetime of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables.Jakob Dylan, Cat Power headline Edmonton Folk FestJakob Dylan, son of folk icon Bob Dylan, will make his first-ever appearance this year at Edmonton's Folk Music Festival, organizers announced Wednesday.Experts to avoid Shakespeare's 'curse' in restoring tombstoneWilliam Shakespeare's tombstone is to have a makeover, but the renovators are under strict orders not to disturb the bard's bones.Biography by Anna Porter among winners of Canadian Jewish Book AwardsAnna Porter is one of the Canadian authors whose works have been acclaimed this year for excellence in writing on Jewish themes and subjects.Loyalist City Folk Festival cancelledSaint John's Loyalist City Folk Festival has been cancelled just days before it was due to start this weekend. Arts FeaturesOpen seasonLooking ahead to Canada's summer theatre festivalsTop DoggHow did gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg become so lovable?Thinking Big thoughtsToronto author releases satirical third memoir of BigfootGrey powerJohn McCain vs. Harrison Ford: Who's the sexier senior?Going PostalMaligned filmmaker Uwe Boll channels his anger into toxic comedyHard truthsTurkish-German film doesn't flinch from exposing cultural differencesPeople who read this also read …
| 
Add comment