CommanderBond.net alerts us that Ian Fleming Publications plans to publish reprints for two of Ian Fleming’s non-Bond books. The first, The Diamond Smugglers, was originally published in 1957 and tells the tale of a diamond smuggling operation in South Africa. Fleming wrote this book after penning Bond’s fourth adventure, Diamonds Are Forever in 1956. The second book is Thrilling Cities, a travelogue of sorts that contains Fleming’s most rare short story (formerly, anyway) “007 in New York”. The short story was later added to the Octopussy and The Living Daylights collection starting in 2002. Thrilling Cities was originally published in 1963.

It is currently unknown when these two books will be re-published. Fleming’s other non-Bond book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is getting re-released on April 8th.

In case you didn’t notice, Ian Fleming Publications’ Centenary website (www.ianflemingcentenary.com) got a major overhaul recently.

Sebastian Faulks’ seventh novel, Human Traces, which was released in 2005 was recently re-released in paperback form on March 18th. The book took Faulks five years to write most likely due to the complexity of the story which is about discovering the nature of mental illness. I’ve yet to read this one too. Of Faulks’ work I’ve only read what is called his “French trilogy”; The Girl at the Lion D’or (1989), Birdsong (1993), and Charlotte Gray (1998). The best was clearly Birdsong (simply, a classic), though the others were quite good too.

Faulks’ next release will be a paperback edition of Engleby – his eighth novel on May 27th, with Devil May Care following the very next day.

Human Traces at Amazon: Paperback | Kindle

Fairly soon Raymond Benson’s next novel, A Hard Day’s Death, will hit bookshelves and to promote it he wrote an article called “Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll…and a Comic Thriller” at Dorchester Publishing’s website. The article will also appear in the March/April 2008 issue of Crimespree Magazine. Within the article Benson announced the second book in the series currently titled The Dark Side of the Morgue.

In the article Benson talks about the concept for the series and how he got it published. Now seems like a good time for a book series like this if you ask me. Music is spilling out into all new creative areas. Take video games for example. The popularity of Guitar Hero and Rock Band and all the other music games on the way. Not to mention Brütal Legend by one of my current fav game designers, Tim Schafer (Secret of Monkey Island, Psychonauts, Grim Fandango). Seriously.. in this game you’re a roadie who … like.. kicks ass or something. I’m a little vague on the details, but it’s Shafer, Heavy Metal, Jack Black, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and a bunch of other rockers. How could this go wrong? It’s gonna be great. :P Why not a book. Sounds cool to me.

Right after I get to Sweetie’s Diamonds, I’ll check this book out too. I’m so far behind in my readings it’s not funny. I have a list around here of all the books I want to read; it just gets bigger and bigger.

Check out A Hard Day’s Death at Amazon.com
Read the article at Dorchester Publishing.

Raymond Benson will be judging an inaugural contest from Rain Farm Press called the The 2008 Paradigm Novel Contest. Interested writers have until July 31, 2008 to submit their manuscript and a $20 entry fee. From there your manuscript, if good, will be announced as a finalist on September 15th and will be judged by Mr. Benson. The winner of the contest will rake in a cash prize of $500, will have their manuscript published and distributed by Rain Farm Press, and receive 3 free copies of the book. Additionally you’ll be interviewed and featured in Paradigm, an art-literary journal that Rain Farm Press owns.

The winnings seem rather small, but on the other hand it’s not a huge publisher from what I gather and if you’re just getting started then, well, you gotta make your bones somewhere.

More info

The theme tune to Devil May Care was officially unveiled today by Penguin at DMC’s myspace page according to CommanderBond.net. The winner, which was also my pick, was SAL. If you haven’t, check out the song at the myspace page. If at some point you wish to download it, it will be made available for free at penguin.co.uk and on iTunes.

Press release after the break.
(Read more…)

The fifth and last of the planned Young Bond series by Charlie Higson, By Royal Command, can now be pre-ordered on Amazon.co.uk according to a new posting at The Young Bond Dossier. The book hits retail on September 4th.

In other Young Bond news, Hurricane Gold will land in the U.S. on April 7, 2009 according to YBD as well, which likely means that the U.S. edition of By Royal Command probably won’t make it over here till either late 2009 or 2010. The latter seems the most likely.

In non-breaking news, the U.S. cover art for The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel, the first book in The Moneypenny Diaries trilogy was unveiled last week. The book comes from Thomas Dunne Books and will be published stateside on May 13th just in time for Fleming’s Centenary.

Pre-order at Amazon.

The cover for Raymond Benson’s second book of 2008, an adaptation of the popular selling video game Metal Gear Solid, was finally unveiled. The book is due out on May 27. Check it out at Amazon.com. Benson’s first book of 2008, A Hard Day’s Death is due out in April. (Amazon)

In other Benson news, his latest website update informs fans that he’ll be in Lake Garda, Italy on the 11th and 12th of April to attend a James Bond weekend and in the London for a book signing later on the 15th.

A second edition of the controversial Battle For Bond is in the works according to the author Robert Sellers on a new posting at 007 Magazine. There he discusses the hardships of finding a publisher and also his and Tomahawk’s (the publisher) battle with the Ian Fleming Will Trust. A second edition is forthcoming with a likely release in June or July according to Sellers, although a recent article by The Bookseller indicates it could be as soon as May. This edition will have all the disputed material removed, have less pictures, and will be more affordable. A new introduction will also be written explaining why a second edition was necessary. I imagine this will be in addition to Raymond Benson’s introduction from the first edition.

Yesterday, the Young Bond Dossier exclusively revealed that the fifth book in the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson will be titled By Royal Command. Previously, Charlie had mentioned that the working titles for the novel were “The Shadow War”, “Diamond Rain”, and “Dynamite Kiss”. I quite like the title, while the working titles were not so hot in my opinion. By Royal Command will be published on September 4th in the UK this year in hardback form.

In related Young Bond news, Charlie informed the YBD that his work on the book has been completed. Puffin says “it’s meant to be the best one yet”. I don’t know if this is a mistake or what. That’s just odd wording for a publisher if you ask me. “Is meant to be” – you mean “it is the best one yet.” Also “yet”? As the rumor goes, perhaps more Young Bond is on the way.