Upcoming Bond author Sebastian Faulks’ latest novel, Engleby, was published today in the United States. It was originally published on 3 May of this year in the UK. From Doubleday:
Bestselling British author Sebastian Faulks reinvents the unreliable narrator with his singular, haunting creation—Mike Engleby.
“My name is Mike Engleby, and I’m in my second year at an ancient university.”
With that brief introduction we meet one of the most mesmerizing, singular voices in a long tradition of disturbing narrators. Despite his obvious intelligence and compelling voice, it is clear that something about solitary, odd Mike is not quite right. When he becomes fixated on a classmate named Jennifer Arkland and she goes missing, we are left with the looming question: Is Mike Engleby involved? As he grows up, finding a job and even a girlfriend in London, Mike only becomes more and more detached from those around him in an almost anti-coming-of-age. His inability to relate to others and his undependable memory (able to recall countless lines of text yet sometimes incapable of summoning up his own experiences from mere days before) lead the reader down an unclear and often darkly humorous path where one is never completely comfortable or confident about what is true.
Mike Engleby is a chilling and unforgettable character, and Engleby is a novel that will surprise and beguile Sebastian Faulks’ readership.
Faulks’ next book, Devil May Care, an adult James Bond adventure, will be published in both the UK and the United States simultaneously on May 28, 2008 to celebrate the Centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth. To give you an idea of what we may be in for, The New York Observer in a glowing review of Engleby had this to say about Faulks, Engleby, and the possible success of Devil May Care: “If his Bond novel is as sharp as Engleby, Sebastian Faulks will soon be known as one of the most versatile writers at work today—and one of the most entertaining.” Exciting!
A new Danger Society Newsletter was sent out today to remind fans that the fourth book in the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson, Hurricane Gold, will soon hit retailers. The newsletter reveals that a Hurricane Gold game that will go live on the Young Bond website on September 6th.
More information on the All-Gold Party was also mentioned. Specifically, themed activities, gold food, and a reading by Charlie. The party takes place on September 6th at Waterstone’s, 203 – 206 Piccadilly in The Simpson Room, 6th Floor at 6:30pm.
Filed under: John Pearson on Sep 2, 2007 at 2:41 am
CBn found out that the paperback re-release of John Pearson’s James Bond: The Authorised Biography is being published on May 1st 2008 in the UK. The hardcover is still set to be released on October 4th of this year. What’s interesting to me is that for a long time we’ve known that the US was also getting The Authorised Biography in hardcover form on October 4th as well, but apparently this may not be the case anymore as the listing on Amazon has vanished (at least for me anyway). In the UK the hardcover is being published by an imprint of Random House. No listing for the book is unfortunately at their US website, though the UK site has one.
If you’re a fan of The Moneypenny Diaries by Samantha Weinberg, then you probably already know that the finale in the trilogy, Final Fling, is due out sometime next year. The release date has been all over the place on this one. At one point we were told April 2008, another time we were told July 2008. Well now, Amazon is saying it’s May 2008. May 1st to be precise, although I question whether it is final. May 2008 is going to be a big month for the literary side of James Bond. So far the schedule looks kind of like this:
April 22: Double or Die hits the US
May 1: SilverFin graphic novel, a reissue of James Bond The Authorised Biography in the UK by John Pearson
May 28: Devil May Care
June 5: Hurricane Gold UK paperback
And another book in there just seems like overkill. I thought July was a good month to release it. Young Bond Book 5 would probably hit later that year too. Actually, if you read the CBn interview, Charlie himself said late 2008 for that. We’ll see, I guess. Also Bond 22 in 2008. Good time to be a Bond fan anyway, that’s for sure. Thanks to CBn.
Hey, lets pretend it’s August for one more day. Yay August! So what has happened since “Part 2″….
Casino Royale is being rumored for a 3-disc DVD edition at some point. I would say another edition is almost a given. Expect it in 2008 just prior to Bond 22 (my guess). Also coming soon is the 42-disc James Bond Monster Box set with all the films. No doubt it’s probably just a re-release of the Ultimate Editions with Casino Royale (Amazon)
Michael Lamont passed away. He is the brother of Bond veteran Peter Lamont, but he’s done his fair share for the world of Bond including work on For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill, GoldenEye, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, and Casino Royale. Outside of Bond he worked on The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Aliens, The Fifth Element, Event Horizon, and the first Harry Potter movie. My condolences to the family.
From Italy, it would appear that the Bond 22 film squad moved into Madrid.
And probably the biggest news for the week was Paul Haggis getting around and doing some interviews. Here’s one, here’s another, one here, this one too. Oh.. and the video from IGN.
CBn got to sit down with Charlie Higson and talk about Hurricane Gold, the previous Young Bond adventures, his time writing the books, and even a little here and there on Book 5. Notably, it would appear Ian Fleming Publications and Puffin are gunning for a late 2008 release for Book 5, which currently doesn’t even have a working title.
Well, a lot of reviews are probably going to start hitting soon for the latest Young Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold. A couple days ago, The Observer (The Guardian) placed it on it’s top 10 must-read books for the autumn and today CBBC has reviewed it and their conclusion is that it’s a “fantastic book from start to finish”.
CBn first reported that the book is shipping now from Amazon.co.uk. I can actually confirm this as my book is apparently out the door on its way to my hands. According to Amazon, I should get it anytime starting on September 7th. Not too bad at all.
The U.S. audiobook for Sebastian Faulk’s upcoming James Bond novel Devil May Care has shown up on Amazon. Currently priced at $29.95 it is said to have a launch date of May 20, 2008 though look for that to change as it will most likely be released on the same day as the actual book on May 28.
Awhile back I created a mock up of the cover of the book, see right, for use on my site just to spruce up these types of articles. What do you guys think? Kind of has a Chopping/Fleming vibe, maybe….
In other audiobook news, Hurricane Gold as previously reported has been delayed a bit, but the digital copy on Audible.co.uk is still full steam ahead for release on September 6th. (YBD)
The Guardian’s literary team named the upcoming James Bond adventure Hurricane Gold as one of autumn’s top 10 must-reads. In a sort of mini-review, The Guardian says Charlie Higson’s latest “succeeds, though Fleming would probably raise an eyebrow at its length.” and “Charlie Higson’s task is unenviable, but he’s well equipped.”
With all the proofs and copies on eBay, I still have personally have yet to read it. In fact I’m planning on just waiting for my retail copy to be shipped to me, but from from people I’ve talked to that have read it, well.. I’ve heard good things. 007 days remain.
The Scotsman reports on Sebastian Faulks’ attendance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where he took questions from the audience and read passages from his novels Birdsong, Charlotte Gray, and Engleby.
He also talked briefly about being commissioned to write the upcoming James Bond novel, Devil May Care.
