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Comments
If I were to have spoiled anything (and what I said isn't accurate!), it's only literally the first page ;)
What I do like so far is that he's taking a very Fleming approach to structure.
That's what I suspected and thanks for the heads up.
Glad you're enjoying it so far.
Completely gimmicky. Imho the title is awful. That's not paying homage, it's just lame. Higson will probably do a sequel when William becomes king and call it
Die Another Tomorrow
Because, like On His Majesty's Secret Service, that's such a clever play on Bond titles. Sarcasm overload.
You can't win 'em all. ;)
Tomorrow Never Dies and Die Another Day are pretty much the same title, lol. EON should have stuck with Tomorrow Never Lies and Beyond The Ice, in my opinion. I don’t personally mind On His Majesty’s Secret Service as a title, personally. The book was written at the last minute, honestly.
Yes, and it's worse that they were both only two films apart in the same Bond actor's era. I agree that Tomorrow Never Lies would've been a preferable title. It's a shame they chickened out and went with the typo on the fax instead. Not every Bond title needs to have "Die" in the title. I'm not sure if Beyond the Ice was ever considered for DAD or was just a rumoured title. I remember first hearing it mooted as early as September 2000 so it's unlikely it was ever an Eon title. More likely something dreamed up by the feverish British tabloid press.
Higson seems to hint in his interviews that the title was IFP's idea to celebrate the 60th anniversary of OHMSS.
I think the title is fine and an obvious choice given the subject matter of the plot. Titles are always a bone of contention with some people. Like most things, you can't please everyone.
If anything I kind of think that it suits this better than Fleming's title suits his book: he probably should have gone 'The World Is Not Enough' or 'All The Time In The World' for his one.
Yes, I suppose OHMSS seems a little generic as it doesn't really reference anything in the plot. Still, it's a classic Bond title and uses the trick of taking an existing phrase and adapting it slightly, as with LALD prior to it.
That's a point though hopefully the very specific contemporary plot with real world implications will stop the rather suggestive media ever considering the filming of the novel.
Just for that the producers will call the next Bond film Die Die Die Die.
In an interview from 1962 Fleming asked “What do you think of Belles of Hell as a title? Or should I play safe with something like, On Her Majesty's Secret Service?”
The Belles of Hell referenced not only Blofeld's patients but also the classic old WWI marching song "The Bells of Hell." Its lyrics go:
The Bells of Hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling
For you but not for me:
For me the angels sing-a-ling-a-ling,
They've got the goods for me.
Oh! Death, where is thy sting-a-ling-a-ling?
Oh! Grave, thy victory?
The Bells of Hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling
For you but not for me.
Those could have been the lyrics of the film's title song if Fleming had decided on The Belles of Hell.
Me too. He's my favourite Bond.
Apologies, but I was slipping into my native dialect, Dragonpolian, there. Alas, it happens sometimes when I don't proof read my posts.
OK Computer?
How did he manage that then? 8-}
I'm not gonna question it. Thanks, Mr. Higson!
It's the royal seal of approval.
I haven't had much time to read it but really enjoying it so far.
I see what they mean by 'novella'. It wasn't even displayed with the new hardbacks in Waterstones, there were just two copies on the main desk. When there's a Horowitz new novel there's usually a whistle-and-bells table full of the new books.
Still, it's a smart little hardback with no dust-jacket, and there's some scribble in the one corner that means it's probably signed. So, at £12.95 I reckon it's the cheapest signed first edition James Bond novel ever?
Still, size isn't everything and the proof of the pudding is in the reading. I'll enjoy this over the weekend, (though I'll have to pace myself, if it's a page turner it could turn into a single-sitting book!).
I must say I love the size of it- it feels really nice to read in the hand!
Yes, I agree it's a tactile little item. I'm going to enjoy stashing it in my work bag over the weekend and reading it on breaks.
If they did more of these (I'd love it to be Higson but I don't see why they can't use a variety of writers) I'd snap them up.
I had the same though: just two copies on the sales desk rather than anywhere else. It took a bit of hunting to find it, and obviously just as I was about to ask the guy at the desk- there it was.
What with Amazon not being able to send it out and Waterstones seemingly not being fully stocked (and no copies in Smiths or Sainsburys that I could find) I wonder if they haven't been able to print enough in the time. I guess for a new publishing house it's a bit of a challenge to set yourself for your first original publication- and doing it for charity too.
EDIT: Just got my 'order processed' email from Goldsboro, apparently it'll ship in 2-3 days.
Daily Express feature on the book:
Bond Save the King
online version