What editions of the Fleming novels do you own?

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  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,547
    Your decorating tips are always appreciated, @DarthDimi.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    But before I had money to buy this many books, I read them all in Dutch in this collection, which was in my local library:

    rdua0cgjk2c3.jpg

    Funny how all these books have the same cover model, and if I am not mistaken, she never appeared in any of the films... who is she?

    It is the same cover model, indeed, @NeverSayNever, and she's not from any of the movies. I went through a few of the copies but couldn't find her name, alas.
  • Posts: 526
    MrBrown wrote:
    Were they the hardcovers with the girls on front covers?

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    No, these, the Penguin editions:

    penguin11.jpeg?w=529&h=285

    The cover for LALD makes it a hell of a thing to bring to school to read! ;)

    I have all of the British versions of these, and three of the American ones. The American ones are slightly larger page size, and different type font on OHMSS. I'll see if I can upload some images soon.

    Just love that Moonraker cover.

    Nice!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited October 2021 Posts: 18,271
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    I've never seen that particular edition of Colonel Sun before, @NickTwentyTwo. From the Pan logo on the black paperback spine I'm guessing it's some time after 1970? I know it changed to having a circle at the top of the logo from around that time. I do have several copies of the 1970 Pan paperback edition of Colonel Sun but that's the first time I've seen one with the newer Pan logo.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,547
    Dragonpol wrote: »
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    I've never seen that particular edition of Colonel Sun before, @NickTwentyTwo. From the Pan logo on the black paperback spine I'm guessing it's some time after 1970? I know it changed to having a circle at the top of the logo from around that time. I do have several copies of the 1970 Pan paperback edition of Colonel Sun but that's the first time I've seen one with the newer Pan logo.

    The inside says "This edition published 1970 by Pan Books Ltd,", and then it lists printings up to 7th Printing in 1973; I suppose this copy came from that 7th printing in '73.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited October 2021 Posts: 18,271
    Dragonpol wrote: »
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    I've never seen that particular edition of Colonel Sun before, @NickTwentyTwo. From the Pan logo on the black paperback spine I'm guessing it's some time after 1970? I know it changed to having a circle at the top of the logo from around that time. I do have several copies of the 1970 Pan paperback edition of Colonel Sun but that's the first time I've seen one with the newer Pan logo.

    The inside says "This edition published 1970 by Pan Books Ltd,", and then it lists printings up to 7th Printing in 1973; I suppose this copy came from that 7th printing in '73.

    Ah, I see. Thanks. I've never seen a printing beyond the 1970 one in paperback for that particular edition. All mine are 1970 first printings and I've picked up a good few copies of that edition over the years as its one of my favourite Bond novel covers. It nicely complements the other Fleming Bond covers in the series too. I do have a Triad "Girls on Guns" edition of it too but it's a bit later than that publication-wise, around 1978 I think.

    It's good to know that it went in to so many printings in Pan paperback alone. I've always wondered how popular Colonel Sun was among the reading public but that indicates that it sold well in paperback in any event. Having James Bond in bold letters on the cover never did those Pan editions any harm I'd imagine! Canny marketing from people who really knew how to sell their product via distinctive branding and colourful and beautiful cover art. Ah, the good old days! :)
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,547
    Unfortunately I don't know much about the continuation novels, but in my recent visit to Victoria here in BC I went into a big used book stores (the city has a couple well known ones), and they had a massive selection of the continuation novels (not so much Fleming though, for whatever reason).
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited October 2021 Posts: 18,271
    Unfortunately I don't know much about the continuation novels, but in my recent visit to Victoria here in BC I went into a big used book stores (the city has a couple well known ones), and they had a massive selection of the continuation novels (not so much Fleming though, for whatever reason).

    Nice. That sounds like my kind of place then. A real treasure trove! The Bond continuation novels are one of my main obsessions along of course with the literary Bond in general. I know not everybody likes them but they've always been a source of fascination for me within the world of Bond. Of course I have them all (well almost, apart from one of the Steve Cole Young Bond books and two of the Moneypenny Diaries) but I still look through them if I ever find any to see if it's a particular edition I don't happen to have. They're not as common to find nowadays as one might think, especially the older Amis, Gardner and Benson titles which are the ones I'm the biggest fan of overall. Yes, I'm a mad collector. Or maybe just mad. :)
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,547
    Do you have any interest in the Dynamite graphic novels?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,271
    Do you have any interest in the Dynamite graphic novels?

    A little. I bought all the single issues of Kill Chain together as I was interested to hear that neo-Nazis were the villains again and wanted to see how that was handled after they'd already been the villains in John Gardner's Icebreaker (1983) and SeaFire (1994). Still not gotten around to reading it unfortunately but I must make that a priority.

    I understand that so far Fleming's Casino Royale and Live and Let Die have been released as graphic novels but I've yet to pick them up.

    Which ones would you recommend, @NickTwentyTwo?
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited October 2021 Posts: 7,547
    The adaptions of Casino Royale and Live and Let Die are great. As far as the original stories go, they all sort of fail to stand out unfortunately. There are great moments in a few of them, but largely they fail to impact in the ways the Flemings and films do (holding them to too high a bar, perhaps).
    Having said that, the one that does jump to mind is Eidolon; it has it's good and bad, but it's the one I keep thinking about and I think parts of it would make for a good film adaption.
    Also, I think Jason Masters nailed the Bond look better than anyone after him, so Vargr and Eidolon are worth checking out for that alone.
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  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,271
    The adaptions of Casino Royale and Live and Let Die are great. As far as the original stories go, they all sort of fail to stand out unfortunately. There are great moments in a few of them, but largely they fail to impact in the ways the Flemings and films do (holding them to too high a bar, perhaps).
    Having said that, the one that does jump to mind is Eidolon; it has it's good and bad, but it's the one I keep thinking about and I think parts of it would make for a good film adaption.
    Also, I think Jason Masters nailed the Bond look better than anyone after him, so Vargr and Eidolon are worth checking out for that alone.
    249205389_220019293556389_2493103194777538967_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_rgb565=1&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=nRPJPPz_kkcAX-Ip9wN&_nc_ht=scontent.fcxh2-1.fna&oh=8ff3f9fa6f69d907defd68a415f60e8f&oe=619E183D

    Thanks for those recommendations from the Dynamite back catalogue, @NickTwentyTwo. I'll have to look into it. Those illustrations certainly are excellent and more in keeping with the older Hoagy Carmichael image of Bond that Fleming originally envisioned.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,572
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    QBranch wrote: »
    Here is my Fleming novel collection- the 2008 Penguin centenary edition (100 years since Fleming's birth); 4 Pan novels I found at the markets; and LALD by the Reprint Society London.

    12497449365_640b66016c_o.png
    12499421915_6a6599ed20_o.png
    12497125404_9d8bc12090_o.png
    That's the set I own. The Centenary collection
    Bought for me by my good Lady as a Birthday gift!
    Congrats, it's a great addition. I bought that one in 2008 from Kmart for $60. Amazing value.
    Since that post, I've added heaps more Fleming editions which I'll get around to cataloging one of these days.

    @Dragonpol Regarding the Dynamite comics, I started with the short story Solstice and was impressed by that. There's a few fresh little twists throughout. I've read a couple of the full length stories, but that is the one that has really stuck with me. it's a Christmastime Bond story too.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited October 2021 Posts: 18,271
    QBranch wrote: »
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    QBranch wrote: »
    Here is my Fleming novel collection- the 2008 Penguin centenary edition (100 years since Fleming's birth); 4 Pan novels I found at the markets; and LALD by the Reprint Society London.

    12497449365_640b66016c_o.png
    12499421915_6a6599ed20_o.png
    12497125404_9d8bc12090_o.png
    That's the set I own. The Centenary collection
    Bought for me by my good Lady as a Birthday gift!
    Congrats, it's a great addition. I bought that one in 2008 from Kmart for $60. Amazing value.
    Since that post, I've added heaps more Fleming editions which I'll get around to cataloging one of these days.

    @Dragonpol Regarding the Dynamite comics, I started with the short story Solstice and was impressed by that. There's a few fresh little twists throughout. I've read a couple of the full length stories, but that is the one that has really stuck with me. it's a Christmastime Bond story too.

    Thanks for the recommendation, @QBranch. I wasn't aware the comics were available in short story format as well. Interesting and a good way to get an introductory dip into the Dynamite comics, I'd imagine.
  • Posts: 631
    I’ve got a soft spot for 1970s sleaziness and, as a result, I’m rather fond of the girls-and-big-gun paperback covers.

    The first complete set I will have however is the current Folio set, assuming they do the short stories. (They better do.)
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,547
    One day I hope to have the complete Folio set!
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited October 2021 Posts: 13,978
    I'll have to do this in stages, so here are all of the copes of Casino Royale in my collection

    uGDxHLN.jpeg
    (L-R Top) Pan PB 1955, 8th printing 1961; Signet PB 1960, 2nd printing 1962; Pan PB 1955, 15th printing 1963;
    (L-R Bottom) Pan PB 1955, 25th printing 1967; Pan PB 1955, 30th printing 1973; Triad/Panther PB 1978

    auTZVMK.jpeg
    (L-R Top) Coronet PB 19??; Penguin PB 2002; Penguin Classics PB 2004
    (L-R Bottom) Penguin PB 2002, 2006 Reissue with an introduction; Penguin PB 2002, 2006 Reissue; Vintage Books PB 2012

    4xaSESP.jpeg
    Folio Society HB
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,572
    Very nice, Major.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Thank you :)
  • Posts: 387
    I just bought this bunch for 5 bucks.

    2cc4e068df2f785c05bbe32af72017b88418a6eb.jpg


    I love the covers because when you read this in the subway, today, and not 1980 when they were issued, people are looking at you like you are some rapist monster that should be locked in jail.

  • Posts: 2,402
    I love the 2002 Penguins (of which I own LALD, MR, FRWL, and OHMSS; my first Bond book ever was the 2002 FRWL). The typefaces and the abstract images just seem to have such a timelessness to them.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,572
    Hadn't seen those ones before, @Stamper. Nice score.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Live And Let Die
    VtIaPqw.jpeg
    (L-R Top) Pan PB 1957, 5th Printing 1961; Pan PB 1957, 6th Printing 1961; Pan PB 1957, 20th Printing 1965
    (L-R Bottom) Triad/Panther PB 1978; Penguin Classics PB 2004, Folio Society HB
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,547
    @MajorDSmythe no interest in the graphic novel adaptions of CR & LALD?
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    @MajorDSmythe no interest in the graphic novel adaptions of CR & LALD?

    It’s not a lack of interest, I just don’t don’t have them.

    Actually, I do have one of the Titan Books comics, TMWTGG I think it is. But I have those, together, but separate from the books.
  • slide_99slide_99 USA
    Posts: 693
    Penguin Editions of:
    Casino Royale
    Live and Let Die
    Moonraker
    Diamonds Are Forever
    You Only Live Twice
    The Man With The Golden Gun

    Thomas & Mercer:
    Dr. No
    From Russia With Love
  • Posts: 9,846
    Out of curiosity How many did pick up the Quantum of Solace in 2008?I bought the 2006 Penguins and picked up the 2008 Quantum of solace even though I owned For your Eyes Only and The Living Daylights/ Octopussy
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,271
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Out of curiosity How many did pick up the Quantum of Solace in 2008?I bought the 2006 Penguins and picked up the 2008 Quantum of solace even though I owned For your Eyes Only and The Living Daylights/ Octopussy

    Yes, I did at the time but then I'm mad. :)
  • edited November 2021 Posts: 624
    I've finally tracked down all the US Penguin editions. I'm left waiting for Octopussy and The Living Daylights to arrive in the mail and then I'll be complete. I'm about to start reading Moonraker after immensely enjoying CR and LALD. I am looking forward to it, as I've seen it ranked as the best Fleming.

    I don't remember a ton from my last read through of the Flemings, 15 years ago. It's like reading them for the first time all over again.

    To answer @Risico007 's question, I personally wouldn't bother. QoS isn't a Fleming book, it was just a money grab at the time of the film's release.
  • Posts: 9,846
    I've finally tracked down all the US Penguin editions. I'm left waiting for Octopussy and The Living Daylights to arrive in the mail and then I'll be complete. I'm about to start reading Moonraker after immensely enjoying CR and LALD. I am looking forward to it, as I've seen it ranked as the best Fleming.

    To answer @Risico007 's question, I personally wouldn't bother. QoS isn't a Fleming book, it was just a money grab at the time of the film's release.

    Oh I did and I am happy hell if the do the same when we get films of Risico, The Property of Lady, The Hildebrand Rarity, and 007 in New York as long as the covers are great I will do it.
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