That's Bond - James Bond

Author Ian Fleming was born in 1908 so 2008 is the 100th anniversary of his birth. Since Fleming died in 1964, it’s been a long time since there’s been a new James Bond novel. But if you’re a fan of Ian Fleming’s 007 series you’re in for a summer treat. Sebastian Faulks, writing as Ian Fleming, has written Devil May Care, a new James Bond thriller. And just in case you’ve forgotten any of the old story lines, check out Kate Westbrook’s The Moneypenny Diaries. Miss Jane Moneypenny kept secret diaries of her years working for “M” in the Secret Service. Who knew? Anyway, her diaries serve as a great overview of the series. She even provides footnotes explaining who’s who!

Just in case these two new books don’t satisfy your need for a 007 fix, SilverFin and Blood Fever by Charles Higson are two books in our High School collection featuring a young James at Eton, a famous British boarding school. (If you work crossword puzzles you’ll recognize Eton as the prep school attended by James Bond. It’s frequently an answer in the Daily Herald’s crossword puzzle.) Ian Fleming also went to Eton and had wartime experience in British Naval Intelligence that gave him the background for the James Bond series.

And just in case that’s not enough there is also a graphic novel featuring James Bond called Shark Bait, written by Jim Lawrence.

(If you’re a fan of the movies you may be surprised at the grittiness and political “incorrectness” of the novels.)

Another bit of trivia – Ian Fleming also wrote the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Enjoy your summer reading! Linda K.