Penguin reissueing 007 novels

scaramanga1 · April 2006

some of you may know that with the advent of Casino Royale the books are to be reissued again by Penguin which is great news for literary fans -especially as they will include introductions by other authors and will have new covers. Personally I would love it if Penguin UK went for a similar approach to the last reissue of the novels in the US which graced those excellent "pulp" style covers -the last few issues here in the UK have lacked imagination IMO. What do you all think?

Golrush007 · April 2006

Hopefully they release them in a box set, then I can get a whole set of the novels in one go.

Although, the one area I differ with Sc1, is that with the last Penguin run, I prefered the covers on the UK editions to the so-called 'pulp' style US ones. That's just a personal preference, but I did like both.

But am I alone in thinking that I would rather see re-issues of the continuation novels if not both?

Sir Miles · April 2006

Golrush007 wrote:

But am I alone in thinking that I would rather see re-issues of the continuation novels if not both?

Nope, I'm with you there. I'd love to see a complete set of paperbacks is similar covers.

But I do agree with SC1 - the US "pulp" style covers were fantastic, the last UK re-issues were bland in comparison, and showed a distinct lack of imagination.

Golrush007 · April 2006

The UK covers may have been less imaginative as you put it, but they have a certain something that attracts my eye more than the US ones. Especially ones like TB, GF and LALD. Some are rather bland, like DN and FRWL, but they all have a slightly mysterious quality which I like.

As I said I would really love to see a complete set, and as Sir Miles said, with the same theme running through the covers so that you can get a set of Flemings plus the continuation novels all with the same theme so that you can see they are in the same set. I reckon the closest we've come to that is probably the UK Coronet editions from a while back. Late eighties I think. You probably know the ones I mean. They had writing at the top of the cover saying James Bond and the N and D were merged with 007 at 007 at ninety degrees in side the two letters. The Flemings, plus Colonel Sun and some of the Gardners were released in this series if my memory serves me. Those were classy covers IMO.

The Cat · April 2006

I'd also love to see THE SERIES as it is from CR to the end with similar cover and if possible - a row of spines that would make up a whole picture. Personally I found both UK and US Penguins have good qualities - apart from the dazzling covers, the US editions are simply handier and it's easier to read them, unlike the British ones which got spine bends after a thumb through. But it's much nicer to have on the buses since it doesn't look like "dirty literature." The only thing I never got that why did they bother with the "Penguin Classics"? I mean ten books, missing four, what's the point?

steelydan3 · April 2006

This is great news! I'd love to see a box set of the books, it would go nicely beside my Bond DVD tin. I've already got Dr. No and Octopussy/The Living Daylights, but would happily shell out for the set, it's my birthday soon too.....:) Any ideas scaramanga1 of when they are reissued?

Krassno Granitski · April 2006

steelydan3 wrote:

would happily shell out for the set, it's my birthday soon too.....:)

You would not have to shell out much. I got mine at Costco for $14.00 for all 14 books.

scaramanga1 · April 2006

steelydan3 wrote:

This is great news! I'd love to see a box set of the books, it would go nicely beside my Bond DVD tin. I've already got Dr. No and Octopussy/The Living Daylights, but would happily shell out for the set, it's my birthday soon too.....:) Any ideas scaramanga1 of when they are reissued?

Personally I don't know the release date yet -but I should imagine it will be some time near the release of CR so as to maximise sales -as for a box set we will have to see -all i know is that the books are being reissued with new covers -but having a complete set of Fleming's in one slipcase is just one of those things we can hope for -after all if the series mentioned by Cat -i.e the one with only ten copies was a good enough indication to penguin on how a complete set would sell -when then there is indeed hope -so fingers crossed.

Golrush007 · April 2006

Wasn't the Penguin issues released in a box set as well with all 14 novels. I saw a set on ebay some time back, but annoyingly have not seen another since, because I would definitely buy if I did see it again.

Sir Miles · April 2006

Golrush007 wrote:

Wasn't the Penguin issues released in a box set as well with all 14 novels. I saw a set on ebay some time back, but annoyingly have not seen another since, because I would definitely buy if I did see it again.

They did indeed, but I think it was a Past Times stores exclusive - that's where I bought my set from, for less than half the recommended retail price

Hardyboy · April 2006

I'm starting to think that Ian Fleming Productions has learned something from Apple Corps (the Beatles' record label, not the computer and Ipod gang)--just keep repackaging the same stuff, and the money will come rolling in!

The Cat · April 2006

Too bad they can't add "special features" to it like the DVDs. We could have glow-in-the-dark books or ones with those thin little linen bookmarks and 3-D touchable covers... Or perhaps we're lucky they don't do that.

Still I have no idea how many editions do they make - these titles aren't exactly hard to get. You know when the books are available in Hungary, there are too many copies out there...

Alex · May 2006

Would be outstanding if Penguin re-released the US collection in dust jacket/hard covers. I'd certainly spend the extra.

emtiem · May 2006

Golrush007 wrote:

Although, the one area I differ with Sc1, is that with the last Penguin run, I prefered the covers on the UK editions to the so-called 'pulp' style US ones. That's just a personal preference, but I did like both.

Yeah- gotta agree. The US versions were great, but they were very American pulp rather than British pulp and I'm not sure the style fitted Bond exactly. The modern abstract covers on the UK ones I liked although they weren't hugely exciting.

Sir Miles · May 2006

Alex wrote:

Would be outstanding if Penguin re-released the US collection in dust jacket/hard covers. I'd certainly spend the extra.

That would be a great idea

In the UK we got the last set of covers in both hardback and paperback - so why not the US. I'm sure they'd sell extremely well.

Napoleon Plural · April 2009

Those cretins at Penguin are back on the case:

New rubbish covers

I mean, ditch the brilliant FRWL cover, then replace the TB cover with a picture from YOLT! 8-) And keeping the blurred, out of focus Ursula Andress one!

darenhat · April 2009

Alex wrote:

Would be outstanding if Penguin re-released the US collection in dust jacket/hard covers. I'd certainly spend the extra.

Unfortunately, I never purchased any of the Penguin additions because I wouldn't be able to carry them with me anywhere without blushing, as well as feeling like an utter lech. At least with the dustjackets, I could take them off when in 'mixed' company!

Barbel · April 2009

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Those cretins at Penguin are back on the case:

New rubbish covers

I mean, ditch the brilliant FRWL cover, then replace the TB cover with a picture from YOLT! 8-) And keeping the blurred, out of focus Ursula Andress one!

I'm glad they kept the cover for TSWLM much the same; very atmospheric.

Napoleon Plural · April 2009

Agreed, that one actually is very good, as is Casino Royale. But the ones that crib from the films...

Alex · April 2009

darenhat wrote:

Alex wrote:

Would be outstanding if Penguin re-released the US collection in dust jacket/hard covers. I'd certainly spend the extra.

Unfortunately, I never purchased any of the Penguin additions because I wouldn't be able to carry them with me anywhere without blushing, as well as feeling like an utter lech. At least with the dustjackets, I could take them off when in 'mixed' company!

I tape mine with little plastic baggies to keep the edges mint. There are just as lurid posters adorning my hallway and bedroom wall I'm afraid.

Penguin reissueing 007 novels

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