The Reloaded editions of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, read by prominent British actors, was re-released yesterday in the US by Blackstone Audio. The collapse of AudioGo last year had Bond fans clambering for out-of-print CDs and box sets, but Ian Fleming Publications was able to strike a deal with Blackstone to keep the recordings in circulation. Each 007 title is available in CD, download, and MP3 CD editions. Prices on Blackstone's site range from $10.46 for download to $17.47 (discounted from $24.99) for CDs. Amazon has not updated their pages and still list library-edition prices at around $56 each. Blackstone has ported over the abstract cover designs for each novel from the 2012 Amazon/Thomas & Mercer series (see samples below) and have dropped the "Reloaded" brand. The series features an exciting group of actors, including David Tennent, Kenneth Branagh, Rosamund Pike, Hugh Bonneville, Toby Stephens, Tom Hiddleston, Bill Nighy, Dan Stevens, and many others. Organized by the author's niece, Lucy Fleming, she also participated as a reader for "007 in New York" (Octopussy and the Living Daylights). Live and Let Die (read by Rory Kinnear) doesn't seem to be listed yet, nor do I see box set compilations offered. I was one of the people who bought the Volume One box set two years ago, but missed out on Volume Two when it went out of print. I look forward to hearing these great actors bring the rest of the series to life! Blackstone Audio also continues to offer the wonderful Bond audio series and Fleming/Lycett biography read by Simon Vance, continuation novels Solo and Carte Blanche, and the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang books read by David Tennent. Related Spy Vibe posts: Simon Vance Interview, Audio Book Update, David Tennent Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Enter to win prizes from Spy Vibe, including vintage James Bond, The Saint, andThe Avengers paperbacks. Contest ends September 17th. Details here.
Selected Spy Vibe posts: Harry Palmer Blu, One Million Prizes, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Blu-Ray, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
Spy Vibers can now hear a new BBC dramatization of On Her Majesty's Secret Service streaming on-line. The program stars Toby Stephens (Die Another Day), Alfred Molina, Joanna Lumley (New Avengers, On Her Majesty's Secret Service), and Julian Sands. Beautifully recorded with sound fx and music, the 90-minute show will be available only during the next six days. BBC link here.
From BBC: "James Bond seems more interested in gambling at the Casino
Royale than tracking down elusive SPECTRE chief Blofeld. Then he meets Tracy,
emotionally disturbed daughter of mafia boss Draco.
Now he has a double
motive: seek and destroy Blofeld, and prevent Tracy killing herself. Impersonating a College of Arms official Bond infiltrates
Blofeld's Swiss mountain-top lair. He learns that Blofeld and aide Irma Bunt
are brainwashing young women. Why? Is biological warfare involved? Backed by
'M' and Draco, Bond mounts an air assault. But can he pin down monstrous
Blofeld? And what will happen to Tracy?
Toby Stephens is on top form as 007. A stellar cast includes
Joanna Lumley, Alfred Molina, Alex Jennings, Lisa Dillon, John Standing, Janie
Dee, Lloyd Owen, Joanna Cassidy, Clare Dunne and Julian Sands, with Jarvis
himself as the voice of Fleming. Specially composed music: Mark Holden and Michael
Lopez.
Dramatised by Archie Scottney. Director: Martin Jarvis
. Producer: Rosalind Ayres.
A Jarvis
& Ayres Production for BBC Radio 4." Spy Vibe's look at Japanese editions here. Our Ian Fleming image archive on Pinterest here. Toby Stephens below with cast.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: SE Asian 007, Cumberbatch as Ian Fleming, Fleming Jamaica Book, Bond Japanese Editions, Fleming Chinese Edition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th, Ian Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell Japan, Collecting Fleming, Live and Let Die 60th, new poster announced, 007 Audio Books Update, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters Mystery, The Goldfinger Variations, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Cold War Archie, New Avengers Comic, Ipcress File Blu-ray, Honor Blackman Tour, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Fu Manchu history panel, Mod Tales Interview, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
James Bond readings will return! Ian Fleming Publications recently produced the wonderful Reloaded series of audiobooks read by many prominent British actors. The Series One set included performances of the novels by Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), Bill Nighy (Shaun of the Dead), Toby Stephens (Die Another Day), and Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey). After a spectacular launch, the remaining Fleming titles were released with readings by David Tennant (Doctor Who), Kenneth Branagh, Rosamund Pike (Die Another Die), and others. The final recordings of short stories came out last fall and included a special reading of 007 in New York by Ian Fleming's niece Lucy Fleming! The audiobooks were available on CD and for download in England- but only temporarily. With the sudden recent collapse of AudioGo, digital distribution shifted to Audible in the UK, but the CDs went out of print. Fans outside of the UK who looked forward to the second-wave releases have found themselves high and dry, or having to pay premium prices on the secondary market. But you can postpone your plans to knock off Fort Knox. I corresponded with Ian Fleming Publications today and they responded with good news: "Please rest assured- and assure your readers- that
we are working hard to get the 007 Reloaded audiobooks back on the market as
soon as possible, both in the UK and USA. We have found alternative
distributors, but there are a number of hoops to jump through before they can go into
production. They are well worth waiting for!" Thank you to our friends at Fleming Publications for this update. I can't wait to hear the remaining performances. In the meantime, fans can still find excellent readings of Ian Fleming's novels, as well as Lycett's biography, by Simon Vance for Blackstone Audio. See our brief interview with Simon Vance here. Readers may also be interested in checking out David Tennant's current work on the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang continuation novels.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Fleming Letters Mystery, Appropriating Bond, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Spy Vibe is having a spring sale on eBay. New items added very few days and include rare Beatles, James Bond, books, music, and comics. Details here.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Sylvia Anderson, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton, Solar & Bionic Man Return, The Saint Library Released, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, James Bond Comic Event, Turkish James Bond Design, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Sherlock Exhibit, Fu Manchu history panel, Striped Light Nude, Buckminster Fuller, Jane and Serge, The Goldfinger Variations, Mod Tales Interview, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
