I’m not sure about that, but I’m interested to see how much of Bond’s world factors in to the story for flavour if he’s not actually appearing.
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You can now request a preview of ‘Double or Nothing’ on Net Galley.
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Hopefully very little. If this is a story about other members of the Double-oh section, then let it be that. This whole “Bond is missing” bit, unless they have some really clever angle on it, feels unnecessary. Just let these agents have their time in the spotlight, I say.
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The hardcover just went live for pre-order on Amazon U.S.
April 11, 2023
I have no idea why we still get these staggered release dates when we live in a world where you can order from other countries very easily…
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Why so long?! Thank you for the information. The whole thing might be spoiled by then.
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April?!?!?!?!?!? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, K? Wonder if I can order the Kindle edition via Amazon.UK?
Kindle might make it argue, but hard copy you’ll be fine. Publishers apparently haven’t heard of the postal service…
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I think it will have some relevance to the story otherwise they wouldn’t have mentioned it. Particularly the ‘his whereabouts are unknown bit’. I’m personally hoping Bond has a presence in the story - perhaps locked up in a foreign country - and escapes/gets rescued sometime later, or in another book. By that time the new agents have had plenty of development.
I couldn’t and wouldn’t wait that long. It’s out September 7 here.
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We know that it will have some relevance because, as you said, they make a point to mention it. But is it necessary? I very seriously doubt it. Unless there is some truly clever take on it that they’re going to be delivering, then it’s just a derivative bit of nonsense that really cheapens the whole endeavor. Why not just have a novel focusing on these new agents, rather than having to find a cliche way of shoehorning Bond into the proceedings.
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Sounds like a plan, Orion. Though I’ll wait for the reviews to see if pulling that particular trigger is worth the effort and expense.
I know you probably wouldn’t agree, but it’s my opinion that Bond should be the sun other characters revolve around in the Bond universe, otherwise it may as well be any generic spy based story. I think there’s a way to have our cake and eat it too.
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I’ve always been of the opinion that the only thing that we need in a Bond film/book/game/etc is James Bond himself. That’s it. Despite what virtually everyone else says, he is the only thing that makes something a Bond something. This notion that it can’t be a “Bond film” without Moneypenny, Q, M, Tanner, or whoever else has always been, IMO, one of the biggest crocks the fan community has ever come up with.
Now, with that said, if they’re going to be putting the effort into creating this new series and creating new Double-oh agents that we’re supposed to be invested in, then do it right and have the story focused on these new agents. Having these agents there simply to be on the hunt for a missing Bond really robs them of a lot of their agency. We wouldn’t be hearing about them at all if it weren’t for this contrived situation where Bond is MIA. In other words, these characters aren’t worth hearing about if Bond is not missing and is on active duty. If that’s the case, then why should I care about these characters?
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And it’s my opinion that you’re correct, but the absence of those established icons reduces the charm. I gather the book will be focused on the new agents. We wouldn’t even have this story if it wasn’t set in the Bond universe, period, regardless if Bond appeared at all. The Bond brand gives this story its profile. If we’re setting the book in the Bond universe I think it makes sense to play up to that, otherwise I’d just pick up any other spy thriller out there.
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I think it can be accomplished without having to have them focusing on finding Bond. Have them bump into Bond in the office. Maybe there’s a “pre-title sequence” of sorts along the lines of GE with one or more of the agents on a mission that includes Bond, then move on from there without him. That way the agents get to keep their purpose as independent characters without having the sole reason for their presence in the actual story be because MI6 can’t find James Bond.
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Fellow U.S. buyers - don’t be turned off ordering from Amazon UK. I just placed my order and the total with international shipping was $25.56. The pre-order price in the U.S. is $28.99!
Obviously the price will drop from that upon release but With a Time to Kill is still sitting at $22.99 after a few months, so $25.56 really is not out of line…
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In addition to that, Amazon has a pre-order guarantee that means you will always get it for the cheapest price offered during your pre-order
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It would be neat timing if book three comes out around the time of Bond 26, with both coinciding with the return of 007. Makes me wonder if that could even be a loosely agreed plan.
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Just dropping by to leave this little invitation…
Edit: Beat me to it, @MaxZorin !
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You can tell she is really using social media, better than other Bond promotions have been lately. I still think we’ll have some character surprise appearances coming up!
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