James Bond in 2008

This year is set to be an bumper year for James Bond, and while many people’s eyes will be focused on Bond 22, due to start filming on Thursday, fans of the novels are in for a real treat this year.

With 2008 marking the one hundredth anniversary of Ian Fleming’s birth, the Royal Mail is issuing a set of James Bond postage stamps on 8th January, which are available to pre-order on a variety of first day covers. Then between 17th April and 1st March 2009 London’s Imperial War Museum will host an exhibition entitled For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond devoted to the author and his creation in a historical context. Another exhibition is hosted by The Fleming Collection; Bond Bound: Ian Fleming & The Art of Cover Design takes a look at the role of the book covers in creating the James Bond brand and will run from 22nd April to 28th June.

While Fleming is best known for creating 007, he was also the author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which he originally wrote for his son, Caspar. The book is being republished in a centenary edition on 1st May and available to pre-order from Amazon, while fans of the James Bond novels will be treated to a new adventure written by Sebastian Faulks which will be published on 28th May, the date of Ian Fleming’s birthday. Devil May Care is said to have written close to the style of Fleming and was completed in just six weeks by following a similar writing discipline to Fleming’s own. It is also available to pre-order from Amazon in the UK and USA.

Fans of Charlie Higson’s Young Bond stories are also in for a treat, with Hurricane Gold published in paperback on the same date and the as yet unnamed Young Bond 5 published on 4th September, which coincides with the publication of Silverfin as a graphic novel.

Finally, November sees the release of the next James Bond film. Once again staring Daniel Craig as 007, the as yet untitled film is set to start where Casino Royale finished.

The James Bond Dossier will be celebrating Ian Fleming’s centenary year with a series of articles about Ian Fleming – watch this space.