SOLO - 'The Mystery Of The Incompetent Marketing Campaign'

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  • Posts: 2,594
    Why can't they put actual real pictures on the hardback dust jackets?

    The UK SOLO cover design is better than the Carte Blanche one but not better than the DMC design. Like usual, for me, the UK design outranks the US version. Like the bullet holes and the gecko on the inside. Overall, I'll say under average and disappointing yet again.

    The original designs for the Fleming hardbacks:

    http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/FrameBase?content=/en/imagegallery/imagegallery.shtml?images=http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_2.jpg,http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_3.jpg,http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_4.jpg&seq=1

    Most of these have some nice pictures on them which look great. Never been a fan of the Moonraker and Live and Let Die dust jackets though.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Bounine wrote:
    Why can't they put actual real pictures on the hardback dust jackets?

    The UK SOLO cover design is better than the Carte Blanche one but not better than the DMC design. Like usual, for me, the UK design outranks the US version. Like the bullet holes and the gecko on the inside. Overall, I'll say under average and disappointing yet again.

    The original designs for the Fleming hardbacks:

    http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/FrameBase?content=/en/imagegallery/imagegallery.shtml?images=http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_2.jpg,http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_3.jpg,http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_4.jpg&seq=1

    Most of these have some nice pictures on them which look great. Never been a fan of the Moonraker and Live and Let Die dust jackets though.

    How about mine?

    0f53456906d4f873427329fcd834d908.jpg
  • edited August 2013 Posts: 2,594
    Yeah, I definitely like that better than the original. Good work. These props, on the green felt of a card table would look good too I reckon. The text would have to be in a lighter colour though maybe.

    My favourite designs are the ones with paintings of something.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Bounine wrote:
    Why can't they put actual real pictures on the hardback dust jackets?

    The UK SOLO cover design is better than the Carte Blanche one but not better than the DMC design. Like usual, for me, the UK design outranks the US version. Like the bullet holes and the gecko on the inside. Overall, I'll say under average and disappointing yet again.

    The original designs for the Fleming hardbacks:

    http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/FrameBase?content=/en/imagegallery/imagegallery.shtml?images=http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_2.jpg,http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_3.jpg,http://pictures.abebooks.com/WESTHULLRAREBOOKS/4728005527_4.jpg&seq=1

    Most of these have some nice pictures on them which look great. Never been a fan of the Moonraker and Live and Let Die dust jackets though.

    Funny, it's their difference as covers that's precisely why I like LALD and MR so much!
  • Posts: 2,594
    Personally, I like paintings or photos (I prefer the former) to accompany the text too. Not just patterns.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Bounine wrote:
    Personally, I like paintings or photos (I prefer the former) to accompany the text too. Not just patterns.

    Yes, I can see what you mean there, too. Each to their own, as they say!
  • Posts: 802
    007InVT wrote:
    Here it is:

    http://www.thejamesbonddossier.com/news/solo-cover-revealed.htm

    solo-cover.jpg

    I quite like the red cover, but I'm not blown away.


    My take — it's mediocre. Technically it has all the correct proportions and the bullet hole mechanic is interesting and clearly inspired by the late, great, Raymond Hawkey's Pan cover for 'Thunderball' .
    Does it enthral me in the way Richard Chopping or Raymond Hawkey's work did — no way and that's a problem when you are trying to sell hard backs in the e-book era.
    As an aside, in the Independent, Random House's Suzanne Dean demonstrates that she knows the brief but frankly if I judge her by her own standards, this just doesn't meet it.
    I'm quite sure if you'd asked Raymond Hawkey what his objective was with his 'Ipcress File' cover he'd have said something like; ' to create a bloody cool cover mate'. Now you get a whole lot of marketing speak and something of somebody's desk top.
    Were have all the artists gone?

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited August 2013 Posts: 17,727
    Villiers53 wrote:
    007InVT wrote:
    Here it is:

    http://www.thejamesbonddossier.com/news/solo-cover-revealed.htm

    solo-cover.jpg

    I quite like the red cover, but I'm not blown away.


    My take — it's mediocre. Technically it has all the correct proportions and the bullet hole mechanic is interesting and clearly inspired by the late, great, Raymond Hawkey's Pan cover for 'Thunderball' .
    Does it enthral me in the way Richard Chopping or Raymond Hawkey's work did — no way and that's a problem when you are trying to sell hard backs in the e-book era.
    As an aside, in the Independent, Random House's Suzanne Dean demonstrates that she knows the brief but frankly if I judge her by her own standards, this just doesn't meet it.
    I'm quite sure if you'd asked Raymond Hawkey what his objective was with his 'Ipcress File' cover he'd have said something like; ' to create a bloody cool cover mate'. Now you get a whole lot of marketing speak and something of somebody's desk top.
    Were have all the artists gone?

    Yes, they are rather generic and not as ornate as the old Richard Chopping covers were. They were drawn, too. Nowadays you just click a button. All paperback novels seem to be rather generic nowadays. Just look at 'Fifty Shades...' and all its imitators to see that. The current trend for book covers appears to be minimalist in tone. Where have all the artists gone? I'd say six feet below the sod, sadly and Raymond Hawkey is in their number.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    It's graphic design not art.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    007InVT wrote:
    It's graphic design not art.

    Indeed. Point of order.
  • Posts: 267
    Interesting reaction from my son (he works in film production) - he said; 'looks like a sci-fi cover.
    Star Trek or something'.
    I wonder what Boyd thinks? The cover art for his previous novels has been quite good. 'Waiting For Sunrise' was particularly classy.
  • edited August 2013 Posts: 135
    Bentley wrote:
    Interesting reaction from my son (he works in film production) - he said; 'looks like a sci-fi cover.
    Star Trek or something'.
    I wonder what Boyd thinks? The cover art for his previous novels has been quite good. 'Waiting For Sunrise' was particularly classy.
    Interesting. What else did your prophetable son say? Perhaps he has gleaned some insight into the inner workings of Mr. Bond's latest paperback adventure.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Richardo wrote:
    Bentley wrote:
    Interesting reaction from my son (he works in film production) - he said; 'looks like a sci-fi cover.
    Star Trek or something'.
    I wonder what Boyd thinks? The cover art for his previous novels has been quite good. 'Waiting For Sunrise' was particularly classy.
    Interesting. What else did your prophetable son say? Perhaps he has gleaned some insight into the inner workings of Mr. Bond's latest paperback adventure.

    We can but dream...
  • Posts: 802
    Bentley wrote:
    Interesting reaction from my son (he works in film production) — he said; 'looks like a sci-fi cover.
    Star Trek or something'.
    I wonder what Boyd thinks? The cover art for his previous novels has been quite good. 'Waiting For Sunrise' was particularly classy.

    He's not wrong. If this was a cover for one of Ian Banks' sic-fi epics it would be quite at home. The more I look at it, I just don't know how Suzanne Dean thinks it appropriate for a novel set in 1969.
    IFP have certainly lost their way over the years with the Bond identity. Unlike EON, they have lost all consistency. For better or worse, the movie Bond evolves but there are codes and consistencies that are honoured. With the constant hiatus of authors, publishers and time lines the literary Bond is a constant reinvention.
    Let's see what the rest of the marketing plan will involve. I'm still awaiting my first e-mail from jamesbondsolo.com. Doubtless all will be revealed.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited August 2013 Posts: 17,727
    Villiers53 wrote:
    Bentley wrote:
    Interesting reaction from my son (he works in film production) — he said; 'looks like a sci-fi cover.
    Star Trek or something'.
    I wonder what Boyd thinks? The cover art for his previous novels has been quite good. 'Waiting For Sunrise' was particularly classy.

    He's not wrong. If this was a cover for one of Ian Banks' sic-fi epics it would be quite at home. The more I look at it, I just don't know how Suzanne Dean thinks it appropriate for a novel set in 1969.
    IFP have certainly lost their way over the years with the Bond identity. Unlike EON, they have lost all consistency. For better or worse, the movie Bond evolves but there are codes and consistencies that are honoured. With the constant hiatus of authors, publishers and time lines the literary Bond is a constant reinvention.
    Let's see what the rest of the marketing plan will involve. I'm still awaiting my first e-mail from jamesbondsolo.com. Doubtless all will be revealed.

    Yes, since 2002 there have been all too many years of flux/confusion among the literary Bond powers-that-be. I hope that Solo puts an end to this reign of confusion once and for all.
  • edited August 2013 Posts: 2,594
    I wonder when we'll here something about who the new Young Bond author is. Aren't there supposed to be some books written about Bond in his 20's during the war? Well, I know that Higson had mentioned this while he was still the young Bond author. I can't remember if it's been confirmed or not. Maybe it was just speculation.

    Personally, I'd like a good few Bond books set in the 40's and the 60's. Pre Casino Royale and post TMWTGG. There's the period between 63 or 64 (whenever TMWTGG took place) and 1970 to fill. Maybe even novels set between Fleming's adventures too in the 50's and early 60's, although I'd like the plots in this period to certainly be on less of a grand scale than what Fleming conceived. Can't have too many world domination plots...
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited August 2013 Posts: 17,727
    Bounine wrote:
    I wonder when we'll here something about who the new Young Bond author is. Aren't there supposed to be some books written about Bond in his 20's in the war? Well, I know that Higson had mentioned this while he was still the young Bond author. I can't remember if it's been confirmed or not. I wonder if they'll keep this era consistent.

    Well, it was much better organised sadly than the Adult Bond Continuation series has been since 2007 or so. I've not heard any more than you on the Bond in his 20s in WWII series, I'm afraid, though it does seem to me that it is rather on the IFP back burner at the moment.
  • edited August 2013 Posts: 2,594
    Better organised, yes.

    Not sure how much I like the skipping from the 60's to modern day with the adult Bond. I wonder when the next adult Bond book will be set. If it is set in 2015, I hope there will be no reference to Deaver's book. Put Bond back in the Vauxhall Cross building and bring back his damn personality!

    I hope that Boyd hasn't mentioned Bond's exact age in SOLO.

    Would anyone be keen on reading about Bond's exploits in the 70's? I'm not sure whether I'd have to picture him as someone in his 50's which is probably unrealistic or pretend that he's reached that age of somewhere in his early 40's when he became immortal like in the films, pre Casino Royale (2006). Certainly I didn't imagine Bond in his 60's in the Gardner books. Maybe it's better to stay away from the 70's and just stick to the 40's. 50's, 60's or a rebooted Bond today. Not a Deaver Bond though! His Bond was almost unrecognisable.
  • KronsteenKronsteen Stockholm
    Posts: 783
    Villiers53 wrote:
    He's not wrong. If this was a cover for one of Ian Banks' sic-fi epics it would be quite at home. The more I look at it, I just don't know how Suzanne Dean thinks it appropriate for a novel set in 1969.
    IFP have certainly lost their way over the years with the Bond identity. Unlike EON, they have lost all consistency. For better or worse, the movie Bond evolves but there are codes and consistencies that are honoured. With the constant hiatus of authors, publishers and time lines the literary Bond is a constant reinvention.
    Let's see what the rest of the marketing plan will involve. I'm still awaiting my first e-mail from jamesbondsolo.com. Doubtless all will be revealed.

    Don't you think the bullet holes resembles planets and the black background a starry night sky? We'll have to wait for the story, but it did happen something in 1969 in the US... didn't it ;-) If that's the case the cover is very fitting in my opinion, but if Boyd hasn't used that event in the book, well, then I agree. We just have to wait, but anyway I like the cover.
  • Posts: 267
    Kronsteen wrote:
    Villiers53 wrote:
    He's not wrong. If this was a cover for one of Ian Banks' sic-fi epics it would be quite at home. The more I look at it, I just don't know how Suzanne Dean thinks it appropriate for a novel set in 1969.
    IFP have certainly lost their way over the years with the Bond identity. Unlike EON, they have lost all consistency. For better or worse, the movie Bond evolves but there are codes and consistencies that are honoured. With the constant hiatus of authors, publishers and time lines the literary Bond is a constant reinvention.
    Let's see what the rest of the marketing plan will involve. I'm still awaiting my first e-mail from jamesbondsolo.com. Doubtless all will be revealed.

    Don't you think the bullet holes resembles planets and the black background a starry night sky? We'll have to wait for the story, but it did happen something in 1969 in the US... didn't it ;-) If that's the case the cover is very fitting in my opinion, but if Boyd hasn't used that event in the book, well, then I agree. We just have to wait, but anyway I like the cover.

    @ Kronsteen - what sharp little eyes you've got! If hero is caught in a race to stop the sabotage of the Apollo 11 launch it might explain the sci cover?

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited August 2013 Posts: 17,727
    Kronsteen wrote:
    Villiers53 wrote:
    He's not wrong. If this was a cover for one of Ian Banks' sic-fi epics it would be quite at home. The more I look at it, I just don't know how Suzanne Dean thinks it appropriate for a novel set in 1969.
    IFP have certainly lost their way over the years with the Bond identity. Unlike EON, they have lost all consistency. For better or worse, the movie Bond evolves but there are codes and consistencies that are honoured. With the constant hiatus of authors, publishers and time lines the literary Bond is a constant reinvention.
    Let's see what the rest of the marketing plan will involve. I'm still awaiting my first e-mail from jamesbondsolo.com. Doubtless all will be revealed.

    Don't you think the bullet holes resembles planets and the black background a starry night sky? We'll have to wait for the story, but it did happen something in 1969 in the US... didn't it ;-) If that's the case the cover is very fitting in my opinion, but if Boyd hasn't used that event in the book, well, then I agree. We just have to wait, but anyway I like the cover.

    I don't think they would even dare go into film YOLT/MR territory, would they? I shudder at the thought!
  • KronsteenKronsteen Stockholm
    Posts: 783
    I don't think that either, but some kind of Moonraker (the book) thing or Dr No (movie) type of event could easily be used. Couldn't it? It doesn't have to be set in space, but as Bentley said, something to do with a sabotage. It's not a farfetched thought that the Russians would've tried to sabotage the launch, but how an English agent fits into that I don't really know. And how a solo revenge type of mission would lead to that I can't figure out either. Wait and see....
  • Posts: 802
    Kronsteen wrote:
    I don't think that either, but some kind of Moonraker (the book) thing or Dr No (movie) type of event could easily be used. Couldn't it? It doesn't have to be set in space, but as Bentley said, something to do with a sabotage. It's not a farfetched thought that the Russians would've tried to sabotage the launch, but how an English agent fits into that I don't really know. And how a solo revenge type of mission would lead to that I can't figure out either. Wait and see....

    I'm with Bentley & Kronsteen on this. Boyd did allude that there was a very specific reason and world event that meant it had to be set in '69.
    What else could it be if not the Apollo 11 launch?
  • Posts: 802
    Dragonpol wrote:
    Bounine wrote:
    I wonder when we'll here something about who the new Young Bond author is. Aren't there supposed to be some books written about Bond in his 20's in the war? Well, I know that Higson had mentioned this while he was still the young Bond author. I can't remember if it's been confirmed or not. I wonder if they'll keep this era consistent.

    Well, it was much better organised sadly than the Adult Bond Continuation series has been since 2007 or so. I've not heard any more than you on the Bond in his 20s in WWII series, I'm afraid, though it does seem to me that it is rather on the IFP back burner at the moment.

    I think Higson had a plan to take him through WW2 up to Casino Royale but for whatever reason it doesn't look likely to happen short term.
    If IFP have turned him down it acts as further proof that they've zero business acumen or understanding of Bond.
    Higson and Samantha Weinberg are by fare and away the best writers to touch the franchise since Kingsley Amis and there is no question that Higson would do a fabulous job on taking his interpretation to the next level. Fleming would have loved it!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Villiers53 wrote:
    Kronsteen wrote:
    I don't think that either, but some kind of Moonraker (the book) thing or Dr No (movie) type of event could easily be used. Couldn't it? It doesn't have to be set in space, but as Bentley said, something to do with a sabotage. It's not a farfetched thought that the Russians would've tried to sabotage the launch, but how an English agent fits into that I don't really know. And how a solo revenge type of mission would lead to that I can't figure out either. Wait and see....

    I'm with Bentley & Kronsteen on this. Boyd did allude that there was a very specific reason and world event that meant it had to be set in '69.
    What else could it be if not the Apollo 11 launch?

    Oh God, no! If true, that does not bode well, although sabotage rather than space flight would be preferred.
  • edited August 2013 Posts: 2,594
    I hope it does not have anything to do with the space flight but I won't be surprised if it does. I don't think Boyd will put Bond in space though.
  • Posts: 267
    The involvement of space per se doesn't alarm me. Particularly if it is built around historic events.
    There is zero danger of Boyd going into pastiche. Having read some of his other works notably 'Ordinary Thunderstorms' and 'Waiting For Sunrise' I'm convinced he will break Bond's literary curse and give us something to rave about. The problem will then be we'll all want another and IFP won't be able to persuade him!
    In the mean time, like @villiers53, I am flabbergasted by the lack of promotion. Why don't JC atleast give us a trailer via Amazon? And this micro site they've launched remains a complete dead duck.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Bounine wrote:
    I hope it does not have anything to do with the space flight but I won't be surprised if it does. I don't think Boyd will put Bond in space though.

    Here's hoping. Once was enough for that, I feel.
  • Posts: 686
    Dragonpol wrote:
    Villiers53 wrote:
    Kronsteen wrote:
    I don't think that either, but some kind of Moonraker (the book) thing or Dr No (movie) type of event could easily be used. Couldn't it? It doesn't have to be set in space, but as Bentley said, something to do with a sabotage. It's not a farfetched thought that the Russians would've tried to sabotage the launch, but how an English agent fits into that I don't really know. And how a solo revenge type of mission would lead to that I can't figure out either. Wait and see....

    I'm with Bentley & Kronsteen on this. Boyd did allude that there was a very specific reason and world event that meant it had to be set in '69.
    What else could it be if not the Apollo 11 launch?

    Oh God, no! If true, that does not bode well, although sabotage rather than space flight would be preferred.

    I think it is set in 1969 because of the moon landing, not necessarily that Bond will have a mission related to it. However, I think it would be able to contrast Bond as a man of the World War II era who is getting in older in a profession that obviously is not for old men.

    1969, along with the moon landing "space race and the new world" and social changes were happening in both the US and in the United Kingdom. We do know that Boyd is adopting 1924 as Bond year of birth.
  • edited August 2013 Posts: 686
    The US edition, according to Amazon are going to have Deckle Edge paper.
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