The Rough with the Smooth: Unaltered James Bond novels are already disappearing from circulation

[@RedOnyxProductions]

Your even-handed takes on this issue are greatly appreciated! I am someone who is of Asian descent. I have to emphasize that the rough, out-of-time character of James Bond is what has made the franchise so interesting to me. (I almost hate to even mention that ethnicity qualifier, but I hope it adds some context to my agreement.) As someone who is very much interested in history and preservation, seeing original texts slip out of print is disheartening and I do hope that the broader Bond fan community makes their voices heard with the same clarity that you have done over the past few uploads.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

Oh thank you so much for saying that!! I worried about how to put it without potentially ruffling anyone’s feathers. I try to be as even handed as possible in all areas and maintain objectivity even in subjects I’m very passionate about. It’s always very interesting to hear from others who are interested particularly by the rougher of another time qualities in the character. And from those who understand the importance of historical preservation in the arts! I’m hoping more Bond fans chime in with their opinions to let IFP know this isn’t a good idea. Hopefully there is at least an announcement of unaltered editions still being made available in some form.

[@JCH2768]

Appreciate and understand the passion. I picked up a 1960's HC edition of TSWLM (the only Fleming novel I didn't have) at a library sale and now I'm thankful I got it. Almost a sense of relief lol.

[@murphychace307]

I can hardly believe the prices people paid on these eBay auctions. During the summer of 2021 I collected tons of Ian Fleming books. I didn't spend more than $100 and I got most of the Macmillan hardcovers, a few uk paperbacks, a some of the continuation novels, and a full set of the Signet paperbacks in good condition with more duplicates than I know what to do with. Most of them I got on a few eBay auctions. I just really don't understand panic buying, there will still be millions of copies of Ian Flemings books kicking around. I don't think the world ever fully recovered from the concept of the Disney Vault

[@matthewgaudet4064]

I hope they don't start altering the films.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

I’d be lying if I said that hadn’t crossed my mind as well. Particularly after the Director of no Time to die, made the asinine statement that had nothing to do with the scene in the film, which he completely misrepresented, and couldn’t even name which film he was thinking of.

[@jasonrlariviere227]

Who’s running IFP these days...General Gogol? This is like living under Stalin’s regime!

[@PhoenixWriter229]

Just managed to pick up a near mint 2012 box set of all 14 flemming books on eBay for £69.99. Compared to the other listings for the same set in much worse condition, that was a steal.

[@edwardelric603]

I have been buying older editions on ebay since i saw your original video

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

Here is @Roland Hulme's change.org Petition: www.change.org/p/stop-ian-fleming-publications-rewriting-the-007-books-following-a-sensitivity-review He has also done several excellent videos on the subject of Fleming's work being altered. These cover many aspects of both the Literary James Bond and the publishing industry and are must watches: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHLHkKujmtKfkKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5ycmGOnd7qkf9E kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn3IiKWcpd-mi6c kzbin.info/www/bejne/in2UZYR6pLKsg9E kzbin.info/www/bejne/aInchGpsq6ephq8

[@eddylex4921]

I own a full set of the Penguin paperbacks that came out in 2003. These were the first time I read the bond books. I remember buying these back then as they were coming out mainly cause I loved the cover art and sexy woman on the covers lol. Little did I know that some day these would be coveted versions that could fetch up to $700. I can't help but feel sometimes that these publishers do this on purpose to renew interest in the books and drive up sales. In the future they'll later release uncut editions and everyone will buy them again and they'll make money.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

I SO wish I had gotten these back then. It was about a year after I had finally gotten all the books. They really make for a nice set. This move being a ploy to drive up sales or discussion has been theorized by some. I don’t know what happened exactly but I think IFP’s intention was positive but handled inappropriately. They should be clear about the alterations and if they plan on making a version of the unaltered texts available.

[@billkoenig1552]

Both the Bond movie and literary franchises seem to discount the U.S. market.

[@GreatBooksGuy]

So thankful I picked up the complete Mercer Bond collection last year... I really hope the censored versions fail. Also did you know that some of the books in Agatha Christie's oeuvre have been altered, as well? I have been slowly collecting all of her books over time, and now I need to research which books have been edited and when because I cannot stand the idea of owning the edited versions. It's infuriating really.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

I'm the same way with picking up Christie books here and there over time and now having to specifically avoid edited versions. It is absolutely infuriating.

[@amuro1701]

Half Price Books is probably marking these up as we speak if they haven't already.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

That was my thought exactly. I know as soon as any copies appear in shops they will be priced higher. Mckays will do that a bit to match demand which is understandable but HPB will probably put a very inflated price tag on. At least that’s how the HPB in my area is. (I still remember their offered trade value when I brought two boxes of books in. 64 cents. It would’ve been better to just say “we don’t want these”!)

[@DAGDRUM53]

I notice you have Thrilling Cities among your Signet Bonds. '007 In New York' is in that too, so you have a back-up for your Thomas & Mercer one. It's hard to believe MJF left off with only Golden Gun & Octopussy to publish; somewhere in the world that's got to be against the law.

[@thomasaddams8689]

Fahrenheit 451 here we come.

[@martinwells5747]

Its just a few edits. Not exactly the end of the world. Personally, it doesnt bother me. As long as it helps keep IF in print, which is better than it going out of print. Lets not miss the bigger picture by getting too outraged over minor cuts, in books we havent actually seen yet.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

I would hope that any editing would be minor like what I highlighted in my first video about the slight tweaks made to Tarzan paperback reprints in the 60’s and 70’s but here it’s also sentences and passages that have been changed in addition to selectively changing items at the rights owner’s discretion. I agree that it’s harder to tell how intensive these changes are without the actual edited works available. It doesn’t help either that the available information and responses are not very informative. Once these start coming out we will know for sure how intensive the changes are. The only thing IFP has said so far is that a few books don’t really have many changes like CR. They have slightly hinted at perhaps offering some version of the unaltered texts but it is very vague.