The moonraker project has a millionaire backer, the war hero sir hugo drax a man who, it seems, cheats at cards. As the above definition makes clear, book club editions are reprints of books for a defined audience. The story is set in the 1950s and centers around an offer by millionaire hugo drax to develop for great britain a limited range missile capable of delivering a nuclear payload against the soviet union. Patrick macnee narrates another excellent production documentary. Birth to 1959 born above a brothel in a docklands slum, 6 shirley veronica bassey was the sixth and last child of eliza jane start 7 and henry bassey in tiger bay, cardiff, wales now called cardiff bay, of paternal nigerian and maternal english descent. These are referred to as states please see page referring to book collecting for a more complete definition of what a state is. The dust jacket is bright, attractive, and whole with no visible signs of wear. James bonds third adventure by ian fleming returns bond to britain, but hes by no means out of danger. Bond joins him for dinner at his private members club, blades, prior to partnering him against sir hugo drax at bridge. This is the kind of book that lives up to the first ian fleming james bond book.
Topics covered include the history of the project, changes made from the book basically everything but the villains name, shooting in france, locations, stunts, and of course visual effects. In moonraker, he described the atmosphere at blades, where there might. It was published by jonathan cape on 5 april 1955 and featured a cover design conceived by fleming. At ms request, bond begins his investigation with sir hugo drax, the leading card shark at ms club, who is also the head of the moonraker project. For club and country the inspirations for blades club artistic. Moonraker, by ian fleming project gutenberg canada. Moonraker the novel is essentially a mysterymoreso than the first two books in the series at least, which played with noir but focused primarily on the action side of things. The james bond novels published by the book club ian flemings early james bond novels are some of the most collectible first editions in modern fiction.
A simple analogy to collecting bordeaux wines may be helpful. Included are the spy who loved me 1962, the man with the golden gun 1965, and you only live twice 1964. A moonraker is also the nickname for a native of wiltshire, and a very silly story is told there as its origin. Moonraker is a 1979 spy film and the eleventh in the james bond series produced by eon productions, and the fourth to star roger moore as the fictional mi6 agent james bond. Often printed on lesserquality paper or in a noticeably.
Information and translations of moonraker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Bond investigates the theft of a space shuttle, leading him to hugo drax. Moonraker is the third novel by the british author ian fleming to feature his fictional british secret service agent james bond. Moonrakers synonyms, moonrakers pronunciation, moonrakers translation, english dictionary definition of moonrakers.
This study guide consists of approximately 39 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of moonraker. Moonraker definition, a light square sail set above a skysail. As the super patriot and war veteran whos bankrolling britains topsecret moonraker rocket program, sir hugo drax should be above reproach. A handsome copy of this novel being the 3rd in the bond series and basis for the excellent movie. Moonraker comics, a fictional character in the marvel comics universe moonraker sail, the uppermost course of sail on a fully rigged ship the moonraker, a 1958 british film. All the first impression issue points are listed nothing of bibliographical importance has been left out. Blades plays a prominent role in the novel moonraker. The book was published in the mid50s, the movie came out in the late 70s the books moonraker referred to a nuclear weapon whereas the movies moonraker referred to a space shuttle. A film version never materialized in his lifetime and when it did, it.
It was directed by david macdonald and starred george baker, sylvia syms, marius goring, gary raymond, peter arne, john le mesurier and patrick troughton. Definitions of moonraker novel, synonyms, antonyms, derivatives of moonraker novel, analogical dictionary of moonraker novel english. First printing thus of the james bond classic library book club edition. The cape sheets have cape name and logos on title page those with book club are later printings and the above does not apply the cape edition was published first, and is the first edition the 1st print run was 15,000 copies. This is a very good book, in fact, it is excellent. First edition 1955 ian fleming james bond moonraker.
Ian fleming bibliography uk first editions james bond. Looking for online definition of moonraker or what moonraker stands for. Ian fleming 19081964, creator of the worlds bestknown secret agent, is the author of fourteen james bond books. With a ballistic rocket at stake, sir hugos exposure could threaten britains latest defense system, so james bond is asked to investigate. At the beginning of moonraker, m invites bond to blades, his private club. Moonraker definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Moonraker is the 11th installment in the most successful film series in history. As the best card player in the service bond is asked by his chief to help sort out a problem with another member in a personal capacity. Collecting james bond first editions childrens rare books. This volume is in very good condition with clean light green boards, sharp black lettering on the front board and spine, and clean white pages with just a hint of age. The moonraker is a british swashbuckler film made in 1957 and released in 1958 and set in the english civil war. This book contains action packed squeces from an avalanche to a car chase to a missile. The first novel, casino royale commands eye watering sums of money and for many lovers of the genre the idea of collecting a full set of the first editions.
First edition 1955 ian fleming james bond moonraker moonraker, one of the james bond first editions published by jonathan cape in london in 1955, with the essential first published 1955 to the inner page, with no later titles stated, this is not the book club edition, not the us edition and not a later printing this is the first printing of. For several minutes he stood speechless, his eyes dazzled by the terr. These were later sent to the book club this means that, theoretically, the 1st printing is the book club edition note. Welcome to moonraker books we are a remainder book wholesaler with over 25 years of experience in the remainder book trade. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Moonraker is the only james bond book you really need to read. Moonraker books ltd moonraker house number 6 fairfield minety sn16 9tr. In the latter half of the novel, bond is seconded to draxs staff as the businessman builds the moon. Diamonds are forever facsimile dj not stated it is a facsimile by ian fleming and a great selection of related books, art and. The book club edition has blue boards and no embossed motif. Clearly making a movie about spacelandia would be appealing to the masses following the release of star the movie moonraker is the one i like to refer to as bond. I suggest this book to anyone who likes action packed books. The first set of 15,000 sheets were of poor print quality and were rejected by publishers jonathan cape who later supplied them to the book club, which means technically the first printing is the book club edition although the cape version was actually published first.
Shortly after handing over an early manuscript of moonraker to william plomer, ian fleming told him. Moonraker is the only james bond book you really need to. The story centres on the investigation by the british secret service operative james bond into the gold smuggling activities of auric goldfinger, who is also suspected by mi6 of being connected to smersh, the soviet. Unlike the bond movie that shares its name but little else moonraker the book is a first class story with a strong plot and perhaps the best character development of any fleming title. Moonraker james bond original series book 3 kindle edition by fleming, ian. This ian fleming bibliography will provide you with all the information you require to ascertain and identify if your book is a true first edition. A collection of book club editions from the james bond novels by ian fleming. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading moonraker james bond original series book 3. The history of signboards jacob larwood lets go to the moonraker s and forget theres such a thing as women in the world.
Moonraker, two superyachts with the same original owner gautam singhania, a norship in 1992 and. Uniquely among the james bond novels, the action of moonraker takes place exclusively in britain. The basic form of the james bond thrillers has been firmly established since the beginning. Goldfinger is the seventh novel in ian flemings james bond series. At fivethirty he slapped the cards on the table and shut the book. Moonraker, britains new icbmbased national defense system, is ready for testing, but somethings not quite right. A book club edition bce or book of the month club edition bomc refers to a book printed by a book club with cheaper materials than the original publishing house, and is generally not worth much to the serious collector. Also included are from russia, with love 1957, thunderball 1961, moonraker 1955, doctor no 1958, and goldfinger 1959. This title may be the most complicated for the investor as this is the only title in which the first edition book was published with 3 versions of the first edition dust jacket. The moonraker project has a millionaire backer, the war hero sir hugo draxa man who, it seems, cheats at cards. In my opinion, it isnt much of a book, but it should make a good film. Written in january and february 1958, it was first published in the uk by jonathan cape on 23 march 1959. Although the head of the secret service appears in the first two james bond novels, moonraker is the first time the reader encounters him outside his office.
Moonraker is a gem of a book that id somehow missed along with the film. It is also, of course, in the grand bond tradition. The first shot of bond must show him in a bizarre predicament that brings him within inches of his life. The plot is derived from a fleming screenplay that was too short for a full novel so he added the passage of the bridge game between bond and the industrialist hugo drax. But once bond delves deeper into the goingson at the moonraker base, he discovers that both the project and its leader are. Moonraker james bond original series book 3 kindle edition. With a ballistic rocket at stake, sir hugos exposure could threaten britains latest defence system, so james bond is asked to investigate. Moonraker is listed in the worlds largest and most authoritative dictionary database of. Moonrakers definition of moonrakers by the free dictionary. Jove books, 1979, 1st book edition, paperback original, rare us james bond paperback, cover art shows the roger moore bond cover art, james bond in space, tiein with the film, complete but heavy wear to spine and edges, cover ok, still only vg. Fleming brilliantly captures postwarcoldwar london in this early bond novel that is distinctive for being wholly set in london and kent, and one that couldnt be simpler and sparer in its setup and climax. Millionaire hugo drax cheats at cards, the highest offense in polite english society. When m suspects drax of cheating at cards in an exclusive gentlemans club. Ian fleming diamonds are forever 19561956 first edition.
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