Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

To mark Ian Fleming’s 107th birthday, Bond novelist Anthony Horowitz has revealed the title and the setting of his new novel, which is based in part on material written by Fleming for the proposed 007 TV series in the 1950s.

The book, to be published by Orion on September 8, is entitled Trigger Mortis and is credited to “Anthony Horowitz with original material by Ian Fleming”.

According to the press release, “Trigger Mortis will pick up with Bond two weeks after the events of Fleming’s Goldfinger, with Bond placed in the middle of the Soviet/American space race, as the United States prepares for a critical rocket launch. In addition to featuring Pussy Galore, Horowitz’s novel will introduce new Bond Girl Jeopardy Lane, and a ‘sadistic, scheming Korean adversary hell-bent on vengeance’ called Jai Seung Sin.”

Horowitz said: “It was always my intention to go back to the true Bond, which is to say, the Bond that Fleming created and it was a fantastic bonus having some original, unseen material from the master to launch my story. I was so glad that I was allowed to set the book two weeks after my favourite Bond novel, Goldfinger, and I’m delighted that Pussy Galore is back. It was great fun revisiting the most famous Bond Girl of all – although she is by no means the only dangerous lady in Trigger Mortis. I hope fans enjoy it. My aim was to make this the most authentic James Bond novel anyone could have written.”

Jon Wood, Orion Publisher, added: “Anthony has delivered a stunning novel: non-stop action, a deadly, deranged opponent, and not one but two fantastic Bond women. His genius is to brilliantly capture the essence of a Fleming original and give it a 21st century edge. James Bond fans, and Anthony Horowitz fans, will absolutely love Trigger Mortis.”