The shadowy organisation that controls the rights to Ian Fleming's James Bond, Ian Fleming Publications Ltd (IFP), have unveiled the latest plan in their campaign for world domination: a new James Bond novel.
The launch of the new device, whose code name is still strictly confidential, is set to be synchronised with the centenary of Ian Fleming's birth in May 2008.
An author, described in a communiqué picked up from IFP headquarters as "very well-known and highly respected", has been assigned to the project on a strictly top-secret basis - his (or her) identity will be "a closely guarded secret until publication".
IFP director of operations, Corinne Turner said they were "delighted to have secured this particular author who we have had in mind for some time now. He is the perfect writer for this project and we are greatly looking forward to his take on James Bond, in what we are convinced will be a stunning novel."
No publisher has yet been contacted.
Ms Turner also revealed that the 2008 campaign to celebrate Ian Fleming's life and work will include events reflecting his "passions and experiences in the worlds of art, literature, journalism, sport, motoring and travel", and that their centenary plans, including "a major exhibition featuring never-before-seen material" are "underway". The details of this material are still classified.
Penguin Books will be preparing the ground for the 2008 campaign with a coordinated operation to re-release all the existing James Bond novels. This mission is due to begin in November 2006.
We were unable to establish contact with Penguin. Their role in later phases of the operation remains unclear.
