Licence Renewed — James Bond 007, John Gardner (1981)

Hardcover with dust jacket, published 1981 by Book Club Associates, London, by arrangement with Jonathan Cape Ltd and Hodder & Stoughton Ltd — this is the book club edition, not the true Jonathan Cape first edition, though it reproduces the same striking dust jacket art. This was John Gardner’s debut continuation novel reviving Ian Bond after a hiatus following Fleming’s death, seeing Bond pitted against the deranged nuclear physicist Laird of Murcaldy, Dr Anton Murik, who threatens the Western world with nuclear holocaust while Bond races against time in a Saab 900 Turbo armed with Q’s latest gadgetry.  Black cloth boards, no gilt lettering visible on spine of the book itself (title stamped in gilt, worn/faded). Dust jacket features the well-known Richard Chopping-inspired gun/pearls/heather artwork with “JAMES BOND 007” in red and “Licence Renewed / Gardner” in script and block type; rear jacket has a black-and-white author photo of John Gardner in front of a portrait of Ian Fleming.

Condition notes: dust jacket shows wear — small tears/chips to spine ends and corners, sunning to spine panel, minor edge wear; boards are clean but plain black cloth with light shelf wear; text block appears clean.