A new James Bond novel is being unveiled more than 40 years after the last by Ian Fleming was published.
A new James Bond novel, published to mark the centenary of 007 creator Ian Fleming's birth, has been launched onboard HMS Exeter in central London.
Entitled Devil May Care, the book - by Sebastian Faulks - features the suave secret agent in a Cold War adventure.
Seven copies of Devil May Care, written by Sebastian Faulks, were brought along the River Thames on a Royal Navy sea boat escorted by two Lynx helicopters.
Its launch, onboard HMS Exeter at Tower Bridge in London, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bond creator Ian Fleming.
They were then signed by the author in the presence of Fleming's nieces, Lucy Fleming and Kate Grimond.
The plot of the book, said to be written in the style of Fleming, is being kept a closely-guarded secret.
Out on Wednesday, the book takes 007 to London, Paris and the Middle East.
Cold War setting
Plot details have been kept a closely-guarded secret, though it is known the story is set in 1967 during the Cold War.
So far all that is known is that the adventure takes place in 1967, and takes 007 to Paris, London and the Middle East.
Speaking to the BBC News website, Lucy Fleming revealed Bond's love interest was named Poppy.
But its publisher has said it marks a return to Bond's original character after many screen adaptations.
'Pleasure'
Faulks, who is famous for his Birdsong war trilogy and his novels The Girl at the Lion D'Or and Charlotte Gray, was chosen to write the latest Bond novel at the request of Fleming's family.
She also said the villain, named Gormah, was "a bit like Blofeld or Doctor No - really sinister".
FLEMING'S BOND BOOKS Casino Royale (1953)Live and Let Die (1954)Moonraker (1955)Diamonds Are Forever (1956)From Russia with Love (1957)Dr No (1958)Goldfinger (1959)For Your Eyes Only (1960)Thunderball (1961)The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)You Only Live Twice (1964)The Man With The Golden Gun (1965)Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966)
Faulks, who was chosen to write the novel at the request of Fleming's family, added it was a "pleasure to be aboard the ship Bond himself sailed on".
The author says he took six weeks to write the book. Fleming himself is said to have written his novels in single stints at his Jamaica home, Goldeneye.
Faulks (r) thanked the Flemings for their "tremendous enthusiasm"Bond served as an intelligence officer on the HMS Exeter, finally holding the rank of commander.
Between 1952 and 1964, when he died, Fleming wrote 14 James Bond novels. The last, Octopussy, was published posthumously in 1966.
Faulks, best known for his Birdsong war trilogy and his novels The Girl at the Lion D'Or and Charlotte Gray, took six weeks to write the book.
His family originally asked three authors to continue the Bond tradition, including novelist Kingsley Amis, but with mixed success.
The author, one of several to write Bond novels since Fleming's death, told reporters he had no plans to pen another.
There have been 21 official Bond films made in total, with Bond portrayed by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Fleming wrote 14 James Bond books between 1953 and 1964.
A 22nd film, Quantum of Solace, is in production starring Craig in the lead role and is due out later this year.
The last, Octopussy and The Living Daylights, was published posthumously in 1966.
