UPDATE: The winner of our James Bond competition has been announced. Congratulations J. Wilson of NSW!
The voice on the phone was steady and clear: Be at Sydney Airport for the arrival of British Airways Flight B15. British Airways Captain, Thomas Clark will be escorting James Bond, 007, through customs. You are to deliver him unharmed to Booktopia’s Headquarters where he will stay until further orders. Is that clear?
Yes, I replied.
Accompanied by my trusty sidekick, Mr A Cattanach, we did as requested, and arrived at Terminal 1 at 5am, blending in seamlessly with the assembled crowds. Yes, 5am. 
The British Airways Captain, Thomas Clark did not come alone, but was joined by his crew. Evidently he was under the impression that James Bond would likely cause trouble. He seemed very pleased to be relieved of his duty.
After the handover the captain and crew dispersed quickly leaving us with the troublesome Mr Bond. And then the smooth talking Bond made a suggestion. He said he’d never been to Sydney before and would we mind so much if we took in a few of the sights. There is something about that man, Andrew and I were soon at his beck and call.
So we took him down to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.
He wanted to take a closer look.
He wanted to linger.
And then there was the inevitable request, the place every Brit wants to visit, Bondi.
But he did pay for breakfast, which was nice.
Bond Arrives At Booktopia: Mission Accomplished
What the hell just happened? Why did you take a Perspex case containing a copy of William Boyd’s new James Bond novel, SOLO on a tour of Sydney? Are you mad?
In a global event to mark the publication of the new James Bond novel SOLO, 7 copies of the novel, signed and stamped by author William Boyd, were sent on 7 SOLO missions around the world in association with British Airways.
Booktopia is proud to announce that we are the recipient of the copy sent all the way out to Sydney, Australia.
The handover took place early this morning and after a quick tour of the sights of Sydney the Perspex case containing SOLO was brought back to Booktopia HQ where it will stay until two lucky Booktopians own a piece of history.
William Boyd with his new novel Solo. The latest James Bond Novel.
Bond around the world…
Cape Town
Los Angeles
Zurich
Delhi
Edinburgh
Amsterdam
Buy William Boyd’s SOLO or any James Bond Vintage Classics Editions before 31st October 2013 for your chance to win an exclusive signed copy of the new James Bond novel, SOLO – It was flown into Australia and hand delivered to Booktopia! Only one in Australia!
UPDATE: Winner has been announced. Congratulations J. Wilson of NSW!
Solo : A James Bond Novel
by William Boyd
It is 1969 and James Bond is about to go solo, recklessly motivated by revenge.
A seasoned veteran of the service, 007 is sent to single-handedly stop a civil war in the small West African nation of Zanzarim. Aided by a beautiful accomplice and hindered by the local militia, he undergoes a scarring experience which compels him to ignore M’s orders in pursuit of his own brand of justice. Bond’s renegade action leads him to Washington, D.C., where he discovers a web of geopolitical intrigue and witnesses fresh horrors.
Even if Bond succeeds in exacting his revenge, a man with two faces will come to stalk his every waking moment.
About the Author
William Boyd was born in Accra, Ghana, in 1952. He is the author of one work of non-fiction, three collections of short stories and fourteen novels. He has won many awards including the Whitbread First Novel, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Sunday Express Book of the Year Award and the Costa Book Award. He is married and lives in London.
Click here to order your copy of Solo from Booktopia now!
About the Contributor
John Purcell
While still in his twenties, John Purcell opened a second-hand bookshop in Mosman, Sydney, in which he sat for ten years reading, ranting and writing. Since then he has written, under a pseudonym, a series of very successful novels, interviewed hundreds of writers about their work, appeared at writers’ festivals, on TV (most bizarrely in comedian Luke McGregor’s documentary Luke Warm Sex) and has been featured in prominent newspapers and magazines. Now, as the Director of Books at booktopia.com.au, Australia’s largest online bookseller, he supports Australian writing in all its forms. He lives in Sydney with his wife, two children, three dogs, five cats, unnumbered gold fish and his overlarge book collection. His novel, The Girl on the Page, was published by HarperCollins Australia in October, 2018.
Comments
Solo by William Boyd – new James Bond book launched to international fanfare - Four Communications