Historian Dan Jones is to write a new James Bond novella set in 1954 Ceylon to honour the classic Bond story

From the Newshound archive · first published 5 October 2026 · last updated 6 October 2026.

Dan Jones, bestselling author of 'The Plantagenets' and 'Henry V', has been commissioned to write a new Bond novella titled 'All In' as part of the National Year of Reading. The story places 007 in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) in 1954 as British imperial rule draws to a close. It pays tribute to Ian Fleming's fourth novel, 'Diamonds Are Forever', on its 70th anniversary, and will be published as a special edition on 3 December via ianflemingshop.com.

The announcement was made on 5 October — known as James Bond Day — the date 'Dr No' premiered in 1962.

Jones called writing a Bond story 'one of the greatest honours in contemporary fiction' and said his inner child 'scarcely dared to dream' of the opportunity.

Jones follows Charlie Higson, whose continuation novel 'King Zero' was released just last month, as the latest author to add to Fleming's canon.