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===Casefiles reprints=== |
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[[Image:Toxic_Revenge_UB_UK_cover.jpg|thumb|160px|Cover for the reprinted version of ''[[Toxic Revenge]]'']] |
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| − | In [[2006]], Simon & Schuster reprinted four (seemingly random) ''[[Hardy Boys Casefiles| |
+ | In [[2006]], Simon & Schuster reprinted four (seemingly random) ''[[The Hardy Boys Casefiles|Hardy Boys Casefiles]]'' books in the UK, as part of the ''Undercover Brothers'' series. Two other Casefiles were scheduled for a November 2006 release, but were canceled for unknown reasons.<ref>[http://www.hardyboys-uk.com/undercover.html HardyBoys-UK.com]</ref> |
:''[[Toxic Revenge]]'' (Casefiles #83) (March 2006) |
:''[[Toxic Revenge]]'' (Casefiles #83) (March 2006) |
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Revision as of 08:07, 21 May 2009
| This article is written from the Real World point of view |
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For the continuity, see Undercover Brothers continuity. |
The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers is the novel series, which replaced the long-running Hardy Boys Digest series in April 2005. It is published by Simon & Schuster's Aladdin Paperbacks imprint and all the books in the series are written under the Franklin W. Dixon pen name.
Publication history
Following the success of their then-new Nancy Drew Girl Detective series, that quickly became a New York Times Best-selling series, after replacing the Nancy Drew Digests in 2004, Simon & Schuster launched The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers series April in 2005. The start of the Undercover Brothers marked the end of The Hardy Boys Digest series, a series that was originally published way back in 1927, and had reached 190 volumes by the time it was discontinued.
Like the Girl Detective series, the first book in Undercover Brothers series was sold at a very low introductory price, of only $1.99 (the first book in the Girl Detective was leas at only .99$) in both Canada and the US.
Trilogies
- "All new mystery trilogies from the Hardy Boys, Undercover Brothers!"
- — SimonandSchuster.com
Starting with in 2008, with book #22 Deprivation House, a new three part miniseries format replaced the original Undercover Brothers format. Prior to this the books were stand alone stories, with little or even no plot lines continuing from book to book. Now, each book features a self-contained story, but will build toward a bigger mystery that won't conclude until the third installment in it's respective trilogy.[1]
Fans began to suspect that the first Undercover Brothers trilogy might be in the works, when the titles of books 22-24 (Deprivation House, House Arrest, and Murder House) were released on the Internet, because of the word "house" in being present in all three titles.[2] In early January 2008 the trilogy was confirmed, and the name of the trilogy was revealed when Simon & Schuster released the cover art for Deprivation House, with "book one in The Murder House Trilogy" printed at the top.
When the title of Undercover Brothers #26 was revealed to be Missing Double (later retitled Double Down) in May 2008, after the title of #25 had already been revealed as Double Trouble, it became clear that a second trilogy would be published directly following the conclusion of The Murder House Trilogy. The name of the second title trilogy was revealed on SimonSays.com, later that month as Double Danger Trilogy.
In early July 2008 it was made known that yet another trilogy would be published, untitled Galaxy X, stating in May 2009 with book one of the same name,[3] and it finally became clear that the new mini-series format would be permanently replacing the past one.
In the comics world these trilogies would not technically be considered trilogies or mini series, but instead three part story arcs, because they are within the regular series (the first one being books 22-24 and the second consisting of books 25-27) rather then independent series.[4]
Future
- "I believe this Undercover Brothers paperback is going to be one of the last ones, March 2010 is the kill date for the series."
- — Paul Mular, refering to Private Killer[5]
On May 15, the co-writer of The Hardy Boys reference book Hardy and Hardy Investigations, Paul Mular claimed on a Internet news group that the Undercover Brothers will likely end in 2010. Mular reported that he got his information from an unnamed Simon & Schuster sales-rep, who also told him that a new series will be begin in April 2010, reportable entitled The Hardy Boys Secret Files. This new series includes books with titles such as Trouble at the Arcade and Missing Mitt.[5]
Outside the United States
Casefiles reprints
Cover for the reprinted version of Toxic Revenge
In 2006, Simon & Schuster reprinted four (seemingly random) Hardy Boys Casefiles books in the UK, as part of the Undercover Brothers series. Two other Casefiles were scheduled for a November 2006 release, but were canceled for unknown reasons.[6]
- Toxic Revenge (Casefiles #83) (March 2006)
- Choke Hold (Casefiles #51)
- Darkness Falls (Casefiles #89) (July 2006)
- Cave Trap (Casefiles #115)
- Canceled titles:
- Lethal Cargo (Casefiles #67) (November 2006)
- Line of Fire (Casefiles #16)
In Italy
The cover of Giostra da brivido known as Thrill Ride in the US
The Undercover Brothers is also published in Italy by a publishing company named Mondadori, as Hardy Boys - Due fratelli in incognito. It is translated by Igor Longo.[7]
- Sfida estrema (2006)
- Attentato nel deserto
- Agguato sulla spiaggia (2007)
- Giostra da brivido
French editions
Cover of danger extrême
French language editions of The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers will be published in Canada and France by Bayard Jeunesse. The first two will be published in February 2009.[8] The series is entitled Frank et Joe, agents très spéciaux in French, which roughly translates to "Frank and Joe, Very Special Agents".
- 1 danger extrême
- 2. à bout de course
Narrative style
This series also uses the same writing style as the Girl Detective series, utilizing first person narrative for the first time in Hardy Boys history, with Frank and Joe alternate chapters. The reader is told who is narrating the chapter by a heading at the top of the first page of the chapter, that ether says "Frank" or "Joe".
The first chapter was narrated by Joe for the first 12 books, until #13 The Mummy's Curse, when Frank narrated the opening chapter for the first time, since then Frank or Joe have narrated chapter one. In some books Frank or Joe will interrupt the other's chapter, to tell his side of the story, for example if Joe is making fun of Frank, Frank will take over narrative, to defend himself. This technique was first used by the ghost writer of book #2 Running on Fumes, in this book Joe interrupts a few of Frank's chapters.
List of titles
2005
- 1. Extreme Danger
- 2. Running on Fumes
- 3. Boardwalk Bust
- 4. Thrill Ride
- 5. Rocky Road
- 6. Burned
- 7. Operation: Survival
- Spy Set (Boxed set #1-4)
2006
- 8. Top Ten Ways to Die
- 9. Martial Law
- 10. Blown Away
- 11. Hurricane Joe
- 12. Trouble in Paradise
- 13. The Mummy's Curse
2007
- 14. Hazed
- 15. Death and Diamonds
- 16. Bayport Buccaneers
- 17. Murder at the Mall
- 18. Pushed
- 19. Foul Play
2008
- 20. Feeding Frenzy
- 21. Comic Con Artist
- 22. Deprivation House
- 23. House Arrest
- 24. Murder House
- 25. Double Trouble
2009
- 26. Double Down
- 27. Double Deception
- 28. Galaxy X
- 29. X-plosion
- 30. The X-Factor
- 31. Killer Mission
- 32. Private Killer
Super Mysteries
- Main article: The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers Super Mystery
- 1. Wanted (2006)
- 2. Kidnapped at the Casino (2007)
- 3. Haunted (2008)
See also
- The Hardy Boys Graphic Novel
- The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft
- Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Super Mystery
References
- ↑ SimonandSchuster.com
- ↑ Mr. Pizza's Forum
- ↑ Bookmanager
- ↑ O'Neil, Dennis; The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics (2001)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mular, Paul (2009)
- ↑ HardyBoys-UK.com
- ↑ www.ragazzi.mondadori.it
- ↑ Book one and two at chapters.indigo.ca