I have read the first three of the young bond series, and have yet to finish one. It was also one of the earliest comics to be censored on racial grounds some skin tones and dialogue were changed for the american market. In charlie higsons highly entertaining young bond novels, set in the. Heck, at his age, i expect hes had more experience with the young bond novels than the james bond films. The bond books feel as if theyre in muted, dour colours, compared to the bright, explosive colour of the alex rider series.
Set in the 1930s, they show how jamess early adventures shape the man he is to become. Sep 02, 2015 young readers in the demographic for this book may not be ready for the sex, sadism, and snobbery of the fleming books so these stories serve as a prelude for them so that perhaps once they are ready to dive into fleming they can do so with some distinct knowledge of what james bond is like as a literary character. The 10 best personal finance books of 2020 manage your money better with these reads. He is the author of the adult thrillers,full whack and king of the ants, as well as the internationally bestselling young bond series. The new series by steve cole will pick up where charlie higsonread more. This sounded like the would be a really good book and id be sucked into the adventure.
It sounds like such a fun read i couldnt wait to get into it. It starts out with james at this new school in england because he is an orphan. Being a james bond fan and having three boys, writing for the young bond books was a dream job for him as a childrens writer. Steve coles new book takes on the young bond mantle from charlie higson. Have you ever seen a james bond movie well about half the world has. It starts out in the 1930s when the future 007 was attending eton college. He writes the young bond series he is a major james bond aficionado and the enemy series both considered ya series, while most of his standalone novels are for adults. Welcome to the official website of the thrilling young bond series. Apr 30, 2017 welcome to the official website of the thrilling young bond series.
Charlie higson is a wellknown british comedy writer, producer, and actor, particularly well known for writing and performing on the hit 1990s comedy the fast show. That is how he became the author of the young bond series, which kicked off with the debut novel in 2005. What does it take to become the greatest secret agent the world has ever known. These days, everyone knows james bond, the fictional british secret service agent who works for mi6, from the blockbuster movies. Young bond is back in this terrific 4th young bond novel. In 1933, james bond is back at eton where he is now a member. This book brings young people up to speed, but dont overlook it if your twenties are now in the rearview mirror. The james bond literary franchise is a series of novels and short stories, first published in 1953 by ian fleming, a british author, journalist, and former naval intelligence officer. My favourite i gotta say is hurricane gold i loved the amazing maze full of nasties. Browse the book pages for information on each of young bond s actionpacked adventures, read the missions log for the latest news and don. He is an expert on james bond and is the author of the internationally.
It, like the previous books, kept you on the edge of your seat the whole fact i read. The boy went in and started fishing, then he was never seen again. On her majestys secret service is the tenth novel in ian flemings james bond series, first published in the uk by jonathan cape on 1 april 1963. Charlie higson is an acclaimed writer of screenplays and novels, and also a performer and the cocreator of the british television programs the fast show and bellamys people. Rumor has it that higson would like to do another set of young bond. Young james goes to a boarding school called eton after his parents died. Browse the book pages for information on each of young bonds actionpacked adventures, read the missions log for the latest news and don. Young bond is a series of spy thrilleradventure novels by english author charlie higson. Again the main thing was the books got a lot more violent and more. The book contains a wild collection of sinister villains the henchman manny the girl is one of higosns greatest creations yet and is probably the most harrowing and bond like of all the young bond. The initial and secondary print runs sold out, with over 60,000 books sold in the first month. Before embarking on the job, he had to read all the flemings in order.
Rumor has it that higson would like to do another set of young bond stories set. Young readers in the demographic for this book may not be ready for the sex, sadism, and snobbery of the fleming books so these stories serve as a prelude for them so that perhaps once they are ready to dive into fleming they can do so with some distinct knowledge of what james bond is like as a literary character. The james bond literary franchise is a series of novels and short stories, first published in. The comedian and author of teenhorror series the enemy and the young bond books explains how he polished his plots by terrifying his children. Bestselling childrens author and lifelong fan of ian flemings james bond. The series features the james bond character throughout adolescence. Sounds to me like he was referring specifically to charlie higsons young bond series. It felt like the book was neutered to not give away every plot point, which is pretty silly considering everyone who will read this will have hopefully read the rest of the young bond books first. Steve cole continued the series between 2014 and 2017. The official facebook page for the young bond books. Sep 09, 2006 the young bond books are obviously set in the preww2 period, while the alex rider series are set in the modern day, and i feel this gives the books their difference in tone. Alex rider vs young james bond childrens young adult.
Here are the best, and the worst, from flemings work. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Site member joshiey talks to him about what its like to write about bond, moving on from doctor who and astrosaurs. If you are a fan of agent 007 and want to read some more cloak and dagger fiction before the next movie hits, then check out the following books like james bond.
Getting rid of mister kitchen 1996, full whack 1995, happy now 1993, and king of the ants 1992. More broadly, every thriller and action film that comes out now either uses them as inspiration, or attempts. Eight great books for your tween spy criminal element. Books, stories, and novels like the james bond series by ian fleming. This was the first american comic book appearance of james bond and is noteworthy for being a relatively rare example of a british comic being reprinted in a fairly highprofile american comic. The young bond dossier is an overview of the whole young bond series, giving us information and trivia on a lot of subjects pertaining to the young bond series. Then james bond comes o visit his aunt and he hears about the missing boy and he trys to help him. The third young bond novel is set entirely in england during christmas. It is the first book in the young bond series and i really liked it. Silverfin by charlie higson before james bond was 007,he was a yearold boy. His novels include the young bond series and four blackly humorous novels for adults. He is the main protagonist of the james bond series of novels, films, comics and video games.
Ian fleming wrote 12 james bond novels and 9 short stories published in two collections. Ian fleming publications recently announced that stephen cole is going to continue writing the young bond series, with the next book planned to be released in late 2014. He quickly makes a couple good friends, but has his share of bullies. Teenage spy books by charlie higson and anthony horowitz the. As his first young bond novel, silverfin, began to take shape, he read a chapter a night to his oldest son, then 10, now 22. Dec 29, 2011 now, the media took this to mean that he would like to play james bond 007 in the future, but that isnt what he said.
Charlie higson began his young bond series in 2005 with the novel silverfin. James starts out at a new boarding school at the age of. If you like alex rider you will love the other books on the list. Besides being a published author, charlie is also an actor, comedian and formerly a singer. In other careers he has worked as an editor of books and magazines for readers of all ages. James bond, often referred to by his code name, 007, is a british secret service agent. The bestselling young bond novels were first written by charlie higson. Does anyone here read the young bond books written by charlie higson. Books like alex rider books that are like the alex rider series.
Nov 22, 2017 10 great movies to watch if you like james bond films posted on november 22, 2017 november 22, 2017 by polina goupalo james bond, or agent 007, is no doubt one of the most widely known fictional spy characters. This time author charlie higson shakes up the formula and elects not to have any of the action set at eton. Author charles higson visited washington, dc for a book tour of his 5th young james bond novel by royal command. Young bond is a series of young adult spy novels featuring ian flemings secret agent james bond as a young teenage boy attending school at eton college in the 1930s. Charlie higson is an acclaimed comedy writer, producer, actor, and genuine bond aficionado. Judging by the level of success that the bond franchise have obtained, fleming certainly lived up to his ambition of writing the spy story to end all spy stories. Charlie higson is an english author of a multitude of genres for both adults and young adults. Instead, higson throws bond instantly into danger in a hurricane ravaged mexico surprisingly, a location james bond has never been before. The information is given to us with nicely drawn pictures depicting the charactersitems and events in young bonds life. In this thrilling prequel to the adventure of james bond, 007, readers meet a young boy whose inquisitive mind and determination set him on a path that will someday take him across the globe, in pursuit of the most dangerous criminals of all time. Charlie higson wrote five young bond novels between 2005 and 2008, as well as danger society. There are other books still to come, about bonds life.
The bestselling young bond novels are set in the 1930s and they show how james bond s early adventures shape the man he is to become. The young bond books are obviously set in the preww2 period, while the alex rider series are set in the modern day, and i feel this gives the books their difference in tone. Oct 22, 2012 id always wondered what the james bond books were like. The author also offers up several nods to fleming that hardcore fans will appreciate. Fleming wrote the book in jamaica whilst the first film in the eon productions series of films, dr. In 1933, thirteenyearold james bond arrives at eton college for boys for. When they are marooned on a desert island, they must face the ultimate test survival. The james bond novels have been adapted for a lot of mediums. Alex, li, paulo, hex and amber bond on board a sailing ship. The series, written by charlie higson, was originally planned to include only five novels. List of james bond novels and short stories wikipedia. The bestselling young bond novels are set in the 1930s and they show how james bonds early adventures shape the man he is to become. Hurricane gold charlie higson ian fleming publications. Young bond covering similar ground to alex rider, charlie higsons.
Prequel to the adventures of james bond, 007, introduces the young james when he is just starting boarding school in england and is about to become involved in his first adventure. They are fun, interesting and have twisting plots and cliff hangers. This page is run by penguin random house uk childrens. This book was a great addition to the young bond series. Fleming wrote twelve bond novels and two short story collections before his death, although the last two books the man with the golden gun and octopussy and the. Silverfin, by charlie higson is an actionpacked look back to the early days of james bond. Jun 04, 2010 author charles higson visited washington, dc for a book tour of his 5th young james bond novel by royal command.
As you may have already guessed by the title, the series is an interesting and creative look at the adventures of the famous british character and spy, james bond, in his younger years. James and his friends have to solve a series of clues in order to help free someone they know thats been kidnapped. The young bond dossier in 2009, which includes the short story a hard man to kill. Log in recommendations everything music movies tv shows books authors games podcasts all music movies tv shows books authors games. This book is about james bond but when he was younger.
May 06, 2015 since 1962, the james bond franchise has come to define the spy genre, for good or ill. So, this summer i decided to read all of the original ian fleming bond novels. While shying away from aping his literary style, he desired to use similar plots, characters, situations, and locations. To me the main star of this book is the short story, a hard man to kill, by charlie higson himself. It was first published in the uk in september 2007.
Royal navy commander james bond, cmg, rnvr, is a fictional character created by british journalist and novelist ian fleming in 1953. Initially the eon series of films were fairly straight adaptations of the novels but over time they tended to deviate more and more. We dont have any recommendations for young bond right now. The plot of shoot to kill is well handled and the opening chapter has a terrific film noir feel and a nice twist. Hurricane gold is the fourth novel in the young bond series depicting ian flemings superspy james bond as a teenager in the 1930s. Prequel to the adventures of james bond, 007, introduces the young james when. It was written by charlie higson and released in the united kingdom on march 3, 2005 by puffin books in conjunction with a large marketing campaign. Teenagers understand this, flocking to films like scream, i know what. If you like young bond you might like similar books. Rex, thieves like us, doctor who and astrosaurs, with collective sales of over three million copies. Silverfin is the first novel in the young bond series that depicts ian flemings superspy james bond as a teenager in the 1930s.