20 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Puffin Books has released promotional art for By Royal Command that reveals the title logo and the book

[K1Bond007]

Psh.. my tagline was more fitting to their description.

[Righty007]

I wonder if James says that after his affair with the boys' maid?

"You don't think I enjoyed what we did this evening, do you? What I did tonight was for King and country!"

[K1Bond007]

Well he doesn't have sex with her, so I'm not sure what exactly is gonna happen here.

[marktmurphy]

They've really pushed the boat out with that logo design, then!

[sharpshooter]

"James Bond. For King and country." Nice. The logo design is the standard Young Bond fare which is good.

[Qwerty]

Yeah, the typical logo (as to be expected), but a pretty fitting tagline.

[zencat]

"James Bond. For King and country." Nice. The logo design is the standard Young Bond fare which is good.

Exactly. I wouldn't want a redesign of the logo. These should to work as a set.

I'm also not expecting red and black will be the color palette. They did red and black on BF.

[sharpshooter]

Indeed, I wouldn't read too much into the colours used in this promo. I'll still put my name on some purple hue being used.

[Qwerty]

Promotional Art And Tagline For Charlie Higson's 'By Royal Command'

'James Bond. For King and Country.'

[[dark]]

Another 'By Royal Command' Plot Synopsis

Outline contains juicy hints about the book's Bond girl and villain

[marktmurphy]

Returning bad guy?

[zencat]

Ooooo...excellent plot synopsis. Great discovery, [dark].

[[dark]]

My guess is this is what we'll see on the back of the book.

[zencat]

Returning bad guy?

I've never done a stand alone story on this because I don't want to reveal everything... But if you need to know who it most likely is, read my report on the Hurricane Gold launch party. Charlie let it slip there.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Do you know everything, zencat?

[zencat]

Do you know everything, zencat?

Not everything. But Charlie lets a lot slip during his talks and there are clues in the books and supporting materials (like the Rough Guide from last year). With the other books, I would occasionally put all the pieces together, but I realized I was in danger of spoiling the books.

For example, I remember we found out in 2005 -- via a direct quote from Charlie in a published piece of promotional material -- what the object of Bond's quest was in DOD

Spoiler

An early computer. - CBn story.

Considering the source, it didn't seem like a spoiler. In fact, it seemed like a great hook. But in reading the book, it was clear it would have been better if this had never been revealed.

So now I just let the pieces float. And there are a few things I know about BRC that I haven't, and won't, reveal.

[K1Bond007]

Returning bad guy?

Yeah, this is actually been known for awhile and I thought it was actually kind of obvious from the book. It's clearly..

Spoiler

Babushka - the Russian "grandmother" from Double or Die.

I think Charlie hinted at it after the publication of that book (perhaps vaguely). Definitely after Hurricane Gold.

[sharpshooter]

Yep, BRC is shaping up to be the best Young Bond novel judging by the synopsis. I hope it is Bond on the run, but not so fast paced as HG, with some slower moments ala BloodFever.

[Qwerty]

Very cool that we'll have a returning villain. Hope it turns into an interesting confrontation.

[sharpshooter]

Indeed. The last time Bond and the villain in question met was tense. I knew Bond did not kill until he obtained a 00 number, but that moment with Bond pointing the gun at Babuska in DoD seemed like a coming of age scene.

This 'treacherous rescue mission' in the Alps sounds interesting. I wonder what that's all about.