191 replies to this topic

[Matt_13]

Still holding out hope it'll serve as a bridge between the Young Bond novels and a new series of WWII stories sometime down the road. Either way I'm excited.

[sharpshooter]

Looking forward to this short story preview. Reminds me of the BRC preview in the HG paperback.

[zencat]

By the way zencat, any idea if/when Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier will be released in the U.S.? Since the U.K. version comes out before we get By Royal Command, I would assume the U.S. wouldn't get Danger Society until next fall at the earliest, if at all.

I would think it would have to be after the US BRC, so we might not see it until 2011. But I will ask Disney next week.

Nope, sorry, nothing to report on a U.S. release yet.

[zencat]

I've scored a new high res (and slightly revised) cover image. Working it up on the site now. Stand by.

[zencat]

Here we go.

[[dark]]

Probably not, but could the Young Bond story be called "Top Secret"? It's a bit bland, but it might make sense given the new tagline and the size of those words on the miniature dustjacket.

Also, has the story ever been referred to as a "short story"? Maybe it's something a bit more substantial, like a novella?

[zencat]

Probably not, but could the Young Bond story be called "Top Secret"? It's a bit bland, but it might make sense given the new tagline and the size of those words on the miniature dustjacket.

Also, has the story ever been referred to as a "short story"? Maybe it's something a bit more substantial, like a novella?

I doubt the story is called Top Secret. I think that just for effect on the "seal."

Good point re the lenght of the story. I think I pointed out above, nowhere (official) has it said "short story" -- just "story." In my emails with Puffin, they've used "short story", but it's possible it's something much longer. The book shows as being 240 pages after all.

[zencat]

A preview of a short story seems kind of dumb to me. Not knocking it really, it's just that .. it's already short.

Also, has the story ever been referred to as a "short story"? Maybe it's something a bit more substantial, like a novella?

Good point re the lenght of the story. I think I pointed out above, nowhere (official) has it said "short story" -- just "story." In my emails with Puffin, they've used "short story", but it's possible it's something much longer. The book shows as being 240 pages after all.

So I've received reliable intel that this new story is substantially longer than your average "short story".

[[dark]]

Most interesting - thanks for the intel, zencat. I'm guessing it could comprise up to half of this new book. Maybe somewhere between 50 and 100 pages. Guesswork, but this is very cool.

[zencat]

Half the book might be expecting too much, [dark]. But we'll see. It's still a mystery exactly how this book will be laid out. I'm wondering if we will get Kev Walker illustrations with the story. That would be awesome.

[zencat]

Here's some interesting news. With research help from the CBn Team, I'm determined that this new YB short story is actually the longest James Bond short story yet written, beating out For Your Eyes Only.

New Young Bond story is not so short

[sharpshooter]

Here's some interesting news. With research help from the CBn Team, I'm determined that this new YB short story is actually the longest James Bond short story yet written, beating out For Your Eyes Only.

Excellent!

[Matt_13]

Awesome!

[zencat]

I'm dying to know the title! But I can wait.

[Mr Twilight]

May have missed the info, but any word of if the short story is pre or post BRC?

[[dark]]

No word yet. A while back Charlie was talking about writing a short story set on a cruise ship set between Hurricane Gold and By Royal Command. However, there's been no indication whether this will be that short story.

[zencat]

I suspect that question will be answered when we get a look at the extract in BRC.

[zencat]

More news...

Danger Society release date pulled forward

[sharpshooter]

Spoilers about the short story from a rival website.

The title is

Spoiler

A Hard Man To Kill

It is set during

Spoiler

Young Bond's return from Mexico at the end of Hurricane Gold. Bond travels back on a French ocean liner.

Also,

Spoiler

young René Mathis

will meet Bond for the first time during the course of the short story.

[[dark]]

Cool info - I like the title. Sounds more like an adult Bond novel title than a Young Bond title, though.

Spoiler

Not sure how I feel about Bond meeting René Mathis so young in life, but maybe they just cross paths incidentally and don't actually "meet", per se. Mind you, if anyone can pull it off, it's Higson.

[zencat]

Shame they spoiled all this. I was respectfully holding back until the release of the By Royal Command paperback with the story preview so fans would be motivated to get the book and discover it there. That was kind of the point, wasn't it?

Nevertheless...

Spoiler

Cool title. As [dark] said, sounds like an adult Bond title. Wonder if it's rooted in Fleming somehow? I'm assuming the title refers to a villain, because if it refers to Bond, certainly it should be 'A Hard Boy To Kill' (which I also like).

Glad it's the shipboard story Charlie hinted at in 2007. I love the idea of Bond story set on a ship.

The Rene thing is news to me. I'll wait see how it plays.

[quantumofsolace]

This is the only new Bond story this year and I'm looking forward to it so much. Even if there was a new film or a novel by a different author this is the one I would most be looking forward to.

[zencat]

This is the only new Bond story this year and I'm looking forward to it so much. Even if there was a new film or a novel by a different author this is the one I would most be looking forward to.

I just very excited about the companion book in general. How cool to have something like this. There are a zillion books devoted to the film Bond, but precious few devoted to the lit Bond, and none of those really go beyond Fleming. It's awesome to have something devoted entirely to a continuation series. I'm curious about the content beyond the short story.

[[dark]]

Me too, zen. I'm expecting some in-depth rundowns on each of the books, including info on girls, villains, allies, locations, that kinda thing. Probably some Kev Walker illustrations, too. But it's gotta be something substantial to warrant a hardback release like this.

It's definitely an exciting publication, and one that shows IFP's ongoing commitment to Young Bond (bring on series two!).

[sharpshooter]

It's definitely an exciting publication, and one that shows IFP's ongoing commitment to Young Bond (bring on series two!).

For sure. We've had a new Young Bond item every year since 2005. Hopefully they announce a second series or more graphic novels to continue that trend.

[zencat]

I'm also intrigued to see Charlie is the only listed author. I knew he would contribute the short, but I figured all the other "dossier" material would be handled by another writer. Maybe it was. Or maybe Charlie wrote it all himself.

Got a clarification. Charlie did not write the Dossier content. Just the short story.

[zencat]

Now available for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk.

[[dark]]

This book is now also available from The Book Depository at a very sweet discount. I get all my books from there now - I've never landed anything other than an absolute bargain.

[DAN LIGHTER]

I cant wait......I think I might burst!!!

Can we send a petition to Downing Street to get it released now?

[Qwerty]

'Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier' International Edition Slated For October

Penguin Australia listing for upcoming Charlie Higson book

Glad to see we'll have another one of these to collect.