191 replies to this topic

[sharpshooter]

From what you have seen, how would you rate the book, zen?

Do you believe it lives up to the concept?

[zencat]

Oh, absolutely. It surpasses expectations. I also just read A Hard Man To Kill and it's excellent. Higson at the top of his game. Such a joy to read a new YB adventure. Not going to reveal anything because I don't want to spoil it, but there are some intriguing aspects to the story that I'm dying to discuss.

[zencat]

FYI, we'll get the paperback edition in June 2010.

[sharpshooter]

Penguin Australia is offering a look inside the book:

http://www.penguin.c...N=9780141329048

[DAN LIGHTER]

Thanks sharpshooter

[[dark]]

There's also an extract here, which seems to be Charlie's introduction to the book. A couple of choice paragraphs:

I sometimes wonder what Ian Fleming would have made of my books. I don't for one moment think this was the childhood he imagined for his hero. I expect he thought James would have had a pretty normal life before the war broke out. But you lot wouldn't have wanted to read about James doing his homework and playing football and getting a cold and being bored in lessons . . . No. What we want from James Bond is a world of high adventure, so I hope Ian Fleming will forgive me and I do hope he would have liked my stories. I know one thing - he would have been very happy to know just how popular his creation was after all these years. As I said before, Bond will never die and I'm looking forward to all his future adventures.

So what's this new book all about? Well . . . over the course of writing the five Eton stories I've had to find out everything I could about Bond and his world - not just his home life and his school life, but the cars, the guns, the gadgets, the places he visits and the people he meets, as well as what was going on in the world in the 1930s. This dossier is a way of sharing some of that research with those readers who are interested in finding out a bit more about Young Bond's world. The world I have been allowed to play in. But there's more to it than that . . . I couldn't leave Bond behind, and I hope to write many more stores about him in the future, but in the meantime I've written a new one, and filled in a gap - what happened to James on his way back from Mexico after his adventures in Hurricane Gold . . .?

[zencat]

Great find! Thanks sharpshooter and [dark].

[David Schofield]

Perhaps not the most prudent first couple of sentences there from Charlie...

But you've got to admire his candour in them (though I guess it does tend to reinforce the simple hardnosed financial opportunism inherent in every Bond project, regardless of however suitable)

And, of course, kudos to Charlie because he wants us to be in on the joke: "Hey, I KNOW a 13 year old couldn't possibly do the things I have Bond do*. But it's 'modern' James Bond, that which we have come to expect from the cinematic superman, so go with it"

* particular in the first two books. DS

[zencat]

Waterstones is shipping the book now?

http://www.waterston....do?sku=6832303

[DAN LIGHTER]

Waterstones is shipping the book now?

http://www.waterston....do?sku=6832303

Your right it look like they are, I know Seb Faulks A Week in December was released about a week early in Waterstones, so this would not surprise me. I will update if I see it in actual shops before release.

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

Got notified that my copy shipped today.

Got notified that my copy shipped today.

Got notified that my copy shipped today.

[zencat]

From who, Donovan? Amazon? Waterstones?

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

From who, Donovan? Amazon? Waterstones?

Amazon UK. After I got confirmation, I checked their site and it's listed as IN STOCK.
Cheers, cat.

[zencat]

Yep, I just noticed that. Enjoy!

[DAN LIGHTER]

I manged to get signed copies of The Young Bond Dossier today. It looks like independant book shops have been given signed copies as was with "The Enemy" (They have a orange label on the front saying signed by author)

So I will be hoping more people get it so we can get stuck in and have a good chat about it!

Edited by DAN LIGHTER, 24 October 2009 - 03:15 PM.

[zencat]

I manged to get signed copies of The Young Bond Dossier today. It looks like independant book shops have been given signed copies as was with "The Enemy" (They have a orange label on the front saying signed by author)

So I will be hoping more people get it so we can get stuck in and have a good chat about it!

Oooo...really? Didn't know about this. Gotta watch eBay, I guess (although The Enemy popped up on eBay).

So it sure appears the book is out now online and in-stores. Has anyone seen a copy in a Watersones?

[jimbo bond 007]

Just picked up my copy in my local WHSmiths store. Very nice indeed.

The local Waterstones didn't seem to have it in yet but it is quite a small store.

The book is nicely done with some great illustrations by Kev Walker.

[DAN LIGHTER]

Its good to have it at last. And having a quick flick it does not disapoint. I cant wait to read the story and it's cool to have a few Kev Walker drawings to go with the short story. And it looks like vaulue for money with the story covering 60 pages.

Yes, Kev Walker really does a great job with Charlie Higsons Young Bond.

[DAN LIGHTER]

Charlie Higson writes in his introduction "I hope to write many more storys about him (Bond) in the future". What good news. He also writes about the fact that there are more adventures still to come for Bond (in his life) Fettes, WW2, trainning with M16, his Wartime escapades, his earning of his 00 status and finally his early days as cold war secret agent before Casino Royale.

Imagine an Adult Bond story just before Casino Royale? One thing is for sure Higson is the man to do it.

A Hard Man to Kill

Spoiler

I loved the setting of this abroad the ship called Colombie. The drawing by Kev Walkers of the Colombie sets the scene perfectly. We meet Rene Mathis here for the first time and it proves a great touch to the story. And it had a good ending

[zencat]

Good news. You'll be able to get signed copies from the IFP website starting Thursday, but supplies are "extremely limited."

[Qwerty]

Fantastic news, zen!

[marktmurphy]

Had a flick through this in Waterstones: looks like a great book; I'll definitely have to nab one. Might try for a signed one tomorrow.

[stromberg]

Good news. You'll be able to get signed copies from the IFP website starting Thursday, but supplies are "extremely limited."

Can't say what the limit number was, but I can assure you that the last copy in stock sold two minutes ago. Boy, that was close...

[David Schofield]

Good news. You'll be able to get signed copies from the IFP website starting Thursday, but supplies are "extremely limited."

Can't say what the limit number was, but I can assure you that the last copy in stock sold two minutes ago. Boy, that was close...

Never really admired gloating myself.

Well, done IFP, though. You've fuelled ebayers and bookdealers nicely.

And in a recession, eh. Perhaps a little advanced warning might have prevented people having to buy more than one copy?

Not your finest hour, Fleming family.

[DAN LIGHTER]

Good news. You'll be able to get signed copies from the IFP website starting Thursday, but supplies are "extremely limited."

Can't say what the limit number was, but I can assure you that the last copy in stock sold two minutes ago. Boy, that was close...

Never really admired gloating myself.

Well, done IFP, though. You've fuelled ebayers and bookdealers nicely.

And in a recession, eh. Perhaps a little advanced warning might have prevented people having to buy more than one copy?

Not your finest hour, Fleming family.

I dont think the signed ones are in anyway limited, maybe for the sake of the IFP website they are. I will know after Saturday if they are limited after doing a bit of window shopping. If I dont see any I will eat my hat.

[Trident]

I wonder if the publishers of the Alex Rider series consider a similar 'background' companion with Horowitz? Or would that one simply have to admit too much of Fleming's influence and plans were dropped therefore, respectively never really considered?

[marktmurphy]

Completely forgot! How annoying.

[Qwerty]

Now on the CBn main page...

Charlie Higson's Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier published

Newest Young Bond book now available in the UK

[zencat]

Good news. You'll be able to get signed copies from the IFP website starting Thursday, but supplies are "extremely limited."

Can't say what the limit number was, but I can assure you that the last copy in stock sold two minutes ago. Boy, that was close...

So they sold out in 3 hours? Wow. Or was it less? Does anyone know what time they went up?

(I was able get a copy set aside, thank goodness.)

But as Dan Lighter discovered, there are still signed copies available from Indie bookstores, so those who missed out can still nab a signed copy.

[David Schofield]

Good news. You'll be able to get signed copies from the IFP website starting Thursday, but supplies are "extremely limited."

Can't say what the limit number was, but I can assure you that the last copy in stock sold two minutes ago. Boy, that was close...

So they sold out in 3 hours? Wow. Or was it less? Does anyone know what time they went up?

(I was able get a copy set aside, thank goodness.)

Lucky you! Helps to know people in the right place.

Sorry, Zen, all IFP have done with this is support ebay and bookseller profiteering, and not their core customers - Bond fans.

An absolute PR disaster for IFP. It leaves a very, very bad taste.