'By Royal Command' Cover Art To Remain Top Secret Until Publication

The ever-reliable Young Bond Dossier has landed not one, but two scoops on the status of Charlie Higson’s highly-anticipated Young Bond swansong, By Royal Command.

Charlie Higson at the launch of the last Young Bond book, Hurricane Gold

James Bond fans waiting for their first glimpse of the novel’s cover art will have to wait a while longer. The site has learned that Puffin will keep the artwork secret until the book’s publication.

The report speculates that IFP and Puffin “have something very special planned for the fifth Young Bond adventure”.

Puffin last kept Young Bond cover art under wraps in the lead-up to the publication of Double Or Die, the title of which was revealed alongside the cover art on the day of the book’s release. The first edition of Hurricane Gold, meanwhile, was announced over four months out from the book’s publication as a stunning all-gold hardback release.

The wait for the By Royal Command cover art, however, has just got shorter: the Young Bond Dossier also reports that the release date for the novel is now one day earlier than originally announced.

By Royal Command will be published in hardback and audiobook on 3 September 2008 and can be pre-ordered from the links below.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest literary James Bond news.

'Hurricane Gold' Large Print Edition Available From Amazon.co.uk

The recently released Galaxy Plus large print edition of Charlie Higson’s fourth Young James Bond novel, Hurricane Gold, is now available to purchase from Amazon.co.uk.

The Young Bond Dossier alerts us to the listing following the release of this edition last month at BBC Audiobooks.

This edition of Hurricane Gold is an oversized trade paperback with cover artwork similar to the recently released UK paperback, but without the gold gloss effect.

The publisher, Galaxy Plus, has also released Higson’s first three Young Bond novels in large print as well.

• Order the UK large print edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk

As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Young Bond coverage.

First 'By Royal Command' Proof Emerges

With all but two major literary James Bond releases behind us, all eyes now turn to Charlie Higson’s Young Bond series.

Our friends at The Young Bond Dossier report that the first proof copy of Higson’s By Royal Command – his fifth Young Bond book – recently sold on eBay.

The spiral-bound proof fetched an impressive £74 on the auction website.

Uncorrected/advance proofs are early copies of a novel sent to bookstores and media outlets meant to generate public awareness and interest. Since they are not readily made available to the general public and are published in limited quantities, they can be difficult to track down.

Meanwhile, The Young Bond Dossier also reports that Puffin have published an eight-page preview booklet of the forthcoming SilverFin graphic novel.

By Royal Command will be published in hardback in the UK on 4 September. SilverFin: The Graphic Novel will be released on 2 October.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest literary James Bond news.

Charlie Higson To Appear At The Bath Festival of Children's Literature

Charlie Higson, author of the hugely popular Young Bond series, will appear at the second Bath Festival of Children’s Literature – just weeks after the publication of the fifth book in the series: By Royal Command.

Charlie Higson at the Hurricane Gold launch

theBookseller.com reports that Higson, Michael Rosen, Michael Morpurgo and Meg Cabot are among the authors due to attend the 10-day event, which last year reached over 20,000 children and families.

The festival will run from 19 to 28 September, with tickets going on sale 21 July. Call the ticket hotline on 01225 463 362.

By Royal Command will be published in hardback in the UK on 4 September.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest literary James Bond news.

Signed And Numbered Limited Edition Of Charlie Higson's 'By Royal Command'

News has emerged today on another special edition of a James Bond book coming later this year (because there obviously haven’t been enough literary 007 releases so far for collectors!).

The Young Bond Dossier reports on a listing for a signed and numbered limited edition of Charlie Higson’s fifth Young Bond novel, By Royal Command.

While details remain scarce as publisher Puffin Books has yet to confirm the special edition Young Bond novel, it is currently planned for release alongside the UK hardback edition in early September 2008.

Special editions have appeared for all four of the previous Young Bond novels in the past.

CommanderBond.net will keep you updated as more details come to light. By Royal Command is officially released on 4 September.

• Order the UK hardback edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk

'SilverFin' Graphic Novel Gets A Blurb

Following up the unveiling of the cover artwork last month, the Young Bond Dossier reports that Puffin Books have released the official blurb for the forthcoming graphic novel adaptation of Charlie Higson’s SilverFin.

Adapted from Higson’s debut Young James Bond adventure by artist Kev Walker and featuring more than 300 full-colour illustrations, the SilverFin graphic novel is slated for release on 2 October 2008 in the UK.

The blurb follows:

It’s James Bond’s first day at Eton, and already he’s met his first enemy. This is the start of an adventure that will take him from the school playing fields to the remote shores of Loch Silverfin and a terrifying discovery that threatens to unleash a new breed of warfare.

The hugely anticipated first-ever Young Bond graphic novel, adapted from Charlie Higson’s bestselling SilverFin, explosively illustrated by Young Bond artist Kev Walker.

Walker, who has contributed to the official Young Bond website, is also responsible for the cover art on the US releases of Blood Fever and Double Or Die.

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest details on the SilverFin graphic novel and all Young Bond news.

Large Print Edition Of Charlie Higson's 'Hurricane Gold' Released

A large print edition of Charlie Higson’s latest Young James Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold, has been released–reports the Young Bond Dossier.

This particular edition of Hurricane Gold is published by Galaxy Plus as an oversized trade paperback. The publisher has previously released Higson’s first three Young Bond novels in large print as well.

Cover artwork, which can be viewed here, is similar to the recently released UK paperback, but without the gold gloss effect.

To order the Galaxy Plus Hurricane Gold large print paperback, visit BBC Audiobooks.

As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Young Bond coverage.

"Perhaps the best Bond adventure we have had to date."

Official Young Bond news source, The Young Bond Dossier, tips us off that the first review of Charlie Higson’s next novel, By Royal Command, is now online – 74 days before the book’s publication.

John Lloyd on Waterstones.com has given Higson’s fifth Young Bond instalment a glowing five-star review, an excerpt from which is below.

Try to put down at your peril. By Royal Command is perhaps the best Bond adventure we have had to date. It is with no small amount of garrulous gusto that I can pronounce an even greater array of action, adventure, gadgets, villains and of course Bond beauties. Wonderfully descriptive amid exotic locations Charlie Higson really involves the reader in details to readily devour. Realistic scenarios furnish By Royal Command with an encompassing exhalation unbeknown to entertainment in pen and ink. Rule Britannia the young Bond is back!

Meanwhile, in an interview with Waterstones.com, Higson confirmed he has been signed by Puffin to write a series of non-Bond novels. CommanderBond.net first reported in April that the author had signed a three-book deal with the publisher.

“I have signed a deal with Puffin books to a new series for children,” Higson said. “They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle.”

Higson also gave a few more details about what James Bond fans can expect from By Royal Command.

“By the end of By Royal Command we see him poised on the edge of becoming Fleming’s Bond. He is very much ready for the next phase of his life. He has come a long way – but still has far to go.”

When asked where James Bond goes from here, Higson replied, “Well, first of all to a new school – Fettes, in Scotland (that’s not a spoiler, anyone who has read the adult Bond books knows the story). But the big thing looming on his horizon is the second world war. The events of By Royal Command take place in 1934 so the war is only five years away. Bond will be 19 when war breaks out, and we know that he went into naval intelligence – MI6 – and worked as an agent overseas. I think it would be really interesting to find out more about his early wartime experiences, his training in Scotland, his 1st missions, his gaining the 00 status. That would be a fun job for a writer.”

This statement will no doubt fuel the exciting suggestion that Higson will return at some point in the future to continue fleshing out James Bond’s past.

Charlie Higson’s fourth Young Bond novel, Hurricane Gold, was published in paperback last month. By Royal Command is out in hardback on 4 September.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest literary James Bond news.

'Hurricane Gold' US Hardback Available For Pre-order

The Young Bond Dossier alerts us today that two of Charlie Higson’s Young James Bond adventures are now listed for pre-order at Amazon.com.

First up is the author’s fourth Young Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold. The title will debut in US hardback on 7 April 2009. Like the previous three novels in the US, it will be published by Hyperion and retail for $16.99.

Also listed is the US paperback edition of Double or Die. Following up the hardback release this past April, this paperback edition will be published on 10 March 2009. Retail price is $7.99.

Cover artwork for both releases is yet to be revealed, although we do have a sneak peek at the prototype artwork for Hurricane Gold.

Pre-order online:

• Order the US hardback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.com
• Order the US paperback edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com

As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Young Bond coverage.

'By Royal Command' Preview By Charlie Higson At Edinburgh Book Festival

Charlie Higson will be giving readers an exclusive sneak peek into his fifth Young Bond adventure, By Royal Command, at the Edinburgh Book Festival in August.

The Young Bond Dossier reports that Higson will be appearing at the festival’s ‘Big Issue Event’ on Saturday, 23 August at 1:30pm (located at the RBS Main Theatre).

In addition to this By Royal Command preview, Higson will be available once again later that day during a panel with Bond historian (and For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming And James Bond author) Ben MacIntyre for a ‘celebration of Bond: the myths, stories, images, icons, gadgets and Bond girls.’ This event begins at 8:30pm at the Peppers Theatre.

Further information and the entire festival program can be found at the official website. The Edinburgh Book Festival runs from 9-25 August.

Higson’s By Royal Command debuts on 4 September in the UK.

• Order the UK hardback edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Young Bond news.