'Double or Die' Now Shipping In US

Charlie Higson’s Double or Die is now shipping from amazon.com.

This follows up the news from a few days ago that Higson’s third Young Bond novel had been spotted at several US bookstores ahead of the official release on 22 April.

As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, the US hardback edition of Double or Die features brand new artwork from Kev Walker (who also designed the US Blood Fever cover and is behind the upcoming SilverFin graphic novel).

Order online:

• Order the US hardback edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com
• Order the US audiobook edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Young Bond and literary 007 news.

Large Print 'Hurricane Gold' Coming In June 2008

Great news for the literary 007 collectors!

The Young Bond Dossier alerts us that a large print edition of Charlie Higson’s Hurricane Gold is due to be published by Galaxy Plus on 2 June 2008.

Charlie Higson’s SilverFin

Typically released in very limited quantites, and the majority going to libraries make large print James Bond novels sometimes very difficult to track down. When the option is available, pre-ordering is strongly recommended.

What is also interesting to note is that large print editions for Higson’s first three Young Bond adventures, SilverFin, Blood Fever and Double or Die, have also been printed by Galaxy Plus.

These paperback editions use cover artwork very similar to the original UK editions. Click here for further information on how to order these large print editions.

Previously in the Young Bond canon, Higson’s SilverFin was published as a large print hardback by Thorndike Press in the UK and US.

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Young Bond news.

'Double or Die' Slips Out Early In US

Although it isn’t officially due for release until 22 April, James Bond fans in the US can now get their hands on Charlie Higson’s Double or Die.

A report from Double O Section notes that Higson’s third Young Bond novel is currently turning up at several bookstores throughout the US, most notably the Borders chain.

As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, the US hardback edition of Double or Die features brand new artwork from Kev Walker (who also designed the US Blood Fever cover and is behind the upcoming SilverFin graphic novel).

Higson offered his own praise of the cover: ‘It’s fantastic to see the new American cover of Double or Die which has all the romance and atmosphere I imagined when writing the books. Double or Die is a new start for Young Bond in the states and I’m very excited about its release.’

So go ahead and pre-order online or start the hunt at your local bookstore…

• Order the US hardback edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com
• Order the US audiobook edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Young Bond and literary 007 news.

Another 'By Royal Command' Plot Synopsis

The official Penguin Books website offers a brand new, juicy plot synopsis of the fifth Young Bond book by Charlie Higson, By Royal Command.

The outline offers information additional to the synopsis that emerged yesterday.

Following a treacherous rescue mission high in the freezing Alps, James Bond is preparing for life back at Eton. But James is under surveillance; his every move is being watched. He alone holds the clue to a sinister plot that will bring bloodshed and carnage to his school – and his country.

Forced to flee from Eton to Austria, James must leave behind everything he knows, with only a beautiful – and dangerous – girl by his side.

Soon he is trapped in a deadly war of secrets and lies, as a nightmare reunion with a bitter enemy plunges him once more into the face of death.

Life for James Bond will never be the same again.

By Royal Command is due to be released on 4 September 2008. James Bond fans eager for a snippet from the novel can pick up the Hurricane Gold paperback on 28 May, which contains an extract from Charlie Higson’s fifth Young Bond title.

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

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

Promotional artwork for Charlie Higson’s fifth Young James Bond adventure, By Royal Command, has been revealed.

Available to view online at The Young Bond Dossier, the promo cover also features a new tagline for the novel: ‘James Bond. For King and Country.’

The Puffin Books By Royal Command synopsis:

James is expecting his life to get back to normal when he returns to Eton from Mexico, but danger is never far away. And when his whole world explodes, he is forced to go on the run, pursued by enemy agents and the British authorities.

In an adventure that takes him from England to the chilling heights of the Austrian Alps, James must choose between friendship and duty. His life will never be the same again.

In related news, the recently announced audiobook edition of By Royal Command is now available to pre-order at amazon.co.uk.

Due to be released alongside the hardback on 4 September 2008, Higson (who has read the previous four UK Young Bond audiobooks) will be reading this abridged edition.

• 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.

Charlie Higson To Attend Borders Book Festival On 21 June

Following up the recent news that Charlie Higson would be taking part in a James Bond-themed festival in July, The Young Bond Dossier follows up today with yet another upcoming appearance for the Young Bond author.

Higson will be attending the 5th Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. Running from Thursday, 19 June through Sunday the 22nd, Higson is schedule to appear at the Children’s Festival on Saturday, the 21st at 1:30pm.

As the official website notes, in an incredibly short time the Borders Book Festival has established itself as one of Scotland’s premiere literary events. More then 5,000 people attended the event last year.

Click here for tickets for the Charlie Higson discussion.

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

Unabridged 'Hurricane Gold' UK Audiobook Coming In June

The Young Bond Dossier notifies fans today that an unabridged audiobook edition of Charlie Higson’s fourth Young James Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold is coming to the UK this June.

Initially released alongside the hardback edition this past September, the currently available audiobook is an abridged version of the novel read by Higson.

The forthcoming 8-CD unabridged edition will be released on Monday, 2 June 2008 by Chiver’s Children’s Books in the UK.

This edition will be read by Nathaniel Parker, who has previously read the US audiobooks of Higson’s first three Young Bond novels.

An ordering link on amazon.co.uk is not yet available.

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

Charlie Higson To Take Part In James Bond Discussion In July

Although it isn’t for several months, fans of the literary 007 can look forward to a talk by Young Bond author Charlie Higson on the subject this upcoming July.

The Young Bond Dossier reports that Higson will be taking part in a discussion entitled ‘James Bond the spy we love’ at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, a town in the North Yorkshire region of the UK.

In addition to Higson, the discussion panel will include Simon Brett from Macmillan as the chaiman, Philip Kerr, Joseph Finder, and Catherine Sampson.

The Penguin-sponsored Bond discussion will take place on Friday, 18 July 2008.

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival will run from 17 to 20 July. For further information about attending, phone +44 (0)1423 562303 for weekend package rates or visit the official website.

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

No 'Double or Die' US Book Tour For Charlie Higson

For Young Bond fans and collectors alike, The Young Bond Dossier today reports on two dissapointing developments regarding the forthcoming US publication of Double or Die.

First is news that Charlie Higson will not be making a book tour for the release of his third Young James Bond novel in the US. He had previously Los Angeles and San Francisco for SilverFin and Blood Fever, respectively.

US SilverFin proof cover artwork

The website also notes that there will be no US proof edition for Double or Die.

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.

SilverFin and Blood Fever were previously published in proof editions in the US–both with different cover artwork in comparison to what was finally used.

The US hardback and audiobook edition of Double or Die will be released on 22 April. Pre-order online:

• Order the US hardback edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com
• Order the US audiobook edition of Double or Die from Amazon.com

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Young Bond and literary 007 news.

Gold Was The Way To Go For Young Bond

Charlie Higson’s ‘Hurricane Gold’

Going gold for Charlie Higson’s fourth Young James Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold, was a wise choice by publisher Puffin Books, according to the Young Bond Dossier.

The website refers to a recent Publishers Weekly article that focused on the increasingly competitive book market, especially for new children’s novels.

Puffin managing director Francesca Dowe said: ‘It’s increasingly a paperback market–especially in picture books, but increasingly in fiction as well. You build an author in paperback, then take them to hardback when you reach a level you know you can sustain.’

As Young Bond fans are well aware, Puffin decided to switch things up a bit for the debut of Hurricane Gold last year, releasing the novel in an all-gold hardback edition.

The article states that the idea of creating an all-gold cover ’caused a sensation’, while Dowe added that ‘it definitely helped sales.’

We’ll have to wait and see what Puffin will come up with for the cover of Higson’s fifth Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, due for release in hardback on 4 September of this year.

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