Charlie Higson's Australian and New Zealand tour stops announced

Last month we reported on the various US locations Young James Bond author Charlie Higson would be visiting in May for his forthcoming book tour. Now, thanks to the always up-to-date Young Bond Dossier, we can bring you the details on several more in Australia and New Zealand.

Featuring book signings, discussions and more, this world tour will support the release of his fifth Young Bond adventure, By Royal Command, the SilverFin Graphic Novel and the non-Bond horror novel The Enemy.

Specific details follow below:

Thursday, 13 May

• 11:00am – Auckland Writers & Readers Festival, ABS Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
  Official website

Saturday, 15 May

• 2:30pm – Auckland Writers & Readers Festival, ABS Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
  Official website

Tuesday, 18 May

• 9:20am – Sydney Writers’ Festival, Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay, Australia
  Official website
• 4:30pm – The Children’s Bookshop, 6 Hannah St, Beecroft, Australia
  Official website

Wednesday, 19 May

• 9:40am – Sydney Writers’ Festival, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, Australia
  Official website

Thursday, 20 May

• 11:00am – Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Centre, Melbourne, Australia
  Official website

• Order the US hardback of By Royal Command from Amazon.com
• Order the US hardback of SilverFin: The Graphic Novel from Amazon.com
• Order the US paperback of SilverFin: The Graphic Novel from Amazon.com
• Order the US hardback of The Enemy from Amazon.com
• Order the US paperback of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.com

Be sure to stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page (and our Discussion Forums) as more stops on Higson’s US book tour are announced.

Higson comments again on Young Bond series 2

It’s been about six months since the UK publication of Charlie Higson’s Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier, his non-fiction companion to the first Young Bond series. We say first Young Bond series because Higson still hasn’t ruled out returning to the franchise for another go. Last year he was quoted as saying he’d “like to write more Bond books, it’s just a question of juggling time.”

Yesterday the New Zealand Herald published an interview with Charlie Higson where he reaffirmed that he’s still considering doing a Young Bond series 2. “I always had a storyline that would run over five books and work as a complete series,” he says. “But as the books became more successful, both the Fleming Estate and Puffin were very keen for me to extend it beyond that. I wanted to take a break at that point, not least of all because it would require thinking up a whole new storyline with James growing up and moving to a new school. It’s always difficult to move on from something that’s done really well. I haven’t said I’m never going to do another one but I wanted to establish my own, entirely new series first.”

Last year saw the release of Higson’s The Enemy, a horror book of sorts for young adults in the UK. Publication of the novel stateside is planned for May 11. A followup sequel, The Dead, is currently planned for release in the UK in October.

Charlie Higson’s fifth and final (first series) Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, is due for release in the US on May 18th followed by a US book tour beginning on the 23rd.

Be sure to stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page (and our Discussion Forums) for all the latest news from the world of Young Bond.

Bond with Charlie Higson at the Hay Festival on 5 June

Young James Bond author Charlie Higson will once again be attending this year’s Guardian Hay Festival in the UK.

The Young Bond Dossier reports that a conversation with the Bond author is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 5 June at 2:30pm.

The venue for this event is the Oxfam Studio. Tickets are £5.00 per person and can be purchased online here.

The Guardian Hay Festival runs from Thursday, 27 May through Sunday, 6 June. For complete details on the guests attending and a round-up of all the events, email [email protected] or visit the official website.

Be sure to stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page (and our Discussion Forums) for all the latest news from the world of Young Bond.

No plans for a By Royal Command Collector's Edition

Disappointing news today for Young Bond fans and James Bond collectors.

Publisher Puffin Books has confirmed to the Young Bond Dossier that there are no plans to move ahead with a Limited Collector’s Edition for By Royal Command.

After the novel’s original publication in late 2008, many Bond fans expected such an edition would eventually follow as was the case for Charlie Higson’s four previous Young Bond adventures.

Unfortunately, the less-than-stellar economic situation around the world forced Puffin to reevaluate and they decided not to produce the By Royal Command special edition.

Perhaps someday…

Keep your browsers pinpointed on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of Young Bond.

The Blades Library Book Club: Double or Die

Welcome back to The Blades Library Book Club – the place for quality discussions of the books of James Bond!

Every two months a James Bond 007 novel is chosen for the club members to read. A thread is posted in the CommanderBond.net Discussion Forums listing locations where you can find the novel. Discussions about the book will go on as the book is read and when it is finished. Another thread will be created so that club members can post their review and give a rating on the current book.

All fans of the Literary Bond are eligible for membership. All you need to do to sign up is register on the CBn Forums (it’s free and only takes a minute) and then post your name in the sign up thread.

The Book Club’s 38th Book

We are progressing though the James Bond 007 novels in chronological order, since quite a number of members are using the club as an opportunity to read the books for the very first time. After progressing through the Bond novels by Ian Fleming, Kingsley Amis, John Gardner and Raymond Benson the club most recently moved onto Charlie Higson’s Young Bond era and now continues with his third novel: 2007’s Double or Die.

Obtaining The Book

Ordering online should be fairly easy. Double or Die can be ordered online from the following sources:

• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.com
• eBay

Discuss other places to buy Double or Die or where you got your copy in this thread.

Discuss The Book While Reading

Want to talk about the book while reading it? Post a new thread in The Blades Library.

Review And Rate The Book

After you have finished reading Double or Die, you can discuss it with other club members in The Blades Library, and give the book your personal rating out of five in this thread.

If you have any questions or suggestions just post them in a new thread. Happy reading.

*New* Archive Of All Past Read Books

Additionally, club members can review or comment on any of the past read books in the club any time they want. Click here for the full archive of the past read books in the club.

Previous Books Read

• Blood Fever: February 2010 – March 2010
• SilverFin: December 2009 – January 2010
• The Man with the Red Tattoo: October 2009 – November 2009
• Never Dream of Dying: August 2009 – September 2009
• Doubleshot: June 2009 – July 2009
• High Time To Kill: April 2009 – May 2009
• The Facts of Death: February 2009 – March 2009
• Zero Minus Ten: December 2008 – January 2009
• COLD: October 2008 – November 2008
• SeaFire: August 2008 – September 2008
• Never Send Flowers: June 2008 – July 2008
• Death Is Forever: April 2008 – May 2008
• The Man From Barbarossa: February 2008 – March 2008
• Brokenclaw: December 2007 – January 2008
• Win, Lose Or Die: October 2007 – November 2007
• Scorpius: August 2007 – September 2007
• No Deals, Mr. Bond: June 2007 – July 2007
• Nobody Lives Forever: April 2007 – May 2007
• Role Of Honour: February 2007 – March 2007
• Icebreaker: December 2006 – January 2007
• For Special Services: October 2006 – November 2006
• Licence Renewed: August 2006 – September 2006
• Colonel Sun: June 2006 – July 2006
• Octopussy & The Living Daylights: April 2006 – May 2006
• The Man With The Golden Gun: February 2006 – March 2006
• You Only Live Twice: December 2005 – January 2006
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: October 2005 – November 2005
• The Spy Who Loved Me: August 2005 – September 2005
• Thunderball: June 2005 – July 2005
• For Your Eyes Only: April 2005 – May 2005
• Goldfinger: February 2005 – March 2005
• Doctor No: December 2004 – January 2005
• From Russia, With Love: September 2004 – November 2004
• Diamonds Are Forever: July 2004 – August 2004
• Moonraker: May 2004 – June 2004
• Live and Let Die: May 2003 – June 2003
• Casino Royale: March 2003 – April 2003

Charlie Higson's By Royal Command published in France

Young James Bond fans in France can now pick up Charlie Higson’s fifth adventure in the popular series, By Royal Command.

The Young Bond Dossier reports that the Bond title is released today in the country under the translated title Sur ordre de Sa Majesté.

This paperback is published by Gallimard Jeunesse and retails for 9.90 €. Literary 007 collectors can order online from Amazon.fr:

• Order the French paperback edition of By Royal Command (Sur ordre de Sa Majesté) from Amazon.fr

Keep your browsers pinpointed on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of Young Bond.

Hurricane Gold US paperback now shipping

The paperback edition of Charlie Higson’s fourth Young James Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold, is now shipping from Amazon.com.

Hitting bookstore shelves tomorrow, this paperback edition of the 2007 Young Bond novel will also include a preview of the follow-up fifth novel in the series, By Royal Command.

James Bond is on a much-needed vacation in Mexico at the home of ex-flying ace Jack Stone. But his holiday is cut short when a hurricane hits. As the storm ravages the community, a gang of thieves lies in ambush – they want Stone’s safe, and will kill for its contents. Stone’s children, Precious and JJ, are kidnapped, and James must embark on a perilous chase through the jungle to rescue them and retrieve the stolen items. The clues ultimately lead him to the island of Lagrimas Negras, a haven for deadly criminals, controlled by the ruthless El Huracan.

James will have to use all of his instincts and cunning if he’s going to outwit El Huracan and escape with his life. But the only way off the island is through a treacherous maze, La Avenida de la Muerte – the Avenue of Death. On this terrifying trail of greed and betrayal, only danger is guaranteed. Survival is not.

• Order the US paperback of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.com

Be sure to keep checking the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest Young Bond-related news.

April arrival for Charlie Higson's By Royal Command in France

Literary James Bond fans in France will only need to wait a few weeks more to pick up Charlie Higson’s fifth adventure in the Young Bond series, By Royal Command.

The Young Bond Dossier reports that an Amazon.fr listing for By Royal Command sets the release date for mid-April. Regular publisher Gallimard Jeunesse will release the book under the translated title Par ordre de sa majeste.

Cover artwork for this French edition By Royal Command can be viewed online here.

Pre-order online:

• Order the French paperback edition of By Royal Command (Par ordre de sa majeste) from Amazon.fr

Keep your browsers pinpointed on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of Young Bond.

Charlie Higson's 2010 Young Bond tour stops announced

Back in October of last year, CommanderBond.net reported that Charlie Higson would be embarking on his first Young Bond tour in the US since the launch of Blood Fever in 2006.

To kick off in May 2010, the tour would support the release of his fifth Young James Bond adventure, By Royal Command, the SilverFin Graphic Novel and the non-Bond horror novel The Enemy, all of which are released stateside the month.

Now, thanks to the always up-to-date Young Bond Dossier, we can bring you the first set of tour stops so you know when and where to meet up with Charlie…

Sunday, 23 May

• 7:00pm – Bookcase, Wayzata, MN
  Official website

Monday, 24 May

• 7:00pm – St Louis County Library, St. Louis, MO
  Official website

Wednesday, 26 May

• 5:00pm – Books of Wonder, New York City, NY
  Official website

Thursday, 27 May

• 7:00pm – Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL
  Official website

Saturday, 29 May

• 10:00am – Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL
  Official website
• 2:00pm – International Spy Museum, Washington, DC
  Official website

• Order the US hardback of By Royal Command from Amazon.com
• Order the US hardback of SilverFin: The Graphic Novel from Amazon.com
• Order the US paperback of SilverFin: The Graphic Novel from Amazon.com
• Order the US hardback of The Enemy from Amazon.com
• Order the US paperback of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.com

Be sure to stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page (and our Discussion Forums) as more stops on Higson’s US book tour are announced.

By Royal Command audiobooks available for Amazon pre-order

The Young Bond Dossier alerts us today that Young Bond fans can now pre-order the US audiobook editions of Charlie Higson’s By Royal Command from Amazon.com.

These audiobook editions of the fifth Young James Bond novel will be released by Blackstone Audio. By Royal Command will be made available as a 6 disc CD, a 6 tape cassette, and MP3 and will be read by Gerard Doyle.

The release date is set for 18 May 2010—the same day By Royal Command arrives in hardback as well.

Pre-order By Royal Command:

• Order the audiobook edition of By Royal Command (CD) from Amazon.com
• Order the audiobook edition of By Royal Command (Cassette) from Amazon.com
• Order the audiobook edition of By Royal Command (MP3 CD) from Amazon.com

Keep your browsers pinpointed on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of Young Bond.