Danger Society News

Variant By Royal Command cover art on Amazon

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:36:40 -0800

Owen Richardson’s cover art for the U.S. hardcover edition of Charlie Higson’s By Royal Command has appeared on Amazon.com

Interestingly, this cover is slightly different than what we showed you last month. While the key art is the same, you’ll noticed this cover does not have the new title treatment that is to feature on all the new U.S. Young Bond novels starting with the paperback Hurricane Gold in April.

We have confirmed with our friends at Disney Books that the cover art we brought you last month is the final art. This Amazon artwork appears to be an earlier concept, which means you might want to snatch it while you can as it will almost certainly be updated.

By Royal Command will be released on May 18, 2010 and can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com.

UPDATE: Wow, that was fast. The artwork has already been updated.

SilverFin The Graphic Novel in Disney advert

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 08:43:36 -0800

The U.S. edition of SilverFin: The Graphic Novel by Charlie Higson and Kev Walker is being featured in promotional advertisements for Disney Books (left).

This ad featured in Comic-Con Magazine, The Official Magazine of Comic-Con, WonderCon, and APE. Could this mean we’ll see a Young Bond presence at this year’s San Diego Comic Con?

SilverFin: The Graphic Novel runs 160 pages with approximately 300 full color illustrations by renowned comic book artist Kev Walker. The book will be released in the U.S. as both a hardcover and paperback on May 18, 2010.

Young Bond turns 5

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:06:26 -0800

It was five years ago today that Charlie Higson’s first Young Bond novel, SilverFin, was released in the UK by Puffin Books.

To date, there have been five Young Bond novels; SilverFin. Blood Fever, Double or Die, Hurricane Gold, and By Royal Command; one short story, A Hard Man To Kill (featured in the companion book, Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier); one Graphic Novel adaptation, SilverFin: The Graphic Novel; and an online RPG, The Shadow War.

The series has sold over 5 millions books and has been translated into 25 languages.

Here are 5 memorable moments in 5 years of Young Bonding.

2005:
SilverFin is HERE! - release day announcment on CommanderBond.net

2006:
Mission Higson - a report from Charlie Higson’s US Blood Fever book tour

2007:
And the winner is! - Fans choose the title of Young Bond 3

2008:
Gold Thursday - Hurricane Gold srikes London

2009:
Fans get their hands on Command early - Charlie previews Young Bond 5 and launches The Shadow War in Edinburgh

Happy birthday Young Bond!

Hurricane Gold audiobook released in US

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 07:40:39 -0800

Blackstone Audio has released Charlie Higson’s fourth Young Bond adventure, Hurricane Gold, as an unabridged audiobook read by Gerard Doyle. This is Doyle’s first Young Bond reading.

Blackstone takes over audiobook duties in the U.S. from Random House/Listening Library who released the first three Young Bond novels read by Nathaniel Parker. Blackstone will release an unabridged version of By Royal Command on May 18, 2010.

You can purchase Blackstone’s Hurricane Gold as a 6 disc CD, a 6 tape cassette, and MP3. All formats are available from the Blackstone website and Amazon.

Charlie wraps The Dead

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:16:02 -0800

Charlie Higson has completed the first draft of The Dead, the second book in his non-Bond horror trilogy due for release in the UK by Puffin Books in October.

Charlie reported the news on Twitter (@monstroso) saying, “It's a weird feeling when you finish writing a novel. You should be elated but you just feel sort of flat.”

Charlie reminded his followers that while a first draft is complete, the book is a long way from being “finished.” He says he will still need to do a complete rewrite, then copy edit, proof read, etc. “Won't be done til the summer.”

Book 1, The Enemy, will be released in paperback in the UK in June and as a hardcover in the US in May.

First 3 Young Bond novels will get new cover treatments

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:20:02 -0800

If you look closely at the artwork for the U.S. paperback edition of Hurricane Gold and the new By Royal Command, you’ll notice the publisher has decide to create a slightly different title treatment for the series’ covers.

The familiar red band has been narrowed and the title enlarged. Also, the Young Bond logo has been changed from blue to red, and instead of spelling out Book Four (in rather hidden type) the number assignment is now emphasized with a large numeral. The book’s spine also receives a sleek new look.

Now Disney confirms that the first three Young Bond novels, SilverFin, Blood Fever, and Double or Die will get this same title makeover when they are reprinted (Kev Walker’s art will remain unchanged). There’s no set release date for these reprints, but start watching for them around the time By Royal Command hits store shelves on May 18, 2010.

By Royal Command US cover art and artist revealed

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:00:21 -0800

Today we are thrilled to show you the spectacular cover art for the U.S. hardcover edition of Charlie Higson’s By Royal Command, due for release on May 18, 2010.

In a surprise, series regular Kev Walker did not do this artwork. For By Royal Command publisher Disney-Hyperion turned instead to artist Owen Richardson.

Richardson studied Illustration at Art Center College of Design in California. He has worked in the entertainment industry as a pre-visualization and production artist, as well as illustrator of promotional and marketing support. He also writes and directs plays for children at the Children's Theatre of Salt Lake City Utah, where he lives with his wife Amy and their two children. (You can view more of Richardson’s work HERE.)

While clearly bringing his own style to the cover, Richardson has continued Walker’s Bond vs. Villain theme, creating artwork showing Bond and Roan Power fleeing the villain and his henchmen. It’s a spectacular image, and the first Young Bond novel to include the Bond Girl on the cover. A welcome addition.

Thanks to our friends at Disney Publishing for a first look at this amazing cover!

Pre-order By Royal Command at Amazon.com.

Hurricane Gold US paperback cover art

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:08:02 -0800

It’s a big week for cover art here at YBD. On Sunday we showed you the cover for the upcoming UK paperback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier. Today, thanks to our friends at Disney Publishing, we bring you the artwork for the U.S. paperback edition of Charlie Higson’s Hurricane Gold.

While the Kev Walker artwork remains the same as the hardcover, the publisher has decided to create a slightly different title treatment, narrowing the familiar red band and emphasizing that this is Young Bond Book 4. Look for the other books in the series to receive similar treatments in future printings.

Disney’s paperback edition of Hurricane Gold (which will contain an extract from By Royal Command) will be released on April 6, 2010. It can be pre-ordered at now at Amazon.com.

Check back here tomorrow for an exclusive first look at the artwork for the US hardcover edition of By Royal Command. Brace yourself for what could be the best Young Bond cover yet!

Danger Society UK paperback cover art

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:13:09 -0800

Our friends at Penguin have provided us with a first look at cover art for the upcoming UK paperback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier.

While maybe not the most artistic of covers (especially when compared to the other Young Bond paperbacks), this cover is significant in that it breaks the long held tradition in the UK of not featuring James Bond on a cover (with the exception of movie tie-ins). You’d have to go back to the ‘80s to find another cover featuring 007, and then he was only shown in silhouette.

Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier is the complete and definitive guide to the world and adventures of Young Bond. Packed with information, illustrations, and a brand-new adventure by Charlie Higson, A Hard Man To Kill, this book is both a must-have for Young Bond fans and a perfect introduction to the megaselling series.

Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier will be released on June 3, 2010.

Pre-order Danger Society on Amazon.co.uk

Charlie Higson in St Louis, May 24

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:02:24 -0800

The St. Louis County Library has announced that Charlie Higson will be appearing on Monday, May 24 at 7pm in their main auditorium. The event is presented by the Reading Garden Event Series.

Charlie will be discussing his fifth Young Bond novel By Royal Command and The Enemy, both due out in the U.S. on May 18. The event is free and open to the public.

The St. Louis Country Library is located at 1640 S. Lindbergh, Saint Louis, MO, 63131. Phone: 314-994-3300.

This is the first confirmed appearance in Charlie Higson’s upcoming U.S. book tour. This will be his first stateside tour in four years.

Next Young Bond would be set in Scotland, include golf

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:39:01 -0800

Charlie Higson says if he were to write another Young Bond novel it would be set in Scotland and include golf, as golfing “is such a big part of the adult Bond.”

Charlie made the comment on Twitter adding, “Sadly I've never got into golf myself. Ian Fleming would not have approved of me.”

The Scotland comment confirms that a second series of Young Bond novels would chronicle Bond’s days at Fettes College in Edinburgh. Fleming actually provides some intriguing information about Bond’s Fettes years, saying young James “twice fought for the school as a light-weight” and “founded the first serious judo class at a British public school.”

Golf, of course, would be a terrific addition to a Young Bond novel.

Despite the tease, another Young Bond novel is, at the moment, still just a dream. But it’s encouraging that Charlie appears to dreaming about it as well.

Click here for more speculation on what a Young Bond Series II might look like. And be sure to follow Charlie on Twitter @monstroso.

First details of Charlie Higson’s US book tour

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 11:13:59 -0800

Charlie Higson has revealed the first details about his upcoming U.S. book tour in May. While Charlie doesn’t know the full schedule just yet, he says the tour will start in Los Angeles and end in New York City.

Charlie adds that he’s “hoping to meet a lot of Young James Bond fans.”

This is great news for us and our readers and we will be able to cover Charlie’s Los Angeles appearance and kick off the tour in style.

Charlie will be promoting the hardcover release of By Royal Command, SilverFin The Graphic Novel, and The Enemy, all due out in the U.S. on May 18.

This will be Charlie’s first U.S. book tour in four years. Charlie last made it “across the pond” for the release of Blood Fever in May 2006 (click here to read our report on Charlie’s California appearance).

We will bring you more details closer to the date.

The Enemy paperback cover art

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 09:02:45 -0800

Cover art for the UK paperback edition of Charlie Higson’s non-Bond horror novel, The Enemy, has been revealed on the Penguin website.

Due for release on June 3 (alongside the paperback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier), the paperback will include the first chapter of the next book in the series, The Dead.

The Enemy is set in contemporary London after a mystery illness attacks everyone over the age of 14. Gangs of kids are left to fend for themselves, dodging adults who are so crazed by disease they have become little better than wild animals who feed on the living!

Pre-order The Enemy from Amazon.co.uk

UPDATE: Our friends at Penguin have provided us with a higher res version.

Large print By Royal Command released

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 08:16:47 -0800

Specialty publisher Galaxy Plus has released a Large Print edition of Charlie Higson’s fifth Young Bond novel, By Royal Command.

The book is an oversized trade paperback with enlarged type for those who have difficulty with standard font sizes. Cover art (left) is similar to the UK hardcover edition.

Galaxy has now released all the Young Bond novels in Large Print editions.

Galaxy Plus is one of the most prolific publishers of large print books and unabridged audiobooks in the world with over 3000 titles encompassing a wide range of best-selling authors.

By Royal Command can be purchased now at BBC Audiobooks and will be available soon on Amazon.co.uk.

Blackstone will release By Royal Command audiobook

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:23:00 -0800

Blackstone Audio will release Charlie Higson’s fifth Young Bond adventure, By Royal Command, as an unabridged audiobook in the U.S. on May 18, 2010. The book will be read by Gerard Doyle and will be released as a 6 disc CD, a 6 tape cassette, and MP3.

All three formats are available to pre-order from the Blackstone audiobooks website and Amazon.com.

Blackstone takes over audiobook duties in the U.S. from Random House/Listening Library who released the first three Young Bond novels read by Nathaniel Parker. This will be Doyle’s second Young Bond reading, his first being Hurricane Gold set for release on March 1, 2010.

This new By Royal Command audiobook will be released in the U.S. on the same day as the U.S. hardcover from Disney and the SilverFin Graphic Novel.

Visit our Calendar to see all Young Bond releases now set for 2010.

Young Bond 5 Pack offered on Amazon

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:49:05 -0800

A listing for a “Young Bond 5 Pack,” featuring all five Young Bond novels by Charlie Higson in paperback, has appeared on Amazon.co.uk.

I’ll check this out with our friends at Puffin, but this looks to be a seller simply bundling the 5 books for sale and is not an official collection or box set. The last official Young Bond pack was the 3-book Young Bond Collection box set released in 2008 as a Borders exclusive.

Still, not a bad way to pick up a set of Young Bond books for a discount price. RRP is £34.95, but at the moment the seller is offering the pack for only £14.99.

Buy the Young Bond 5 pack on Amazon.co.uk

Charlie tweets the title of Enemy 2

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:08:43 -0800

Charlie Higson has revealed on Twitter the title of the next book in his non-Bond horror series: The Dead.

Charlie is currently working on The Dead while also promoting his new BBC series, Bellamy’s People.

Charlie tweets, “Making a new TV show has really cut down my available writing time. Am now on a grueling schedule to try to get new book (The Dead) finished. 2000 words a day every day until the end of Feb. Actually - written down like that it doesn't look so bad. Beats working down a coal mine.”

You can follow Charlie @monstroso

Charlie Higson on Twitter

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:06:57 -0800

Yes, it’s true! Charlie Higson is now on Twitter. You can follow Charlie @monstroso where he’s sharing his thoughts about writing his second Enemy novel, doing promotional appearances, and alerting fans to the latest news about his new BBC series Bellamy’s People. A few sample tweets:

Thanks to CommanderBond.net’s Athena007 (The Girl From LA) for smoking out Charlie on Twitter. Make sure you’re also following us @YoungBondNews.

By Royal Command MP3 audiobook now available

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:26:44 -0800

A complete and unabridged By Royal Command MP3 audiobook is now available in the UK from BBC Audiobooks.

By Royal Command is released by Chivers Children’s Audiobooks and read by actor Nathaniel Parker, who has now provided unabridged readings for all the Young Bond novels.

An abridged version of By Royal Command, read by author Charlie Higson, was released alongside the hardcover in 2008.

Charlie Higson’s new TV series debuts Jan 21

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:40:32 -0800

Young Bond author Charlie Higson’s new television series, Bellamy’s People, debuts January 21st on BBC 2 at 22.00. The series reunites Charlie with Paul Whitehouse for their first television collaboration in 10 years.

In Bellamy’s People, hapless radio talk show host Gary Bellamy (from Down The Line) abandons the comfort of his studio and jumps into his Triumph Stag "personality vehicle" to travels the length and breadth of the land meeting the people of Britain and trying to find out what makes them tick.

Paul and Charlie are joined by a talented ensemble of players, including Rhys Thomas, Lucy Montgomery, Simon Day and Felix Dexter, to take on a gamut of quintessentially British characters, including a 23-stone man who rarely leaves his bed; a pair of aristocratic sisters with an unhealthy love of totalitarian regimes; a barely reformed celebrity criminal; Christians, Muslims; and a host of other characters that make up modern Britain.

Click here for the Bellamy’s People episode guide.

Danger Society UK paperback available for pre-order

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 07:19:04 -0800

The UK paperback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier is now available for pre-order at Amazon.co.uk. Release date is June 3, 2010, the same day as the paperback edition of Charlie Higson’s non-Bond horror novel, The Enemy.

Cover art is not yet available.

Featuring a brand-new story by Charlie Higson, Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier is the complete and definitive guide to the world and adventures of Young Bond. Packed with information – from in-depth character profiles to the cars, the weapons and the exotic locations, plus facts, statistics, photographs, maps, and illustrations by Kev Walker – this book is both a must-have for Young Bond fans and a perfect introduction to the megaselling series.

Pre-order Danger Society paperback on Amazon

SilverFin unabridged MP3 audiobook released

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 08:20:05 -0800

Chivers Children’s Audiobooks has released SilverFin as a complete and unabridged Playaway MP3 audiobook in the UK.

The audiobook is read by actor Nathaniel Parker who has provided readings for all the Young Bond novels. This MP3 CD retails for £36.60 and can be purchased at BBC Audiobooks.

Chivers will release an unabridged reading of By Royal Command in February.

Thanks to Emily Milroy

Happy Holidays from The Young Bond Dossier

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:15:38 -0800

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

- youngbonddossier.com

Large Print By Royal Command in February

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:07:46 -0800

Specialty publisher Galaxy Plus will released a Large Print edition of Charlie Higson’s fifth Young Bond novel By Royal Command on February 1, 2010.

The book will be an oversized trade paperback with enlarged type for those who have difficulty with standard font sizes. Cover art (left) is similar to the UK hardcover edition.

Galaxy has now released all the Young Bond novels in Large Print editions.

Galaxy Plus is one of the most prolific publishers of large print books and unabridged audiobooks in the world with over 3000 titles encompassing a wide range of best-selling authors.

The By Royal Command large print can be pre-ordered at Amazon.co.uk.

Charlie Higson unleashes MONSTROSO in 2010

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:54:26 -0800

Young Bond may be off the docket at the moment, but there will be no shortage of Charlie Higson product for fans to enjoy in 2010.

Along with his first Enemy sequel, 2010 will see the release of Charlie Higson’s MONSTROSO. This special short novel will be released as a Pocket Money Puffin (“a Puffin that you can carry in your pocket for a pocket-money price”), part of Puffin’s 70th birthday celebrations.

“Oscar is not looking forward to Grandad coming to look after him at the weekend - it means he'll have to play endless rounds of chess or Monopoly, instead of war games on his computer. But when he finds Dad's ancient laptop in the study, he can't resist logging on to something called Project X - and all too soon Oscar creates a real live warrior, who is programmed to obey his every command. However Monstroso's wires are more than a little crossed, and Oscar finds himself in all sorts of trouble...

Crazy fighting and monsters abound in Charlie's Higson's highly entertaining story for younger readers.”

MONSTROSO will be set loose on May 6, 2010.