Tuesday, October 14, 2008

EXCLUSIVE: "The maid" is revealed

Today we have an exciting exclusive for you; Kev Walker’s brand new illustration of Roan Power, the infamous boys maid from By Royal Command. Just click here to see James Bond’s first love in all her glory.


Walker has also provided illustrations of By Royal Command’s villainous Graf Von Schlick and Dandy O’Keefe. Those images can be viewed as thumbnails at youngbond.com.

By Royal Command finds James Bond in action from England to the chilling heights of the Austrian Alps. The fifth Young Bond bestseller is out now in the UK as a hardcover and audiobook.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Precious GOLD

The Young Bond Dossier reports that Puffin has released a Hurricane Gold Limited Collector’s Edition in the UK. Limited to 999 copies (which means there is a copy #007 out there), the hardcover book is signed and numbered by author Charlie Higson and comes in an attractive slipcase.

The
Hurricane Gold Limited Collector’s Edition is a Waterstone’s exclusive and retails for £25. It can be purchased online at Waterstones.com and Hatchards.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Lucy Fleming says no decision on Young Bond films

Sony Pictures recently flew a select group of online journalists and bloggers to England for what sounded like a spectacular four days of Bonding with the stars and filmmakers of Quantum of Solace.

Interestingly, a report at Ain’t It Cool News reveals that part of the junket included tea at Browns Hotel (a favorite haunt of Ian Feming’s) with Lucy Fleming herself (pictured left at the Devil May Care launch in May). Even more interesting is the talk, for a moment at least, turned away from Daniel Craig’s 007 and to Charlie Higson’s Young Bond.

Hey, when Lucy Fleming talks, we listen, so here’s the relevant paragraph from AICN.

“Daughter of actress Celia Johnson and writer Peter Fleming, Lucy Fleming was really enjoyable to talk to about her history with her uncle's work. Since 1997, she and her sister Kate have been in charge of Ian Fleming Publications, which continues to publish James Bond titles as well as a series for young adults called Young Bond, which are apparently quite popular in the UK and have seen five books published since 2005. She admitted that she's been approached about adapting Young Bond into movies, but the company hasn't decided whether this will happen.”

So there’s the latest on Young Bond films from the very top. Nothing yet.

For more about the junket, check out the report by our good buddy Jim Vejvoda (aka Stax) at IGN.com.

Benson is back in 'The Union Trilogy'

Pegasus Books has released a Raymond Benson James Bond omnibus, The Union Trilogy. The collection includes the novels High Time To Kill, Doubleshot, and Never Dream of Dying.

As a bonus, the book also includes the full version of Raymond's first Bond short story "Blast From The Past." This uncut version has never before been published in English.

Raymond Benson was the James Bond continuation author from 1997 to 2002.

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Shadow War is won

The groundbreaking Young Bond online alternate reality game The Shadow War concluded yesterday with a very special live event hosted by author Charlie Higson.

Agents of the SIS and OGPU joined together to rescue “Major” Higson from the Schloss Donnerspitze. The mission included clues to decrypt, secret passages to find, and helping Charlie defuse a bomb...all live!

Click the image below to view the YouTube message sent by Charlie at the conclusion of the game.


And even if you missed the live event, you can still play or replay the other missions at www.youngbondshadowwar.com.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Shadow War LIVE EVENT with Charlie Higson TODAY

PRESS RELEASE: Today (Wednesday 8th October) sees the finale of the first ever Young Bond alternate reality game, The Shadow War. Charlie Higson, author of the bestselling Young Bond books, will be taking part in a live online event at 5pm (BST) today.

The Shadow War, a gripping interactive online game and the first alternate reality game connected to a children’s series of books, was launched on Saturday 23rd August on www.youngbond.com. It has since seen an incredible 10,000 people taking part in a series of six missions, all set in the Young Bond world: from crossing the Alps without being caught or tracking down a ship in the dangerous Docks of London’s East End to joining the Eton Danger Society or unravelling some strange goings on in Hellebore Castle.

The seventh and final mission, set today, will see Charlie Higson taking part and helping players solve the mission. For seven nail-biting weeks, the game has put Young Bond fans and online gamers in the shoes of either a British SIS agent or a Soviet OGPU and this last mission will see each side pitted against each other, interspersed with a live video of Charlie Higson posing as a captured British soldier, held in a cell in a castle in the Austrian Alps.

The 007th mission:

The OGPU and SIS are sending commando teams to attack the castle and racing to reach the control centre first. Players on each side will be collectively solving puzzles and cracking codes that will get them through the danger-filled castle. Charlie Higson will be on hand to help in the form of a captured British soldier who will regularly appear, giving each side hints about solving puzzles and updating them on the state of the battle. In addition, players will be able to submit their own questions to him. The end of game will see an unexpected turn when both sides will be forced to work together.

Charlie Higson comments: “The Shadow War has been a great way to follow the Young Bond story in a different way. Over the past few weeks kids from around the world have been working together as secret agents to crack a series of ingenious plots. It's the final stage of the game this week, and a chance for all those kids to come together in a race against time and finish the story. I'm really looking forward to playing a part in it and appearing live in the game as a British agent. I just hope the kids solve the problems in time or I risk being liquidated by a fiendish foreign power!

Written by Charlie Higson and developed by specialist creators of alternate reality games Six to Start, The Shadow War is an innovative combination of reading, story-telling and online gaming. It is designed for children aged 9 plus, but can be enjoyed by adults too, and is played completely free of charge. Set within the Young Bond world, the game allows fans to explore familiar locations and see memorable characters from the series – including James Bond himself.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

The Shadow War concludes with LIVE EVENT October 8

This Wednesday, 8th October, the Young Bond online alternate reality game The Shadow War will conclude with a very special LIVE event hosted by author Charlie Higson.

The event will happen at 5PM BST (British Summer Time) on the official Shadow War game site. Make sure you save the time and date. This is one mission you won’t want to miss!

This groundbreaking Young Bond alternate reality game, written by Charlie Higson and designed by Six to Start, takes intrepid players through adventures in the world of Young Bond and his new adventure, By Royal Command.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Young Bond’s dog got the boot

During his appearance at the London Apple Store last week, Charlie Higson revealed an interesting piece of Young Bond/Ian Fleming trivia. He originally intended to give James Bond a companion dog in SilverFin. Says Charlie:

“In the first book, in SilverFin, I thought I’d give James Bond a dog. Every boy in an adventure story needs a dog. But then it came back from the Fleming’s that Ian hated dogs. So I took the dog out. Which was good because I couldn’t ever really think of anything very much for the dog to do in the books. So I was relieved in a way.”

Charlie’s talk is now available as a “Meet the Author” podcast via the iTunes UK store.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

SilverFin: The Graphic Novel

SilverFin: The Graphic Novel has been released in the UK. Running 160 pages with approximately 300 full color illustrations, this first Young Bond graphic novel was written by Charlie Higson and illustrated by renowned comic book artist, Kev Walker.

The Times calls the book “a bold and brilliant Manga-inspired treat.”

Preview 1
Preview 2
Preview 3
Preview BONUS

The Shadow War Mission 6: Crossing Europe

The spymaster needs you to get to the Alps and find out who was on that airship...

The sixth mission of The Shadow War is online now at youngbondshadowwar.com. This time you need to find your way across Europe, hot on the trail of the mystery airship and its even more mysterious passenger.

And, remember, next Wednesday (8th October) The Shadow War concludes with a very special LIVE event hosted by Charlie Higson. Make sure you save the date. This is one mission you won’t want to miss!

Good luck.