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Higson to Pen 'Young James Bond' Novels
Posted on April 13, 2004 1:41 PM
Ian Fleming Publications revealed a few weeks ago that novelist Charlie Higson will be the author behind the next James Bond-related literature. Higson commented that writing the books was "too good an opportunity to turn down. ..While I've had to finally accept that I'll never play him in the films, writing about him is even more exciting." This time, readers will not follow a veteran double-oh agent, instead, Higgins will write about James Bond's 'adventures' as a thirteen year old boy. The novels will follow James Bond through his school years at Eton, as well as the future 007's coming to terms with the tragic deaths of his parents, which were often referenced in Fleming Bond novels.
Ian Fleming Publications released this statement on April 4, 2004:
In Spring next year James Bond will return as we've never seen him before. Ian Fleming Publications Ltd is thrilled to announce that in March 2005 Charlie Higson will take us back to where it all began in the first of his novels introducing the teenage years of the boy who was to become 007.
Charlie Higson is co-creator of the hugely popular The Fast Show and is a successful film and adult thriller writer. He's also a firm fan of the original Ian Fleming Bond novels and, with meticulous research, he has created an authentic 1930s world for Young James Bond that fits seamlessly with Fleming's. Higson says of this new project 'Ever since having children of my own I've wanted to write a thriller for kids, so when I was approached by the Fleming estate to work on a new James Bond series for younger readers it was too good an opportunity to turn down. I've grown up with Bond, and whilst I've had to finally accept that I'll never play him in the films, writing about him is even more exciting.' The Fleming family are delighted. Lucy Fleming, Ian's niece, said yesterday 'Charlie's done a wonderful job in capturing the essence of my uncle's James Bond.'
The first adventure will be published in the UK by Puffin. Rebecca McNally, Fiction Publisher at Puffin says ' James Bond is the world's biggest spy brand and Charlie's writing is perfect - gripping, suspenseful and very true to the original Bond. We've had enough of wannabes - this is the real thing.' Aimed primarily at the 9-12 market, initial reactions suggest that these quintessential Bond stories will appeal to young and adult readers alike:
James Bond is thirteen and just about to start at Eton having been educated at home by his Aunt Charmian since the death of his parents. The first adventure takes James to a remote Scottish castle where a wealthy American has been conducting some very disturbing experiments...
So disturbing, in fact, that Miss Moneypenny stayed up all night reading about them, Mary Goodnight missed her stop on the train and M's locked in the office with the do not disturb light on....
Please keep watching this news page for official information about the young James Bond novels over the coming months. All foreign translation rights enquiries should be sent to Jessica Buckman at The Buckman Agency at the following email address: j.buckman@talk21.com
Many fans have their own opinions about following the adventures of James Bond as a thirteen-year-old. Some are excited to see his influences as a child, as well as his life pre-007, before entering the field of international espionage. Others wonder how well the novels will fare - most notably because the imminent lack of danger, women and drinking in a thirteen-year-old boy's life (all of which are major components in James Bond's world today).
The first Teen 007 novel has a March 2005 release date.
