By Royal Command

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By Royal Command
Author Charlie Higson
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Series James Bond / Young Bond
Genre(s) Spy fiction
Publisher Ian Fleming Publications
Publication date 4 September 2008
Media type Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
Preceded by Hurricane Gold

By Royal Command [1] is the fifth novel in the Young Bond series depicting Ian Fleming's superspy James Bond as a teenager in the 1930s. The novel, written by Charlie Higson, will take place in 1934 and see James at the age of fourteen. Locations will include The Alps (Kitzbuhel) and England.[2]

By Royal Command is scheduled to be published in hardcover by Puffin Books in the UK on September 4, 2008.[1]

Contents

[edit] Official summary

Puffin Books plot synopsis [1]

“ 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.

 ”

[edit] Plot details

In an interview, Higson stated that By Royal Command will deal with Bond being forced to leave Eton College due to an incident with a maid. The incident was previously mentioned from the point of view of M in Ian Fleming's You Only Live Twice.

“ It must be admitted that his career at Eton was brief and undistinguished and, after only two halves, as a result, it pains me to record, of some alleged trouble with one of the boys' maids, his aunt was requested to remove him. She managed to obtain his transfer to Fettes, his father's old school.”

Ian Fleming You Only Live Twice, Chapter 21: Obit: [3]

According to Higson, M's comment about the incident was a deliberate attempt to cover up the truth. "Basically, it is decided that things need to be hushed up, kept out of the way and swept under the carpet, official secrets, the government and the establishment closing ranks and all that, trying not to let out what has really happened, and that Bond is never allowed to speak about it ever again. Which is why he never mentions it when he's an adult! He does leave [Eton] early. It does involve an incident with the boys' maid. But so that the general public and the newspapers can't put two and two together, the exact dates get altered and obscured, so that James's activities and involvement never come to light." [4] It has always been generally believed that the incident is sexual in nature; however, Fleming established in "From a View to a Kill" that Bond lost his virginity at the age of 16 while in Paris. [5]

The Royal Family and the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) will play a role By Royal Command. Charlie Higson says Bond meets Princess Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales during the course of the book.[6] Even though the book will be partially set in The Alps, Higson says he will "probably" not offer any revelations about Bond's parents' deaths in an Alpine climbing accident.[7]

At the launch party for Hurricane Gold, Charlie hinted that Amy Goodenough (from Blood Fever) and the villain Babushka (from Double or Die) may return in this final Young Bond adventure.[8] He also revealed the news that James Bond will "fall in love" (though not with any of the past Bond Girls, ruling out Amy Goodenough). [9]

[edit] Trivia

  • Working titles for By Royal Command were "The Shadow War"[10], "Diamond Rain", and "Dynamite Kiss".[11] The final title was announced on March 6, 2008[1], the same day author Charlie Higson completed the manuscript.[12]
  • The incident with the maid is foreshadowed in Hurricane Gold when Pritpal Nandra mentions in a letter that the boys have a new Irish maid called Roan who is considered very attractive.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Young Bond 5 is BY ROYAL COMMAND. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.
  2. ^ The Charlie Higson CBn Interview II. CBn/The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on September 1, 2007.
  3. ^ Fleming, Ian (1964). "21", in William Plomer: You Only Live Twice (in English). Jonathan Cape. 
  4. ^ MI6.co.uk interview with Charlie Higson. SilverFin: In Conversation With Charlie Higson (6). Retrieved on January 4, 2007.
  5. ^ MI6.co.uk interview with Charlie Higson. In Conversation With Charlie Higson. Retrieved on March 8, 2006.
  6. ^ Charlie talks By Royal Command. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on March 11, 2008.
  7. ^ The Charlie Higson CBn Interview II. CBn/The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on September 1, 2007.
  8. ^ Report on today’s Hurricane Gold launch party. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on September 6, 2007.
  9. ^ Charlie drops a Book 5 bombshell. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on October 7, 2007.
  10. ^ Young Bond 5 working title revealed. Retrieved on October 11, 2007.
  11. ^ Major Young Bond 5 update from Charlie Higson. Retrieved on February 25, 2008.
  12. ^ 'By Royal Command' is a wrap!. Retrieved on March 6, 2008.

[edit] External links


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