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Young Bond #8
Strike Lightning
BEFORE THE MAN BECAME THE LEGEND.
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN.
MEET BOND. JAMES BOND.
James Bond is back again in Steve Cole’s third Young Bond adventure.
When James stumbles upon a horrific sight, he knows things are not what they seem. His school is determined to make him believe what happened was an accident, but James believes what he saw was murder.
The significance of the events at school only come to light in the course of an adventure that takes James across Europe and puts him within range of a warmongering villain. Has James got what it takes to triumph over this man, the worst kind of enemy, who boasts a new kind of weapon?
The first five books and companion novel in the series are written by Charlie Higson, with the rest being written by Steve Cole.
The series consists of the following titles;
1. SilverFin
2. Blood Fever
3. Double or Die
4. Hurricane Gold
5. By Royal Command
6. Shoot to Kill
7. Heads You Die
8. Strike Lightning
9. Red Nemesis
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN.
MEET BOND. JAMES BOND.
James Bond is back again in Steve Cole’s third Young Bond adventure.
When James stumbles upon a horrific sight, he knows things are not what they seem. His school is determined to make him believe what happened was an accident, but James believes what he saw was murder.
The significance of the events at school only come to light in the course of an adventure that takes James across Europe and puts him within range of a warmongering villain. Has James got what it takes to triumph over this man, the worst kind of enemy, who boasts a new kind of weapon?
The first five books and companion novel in the series are written by Charlie Higson, with the rest being written by Steve Cole.
The series consists of the following titles;
1. SilverFin
2. Blood Fever
3. Double or Die
4. Hurricane Gold
5. By Royal Command
6. Shoot to Kill
7. Heads You Die
8. Strike Lightning
9. Red Nemesis
266 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2016
39 people are currently reading
627 people want to read
About the author
Steve Cole
309 books101 followersAlso publishes as Stephen Cole.
Steve Cole is the slightly crazy, highly frantic, millions-selling, non-stop author of Astrosaurs, Cows In Action, Astrosaurs Academy, The Slime Squad, Z. Rex and many other books (including several original Doctor Who stories).
He used to edit magazines and books but prefers the job of a writer where you can wear pyjamas and eat chocolate all day.
Steve just can't stop writing - if he does, strange robots appear and jostle him vigorously until he starts again.
In his spare time he loves making music, reading old comics, thinking up ideas for new books and slumping in front of a warm TV.
Steve Cole is the slightly crazy, highly frantic, millions-selling, non-stop author of Astrosaurs, Cows In Action, Astrosaurs Academy, The Slime Squad, Z. Rex and many other books (including several original Doctor Who stories).
He used to edit magazines and books but prefers the job of a writer where you can wear pyjamas and eat chocolate all day.
Steve just can't stop writing - if he does, strange robots appear and jostle him vigorously until he starts again.
In his spare time he loves making music, reading old comics, thinking up ideas for new books and slumping in front of a warm TV.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 17, 2021
The year is 1934 & long before he became 007 a teenage James Bond is studying at Fettes College in Scotland.
Steve Cole provides a nice insight into life at Fettes in the 1930s, but with Bond invloved you know there's going to be plenty of trouble. As with his previous two Young Bond novels Cole fills the pages with action, but somehow he never rises above writing a good novel.
Strike Lightning passed the time nicely enough, but still failed to grip me in the same way as the Young Bond stories written by Charlie Higson.
Steve Cole provides a nice insight into life at Fettes in the 1930s, but with Bond invloved you know there's going to be plenty of trouble. As with his previous two Young Bond novels Cole fills the pages with action, but somehow he never rises above writing a good novel.
Strike Lightning passed the time nicely enough, but still failed to grip me in the same way as the Young Bond stories written by Charlie Higson.
January 29, 2024
Very interesting and exciting adventure. Looking forward to reading the last in the series.
December 29, 2017
The previous two Steve Cole books were not as strong as the Charlie Higson Young Bond's. However, that predicament did not befall Strike Lightning, which was an enjoyable read with real stakes for characters and was definitely the best of Cole's efforts thus far.
In these Young Bond books, I really like to see Bond being molded into the guy we know from Fleming's novels, which happens prevalently in Higson's stories which wove in Aston Martin and Hannes Oberhauser while touching on the tragedy of Bond's parents' death and his adventures at school - why he was booted from Eton, etc. Cole's Strike Lightning sees him at Fettes, sees him once again stumble upon misadventure, but as it is very much a book of the 1930's it is set in, there are some historical foes that are behind the plot. Not among the best of the Young Bond stories, but enjoyable throughout. 4 stars.
In these Young Bond books, I really like to see Bond being molded into the guy we know from Fleming's novels, which happens prevalently in Higson's stories which wove in Aston Martin and Hannes Oberhauser while touching on the tragedy of Bond's parents' death and his adventures at school - why he was booted from Eton, etc. Cole's Strike Lightning sees him at Fettes, sees him once again stumble upon misadventure, but as it is very much a book of the 1930's it is set in, there are some historical foes that are behind the plot. Not among the best of the Young Bond stories, but enjoyable throughout. 4 stars.
November 2, 2016
Strike Lightning places young James at Fettes College where according to Fleming, he finished his education after being expelled from Eton College. After finishing his first term before Christmas Break, James witnesses the death of a fellow student engaged in suspicious mechanical experiments with a professor. James stubbornly refuses to accept the school's official conclusion that the death was an accident inadvertently caused by him being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Joined by his Etonian school friend Perry Mandeville, James decides to investigate the murder of his young friend only to find himself in the middle of a high stakes international weapons smuggling conspiracy with the added danger of a secret weapon possibly falling into the hands of Nazi Germany.
I don't want to give any spoilers here but I will say that I enjoyed it even if the final act required me to suspend disbelief quite a bit. The end is a little more fantastical than perhaps I like Bond to be but it's an enjoyable story nonetheless and I can appreciate the research that Steve Cole put into this book. As he explains in the exclusive postscript written for the hardcover edition, Fleming often found a balance between the improbable and the plausible. The secret weapon is one of those things that would have been highly improbable in the mid 1930s but certainly not impossible as Cole details the science behind it all.
I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of the book which offers a glimpse at what life was like for boys at Fettes College in the 1930s while also setting the stage for the adventure that James goes on. The characters are well crafted as Cole brings to life a train enthusiast named Kitty Drift who becomes the "Bond Girl" of the novel. Kitty is very reminiscent of Emma Watson's portrayal of Hermione from the Harry Potter series. She's smart, talkative, brutally honest, and very determined to satisfy her own sense of curiosity.
This was an enjoyable read with some interesting plot twists that keep you guessing which side certain characters are really on all the way until the end. If you enjoy the Young Bond series, Strike Lightning provides the kind of fast paced thrill ride you seek out in these books.
I don't want to give any spoilers here but I will say that I enjoyed it even if the final act required me to suspend disbelief quite a bit. The end is a little more fantastical than perhaps I like Bond to be but it's an enjoyable story nonetheless and I can appreciate the research that Steve Cole put into this book. As he explains in the exclusive postscript written for the hardcover edition, Fleming often found a balance between the improbable and the plausible. The secret weapon is one of those things that would have been highly improbable in the mid 1930s but certainly not impossible as Cole details the science behind it all.
I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of the book which offers a glimpse at what life was like for boys at Fettes College in the 1930s while also setting the stage for the adventure that James goes on. The characters are well crafted as Cole brings to life a train enthusiast named Kitty Drift who becomes the "Bond Girl" of the novel. Kitty is very reminiscent of Emma Watson's portrayal of Hermione from the Harry Potter series. She's smart, talkative, brutally honest, and very determined to satisfy her own sense of curiosity.
This was an enjoyable read with some interesting plot twists that keep you guessing which side certain characters are really on all the way until the end. If you enjoy the Young Bond series, Strike Lightning provides the kind of fast paced thrill ride you seek out in these books.
May 30, 2017
Another exciting James Bond...or is it Iron Man?
I give this book a 4 out of 5 because it had everything a good Bond book needs, and it was written well. I enjoyed all the characters, and became quite attached to their well being. As always there was a great enemy to be fought, the Nazis, and some ambiguous characters that you only find out the true nature of in the end.
Cole continues to grow James Bond into the man he will be; getting him closer to the realization that sometimes you MUST kill. It's not only James who grows from these books, but the reader does as well. This book, like the rest, continues to slip in educational tidbits without calling attention to them. As a book for young adults, I think it is great when the author can spread knowledge without calling attention to it, and Steve Cole does it really well.
This book lost 1 point because poisons, bombs, hijacks, and the like are all realistic. Iron Man suits are not. Obviously this is fiction, and everything that happens is extremely far fetched for one young man's life. But I feel that there is a fine line where an adventure can seem possible, and in the 1930's, steam powered or not, I just couldn't accept it.
I would still highly recommend this book as a very good addition to the series.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 because it had everything a good Bond book needs, and it was written well. I enjoyed all the characters, and became quite attached to their well being. As always there was a great enemy to be fought, the Nazis, and some ambiguous characters that you only find out the true nature of in the end.
Cole continues to grow James Bond into the man he will be; getting him closer to the realization that sometimes you MUST kill. It's not only James who grows from these books, but the reader does as well. This book, like the rest, continues to slip in educational tidbits without calling attention to them. As a book for young adults, I think it is great when the author can spread knowledge without calling attention to it, and Steve Cole does it really well.
This book lost 1 point because poisons, bombs, hijacks, and the like are all realistic. Iron Man suits are not. Obviously this is fiction, and everything that happens is extremely far fetched for one young man's life. But I feel that there is a fine line where an adventure can seem possible, and in the 1930's, steam powered or not, I just couldn't accept it.
I would still highly recommend this book as a very good addition to the series.
May 22, 2017
Strike Lightning by Steve Cole is book eight in the Young Bond series it also marks Cole's third entry into the ever popular franchise. James Bond gets this adventure by the oldest motive in the book revenge. My favorite part of this series is the spin and the each author puts on it. The young female adventurer in this book Kitty Drift makes fun of Bond, but does become a fast friend with the future super spy. Cole must truly be a fan of Bond because he just gets it. Cole does an excellent job of adding historical context to the book. Thus adding epic world consequences if Bond fails his task. Cole also throws many curveballs at the reader which keeps the reader and Bond guessing pretty close to the end. I will freely admit that Bond gets the "mission" by meddling in business that isn't really his own. I love younger age books because there is no fluff or filler in these books. Kids simply won't waste their time in this day and age if there is. Strike Lightning is a fun five star thrill ride. That any reader will enjoy. Next up in this series is Red Nemesis.
April 7, 2018
BEFORE THE MAN BECAME THE LEGEND.
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN.
MEET BOND. JAMES BOND.
James Bond is back again in Steve Cole’s third Young Bond adventure.
When James stumbles upon a horrific sight, he knows things are not what they seem. His school is determined to make him believe what happened was an accident, but James believes what he saw was murder.
The significance of the events at school only come to light in the course of an adventure that takes James across Europe and puts him within range of a warmongering villain. Has James got what it takes to triumph over this man, the worst kind of enemy, who boasts a new kind of weapon?
The first five books and companion novel in the series are written by Charlie Higson, with the rest being written by Steve Cole.
If you want to read more young bond books here they are in order
1. SilverFin
2. Blood Fever
3. Double or Die
4. Hurricane Gold
5. By Royal Command
6. Shoot to Kill
7. Heads You Die
8. Strike Lightning
9. Red Nemesis (less)
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN.
MEET BOND. JAMES BOND.
James Bond is back again in Steve Cole’s third Young Bond adventure.
When James stumbles upon a horrific sight, he knows things are not what they seem. His school is determined to make him believe what happened was an accident, but James believes what he saw was murder.
The significance of the events at school only come to light in the course of an adventure that takes James across Europe and puts him within range of a warmongering villain. Has James got what it takes to triumph over this man, the worst kind of enemy, who boasts a new kind of weapon?
The first five books and companion novel in the series are written by Charlie Higson, with the rest being written by Steve Cole.
If you want to read more young bond books here they are in order
1. SilverFin
2. Blood Fever
3. Double or Die
4. Hurricane Gold
5. By Royal Command
6. Shoot to Kill
7. Heads You Die
8. Strike Lightning
9. Red Nemesis (less)
November 27, 2019
Young Bond, now a student at Fettes in Scotland, discovers one of his friends who was working for a suspicious professor dead and vows to bring the murder to justice. The school wants him to believe it is an accident so he must work behind the scenes to discover the truth. With the help of the one friend who believes him they discover a frightening new super weapon and a plot that leads them to the continent and into Nazi Germany. An exciting adventure that continues the story of the young man that brings Bond into contact with international espionage and prepares him to become Ian Fleming's super spy with a license to kill. Written for the middle school age audience this book was an entertaining read.
June 14, 2024
This book is set in 1934. It begins with a guy named Duncan, witnessing the exchange of oweapons between two people, – Maximillion Blade and Konstantin Grünner. (a German general) Maximillion Blade is a good villain. He is very Eccentric and suffers from ‘Stone Man Syndrome. This means his muscles, tendons and ligaments are slowly turning to bone, trapping him within his own skeleton. Blade is Developing a new type of weapon called Steel Shadow which will be provided to the Nazis. These are metal fighting suits that people go into and it protects them in battle. It’s kind of like an Iron Man suit. I’m not sure if they would have had the technology in 1934 to design something like this. But overall, I think that this young James Bond novel was my favourite.
September 29, 2020
Absolutely fine...a further novel in the 'young Bond' series and the second I have read by Steve Cole who has taken over from Charlie Higson in the writing stakes.
It's recognizably Bond and though it's easy to sneer at these novels as being something of a 'cash in' if I'm honest I have read worse adult Bond Novels that the Fleming estate have authorised.
It ticks the usual Bond boxes as these teen pastiches do and it does a decent job in showing the formation of the character we will recognise as a adult.
This one involves plots to re-arm Germany stumbled upon by Bond and as ever stretches credibility..but that's part of the joy.
It's recognizably Bond and though it's easy to sneer at these novels as being something of a 'cash in' if I'm honest I have read worse adult Bond Novels that the Fleming estate have authorised.
It ticks the usual Bond boxes as these teen pastiches do and it does a decent job in showing the formation of the character we will recognise as a adult.
This one involves plots to re-arm Germany stumbled upon by Bond and as ever stretches credibility..but that's part of the joy.
May 17, 2021
This was another good read, Steve Cole really seems to have settled into his stride writing Young Bond.
An interesting story that managed to connect Bond's new School, the concerns about WWII and a need for adventure and justice. It was good to see Perry back involved properly and Kitty was an interesting new character (I hope we see more of her).
A few plot holes here and there, and it seems to drag at times but generally a good read.
An interesting story that managed to connect Bond's new School, the concerns about WWII and a need for adventure and justice. It was good to see Perry back involved properly and Kitty was an interesting new character (I hope we see more of her).
A few plot holes here and there, and it seems to drag at times but generally a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 24, 2022Niestety nie wystawię oceny gdyż:
- lektor strasznie szybko mówił
- ciężko zrozumiały akcent
- wstawki ala niemiecki tzn mówione po angielsku z niemieckim akcentem
Tak naprawdę to nie wiem nawet jak się skończyło - dziś samopoczucie siadło...
Young Bond a bynajmniej tej części nie polecam do osłuchiwania się z angielskim na początkującym i trochę wyższym poziomie...
- lektor strasznie szybko mówił
- ciężko zrozumiały akcent
- wstawki ala niemiecki tzn mówione po angielsku z niemieckim akcentem
Tak naprawdę to nie wiem nawet jak się skończyło - dziś samopoczucie siadło...
Young Bond a bynajmniej tej części nie polecam do osłuchiwania się z angielskim na początkującym i trochę wyższym poziomie...
February 20, 2023
Very boring. The writing style wasn't as good as the other. The storyline felt repetitive and didn't have the same themes as the previous books. Any historical interest was lost and the whole book seemed odd. I wish the ending had seemed more like the end of a series, so many loose strings left.
November 16, 2017
An exciting ending saved this from being James Boring. Not as much action as previous stories and the villains weren't as strong as usual. Try a little hard James!
September 6, 2018
Amazing Includes everything
Action
Violence
Mystery
Girls/Relationships
Reality
Action
Violence
Mystery
Girls/Relationships
Reality
October 5, 2018
Complete review available: Strike Lightning
I would say that this is my favourite Young Bond that Cole has written, even though from the premise I thought it would have been "Shoot to Kill". The action was there for your typical Bond story, and this time the pacing worked really well such that I just kept on reading. It did take me a while to grasp quite what secret weapon they were building, and I struggled a little with the wishy-washy nature of the time jump, but otherwise it made for pleasant reading. I hope the future installments continue on such a strong trajectory!
I would say that this is my favourite Young Bond that Cole has written, even though from the premise I thought it would have been "Shoot to Kill". The action was there for your typical Bond story, and this time the pacing worked really well such that I just kept on reading. It did take me a while to grasp quite what secret weapon they were building, and I struggled a little with the wishy-washy nature of the time jump, but otherwise it made for pleasant reading. I hope the future installments continue on such a strong trajectory!
July 3, 2022
Now this is more what I wanted to see when I first heard the Young Bond series would continue. The first two books have been okay but pretty average, but this one returns to form.
I was excited to see more of Perry Mandeville and was glad that his appearance lasted the entire book. He's hilarious with both his comments, his ideas and the way he manages to get in and out of trouble in a whole different way to Bond. I really liked Kitty Drift. It was fun to see her interest in trains but also her ability to embrace her femininity when it suited her. Plus she's badass with her first dan in judo. And of course I love James. He's had a hard slog since his last adventure at Eton and he's definitely struggled to make peace with the person he's becoming. I liked though that he was making friends again (Marcus) and the return of Perry made this feel more like the first books.
The mystery was interesting and I loved the action sequences. It did start out slow but it soon picked up speed with action and adventure flowing. The train hopping had me feeling very queasy - the whole thing was terrifying. I was on the edge of my seat for that bit. The motivations of the characters was riveting - I loved that they all had multiple motivations and shades of grey. Even Bond struggles with life and death and country and self. At what lengths are we willing to go to protect our way of life? Our loved ones? And what might be worth that sacrifice?
4 stars. Hopefully, the final book in the series is just as good.
I was excited to see more of Perry Mandeville and was glad that his appearance lasted the entire book. He's hilarious with both his comments, his ideas and the way he manages to get in and out of trouble in a whole different way to Bond. I really liked Kitty Drift. It was fun to see her interest in trains but also her ability to embrace her femininity when it suited her. Plus she's badass with her first dan in judo. And of course I love James. He's had a hard slog since his last adventure at Eton and he's definitely struggled to make peace with the person he's becoming. I liked though that he was making friends again (Marcus) and the return of Perry made this feel more like the first books.
The mystery was interesting and I loved the action sequences. It did start out slow but it soon picked up speed with action and adventure flowing. The train hopping had me feeling very queasy - the whole thing was terrifying. I was on the edge of my seat for that bit. The motivations of the characters was riveting - I loved that they all had multiple motivations and shades of grey. Even Bond struggles with life and death and country and self. At what lengths are we willing to go to protect our way of life? Our loved ones? And what might be worth that sacrifice?
4 stars. Hopefully, the final book in the series is just as good.
March 4, 2017
Lightning strikes!
February 17, 2017
Great plot this time around that makes the historical era of the stories seriously pick up to a breakneck pace! Loved it! I really hope that James is not done with the big enemy he has had to begin confronting now, and in May's new edition to come, we will see even more of the threat to the world have their evil plans thwarted!
December 27, 2016
The easy-to-read novel, “Young Bond: Strike Lightning”, written by Steve Cole and set in World War II, is about how young James Bond and his friends Perry and Kitty embark on a perilous adventure to take revenge for their friend Marcus’s death. In Edinburgh, Marcus, Perry, and James are having a friendly conversation until a Rolls Royce pulls up. From the car emerges Mr. Whittaker, an aloof teacher of science at Fettes school, who takes Marcus in and says that he needs to complete “the project”. James and Perry then break into the teacher’s lab, and sees that Marcus is in a cage and is screaming. Then, everything blacks out and Marcus dies while James is injured. In the hospital, James meets Mr. Blade, an entrepreneur who was making Marcus and Mr. Whittaker work for him to develop weapons. When Mr. Blade leaves, James goes back to school, ready to go on an adventure with Perry that will explode his mind and take him all the way to Nazi territory – Germany.
This was the very first book written by Steve Cole that I read, and I was not so impressed. Cole used overly simplified language and had very minimal details relating to World War II, except for the occasional mentions of the word Nazi and Hitler. He also did not describe the setting in the Nazi secret labs that well; I unfortunately could not view this book as a movie in my mind really well. Overall, this book was not so well written like many other mystery novels I have read.
This was the very first book written by Steve Cole that I read, and I was not so impressed. Cole used overly simplified language and had very minimal details relating to World War II, except for the occasional mentions of the word Nazi and Hitler. He also did not describe the setting in the Nazi secret labs that well; I unfortunately could not view this book as a movie in my mind really well. Overall, this book was not so well written like many other mystery novels I have read.
October 7, 2016
I felt like Steve Cole phoned this one in. The plot was a lot slower than his two previous instalments and I struggled to keep going. The basic premise is that a top secret Iron Suit is being made at James' new school for the Nazi regime prior to World War 2. One of James' friends dies in a trial and James, while spying, is caught up in the aftermath.
Perry Mandeville, one of Bond's peers at Eton (in the days of Higson's novels) is back, but there is no mention of Hugo the dwarf, with whom Bond shared two previous adventures. I had grown to like Hugo and wanted him to be mentioned at least once, to see how he was.
Anyway, don't waste your time unless you, like me, are wanting to see the series through to the end out of some kind of loyalty.
Perry Mandeville, one of Bond's peers at Eton (in the days of Higson's novels) is back, but there is no mention of Hugo the dwarf, with whom Bond shared two previous adventures. I had grown to like Hugo and wanted him to be mentioned at least once, to see how he was.
Anyway, don't waste your time unless you, like me, are wanting to see the series through to the end out of some kind of loyalty.
September 17, 2016
Another solid entry into the Young Bond series and Cole's strongest to date.
This is the leanest of all the Young Bonds, and a real page turner as a result, no page is wasted as the plot and the action keep you interested from beginning to the fun, over the top conclusion.
This is the leanest of all the Young Bonds, and a real page turner as a result, no page is wasted as the plot and the action keep you interested from beginning to the fun, over the top conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews