By Royal Command

Young Bond #5

by Charlie Higson

BEFORE THE MAN BECAME THE LEGEND.
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN.
MEET BOND. JAMES BOND.

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.


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

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Thriller, Espionage, Mystery, Action

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2008

About the author

Higson was educated at Sevenoaks School and at the University of East Anglia (where his brother has taught since 1986 and is now a professor of film studies) where he met Paul Whitehouse, David Cummings and Terry Edwards. Higson, Cummings and Edwards formed the band The Higsons of which Higson was the lead singer from 1980 to 1986. They released two singles on the Specials' 2-Tone label. Higson then became a plasterer before he turned to writing for Harry Enfield with Paul Whitehouse and performing comedy. He came to public attention as one of the main writers and performers of the BBC Two sketch show The Fast Show (1994-2000). He worked with Whitehouse on the radio comedy Down the Line and is to work with him again on a television project, designed to be a spoof of celebrity travel programmes.[1:]

He worked as producer, writer, director and occasional guest star on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000 to 2001. Subsequent television work has included writing and starring in BBC Three's Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He is currently starring in Tittybangbang series 3 on BBC Three and has appeared as a panellist on QI.

He published four novels through the early to mid 1990s which take a slightly dystopian look at everyday life and have a considerably more adult tone than his other work, with characters on the margins of society finding themselves spiraling out of control, leading him to be described by Time Out as 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis' [2:]

In 2004, it was announced that Higson would pen a series of James Bond novels, aimed at younger readers and concentrating on the character's school-days at Eton. Higson was himself educated at Sevenoaks School where he was a contemporary of Jonathan Evans, current Director General of MI5. The first novel, SilverFin, was released on 3 March 2005 in the UK and on 27 April 2005 in the U.S. A second novel, Blood Fever, was released on 5 January 2006 in the UK and 1 June in the U.S. The third novel, Double or Die, was published on 4 January 2007 having had its title announced the day before. The next, Hurricane Gold, came out in hardcover in the UK in September 2007.[3:]In this year he also made a debut performance on the panel show QI. His final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in hardcover in the UK on the 3 September 2008.[4:]

Charlie has signed a deal to pen a new series of children's books for Puffin. According to the author, "They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anybody who likes thrillers - but not necessarily the modern tendency to fill them with swear words and brutality and serial killers - is not doing themselves a favour by looking the other way at "teen fiction" as "only for kids". Anyone who knows their Fleming Bond is unlikely to imagine that anyone other than Charlie Higson could possibly have done a better or more authentic "Young Bond". The entire series has been a masterwork in its own right as well as a brilliant tribute to its origins, and I would recommend it unreservedly, unless you just have a personal aversion to the concept of a competent 14- or 15-year old hero as "spoiling" your preferred "adult" thrillers. Your loss, I venture to say.

[Stephen Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific plot, lots of action. A must read.

You know it's a good book when you are left wanting more.

[paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

By Royal Command by Charlie Higson

This was an amazing end to the Young James Bond series by Mr Higson. The series will be carrying on with a different author, but I'm not sure if I want to continue reading them. As much as I enjoyed the books, I'm still deciding if I'm happy with how Higson left the series or if I want to read more.

[Steve Fincher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as good a good 1. Silverfin but still a great series, this is the last of the Higson written Young Bond, I hope Steve Cole who writes the rest is as good. This series so far has been every bit as good as Alex Rider or Jason Steed.

[Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated 8/13/2020 - Leading up to "No Time to Die," I am re-reading as many Bond novels as possible.

"By Royal Command" is the last of Charlie Higson's Young Bond entries - taking the boy we met in "SilverFin" and further evolving some familiar elements of Ian Fleming's James Bond back story.

We've always known Bond's departure from Eton centered around an alleged problem with a boys' maid, and this is that tale. Furthermore, his ski instructor (from the book "Octopussy" and film "SPECTRE") Hannes Oberhauser makes an appearance. And James Bond comes into contact with a larger world where he will one day play a significant part.

"By Royal Command" brilliantly weaves young James Bond through matters of extreme importance toward a destiny we all know he will have, blending in characters from Fleming's stories and the earlier Young Bond stories alike. 5 stars.


_____________________________________________
If you are an avid reader of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, you know there are traces of Bond's youth in the original tales. You are aware of Bond's expulsion from Eton over an alleged problem with a boys' maid. You are aware of his mentor and ski instructor Hans Oberhauser (whose offspring figures to be part of the upcoming film, SPECTRE). That said, we know little else and it has been with great joy I've read Charlie Higson's 5 Young Bond novels.

This one wraps up Higson's full length novel look at Bond's youth and sees the character come full circle from a relatively naive boy who has lost his parents in a climbing accident to someone whose adventures has made life at Eton boring and has seen young James lose his innocence and experience far more in his first 14 years than most ever have or will.

The character development continues to be strong, there are some extremely strong quoteworthy items scattered throughout specifically by Merriott and Roan Powers, and you truly see how this boy James will become 007. Without any spoilers, this one definitely puts James Bond in harm's way multiple times against enemies of the time, both known and those becoming more prominent. He has brushes with royalty and we find out what Fleming meant when he alluded to the problem with the boys' maid.

Strong conclusion to an excellent series. 4 stars.

[Amanda Landaverde · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow, amidst this week I have managed to finish this book. I had not really wanted to read it anymore because it is a quite boring beginning and it's pretty slow and muddled. The book gets better near the end. Although, I have to say the ending of this book was quite a stretch. It was also a little random.
I do not find this series as enjoyable as I found the series to be in 6th grade. I guess I've grown out of junior spies and such. Or perhaps this book was not as satisfying as the books prior.
I guess the only reason I am rating this 2 stars is not because of the author, but because I no longer read these types of books. I enjoy science fiction/action with a bit of mystery now. And also perhaps this book was too young for me.



Did you like how I sounded so grown up in that review? ;) The book would most likely be an excellent read if you are a 6th grader who loves action books, spies, betrayal, British people and language, crushes, and very twisted endings. Also, it's an easy read if you don't get frustrated in the beginning.
I guess I'm just not used to these kind of books anymore. :/

[Gavin Kerst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I really loved this book! All of the previous books were really just about James being thrown into an adventure and saving the day, which is all well and good because that’s what James Bond does.
However, I particularly enjoyed this one a bit more because James was coming to terms with the challenges of growing up. He was starting to see that the world is grey rather than black and white. And I love that about this story. I also love the fact that the story highlighted that Bond is his own man. He very much does the right thing but at the same time, he doesn’t confine himself to orders or higher powers, which is yet again such classic trait of Bond. This book really nailed all those aspects. I think Double or Die had the best climax, but this was the best written overall! 5/5!

[Akintunde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book in the young Bond series(the final one). A series that chronicles some of the early life and adventures of James Bond as a young boy before becoming the super spy we have come to know.
By Royal Command is YA book and it mellows down on the action, espionage intricacies, language, sex and violence that would usually accompany a spy like James Bond.
Albeit, I enjoyed the book and it would be a good read for teenagers and young adults who are all into adventures.
I haven't read some of the other books in the series but as I see it, each can be read alone without losing the theme of the narration. Though there are references to events in the other books but it doesn't detail you one bit.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final in the Young Bond series and it ends really good. Skiing with Olberhauser is something that Hollywood would use in Spectre. There are some character things that I don’t know are more for modern audiences or the writer thinks Bond will grow into. He is sickened by a cloud of cigarette smoke. At the time, everyone smoked. Bond would smoke in the early movies.
We have Nazis and Russians and bullies and a love interest. Things that make this a solid Bond story anyway.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

easily my favourite so far

felt the most like a Bond story as opposed to a prequel of some kind, and it hit all the right beats

[Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how I feel about the strange age gap romance that wasn't really a romance but kinda was...?

[Matthew Batten · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointing climax to what had been an outstanding series.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of 5 stars, I would give this novel a 4. Charlie Higson pieces a novel together with the elements of action, suspense, mystery, and romance. Although the storyline at times is hard to follow, it all comes together in the end. The plot of this story is very hard to believe, I mean come on a 14 year old adrenaline jockey and spy venturing around Europe from villains. Out of all the books I have read, I have never read a book with an extraordinary ending such as this one . I honestly got choked up at the end. You would never see anything like it coming. This book had a lot of events happen throughout it.
All though this story was very good, it was hard to believe and get at certain times. For instance when new characters like Dandy come along and play a huge role throughout the story. James meets a girl at Eton named Roan, one day he is out for a picnic with her, and the mysterious character Dandy shows up. Throughout the story people just show up and try to blow up the King of England, leaving only James to save the day. Now to me that is HIGHLY unlikely , a 14 year old boy saving the King of England and defusing a bomb. I mean come on a 14 year old boy doing that ? Although at times the plot is boring and confusing it can also be extremely entertaining , keeping you on your feet, feeling the emotions they do. At the end of the story and unexpected change occurs, an old villain shows up. Also what happens in the last 3 chapters will choke you up, it did for me and I have never gotten emotional over a book. All in all, the plot seems confusing and boring at times, but in the end that will all change.
The realism of the characters is probably not likely to happen in real life, but you never know nowadays. I mean honestly, would you expect a 14 year old boy to fall in love with a middle aged 20 year old, it is possible , but highly unlikely unless it was true love. There is a middle aged 20 year old female at James’s school that drives all the boys crazy with her looks, named Roan, and that is highly likely in some situations. Near the end of the story James and Roan run away from Eton with each other to escape the troubles they were having, and enjoy each other. Charlie Higson did develop good characters that did unexpected things at unexpected times. I honestly don’t know if I could relate to these characters, because I have never been in their situations.
Charlie Higson is a 5 out of 5 star author that delivers what readers want, he is a highly talented author that knows how to keep readers on their feet. Mr. Higson has delivered a highly entertaining series, with lots and lots of action with unexpected and unique characters. For the first time in my life, I shed tears over a book, by no other than the wonderful author Charlie Higson. I owe him my thanks for keeping me busy with this book, keeping me on my feet, and making me shed a few tears , it actually felt good.
This book may sound like a cheesy love story with action, but it’s more than that. At times it is , but it mainly expresses the difficulties of the present and previous day civilians. Such as bad government problems and violence. This book I think should strike the reader as an action, suspense, unlikely, and somewhat romantic novel. I would give this book a 5 star, but it sometimes confuses me and makes me wonder , and lulled me at times, but in conclusion that all changed near the end of the book. All in all, this is a must read novel.

[Nate Rawdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Royal Command became the first series of books I have ever completed, and I'm glad to say that it did the rest of the fantastic series great justice. As always the action was of a high degree from the very start, with an excellent new array of characters introduced with intriguing and believable story-lines. Despite the ever present action, the final installment in the Young Bond series did in fact introduce several new themes that had never previously received much focus. The main character, of course being James Bond, had his personal feelings and life expressed much more so than before, with it being a major part of the plot. The novel also featured a newer degree of sophistication, featuring the usual array of plot twists, but offering a surprising sense of unpredictability. This helped the ever present mood of growth in the novel, which was a strong part of the story as the plot and characters continually moved on, which inevitably helped the novel near its fitting and welcomingly obvious conclusion. The first edition of the Young Bond series, Silverfin, was the first more mature novel of which I ever read, and so it feels as though I have reached a landmark moment to have completed the series that seemingly introduced me to the world of reading.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I thought I had read the first one in this series, Silverfin, but apparently not. Like a James Bond movie, you don't need to know all of the previous stuff, necessarily, to be able to follow this one. Unlike a James Bond movie, this was some of the most boring, unimaginative writing I think I've seen in a long time, and it actually accomplished something I've never seen before - it makes spy games seem dull.

I can't find much of anything to say about this that's worthwhile. The end does pick up somewhat, I suppose, only to have a graphically gross scene toward the end really take me out of things, but I was ready to give up on this 200 pages earlier at that point and couldn't, so...

Skip this. Unless you're an evil mastermind who has an enemy spy captured - then you might give them this to pass the time.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best book in the young Bond series. This fifth novel links James Bond's year at Eton into a neat story arc. Elements of the first three books are all tied toogether in this story, especially volumes 1 and 3.

[Kahn]

Easily the best of the Young Bonds. It has all the classic hallmarks - the girl, the mountain hideaway, double crossing, triple crossing, idiots, friends in odd places, convenient dead bodies and a train ride or two. Simply brilliant.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, action-packed adventure. Full of surprises and twist

[Jack Lugo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Higson’s final Young Bond book, By Royal Command, is a masterpiece worthy of Ian Fleming himself. I say this with no hint of hyperbole or exaggeration. While the Young Bond series has impressed me overall, this final installment from Higson is most reminiscent of the best of the Fleming books as it contains several passages that reminded me of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and From Russia with Love. Higson has done a brilliant job throughout most of the books, which serve as prequels to Fleming’s literary James Bond character. The events of the series take place from 1933-1934 and chronicle the period of Bond’s life that had only been given a brief mention in the cannon of Ian Fleming. In Fleming’s You Only Live Twice, M. wrote an obituary for The Times believing Bond to be dead. Here he writes:

“ …at the age of twelve or thereabouts, he [James Bond] passed satisfactorily into Eton, for which College he had been entered at his birth by his father. 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.”

By Royal Command weaves the tale of what really happened to conclude young James’ time at Eton and suffice it to say Higson gives us a spy thriller that not only elaborates on Fleming’s passage but also shows us James’ induction in the secret world of spies in the years leading up to World War II, a world that is described to him as a “shadow war.”

The story begins in early 1934 just after James returns from his Caribbean adventure in Hurricane Gold and the short story “A Hard Man to Kill.” James is now 14 and is eager to return to his normal life as a school boy but first he joins some of his classmates on a field trip to Kitzbuhel in Austria where he learns how to ski. His roommate for the trip, Miles, is a talkative pretentious type who thinks he knows everything. When Miles puts himself in danger by drinking on the slopes and getting lost on the mountain, James risks his own life to save him. The ordeal ends with James being praised as a hero but all is not right afterwards. There is a man who persists on following him, a suspicious encounter with a German dignitary in the hospital who fears that someone is trying to kill his “cousin Jurgen,” and a dangerous conspiracy brewing back at his school at Eton.

Thickening the plot is the aforementioned boys’ maid, Roan Power, only a few years older than the boys who James takes an instant liking to as well as the new school bully Theo Bentinck, who learns quickly that while he can’t intimidate James he could still make him suffer by taking his anger out on James' friends making school life nearly impossible. The book changes gears for each of its three acts. There are layers of mystery that I don’t want to spoil here for anyone who wants to read the book. James gets his first full taste of what his future life as a spy will be like including all the players involved in this “shadow war.” He encounters Hitler Youth, Soviet spies, a communist conspiracy to kill the King, and has his own induction into the British Secret Service and what they do to stem these various plots. Higson weaves an intricately complicated yet fascinating world for young Bond to navigate and all of it is very well- researched and very relevant to the history of the time period of this story.

Roan Power is probably the most fascinating female character within Higson’s Young Bond series. She’s very reminiscent of the femme fatale, very dangerous, and yet very sympathetic. James is blinded by his love for her, and even though she presents a danger to him it’s also evident that she feels something for James. It’s this kind of paradox of women both luring James towards danger while also genuinely caring about him that gets explored in the Fleming books as well as in the Bond movies. She tells Bond at one point,

“You’re a blunt object, aren’t you, darling? Oh, I’m not saying you haven’t any hidden depth. Because I know there’s a lot going on beyond that cool surface of yours. You’re a lot more grown-up and interesting than most boys your age. But you’d still rather take on the world with your fists than with your brain, or with your heart. You’ve got to learn to use your heart, because, if you don’t, it’ll become weak. And a weak heart is easily broken. If someone wants to hurt you badly they’ll aim their arrows at that heart of yours.”

In interviews, Ian Fleming would often refer to Bond as a “blunt instrument.” Interestingly enough Fleming himself was removed from Eton at age 17 by his mother who chose to send young Ian to a “crammer” (a specialized school) to prepare him for a Military College, where he failed to gain a commission after less than a year. It’s fascinating that when choosing a background for Bond’s youth that Fleming should choose Eton as well as a premature removal from the school as part of Bond’s makeup. It further cements the prevailing notion that Fleming looked to his own life for the inspiration behind James Bond. What Charlie Higson has done with his Young Bond series is to not only fill in the boyhood details of Fleming’s fictional creation but also tie in some of the cultural and historical events and themes that one imagines would have had an impact on Fleming himself as a young man.

The title of By Royal Command is derived from a brief encounter Young James had outside of Windsor Great Park after hiding in a tree from a perceived threat from the man who was following him. He sees two little girls playing badminton “on a large well-kept lawn." The older of the two girls who was about 8 years old asked young James to retrieve the shuttlecock which had gotten stuck in the branches. James happily obliges and politely leaves. He later learns that the two girls were the royal princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret. He later also meets their uncle, Edward who was the Prince of Wales at the time along with his girlfriend Wallis Simpson, who would later prove to be the reason for Edward VIII abdicating the throne allowing for Elizabeth’s father George VI to succeed him as the King. The young princess Elizabeth that Bond meets outside the park would become Elizabeth II, who would of course become the reigning Queen during Bond’s tenure as a double-o agent.

At one point when James is introduced to the British Secret Service, he is told

“When you are young . . . the world seems so simple and straightforward. There is right and there is wrong. In the cowboy films the goodies wear the white hats and the baddies wear black. As you get older you realise the world is not so simple. There are men in grey hats.”

James then replies, “And what colour hat do you want me to wear, sir?”

That exchange exemplifies some of what Charlie Higson has achieved in this Young Bond series and particularly in his final Young Bond novel. He shows us James’ transition from seeing the world as a young boy to seeing the world as a man. The saga of James Bond’s time as an Eton school boy and how it all comes to an end informs us about the experiences that shaped Bond into the fictional man that Fleming created after the war. It’s also a well-crafted look into some of the larger and important historical events that shaped the world in the years leading up to World War II. Higson does an extraordinary job weaving the history of the time organically into the story and none of it feels forced. I highly recommend the series not just for anyone interested in James Bond but for anyone who loves history and enjoys a good historically based adventure story.

Though this is Charlie Higson’s final Young Bond book, Ian Fleming Publications recently partnered with author Steve Cole to continue the Young Bond saga. Cole’s book Shoot to Kill takes place after the events of By Royal Command and was released in the UK in 2014 and is available only as an ebook in the US as of this writing.

[Joe Satrianto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kalau ditanya, apa film bioskop yang pertama kali kutonton dalam hidupku? Lalu bila pertanyaanku itu dilanjutkan dengan wanti-wanti dari temanku ke teman ceweknya, “Hati-hati sama si Joe. Lebih baik jangan. Dia itu pleboi,” maka salahkan saja babahku!

Lha, kok, gitu?

Lha ya memang gitu. Sekarang balik ta’tanya kepada para pemirsa sekalian, apa pantes anak teka – tekanya TK Aisyah pulak! – diajak ke bioskop pas lepas maghrib buat nonton James Bond? Jika kalian menjawab bahwa itu tiada pantas, maka ketidak-pantasan itulah yang terjadi: film pertama yang kutonton di bioskop adalah filmnya James Bond. Besoknya, pas ke bioskop lagi, James Bond lagi. Lagi, James Bond lagi. Seingatku, jaman kecil dulu itu, selain James Bond, aku cuma diajak nonton filmnya “Superman”-nya Christopher Reeve sama babahku.

Jadi ya nggak heranlah kalo kecilnya saja sudah dicekoki James Bond, maka pas mulai usia 17 tahun lebih dikit aku alhasil membatin, ini, nih, saatnya berlagak macam James Bond, mumpung sudah punya katepe…

Hanya saja aku bukanlah agen rahasia. Kenalanku juga tidak ada yang jadi agen rahasia. Adanya juga cuma agen minyak tanah, Bu Nengah, pemilik warung di depan rumahku di Denpasar, tempat aku biasa disuruh beli minyak tanah buat ngisi senthir kalau listrik di rumahku mendadak matek pas malam hari.

Selayaknya pula manusia yang bukan agen rahasia, aku juga ndak punya lisensi untuk membunuh macam James Bond. Karenanya, sekalinya terjebak tawuran pas jaman esema, akunya mindik-mindik ke garis belakang dengan alasan, “Lha, kalau aku di garis depan, nanti kalo aku kelepasan mbacok anaknya orang sampai mampus, gimana coba?”

Gembelnya, tidak ada seorang teman pun yang percaya sama alasanku. Jadilah akunya terkenal sebagai Kepala Seksi P3K untuk kegiatan pemacu adrenalin ala anak muda tersebut.

Maka karena aku tidak bisa beraksi macam James Bond untuk kegiatan yang menaikkan tensi, akhirul kalam aku cuma bisa niru-niru James Bond pas adegan flirting ke cewek. Lumayan, dulu si Ricky Babon sempat menjulukiku sebagai Pe A eS, pleboi antar sekolah, atas jerih-payahku tersebut. Lalu Okytt, sejawat yang sejak jaman kuliah sudah bermigrasi ke negeri koala itu, setiap chat selalu menyapa, “Woi, Mas Ganteng, masih jadi pleboi koe?”

Aku pun menjawab didahului dengan emoticon nyengir, “Sudah lama tobat. Cuma entah kenapa tau-tau sering kumat sendiri, Kit.”

Dan ngomong-ngomong tentang James Bond dan romansa ala anak muda, ada 1 quote yang jadi benang merah untuk ceritaku kali ini. Aku percaya:

Sekali seorang wanita menyukaimu, seumur hidup dia akan menyukaimu. Kalaupun terlihat tidak, yang perlu dibangkitkan cuma memorinya.

Mungkin gara-gara itu juga pas ulang tahunku kemarin ada pak pos yang ngasih paket ke rumah, yang setelah kubuka isinya 2 biji novel dari Seorang Cerita Masa Lalu

Padahal sungguh mati aku cuma bercanda pas ngirim mesej ke dia, bilang, “Tahun ini aku kepengen kado ini buat ultahku,” sambil mengirimkan gambar novel yang dipajang di Toga Mas yang kupengenin. Nothing to lose. Dibalas dengan makian pun tidak mengapa. Tapi kalaupun benar-benar dikirimin sama dia dari Jakarta, ya horeee…

Selanjutnya, waw, salah sebiji novel yang dikirimkannya adalah “By Royal Command”-nya Charlie Higson. Novel ini bercerita tentang masa esemanya James Bond waktu dia masih sekolah di Eton. Novel ini kulihat di Toga Mas sebagai satu-satunya novel tentang James Bond yang dipajang di situ, yang gembusnya ternyata itu adalah buku kelima dari seri novelnya “Young Bond”. Lha, ke mana ini seri 1-4-nya? Kok, nggak ada? Ya jangan tanya ke aku. Aku tiada tau-menau, wong begitu mendapati fakta itu aku juga sempat sedikit menggerutu.

Agak mengganggu juga, sih, lantaran ada benang merah dari seri sebelumnya ke seri yang kukonsumsi di atas itu. Tapi… Ada tapinya, lho… Walaupun lumayan mengganggu, secara keseluruhan hal itu tidaklah merusak cerita yang ada di buku kelima ini. Ceritanya masih dapat dinikmati. Alurnya pun cepat, beberapa ketegangan yang biasanya kudapati waktu nonton filmnya juga masih bisa kurasakan, meskipun Bond muda ini tetap berbeda dengan Bond dewasa.

Nggak ada ceritanya dia meniduri wanita yang bukan istrinya. Lha, bagaimana mau meniduri, wong waktu itu ceritanya dia (kayaknya) masih perjaka, kok, ya. Bahkan saat itu – kemungkinan besar – adalah saat di mana si Bond pas pipis aja masih miring-miring. Yang macam begitu ya mana pantes meniduri wanita tho ya? Yang ada malah si Bond yang nanti diketawain ceweknya, “Oalah, Mas Bond… Pipis aja masih belum jejeg, kok, mau sok-sokan bobok sama saya.” Kasian tho si Bond-nya kalau nanti kejadiannya malah macam demikian?

Si Bond di sini juga belum direkrut sama MI6. Alhasil dia belum punya kode 007, yang mana kode 00 itu adalah sandi buat kepemilikan lisensi untuk membunuh. Alhasil pula tidak ada adegan baku tembak di novel ini, wong soale si Bond ndak punya pistol kecuali pistol yang miring-miring itu tadi. Tidak ada pula adegan kejar-kejaran pake Aston Martin. Yang ada cuma kejar-kejaran pake kaki.

Tidak ada pula “shaken, not stirred” karena si Bond belum 21+. Doi belum boleh mengonsumsi khamr

Lebih jauh lagi, karena tidak ada adegan menegangkan di mana si Bond mengoperasikan senjata secara legal, ketegangan yang didapat, waktu aku mbaca novelnya, digantikan dengan adegan waktu si Bond nyaris mati gara-gara kejebak badai salju pas dia main ski di Austria. Dan ngomong-ngomong tentang Austria, ini mungkin sebagai hiburan buat penikmat Bond dewasa yang sering mendapati kalau di setiap filmnya, Bond selalu disetting untuk berada di negara-negara yang berbeda dalam tempo singkat. Yah, lumayanlah, di novel ini aku sempat mendapati si Bond berpindah dari Jerman ke Austria, Austria ke Inggris, Inggris ke Perancis, dan dari Perancis ke Jerman lagi, sampai akhirnya ujung-ujungnya balik ke Austria.

Ah ya, walaupun James Bond yang ini tidak terlibat zina, tapi wanita tetap ada. Hanya saja dia masih cupu, masih bisa dikibulin sama wanita yang lebih dewasa yang dia taksir. Gara-gara wanita tukang bikin repot inilah si Bond akhirnya lari-lari dari 1 negara ke negara lain, meninggalkan sekolahnya, tidak takut dengan ancaman…apalagi nggak naik kelas, wong drop out saja dia juga nggak takut, kok.

Lalu apa tema ceritanya? Temanya, sih, simpel. Kayak di film-filmnya Bond dewasa biasanya, isi cerita novel ini nggak jauh-jauh dari konspirasi dan agen ganda. Ceritanya ada agen Rusia (klasik banget, eh? Musuhan sama Rusia gitu, lho) yang berniat meledakkan Eton saat Raja George dolan ke Eton. Berhubung ini Inggris masih dipegang sama Raja George, sudah tentu setting di novel ini terjadi sebelum jaman Perang Dunia pertama. Bond sendiri, kan, konon dilahirkan pas tahun 1920-an. Hanya karena penyesuaian cerita dari jaman ke jamanlah maka James Bond tidak pernah dikisahkan beranjak tua.

Tapi, lagi-lagi simpel… Musuh Bond yang sebenarnya ternyata bukanlah si agen Rusia yang pengen bertindak mewakili Malaikat Izrail bagi Raja George. Musuh Bond yang sebenarnya adalah…ah, sudahlah, situ baca aja sendiri novelnya. Pokoknya, musuhnya si Bond ya tipikal film-filmnya Bond dewasa: punya markas sendiri, punya agenda sendiri, dan berusaha menjalankan agendanya dengan menunggangi salah satu di antara 2 pihak yang sedang bertikai, yang dalam hal ini Rusia-lah yang ditunggangi. Klasik tho?

Jadi apa kesimpulanku untuk novel ini? Hiburan ringan. Ya, cuma hiburan ringan. Terlepas dari siapa yang mengkadokan novel ini ke aku, novel ini tidak banyak memberikan pencerahan hidup yang baru buat aku. Minim makna. Satu-satunya yang bisa diambil hikmahnya selepas mbaca novel ini buatku cuma sekedar, “Terima kasih, ya Allah, aku masih dikasih kesempatan buat menikmati nyelesaiin baca ceritanya James Bond versi yang ini.”

Lanjutannya, aku malah jadi kasihan sama Bond muda ini. Semuda itu dia sudah harus menghadapi problematika seputar keselamatan dan kelangsungan hidup bangsanya. Betul-betul tipikal manusia yang tidak pernah nyari masalah tapi masalahlah yang selalu rajin mendatanginya. Kasiman, aeh, kasihan...

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes young James further into adulthood and sets up his future as a spy pretty well. I know the series continues, but this feels like a natural stopping point for the 'Young' James part of his life. He has his first love and heartbreak and finds out about the spy world all around him, so he isn't the naive adventurer who stumbles into plots anymore.

It's a mean old world sometimes, darling. And we, none of us, know the best way to cope with it. And you, you're just a boy. You can't be expected to always know what to do. ... You're growing up, James. You're finding out that things aren't as simple as you thought. You've been running hard, James. I can see that in you. And when you're running, things are simple. It's when you stop running they get complicated. Why do you think men throw themselves into their work or go happily off to war or try to walk to the North Pole or climb the highest mountain? They're escaping real life, James, with all its problems. Problems that can't be sorted by running or fighting.

I feel like this passage was insightful and true, but James seems to have willfully misunderstood the point of this lecture. He took it as instructions for never having to deal with real life problems by always throwing himself into the next spy adventure. :)

[Andrew Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me the Charlie Higson run of Young Bond ended on a low note. I had so enjoyed the rest, but this one seemed to be lacking in many areas. It's easy to tell that there SHOULD be a lot of surprises, but most of them are anti-climactic. The ending specifically rose not to a peak, but to the equivalent of a small hill. Sometimes bringing old characters back can be really exciting, however it seemed almost as if it was done out of a lack of creativity. "No new bad guys. I guess I'll chuck in some old ones."

What upset me the most was the lack of growth from James. True, in each book James makes certain choices that inevitably make life harder, but for someone who has been following the series it seemed as if James mentally took a few steps backward. Almost as if he hadn't been through anything like this before. Chasing a man with a hat through some woods, being chased through the streets, or hopping on and off a train, were presented as some of the most exciting and thrilling events of his life. To anyone who has read any of the other four books, each of those things should be everyday occurrences by now.

If you've read the other four books I would suggest this one so that you can close out the larger story line. If not, read the other books because they are very good.

[Mike Cuthbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book not noting that it was a “Young Bond” entry by its author, Charlie Higson. So, it is a sort of YA version of Bond’s early life, filled with the usual derring-do but softer on the sexual stuff. In fact, Higson mysteriously drops a potential relationship for Bond by introducing Amy, a distant cousin, and never mentioning her again. Bond’s romantic adventures, limited as they are, include only the mysterious house cleaner at Eton, Roan. They have a distant relationship until Bond predictably gets in trouble and has to flee to Kitzbühel, Austria, where he has just learned to ski. There, as back home, he gets in more trouble—the Bond Way—and the plot advances. The novel is set in pre-WWII days so Hitler is a figure in it as well as spies and Communists and all sorts of baddies and goodies as in the Fleming stories of later years. Higson apparently got permission from the Fleming family to write a series of Young Bond novels and this is a later one. YA it may be and somewhat diluted from the adult Bond, but a decent read anyway.

[Wayland Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grabbed this audiobook for a road trip and to fill a challenge slot. I didn't check it as thoroughly as I should have, and broke one of my own rules about not starting a series at the beginning. I also managed to miss that this was Young James Bond, not the adult spy. Also, it's set in the runup period to World War II.

Bond returns from some adventures abroad and tries to go back to school and resume his life as a student. This is complicated by a sadistic head of house (really, English boarding schools sound like they were utter hell), issues with his friends, and a pretty young maid.

By blind luck, Bond trips into a complicated plot to assassinate a public figure, a clash between Communists and Nazis, and learns a lot that will shape his later, adult self.

It was a decent read that veered back and forth between Hardy Boys level of action and detail and some particularly grotesque scenes I'm not sure I'd recommend for younger readers. It was ok. I might try and hunt down the others at some point. I might not.

[Warren Fretwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever wonder what the young James Bond was like? Well, you won't find out by reading this book inasmuch as I simply cannot imagine that the lad portrayed here would one day mature into the master spy revealed to us in Ian Fleming's novels or in the movies.

Young James Bond is in Eton and we are supposed to believe that he already had his spy-chops down as a high school underclassman! Of course, we had to suspend belief in the older Bond tales as well. However, Higson's young Bond is weak when it comes to women and almost diffident at times. He might be physically tough, but too often taken for a ride.

You can get the details about the storyline elsewhere, but, suffice it to say, this book may may it as a YA story, but if you know anything about Bond, you are not likely to enjoy this yarn!

I gave the tale three stars because the plot is reasonably interesting, but not as a James Bond book!

[Theo Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

- By Royal Command is the fourth in the series, and tells the story of James Bond being interested in a maid at school, saving the King from a supposedly communist plot, running away with this girl and many other twists and turns of James being drawn into the big fight between Soviet Communist agents and the British Intelligence Agency. It was a good story that was very interesting to read and listen to. I did think, as with the others, that is was quite far-fetched (James just saving the King), in a way that seemed a bit feeble and forced. The whole bad communists VS good british people was a bit odd too. Nevertheless I loved listening to it and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
- I would recommend this book to people who enjoy spy and action books.

[Libby Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first this book was destined for failure, because THEY CHANGED AUDIOBOOK READERS ON ME! I only started listening to these books because Nathaniel Parker was the reader and then they made the switch. I did not like the new reader, but I pushed on with the book.

Higson does great things with plot and a believable creation of the enigmatic James Bond. As James grows up, so do his stories. I would put this book as one for slightly older readers than the first few books. An enjoyable story and characters, but some deeper subjects of betrayal and loyalty. This series remains a great read for teens who love adventure.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audio version of the last Young Bond by Charlie Higson. I almost gave up again at exactly the same point I did when reading this many years ago, but I'm so glad I didn't. This was a great adventure for Bond with a thrilling plot, great villians and of course a love interest. Nathaniel Parker did a superb job as the narrator at all the different characters, nationalities, male and female, young and old. I enjoyed this so much on audio that I would love to listen to the earlier books, if the library has them.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this in one go because it was just so hard to put down. James was much darker in this book, all the things that had happened to him had changed his personality as he fought to survive. This book had the most suspense and action, from him almost losing his life at the start to the betrayal of someone he thought was a friend and ally. The series ended with James no longer returning to Eton and I hope the books written by Steve Cole are just as adrenaline packed as these were as he carries on James' story.

[Jack McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last of Charlie Higson's Young Bond books is my favourite of the batch, and the closest to feeling like Ian Fleming's world. The scene with a decaying corpse hanging outside of a window was intense for what is supposed to be a kids book - though I wasn't a kid when I read it. One of the best non-Fleming Bond books. I hope Charlie Hugson has the chance to write a novel with the adult Bond in the Secret Service. He would do a fine job.