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'On His Majesty's Secret Service' by Charlie Higson (2023)

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  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    Risico007 wrote: »
    I Wonder if this will be the start of something like a Raymond benson run…. That would make me happy

    With film novelizations!

    Pardon my enthusiasm for this.

  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,103
    RichardTheBruce wrote: »
    Risico007 wrote: »
    I Wonder if this will be the start of something like a Raymond benson run…. That would make me happy

    With film novelizations!

    Pardon my enthusiasm for this.

    I actually wish Everything or Nothing, Bloodstone, Skyfall and maybe even Spectre and No Time To Die got novelizations. While Agent Under Fire and NightFire got one combined. I could see Raymond Benson writing EON, Bruce Feirstein writing BS and John Logan writing SF.
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    Don't do the Young Bond series myself; I am set in the adult persona with 007. But I hope this one is killer, as opposed to that [IMO] dreck Double Or Nothing.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,930
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    RichardTheBruce wrote: »
    Risico007 wrote: »
    I Wonder if this will be the start of something like a Raymond benson run…. That would make me happy

    With film novelizations!

    Pardon my enthusiasm for this.

    I actually wish Everything or Nothing, Bloodstone, Skyfall and maybe even Spectre and No Time To Die got novelizations. While Agent Under Fire and NightFire got one combined. I could see Raymond Benson writing EON, Bruce Feirstein writing BS and John Logan writing SF.

    EoN and Bloodstone ones could be quite fun if the stories were expanded. One of the Indy games got a novelisation and it's fun.
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,767
    RichardTheBruce wrote: »
    Risico007 wrote: »
    I Wonder if this will be the start of something like a Raymond benson run…. That would make me happy

    With film novelizations!

    Pardon my enthusiasm for this.

    I am just as enthusiastic
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited April 2023 Posts: 2,923
    Yes, given SF's huge success, I really thought they might relent and have a novelisation for it. In the UK, SF captured (or helped to create?) a mood that was in the country at the time and I'm sure that sales would've justified it. Shame it didn't happen.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    Yeah just seems like a good idea.





  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 5,802
    Found out that there's quite a few books already with that title :

    411lansUN4L._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_ML2_.jpg

    413+4h4lK+L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

    41JXHF6W0BL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_ML2_.jpg
  • BounineBounine
    edited April 2023 Posts: 2,598
    Good news. Always wanted Higson to write an adult Bond novel. He knows the character and it’ll be interesting to read his take on the man in contemporary society what with his Young Bond history. Three concerning things though. One, he didn’t have long to write it so I’m scared the work may have suffered. Two, it’s too short. Three, it’s just a one off again like most of the time. If this book shines, I hope he’ll sign a contract to write more adult Bond. In this day and age it seems like a three book deal is the most we can hope for if it happens at all. Better than nothing I guess.
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,767
    I am genuinely hoping if he gets to write more they stay contemporary I don’t like the idea of Jon’s going back to the 60’s Fleming never meant for bond to be a period piece and I hate how that was ignored
  • George_KaplanGeorge_Kaplan Not a red herring
    Posts: 559
    Risico007 wrote: »
    I am genuinely hoping if he gets to write more they stay contemporary I don’t like the idea of Jon’s going back to the 60’s Fleming never meant for bond to be a period piece and I hate how that was ignored

    I agree. I think it would widen their appeal again.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,103
    Bounine wrote: »
    Good news. Always wants Higson to write an adult Bond novel. He knows the character and it’ll be interesting to read his take on the man in contemporary society what with his Young Bond history. Three concerning things though. One, he didn’t have long to write it so I’m scared the work may have suffered. Two, it’s too short. Three, it’s just a one off again like most of the time. If this book shines, I hope he’ll sign a contract to write more adult Bond. In this day and age it seems like a three book deal is the most we can hope for if it happens at all. Better than nothing I guess.

    I understand your (and others) fears. It kind of reminds me of the script problems with TND. Director Spottiswoode said that, in January 1997, MGM had a script also focused on the Hong Kong handover; however, it could not be used for a film opening at the end of the year, so they had to start "almost from scratch at T-minus zero!" It seems that it worked out in the end for the better. Charlie Higson is like Bruce Feirstein, they both have Bond experience. I trust him. Hopefully IFP will start doing one novel a year again.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited April 2023 Posts: 14,930
    I'd quite like more novellas, by different authors. A nice little slipcase with three or so novellas of this length by different writers with different takes on Bond: that'd be cool. Maybe even alongside a more standard annual novel series.
    Or a short story collection like the one Miss Marple had recently. IFP could do something a bit new now they're publishing themselves, and I feel you could get a variety of interesting authors if they're doing short stories rather than whole novels as it's less of a pressure on their time.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,484
    mtm wrote: »
    I'd quite like more novellas, by different authors. A nice little slipcase with three or so novellas of this length by different writers with different takes on Bond: that'd be cool. Maybe even alongside a more standard annual novel series.
    Or a short story collection like the one Miss Marple had recently. IFP could do something a bit new now they're publishing themselves, and I feel you could get a variety of interesting authors if they're doing short stories rather than whole novels as it's less of a pressure on their time.

    That's actually a great idea!... I'm not a fan of the novels post Fleming, but I'd definitely pick up an anthology of short stories by different authors....
  • BounineBounine
    edited April 2023 Posts: 2,598
    I definitely don't want different authors again. I've had my fill of this. I'd like consistency and authors who know their stuff like Higson.

    What would be great is for Higson to alternate each year - Young Bond one year, adult Bond the next (contemporary or period piece. I don't mind either way)... I can dream... ;)
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,103
    A possible idea for a plot device: The Chinese Spy Balloon. It could be part of the story (or influence a future one).
  • BounineBounine
    edited April 2023 Posts: 2,598
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    A possible idea for a plot device: The Chinese Spy Balloon. It could be part of the story (or influence a future one).

    Sounds like a good idea.

    I might be completely wrong but I feel like it would have been fairly easy for Higson to bring the Bond character into today with an adult tone what with his experience even though he was writing about a younger version of the character. His Young Bond wasn't chauvinistic, maybe because he was too young anyway but also because he was writing for a modern audience. He didn't smoke. I feel like all Higson had to do when he wrote OHMSS was to give us a more experienced, wiser, world weary Bond. I do hope he has given us a decent amount of character depth in Bond.
  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,556
    mtm wrote: »
    I'd quite like more novellas, by different authors. A nice little slipcase with three or so novellas of this length by different writers with different takes on Bond: that'd be cool. Maybe even alongside a more standard annual novel series.
    Or a short story collection like the one Miss Marple had recently. IFP could do something a bit new now they're publishing themselves, and I feel you could get a variety of interesting authors if they're doing short stories rather than whole novels as it's less of a pressure on their time.

    Perhaps sets up Bond's own Who's On First ? scene ?
    What's your name ?
    Vella
    Ella ?
    No ! Vella !
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    timdalton007 wrote: »
    For those outside the UK wanting to pre-order it, the ever reliable Book Depository is taking pre-orders and does free worldwide shipping.

    https://www.bookdepository.com/On-His-Majestys-Secret-Service-Charlie-Higson/9781915797070

    Then again......maybe not.
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65184776
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    I'm in the US and I ordered from Waterstones.

    Waterstones_logo.png
    https://www.waterstones.com/book/on-his-majestys-secret-service/charlie-higson/9781915797070
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    RichardTheBruce wrote: »
    I'm in the US and I ordered from Waterstones.

    Waterstones_logo.png
    https://www.waterstones.com/book/on-his-majestys-secret-service/charlie-higson/9781915797070

    What's the shipping to USA?
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    edited April 2023 Posts: 12,988
    £12.99 (USD 16.13) Book
    £12.49 (USD 15.53) Shipping
    £25.48 (USD 31.66) Total


    Not confirmed as official or anything, I see this image in minor circulation.

    s-l500.jpg
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,103
    Do you have a release date for the US? Is it the same as in the UK?
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,988
    Waterstones of course is a UK site, I paid in GBP.

    The Amazon link via Ian Fleming Publications goes to Amazon.uk.

    I don't see information for a US release, and at the same time no restrictions for US purchases from UK sources. This item could turn out to have limited print runs and availability is one thought.

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited April 2023 Posts: 17,786
    I had to pre-order this novella from eBay as I can't get PayPal to accept my new bank debit card. Luckily I can use Google Pay there instead. I see Waterstones now has it at 176 pages and not 144 pages as was originally shown. So either it's longer than we initially thought or there's some added extra content at the back?
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    As long as its out on Kindle for USA (why would it not) I'm OK.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited April 2023 Posts: 17,786
    brinkeguthrie wrote: »
    As long as its out on Kindle for USA (why would it not) I'm OK.

    I imagine it will be available on Kindle in the US although print editions usually have a gap outside of the UK edition for whatever reason. I had a look on Amazon US earlier and I see no mention of the book there as yet. That perhaps means there will be a bit of a gap between the UK and international releases. I'm not sure though given the highly topical nature of the plot you'd think there shouldn't be too big a gap or really any at all.
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,767
    RichardTheBruce wrote: »
    £12.99 (USD 16.13) Book
    £12.49 (USD 15.53) Shipping
    £25.48 (USD 31.66) Total


    Not confirmed as official or anything, I see this image in minor circulation.

    s-l500.jpg

    Love it hope it’s the cover and yeah I all buy it on friday

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,786
    Risico007 wrote: »
    RichardTheBruce wrote: »
    £12.99 (USD 16.13) Book
    £12.49 (USD 15.53) Shipping
    £25.48 (USD 31.66) Total


    Not confirmed as official or anything, I see this image in minor circulation.

    s-l500.jpg

    Love it hope it’s the cover and yeah I all buy it on friday

    Not sure if that's the actual cover or not (I personally doubt it) but it does have a Dynamite comics look about it which I suppose is very in vogue at the minute.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited April 2023 Posts: 14,930

    We’re excited to reveal the cover of @monstroso’s new Bond story, On His Majesty’s Secret Service! The books will feature an eye-catching gold foil effect, fit for a king.

    Out 4 May, all royalties will go to @Literacy_Trust!


    FuEze4UWwAISLUO?format=jpg&name=medium
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