Double or Die
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 First edition UK paperback |
|
| Author | Charlie Higson |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | James Bond / Young Bond |
| Genre(s) | Spy novel |
| Publisher | Puffin Books |
| Released | 4 January 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 389 pp (first edition, paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0141322039 (first edition, paperback) |
| Preceded by | Blood Fever |
| Followed by | Young Bond Book 4 |
Double Or Die is the third 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, was released in the UK on January 4, 2007 by Puffin Books.
The title was announced on January 3, 2007 [1] at the official book launch at Waterstone's in Piccadilly, London.[2] The alternative titles which were available for the public vote were "N.E.M.E.S.I.S." and "The Deadlock Cipher". [3]
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
“ Bond is back! This is the third brilliant "Young Bond" adventure by Charlie Higson.
With kidnap, violence, explosions, and murder, it was no ordinary weekend. But then, James Bond is no ordinary boy...In a North London cemetery, a professor is kidnapped at gunpoint. A suspicious letter crammed with cryptic clues arrives at Eton. To decipher the deadly mystery, James Bond must take a series of dangerous gambles. Once the code is cracked, he has just 48 hours to save the professor from the dark forces that threaten to destroy them both. And if the professor can't escape, it's not only his future under threat. It's the rest of the world's...”
- Puffin Books official plot synopsis [4]
According to Charlie Higson, "There's lots of action, several nasty deaths, a car chase, a couple of explosions, a set of evil villains, a beautiful girl, and a climax in the old London docklands (when it was still full of ships)." [5]
Red Kelly from the first Young Bond book Silverfin makes a return appearance in Double or Die. According to Higson bringing Kelly back was always the plan, "Kids like characters to comeback from one book to another, Kelly and the whole East End thing is a good and easy way to talk about the economics and politics of the time without it looking like a history lesson. So I had always planned on bringing Kelly back."[6]
The book also reveals the origins of Bond's gambling skills.[7]
A villain in the book wields a weapon called an "Apache," a combination knuckle-duster, knife, and pistol favored by Parisian street thugs at the turn-of-the-century.[8]
[edit] Locations
Some of the London locations featured in Double or Die:
On April 7, 2007 Puffin Books released The Young Bond Rough Guide to London (ISBN 0141323396), a 64-page booklet featuring the London locations from Double Or Die. The booklet came free inside copies of The Guardian newspaper.[9]
[edit] Trivia
- Charlie Higson's original working titles for Young Bond Book 3 were "Shoot the Moon," "The Big Smoke," and "Six Days in December." [10].
- Despite the jacket artwork being kept under official wraps until the book launch event on January 3rd 2007, the skull & cross bones device was touted as a candidate cover back in August 2006.[11]
- The cover company used by the British Secret Service, "Universal Exports", is mentioned in passing when Bond eyes a warehouse in London. [12]
- During a card game with James, Sir John Charnage boasts his successes at a casino in the town of Royale-les-Eaux. Royale-les-Eaux is the fictional town where Fleming's Casino Royale takes place. The town is featured again in On Her Majesty's Secret Service where he meets Tracy.
- The German edition of Double or Die is titled "GoldenBoy" [13]
[edit] Publication history
- January 3, 2007, Puffin Books, paperback, first British edition
- Limited edition, foil wrapped so as to keep the title of the book secret.
- January 4, 2007, Puffin Books, paperback, first British edition
- January 14, 2007, Puffin Books, audiobook, first British edition
- Narrated by Charlie Higson.
- April 22, 2008, Listening Library, audiobook, first American edition [14]
- Narrated by TBA.
- TBA, hardcover, first American edition.
[edit] References
- ^ Double Or Die title official announcement. MI6.co.uk. Retrieved on January 3, 2007.
- ^ Video of Double or Die title announcement. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on January 3, 2007.
- ^ Fans to choose title of Young Bond Book 3. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on October 3, 2006.
- ^ Puffin Books. Double Or Die. Retrieved on January 4, 2007.
- ^ Top Secret Book 3 Dossier. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Young Bond 3: In Conversation With Charlie Higson (1). Past Character to Return. MI6.co.uk. Retrieved on January 2, 2007.
- ^ Origins of Bond’s Gambling Explored in Book 3. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on August 30, 2006.
- ^ Gadgets of ‘Book 3’: The Apache Revealed. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on August 19, 2006.
- ^ The Young Bond Rough Guide to London. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on March 22, 2007.
- ^ Higson reveals Book 3 working titles and details. Working titles. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on May 19, 2006.
- ^ Possible themes for Young Bond book 3 cover art revealed. MI6 .co.uk. Retrieved on July 14, 2006.
- ^ Tidbits on Double or Die novel, including homages to the Bond canon. MI6.co.uk. Retrieved on September 9, 2006.
- ^ Young Bond 3 is 'Goldenboy' in Germany. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on December 12, 2006.
- ^ New release date for DoD U.S. audiobook. The Young Bond Dossier. Retrieved on March 9, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Official Young Bond website
- The Young Bond Dossier
- MI6.co.uk - Full Double or Die coverage
- Double or Die REVIEW - The Young Bond Dossier
Ian Fleming
Casino Royale (1953) • Live and Let Die (1954) • Moonraker (1955) • Diamonds Are Forever (1956) • From Russia with Love (1957) • Dr. No (1958) • Goldfinger (1959) • For Your Eyes Only (1960) • Thunderball (1961) • The Spy Who Loved Me (1962) • On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963) • You Only Live Twice (1964) • The Man with the Golden Gun (1965) • Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966)
R.D. Mascott
003½: The Adventures of James Bond Junior (1967)
Kingsley Amis (writing as Robert Markham)
Colonel Sun (1968)
John Pearson
James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 (1973)
Christopher Wood (novelisations)
James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) • James Bond and Moonraker (1979)
John Gardner
Licence Renewed (1981) • For Special Services (1982) • Icebreaker (1983) • Role of Honour (1984) • Nobody Lives For Ever (1986) • No Deals, Mr. Bond (1987) • Scorpius (1988) • Win, Lose or Die (1989) • Licence to Kill (1989) • Brokenclaw (1990) • The Man from Barbarossa (1991) • Death is Forever (1992) • Never Send Flowers (1993) • SeaFire (1994) • GoldenEye (1995) • COLD (a.k.a. Cold Fall) (1996)
Raymond Benson
"Blast From the Past" (1997) • Zero Minus Ten (1997) • Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) • The Facts of Death (1998) • "Midsummer Night's Doom" (1999) • High Time to Kill (1999) • The World is Not Enough (1999) • "Live at Five" (1999) • Doubleshot (2000) • Never Dream of Dying (2001) • The Man with the Red Tattoo (2002) • Die Another Day (2002)
Charlie Higson (Young Bond series)
SilverFin (2005) • Blood Fever (2006) • Double or Die (2007) • Young Bond Book 4 (2007) • Young Bond Book 5 (TBA)
Samantha Weinberg (writing as Kate Westbrook) (The Moneypenny Diaries series)
The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel (2005) • "For Your Eyes Only, James" (2006) • Secret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries (2006) • "Moneypenny's First Date With Bond" (2006) • The Moneypenny Diaries Book 3 (2008)
Unofficial/Unpublished
Per Fine Ounce (1966) • The Killing Zone (1985) • "The Heart of Erzulie" (2001-02)
Related works
The James Bond Dossier (1965) The Book of Bond (1965) The James Bond Bedside Companion (1984)
