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

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Comments

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited May 2023 Posts: 16,660
    That would be nice but I think it’s probably too early for that to be announced; I think they would only say that after the release of this one. But Fleming’s birthday is coming up at the end of the month so fingers crossed for then.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited May 2023 Posts: 18,354
    In my younger days I had a story idea for a Bond novel where Bond would be up against a corrupt MP or lord (plenty to choose from nowadays!). This novella from Higson seems to have gone down that sort of route albeit with someone thinking they are the rightful heir to British Crown.

    As @mtm points out this may well have been inspired by the German coup plot of late 2022 which sounded like something straight out of a spy thriller. I know that one of Higson's predecessors, John Gardner, was often influenced by current events and news stories such as the capture of Klaus Barbie and other Nazi war criminals and the run-up to the Gulf War in his long series of Bond novels.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    edited May 2023 Posts: 4,710
    mtm wrote: »
    That would be nice but I think it’s probably too early for that to be announced; I think they would only say that after the release of this one. But Fleming’s birthday is coming up at the end of the month so fingers crossed for then.

    Yes, that’s what I think. However, this year for his birthday, I think IFP and Kim Sherwood will announce her second Double 0 novel. Funny enough, I keep pushing for a Blofeld book, and his birthday is the same as Fleming’s! The perfect day to announce it!
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    MaxCasino wrote: »

    He says there "My Bond has a modern young man’s sensibilities, but is still recognisedly 007"- sounds good to me.

    Has anyone started it yet? It's on sale in some shops I believe.

    I'm in America, we don't have a physical copy release date, unfortunately. Maybe Higson will talk about another Bond book.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1915797071/?coliid=I3CDYLZBTXH45K&colid=1MV0I44FEP4LN&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

  • timdalton007timdalton007 North Alabama
    Posts: 155
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    MaxCasino wrote: »

    He says there "My Bond has a modern young man’s sensibilities, but is still recognisedly 007"- sounds good to me.

    Has anyone started it yet? It's on sale in some shops I believe.

    I'm in America, we don't have a physical copy release date, unfortunately. Maybe Higson will talk about another Bond book.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1915797071/?coliid=I3CDYLZBTXH45K&colid=1MV0I44FEP4LN&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

    That’s an import of the UK physical edition, rather than the separate US one. I did see IFP confirmed the Audible edition should be out on the 4th, saying:

    “The audio version should be released on the 4th in the US, however Audible does sometimes take a while to process the files (which are with them now), so there may be a bit of a delay.”
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,710
    Thank you all for the connections, but it will be a while before I buy it.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,954
    So you're not going for the used copy. So be it.

  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400

    I was going to order from this URL, but the third party seller has -horrible- feedback. Avoid this guy. If I order from Amazon UK or Waterstone, total cost to UK is $32 or so---too much to pay. I've tweeted Hinson and publisher for Kindle USA dates- no reply. So, out of luck on getting this one.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited May 2023 Posts: 16,660
    Mr Higson on BBC Breakfast just now: gave a good account of himself and they managed to talk only about Bond, which was quite impressive considering these guys usually like to talk about The Fast Show etc. It all sounds rather good, with Higson saying he has a podcast about Royal succession starting on Friday, and his research into that fed into OHM2S. He made it sound like IFP had the idea for the title as it is OHMSS' 60th birthday, and it was just supposed to be a short story but he kept writing because he was enjoying it!
    They did then fixate a little bit on the 'woke' thing, but I guess they're journalists and have to try and get an angle from it. He got a bit flustered, perhaps a bit annoyed with this line of things, but gave a good answer; and his love of Bond is pretty clear.

    They did ask a couple of good questions to be fair, like how is writing 007 different from Young Bond, and whether he pictures a movie Bond actor whilst writing. He also said that IFP said it probably shouldn't be about assassinating King Charles or anything like that on the basis of good taste- and said 'Well, now you've put that idea in my head, it's got to be that, surely!' :D
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited May 2023 Posts: 18,354
    Here's a short clip from the Charlie Higson BBC Breakfast interview (sadly I missed it):

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited May 2023 Posts: 18,354
    A case of life imitating art?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65464885
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited May 2023 Posts: 16,660
    Still no sign of it dispatching from Amazon. Anyone else?
    Remember when they were a bookshop..?
  • Posts: 1,499
    mtm wrote: »
    Still no sign of it dispatching from Amazon. Anyone else?
    Remember when they were a bookshop..?

    Amazon has confirmed my copy will be delivered tomorrow.
  • Posts: 9,861
    The shipping date now may 27- june 6th
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,954
    Shipped from UK 26 April.

    Received in US 3 May.

    I started travel today morning of 3 May. So I will return to possess it next week Wed 10 May. Best I could do.

  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,702
    Picked up one off eBay. Shipped straight away. Will take a couple of weeks to get to me, but only cost $29.
  • Posts: 2,599
    Great, it's available on Kindle. I wonder why you can never get the kindle version of these recent Bond books on UK Amazon and only on the US website.

    May the 4th be with you (Vietnamese time)!
  • mattjoesmattjoes Pay more attention to your chef
    edited May 2023 Posts: 7,060
    Have the implications of this title been analyzed? I mean, when using acronyms, how the hell are we going to distinguish between Ian Fleming's 1963 novel, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Charlie Higson's 2023 novel, On His Majesty's Secret Service?

    a) OHeMSS and OHiMSS
    b) OHMSS '63 and OHMSS '23
    c) OHMSS and OHMSS 2
    d) None of the above

    Edit: Just saw a OHM2S above. There's another one.
  • edited May 2023 Posts: 2,599
    Well, I've been writing, "OHisMSS". That suits me. ;)
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,362
    How about
    ♀HMSS: The original.
    ♂HMSS: The new novel.
    ;))
  • Posts: 2,599
    Like that. Very imaginative!
  • timdalton007timdalton007 North Alabama
    Posts: 155

    While I'm grateful that we're getting it in the States at all and being aware that it is (at least notionally) a for-charity work, I also can't help noticing it's a dollar more expensive than any of the Horowitz novels despite being half the page count of one of them. That seems like a bit much to ask price wise.
  • Posts: 2,599
    Yeah, I was thinking that it was a bit on the expensive side...
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    Order the book from Amazon UK to Germany. Got an update yesterday that it will arrive between 24 May and 3 June…
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,660
    Nice review from Licence To Queer:
    https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/book-review-on-his-majestys-secret-service-by-charlie-higson-no-spoilers

    I think I’m going to cancel my Amazon order and just go to the shop today.
  • timdalton007timdalton007 North Alabama
    Posts: 155
    Audiobook is on Audible here in the US (and for a pretty Penny if you don’t have a credit to spare).

    https://www.audible.com/pd/B0C46VR5H4
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited May 2023 Posts: 16,660
    MI6 review
    This one is maybe a touch spoilery- don't read if you want to come to the book fresh.

    Telegraph review

    'Charlie Higson on returning to Bond – and if more novels are planned' - RadioTimes

    Got my copy from Waterstones- cancelled Amazon: useless. Have done the first chapter and it's proper Bond fun so far (and set on the day I'm reading it! 007 is out there right now shaking hands with the King :D )
  • edited May 2023 Posts: 2,599
    mtm wrote: »
    MI6 review

    Telegraph review

    'Charlie Higson on returning to Bond – and if more novels are planned' - RadioTimes

    Got my copy from Waterstones- cancelled Amazon: useless. Have done the first chapter and it's proper Bond fun so far (and set on the day I'm reading it! 007 is out there right now shaking hands with the King :D )

    I hope you're joking as you've just given us a spoiler. :)

    I'm going to read Sherwood's Double or Nothing before I read OHisMSS. The former has received bad reviews but also good ones. Don't like how Moneypenny is head of the double 0 section though. Then again, in the MP Diaries, didn't she go out on assignments, albeit simple ones, if I remember correctly? Still, I think this is taking things too far. I never read a new adult Bond book as soon as it's been released. I like to savour the suspense and excitement.

    Below is from the only review I've read (as it said it didn't have spoilers) and will only read until after I've read the book.

    https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/book-review-on-his-majestys-secret-service-by-charlie-higson-no-spoilers

    (Thanks to mtm)

    "But this is not a mere Fleming pastiche: while Higson’s innovations are not on the scale of Kim Sherwood’s exhilarating reimagining of Bond’s world, there are a lot of ‘modern’ touches to enjoy, especially in the details."

    I wonder what the reviewer means exactly by this.

    I'm glad Higson has made Bond introspective. He should be.

    In terms of eating healthily, that’s fine but I hope he still enjoys a few drinks.
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