Customer Reviews

Silverfin: Young Bond, Book 1

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

SilverFin by Charlie Higson puts the pleasure in pleasure reading. It is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. I stayed up very late on many school nights reading it because I couldn't put it down. It is a very addictive book. I've read six James Bond novels by Ian Fleming in my time and I enjoyed reading SilverFin more than some of them. Mr. Higson is a fantastic author because he writes with great detail, his writing style makes the story very easy to comprehend, and it is evident that he did much research. SilverFin started off the Young Bond™ series very nicely with a perfect introduction to James Bond's formative years.

I liked how Higson made James weak in the beginning and made him grow tougher as the story progressed. James was vulnerable and scared of bullies in the beginning but that all changed at the end of the story. I am eager to see more evolution in young James as the series continues. I am a little disappointed that James wiped off the kiss he received from Wilder Lawless because at thirteen years old a boy should not believe in "cooties" anymore. When I was thirteen years old I was kissing girls but maybe it was different in the 1930s but I doubt that. I would have expected James Bond to enjoy that kiss even at thirteen. Isn't this the same James Bond that lost his virginity at sixteen, only three years later, to a prostitute in Paris? I was also a little disappointed by James' group of friends at Eton. To me they came off as the school "rejects" but I guess that Higson wanted to show us that James is an outsider, which makes sense. James' friend, Red Kelly, is a good character. He is important to the plot and also a source of comic relief, which got annoying at some parts.

I enjoyed learning about James Bond's family. The part about his parents is very touching. Higson keeps the reader hooked by hinting about his parents throughout the beginning. Later on the story of their death is revealed in an appropriate way. Aunt Charmian and Uncle Max are great characters and they obviously had influences on James that carried on into adulthood, which is evident in the Fleming novels. For example, James learned about spying and fast cars from his Uncle Max. I like how May was Uncle Max's housekeeper. If you've read the Fleming novels you would know that she becomes James' housekeeper. I am disappointed that Uncle Max passed away because he was such a lovable character but it was obvious that he would die at some point since his health was pretty bad.

The villain in SilverFin is a very good villain. He is a very sick and cruel man, which is surprising since this book is aimed at pre-teens. His plan of creating a genetically altered race of men and beasts is very interesting especially because this story takes place in the era of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. His son, George Hellebore, was a good enemy until his predictable change of heart. He turned on his father therefore becoming a good ally for Bond later on when together they destroyed Lord Hellebore's castle in Scotland where he conducted his evil experiments.

SilverFin is as perfect as can be but I am concerned about how it will be accepted by the parents of its target audience. The book has a lot of violence, death, and a little gore and I certainly understand why it was toned down in the United States. That stuff doesn't really bother me but it may bother some strict parents. The only violent part I didn't really like was the abuse and murder of some piglets by Cleek MacSawney, Lord Hellebore's right hand man.

I recommend SilverFin to readers of all ages and it is a must read for fans of James Bond. This book makes reading fun and I should know because reading has never been my favorite thing to do. If you decide to read SilverFin, don't read it too fast because Book 2 is coming out in January 2006. Waiting for it will be as painful as being mauled by Lord Hellebore's killer, genetically altered eels from Loch Silverfin. Well, maybe not that painful but still pretty painful!

Critics complained that John Gardner and Raymond Benson could never step free of the shadow of Ian Fleming in their 007 "continuation novels." The good news is Charlie Higson has finally stepped clear of that shadow...the bad news is he's landed squarely in the shadow of J.K. Rowling. Parts of SilverFin read a bit too much like a Harry Potter clone, and while this may please the pre-teen target audience, it may make Young Bond Book #1 a tough read for the more seasoned James Bond fan. (But make sure you read this review to the end -- it get's better.)

After a thrilling opening prologue that would not be out of place in a legitimate...err, I mean, adult James Bond novel, we meet young Bond as he arrives at Eton in the 1930s (kudos to Higson and the copyright holders for making these books period). Like Potter, James is an orphan sent to a school filled with eccentric headmasters, odd slang, and old rituals. Like Potter, he is polite and self-effacing. For much of the novel he is really an observer of more talkative and flamboyant characters. In what is certainly a low point of young Bond's masculine development, Wilder Lawless, the spunky "girl" of the story, wrestles him to the ground and shoves leaves into his mouth. This is clearly NOT Fleming's Bond. It's not even Roger Moore's Bond. But know this is also by design...

It's no spoiler to say Young Bond #1 is a story of transformation and that, by the end of the novel, the timid boy has found his 007 steel and menace via his harrowing experience on Loch Silverfin. If nothing else, this book HAD to be that. And when Bond finally shakes off his yammering Potteresque companions, the action of the final third of the book is downright thrilling! Age becomes less of a factor when Bond is facing off with a madman or battling for his life in the waters beneath a Scottish Castle. It's here Higson begins to channel Fleming at his best and shows us the true potential of a Young Bond series. For this old Bond fan, the final third was a last minute save; a rousing return to Bondian basics with a dash of sci-fi horror thrown in. I would still rather be reading the adventures of an adult 007, but like young Bond himself, I found myself transformed in the end by SilverFin.

So for those die-hard Bond fans predisposed to not liking the Young Bond series, know that SilverFin will probably not change your mind, and I recommend seeking out a secondhand copy of John Pearson's superb James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, which offers up a far more interesting -- or at least more adult -- version of young Bond's upbringing. But for those more pliable fans, like myself, who have enjoyed the various "continuation novels" and are willing to gamble on this Young Bond series, SilverFin will satisfy (and maybe even surprise). It's a good start. I just hope Higson will shake off the Harry Potter contrivances and edge back toward that shadow of Ian Fleming in Book #2.

When the idea of a teenage James Bond was first raised (in an effort to capitalize on the Harry Potter success), the notion was met with a mixture of abject horror from some Bond fans and insatiable curiosity from others.

I fell squarely in the latter and so it was a no-brainer that I was going to order a copy of the UK paperback version that was released a whole two months earlier than the novels arrival in the US. I'm glad I did.

Taking his inspiration from the brief slivers into James Bonds formative years that Fleming alluded to in his original novels, and injecting some very sly references that offer a foreshadowing of his furure exploits, British author Charlie Higson gives us an entertaining and fast moving "boys own" adventure. The book, one of the longest of all the Bond books at well over 350 pages, bears more than a passing similarity to the kids adventure novels that Enid Blyton was writing over a half century ago.

The young Bond novels start with James arriving at Eton in the 1930s and, after a particularly horrifying prelude, for the first 100 pages we are treated to a selection of shooting, swimming and cross-country competitions. All that give early promise of Higsons ability to build up tension and keep us turning those pages one after the other. The first part of the novel also gives us an early glimpse at the main villain of the piece - a rich American arms dealer, some Scottish Laird - Lord Randolph Hellbore and his spoilt brute of a son George.

Following a fortuitous meeting with a young Irish street kid named Ned Kelly on the train up to London the second part of the novel deals with James arrival in Scotland, the introduction of the first "Bond girl" and James' aunt Charmian and Uncle Max. Then the third part of the novel details goings on at the villains castle lair on Loch Silverfin.

For the first time in a Bond novel our hero is referred to in the first-person and this book is a must-have for all self-respecting James Bond fans. One of the chapters of particular interest to Bond fans is the fleshing out of Bond's learning the news of parents death in a climbing accident. This is a well known piece of biographical data first revealed by Fleming (almost in passing) but here we get a whole chapter devoted to the flashback).

One thing that I really appreciate is that there is NO young Q or young M in this initial outing, Many feared after the inane James Bond Jr. that Higson would fall into this trap but he thankfully avoids it.

Higson proves to be an inspired choice to write the Young Bond series and its interesting that both he, and previous continuation novelist John Gardner, both chose a Scottish Laird for their main villain. Higson's book is a definite success and a true page-turner that has won plaudits from everyone from seasoned critics to skeptical Bond fans.

Upon opening SilverFin and skimming a bit through the first pages, it looked like this might be nothing more than a Harry Potter clone novel. But I am a Bond fanatic at times and like to try all aspects of the series, many of which I enjoy.

The prologue of the book brings up an interesting point I think: this isn't the average children's novel. It doesn't seem to be as magical or clean as say, a Harry Potter story is (although it has been quite some time since I last read one of those). I think it finds a niche somewhere between an adult-based murder/action novel and a more toned down Harry Potter fantasy story. I would have liked to see it even more in the direction of the grittier, Ian Fleming styled novels, but this is Young Bond. The eels are a great idea and used effectively throughout the entire story.

The first section of the story, ETON, tells of young "James", (a bit odd not to see it written as "Bond" all the time now) finding his way through school. Higson writes to make him seem like a loner or different than all the other boys at times, but it seems to generally work. I expected a childhood rivalry and/or confrontation(s) to occur, so they didn't really surprise me when they did.

So far at least, Higson has clearly made this his own James Bond, perhaps he has the benefit of not having to follow after Fleming like Gardner and Benson did with the older James Bond we're used to.

SCOTLAND is the next section of the book, and the poorest in my opinion. While Red Kelly makes for a fair ally (he really doesn't seem to be needed all that much), the weakest character by far in the entire story is "Bond girl" Wilder Lawless. Why, oh why, oh why did that horse have to be named Martini? She has little character development and that so called risque passage where she pins down James on the ground is more embarrassing and out of place than...hmm...risque. Stuffing leaves in his mouth?

THE CASTLE, the third and final section of the story is the best I would say. I look at the villains of movies and books as often being just as important as the hero. You need a strong villain to show off a strong hero. At least in SilverFin, we have a fairly good villain in Lord Randolph Hellebore. I'm not going to go deep at all into descriptions about him or his plan due to spoiler issues, but I think he is developed well from beginning to end.

At least in this final section we get to the action, the adventure, and the danger of a James Bond story. His escape from the castle, and the ordeals with the eels are well thoughtout.

The ending may not seem as too big a surprise to readers, it didn't to me personally, but it was still relatively enjoyable. I was pleased to see a change in Bond's actions and character towards the very end of the novel compared with what we see in the first sections of the story.

In the end, it's not a Harry Potter novel. It's darker and more distinct in it's own ways and being a change from the normal continuation novels may help it to become more enjoyable for some fans. We have a relatively good start to this series in SilverFin.

I highly recommend this Large Print edition for literary James Bond collectors!

www.commanderbond.net - James Bond 007 website

"Do you have any idea what you'd like to be when you're grown up?" he asked.

"I haven't really given it much thought," said James.

"Not an engine driver or a fireman or a soldier?"

"I don't know. Maybe an explorer. I'd love to see more of the world."

"That's a good ambition."

"Or a spy like you," said James.

"Oh," said Max, and he quickly changed the subject.

- A conversation between Young James Bond and his Uncle Max (SILVERFIN)

In the novel SILVERFIN, we first meet thirteen-year-old James Bond on his first day (during mid-term) at Eton College. He's alone, confused, and afraid. James had not been to a school since the untimely death of his parents in a mountain climbing accident when he was eleven. James was subsequently home schooled for two years by his kind, caring Aunt Charmian before enrolling at Eton. At first, James doesn't seem to fit in and is soon the target of some bullies, one being an American named George Hellebore whose father Lord Randolph Hellebore is a wealthy megalomaniac. James suffers at the hand of George until Easter break when he travels by train from England to Keithly, Scotland to spend the holiday with his Aunt and sickly Uncle Max. On the train, he meets and befriends a rough, street-wise boy named Red Kelly. Red is also traveling to Keithly to look for his cousin Alfie Kelly who has "gone missing" while fishing. Coincidently, the loch where Alfie went fishing (Loch Silverfin) belongs to none other than Lord Hellebore. Arriving at Keithly, James is taken under his Uncle's wing and learns a few things from him, specifically how to drive a car and how to be brave. This ldyll is soon disrupted when he again encounters the nasty Lord Hellebore and his bullying son George. Here the adventure and fun begin when James and Red team up to search for Alfie and run into some very unsavory characters along the way.

As an imagined early life of James Bond before he becomes the super-spy we know and love in the novels of Ian Fleming, this first book in the series is fast paced and entertaining. However, while the inclusion of bloodthirsty eels brings in the danger and creepy elements of the story, as well as some unbelieveable scientific experiments, they are unnecessary and, in my opinion, detract from an otherwise very good plot. I understand the next two books in the series are truer to Fleming's original JB. I do recommend SILVERFIN to readers of YA fiction...even to over-the-hill adults like myself.

(PS - One reviewer here couldn't understand why the horse ridden by the pretty lass Wilder was named Martini. I think it is an inside joke that most James Bond fans will get.)

* Anguilla anguilla is the European eel

Mr. Higson has managed to keep the content of this work safe for the young audience while offering the adult Bond fan a delightfully fresh Bond experience. It will thrill any reader of any age.

If you're not a big fan of Ian Fleming's books or the Bond movies, it really doesn't matter. This story stands on its own merits as an excellent, good old-fashioned `Boy's Own' adventure for kids, or for adults who want a plausible yet straightforward and undemanding read.

Nathaniel Parker's interpretation is, as with his many other audio books, astonishingly good. Though he uses a few voices and accents from his large repertoire to bring the characters convincingly to life, it's in the one or two long sections of narrative that he really gets into his stride that he draws you completely in to the drama.

All in all excellent value for money at eight and a half hours long - perfect for a long journey or school holiday!

Silverfin is the start of a new series about James Bond as a teenager. The story begins at Eton in the 1930's, where Bond is starting as a new thirteen-year-old student. He quickly encounters a rival, George Hellebore, an older boy with a wealthy and overbearing father. James participates in a tournament to compete for the Hellebore cup, thus ratcheting up the pressure on his relationship with George Hellebore.

But the real action begins when James travels to a small village in Scotland for the Easter holidays, to stay with his aunt and uncle (the loner James is, not surprisingly, an orphan). On the way north he meets up with Kelly, an older Irish boy who is headed to the same small village to look for a cousin who has disappeared. George Hellebore is also on the train, heading to the same small village, where his father owns a castle. James and Kelly come to suspect that the cousin's disappearance has to do with Lord Hellebore's mysterious castle, located on Loch Silverfin. They investigate, and end up in mortal peril. There's also a beautiful girl on a horse, a fast sports car that James learns to drive, an incompetent Pinkerton's detective, and creepy bio-engineered eels.

Like the movies, this book is a fun romp without much substance. While I was entertained by seeing links between the young James and the spy that he would become, I also thought that these links took away from Silverfin as a story. They were like red herrings that didn't connect to anything in the current story. That said, I think that teenagers who enjoy the James Bond movies will find this book an entertaining, fast-paced ride. Even kids who aren't familiar with the movies will probably enjoy James' self-reliance and bravery, and the creepiness of the Scottish castle with its hidden, evil laboratory. But adult readers of children's books will probably want to hold out for something with more depth.

This review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on April 30th, 2006.

Thoughtfully written and engaging, "Silverfin" doesn't take the easy way out and simply present a younger version of the glamourous and lethal James Bond of the movies. In other words, the 13 year-old Bond seen here isn't chasing his female classmates, sneaking vodka martinis, and killing thugs left and right. Quite the contrary, he's quiet, well mannered, still lonely from the recent death of his parents, and just wanting to get along and make friends at his new boarding school.

No doubt this sensitive, understated portrayal is due to the fact that author Charlie Higson is a fan of Ian Fleming's Bond novels, and in those novels Bond was never the ruthless killer and incessant womanizer of the movies. Rather, he was a decent sort who preferred to perform his assignments without fanfare and, if possible, without violence. And while Fleming's Bond certainly had girlfriends and relationships, usually it was the women who eventually left him: by ultimately seeking out "safer" men or (in two of the novels) dying in Bond's arms.

"Silverfin", then, shows in an entertaining fashion the genesis of the gentlemanly, professional, and worldly agent of the Fleming novels. It does so by introducing us to young Bond's early personal mentors (his delightful aunt and uncle, primarily) and showing us how those mentors stoked Bond's inherent personal strengths and talents. We then see young Bond use those strengths and talents as he takes on the first nemesis of his career, the mysterious and dangerous Lord Hellebore.

Though officially a "novel for young people", there's enough shading and subtlety to the characterizations and enough true danger in "Silverfin" that adults will enjoy the ride, too. I know I did.

Upon opening SilverFin and skimming a bit through the first pages, it looked like this might be nothing more than a Harry Potter clone novel. But I am a Bond fanatic at times and like to try all aspects of the series, many of which I enjoy.

The prologue of the book brings up an interesting point I think: this isn't the average children's novel. It doesn't seem to be as magical or clean as say, a Harry Potter story is (although it has been quite some time since I last read one of those). I think it finds a niche somewhere between an adult-based murder/action novel and a more toned down Harry Potter fantasy story. I would have liked to see it even more in the direction of the grittier, Ian Fleming styled novels, but this is Young Bond. The eels are a great idea and used effectively throughout the entire story.

The first section of the story, ETON, tells of young "James", (a bit odd not to see it written as "Bond" all the time now) finding his way through school. Higson writes to make him seem like a loner or different than all the other boys at times, but it seems to generally work. I expected a childhood rivalry and/or confrontation(s) to occur, so they didn't really surprise me when they did.

So far at least, Higson has clearly made this his own James Bond, perhaps he has the benefit of not having to follow after Fleming like Gardner and Benson did with the older James Bond we're used to.

SCOTLAND is the next section of the book, and the poorest in my opinion. While Red Kelly makes for a fair ally (he really doesn't seem to be needed all that much), the weakest character by far in the entire story is "Bond girl" Wilder Lawless. Why, oh why, oh why did that horse have to be named Martini? She has little character development and that so called risque passage where she pins down James on the ground is more embarrassing and out of place than...hmm...risque. Stuffing leaves in his mouth?

THE CASTLE, the third and final section of the story is the best I would say. I look at the villains of movies and books as often being just as important as the hero. You need a strong villain to show off a strong hero. At least in SilverFin, we have a fairly good villain in Lord Randolph Hellebore. I'm not going to go deep at all into descriptions about him or his plan due to spoiler issues, but I think he is developed well from beginning to end.

At least in this final section we get to the action, the adventure, and the danger of a James Bond story. His escape from the castle, and the ordeals with the eels are well thoughtout.

The ending may not seem as too big a surprise to readers, it didn't to me personally, but it was still relatively enjoyable. I was pleased to see a change in Bond's actions and character towards the very end of the novel compared with what we see in the first sections of the story.

In the end, it's not a Harry Potter novel. It's darker and more distinct in it's own ways and being a change from the normal continuation novels may help it to become more enjoyable for some fans. We have a relatively good start to this series in SilverFin. Now I'm looking for an even better Young Bond #2 next year.

www.commanderbond.net - James Bond 007 website