Product Description

What does it take to become the greatest secret agent the world has ever known? In this thrilling prequel to the adventures of James Bond, 007, readers meet a young boy whose inquisitive mind and determination set him on a path that will someday take him across the globe, in pursuit of the most dangerous criminals of all time. When we first meet young James, he’s just started boarding school at Eton in the 1930s, and from there, the action moves to the Highlands of Scotland, where Alfie Kelly, a local boy, has gone missing. James teams up with the boy’s cousin, Red, to investigate the mystery, and they soon discover that Alfie’s disappearance is linked to a madman and his sinister plot for global power.Acclaimed British author Charlie Higson has written a brilliantly crafted tale that reveals the unknown story of a boy who grew up to become one of the most iconic figures of our time. SilverFin is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will mesmerize readers of all ages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31031 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-01
• Released on: 2006-03-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Review
"A great read for fans of detective tales [with] heart-pounding scenes that will keep readers turning the pages." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Faithful to the spirit and detail of Fleming’s original Bond." -- Time

About the Author
Charlie Higson is an acclaimed comedy writer, producer, actor, and genuine Bond aficionado. He is the author of the adult thrillers, Full Whack and King of the Ants. He lives in London.

Customer Reviews

The anguilla anguillae* are coming! Run! I mean, SWIM for your lives!!!
"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

Young 007 James Bond
This is the first Young 007 James Bond book. Charlie Higson has done a great job on them. This introduces us to Young James in the 1930's, he goes to Eton in London for the first time.
He ends up in Scotland and the adventure starts. Great villians, great setting and the start of a great series.
Charlie Higson is folllowing the line of Alex Rider author Anthony Horowitz, I think Young James Bond has more depth than Alex Rider, Although none compare to the new teen agent Jason Steed, that book is the greatest.
The characters here in Silverfin are without a doubt fantastic, This could easily be made into a great film, I would be at the front of the que.
Great book, no fowl words or drugs.

Silverfin
Silverfin
By Charlie Higson

Before James Bond was 007,he was a 13-year-old boy. But that doesn't mean he didn't spy. Young James goes to a boarding school called Eton after his parents died. James is miserable at Eton, he liked living with his parents, but, then again, it is a new chance to make some friends...and enemies. George Hellebore is the most popular kid in school because his dad is funding an athlete's event that consists of shooting, swimming and running but George just can't stand James and is giving him the worst time he could possibly have. He is determined to win the event, no matter what. When the event starts, James decides to spy on George and sees George's dad give him some kind of pill. Then, in the next trial, which is swimming, George becomes really strong. He is cheating and his dad is making something illegal. James must get to the bottom of this.
I thought that the book was really grabbing and I got lost in the text because it was so suspenseful. It was cool to read about James Bond as a kid; he was pretty daring and very brave. Kind of like he is now. I'd recommend this book to any boy that loves action and cliffhangers.

-Mike O.