Trust Tommy

Name: By Royal Command
Author: Charlie Higson
# of Pages: 354

Overview

In late 2004, the Ian Fleming Foundation (IFF) approached writer/talk show host Charlie Higson to write a series of books based on James Bond's childhood.

Higson took a risk by taking on the series. Fans were not happy at the idea of such a (as it appeared) money spending venture on behalf of Ian Fleming Foundation, who had been renowned for bringing out only the best.

Anyway, the Young Bond series of books began in 2005 with Silverfin. Each year after that, a new book was released. 2006 saw Blood Fever, 2007 heralded Double Or Die (unique in the fact that fans could vote the title) while 2008 wrapped up the (possibly first of two) series of Young Bond with By Royal Command

Plot Summery: SPOILERS
Part ONE: Kitzbuhel

James Bond joins an Eton (where he attends) skiing trip in the Austrian Alps, in Tyrol. (which is relatively near where we go each year). This part doesn't really have anything to do with the overall plot of the book, so Charlie is free just to let us loose in the Alps, watching James learns to ski. I can see my old skiing memories coming through. It was cool to be able to look up at think: "Hey! That's cool! He hates doing the snow-plough too!".

When one of the kids gets drunk and takes the wrong path, it seems only fitting that Bond should go after him in a harrowing journey. That said, there are some pretty good descriptions that push you to the edge of your seat. It's a thrilling battle for survival that only Charlie could manage.

Part TWO: Eton

James returns to school, and here doeseth the plot begin. We are introduced two the new "boy's maid" who Bond falls for. Roan Power is a raven-haired Irish beauty who calls herself a witch. Despite being 17, James falls madly in love with her, and Charlie breaks what he said earlier by "trying to avoid putting romance in my books, for fear of losing the young male readers". You know, the ones who go "kiss? ewww". Charlie takes this risk, and you could almost call By Royal Command a romance novel. Almost

It becomes clear from the first few chapters that Charlie isn't really writing a book just for kids. He's decided that adults should be able to read this too. In fact, By Royal Command is full of political and historical references, including a fascinating conversation with The Prince of Wales.

One thing I'd point out here is that the big caper in this section - an assassination attempt on King George - happens near the middle of the book, which kind of leaves you scratching your head and saying "What happens now". I mean, you have a huge climax, and then someone slams on the brakes with tremendous force and we're brought to a standstill. We'd sped up during the adventure in part 1, but hadn't really slowed down, and to be brought to such a crushing stop makes reading hard, and uneasy.

Surprising plot twist that no-one expected time

Part THREE: Fugitives

Despite being approached by the SIS/MI6, Bond throws everything -his life and friends at Eton, his car, his family- away and goes on the run to help Roan -revealed to be a Communist who helped with the botched assassination- escape. This part, while having nothing inheritably bad to its name, is probably my least favourite part of the book. It's nothing bad, but it's just the rest of the book outshines it easily.

Bond returns to the Alps, only to find out a sinister enemy awaits him. Persius Friend, a villain from Book the first, makes a reappearance in need of skin grafts (major fire in Book 1's climax) and plans to skin Bond alive. It's summer and death and danger mix wonderfully with Charlie's descriptions.




As for the end, I'll follow a trend began by John Cox and let you (the reader) discover it.



Analysis

In the third act, we see Bond as a person turn into the Bond we know from the Fleming novels. Bond has become resigned never to return to normal life. He knows World War II is looming, and knows he will play a part. Some parts of Donovan's Universal Soldier that reminds me of this book. Roan brings about a serious change in Bond. He matures quickly, stopping to see the world in such a black-and-white fashion. A part where Bond relentlessly beats up an Eton student shows us flashes of what Bond shall become. A ruthless murderer. Roan could have been better, and it's a shame to mess up such a vital thing in the novel, but such is life.

Overall Thoughts


It's easily the best Young Bond novel. It follows the style, of the other 4, not radically changing anything, but manages to do it so much better.

The dialogue is mostly the same. The action is the same. What's different is the descriptions. They're so much more vivid than the other 4. The first act in the Alps are fabulous. The scenery on the mountainside is wonderful.


Overall, an excellently entertaining book that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys fast paced action, vivid descriptions and some great sluething.


10/10