Blood Fever (2006) - The Young James Bond
Series by Charlie Higson: Book Two
| Author: |
Charlie Higson |
| Published: |
5th January 2006 (UK), June 2006 (USA) |
| MI6 Rating: |
 |
Data Stream
| Villains: |
Count Ugo Carnifex, Zoltan the Magyar, Mr. Haight |
| Plot: |
The creation of a world wide crime syndicate in
order to acquire wealth |
| Bond Girls: |
Amy Goodenough, Vendetta |
| Allies: |
Mauro, Stefano, Mr. Cooper-ffrench |
| Locations: |
Eton, UK; Sardinia |
| Highlights: |
The destruction of the dam, torture by mosquitoes,
fire fight in the cave |
Capsule Synopsis
File Note: Strictly Confidential - Authorised Personnel
Only. Subject: James Bond. Description: Age 13. Dark hair;
blue eyes; tall for age; surprisingly strong; fluent French,
good German. Essential components: A Mediterranean mystery.
One kidnapped girl - feisty, blond, superfit Amy Goodenough,
sister of James' best friend Mark. One villainous pirate
- Zoltan the Magyar. Mysterious Latin-speaking men lurking
near Eton. One fast car.
|
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Above: British 1st edition Puffin
paperback. |
Official Blurb (Puffin UK Edition)
An Eton boy's family disappears at sea. James uncovers a shadowy
society operating in a hidden corner of the school. And far
from England, in the bandit-infested interior of Sardinia, a
sinister Italian Count has built himself a mountain fortress.
Is there a connection? Young Bond is about to find out - and
face a lethal group of villains beneath the burning Mediterranean
sun.
Chapter Listing
The Magyar
-
The Danger Society
-
Double M
-
The Fourth Of June
-
Out of Control
-
The Tombs of the Giants
-
The Sailor Who Feared the Sea
-
Terror Firma
-
Escape
-
La Casa Polipo
-
You Can't Eat a Picasso
-
Count Ugo Carnifex
-
Let Down Your Hair, Rapunzel
-
Black Spines Filled with Poison
-
The Last Thing That Goes Through
the Mind of a Dying Man
-
Su Compoidori
-
Gladiators
-
Blood Brothers
-
A Face at the Window
-
Déjà vu
-
The Penny Drops
-
Sadism Before Super
-
The Deadliest Animal in the
World
-
Deadlier than the Male
-
The Dance of Blood
-
Tommy Gun
-
Its Always Darkest Just Before
the Dawn
-
When Hells Breaks Loose
-
The Magyar's Revenge
-
Behind the Mask
-
Just a Boy
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Above: American hardback Miramax
Books edition (final).
UK
Publisher: Puffin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Released: 5th January 2006
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Now
|
|
USA
Publisher: Miramax Books
Format: Hardback
Pages: 368
Released: June 2006
Buy
Now |
|
Synopsis
Whilst part of the Goodenough family are spending time in Mediterranean
on their yacht, pirates attack under the guise of being in distress.
Unlike regular pirates they are not interested in stealing the
vessel and raiding the safe, all they want is a small silver
statue. Everyone except the women onboard are killed, and in
scuffle the disgruntled daughter stabs the captain leaving him
mortally wounded.
After already spending sometime at Eton, Young Bond is finally
getting to grips with the school and its traditions. However,
there are still those more than willing to pick on James and
his friends. Always wanting an adrenalin rush, Bond is part
of the “danger society”.
|
It is during one of the society’s meetings that
things start to go wrong, as one of the members has been
spotted trying to attend the meet; leaving each man for
himself in a race to get back to their rooms before they
are all found out. During the rush back, Bond hears people
talking in Latin and finds his way into a strange room
with an eerie painting. Not having time to hang around
he races back, only to arrive just in time.
Bond's Aunt is going overseas for a while and will not
be able to look after him over the vacation period, but
the youngster's luck is in; the school is going on a trip
to Sicily. James goes with them under the proviso that
he can leave the trip part way and see his Uncle Victor
and Victors “friend” Polyponi. Whilst swimming,
Victor is visited by Count Ugo and invited to his mountain
fortress. Polyponi is excited, however Victor believes
the Count to be a fraud.
Meanwhile the pirate, Zoltan, is taking his treasure
including his captives to Ugo. Its here that the Count
decides to kill the teacher and take Amy for himself.
Later, during a visit of the fortress, Bond decides that
something is not quite right. After a long street festival
in the village below, where Bond meets his friends from
Eton, he decides to sneak back up to the fortress.
Whilst back at the stronghold he learns what Ugo is planning,
and that Amy Goodenough is being held against her will.
James tries to rescue her, but fails and is caught by
one of his teachers at Eton who is in on Ugo’s sinister
plot to steal art work. After a poor interrogation attempt,
the Count decides to torture Bond using natures biggest
killer; the mosquito.
|
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Above: American draft hardback artwork
(not used).
|
Luckily for Bond he is rescued by a mysterious girl, taken
to the safety of her village and nursed back to health. The
people of the village and other settlements around the island
don’t like Ugo, and an assault on his fortress is planned.
However, before it can be put into action the plotters are attacked
and only saved by the villain's henchman who has decided to
switch sides.
Zoltan decides that he is going to blow up the dam in order
to destroy Ugo and his fortress, whilst Bond races to save Amy.
Both of them succeed. The world can now sleep that little bit
safer.
Quotes
"You fascinate me, James Bond. You have the mark of death
upon you."
"I beg your pardon."
"I can see it. Seven is also the number of death. I see
you and I see the number seven and I see the figure of death.
Death will walk by your side through your life."
"Don't you worry about a thing," said Haight. "Let
me sort everything out." So saying, he put a hand between
Copper-ffrench's shoulder blades and gave him a short, quick
shove. Copper-ffrench had only time to shout "Haight!"
before he was over the wall and falling. Haight watched him
hit the bottom. It seemed to take an awfully long time. "The
penny drops," he said and tossed the flask of brandy after
him.
Above: Author Charlie Higson |
|
Press Release
SilverFin, Charlie Higson’s first Young Bond novel
published in January 2005, was one of the most talked
about children’s books of the year, described by
the Independent as ‘one of the publishing sensations
of 2005’. In just 9 months the book has sold over
150,000 copies in the UK and is to being published in
17 other territories. Charlie Higson introduced a teenage
James Bond to a whole new generation of readers and his
second book Blood Fever, published in January 2006 (UK),
has the all the deadly ingredients of an equally exciting
bestseller.
Blood Fever takes the young James Bond into even more
dangerous territory than he encountered in the Scottish
Highlands in SilverFin. Back at Eton, he discovers a secret,
sinister Latin-speaking society with a mysterious link
to the school. When he joins the school archaeology trip
during the summer holidays on the Mediterranean island
of Sardinia, he discovers a lot more about the disturbing
cult. Along the way he encounters fearless pirates and
blood thirsty art thieves, makes friends with bandits
and is nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes…
|
With a colourful line-up of characters - including a young,
hot-blooded Sardinian girl - a giddy, heat-infused setting,
steeped in historical mystery, and an utterly gripping and action-packed
story, the second Young Bond book promises to become, once again,
the most talked-about children’s book of the year.
Charlie Higson says, “I was shaken and stirred by the
amazing success of Silverfin. No, I've got to stop doing that.
My life is slowly being taken over by James Bond and I have
to keep reminding myself that I am not a top class secret agent.
I am just a writer. However, while working on the second book
in the series, Blood Fever, I did get the chance to live the
Bond lifestyle a little. The book takes place mainly in Sardinia,
so I had to go out there to research it. Climbing the Supramonte
Mountains in bandit country was thrilling and romantic and I
hope some of this comes across in the book. It’s a wild
adventure with bandits, pirates, a battle in a cave, several
large explosions and a super-villain with a morbid fear of dirt
having once spent the night hiding out in a septic tank. Yes.
Bond is back! And I’m happy to be along for the ride again.”
| Audio Book
The abridged Blood Fever CD audiobook was released on
5th January 2006, the same day as the UK paperback edition,
and will retail for £12.99. Author Charlie Higson
continues to narrate the series.
UK
Publisher: Puffin
Format: CD
Released: 5th January 2006
Buy
Now |
|
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