Book info

• Title SilverFin
• Author Charlie Higson
• Year 2005
• Genre Young Adult

Before the name became a legend. Before the boy became a man. Meet Bond. James Bond.James Bond will one day become the world's most famous spy, but right now his challenge is to fit in at his new school: making friends, learning the rules and standing up to bullies. However, unknown to James there is an even tougher challenge awaiting him on the remote shores of Loch Silverfin - a terrifying discovery that threatens to unleash a new breed of warfare. For something mysterious and deadly is lurking in the water...

Thoughts

I’m still making my way through the Fleming Bond books, but had a quick detour into this prequel about a Young Bond. It’s quite a lot of fun to see Bond in a completely different light - a young boy who is nothing particularly special except full of grit and determination, morals and a wanderlust instilled by a mixed up childhood.

It’s also good to see him as a fish out of water - from the more mundane ’trying to get on at boarding school’ to the more serious ‘first time in a life-threatening situation’, and how the events of these early adventures could have impacted on the man, the myth, the legend that continues to endure.

Some of this was a bit more horrific than I’d have liked, but overall a good story and a fun read.

Rating: 3 / 5