Anyone who does pick up King Zero will discover a Bond story which is as thrilling as it is relevant, as exciting as it is emotionally resonant. Above all, King Zero goes to show that - and this is almost an adage at this point, which this novel gives significant credence to - James Bond should, and always will, return.
If On His Majesty’s Secret Service represented Higson’s transition from undergraduate to graduate, his follow-up is his Masters.
Splendid - thanks for sharing!
Seems to be an expert in themself, primarily.
Hadn’t picked up previously that it would be set as of now, though.
Does seem more like a review of On His Majesty’s Secret Service (one i’d agree with) but what he does say about King Zero sounds promising.
I was wondering about that, too. Just went quickly over our own thread on Higson’s first ‘adult’ effort and didn’t find the reactions this reviewer mentioned. I suppose it depends a lot on where you read, but my impression was the book met with largely positive responses by fans and most criticism concerned the - relatively speaking - rushed tie-in nature of the work and some odd details seasoned fans picked up on.
But it was always clear such a last minute effort would be wanting and much of that the slightly rewritten paperback did supposedly try to address. Just as it was always clear a modern Bond interpretation wouldn’t meet with the approval of some people if it didn’t share their own views and ideas.
It’s funny and absurd that some people of the cultist‘s persuasion never picked up on Bond ridiculing billionaire despots who want to change the world order sacrificing big parts of humanity.
How woke.
Maybe it really is more difficult in our time to conceive a Bond villain than it used to be in Fleming’s day. Somebody vile and corrupt, who corrupts and terrorises those around him, tortures and kills and is ultimately brought to heel by Bond in the most permanent fashion - that used to be the character arc of the classic villain from Le Chiffre onwards and for the longest time readers had no problem with this.
Today that same characterisation oftentimes describes somebody in office many may have voted for (or would intend to vote for in the future). Suddenly, being a Bond villain isn’t so extraordinary any more. But the real dealbreaker may oftentimes be that these figures don’t pop up out of thin air; they’ve all got their enablers and supporters, ordinary folks who demonstrably are no villains themselves - they merely thought their own rights wouldn’t be touched and it would only ever happen to the guilty.
Burke’s* adage about the triumph of evil has shifted a bit. Today, it can also mean good people who make bad decisions - at the poll station or anywhere else - and then do nothing about it. Ten years after WW2 there was little discussion in the free world - then lead by the US as democracy’s arsenal and lighthouse - what a devastating, deadly cancer totalitarian rule means for humanity. Today, we find a complex society splintered into particular interests and powered by an untouchable techno-oligarchy openly flirting with abandoning democracy, while democratic institutions are corrupted, dismantled and public finances looted before our eyes.
Difficult to imagine villains everybody can agree upon under such strange circumstances.
*Most likely John Stuart Mill’s actually.
It is an interesting question. Would a majority see parallels to existing politicians in a Stromberg or Drax? Or would they still consider them just made up and unrealistic?
I may be naive but I still believe that most people would still not want a dictatorship. They might be flirting with the thought, believing they would fare well enough within it, but as history proved, sooner rather than later everybody would suffer.
So could a Bond film still provide „teachable moments“ by sticking to the formula of the trickster fooling the wannabe King?
Agreed. One person’s savior is another person’s oligarch. The atomization of society inhibits the creation of a broadly accepted Bond villain.
America Is Atomizing
Chatbots Are Pushing Us Toward a Post-Human Internet
In case there are worries at CommanderBond.net:
But are there really people outside of the billionaire stratosphere who still believe that oligarchs will save anyone?
Yes. In the United States, a majority of them watch Fox News and other aligned platforms.
You’re welcome, everyone. It kind of saddens me that Higson isn’t following the Carte Blanche timeline. However, I can understand why he isn’t. He’s probably using Fleming’s books as background, like most of the authors before him. Maybe we’ll get a reference to a Gardner or Benson adventure.
IFP’s August shout-out…
# THE
20th August 2026
‘Benson pays homage to Fleming’s plots… imbues his Bond with enough honour, sexual prowess and action-hero skills to please the purist and enthrall the novice’ – Publisher’s Weekly
A new paperback edition of Raymond Benson’s second Bond continuation novel hits shelves today. Featuring fresh cover art and a new introduction by the author, rediscover this fan-favourite 007 adventure.
GET YOUR COPY
# KING ZERO NEWS
The US publisher and release date of Charlie Higson’s new Bond novel has been revealed. It’ll be out from Blackstone Publishing on November 17th. Check out the cover reveal here.
For readers in the UK, Higson will be appearing at events around the country throughout the autumn, so don’t miss the chance to learn more about his electrifying new book and get your copy signed. He’ll even be hosting a Bond themed quiz on publication day (24th September) in London.
FIND AN EVENT NEAR YOU
The audio drama of Young Bond: SilverFin , following James’ adventures from Eton to the Scottish Highlands, is now available to pre-order in a range of special editions.
The full-cast audio experience releases on October 29th from Big Finish Productions and spans around eight hours in total, with the story split into 16 thrilling half-hour episodes over two volumes.
Don’t miss your chance to get your hands on the limited Gold or Platinum Collector’s Editions, which feature a range of exclusive commemorative items.
ORDER FROM IANFLEMINGSHOP.COM ORDER FROM BIGFINISH.COM
# AURUM EDITIONS
Old dog. New tricks. Same Q.
Goldsboro Books are releasing an exclusive signed special edition of The Man with the Golden Compass , Vaseem Khan’s second book in the Q Mysteries series.
Featuring a beautiful teal dustjacket design, stencilled edges, blue endpapers and gold foiled boards, it’s limited to just 750 copies.
AVAILABLE HERE
We celebrated the release of the new audiobook edition of The Hook and the Eye with an in-depth conversation between the author Raymond Benson and narrator Stuart W. Howard. Find out how Stuart approached the character and learn about some of the projects that they’ve worked on together – (including a certain stage play of Casino Royale ) here.
Alan Judd, author of the Charles Thoroughgood series, recently chose the best spy thrillers of all time – and Fleming’s very first Bond novel, Casino Royale , was of course amongst his selections. Check out Judd’s other picks here.
The first look at our new edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier is here! Out on September 3rd, have you pre-ordered your copy yet? 
EXPLORE IANFLEMING.COM
View in browser Update Preferences Unsubscribe
Copyright © 2026 Ian Fleming Publications, All rights reserved.
Ian Fleming Publications
PO Box 8171
London, W1A 8DA United Kingdom