As it’s less than 2 weeks out (as well as getting restless for Bond 26 news) I thought I would start a thread to post articles, interviews, PR and people’s thoughts on Charlie Higson’s first adult Bond novel following his Young Bond novels and adult Bond novella.
6 Likes
To start things off.
5 Likes
Overall quite positive reviews from readers:
6 Likes
Not directly King Zero but more, as Dyson says, an appetiser for those who didn’t read it in 2023 or those who want to remind themselves of Higson’s other foray into adult Bond.
3 Likes
I’m eagerly awaiting the shipping notification!
4 Likes
It claims "officiall
5 Likes
Editorial Reviews from James Bond alumni on Amazon.
A brilliant addition to the James Bond canon, written with great brio and aplomb and a shrewd understanding of what makes the Bond universe tick. Wholly compelling — William Boyd
Charlie Higson hasn’t just seamlessly picked up the Ian Fleming baton, he’s sprinted so far into the distance with it we can barely see his heels. King Zero is proper old-school Bond but with a modern edge (Bond on Spotify, anyone?) – violent, stylish, scarily plausible. And in King Zero, Higson has created the most memorable Bond villain for a long time, one who sits comfortably alongside Goldfinger, Dr. No and Hugo Drax . . . A superb book and highly recommended. — M.W. Craven
A new Bond novel is always a major event, and with a new writer at the helm, expectations have run high. Higson does not disappoint. King Zero delivers the authentic Bond experience, whilst adding a sense of up-to-the-minute flair. When an old field agent turns up dead James Bond is called into action, dropping into a plot featuring everything we love about the franchise: exotic locations, dangerous women, villainous megalomaniacs, and, above all, Bond doing what he does best: fighting the good fight while dancing with the devil. A must for Bond and thriller fans alike — Vaseem Khan
Charlie Higson has given us everything you could possibly want from a James Bond literary adventure - and so much more. All the Bond ingredients are present and refreshed with real contemporary wit and bite, with so many memorable characters and standout, unforgettable scenes. Bond stories excel when you are faced with something you’ve never seen or heard of before, and consequently blow your mind - and that happened repeatedly as the pages blasted by. Achingly exciting, desperately compelling and, at times, utterly jaw-dropping, King Zero is nothing short of an electrifying triumph - and up there with the very best of this beloved series — Rob Parker
Charlie Higson’s 007 is back on His Majesty’s Secret Service in King Zero. As a guy who knows a bit about that, it’s a cracking read — George Lazenby
Holy mackerel, that second half is one of the most page-turning, stay-up-and-finish second halves of any Bond novel! — Raymond Benson
I’m surprised that Jeffrey Deaver, Anthony Horowitz and Kim Sherwood haven’t said anything about it.
9 Likes
Interesting - couldn’t all of those have been written without really reading the book? Not to sound too churlish, and I’ll buy it anyway, but… something feels a little off, somehow.
9 Likes
Lazenby‘s agent advised him not to go on reading after page two because this novel will just not catch on with the youth audience of today.
10 Likes
Charlie Higson on Jack Lowden:
“I like him, but it’s like when Tom Hiddleston was in the running – not a convincing hand-to-hand fighter. With Daniel Craig you can believe him kicking the s*** out of someone, and you’ve got to believe that with Bond.”
I don’t agree with Higson here. The mistake is comparing a new Bond with his immediate successor in a negative way. The point would be providing a contrast instead of trying to replicate what came before. Roger Moore wasn’t knocking men down in bruising scraps. He was a smooth operator which is also a legitimate approach.
6 Likes
Also: I don’t see Bond as a fighter at all. He does fight only if he must. And all of his worthy opponents are much stronger than him. It’s not muscle power which makes Bond succeed, it’s brain power.
And really, did Higson watch „Slow Horses“ and think that Lowden‘s River is not too good at combat so Lowden‘s Bond would not either?
Watching Craig in „The Mother“ would not have pursuaded me of his power either.
5 Likes
The whole concept of Slow Horses is to make them all look slightly bumbling. But Craig was really the first Bond to look and act like a seasoned bouncer. The others looked capable, but you wouldn’t from the go have assumed they’d kill you with a single punch. Even Connery needed some good stuntmen as partners and camera magic to make his bouts convincing. Bond should have certain capabilities - but we shouldn’t see all of them at once.
6 Likes
I agree. Bond should have competency in fighting, which the story provides by default, but I’ve always preferred Bond as an improviser who uses his environment. How he takes down Oddjob and Grant are good examples. I think that aspect connects with the Everyman who isn’t a bodybuilder. There’s always a chance to win if you’re smart enough. Bond really is a mindset - humour, style, confidence and all those type of things.
7 Likes
In a nutshell:
Edit: Come to think of it… I may be wrong, but is it possible that we always had the titles, but never the pre-titles on Deathmatch?
5 Likes
Only one person to ask…
3 Likes
Got a note, my copy is on the way…
7 Likes
Mine isn’t expected until 9. October…
4 Likes
Dyson’s spoiler free review. Haven’t watched it myself yet, waiting till I’ve read the book myself.
3 Likes
Just checked and my copy is in New York, so another day or two to wait. Very excited!
3 Likes