Rank the Young Bond allies

Books Other Continuation Authors
1

This week’s ranking deals with the Young Bond allies.

So how do you rate them? I rank them this way:

  1. Perry Mandeville – DOULBE OR DIE – (Charlie Higson) – Very entertaining. A good, genial character who is always up for anything fun and dangerous–not quite to the level of James Bond, but a solid classmate companion. You could say he’s the Felix Leiter of the Young Bond novels.

  2. Red Kelly – SILVERFIN – (Charlie Higson) – A street-wise, tough kid who doesn’t let his slighter stature back him down from a fight–a notable trait that Bond recognizes and puts to use himself.

  3. Hugo Grande – HEADS YOU DIE – (Steve Cole) – An easily frightened, timid dwarf who nevertheless buckles up his courage and helps Bond on his adventure. At first glance, it would seem like it would be an odd pairing with Bond, but it works, and the young Grande has a colorful personality.

  4. Hepworth Maximilian Blade – STRIKE LIGHTNING – (Steve Cole) – The first adult ally on this list. An arms merchant whose body is slowly calcifying. A bit of an eccentric type who is highly entertaining on the page.

  5. Stefano – BLOOD FEVER – (Charlie Higson) – A young boy who Bond comes across in Italy who helps him sneak into Ugo Carnifex’s palazzo. Not a lot to him but a friendly enough chap.

  6. Diego Garcia – HURRICANE GOLD – (Charlie Higson) – An adult who gets taken hostage along with Bond and the Stone kids. A nice man who is protective of the children. He makes a heroic effort at one point, but to no avail.

  7. Adam Elmhirst – SHOOT TO KILL – (Steve Cole) – A late ally entrant in the tale, he arrives to help save the day, but there’s not much page time to flesh out his character more to push him higher on the list.

  8. Dan Nevin – BY ROYAL COMMAND – (Charlie Higson) – Nevin mostly serves a watchful bodyguard-type in this story. Not a lot of personality or much interaction with Bond. Still, he’s the best of the lot for earning the top ally title.

  9. Ivan Kalashnikov – RED NEMESIS – (Steve Cole) – Bond’s most helpful ally in this story is Kalashnikov, a once brilliant man suffering from dementia. He doesn’t physically help Bond other than to impart some key information during their meeting. It’s not much, but he’s Bond’s best ally here.

So how do you rank the Young Bond allies?

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2

Blinkin’ flip, you are thorough but I cannot recall many or any of these. I will, accordingly, accept your judgment on the rankings.

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