SilverFin: Young Bond Book #1

By: Charlie Higson

Narrated by: Nathaniel Parker

What does it take to become the greatest secret agent the world has ever known? In this thrilling prequel to the adventures of James Bond, 007, readers meet a young boy whose inquisitive mind and determination set him on a path that will someday take him across the globe, in pursuit of the most dangerous criminals of all time.

When we first meet young James, he’s just started boarding school at Eton in the 1930s, and from there, the action moves to the Highlands of Scotland, where Alfie Kelly, a local boy, has gone missing. James teams up with the boy’s cousin, Red, to investigate the mystery, and they soon discover that Alfie’s disappearance is linked to a madman and his sinister plot for global power.

Acclaimed British author Charlie Higson has written a brilliantly crafted tale that reveals the unknown story of a boy who grew up to become one of the most iconic figures of our time. SilverFin is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will mesmerize readers of all ages.©2005 Ian Fleming Productions, Ltd.; (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

A Believable Young Bond

A fun listen and completely appropriate as background to the grownup James Bond. I find it hard to tell what young listeners will respond to because there is such a wide range in what their parents have allowed them to be exposed to. But except for some scary (and sort of silly) monster bits, which are exaggerated exactly for their appeal to a younger audience , I expect, I can see this book as appropriate for adventure readers of 10 and possibly younger. Another reviewer mentions cursing but I can't remember it enough to comment.

Surprisingly up to the caliber of Fleming’s Novels

I read all of the original Bond books and decided to try Silver Fin. I didn’t think it could possibly be as good and didn’t go in to it with any expectations. Not only did I find it to live up to the caliber of the original novels and stay true to the character of James, but it was actually more fast paced and a higher percentage of this book depicts Bond being in peril.

The Making of The Ultimate Spy

In truth, the Young Bond series had me more than nervous. When IFP announced that they had commissioned Charlie Higson a comedian to pen the series. However, he is an obvious 007 fan because he definitely stays true to the spirit of the character. Any Bond fan should definitely read this series because Higson very smartly throws in bits and pieces of the 007 legacy in the novels and gives us reasons why Bond is the way he is. Silverfin being the first of five novels (so far) must be read first. The characters are rich and feel like Ian Fleming himself could have pinned them. The Narrator's voices for each charater is amazing and the same narrator does all three in the series that are currently in audible. In my opinion, Silverfin is a page turner when I read it in book form I couldn't put it down and again when I listened to it I couldn't stop. The Young Bond series is the perfect way to introduce a child to the wonderful world of 007. May anyone who reads or listens to this book be shaken and stirred.

Amazing book Great voice

I really liked the book, it’s very intense and fun to read. The Reader was very uniform and decent and he was pretty good. I would recommend this book to any person while likes action and mystery. Overall I loved it!

James Bond, the Hogwarts years j/k

So this takes place WAY before Bond was Bond. This is a school boy on an adventure who just happens to be James Bond. It's interesting though because as slow as it starts (why I didn't give it 5 stars) it really does develop into something nice.

I think the lessons, experiences, and mentoring moments in this story translates well into the foundation for James Bond. It's pretty fun, if a bit slow at the start. It wraps nicely and I'm interested to follow this to the next in the series.