By Royal Command Novel Released

Wednesday 3rd September sees the publication of By Royal Command, the fifth instalment of the globally popular Young Bond series and the eagerly anticipated unveiling of its cover. In keeping with the royal theme of the novel, the artwork is in striking red, black and silver with an embossed union-jack and regal-red edged pages.

By Royal Commandsees James Bond thrown into the midst of a dangerous, spy-ridden plot that threatens to put both King and country at risk. Set between the two World Wars and moving between Eton and the chilling slopes of the Austrian Alps, By Royal Command sees the young James Bond put to the test as never before. Not only are his bravery and loyalty on trial, but the arrival of a pretty, young maid at Eton also teaches him a lesson of the heart.

The Young Bond books have to date sold over three quarters of a million copies in alone and have been translated in to 24 different languages. The series was launched with SilverFin in March 2005 and was followed by Blood Fever, Double or Die and Hurricane Gold.

Notes to Editors:

By Royal Command by Charlie Higson is published in hardback by Puffin Books on 3rd September 2008 at £12.99

The Young Bond books are aimed at readers between 9 and 14 years old

Charlie Higson is available for interview via Colman Getty

The first Young Bond alternate reality game, The Shadow War, launched on the 23rd August. There are seven missions to complete, set weekly between 23rd August and 8th October. By Royal Command and the novels of the Yound Bond series form key parts of the game, which canbe played on www.youngbond.com

The Young Bond series has to date sold over three-quarters of a million copies in the UK alone and has been translated into 24 languages.

By Royal Command is the fifth book in the Young Bond series which comprises:

Silverfin (March 2005)
Blood Fever (January 2006)
Double or Die (January 2007)
Hurricane Gold (Hardback - September 2007)
Hurricane Gold (Paperback - May 2008)
A graphic novel version of SilverFin, illustrated by Kev Walker, is published by Puffin on the 2nd October 2008.

Ian Fleming Publications is the Fleming family owned company that owns and manages the intellectual property rights in the Young Bond series.

A dedicated website contains news, downloads and extras about the Young Bond series - www.youngbond.com

For further information about Young Bond please contact: Lucy Chavasse at Colman Getty, 28 Windmill Street, London WIT 2JJ, Tel: 020 7631 2666 or Email: lucy@colmangetty.co.uk