3 September is a very special date. It’s when the fifth book in the super-duper extra-special Young James Bond series hits the shops! Huzzar!
If you think that’s exciting, then just look at what WHAM’s got for you right now! We’ve managed to get an exclusive interview with the star of the books, the Young Master Bond himself!
Claire Briscoe caught up with the lovely lad to find out what we can expect from the new book, and whether it’s true that James is about to fall in love in this instalment! Oooooo!
Hi James. Thanks for agreeing to speak to us! What have you been up to today?
This morning I saved the world from a criminal mastermind. He had planted a bomb that would send millions of tons of polar ice into the Atlantic and switch off the Gulf Stream, plunging Britain into permanent winter. It was pretty close – the timer on the clock had got down to 001. Luckily I clipped the correct wire. This afternoon I went shopping for some new socks.
So, what’s an average day in the life of Young James like?
Shopping for socks is fairly dull. The other stuff is quite exciting.
You have an eventful life don’t you? Is it fun being James?
Sometimes I wish I could just live the life of an ordinary schoolboy and play cricket with my friends, ride my bicycle, climb trees and throw stones in rivers. That sort of thing. But it seems that adventures keep throwing themselves at me. To tell you the truth, though, I love having adventures. I feel a bit sorry for modern kids who spend all their time in their bedrooms playing on their computers while the world goes on without them outside.
You’ve travelled around a bit – what’s the best place you’ve visited?
I really liked Sardinia, which I visited in ‘Blood Fever’. The island has a very interesting and bloody history. I learnt to snorkel there and ate sea urchins and got involved with a modern day pirate called Zoltan. I also loved going to Mexico (‘Hurricane Gold’), where I saw ancient Mayan ruins and had to escape from an ordeal called ‘The Avenue Of Death’. I would have enjoyed both trips more, though, if people hadn't been trying to kill me all the time.
I bet! Do you enjoy being at Eton?
What do you think? Has any schoolboy ever said they really loved being at school? I hate being shut up indoors studying Latin and algebra. Mind you I have made some very good friends there.
Do you find it hard to follow the strict rules that have been set for students there?
The one exciting thing about Eton is that they treat you like a grown up. You have to organise your own time and your own studying. There are bits of routine during the day but for the rest of the time you are free to do what you want. It makes you grow up fast. I don’t enjoy lessons very much, but I do enjoy all the sport. I have also joined a secret society called The Danger Society. We do things we’re not supposed to and if we ever got caught we’d be thrown out of school.
What’s it like having your life written down in a series of Young Bond books?
It’s quite exciting. I expect when I grow up my life will be quite ordinary so nobody will want to write books about me any more.
There’s a new one out soon isn’t there…?
Yes. It’s called By Royal Command.
Can you tell us a bit about what happens in this new story about you?
I learn to ski in the Alps, then I have to save a boy’s life in an accident on the mountain. Afterwards, at Eton, I find out that someone is spying on me and trying to kill me. I also uncover a terrible plot to kill the King. Finally I have to escape from Eton and go back to Austria to confront an old enemy.
Phew. Sounds tiring! Is it true you fall in love?
Shhhh! Don’t tell the boys who read the books. They’ll be horrified. But the fact of the matter is - I am James Bond, and I've always been interested in girls. They’re a lot more fun and exciting and interesting than most young boys realise. It was only a matter of time before I fell in love with one. She’s called Roan and she’s a maid at Eton. We have lots of adventures together.
Do you get on with Charlie Higson who writes down all of your stories?
I've never met him. I gather he’s a bit of a nerd, though. I think it’s a bit creepy when somebody knows everything about you.
We enjoy reading about you’ve been up to. What do you like to read?
I like the Bulldog Drummond stories, and the Fu Manchu stories of Sax Rohmer. I also like the spy stories of John Buchan, like ‘The 39 Steps’ and ‘Green Mantle’. I understand that kids today have lots of really exciting books to read, like the Alex Rider stories and the Cherub series.
Do you think you could take on Alex Rider in a mystery solving battle?
I don’t know about solving mysteries – I leave that up to brainier kids than myself - but in a straight punch-up I think I’d win hands down.
What do you want to do when you leave school?
I’d love to be a spy like my Uncle Max.
Who’s your hero?
My Uncle Max. He was a spy in the 1st world war, and a very brave man. He taught me to fish and drive a car.
Thanks for speaking to us. What’s next for you today?
It turns out the socks I bought were the wrong size, so I need to go back and change them. Then I think I might save the world again.
Well, have a good day!
Bond fans check out the official website, to find out more about the brand new (and free!) Young Bond alternate reality game The Shadow War!
www.youngbond.com.
