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Young Bond Timeline

By MI6 Staff

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5th April 2004 - Ian Fleming Publications confirms that Charlie Higson will introducing 007 to teenagers. Puffin (the Young Readers arm of Penguin) was confirmed as the publisher.

7th April 2004 - A spokesperson for IFP tells MI6 that the first Young Bond adventure is due March 2005.

24th June 2004 - Miramax Books secures the US publication rights for Higson's first two Young Bond adventures. "The Miramax name coupled with the James Bond brand is a powerful combination," said Harvey Weinstein, Miramax co-chairman.

Above: Young Bond author Charlie Higson

9th July 2004 - Higson teases the media with some scant facts about his James Bond: attending Eton in the 1930s and is entangled in a sinister plot in Scotland.

15th September 2004 - Fate of Young Bond in the USA is uncertain with news of Miramax planning a split from its parent company, The Walt Disney Co.

21st September 2004 - Successful junior spy-writer Anthony Horowitz admits he was offered the Young Bond job that ultimately went to Comedian Charlie Higson.

30th October 2004 - Amazon reveales that the audiobook edition of "SilverFin" would be read by the author himself.

3rd February 2005 - Fans get their first taste of Higson's Young Bond. The first chapter of "SilverFin" is published on the official website.

3rd March 2005 - Charlie Higson's debut Young James Bond novel, "SilverFin" is released in the UK along with the audiobook edition.

17th March 2005 - Rejected titles for "SilverFin" are leaked; choices included: "Silverskin", "Out of Breath", "Dare or Die", "Silvereye", "Stargazer", "Black Water".

23rd April 2005 - First illustration of Young Bond himself, sketched by Kev Walker, is unveiled.

24th April 2005 - First news of a Young Bond graphic novel is released to the BBC.

27th April 2005 - "SilverFin" hits the bookshelves in the USA in Hardback and Paperback, published by Miramax.

June 2005 - The first Young Bond novel is released in Germany, under the title "Stille Wasser sind tödlich" ("still waters are deadly"), translated by Petra Koob-Pawis.

30th June 2005 - "SilverFin" available for purchase in Australia.

Right: Artwork for the UK paperback SilverFin.

11th July 2005 - Puffin announce the release date and second Young Bond novel's title: "Blood Fever". Higson explained that fans could look forward to "pirates, bandits, art thieves and a shoot-out in a cave; everything you could want from a James Bond book."

3rd November 2005 - A mobile video game adaptation of "SilverFin" is announced by its developers: Player One Limited. The video game boasted 15 puzzle filled levels set over three locations.

13 November 2005 - Draft artwork for the US cover of "Blood Fever" is revealed to the media. Unlike its British equivalent the cover did not carry the tagline "Death is contagious".

5th January 2006 - "Blood Fever" goes on sale in the UK. Ian Fleming Publications and author Charlie Higson celebrated the launch with the first Young Bond stunt academy, an event held at Eton where children learned the tricks of the trade from professional stuntmen.

10th January 2006 - Young Bond collectable cards are revealed to tie into the launch of the second Bond novel, "Blood Fever". Featuring character illustrations by Kev Walker. There was a mere 5% chance of securing the special 007 card that featured James Bond himself.

March 2006 - "SilverFin" audiobook, narrated by Nathaniel Parker, is released in the USA. In addition, Swedish translation first Young Bond novel is released.

6th April 2006 - Final artwork for the US cover of "Blood Fever", it departs dramatically from the "style guide" set in the UK, however artwork continued to be provided by Young Bond regular, Kev Walker. The cover art features the pirate boat that is central to some of Blood Fever's key action.

Right: Artwork for the UK first edition of Blood Fever.

15th April 2006 - Italian translation of "SilverFin", translated by Stefano Valenti, goes on sale.

8th June 2006 - Ian Fleming publications confirms that a graphic novel adaptation of the first Young Bond novel, "SilverFin" was in progress, with Walker's artwork and the story adapted by Higson for the pictorial format.

March 2006 - "SilverFin" audiobook, narrated by Nathaniel Parker, is released in the USA. In addition, Swedish translation first Young Bond novel is released.

Right: First character potrait of Young James Bond.

28th July 2006 - The synopsis of the third Young Bond adventure is released to the media. The only difference this time is that the novel remains untitled. The teaser promised "kidnap, violence, explosions, and murder" - all in a day for teenaged James Bond.

2nd October 2006 - Young Bond's "Bond girl" is announced as Kelly [Later to be known as Red Kelly]. Bond's friends Pritpal and Perry are confirmed to be back from the opening story "SilverFin".

3rd October 2006 - Ian Fleming Publications announce that fans will choose from a shortlist of titles for the forthcoming third Young Bond novel. The choices included: "Double or Die", "N.E.M.E.S.I.S.", and "The Deadlock Cipher".

16th December 2006 - German translation of the second Young Bond novel is confirmed to be titled "Goldenboy".

24th April 2007 - Higson unveils the unique cover art for "Hurricane Gold". It was confirmed to have a gold cover with luxury debossed lettering and gilt-edged pages.

28th August 2007 - "Hurricane Gold" preview pages published online.

October 2007 - "Double Or Die" released in France under the title: "Poker Fatal".

5th October 2007 - "Hurricane Gold" released down-under.

11th November 2007 - Paperback artwork for "Hurricane Gold" is revealed.

16th March 2008 - The title of Young Bond #5 is revealed to be "By Royal Command".

April 2008 - Dutch edition of "Double of Die" released; French translation of "Hurricane Gold" goes on sale under the title "Menace sur l'Eldorado".

14th April 2008 - Puffin releases the teaser artwork and the first official synopsis of the fifth and final Young Bond novel "By Royal Command".

Above: Cover art for "Double Or Die", the title was a closely guarded secret until release.

20th May 2008 - British jeweler Theo Fennell and Charlie Higson attend a photocall to promote the fantastic gold-plated "Hurricane Gold" crafted by the jeweler.

11th August 2008 - Puffin Books announces a new Young Bond alternate reality game, The Shadow War. The alternate reality game put youngsters on a 7 week, online mission. Charlie Higson set the first mission during his appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. "It is a perfect combination of game playing and poking about on the internet, it's right up my street," said the author. "My only regret is that I won't be able to play it myself as I have been so closely involved in the design of it!"

23rd August 2008 - "The Shadow War" game launches online at youngbond.com, with fans registering interest online since, 11th August.

3rd September 2008 - Charlie Higson's fifth and final Young Bond novel, "By Royal Command" goes on sale in the UK.

2nd October 2008 - Puffin releases the long-awaited "SilverFin" graphic novel, a Kev Walker/Charlie Higson collaboration.

Above: Artwork to promote Blood Fever by Kev Walker.

29th December 2008 - Hyperion confirmed it was republishing the first three Young Bond adventures with updated cover art in the USA.

10th March 2009 - "SilverFin", "Blood Fever" and "Double Or Die" paperbacks republished in the USA.

7th April 2009 - "Hurricane Gold" hardback edition goes on sale in the USA.

28th April 2009 - A "top secret" Young Bond dossier featuring a short story by Charlie Higson is confirmed. The book features details of the Young Bond cannon from weapons to characters.

29th June 2009 - "By Royal Command" hits the shelves in Australia.

29th October 2009 - The "Young Bond Dossier" is released in the UK.

18th May 2010 - Hardback of "By Royal Command" with artwork by Owen Richardson is released in the USA.

5th May 2011 - "SilverFin" is reissued in a interested clear perspex slip case and includes a behind the scenes retrospective from author Charlie Higson.