On His Majesty's Secret Service cover art

On His Majesty's Secret Service

A James Bond Adventure

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On His Majesty's Secret Service

By: Charlie Higson
Narrated by: Charlie Higson
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About this listen

It is the 4th of May, two days before the Coronation of King Charles III and the world’s favourite spy has his work cut out for him. Bond is sent at the last minute to thwart an attempt to disrupt the Coronation by the wealthy, eccentric and self-styled Athelstan of Wessex, who is on a deadly mission of his own to teach the United Kingdom a lesson. Can Bond dismantle his shady plans and defeat his privately hired team of mercenaries?

Charlie Higson returns with a brand new Bond adventure. On His Majesty’s Secret Service celebrates the Coronation of King III Charles and will be published on Thursday 4 May ahead of the Coronation on Saturday 6 May–60 years after the publication of Ian Fleming’s tenth novel, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in 1963. Ian Fleming Publications and the author, Charlie Higson, are donating all royalties from print, audio and ebooks to the National Literacy Trust.

©2023 Charlie Higson (P)2023 Ian Fleming Publications Action & Adventure Espionage Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Royalty Adventure
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I grew up reading Higson's Young Bond series so I was excited to see him tackle a "proper" Bond story. While I wasn't disappointed per se, it certainly wasn't anything to write home about.

The story was straight forward enough, shying away from anything new or genuinely creative in favour of a bog standard parody of modern day left vs right politics.

I usually enjoy an author reading their own work more than any other narrator but, again, meh.

At least it has the decency not to drag on too long and is mercifully short.

Meh

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The story has been so well put together that it is difficult not to believe Fleming himself wrote the words.

Enjoyed

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This is a punchy, tightly wound thriller that leans heavily into the current political climate.

At times the description of the status quo can read a little like a newspaper article (albeit a very well written one).

Higson knows his Bondian tropes with a wonderful cadre of villains and allies.

A pleasant Bond surprise

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Fleming would spin in his grave. The author cannot hide his politics and creates a mythical right-wing goon based on Trump. (He said as much in interviews). What Higson does not understand is that Fleming was a conservative. He was not left-wing at all, and Bond was a fictionalized version of himself. So setting his agent against the right is a misstep by Higson. Fleming also understood the importance of staying apolitical. He learned this later when he replaced SMERSH with SPECTRE, a fictional criminal organization. The Broccoli family, who make the films, also understood this. Any Russian bad guy in their films is always a rogue general or agent of the USSR or KGB. Their actions are never condoned by the Soviets. This is how both Fleming and the Broccolis grabbed audiences from across the political spectrum. Well-written, but not James Bond.

Appalling Left Wing Drivel.

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