Ranking James Bond Authors
4. Charlie Higson
Tenure – 2005-2008, Novels
– 5, Short Stories – 1
Best known as a cast member and writer on BBC sketch comedy The Fast Show, Charlie Higson was something of an odd choice when a series of Young Bond novels were announced given that he had no experience with teen fiction
The subseries as a whole was subject to extensive pre-release criticism, with many seeing it only as a cash grab, but with SilverFin, Higson managed to deliver an enticing debut that silenced the doubters and left readers clamouring for more.
Though the Fleming estate’s original intention was for each novel to be written by a different author, Higson ultimately ended up penning all five over a rapid three-year period, depicting events that Fleming had hinted at but never explored in detail, such as Bond’s expulsion from Eton, weaved around locations ranging from the Caribbean to East End London slums.
A captivating collection for teenage Bond enthusiasts, Higson’s novels aren’t particularly compared with other entries in the series given the need for a lighter and more digestible tone, but they are by far the most successful attempt to market the character to a younger audience, more memorable than the likes of the early 90s James Bond Jr. television series.