News of the publication of the new Bond book comes after controversy regarding rewrites to the original run of spy novels. The book commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications marks Higson’s graduation from writing about Young Bond to creating a story about the British agent as an adult. Ian Fleming Publications also created a disclaimer to accompany the reissued texts, stating “This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace. It is down or Bond to thwart the villain in the new novel, all the proceeds for which will go to the National Literacy Trust. Published on Thursday 4th May ahead of the Coronation on Saturday 6th May – and 60 years after the publication of Ian Fleming’s tenth novel, 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', in 1963. All royalties from the sale of the book will go to support the work of the UK charity, the National Literacy Trust.

Higson’s Young Bond - first written 18 years ago - was a period piece. Set to be in the same timeline as Fleming’s 60s Bond. So here Higson does two things he’s never done before. Write adult Bond and write him in a contemporary setting. He does both really well.

Author

He said: “When Ian Fleming Publications came to me with the idea of writing an adult Bond story a little more than a month ago I was thrilled - until I realised it had to be ready for the coronation in May.

Despite these somewhat faddish interests – though the author insists the super-fit spy would naturally do anything to keep his edge, including taking an interest in the “gut instinct that gives you the non-thinking, split-second advantage” – his 007 remains ruthlessly unstoppable. In Higson’s words, he is “a fist, clenched and ready to strike”. I appreciate the author wrote the book in a month and for charity but I don’t think that’s an excuse for the results, especially in this franchise and it’s a shame the Fleming foundation didn’t plan ahead of time rather than approaching the author so late in the day resulting in a largely missed opportunity.I'm a big Bond fan and I've enjoyed all the continuation novels and this was an enjoyable way to pass the time but it wasn't great, special, engrossing or particularly well written (the author has done much better and so has basically every Bond author at some point).

Higson, who lives with his family in north London, makes it sound easy, and, in truth, the new book zips along with a lovely lightness of touch, but that’s not to dismiss his writing. His Bond Girl, incidentally, is an Icelandic beauty named Ragnheidour. Happy birthday 007 and May you return soon from the pen of decent writer of the same or better quality than Charlie Higson, which would spoil us literary fans a lot. The story has no fancy gadgets and follows a basic but interesting modern idea and villain. I very much liked the traditional Bond twist at the very end. The book itself is quite short but simple in story.

Fleming famously wrote fast, and I channelled that energy. And now it's so exciting for me to finally enter the world of grown-up Bond. Charlie Higson, author of the bestselling Young Bond series, has been commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications to write a new James Bond adventure to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, it is announced today, Friday 31 March.