Double or Die
First edition UK paperback
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| Author | Charlie Higson |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | James Bond / Young Bond |
| Genre | Spy novel |
| Publisher | Puffin Books |
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Publication date
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4 January 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 389 pp |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 71541562 |
| Preceded by | Blood Fever |
| Followed by | Hurricane Gold |
Double Or Die is the third novel in the Young Bond series depicting Ian Fleming's superspy James Bond as a teenager in the 1930s. The novel, written by Charlie Higson, was released in the United Kingdom by Puffin Books on 4 January 2007. A special hardcover "Limited Collector's Edition" was released as a Waterstones Bookstore exclusive on 25 October 2007.
The title was announced on 3 January 2007 at the official book launch at Waterstone's in Piccadilly, London. The alternative titles which were available for the public to vote for were "N.E.M.E.S.I.S." and "The Deadlock Cipher".
The story's prologue is set in Highgate Cemetery, where Professor Alexis Fair burn, an Eton beak (Professor), is tracing a tombstone when he is kidnapped by Wolfgang and Ludwig Smith. Fair burn manages to leave the piece of paper with which he was tracing. The story itself starts with young James Bond and his friend, Perry Mandeville (leader of the Danger Society), reminiscing the previous day's events.
Out of the blue, a letter to Pritpal from Fair burn comes, regarding Fairburn's resignation from Eton. To House Master Codrose and Headmaster Elliot, the "mistakes" are due to Fair burn's scatterbrained personality and eccentricity, but Pritpal soon realises that the mistakes were there for a reason. James and Pritpal work towards trying to decipher them - the first of them are easy - some wrong names in the letter (Luc Olivier and Speccy Stevens) translate into "Solve seven cryptic clues."
However, they have to get several photographs of the letter, which has been confiscated by Cecil Codrose, before they can continue. Eventually, they get it and continue. They determine from the second clue that they have to solve the puzzle of a certain crossword in the next The Times and eventually determine that "Gordian Knot" means that they must meet a man nicknamed "Gordius," who is coming to Pritpal's next Crossword Society meeting. James decides to come along to the meeting, but all the man does is play a game of Hearts, during which James wins five pounds. The man gives his name as Ivar Peterson, who is a professor at Cambridge University. However, James and Pritpal do not believe him. James arranges with Perry to go to Cambridge University during Perry's father's birthday leave.
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