(Wikipedia says Bond is 13 in the first book. Well, any of the books would work since the series is about Bond’s teenage years)

Tribute Name: James Bond

Age: 13

Restrictions: Can only use tools and weapons supplied in the Hunger Games arena

30 gifts for 30 days of November - Day 19!

Here is the nineteenth of thirty Better Than a Poke in the Eye recommended gifts for the book lover in your life even if that book lover is YOU!

Today's recommendation is Young Bond: Silverfin by Charlie Higson

Rachel clearly has a thing for spy stories and the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson (later continued by Steve Cole) is a really fun look at the boy who was to become the legendary James Bond we all love and know in the Ian Fleming books.

Silverfin is the first in the series and it is gritty, gripping, clever and a tremendous fun romp of a book. 

It is James Bond's first day at Eton and he’s already met his first enemy. This is the start of an adventure that will take him from the school playing fields to the remote shores of Loch SIlverfin and a terrifying discovery that threatens to unleash a new breed of warfare.  

R.R.P.  £7.99

You can purchase it through our online bookshop or through any of our affiliate links.  

Better Than a Poke in the Eye Bookshop .org

Amazon UK

Foyles

Waterstones

WHSmith

Asian Carp: to eat, or not to eat?

As a means of water quality improvement, silver carp and bighead were introduced into American fisheries in 1973 in an effort to control zooplankton and phytoplankton populations. However, they were much more successful than expected and spread rapidly through the waterways. Because of their plankton-based diet, the carp compete for resources with the native plankton-eaters, such as mollusks and native juvenile fish. Silver carp are notorious for jumping out of the water due to their sensitivity to sound. Aside from potential danger to boaters and fisherman, they make for an easy fishing trip. To quote Landers, "This was the easiest fish I ever caught in my life, but it wasn’t exceptional. A dozen more voluntarily followed it into the boat without any encouragement..." (http://slate.me/1GwyS2z).

The silver carp has an undeserved reputation for being unpalatable. Its cousin, the common carp, is known throughout North America as fairly inedible due to its bony flesh and bottom-feeding diet. However, unlike the common carp, the silver carp feeds on plankton. This results in flesh that is low in fat and low in mercury. The firm, white flesh is described by many to be comparable in taste to Atlantic cod or tilapia. To encourage consumption of the silver carp, industries have renamed it "silverfin" or "Kentucky tuna." The average fish is 13-30lbs, but can exceed 50lbs. It is easy to catch, abundant, large-bodied, and good to eat, making it an excellent game fish.

The harvest of silver carp would allow for an increase in the economy, a decrease in silver carp population, and hopefully an increase in native fish populations. Next time you go fishing, or even just grocery shopping, give the silverfin a try, you'll be surprised.

Jumping silver carp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfG4vsJ5_xI Asian carp identification: http://bit.ly/182DOxd Distribution map: http://bit.ly/18tPbOM More information & FAQ: http://www.freep.com/article/20110720/NEWS06/110720021

Bluefeather- I love his name, he sounds like a great cat and his death is so tragic, 15/10

Bless your face <3

10. What are some facts readers may not know about Silverfin?

Wow, I feel like everyone already knows that Zoi and I get drunk together and write whatever the fuck CRACK comes into our insane brains.  And I assume you all know the chapter titles are from the soundtrack to the Little Mermaid?  I guess I can confess that I single-handedly wrote all the bad shark poetry?  (Well, the one.)  Another FACT:  we laughed so hard writing the “Hair!” scene, I cried, I couldn’t deal.

2. Which scene was your favorite to write in Lightbringer?

It was the Silverflint reunion and subsequent gross love making scene, obviously.  The whole thing was a huge, angsty build up to that moment, and it felt SO CATHARTIC to finally have all those emotions barfed up onto the page.

3. Which part of Lightbringer was hardest to write?

It was absolutely the chapter from Silver’s POV where I repeatedly torture him like some kind of fucking anti. #PoodleAbuse  But look, we had to go through that so that we could come out on the other side, stronger and sexier for it.