Charlie Higson, the bestselling author and comedian, has released a new James Bond novel titled *King Zero*, marking his first full-length entry in the franchise. The book, which follows a well-received novella linked to the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III, aims to blend the classic appeal of Ian Fleming’s original character with contemporary themes and technology.

Set in the present day, *King Zero* begins with a high-stakes assassination in which a robot surgeon is hacked to kill a former double-oh agent during surgery. This incident sets James Bond on a global mission that takes him from Saudi Arabia to the Congo and the Maldives, chasing leads that involve a playboy film producer and a tattooed ex-cage fighter acting as his bodyguard. Along the way, Bond encounters Navy Riordan, a new “Bond Girl,” while confronting a villainous figure reminiscent of classic Bond antagonists: Martin Koenig, an elderly mining magnate with delusions of nostalgia who has created an idealized English village in Africa.

Higson, co-creator of *The Fast Show*, emphasizes that *King Zero* is not a satire of the UK’s sustainable energy policies but rather a thriller that engages with current global concerns such as technological advancements and resource scarcity. One notable sequence involves a driverless car, highlighting the risks and dilemmas of modern technology, while Bond uses unconventional tactics—like communicating via a curated Spotify playlist featuring Adele—to maintain secrecy.

Unlike other recent Bond continuation writers who have chosen to set their stories in the 1960s, Higson positions his novel firmly within the modern era. He expressed the desire to craft a thriller capable of appealing to contemporary readers and sitting alongside the works of authors like Lee Child and Mick Herron, rather than catering exclusively to Bond aficionados.

Drawing inspiration from Henry Ford’s Fordlandia, Higson’s fictional Kingsdown village serves as a backdrop for exploring themes of nostalgia and the illusion of a “golden past.” He notes that every era tends to romanticize an earlier time, a motif he incorporates into his villain’s mindset and the novel’s atmosphere.

Reflecting on the character of Bond, Higson views his version as a synthesis of the many interpretations that have appeared over the decades, ranging from Fleming’s original to the portrayals by Daniel Craig and others. He specifically distances his Bond from the lighter, less realistic approach taken by Roger Moore, opting instead for a more grounded and nuanced figure.

With *King Zero*, Higson hopes to revitalize the literary James Bond for a new generation, combining action-packed storytelling with timely reflections on societal and technological challenges.