Ghost of a flea: Quantum of Solace

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January 25, 2008

Quantum of Solace

Fresh from the best Bond girl* announcement since Ursula Andress** emerged from the Caribbean, it is a slightly bumpier reception as Bond 22 now has a name: Quantum of Solace.

Although the title may sound strange, it is actually steeped in spy lore. Quantum of Solace is the title of a short story in For Your Eyes Only, a 1960 collection of short stories written by Bond creator, Ian Fleming. Luckily, it seems that the plot of the short story — James attends a boring dinner party with a group of socialites he can’t stand and after making an offensive remark is told a story about the love affair between a former civil servant and a flight attendant — has been completely nixed from the film.

Despite Daniel Craig's somewhat laboured explanation cum defense of the title - "... when there's nothing left, when the spark has gone, when the fire's gone out, there's no quantum of solace" - and the promise this alludes to something else plot related; the people, they are not happy. For example, stupidly named Guardian writer Xan Brooks points out the theme song is going to be a devil of a job to write while the South Park Republican brain trust at AOSHQ*** are suggesting alternate lame titles. Ok, I get it. Yes. Good points. But as Ben Child points out, bear in mind the only other unused titles from the For Your Eyes Only short story collection were Risico, and The Hildebrand Rarity neither of which are going to work unless the producers plan to hand the franchise over to Guy Ritchie or Matt Damon.

* Speaking of which, Olga Kurylenko may not have the most comely name ever devised either; you will not find me complaining. She is doing weapons training at the moment, apparently.
** A Google image search for Ursula Andress lead to a slightly horrifying semi-nude portrait of Sean Connery. Take that Agent Bedhead!
*** My heroes, in other words. Except for dissing Fred! over the Louisiana thing. Seriously.

Related: Defense Tech looks inside a Russian submarine.

Here's a rare look inside a Russian sub. Note the Jules Verne vibe surrounding the design -- all the tubes, wires, and pipes. This shows the classic Cold War era Soviet approach to the problem that stands in sharp contrast to the relatively anticeptic look of American submarines. And dig the sound of a million bees buzzing as the torpedoes translate forward.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 25, 2008 07:04 AM

Comments

All those tubes & wires & careful notes... and antiquated notions...

Posted by: Clayton Barnett at January 25, 2008 09:59 AM

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Posted by: agent bedhead at January 27, 2008 11:29 PM

My work is done.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 29, 2008 08:33 AM