39 replies to this topic

[DLibrasnow]

Okay. So you've finished the book (and read no further if you haven't). You then start to think about all the things in the book that foreshadow the Fleming adventures.

Here's just a quick list of things that caught my attention.

-- First (and perhaps more obviously) the scar. Hellebore cuts James' face when he catches up to him towards the end of the book - you know right before Wilder and Martini come to his rescue...

-- Then the injection. In what shocked me James gets injected with the SILVERFIN serum. Does this account for some of the superhuman things he does later in life? Okay, that's a stretch but I found myself thinking about that as I was reading it.

-- Also, how about those breathing exercises, the ones he learns at Eton after having been beaten in the swim? Certainly, this helps James in the novel - but it can't have hurt in later years/adventures.

[Righty007]

-- First (and perhaps more obviously) the scar. Hellebore cuts James' face when he catches up to him towards the end of the book - you know right before Wilder and Martini come to his rescue...

I never thought about this. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Qwerty]

-- Also, how about those breathing exercises, the ones he learns at Eton after having been beaten in the swim? Certainly, this helps James in the novel - but it can't have hurt in later years/adventures.

Good thinking. As you say, this surely must have helped. Interesting list DLibra.

[DLibrasnow]

Thanks Devin.

Of course add to that list May the Scottish housekeeper. I'm sure that she is meant to be the same May from the Fleming novels.

[zencat]

-- Then the injection. In what shocked me James gets injected with the SILVERFIN serum. Does this account for some of the superhuman things he does later in life? Okay, that's a stretch but I found myself thinking about that as I was reading it.

Oh, I TOTALLY thought that, DLibs! In fact, I was shocked after I read the book because to me it looked very much like what Higson was saying was the Bond "edge" was due to this childhood injection of the SilverFin. James Bond is the product of a genetic mutation. He's an X-Men! LOL.

But then I asked Higson in our CBn Interview (it's the blacked out "spoiler" question) and he said, "no." He hadn't even considered this. The effect of the serum wears off.

(But can something that changes you on a genetic level "wear off"?)

I then felt silly for thinking this, but it really seemed to me to be the big "twist" of the book and something that might be explored in later books.

[DLibrasnow]

I then felt silly for thinking this, but it really seemed to me to be the big "twist" of the book and something that might be explored in later books.

I don't think it can wear off so it seems a very plausible and reasonable question to ask. It certainly had me thinking about it which is why I put it on the list.

James also says something to the effect that his aunt says that the scar will disappear, but its evidently still there when he returns to Eton because his friends ask about it, so perhaps Charmian was just trying to make him feel better.

On an unrelated note, I really would like to see Kelly and Wilder appear in later books.

[zencat]

Kelly? No. Hated him. The goofy sidekick. Not in my Bond universe. Okay, maybe have him come back as a villain.

Wilder? Yes. Now that James has the silverfin in him, maybe he'll know what to do with her.

[Trempo]

Good thread DLibrasnow,

Another one. Is the strongman in the circus "The Mighty Donovan" the father of Donovan Grant from "From Russia With Love"? Although Fleming called him "The Mighty O'Donovan"

[Qwerty]

Kelly? No. Hated him. The goofy sidekick. Not in my Bond universe. Okay, maybe have him come back as a villain.

Wilder? Yes. Now that James has the silverfin in him, maybe he'll know what to do with her.

Couldn't agree more regarding both characters. But please please please don't bring back the damned horse named 'Martini'.

[Loomis]

I like "SilverFin", but I do have a few gripes, the biggest being that it's hard to believe Higson's hero is the same person who goes up against Scaramanga and Nick Nack in 1974 and knows Sheriff J.W. Pepper.

(Which tells you a lot about my idea of proper James Bond. )

[Tanger]

One thing that bugged me was when James and Red are burning down the castle at the end and one of the guards (can't remember the name) is attacked by the pigs and catches on fire. It's said that James sees something as the man's dying but it's not made clear what it is.
Any ideas?

[Qwerty]

I like "SilverFin", but I do have a few gripes, the biggest being that it's hard to believe Higson's hero is the same person who goes up against Scaramanga and Nick Nack in 1974 and knows Sheriff J.W. Pepper.

(Which tells you a lot about my idea of proper James Bond. )

At least Pepper wasn't in the book The Man With The Golden Gun.

[Loomis]

I like "SilverFin", but I do have a few gripes, the biggest being that it's hard to believe Higson's hero is the same person who goes up against Scaramanga and Nick Nack in 1974 and knows Sheriff J.W. Pepper.

(Which tells you a lot about my idea of proper James Bond. )

At least Pepper wasn't in the book The Man With The Golden Gun.

Well, he should have been.

"Get your cotton-picking schnozz out of my pants, y'know!"

The character was just pure Fleming (especially if we believe those who claim that Bond's creator had a, shall we say, relaxed attitude towards things like racism and political correctness).

After which utterly gratuitous championing of THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN/blatant threadjacking, back to "SilverFin":

-- Then the injection. In what shocked me James gets injected with the SILVERFIN serum. Does this account for some of the superhuman things he does later in life? Okay, that's a stretch but I found myself thinking about that as I was reading it.

Oh, I TOTALLY thought that, DLibs! In fact, I was shocked after I read the book because to me it looked very much like what Higson was saying was the Bond "edge" was due to this childhood injection of the SilverFin. James Bond is the product of a genetic mutation. He's an X-Men! LOL.

But then I asked Higson in our CBn Interview (it's the blacked out "spoiler" question) and he said, "no." He hadn't even considered this. The effect of the serum wears off.

(But can something that changes you on a genetic level "wear off"?)

I then felt silly for thinking this, but it really seemed to me to be the big "twist" of the book and something that might be explored in later books.

I wondered the same, zen, so if you're silly, I'm silly. Erm, I guess we're both silly, then. Nah, it was a bit like INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, which poses the question:

/spoiler.gif

has Indy become immortal

/gen_line.gif

?

[DLibrasnow]

One thing that bugged me was when James and Red are burning down the castle at the end and one of the guards (can't remember the name) is attacked by the pigs and catches on fire. It's said that James sees something as the man's dying but it's not made clear what it is.
Any ideas?

Yes...he says that it appears that the bottom half of the mans body is missing.

[Tanger]

Must have missed that. I meant to go back and re-read it to see if it made anymore sense. Thanks for clearing it up.

[DLibrasnow]

Kelly? No. Hated him. The goofy sidekick. Not in my Bond universe. Okay, maybe have him come back as a villain.

Wilder? Yes. Now that James has the silverfin in him, maybe he'll know what to do with her.

LOL. Good point. I didn't mind Kelly. I did think that Wilder was underused and would like to see her (and Martini) return in a future novel.

So Devin, what'd your issue with the horse? I liked the fact that the horse was named Martini.

[DLibrasnow]

Good thread DLibrasnow,

Another one. Is the strongman in the circus "The Mighty Donovan" the father of Donovan Grant from "From Russia With Love"? Although Fleming called him "The Mighty O'Donovan"

Great catch Trempo

[Tanger]

Just re-read the bit that was bugging me and it does indeed say that the "lower half of the gillie was missing". I think it was the word 'gillie' that threw me since this is not one that I'm familiar with.

[Qwerty]

So Devin, what'd your issue with the horse? I liked the fact that the horse was named Martini.

It just seems like a childish attempt to make a link with the adult Bond.

[DLibrasnow]

Well my roomie has two dogs, both of whom are named after alcoholic drinks - Pims and Finney - so I guess the fact that Higson named a horse Martini seemed only natural to me

[Qwerty]

Two different views on it then. I only looked at it from a James Bond standpoint.

[Righty007]

So Devin, what'd your issue with the horse? I liked the fact that the horse was named Martini.

It just seems like a childish attempt to make a link with the adult Bond.

I agree unless Wilder's father likes martinis.

[hrabb04]

Sorry, fellas, I am going to still pass on this one. I am going to wait patiently for someone to write more books when he maimed, killed, and screwed with the best of them.

[Qwerty]

Sorry, fellas, I am going to still pass on this one.  I am going to wait patiently for someone to write more books when he maimed, killed, and screwed with the best of them.

Not even going to read it from a library or something of that nature?

[hrabb04]

Nah, Qwerty, I just don't think I'm going to spring for this one.

[Tanger]

Well my roomie has two dogs, both of whom are named after alcoholic drinks - Pims and Finney - so I guess the fact that Higson named a horse Martini seemed only natural to me

My grandad just to have a dog called Whiskey.

[Blofeld's Cat]

So Devin, what'd your issue with the horse? I liked the fact that the horse was named Martini.

It just seems like a childish attempt to make a link with the adult Bond.

Well my roomie has two dogs, both of whom are named after alcoholic drinks - Pims and Finney - so I guess the fact that Higson named a horse Martini seemed only natural to me

Thinking of the word "martini" in the context of the adult Bond world, was the horse shaken or stirred at one time during the book. Perhaps that's how Bond decides how he wants his martinis made - a throwback to a chidhood incident. Pretty lame notion, I know.

[David Schofield]

Anybody out there more likely to consider Silverfin "genuine" Bond when they have the true US First hardback in their hands rather than a crappy paperback?

I certainly am.

[Tanger]

I already consider it "genuine" Bond and that's exactly what it's supposed to be.

[David Schofield]

I already consider it "genuine" Bond and that's exactly what it's supposed to be.

You misunderstand me. I already accept the link between this Bond and the Fleming character (one and the same).

I mean from a purists point of view, having a hardback first (as all the official titles have had) makes it feel more genuine.