28 replies to this topic

[DLibrasnow]

I pondered over this at the weekend when I was reading the chapter centering around the golf game in High Time To Kill. But I always thought that Bond was at Eton for a short time, but in Bensons narrative he has Bond at Eton for two years.

[doublenoughtspy]

To complicate or possibly explain matters further, Higson is going to have Bond at Eton for longer than M's obituary mentions:

CBn Higson Interview

[DLibrasnow]

Yes....so one wonders if Sir Miles was erroneous in the obit.

We have Benson quoting James Bond as being at Eton for two years and Higson having him at the school for longer too. They are both official continuation authors.

Did Gardner or Amis ever reference his time at Eton?

[DLibrasnow]

I noticed another error in HTTK. In the car chase Bond uses the scout, then Benson writes that it returns to its position under the Jaguar.

If this is the case, how come a couple of pages later Benson tells us that the scout is still hovering about 30 feet above the car. How did Bond re-deploy it without giving the command? Simple answer - he couldn't have.

[K1Bond007]

I pondered over this at the weekend when I was reading the chapter centering around the golf game in High Time To Kill. But I always thought that Bond was at Eton for a short time, but in Bensons narrative he has Bond at Eton for two years.

To complicate or possibly explain matters further, Higson is going to have Bond at Eton for longer than M's obituary mentions:

CBn Higson Interview

You Only Live Twice says "two halves", which I suppose is one year. ?

[DLibrasnow]

Right....but this is contradicted by both Benson (and presumably Higson) so we must assume that M got it wrong.

Benson has Bond at Eton for two years and Higson -- well we'll have to see how long Higson has him there.

[Jim]

I pondered over this at the weekend when I was reading the chapter centering around the golf game in High Time To Kill. But I always thought that Bond was at Eton for a short time, but in Bensons narrative he has Bond at Eton for two years.

To complicate or possibly explain matters further, Higson is going to have Bond at Eton for longer than M's obituary mentions:

CBn Higson Interview

You Only Live Twice says "two halves", which I suppose is one year. ?

Nope - a half is a term; accordingly, three halves per year.

Honest.

[Skudor]

I would assume M (aka Ian Fleming) got it right and Benson (& Higson) got it wrong.

[DLibrasnow]

I say M got it wrong because Benson has Bond reflecting on the fact he was at Eton for two years. Surely Bond would know better than M.

[Skudor]

Fair enough.

I'd go by the writer though - clearly Benson decided to reinvent history (or just made a mistake).

[K1Bond007]

Nope - a half is a term; accordingly, three halves per year.

Honest.

Assuming they're on a trimester though. Are you sure Eton is or rather, was? I mean why call it a "halve" if its not technically a half.

Edited by K1Bond007, 27 April 2005 - 06:06 PM.

[DLibrasnow]

There are three terms to a British school year. That's every school I went to in the UK. I am assuming Eton is the same way, but I'll defer to Jim on this point.

[Jim]

Nope - a half is a term; accordingly, three halves per year.

Honest.

Assuming they're on a trimester though. Are you sure Eton is or rather, was? I mean why call it a "halve" if its not technically a half.

I went there.

Was and is. Antiquity and charm etc.

Michaelmas, Lent, Summer.

[Mister Asterix]

[4] Back to top #15 zencat zencat Commander GCMG Commanding Officers 25814 posts Location:Studio City, CA Posted 27 April 2005 - 06:51 PM I read in one of the many SilverFin articles online that Higson is contractually obligated to keep Bond at Eton for the duration of the Young Bond series. I never confirmed this, but it's a curious requirement -- if true. Back to top #16 DLibrasnow DLibrasnow Commander Enlisting 16568 posts Location:Washington D.C.. USA Posted 27 April 2005 - 07:05 PM I read in one of the many SilverFin articles online that Higson is contractually obligated to keep Bond at Eton for the duration of the Young Bond series. I never confirmed this, but it's a curious requirement -- if true. So at the end of the day we will have THREE time periods that Bond was at Eton for - M's 2-halves obit reference in YOLT, Bond musing on his 2 years there in HTTK and Higson's undetermined length of time there. Who is right? - Fleming, Benson or Higson? Back to top #17 doublenoughtspy doublenoughtspy Commander RNVR Commanding Officers 4122 posts Location:USA Posted 27 April 2005 - 07:11 PM Yea, I don't understand why he wants to keep him at Eton for longer than Fleming stated. I would think as a writer it would give him more dramatic possibilities - getting kicked out - starting a new school, etc. He has gotten a lot of cooperation from Eton - maybe they stipulated that cooperation came with a price: Bond stays for the duration of Higson's series. A question those of us going to the signings will want to ask. Back to top #18 Loomis Loomis Commander CMG Veterans 21862 posts Posted 27 April 2005 - 07:13 PM I read in one of the many SilverFin articles online that Higson is contractually obligated to keep Bond at Eton for the duration of the Young Bond series. I never confirmed this, but it's a curious requirement -- if true. So at the end of the day we will have THREE time periods that Bond was at Eton for - M's 2-halves obit reference in YOLT, Bond musing on his 2 years there in HTTK and Higson's undetermined length of time there. Who is right? - Fleming, Benson or Higson? I guess you've always got to defer to Fleming. He was, after all, the Master, the start of it all, etc. I think I read somewhere that Higson researched Fleming only while writing "SilverFin" and paid no attention whatsoever to any of the continuation novels. Back to top #19 Mister Asterix Mister Asterix Commodore RNVR The Admiralty 15519 posts Location:38.6902N - 89.9816W Posted 27 April 2005 - 07:23 PM Who is right? - Fleming, Benson or Higson? [mra]Well, depending on Higson Back to top #20 DLibrasnow DLibrasnow Commander Enlisting 16568 posts Location:Washington D.C.. USA Posted 27 April 2005 - 07:31 PM I am going to go with the belief that M made a mistake in You Only Live Twice. This seems the most reasonable under the circumstances. After all if Benson and Higson both match by having Bond at Eton for two years then this fairly conclusive evidence for the canon. Back to top #21 spynovelfan spynovelfan Commander CMG Discharged 5855 posts Posted 27 April 2005 - 07:55 PM I suspect Benson made a simple mistake and presumed a 'half' was a quaint English term for a school year, rather than a term, and as most of the folks at IFP haven't read any Fleming in decades it slipped through. Could be Higson made the same mistake, or that they don't want to squash the 'Harry Potter, aren't British boarding schools glamorous?' angle by having him leave Eton, because that's why they commissioned the series in the first place. They could, of course, get round it by just relocating to Fettes, thereby being faithful to Fleming, satisfying purists, keep their shoddy Potter-esque angle and change locations all at the same time. It would also be more interesting, as Eton has been rather over-written about. If I had the job, I'd take Bond to Fettes and have fun with all *their* (much lesser known) slang and traditions, and the fact that Bond's seen as a snooty British hooligan who got kicked out of Eton after two terms - oh, sorry, you called them halves, didn't you, Sassernach? But then, I don't have the job. Back to top #22 Mister Asterix Mister Asterix Commodore RNVR The Admiralty 15519 posts Location:38.6902N - 89.9816W Posted 27 April 2005 - 08:05 PM I suspect Benson made a simple mistake and presumed a 'half' was a quaint English term for a school year, rather than a term, and as most of the folks at IFP haven't read any Fleming in decades it slipped through. Could be Higson made the same mistake, or that they don't want to squash the 'Harry Potter, aren't British boarding schools glamorous?' angle by having him leave Eton, because that's why they commissioned the series in the first place. [mra]You Back to top #23 DLibrasnow DLibrasnow Commander Enlisting 16568 posts Location:Washington D.C.. USA Posted 30 April 2005 - 05:04 PM Another issue I have with HTTK is why they feel it's necessary to launch a climbing expedition. They mention how the twin prop plane crashed on a relatively flat surface so why don't they just take a helicopter up there? Instead they spend more than a month on a climbing excursion. Back to top #24 David Schofield David Schofield Commander Discharged 3026 posts Posted 30 April 2005 - 05:34 PM Fleming clearly states 2 halves (terms): Benson 2 years. Higson knows a half is a term (there is a conversation - intriquingly - about this in Silverfin). Benson probably did make a mistake in HTTK (it is also repeated in his novelisation of TND). And, for what its worth, Pearson also had Bond at Eton for 2 YEARS> Higson is writing 5 books, one per half. Bond joined Eton, accordingly to Silverfin, in the second term of the year. Therefore, 5 halves or terms lead Bond to the end of a second accademic year. Contradicts Fleming BUT could be worked in!? Now then, Geneva University, anyone? Edited by David Schofield, 30 April 2005 - 05:39 PM. Back to top #25 Am Am Midshipman Crew 81 posts Location:Germany Posted 30 April 2005 - 06:07 PM As far as I'm concerned, Fleming's word is what counts, whether it's M or Bond who says it (and besides, M knows James well enough to get it right). The Bond of the continuations isn't Fleming's Bond anymore, not really. Thus, I don't particularly care what Benson says. Rather curious how Higson will manage to tie the loose ends together, though. Sounds at least like he knows what he's doing. Back to top #26 Johnboy007 Johnboy007 Commander CMG Veterans 6990 posts Location:Washington, D.C. Posted 30 April 2005 - 07:25 PM Another issue I have with HTTK is why they feel it's necessary to launch a climbing expedition. They mention how the twin prop plane crashed on a relatively flat surface so why don't they just take a helicopter up there? Instead they spend more than a month on a climbing excursion. I would guess a helicopter wouldn't function at that height, but then how the heck does a propellor plane? Back to top #27 DLibrasnow DLibrasnow Commander Enlisting 16568 posts Location:Washington D.C.. USA Posted 30 April 2005 - 07:41 PM Another issue I have with HTTK is why they feel it's necessary to launch a climbing expedition. They mention how the twin prop plane crashed on a relatively flat surface so why don't they just take a helicopter up there? Instead they spend more than a month on a climbing excursion. I would guess a helicopter wouldn't function at that height, but then how the heck does a propellor plane? What it means is that bensons plot for HTTK is a joke. It has more holes in it than a slice of swiss cheese. There is no reason for there to be a climbing expedition since there are helicopters out there that can function perfectly normally at this altitude. Sorry zencat but I'm only 120 pages in and HTTK is a mess, bad plotting, terrible prose and continuity errors in not only keeping in step with what Fleming told us about Bond, but also in trying to keep continuity going in one action setpiece (the car chase). Fleming clearly states 2 halves (terms): Benson 2 years. Higson knows a half is a term (there is a conversation - intriquingly - about this in Silverfin). Benson probably did make a mistake in HTTK (it is also repeated in his novelisation of TND). And, for what its worth, Pearson also had Bond at Eton for 2 YEARS> Higson is writing 5 books, one per half. Bond joined Eton, accordingly to Silverfin, in the second term of the year. Therefore, 5 halves or terms lead Bond to the end of a second accademic year. Contradicts Fleming BUT could be worked in!? Now then, Geneva University, anyone? So Benson, Higson and Pearson all have James Bond at Eton for two years. This ultimately means that M got it wrong in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. Back to top #28 Loomis Loomis Commander CMG Veterans 21862 posts Posted 01 May 2005 - 02:07 PM What it means is that bensons plot for HTTK is a joke. It has more holes in it than a slice of swiss cheese. There is no reason for there to be a climbing expedition since there are helicopters out there that can function perfectly normally at this altitude. Sorry zencat but I'm only 120 pages in and HTTK is a mess, bad plotting, terrible prose and continuity errors in not only keeping in step with what Fleming told us about Bond, but also in trying to keep continuity going in one action setpiece (the car chase). Dreadful book. Back to top #29 Johnboy007 Johnboy007 Commander CMG Veterans 6990 posts Location:Washington, D.C. Posted 01 May 2005 - 06:12 PM I would go ultimately with what Ian Fleming said. It's his character. Back to top Back to Raymond Benson (1997-2002) Reply to quoted posts     Clear

[zencat]

I read in one of the many SilverFin articles online that Higson is contractually obligated to keep Bond at Eton for the duration of the Young Bond series. I never confirmed this, but it's a curious requirement -- if true.

[DLibrasnow]

I read in one of the many SilverFin articles online that Higson is contractually obligated to keep Bond at Eton for the duration of the Young Bond series. I never confirmed this, but it's a curious requirement -- if true.

So at the end of the day we will have THREE time periods that Bond was at Eton for - M's 2-halves obit reference in YOLT, Bond musing on his 2 years there in HTTK and Higson's undetermined length of time there.

Who is right? - Fleming, Benson or Higson?

[doublenoughtspy]

Yea, I don't understand why he wants to keep him at Eton for longer than Fleming stated.

I would think as a writer it would give him more dramatic possibilities - getting kicked out - starting a new school, etc.

He has gotten a lot of cooperation from Eton - maybe they stipulated that cooperation came with a price: Bond stays for the duration of Higson's series.

A question those of us going to the signings will want to ask.

[Loomis]

I read in one of the many SilverFin articles online that Higson is contractually obligated to keep Bond at Eton for the duration of the Young Bond series. I never confirmed this, but it's a curious requirement -- if true.

So at the end of the day we will have THREE time periods that Bond was at Eton for - M's 2-halves obit reference in YOLT, Bond musing on his 2 years there in HTTK and Higson's undetermined length of time there.

Who is right? - Fleming, Benson or Higson?

I guess you've always got to defer to Fleming. He was, after all, the Master, the start of it all, etc.

I think I read somewhere that Higson researched Fleming only while writing "SilverFin" and paid no attention whatsoever to any of the continuation novels.

[Mister Asterix]

Who is right? - Fleming, Benson or Higson?

[mra]Well, depending on Higson

[DLibrasnow]

I am going to go with the belief that M made a mistake in You Only Live Twice. This seems the most reasonable under the circumstances.
After all if Benson and Higson both match by having Bond at Eton for two years then this fairly conclusive evidence for the canon.

[spynovelfan]

I suspect Benson made a simple mistake and presumed a 'half' was a quaint English term for a school year, rather than a term, and as most of the folks at IFP haven't read any Fleming in decades it slipped through. Could be Higson made the same mistake, or that they don't want to squash the 'Harry Potter, aren't British boarding schools glamorous?' angle by having him leave Eton, because that's why they commissioned the series in the first place.

They could, of course, get round it by just relocating to Fettes, thereby being faithful to Fleming, satisfying purists, keep their shoddy Potter-esque angle and change locations all at the same time. It would also be more interesting, as Eton has been rather over-written about. If I had the job, I'd take Bond to Fettes and have fun with all *their* (much lesser known) slang and traditions, and the fact that Bond's seen as a snooty British hooligan who got kicked out of Eton after two terms - oh, sorry, you called them halves, didn't you, Sassernach?

But then, I don't have the job.

[Mister Asterix]

I suspect Benson made a simple mistake and presumed a 'half' was a quaint English term for a school year, rather than a term, and as most of the folks at IFP haven't read any Fleming in decades it slipped through. Could be Higson made the same mistake, or that they don't want to squash the 'Harry Potter, aren't British boarding schools glamorous?' angle by having him leave Eton, because that's why they commissioned the series in the first place.

[mra]You

[DLibrasnow]

Another issue I have with HTTK is why they feel it's necessary to launch a climbing expedition. They mention how the twin prop plane crashed on a relatively flat surface so why don't they just take a helicopter up there? Instead they spend more than a month on a climbing excursion.

[David Schofield]

Fleming clearly states 2 halves (terms): Benson 2 years. Higson knows a half is a term (there is a conversation - intriquingly - about this in Silverfin). Benson probably did make a mistake in HTTK (it is also repeated in his novelisation of TND). And, for what its worth, Pearson also had Bond at Eton for 2 YEARS>

Higson is writing 5 books, one per half. Bond joined Eton, accordingly to Silverfin, in the second term of the year. Therefore, 5 halves or terms lead Bond to the end of a second accademic year.

Contradicts Fleming BUT could be worked in!?

Now then, Geneva University, anyone?

Edited by David Schofield, 30 April 2005 - 05:39 PM.

[Am]

As far as I'm concerned, Fleming's word is what counts, whether it's M or Bond who says it (and besides, M knows James well enough to get it right). The Bond of the continuations isn't Fleming's Bond anymore, not really. Thus, I don't particularly care what Benson says.

Rather curious how Higson will manage to tie the loose ends together, though. Sounds at least like he knows what he's doing.

[Johnboy007]

Another issue I have with HTTK is why they feel it's necessary to launch a climbing expedition. They mention how the twin prop plane crashed on a relatively flat surface so why don't they just take a helicopter up there? Instead they spend more than a month on a climbing excursion.

I would guess a helicopter wouldn't function at that height, but then how the heck does a propellor plane?

[DLibrasnow]

Another issue I have with HTTK is why they feel it's necessary to launch a climbing expedition. They mention how the twin prop plane crashed on a relatively flat surface so why don't they just take a helicopter up there? Instead they spend more than a month on a climbing excursion.

I would guess a helicopter wouldn't function at that height, but then how the heck does a propellor plane?

What it means is that bensons plot for HTTK is a joke. It has more holes in it than a slice of swiss cheese. There is no reason for there to be a climbing expedition since there are helicopters out there that can function perfectly normally at this altitude.
Sorry zencat but I'm only 120 pages in and HTTK is a mess, bad plotting, terrible prose and continuity errors in not only keeping in step with what Fleming told us about Bond, but also in trying to keep continuity going in one action setpiece (the car chase).

Fleming clearly states 2 halves (terms): Benson 2 years. Higson knows a half is a term (there is a conversation - intriquingly - about this in Silverfin). Benson probably did make a mistake in HTTK (it is also repeated in his novelisation of TND). And, for what its worth, Pearson also had Bond at Eton for 2 YEARS>

Higson is writing 5 books, one per half. Bond joined Eton, accordingly to Silverfin, in the second term of the year. Therefore, 5 halves or terms lead Bond to the end of a second accademic year.

Contradicts Fleming BUT could be worked in!?

Now then, Geneva University, anyone?

So Benson, Higson and Pearson all have James Bond at Eton for two years. This ultimately means that M got it wrong in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.

[Loomis]

What it means is that bensons plot for HTTK is a joke. It has more holes in it than a slice of swiss cheese. There is no reason for there to be a climbing expedition since there are helicopters out there that can function perfectly normally at this altitude.
Sorry zencat but I'm only 120 pages in and HTTK is a mess, bad plotting, terrible prose and continuity errors in not only keeping in step with what Fleming told us about Bond, but also in trying to keep continuity going in one action setpiece (the car chase).

Dreadful book.

[Johnboy007]

I would go ultimately with what Ian Fleming said. It's his character.