Zero Minus Ten
Zero Minus Ten, published in 1997, is the first novel by Raymond Benson featuring Ian Fleming's James Bond following John Gardner's departure in 1996. Published in the United Kingdom by Hodder & Stoughton and in America by Putnam, the book is set in Hong Kong, China, Jamaica, England, and some parts of Western Australia.
Benson's working title for the novel was No Tears for Hong Kong; this was eventually used as the title for the last chapter in the novel.
Continuity
According to Raymond Benson, as far as character continuity was concerned, he had been given free lease by Ian Fleming Publications (then Glidrose Publications) to follow or ignore other continuation authors as he saw fit. Benson took a middle of the road approach to this. While Ian Fleming's novels are strictly canon, Gardner's novels are not strictly followed, though there are some aspects that are carried over.
For instance, in Gardner's Win, Lose or Die Bond is promoted to Captain, but this aspect does not carry over and in Benson's novels have Bond as a Commander once again with no explanation. Some of Gardner's original recurring characters are also not present, including Ann Reilly (aka Q'ute) who by the end of Gardner's era had taken over Q Branch from Major Boothroyd; Benson features Major Boothroyd with no explanation. Some of Gardner's changes do remain, for instance, Benson's Bond continues to smoke cigarettes from H. Simmons of Burlington Arcade, which was first introduced in Gardner's For Special Services (1982). Additionally, the Bond girls Fredericka von Grüsse (Never Send Flowers / SeaFire), Harriet Horner (Scorpius), and Easy St. John (Death is Forever) are all mentioned. Further novels by Benson also retain some aspects of Gardner's series though there is equally just as much that he ignores.
Podcasts:
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by Ides Of Winter
Minus Ten°
by: Ides Of WinterWater collects in little pools, where our children laugh and see themselves.
From kingdoms so far removed. In a clearing of trees by the river’s edge.
Out of reach of prying hands, to her beauty no one could compare.
We loved our family but in the end, I know she loved only one.
She cut herself, and the flowing wounds were tiny holes that took her away.
She cut herself, and the flowing wounds were the waves when she held them in place.
I saw that her eyes gazed only at themselves.
Why did they cry?
And why did they not sleep at night?
Why did she give in?
Why, oh god, why did they trust her?
That was the last of me.
As I walked towards a wolven grave, I cursed her name.
Why did they cry?
And why did they not sleep at night?
Why did she give in?
Why, oh god, why did they trust her?
For hours she’d stare at her own reflection.
And beg her dreams to erase the river.
She couldn’t stand to wake up screaming.
When those tiny faces fought for air.
To forget. Her reflection’s beauty, not a broken heart.
Worn forever for all to see are the scars upon her arms.
She plead for the sands of time to keep her image fair.
Mirrors never show within, only what is there.