It is unconfirmed as to whether it is in reference to an actual person with the title of “Quartermaster,” or the branch itself. M (among others) often abbreviates it to Q, as in, “See Q for any equipment you need.” This reference is a bit ambiguous as to who or what he’s actually referring to. Q branch was mentioned in the first novel, Casino Royale, as well as many subsequent novels. Q actually isn’t necessarily a person in Ian Fleming’s novels, but rather a department. The character most commonly known as “Q” has evolved in a way that is unique from any other character in the Bond series. Geoffrey Boothryod in The Guns of James Bond

However, the position has since been filled by others, both in the novels and films. The Q featured in a large majority of the films is a hybrid between the Q mentioned in the books and the MI6 armorer Major Boothroyd, who makes a single appearance in Ian Fleming’s Doctor No. Q is further complicated to pinpoint to one person due to the fact that the original novels remain ambiguous when mentioning him (or her…or possibly it…but we’ll get into this later). Like M, Q is a title rather than a singular person. However, instead of dwelling on recent controversies and the depressing thought that those who own the original copies of the Bond novels are now in possession of treasure, let’s delve into some facts you may not know about Ian Fleming’s first 007 book.Q, short for “Quartermaster”, is a long-standing character in the Bond franchise. To celebrate the 70th anniversary, Ian Fleming Publications – the company that administers all of Fleming’s literary works – has had the Bond books edited as part of a sensitivity review to remove words or phrases to accommodate 21st century sensitivities, a move that smacks of historical revisionism and which Ian Fleming’s biographer Andrew Lycett described as “a form of censorship.” We’re of course talking about Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel 'Casino Royale', which hit shelves on 13 April 1953.įleming wrote it at the age of 44 and the novel went on to launch the 007 literary universe – with a further 13 novels, which have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide – as well as kickstart the longest running cinematic franchise. Seventy years ago today, a journalist and naval intelligence officer released “the spy story to end all spy stories.”

Casino royale characters cast