Several times recently I have seen on TV items promoting the forthcoming James Bond film and invariably the people doing the items say that they don't understand the title.
What is their problem? The title is perfectly straightforward English -

"A Quantum of Solace"

Seems fine to me. Anybody here have a problem with it?

"A Quantum of Solace"

I don't have a problem with it, but most people probably aren't familiar with the word quantum. Just a guess. Solace might also be rare to the mobile vulgus. I suppose A Bit of Comfort wouldn't cause the same problem.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: zmježd,

I've never seen "quantum" as a noun before. Guess I should read more Ian Fleming.

Is solace measured in quanta? Is it measured at all? I thought quantum, as a noun, applied only to things that can be measured or counted, tangible things that can be broken into parts.

Straightforward metaphorical usage. So common that One-Look's second definition is

quote:

noun: a discrete amount of something that is analogous to the quantum in quantum theory

In other words - "a bit".

Given that in physics it is "the smallest possible bit" (oversimplification, I know) I think we can take the metaphorical use to be "a very little bit".

It's not that I think it's a good title, just that I can't understand why some apparently educated people are having trouble even deciphering it.

quote:

Guess I should read more Ian Fleming.

That wouldn't help much. Ian Fleming wrote 14 James Bond books but Quantum of Solace will be the 22nd Bond movie by EON Productions.

EDIT: Correction:

quote:

On January 24, 2008, Quantum of Solace was confirmed as the title. It was also the name of a short story in Ian Fleming's anthology For Your Eyes Only (1960), although the film is otherwise unrelated.

(from the Wikipedia entry.)