yesterday, i shelved a relatively new novel called "at risk." it's by the former head of mi5 (you know, the same british intelligence agency for which james bond worked).

her name is stella remington and she was appointed to the post in 1992.

pierce brosnan was cast as james bond in 1995 ("goldeneye"), after gaining and losing the role to timothy dalton (1987's "the living daylights") because of his committment to an nbc television series.

the show (and his character) was called remington steele.

"goldeneye" was the first bond film to feature a woman as head of mi5, just a few years behind reality.

is all this coincidence? yes.