Was Bob Howard always intended to be BOFH?

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In The Jennifer Morgue, Bob Howard's middle names are revealed to be Oliver and Francis, making his full name Robert "Bob" Oliver Francis Howard. If we take Bob as the first name, his initials become BOFH. Later on, in Pimpf, the reference is strengthened by the appearance of Peter-Fred Young, the PFY.



The series has plenty of jokes on names (see Pinky and the Brains, TLA IPO, Mabuse, ...). But was this joke intended from the start, or was this a retcon? Are there hints before The Jennifer Morgue about BOFH, in the books or in author interviews etc.?






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    In The Jennifer Morgue, Bob Howard's middle names are revealed to be Oliver and Francis, making his full name Robert "Bob" Oliver Francis Howard. If we take Bob as the first name, his initials become BOFH. Later on, in Pimpf, the reference is strengthened by the appearance of Peter-Fred Young, the PFY.



    The series has plenty of jokes on names (see Pinky and the Brains, TLA IPO, Mabuse, ...). But was this joke intended from the start, or was this a retcon? Are there hints before The Jennifer Morgue about BOFH, in the books or in author interviews etc.?






    names charles-stross laundry-files







    share|improve this question























      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      In The Jennifer Morgue, Bob Howard's middle names are revealed to be Oliver and Francis, making his full name Robert "Bob" Oliver Francis Howard. If we take Bob as the first name, his initials become BOFH. Later on, in Pimpf, the reference is strengthened by the appearance of Peter-Fred Young, the PFY.



      The series has plenty of jokes on names (see Pinky and the Brains, TLA IPO, Mabuse, ...). But was this joke intended from the start, or was this a retcon? Are there hints before The Jennifer Morgue about BOFH, in the books or in author interviews etc.?






      names charles-stross laundry-files







      share|improve this question













      In The Jennifer Morgue, Bob Howard's middle names are revealed to be Oliver and Francis, making his full name Robert "Bob" Oliver Francis Howard. If we take Bob as the first name, his initials become BOFH. Later on, in Pimpf, the reference is strengthened by the appearance of Peter-Fred Young, the PFY.



      The series has plenty of jokes on names (see Pinky and the Brains, TLA IPO, Mabuse, ...). But was this joke intended from the start, or was this a retcon? Are there hints before The Jennifer Morgue about BOFH, in the books or in author interviews etc.?






      names charles-stross laundry-files




      names charles-stross laundry-files






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      asked 2 hours ago









      muru

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          I found this in a Reddit AMA from Charles Stross:




          I only recently realised Bob's initials were BOFH!!
          do you frequent theregister still, or comment on it?
          [...]




          [–]cstross[S] 18 points 3 years ago

          I try to avoid The Register
          these days, but yes, that was a deliberate shout-out.





          So I would assume based on that that it was planned from the start.






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          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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          • Nice find! This is from well after TJM, though, and doesn't definitely say it was intended from The Atrocity Archives.
            – muru
            2 hours ago










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          up vote
          5
          down vote













          I found this in a Reddit AMA from Charles Stross:




          I only recently realised Bob's initials were BOFH!!
          do you frequent theregister still, or comment on it?
          [...]




          [–]cstross[S] 18 points 3 years ago

          I try to avoid The Register
          these days, but yes, that was a deliberate shout-out.





          So I would assume based on that that it was planned from the start.






          share|improve this answer










          New contributor




          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.

















          • Nice find! This is from well after TJM, though, and doesn't definitely say it was intended from The Atrocity Archives.
            – muru
            2 hours ago














          up vote
          5
          down vote













          I found this in a Reddit AMA from Charles Stross:




          I only recently realised Bob's initials were BOFH!!
          do you frequent theregister still, or comment on it?
          [...]




          [–]cstross[S] 18 points 3 years ago

          I try to avoid The Register
          these days, but yes, that was a deliberate shout-out.





          So I would assume based on that that it was planned from the start.






          share|improve this answer










          New contributor




          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.

















          • Nice find! This is from well after TJM, though, and doesn't definitely say it was intended from The Atrocity Archives.
            – muru
            2 hours ago












          up vote
          5
          down vote










          up vote
          5
          down vote









          I found this in a Reddit AMA from Charles Stross:




          I only recently realised Bob's initials were BOFH!!
          do you frequent theregister still, or comment on it?
          [...]




          [–]cstross[S] 18 points 3 years ago

          I try to avoid The Register
          these days, but yes, that was a deliberate shout-out.





          So I would assume based on that that it was planned from the start.






          share|improve this answer










          New contributor




          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          I found this in a Reddit AMA from Charles Stross:




          I only recently realised Bob's initials were BOFH!!
          do you frequent theregister still, or comment on it?
          [...]




          [–]cstross[S] 18 points 3 years ago

          I try to avoid The Register
          these days, but yes, that was a deliberate shout-out.





          So I would assume based on that that it was planned from the start.







          share|improve this answer










          New contributor




          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 2 hours ago









          muru

          996620




          996620






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          answered 2 hours ago









          Brizzy

          1511




          1511




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          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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          New contributor





          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          Brizzy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.











          • Nice find! This is from well after TJM, though, and doesn't definitely say it was intended from The Atrocity Archives.
            – muru
            2 hours ago
















          • Nice find! This is from well after TJM, though, and doesn't definitely say it was intended from The Atrocity Archives.
            – muru
            2 hours ago















          Nice find! This is from well after TJM, though, and doesn't definitely say it was intended from The Atrocity Archives.
          – muru
          2 hours ago




          Nice find! This is from well after TJM, though, and doesn't definitely say it was intended from The Atrocity Archives.
          – muru
          2 hours ago

















           

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