Matt Helm doesn't like smart women. Or stupid women. Or women who wear trousers. By the end of this novel, I concluded that the only women he likes arMatt Helm doesn't like smart women. Or stupid women. Or women who wear trousers. By the end of this novel, I concluded that the only women he likes are the kind who are beautiful without being aware of it. No wonder his wife left him and took the kids.
I'm always wary of authors who claim to outdo James Bond, because they tend to do it by writing violent, misogynist dickheads (Bond, at heart, is none of these things, although he moves in a world full of them). Helm is a rare instance in which the film version is far more appealing and entertaining. ...more
This isn't one of those who's-the-mole spy stories. You know from the start who is guilty and what they did; the novel is about the consequences of thThis isn't one of those who's-the-mole spy stories. You know from the start who is guilty and what they did; the novel is about the consequences of that on the characters. Gripping. ...more
A first person account from an outsider of the strange, often sad and sometimes scary world of the former East Germany after reunification, and the stA first person account from an outsider of the strange, often sad and sometimes scary world of the former East Germany after reunification, and the stories of those who lived in divided Germany, some working for the state, some fighting it, and some just trying to live in it. ...more
Ian Fleming created James Bond partly as a reaction to the spy stories of the previous era, where agents sport the old school tie and are called Carr Ian Fleming created James Bond partly as a reaction to the spy stories of the previous era, where agents sport the old school tie and are called Carruthers, but to me Ashenden didn’t feel too far off 007: he’s finicky, opinionated, fond of good food and a little dull in his habits.
This is more a series of linked short stories than a novel, but they’re good fun, even if they rely a little too much on honour among spies. Would you trust an enemy agent’s word that they’re not going to run away?...more
It took me a while to try Higson's Young Bond, because I dislike the idea of Bond having an adventurous childhood rather than an ordinary dull one, buIt took me a while to try Higson's Young Bond, because I dislike the idea of Bond having an adventurous childhood rather than an ordinary dull one, but when I did I admired his prose and his take on the character. I'm thrilled he got a crack at adult Bond at last, and he's obviously enjoyed it as well as delivering a smashing novella.
This was a Bond I recognised from Fleming, smoothly brought up to date and still believable (his clothes owed a little to Daniel Craig's portrayal, I thought), with some nice nods to canonical events as well as topical ones. There were times when Higson went off on a bit of a hobbyhorse, but a) so does Fleming and b) it was funny and I agreed with his views, so I didn't care.
Happy to accept this as part of Literary Bond canon. How do I explain the gap of 60 years in his life? Oh hush. ...more
I know several spy fiction fans who rate Quiller highly; I'd read a couple and thought they were only OK, plus seen and enjoyed the film (which fans oI know several spy fiction fans who rate Quiller highly; I'd read a couple and thought they were only OK, plus seen and enjoyed the film (which fans of the novel tend to dislike).
There's a lot more detail in the book about hunting Nazi war criminals, and the love interest is a much darker character, interestingly described as 'Lesbian, narcissist, sado-masochist, necrophile, any at all'.
As usual it's the spycraft and language I like best, and there are plenty of 'tags' to be 'flushed', codes, ciphers and ways of making contact. It's unfortunate that a lot of the story revolved around the enemy agencies trying to find each other's bases, which just reminds me of playground games. ...more
Just a fun romp. The Cold War in space, with some daredevil piloting thrown in, is exactly what I wanted to read, and I'll gladly jump into the next oJust a fun romp. The Cold War in space, with some daredevil piloting thrown in, is exactly what I wanted to read, and I'll gladly jump into the next one. ...more
I'd somehow never read this early classic of espionage fiction, so I snapped it up when it materialised on the charity bookshelf at work. I loved it aI'd somehow never read this early classic of espionage fiction, so I snapped it up when it materialised on the charity bookshelf at work. I loved it all - Kipling's prose, the vivid descriptions, the character studies, the weirdness and the danger - and I wanted it to go on and on, all through Kim's life. Instead I can only imagine what he got up to as he grew up and became more adept at the Great Game. ...more
An interesting read and a spy I knew little about. The author is at pains to point out that Blake was a traitor and responsible for many deaths (also An interesting read and a spy I knew little about. The author is at pains to point out that Blake was a traitor and responsible for many deaths (also not British born); modern spyographies, like Ben Macintyre's A Spy Among Friends, at a greater distance, tend to be more nuanced. Overall, somehow, Blake comes across as sympathetic, if mysterious; the description of his suffering on a Korean death march is as fascinating as it is horrifying, and the author concludes it's unlikely he was 'turned' by the attempts at Communist brainwashing he experienced as a prisoner. ...more
In a coincidence too far-fetched for fiction, I was chatting with my mum about Mary Stewart (we're both fans) and she recommended this one. On my way In a coincidence too far-fetched for fiction, I was chatting with my mum about Mary Stewart (we're both fans) and she recommended this one. On my way home I stopped at a little free library in a bus shelter and found a first edition.
Stewart, like Helen MacInnes writes exactly the kind of book I like: the romantic travelogue thriller. In this one, the narrator escorts a friend's teenage son to Austria, where they get involved in a mystery that blends contemporary espionage with the escapist magic of circuses, castles and Lipizzaner horses.
Lots of James Bond jokes and a few good digs at male attitudes, plus a rack railway you just know is going to be significant later. ...more
My mum clued me in to Mary Stewart, an author I'd always assumed wrote romances that wouldn't be for me. It turns out they're more akin to thrillers, My mum clued me in to Mary Stewart, an author I'd always assumed wrote romances that wouldn't be for me. It turns out they're more akin to thrillers, and this one is in my favourite genre: innocent on holiday gets caught up in intrigue. Beautiful locations in and around Delphi; a wartime loss; a couple of mysteries. Oh, and romance.
She reminds me of Helen MacInnes; Stewart is the better writer, I think, but MacInnes is funnier, so it's even stevens as far as I'm concerned. ...more
A real page-turner, with so much going on I had no idea how it would all tie together at the end. As always, it's the incredible aviation knowledge anA real page-turner, with so much going on I had no idea how it would all tie together at the end. As always, it's the incredible aviation knowledge and detail I really appreciate. ...more
I've somehow never seen The 6,000,000 Dollar Man, but I understand it's slightly lighter fare than this novel, the majority of which is about test pilI've somehow never seen The 6,000,000 Dollar Man, but I understand it's slightly lighter fare than this novel, the majority of which is about test pilot Steve Austin's recuperation from the accident that cost him an arm and a leg (and the other leg, and an eye) and his mental struggles with who and what he now is.
I'd have liked more secret missions and less about how to replace bones with metal, and I'd have preferred the female characters to have a role beyond yardstick of the hero's masculinity, but I'll admit I was gripped and read it quickly. Even though I couldn't stop wondering if this is also what it was like for Inspector Gadget. ...more
A really beefy book all about my favourite genre, 1960s spy films! Great cover, too. I snapped this up.
I wasn't sure about the decision to include thA really beefy book all about my favourite genre, 1960s spy films! Great cover, too. I snapped this up.
I wasn't sure about the decision to include the James Bond films, since there's already a vast amount of information available on these. And why leave out the 1967 Casino Royale, when the overlap of cast and crew meant it was referred to in so many other entries? (Other shocking omissions include Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine.) But including Bond does mean the decade is bookended by Dr No and On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which seems fitting.
Full disclosure, there are quite a number of typos and spelling/grammar mishaps, including misspellings of names. Film plots and real life production details, the names of actors and the characters they play, can appear side by side, so it's sometimes tricky to tell fact from fiction.
It's a treasure trove of information, though: fascinating details of films I've watched and lots of enticement to watch the ones I haven't (top of the list: anything with John Le Mesurier in it). The locations and vehicles have been well researched, and I'm particularly grateful for the identification of the U.N.C.L.E. jet as a Hawker Siddeley 125. ...more
There were a few places where this felt old-fashioned, with its clubs and fly-fishing and Rogue Male or Hannay-ish feel; definitely a backward step fiThere were a few places where this felt old-fashioned, with its clubs and fly-fishing and Rogue Male or Hannay-ish feel; definitely a backward step five years after Casino Royale burst on the scene.
But this is real eastern Europe, not Ruritania, and I loved the descriptions of the Serbian people and countryside. The hero and his allies are also wonderful characters; I wished this was part of a series, so I could learn more about the 'Awkward Shop' and its denizens.
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