Espionage Aficionados discussion

I'm interested to know whether readers prefer hearing about modern technical spying or the older human style? Obviously they both have a place, but what are people's views? Would you love bond without the gadgets? Would Le Carre be better with an exploding pen or two?

I'm of this opinion: hi-tech (satellites & computers) utterly corrupted espionage in real life; ended careers, removed trust & reliability; increased paranoia & suspicion. It took away the human element; increased remoteness and distance from the truth; and gave territory to error. Facts without meaning, is what technology provides. (If you want to see where all that kind of thing leads--look to the incident which spawned the classic book/flick 'Fail-Safe'. It's based on 'Red Alert').

That being said--in fiction, although the occasional hi-tech book used to be fun (Clive Cussler, for example) I personally find them no longer fun anymore. This is the problem facing thriller authors [as well as science-fiction authors]: what do you do when society catches up with your fantasies and your scary-scenarios and your dystopias? You can see what a loss these genre authors are at lately, for fresh ideas.

The Bond movie franchise was derailed by a number of things, one of them being over-abundant gadgetry; fortunately the books are free from such nonsense. If you want to see where that trend has led, one need only look at the 'MI' series starring that sap Tom Cruise. All tech; no substance.

John leCarre--no--never needed technology and doesn't need it now. That's not where the real drama is. What he might have done slightly better was writing the action-sequences of his novels; action is really almost nil in many of his books. Minor quibble, though...

Excellent question Sirius. I'm emphatic in my views, as you can see. I hope others respond as well!

I'm of the old school camp pretty much for the reasons so eloquently described above. Greene, Ambler and Le Carre were the finest examples of exploring the human element of spycraft

I have a special fondness for historical espionage novels, especially those of Alan Furst, John le Carré, Christopher New, Eric Ambler, Robert Littell, and Charles McCarry.

These authors have a special talent for taking me to a time and place -- be it prewar Europe 1938, Vietnam 1963, or Hong Kong in the immediate aftermath of the Vietnam War --- and make me feel very much a part of the lives of the chief protagonists (and antagonists). As a reader, you come to understand how resourceful spies had to be (in terms of understanding ciphers/coding, foreign languages, the lay of the land, and the types of people he/she may either find themselves working with or against) before the proliferation of hi-tech reduced the human element in espionage.

Happily, I discovered a short time ago a novelist who knows how to craft a well-told, engaging espionage novel. His name is Edward Wilson and his specialty is the Cold War Era. His latest novel "A Very British Ending" I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Old school for me as well, the stories are more compelling, you live the aromas and flavors of the localities, the heightened tension, and the authors mentioned are superb.

KOMET wrote: "I have a special fondness for historical espionage novels, especially those of Alan Furst, John le Carré, Christopher New, Eric Ambler..."

I second that on Edward Wilson!!!

Third the shout of Edward Wilson. Discovered in about 2 years ago. He writes really authentic spy fiction

Third the shout of Edward Wilson. Discovered in about 2 years ago. He writes really authentic spy fiction