tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post5748572211620003739..comments2024-03-28T06:25:55.731-04:00Comments on Patricia Abbott (pattinase): Your Favorite Spy Novelpattinase (abbott)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-28422805012376176912012-01-19T16:31:59.281-05:002012-01-19T16:31:59.281-05:00A COFFIN FOR DIMITRIOS and JOURNEY INTO FEAR by Er...A COFFIN FOR DIMITRIOS and JOURNEY INTO FEAR by Eric Ambler. They immediately spring to mind.<br /><br />I'm not a big spy novel reader though I have read a few Alan Furst books and enjoyed them.<br /><br />Also, now that I think on it, ICON by Frederick Forsyth is terrific.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-14944093153522315552012-01-15T23:17:53.448-05:002012-01-15T23:17:53.448-05:00I'll second both Len Deighton and Adam Hall. ...I'll second both Len Deighton and Adam Hall. I have not seen the new TINKER, TAILOR movie, but I have seen the original miniseries, and I am not surprised they could do it all in two hours. The pace was somewhat... <i>leisurely</i>.Graham Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775285782385634486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-45528375521450361832012-01-14T23:09:35.533-05:002012-01-14T23:09:35.533-05:00Mesmerizing and not as difficult to follow as this...Mesmerizing and not as difficult to follow as this one.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-21836305666419692712012-01-14T22:31:24.236-05:002012-01-14T22:31:24.236-05:00I'm glad to hear the new TINKER, TAILOR. SOLDI...I'm glad to hear the new TINKER, TAILOR. SOLDIER, SPY is a winner. I enjoyed the BBC original featuring Alec Guinness. I would also throw in a mention for Burton's THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD. The final scene is haunting.David Cranmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04749857752139212888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-72169644453430850242012-01-14T18:06:44.018-05:002012-01-14T18:06:44.018-05:00I had a problem a few days ago but I thought it ha...I had a problem a few days ago but I thought it has been fixed. I just posted something. Please look and let me know. Thanks.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-36114348023455350022012-01-14T17:35:13.170-05:002012-01-14T17:35:13.170-05:00I second Michael's mention of Adam Hall. I ha...I second Michael's mention of Adam Hall. I have difficulty getting into a lot of spy fiction but gobbled up all the books in Hall's Quiller series as quickly as I could track them down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-56763121712999364252012-01-14T15:48:24.243-05:002012-01-14T15:48:24.243-05:00Not just you, Patti. Bob's blog has only the b...Not just you, Patti. Bob's blog has only the background, no posts or words other than the header. He was probably fooling around and...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-49538979166334659812012-01-14T15:34:37.363-05:002012-01-14T15:34:37.363-05:00Just found a Charles McCarry.Just found a Charles McCarry.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-63779799322871276202012-01-14T15:33:25.441-05:002012-01-14T15:33:25.441-05:00Have not read that Ross Thomas. Nor any Adam Hall....Have not read that Ross Thomas. Nor any Adam Hall.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-43092198043790879032012-01-14T15:32:55.933-05:002012-01-14T15:32:55.933-05:00Cap'n Bob-Your blog is one long swash of color...Cap'n Bob-Your blog is one long swash of color to me. No words. Is it just me?pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-32405275588499744542012-01-14T15:28:31.117-05:002012-01-14T15:28:31.117-05:00Adam Hall hasn't been mentioned yet, I think.
...Adam Hall hasn't been mentioned yet, I think.<br /><br />But my favorite is Ross Thomas "Cold War Swap."michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17812924049258701715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-29745635243332384092012-01-14T15:13:57.010-05:002012-01-14T15:13:57.010-05:00Double agents and triple-crosses are too much for ...Double agents and triple-crosses are too much for my simple mind. I don't read them. I did read James Bond when I was a teenager, but that's as far as it went.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-38822402177089408912012-01-14T14:49:06.373-05:002012-01-14T14:49:06.373-05:00Thanks, Rick. I've been going back through my...Thanks, Rick. I've been going back through my database but somehow missed talder & Behrens stories. Great stuff indeed.<br /><br />Jeff M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-5070729888014656992012-01-14T14:47:22.679-05:002012-01-14T14:47:22.679-05:00A COFFIN FOR DIMITRIOS was another one I should ha...A COFFIN FOR DIMITRIOS was another one I should have mentioned.<br /><br />Of course I'm on the record as a fan of DOnald Hamilton's Matt Helm series.<br /><br />Lastly, although you might not expect it E. Howard Hunt's various spy series are worth reading, at least based on the ones I've read to date.<br /><br />Jeff M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-17240443562953512572012-01-14T14:46:04.728-05:002012-01-14T14:46:04.728-05:00I've read some Aarons, the LeCarre, some Deigh...I've read some Aarons, the LeCarre, some Deighton, Flamming (no, I don't think the Bond books could be classified as Fantasy, Patti), Trevanian and a few others. My favorite? That's easy: Michael Gilbert’s <em>Mr. Calder & Mr. Behrens</em> and <em>Game Without Rules</em>, two short story collctions of 12 stories each that are wonderful. If it's a novel, them probably <em>Smiley's People</em> or any of the Quest for Karla books by LeCarre.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-56116422156270018202012-01-14T13:26:25.243-05:002012-01-14T13:26:25.243-05:00Looking at it on Amazon, I wonder if he also wrote...Looking at it on Amazon, I wonder if he also wrote under Allan Topol?pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-35472937349123926162012-01-14T12:56:29.343-05:002012-01-14T12:56:29.343-05:00Read a lot of spy stuff when I was a teenager - Jo...Read a lot of spy stuff when I was a teenager - John Le Carre, Len Deighton, Ted Allbeury and Martin Cruz Smith got taken out of the library on a fairly regular basis. One book I really liked though was:<br /><br />Red Sqaure by Edward Topol and Fridreikh Neznansky (Corgi, 1983)<br /><br />It might be interesting to re-read it now to see if what my 14/15 year old self thought was good, still does.Rob Kitchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05567424969308636082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-28148965959418667912012-01-14T12:45:27.965-05:002012-01-14T12:45:27.965-05:00Greene was brilliant, wasn't he. He may have m...Greene was brilliant, wasn't he. He may have more to say that Le Carre.<br /><br />I barely remember it, Al. I am hoping my library has it but I bet it's VCR and not DVD. <br /><br />Yes, my husband read and loved THE TOURIST and was so disappointed that movie (Jolie) was another story completely.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-32808494570436157242012-01-14T12:12:15.785-05:002012-01-14T12:12:15.785-05:00I also enjoyed the new Tinker, Tailor, which surpr...I also enjoyed the new Tinker, Tailor, which surprised me. I remember the miniseries with Alec Guinness very clearly, but the new version holds its own despite the story being compressed from seven hours to two.<br /><br />And I remember Freemantle's Charlie Muffin books fondly.Al Tuchernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-79427616786232049042012-01-14T12:06:12.101-05:002012-01-14T12:06:12.101-05:00My favorite is Graham Greene's The HUman Facto...My favorite is Graham Greene's The HUman Factor. I also like Eric Ambler and Trevanian and numerous Brits..Ed Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126267358266480356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-22405673800762246652012-01-14T10:54:24.394-05:002012-01-14T10:54:24.394-05:00Some Eric Ambler-esp A Coffin For Dimitrios and Jo...Some Eric Ambler-esp A Coffin For Dimitrios and Journey Into Fear.<br />Robert Littell-Legends, The Defection of A.J. Letwiller.<br />I have read all of Alan Fursts which are excellent.<br />Olen Steinhauer-The TouristSteve Oerkfitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-63290609909813235042012-01-14T10:25:23.552-05:002012-01-14T10:25:23.552-05:00That is a great question. It made realism and good...That is a great question. It made realism and good writing an essential quality, which is why so many fail for me, I think. James Bond could more easily be classified as fantasy, for instance.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-5450334994455654572012-01-14T10:23:56.362-05:002012-01-14T10:23:56.362-05:00I have to admit that I've enjoyed Le Carre far...I have to admit that I've enjoyed Le Carre far more translated to film than in books. There, I said it. Still, my list would include:<br />• Ken Follett's Eye of the Needle<br />• Frederick Forsyth's Day of the Jackal*<br />• Robert Littell's The Amateur<br />• James Grady's Mad Dogs<br />• Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Identity*<br />• Trevanian's Shibumi*<br /><br />* While these center on assassins and not spies, I love the background regarding the intelligence community (real or not) the author wove in the work.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-81300710165533567072012-01-14T10:19:27.096-05:002012-01-14T10:19:27.096-05:00I, too, would have to go with "The Spy Who Ca...I, too, would have to go with "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold", which I read when it was new. Can anyone think of any genre that was so completely transformed by one novel as the spy novel was by this one?MPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12515927050827397245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-35503736874249726132012-01-14T10:00:00.934-05:002012-01-14T10:00:00.934-05:00Jack Higgins, John Le Carre, Tom Clancy, Alistair ...Jack Higgins, John Le Carre, Tom Clancy, Alistair MacLean, Desmond Bagley, Frederick Forsyth, Ken Follett, John Gardner, and Robert Ludlum. But my favourite spy novelist is the elderly MI6 spy master Kenneth Aubrey created by Craig Thomas.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.com