The following
outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to spy fiction:
Spy fiction is a genre of literature involving
espionage as an important context or plot device. It emerged in the early twentieth century, inspired by rivalries and intrigues between the
major powers, and the establishment of modern intelligence agencies. It was given new impetus by the development of fascism and communism in the lead-up to
World War II, continued to develop during the
Cold War, and received a fresh impetus from the emergence of
rogue states, international criminal organizations, global terrorist networks, maritime piracy and technological sabotage and espionage as potent threats to Western societies. As a genre, spy fiction is thematically related to the novel of adventure (The Prisoner of Zenda, 1894, The Scarlet Pimpernel, 1905), the thriller (such as the works of
Edgar Wallace) and the politico-military thriller (The Schirmer Inheritance, 1953, The Quiet American, 1955).
What type of thing is spy fiction?
Spy fiction can be described as all of the following:
Genre – Any category of literature or other forms of art or entertainment, e.g. music, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. For example, jazz is a genre of music. Spy fiction is a genre of fiction, and more specifically, a genre of speculative fiction.
Genre of
fiction – fiction is a form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rat her, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work.
Genre of
speculative fiction – broad category of narrative fiction that includes elements, settings and characters created out of imagination and speculation rather than based on reality and everyday life. It typically strays strongly from reality and so may feature fictional types of things, like agencies, abilities, and technologies that do not exist in real life.
Genre fiction – Fictional works (novels, short stories, etc.) written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Also known as popular fiction.
Genres
Subgenres
Spy-Fi – Spy fiction that includes elements of science fiction, like technological gadgets that don't exist in real life.
Spy comedy – Spy fiction that uses humor and comic elements. Usually a
parody.
Spy horror – Spy fiction that includes elements of
Horror fiction.
Spy thriller – A thriller with elements of Spy fiction.
Austin Powers – womanizing, hard-partying British spy embodying the Swinging London mod culture and hippie culture of the 1960s who, with his nemesis Dr. Evil, was frozen in a cryonics experiment. He is featured in the Austin Powers series of films.
Remo Williams – U.S. government operative portrayed in The Destroyer series of novels. He is an assassin for CURE, a secret organization set up by President Kennedy to defend the country by working outside the law.
Persons influential in spy fiction
Spy fiction authors
Tom Clancy – author of the spy novels featuring Jack Ryan.
Ian Fleming – author of the original James Bond series of novels.
Robert Ludlum – author of the original trilogy of Bourne novels, featuring Jason Bourne.
Actors portraying secret agents
Tom Cruise – portrayed IMF spy Ethan Hunt, in the Mission: Impossile series of movies.
Matt Damon – portrayed Jason Bourne, in the Bourne series of movies.
Peter Graves – portrayed Jim Phelps, Director of the IMF, in the Mission: Impossible television series.
Kiefer Sutherland – portrayed Jack Bauer, in the 24 television series.
Actors who have portrayed James Bond
Sean Connery – Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, Never Say Never Again