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books on spies and espionage

HermioneWeasley

HermioneWeasley

Member
This is going to seem a bit silly but I recently read a series of books about a spy working for MI6 and have become really interested in espionage. can you recommend any books to me, fiction and nonfiction, about spies and spying, operations, actual spies, espionage techniques? anything? Thanks!
 
For a starter:

Secrets, Lies, Gizmos And Spies: A History of Spies and Espionage
By Janet Wyman Coleman [A good basic introduction aimed and the young - but worth looking into]

The Second Oldest Profession: Spies and Spying in the Twentieth Century
by Phillip Knightley

The Dangerous World of Spies and Spying
by Robert Liston ( a bit older - you may have to search for it)

Spycatcher
by Wright, Peter; Greengrass, Paul (Very very controversial - his co-workers were not impressed)
 
Proofreader: This one is an oldie but a goodie:

'The Secret Ways' by Alistair Maclean. Forget about 'The Guns of Navarone'. This one by Maclean is probably his best work. :)
 
I'm about to finish a book about the Israeli Mossad. A very nice book that expose many operations and recruiment procedures inside the Mossad. I even opened a thread about the book here, but no replies...:( Anyway, take a look at it at tell me what do you think.

Here's an intersting thing about the book:
In 1990 Israel tried to stop the sale of the book, by the means of a preliminary injunction. This was the first time that a sovereign state tried to stop a book publication in another sovereign state. However this claim was rejected by courts in the United States.
Click to expand...
 
Not exactly spy books, but Gorky Park, Polar Star and Red Square by Martin Cruz Smith are all interesting takes on recent eras from a Russian perspective.
Blind Man's Bluff (sorry, can't remember the authors) is a history of the US nuclear submarine programme - much of their work involved laying listening devices etc in 'Enemy' waters. Interesting for the memories of the times from those involved - also a load of details on catastrophies from both sides that were hushed up at the time (like the huge ship Hughes built - supposedly for oil exploration, but actually to salvage a sunken Soviet sub (the Soviets had no idea where it was)).
 
Clive Cussler has written some of my favorites, although they are more adventure. He has a series called The Oregon Files and those books have more spy stuff.
 
It seems there's a good collection of books names here. I guess I'll take a look at them all and get some before my next visit to the bookstore. I'm mostly interested about Polar Star, is it good?
 
Well, I've read all Tom CLancy's books, and think thery're great. I've read about half of the James Bond series, and it's pretty good, if a little odd in the interpersonal relationship department.
 
Polar Star

Hi Samerron,

I'd say Polar Star is really very good. I've read it a good few times, and I suppose that must make it one of my favourites! It manages to be a spy thriller without having any/many actual spies, and in a fascinating setting. Actually, I am going to have to go and read it again now so I'll maybe have something more constructive to say in a couple of days.

Cheers
 
yowdendrift said:
Hi Samerron,

I'd say Polar Star is really very good. I've read it a good few times, and I suppose that must make it one of my favourites! It manages to be a spy thriller without having any/many actual spies, and in a fascinating setting. Actually, I am going to have to go and read it again now so I'll maybe have something more constructive to say in a couple of days.

Cheers
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Interesting to hear that. For me I rarely read the same book twice, but it seems a fascinating and enthralling book. It is definitely going to be on my TBR books in the summer, so try not to spoil anything ;) .
 
I´ve read "paranoia" by Joseph Finder and thought it was awesome. Maybe that´s something for you.
 
I know this an old thread but I did a search for Joseph Finder and found it.

I also read "Paranoia" and loved it.

Another spy book I read was "Fallback" by Peter Niesewand many years ago and I loved that as well. In fact, I'm going to get a copy of that and read it again. I remember my english teacher in high school telling me he read it like 7 or 8 times ;). Great book.
 
Paranoia and Extraordianary Powers

Sleepy said:
I´ve read "paranoia" by Joseph Finder and thought it was awesome. Maybe that´s something for you.
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Paranoia was excellent. I love Joseph Finder's books. They always have an excellent set of twists. Another one I enjoyed was Extraordinary Powers. This one could fit into the spy/government conspiracy category
 
HermioneWeasley said:
This is going to seem a bit silly but I recently read a series of books about a spy working for MI6 and have become really interested in espionage. can you recommend any books to me, fiction and nonfiction, about spies and spying, operations, actual spies, espionage techniques? anything? Thanks!
Click to expand...

You must read all of John LeCarre's books. The book The Spy That Came In From the Cold, broke the mold on espionage novels for realism. Tinker Tailor soldier Spy. The Perfect Spy. The Russian House. Smiley's People. The Honourable Schoolboy, to name but a few.
Len Deighton is fun, but not in LeCarres class.
 
Going back to the thirties, and enjoying a bit of a resurgence now, the books of Eric Ambler are worth a shot.
 
You will like "The Guys Who Spied for China" by Gordon Basichis. This book is fictionalized, but based on an all too true story. It is currently available on Amazon and Kindle, but will soon be in independent bookstore around the country. :star5:
 
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