The Encyclopedia of TV Spies

Before Bond, before Maxwell Smart, andbefore Mrs. Emma Peel, we've enjoyed a wide variety of TV spies.From Dangerous Assignment to Burn Notice, we've watchedcloak-and-dagger adventures from popular successes such as Alias and Mission:Impossible to thoughtful mini-series such as The Sandbaggers tocartoons and even live animals in Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp. Our TV secret agents have worn masks and capes (Adventuresof Zorro), fought in the historical past (Hogan's Heroes, Jack ofAll Trades), been as stylish as Napoleon Solo in The Man FromU.N.C.L.E, or have been as frumpy as George Smiley in Tinker,Tailor, Soldier, Spy. No one knows more about the wide vista of theseundercover operatives than Dr. Wesley Britton, author of the highly-acclaimed2004 history of the genre, Spy Television. Now, Britton hascompiled the first indispensable reference book on television espionage,unveiling the secrets behind our beloved favorites, the nuggets we might havemissed, and the programs that disappeared without a trace after their shortoriginal runs. Britton provides the behind-the-scenes creativeprocess for TV spies, drawn from both extensive research and his interviewswith many participants. He uncovers the reasons why some dramas were eitherunforgettable hits or regrettable misses. Britton also offers analysis of the elementsthat made key shows innovative and trend-setting and why some of the bestproductions ever made never jelled with the networks or audiences. Extra features include articles on tie-in novels and how to collect TV spy music.