Spybrary Spy Podcast

About John Le Carre and the Cold War Toby Manning recently published his work which critically examines John Le Carre and the Cold War. Toby joins Shane Whaley on the Spybrary Spy Podcast to tell us more.

On Episode 32 of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, host Shane Whaley discovers more about Edinburgh Spy Week 2018 with one of the organisers, Professor Penny Fielding. Penny reveals a stellar line up of speakers who will be starring at the fifth Edinburgh Spy Week. Can't make Edinburgh? This interview is still worth listening to you as Shane finds out more about Prof Fielding's love for spy literature and movies. It's fun being a podcaster. I just got to chat for over an hour with an English Literature Professor all about spy books. Not my usual Saturday afternoon company Edinburgh Spy Week is a unique public event that focuses on espionage fiction and film and the ways in which secrecy and spying run through our history and culture. They bring together creative practitioners and academic researchers to talk about books and ideas in public and accessible ways. These are some of the topics we cover on Episode 32: What exactly is Edinburgh Spy Week 2018?- When is it? - Where is it? - What's in the programme? - Who is speaking? - what's the cost? - how can people register? Penny shares with us the origins of Edinburgh Spy Week and how it got started. What is Penny's favourite session since the inaugural Edinbrugh Spy Week How Professor Fielding become interested in espionage books and movies. Why is spy fiction so male-dominated (both in authors, and in readership) as opposed to a genre such as mystery? What does Professor Fielding think of the female characters in John Le Carre's spy novels? Which spy authors does she think portrays female characters credibly? Which spy book does she think has the best written female characters? If Spybrary could arrange for Prof. Fielding to meet John Le Carre over a cup of tea in Cornwall what would she ask him? As an English Literature Professor and the organiser of Edinburgh Spy Week 2018 what does she feel is the gold standard of spy fiction writing? As a fan of Le Carre's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy what is her take on the tv adaptation of the novel and the movie version. If she could be a character in a spy book or movie, who would she choose? And Much Much More! (Including, as you would expect from an English Lit Professor tons of book recommendations!) Edinburgh Spy Week 2018 Line Up

Billed as 'Spy Con celebrates espionage and Spy Fiction in all media from literature to television and film. Come be a special agent for the weekend!' Spybrary Host Shane Whaley was keen to find out more, so he got chatting with one of the organizers of Spy Con Matt Sherman who was kind enough to come on the podcast to share more with our listeners. On this episode of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, Matt reveals more about the first ever Spy Con, including who is lined up to speak and what special exhibits may be on show! One of the special guests will be James Bond Girl Plenty O'Toole whose swimming pool landing provides one of the best lines in any 007 movie! Matt admits Spy Con will be a bit 'Bond top heavy' but will include discussion, content and fans from other spy shows including The Man from UNCLE, The Avengers and many more. There is also a Spy School track on offer. 'Don't miss out on hearing real spies talk about their experiences, as well as studying the works of Fleming, Le Carre and others for information on how to do everything from avoid detection to kill someone with your pinky finger (not really!).' Matt also shares with us how you could be a speaker or panelist at Spy Con. A splendid opportunity for spy geeks and authors to share their knowledge with like minded spy fans. Of course, Shane takes the opportunity to ask Matt more about his Bond location tours, 007 collection and of course he is interrogated sorry questioned in the quick fire round! For more information visit Spy Con Official Website. SPYBRARY COMMENT - This is the first ever Spy Con event I would love to see these happen every year so if you can get yourself down to Atlanta please do consider registering. I will be attending and supporting the event and I would love to meet Spybrary listeners there. Rumour has it a certain Jack Barsky, the East German born KGB sleeper agent will be attending too! In this illuminating interview Matt also reveals: Who in the James Bond novels, other than 007 would he like to meet and why What he would ask Ian Fleming if he had a time machine and went back in time What his favourite item of his 007 collection is And what he must own that he doesn't right now Out of the 300 007 locations he has visited, which is his all time favourite Out of the very few locations left which one tops his list to visit And Much More About Matt Sherman of BondFanEvents.com Matt Sherman, one of the world's top James Bond experts, has collected James Bond books, and movie props for more than 35 years. His Bond memorabilia and his fan meets have featured on C-SPAN, DISCOVERY, HGTV, VH-1, TLC, TNN and in Ripley's Believe It or Not! More than 120 special guests have appeared at Sherman's events, including Bond actors, authors and filmmakers, along with real world intelligence officers (the preferred euphemism for secret agents) from the FBI,CIA, NSA and the KGB. A Bond locations maven, Sherman has led fan tours to hundreds of Bond film and book locations. His contributions have appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Parade Magazine, Time and now on the Spybrary Spy Podcast.

Thriller Author Tim Stevens, the man behind the John Purkiss books talks to Spybrary Today we are joined by a spy author who Jeremy Duns says 'should be as well known as Lee Child.' Spywrite.com and Spybrary contributor Jeff Quest also gives our guests' first spy novel 'Ratcatcher' a big thumbs up. (Hear Jeff talk about his favourite spy novels on Episode 008 of the Spybrary Spy Podcast.) The author is Mr Tim Stevens who joins us today to talk about his main spy character John Purkiss who features in a series of 6 spy novels. Tim has self published 16 novels which he has managed to write whilst being a full time practicing physician. He is also married with 3 kids and a cat so listen in as he shares his tips on how to make time for writing and why you should consider self-publishing. He also announces news on the eagerly awaited 7th Purkiss novel. On Episode 29 of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, author Tim Stevens shares with us What is it about the spy thriller genre that appeals to him. Why Adam Hall and Alistair McLean are some of his favourite authors. How he found John Le Carre's work 'impenetrable' on a first read but grew to appreciate the novels later in life. Which authors have inspired him He talks us through his writing and main characters principally John Purkiss and Joe Venn. How back in the early days, he worked with Jeremy Duns. Both critiquing each others work. Why a book agent suggested he try self-publishing his work Why you should read his John Purkiss books in order, start with Ratcatcher. What advice he has for our listeners who want to write and self publish a book? How he manages his time to write, Tim Stevens is married with 3 kids, is a practicing physician oh and has a cat. Announces news on the much awaited 7th installment of the John Purkiss series. And Much Much More! Enjoyed this episode of Spybrary? Come and talk Spy books and movies with other spy fans in our private Spybrary listeners facebook group

Are you ready for our second installment of DEAD DROP 5? Today's guest is no stranger to East Germany. He is deep under cover, embedded in Communist East Berlin, he has asked his SIS handler to leave him 5 of his favorite spy books in their dead drop location in the Friedrichshain park. Ian Sanders of the Manchester Military History Society has been reading spy books for many years and has written almost 400 reviews on military,cold war and espionage books on goodreads. Today he is going to whittle those 400 books down to just a handful ….this is DEAD DROP FIVE on the Spybrary Spy Podcast. Ian's Dead Drop 5 picks are:

Spybrary Brush Pass: Agent Jeff Quest shares his thoughts on Antony Johnston's The Exphoria Code Tune in to episode 27 of the Spybrary Podcast at hear what Spybrarian Jeff Quest had to to say about The Exphoria Code and why you might want to give it a go. What is The Exphoria Code all about then? Official blurb... "Very possibly the definitive espionage thriller of the early 21st century" – Alan Moore Brigitte Sharp, a cyber-espionage specialist with MI6, has been deskbound and in therapy for three years, after her first field mission in Syria went disastrously wrong. But now one of her best friends has been murdered, and Bridge believes his death is connected to strange posts appearing on the internet, carrying encrypted hidden messages. When Bridge decodes the messages, she discovers evidence of a mole inside a top-secret Anglo-French military drone project. Her MI6 bosses force her back into the field, sending her undercover in France to find and expose the mole… who may also be her friend's killer. But the truth behind the Exphoria code is worse than she could have imagined. Soon she's on the run, desperate and alone – as a nuclear terrorist plot unfolds and threatens everything Bridge has left to live for. Sounds intriguing, so who is Antony Johnston? Taken from his official website: Antony Johnston is a New York Times bestselling graphic novelist, author, and games writer with more than fifty published titles. The Charlize Theron movie ATOMIC BLONDE is based on his graphic novel THE COLDEST CITY. His epic series WASTELAND is one of only a handful of such longform achievements in comics. His first video game, DEAD SPACE, redefined a genre. Antony's other books and graphic novels include THE EXPHORIA CODE, THE FUSE, DAREDEVIL, JULIUS, the ALEX RIDER graphic novels, DEAD SPACE transmedia comics, and the adaptation of Alan Moore's 'lost screenplay' FASHION BEAST. His video games include SHADOW OF MORDOR, BLACKWOOD CROSSING, THE ASSEMBLY, DEAD SPACE EXTRACTION, ZOMBIU, and more. Antony also hosts the podcast UNJUSTLY MALIGNED, and records music under the alias SILENCAEON. What is a Brush Pass review exactly? These are first impression reviews sent in by Spybrary listeners and give us their first impressions of a spy book, spy movie or spy tv show soon after finishing it. We encourage all our Spybrary listeners to record their own brush reviews and send them in. Remember we are not academics here, Spybrary Spy Podcast is by spy fans for spy fans. (And we don't always have to agree - vive la difference and all that.) If you want to send in a brush pass review, record it on your smartphone and email to shane@spybrary.com We will do the rest. If your brush pass episode is aired then you will receive a $20 Amazon voucher as a thank you from us all at Spybrary! Check out our other Brush Pass reviews here Enjoyed this episode of Spybrary? Come and talk Spy books and movies with other spy fans in our private Spybrary listeners facebook group

Spybrary Brush Pass: The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton Spybrarian Matthew Kresal shares his brush pass review on The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton by Jefferson Morley which has recently been published. According to Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes -The History of the CIA 'The Ghost' is.. "The best book ever written about the strangest CIA chief who ever lived." - Listen to today's episode of Spybrary and hear what reader and Spybrary contributor Matthew thinks of it and does he recommend spy fans give it a go? More information on James Jesus Angelton in the resources section below. About the author: JEFFERSON MORLEY is a journalist and editor who has worked in Washington journalism for over thirty years, fifteen of which were spent as an editor and reporter at The Washington Post. The author of Our Man in Mexico, a biography of the CIA's Mexico City station chief Winston Scott, Morley has written about intelligence, military, and political subjects for Salon, The Atlantic, and The Intercept, among others. He is the editor of JFK Facts, a blog. He lives in Washington, DC. What is a Brush Pass review exactly? These are first impression reviews sent in by Spybrary listeners and give us their first impressions of a spy book, spy movie or spy tv show soon after finishing it. We encourage all our Spybrary listeners to record their own brush reviews and send them in. Remember we are not academics here, Spybrary Spy Podcast is by spy fans for spy fans. If you want to send in a brush pass review, record it on your smartphone and email to shane@spybrary.com We will do the rest. If your brush pass episode is aired then you will receive a $20 Amazon voucher as a thank you from us all at Spybrary! Check out our other Brush Pass reviews here Enjoyed this episode of Spybrary? Come and talk Spy books and movies with other spy fans in our private Spybrary listeners facebook group

On Episode 25 of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, host Shane Whaley talks to author Christopher McIntosh about his cold war spy thriller 'The Lebensborn Spy' What is the Lebensborn Spy all about then? 'The Lebensborn Spy is a novel based on a real situation during the Cold War, in which former inmates of the Nazi Lebensborn maternity and children's homes were used as spies by the East German intelligence service. The story involves one such spy, who goes to Denmark to carry out espionage for the German Democratic Republic and to find his mother, who he believes to be a Danish woman who had a love affair with a German soldier during the wartime occupation and then gave her infant son away to the Lebensborn. There is a parallel thread to the story, involving another young man living in East Berlin. The two men and the Danish family become caught up in a web of deception, betrayal and love. The story, which is also about the search for one's origins and one's native homeland, moves to a dramatic climax, which reaches a startling dénouement in the re-united Berlin of 1990.' In this engaging interview for Spybrary, Christopher McIntosh shares with us: Why his book is dedicated to all former Lebensborn children' For those of our listeners who are not familiar with Lebensborn Christopher tell us more. (Check the resources section below for more links on this.) How Der Spiegel inspired him to write the book Why lovers of spy thrillers will enjoy his book. What kind of research he completed for this book. His own insight into the main characters of the Lebensborn Spy. How a former GDR stasi prisoner (who was bought by the West) helped him with research on the GDR. What was the hardest part of writing his book. What was his favorite chapter (or part) to write and why His advice for aspiring authors? And Much More!

Brian Gray of the Sunday Spy Show talks to us about his London Spy Tours and much much more! Ever wondered what its like to go on a London Spy Tour? Today we learn more about the Intelligence Trail's London Spy Tours. Spy Tours are becoming very popular with spy aficionados, both with those who enjoy the fictional spy books of James Bond or Tom Clancy right through to impressive non fiction spy writing from the likes of Nigel West and Ben MacIntyre. Many of us want to check out the locations (either real or fictional) of brush passes, dead drops, assassination by poison umbrellas or tea laced with polonium, interrogations, arrests, chases. KGB signal sites etc Spy museums are also becoming popular, the two that immediately spring to mind are the German Spy Museum in Berlin and our friends at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC. (Both come highly Spybrary recommended.) Next year NYC joins the spy tour fray with Spyscape but more on that in another episode. In this edition of the Spybrary Spy Podcast, we get to spend an hour with Brian Gray of the Sunday Spy Show. Not only is Brian an expert on espionage and the security services, he also offers London Spy Tours including the epic (my word not his) Intelligence Trail billed as 'The In-depth London Spy Tour.' 'The 'Trail offers the most comprehensive content-rich introduction to the shadow world of Britain's main intelligence services – MI5, MI6, and GCHQ – on the streets of London, in key locations associated with the spy world throughout the decades. Whether you're London-based or coming from afar, if you're wanting to discover the real triumphs and tragedies, and the trials and tribulations surrounding MI5 and MI6 through the years on the streets of central London – you've come to the right place.' In this episode of Spybrary: We ask Brian how he amassed so much knowledge on spying and espionage Brian shares with us the spy books that got him interested in espionage, spying and the security services. How does Brian respond when he ask him if he has worked for the intelligence services? Brian gives us the lowdown on all his London Spy Tours including The Classic Tour, The Early Years Tour, The Cold War Tour and the Sexpionage Tour. He reveals why his 'Mayfair and Mother Russia' tour is his most hard-core London Spy Tour yet! Brian Gray tells us what inspired to him to start up the Intelligence Trail spy tour. He shares with us which celebrities have enjoyed his London Spy Tour and what famous people have 'tour-bombed' the Trail. He tells us how he helped with the PR campaign for the remake of the Man from U.N.C.L.E Listen to the podcast and hear what part of the Intelligence Trail surprises people the most And Much Much More...so much more that we had to split the interview into two parts! Brian will be back to share with us his thoughts on the challenges facing MI5 and MI6. Shane cheekily asks him what he would do if he locked Brian in a room with Kim Philby or George Blake. Stay tuned for that one.! Recently, Spybrary assembled a crack team of spy fans to check out Brian's London Spy Tour. This elite team included Jeff Quest (Spywrite,) Gary Dexter, Ian Sanders (Manchester Military History Society), Rob Mallows (The Deighton Dossier), Tom (Literary 007) and Spybrary host Shane Whaley. They all gave the Intelligence Trail 5 stars and agree that Brian's London Spy Tours are all killer and no filler. Check out the Tripadvisor reviews if you are intrigued and interested in going on the tour. Follow the Intelligence Trail on: Twitter Facebook Official Site Check out Jeff Quests write up on recent London Spy Tours If you enjoy chatting spy books and spy movies, or have a question or point of interest on London Spy Tours come and join our private Spybrary Facebook Group.

Today we launch a new series for Spybrary, it is called DEAD DROP 5. Today's guest is deep under cover, behind the wall embedded in Communist East Berlin, he has asked his SIS handler to leave him 5 of his favorite spy books in their dead drop location in the Friedrichshain park. David Craggs has been reading spy books for over 50 years, he is a frequent contributor to the excellent Literary007.com and today he is going to share with us which books he wants deposited in his DEAD DROP 5 and why! We deep dive into David's choices and get his take on the spy book landscape.