May 25, 2009

GIVE-AWAY: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

GIVE-AWAY: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
It's Spy Vibers appreciation and birthday week, and there are prizes to be won! Today's contest is for the first Man From U.N.C.L.E. novel. Published in 1965 by ACE, mystery/spy author Michael Avallone's "Man From U.N.C.L.E. (The Thousand Coffins Affair)" began what became the most successful and prolific TV tie-in franchise of books (23 novels) until it was surpassed by Star Trek. Said to be grittier and more violent than the TV episodes, the novels are an exciting trove of new adventures for U.N.C.L.E. fans looking for more stories.

TO WIN:
A random drawing will be made on June 25th. To enter, simply post a comment on this announcement at the Spy Vibe blog, telling us what your favorite U.N.C.L.E. memory is and why. That's it. Good Luck! Stay tuned for more prizes.

6 comments:

  1. The Man from UNCLE was my favorite T.V. Show. I was only 15 years old and I improved my english reading all the issues of the Man from UNCLE magazine, the comics and the novels that were sold in Mexico (all of them), so I decided to write my own UNCLE novel "The Broken Glasses Affair" I wrote it in spanish, but I'll send a copy to Robert Vaughn on his birthday in 1967. What was my surprise when days later I received an envelope at home with a Robert Vaughn's autographed photo, an UNCLE membership card and a letter saying how Mr. Vaughn appreciated my special gift. This is one of my fondest memories of my favorite TV show.

    Francisco Fontano

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  2. U.N.C.L.E. premiered when I was 11 years old. It was the first TV show from which I could, years later, remember plots, lines of dialogue, and even titles. I well recall the first episode I ever saw: "Finny Foot Affair," featuring a then-12-year-old Kurt Russell. But I didn't identify with him. I identified with Robert Vaughn's Napoleon Solo (and still do)!

    In the summer of '66, when the first two derived-from-episodes movies ran as a double feature at several neighborhood movie houses, my brother (another fan) and I got our mother to take us. The next week we got our father to take us again, keeping quiet the fact that Mom had already done so. (Heh, heh, heh . . .)

    Earlier that season, my English teacher hit us with one of those dreaded themes. This one wasn't so bad, however: "My Favorite TV Show." I didn't have to hesitate for a second, and wrote up all the details of "The Ultimate Computer Affair," which had just aired. My teacher's only complaint was that I hadn't explained what "Thrush" was. Gee, I thought everybody knew that. . . .

    I spent my adolescence and young adulthood on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise -- but before that I dwelt in the corridors of U.N.C.L.E. HQ, New York. U.N.C.L.E. is the fandom I come back to again and again.

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  3. I had the good fortune to meet Robert Vaughn in person a few years back. I brought my young son along and took a picture with Mr. Vaughn. I have met celbrities before and was always composed. Metting my boyhood hero had me sweaty & unsure of myself. He was very cordial & I will always remember that.

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  4. Besides being my favorite TV show it featured one of the sexiest actors I have ever seen - David McCallum. I am not a 'fan girl' but, ah, Illya Kuryakin (sigh).

    Even after all of these years I have seen him in other roles - he just gets better. He will always remained in the top five of favorites.

    There is a lot of Illya Kuryakin in Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard on NCIS.

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  5. My favorite UNCLE moment: David McCallum came to New Orleans to shoot promos for the show at WDSU's Royal street site. I didn't get to see him, but he was kind enough to provide my mom with a wealth of items for my 5 person fan club, all signed. It was a great kindness to a quintet of 12 year-old girls.

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  6. Aw rats, didn't find out about this until just now ... sigh.

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