AVENGERS AUDIO

On the heels of learning about the upcoming Callan audio dramas from Big Finish (see Interview: Callan at 50), I'm also thrilled to see Big Finish has officially announced their release of a new audio adventure based on The Avengers novel, Too Many Targets. From the press release: "The iconic Sixties series returns in a new audio adventure – and this time John Steed will be reunited with a whole host of his former colleagues. In The Avengers: Too Many Targets, John Steed collaborates with Dr David Keel, Mrs Emma Peel, Mrs Cathy Gale and Miss Tara King in a new adaptation by John Dorney, taken from the 1990 novel of the same name, by John Peel and Dave Rogers. Two agents are dead, and their murderers sound worryingly familiar. A killer gorilla is on the loose, a deadly disease is ravaging a distant country and an eminent Doctor has been kidnapped. It’s all pretty much business as usual. But when John Steed is called in by his old boss and given an appalling task to complete at the same time as Tara is given one that’s even worse, it becomes clear that the myriad threads of a terrifying scheme are drawing together. The fate of the world hangs in the balance. Steed won’t be able to handle this case alone. The Avengers are needed. All of them. The role of the dapper spy, John Steed, will be reprised by Julian Wadham (The English Patient, The Iron Lady, Outlander) who has played the role in 34 The Avengers episodes produced by Big Finish Productions. Standing by his side will be Olivia Poulet (Back, In the Loop, The Thick of It, Sherlock) reprising the role of Mrs Emma Peel (from Big Finish’s The Avengers Comic Strip Adaptations), and Anthony Howell (Foyle’s War, The Other Boleyn Girl, Dracula) as Dr David Keel (from The Avengers: The Lost Episodes). Lucy Briggs-Owen (Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders) also returns as Carol Wilson, Keel’s devoted nurse." More info at Big Finish. I remember reading the novel when it came out in 1990 and being pretty excited to see Steed reunited with all of his partners. It will be fun to see how the new audio adaptation turns out! Related posts:  Interview: Alan Hayes (early Avengers Book), The Prisoner Audio Review vol 1, The Prisoner Audio Review vol 2, Avengerworld Book, Umbrella Man.

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Interview: Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Mata Hair Exhibit, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

AVENGERWORLD BOOK

Spy Vibers celebrate what would have been Patrick Macnee's 94th birthday with the release of Avengerworld, an incredible new anthology about growing up with The Avengers and the impact of the series. Alan Hayes (author of Avengers books and The Avengers Declassified) created the project, for which I contributed a lengthy afterword. It was thrilling to join Alan, Jaz Wiseman, Dave Rogers, Rodney Marshall, and others in the effort and I'm psyched to finally let the cat out of the bag! The book is now available in paperback and deluxe hardcover editions at Hidden Tiger and proceeds go to support a great charity! The jacket sports a beautiful illustrated design inspired by the classic UK TV annuals. A discount code LULURC should save purchasers 25% and gain them free priority shipping. The code may not be valid in some countries, but it did work for me in the US. More details below.

"From its debut in 1961, The Avengers soon became a worldwide cultural phenomenon, rewriting the rulebook of television drama along the way. It was a revolutionary series that led by example, always playfully pushing the boundaries, twisting perceptions and defying those who wished to pigeonhole it. Despite its lofty achievements, it never forgot that its primary objective was to entertain its audience. And entertain it most certainly did, inspiring successive generations to welcome The Avengers into their hearts. Right from its foreword by pioneering television historian Dave Rogers to its afterword by Jason Whiton of Spy Vibe, Avengerworld celebrates the series, its international fandom and its fans. Over the course of more than forty essays, Avengers fans the world over relate how they first encountered the series, how they grew up with it at their sides, forged friendships, engaged with fandom, and were inspired to do extraordinary things. Proceeds from this book will be donated to Champion Chanzige, a charity organisation that exists to improve conditions for underprivileged children at a primary school in Southern Tanzania – and helps them to do extraordinary things, too."

Further words about Avengerworld from Alan Hayes: "I'm delighted to announce that today, to coincide with what would have been the late, great Patrick Macnee's 94th birthday, Avengerworld, a charity anthology that I have co-ordinated and edited is published in his memory. The book's been in the works for more than a year and obviously it didn't start out as a tribute to Patrick, but the news of his sad death last year and the focus of many essays on what an inspiration he was... well, it just seemed to be the perfect thing to dedicate to one of the great heroes of television drama. The essays (and there are 43 of them!) take the theme "The Avengers in my life" and each author approaches the subject from his or her unique perspective. Fans from many nations are represented in the book and they reveal what it was like to grow up with The Avengers in different parts of the world - Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, the UK and the USA. Among the writers are the pioneering television historian Dave Rogers, who has written the foreword - returning to write about The Avengers after more than ten years - and Jason Whiton of Spy Vibe, who delivers the afterword. It wouldn't be fair to highlight specific writers beyond these two, but suffice it to say that the quality of writing is very high throughout the book. There are names that you may well recognise and others that will be new to you. I've worked with all these people over the last year, and I must say it has been a huge pleasure to co-ordinate the Avengerworld book - one of the highlights of my time in fandom. The book is, I believe, valuable in the way that it documents fan experiences in different cultures and environments, but it is doubly important in that it is a charity title which will help improve the lives of underprivileged children at a primary school in Chanzige, South Tanzania. Each book sold benefits our charity partner Champion Chanzige, a small but very worthy organisation which makes a real difference to the children and staff at the school."

Recent related posts: Avengers Pop Art Interview, Diana Rigg Auto Show, Avengers Interview: Alan Hayes, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Avengers Interview: Mike Richardson, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, The Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Avengers Interview: Rodney Marshall, Avengers Interview Rodney Marshall 2, John Buss Interview, Farewell Steed, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Screening, Avengers Season 5 Titles, The Avengers Sing, Lost Avengers Vol 2-7, Richard Sala Interview: Super Enigmatix, Adventures of Richard Sala Interview. Below: duotone/design by Jason Whiton (Spy Vibe).

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fritz Lang Spies, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, 007 SPECTRE Comics, Casino Royale Folio, New James Bond Comic, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Early Saint Box Set, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Radiophonic Exhibit, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, Jeremy Duns on Bond, John Buss interview, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Art of Modesty, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, No 6 Festival, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.