It's been a while since we've had a proper give-away contest here and I've picked up a couple of 50-year-old treasures to share with two lucky readers. First the rules: All you you have to do is send an email to me at spyvibe[at]gmail.com with either "Avengers" or "Secret Agent" in the title (depending on which prize you want). And in the body of the e-mail, please describe some of your favorite 1960s spies and why you think they are good examples of 1960s culture. Also include your mailing address. I will choose 2 winners at random on December 16th. Notification will be by e-mail and prizes will be shipped to you at no cost. All emails will be deleted after the contest. Spy Vibe maintains the right to print/quote your spy descriptions to share with readers. Want to share your ideas but don't need a prize? That's OK! I'd love to hear from you. Now, let's get on to the prizes! Prize One: The Avengers: The Laugh Was on Lazarus by John Garforth, US paperback edition, 1967. Prize Two: Secret Agent/Danger Man: Departure Deferred by W. Howard Baker, US paperback edition, 1966. As you can see below, both books sport wonderful photo sills and designs featuring actors Patrick McGoohan, Diana Rigg, and Patrick Macnee. Cool reads and fun artifacts from the great Spy Boom. Good Luck!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, 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, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, 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, John Buss interview, 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, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, 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, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
Happy Saturday, Spy Vibers! I'm giving away some cool 1960s spy prizes, just follow the directions at SPY VIBE FRIDAY. Note: I just updated my contact info, so please re-send your entry if you haven't already. Thanks!
Thanks to all the Spy Vibers who entered our contest to celebrate one-million visitors. I heard from agents all over the US, Canada, and Europe. Winners will be chosen today- look for a direct transmission from Spy Vibe. And stand by for action as we gear up for a new series of interviews with writers and collectors and spotlight more treasures from the Spy Vibe vaults. Best, -Jason
Selected Spy Vibe posts: No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, 007 Audio Books Return, Harry Palmer Blu, One Million Prizes, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Blu-Ray, 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, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
The Spy Vibe summer contest deadline has been extended! Some readers had trouble with their e-mail and I want to give them a chance to enter. All you have to do is send a message to spy vibe[at]gmail.com with the prize title in the subject heading and your name and address. *Remember to replace [at] with the @ symbol. I will choose winners in a random drawing on August 16th. You can enter for more than one prize, but each entry must be a separate e-mail. Good luck! Prizes listed below.
Prizes: From Russia With Love (vintage 1960s Pan edition/movie cover),The Beachhead Spies (vintage 1958 paperback-great cover design!), Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (first novel with UNIT & 3rd Doctor), The Strangers #1 (cool new 1960s-inspired comic about a team of operatives w special powers), Peanuts Coaster (2 Spy Vibers will win a limited-edition Peanuts paper coaster from the Mid-Century Modern Design exhibit at the Charles Schulz Museum. What's your Spy Vibe?
Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.
Greetings Spy Vibers! The essentials from my glass lair are packed and I'm heading off to Pulpfest and all points east. While I'm away on the mission readers have a chance to win some cool prizes! All you have to do is send an e-mail to spy vibe[at]gmail.com with the prize title in the subject heading and your name and address. I will choose winners in a random drawing on August 16th. You can enter for more than one prize, but each entry must be a separate e-mail. Good luck! Prizes listed below.
Pulpfest will be an immersion into the world of classic and modern popular fiction, cliffhanger serials, radio shows, and old books and comics. I will try to post some images from the field! Readers looking for their daily dose of Spy Vibe might want to check out some of our favorite interviews with writers, artists, designers, and... Playboy Bunnies: Shane Glines (Batman animation), Richard Sala (Cat Burglar Black), Bunny Deana (1960s London Playboy Club), William Patrick Maynard (Fu Manchu), Kevin Dart (Yuki 7), Jon Gilbert (Ian Fleming: The Bibliography), and Spy Vibe creator Jason Whiton (Charles Schulz Museum interview).
Prizes are: From Russia With Love (vintage 1960s Pan edition/movie cover), The Beachhead Spies (vintage 1958 paperback-great cover design!), Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (first novel with UNIT & 3rd Doctor), The Strangers #1 (cool new 1960s-inspired comic about a team of operatives w special powers), Peanuts Coaster (2 Spy Vibers will win a limited-edition Peanuts paper coaster from the Mid-Century Modern Design exhibit at the Charles Schulz Museum. What's your Spy Vibe?
Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! That's right, I've written a novel inspired by Spy Vibe. More info at my website here.
Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about DC animation designer Shane Glines, Batman '66 and Warhol, our fiendish villains archive, Beetle Bailey 007 spoof, Cold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Lennon's Ferrari, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangers, Christopher Lee, Bettie Page, Dashiell Hammett, Miles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard, Man From UNCLE manga, Orson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here. For Your Shelf Only collecting series links: Jon Gilbert, Raymond Benson, Jeremy Duns, Peter Lorenz, David Foster, Rob Mallows, Roger Langley, Craig Arthur, Fleming Short, Matt Sherman.
Can you help to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you!
ENDS TONIGHT: Enter to win cool prizes in Spy Vibe's birthday give-away contest. As a thank you to all Spy Vibers, you have a chance to win a rare Academy-screening brochure for Tinker,Tailor,Soldier,Spy, as well as some vintage books for your collection: Ian Fleming, James Bond, Honey West, The Saint, and Doctor Who. Your entry must be received by the end of the day, TODAY. Details on the contest page here.
Spy Vibe recently turned four years old, and as a thank you to readers, I'm giving away presents! Anyone can enter to win. I only have one copy of each prize, and you can only win once. All you have to is send an email to me at spyvibe[at]gmail.com with 1) your prize choice "subject" in the subject heading and 2) your name and mailing address in the body of the email. You can enter to win more than one prize, but each entry must be a separate e-mail with the prize "subject" listed. I will pick winners in a random drawing on Monday February 3rd. That gives you two weeks to enter. Good luck!
Scroll down to see my Top Ten Countdown of favorite topics from last year. You'll find old friends like James Bond, Diabolik, The Beatles, Spy Vibe collectors, Ian Fleming scholars, a Playboy Bunny, industrial designers, and the master of the macabre mystery-adventure comic!
By the way, if you would like to support Spy Vibe in other ways, please consider making a small donation through our Paypal tip link. The costs of maintaining the domain name, URL forwarding, and mailing costs have put the squeeze on me! Any help you can manage will be greatly appreciated. Now, here are the prizes (book descriptions from Amazon unless stated otherwise).
New Prizes just added!
Prize subject #7: "SAINT". The Saint Sees it Though by Leslie Charteris. Early 1960s pb edition with Roger Moore cover. good reading copy. The final full-length Saint novel to be solely written by Charteris, the Saint investigates Opium smuggling by a syndicate in New York.
Prize subject #8: "UFO". UFO 2 Sporting Blood. excellent 1971 pb edition. The second novel based on Gerry Anderson's live-action Sci-Spy classic.
Prize subject #1: "SMUGGLERS". The Diamond Smugglers by Ian Fleming. 1964 1st US pb edition. clean reading copy. crease and lean on spine. Ian Fleming’s world travels, interests, as well as his journalism and wartime experiences, lent authority to everything he wrote. Originally published in 1957, this edition restores the original observations, photos, maps, and language used at that time. In 1957, as the Cold War raged, Ian Fleming took a respite from writing James Bond to craft a work of nonfiction every bit as tense as a Bond adventure. Aided by an ex-MI5 agent and International Diamond Security Organization operative going by the alias “John Blaize,” Fleming chronicled the IDSO’s infiltration of the “million-carat network”—the world’s most notorious diamond smuggling ring. Every year, a shadowy band of racketeers pirated a fortune in diamonds out of Africa, and the majority of the stolen gems wound up in the hands of Communist nations. In response, the IDSO commissioned a private army, led by legendary British spymaster Sir Percy Sillitoe, to penetrate and topple the ring. And when the operation was complete, the Sunday Times gave the story to Fleming, who had impressed Sillitoe with his 1956 Bond adventure Diamonds Are Forever. A remarkable feat of investigative journalism, The Diamond Smugglers is the thrilling true story behind one of the greatest spy operations in history.
Prize subject #2: "SUN". Colonel Sun 1969 pb edition. nice reading copy. creases to spine and cover. British novelist Kingsley Amis picks up where legendary author Ian Fleming left off with this Bond novel of political conspiracy, elegant espionage, international intrigue, and, of course, beautiful alliances. 007 must rescue the kidnapped M and save the Free World from evil Colonel Sun Liang-tan of the People's Liberation Army of China. After Ian Fleming's death in 1964, Glidrose Publishing decided to continue the Bond franchise with a series of well-known authors each writing a book under the pen-name Robert Markham, but only Kingsley Amis took up the offer and in 1968 Colonel Sun was published.
Prize subject #3: "INFERNO". Doctor Who Inferno. 1984 1st edition Target Books. excellent. In this exciting Doctor Who novelization, published by Target in England, the Doctor is trapped in a parallel world, unable to act as the Earth is threatened by a poisonous liquid leaking from top-secret drilling project Inferno. Story stars Pertwee's Doctor and the members of UNIT.
Prize subject #4: "HONEY". This Girl For Hire 2005 pb edition. very fine. Honey West is the nerviest, curviest P.I. in Los Angeles-or anywhere else for that matter. She's a cross between James Bond and The Avengers' Emma Peel-a girl detective with the sleuthmanship of Mike Hammer and the measurements of Marilyn Monroe. This Girl for Hire is the first in a series of darkly funny and innuendo-laden crime novels originally published in the 1950s and 1960s. In this one, Honey finds herself playing strip poker with four murder suspects...and a deck that's as stacked as she is!
Prize subject #5: "007". 007 James Bond A Report. 1965 1st US pb edition. very fine. Description from James Bond First Editions: "A more serious critique on the life and times of suave secret agent James Bond, which, unlike Kingsley Amis' 'The James Bond Dossier', was not a particularly commercial book when released and is now a rather elusive piece of Bondiana."
Prize subject #6: "TINKER". I saw an Academy Members' sneak preview of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The director and Gary Oldman were there for a Q&A afterwards, and it was interesting to hear their perspective on making this new film based on John Le Carre's classic novel. One amusing anecdote was that Oldman deliberated at length over which glasses to use for the role. He narrowed down his search once he found a vintage eyeglass specialist in Pasadena. So much of the film deals with his character's ability to make observations and to analyze the minutia- without projecting his own interior thoughts and emotions. In a film where visibility becomes theme, there are some beautifully shot moments that use the transparent and reflective nature of eyeglasses to echo what is happening in the narrative. The prize is this very cool large fold-out brochure about the story, the characters, and vocab from the world of espionage! Images below show the cover and two (of three) pages.
Happy New Year from Spy Vibe! I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and made it back to your secret lairs and bachelor pads in one piece. Here is an odd image that circulated this weekend. It has an initial campy vibe that quickly wears off when you notice how cold these ladies look. Spy Vibers, don't try this at home unless you have consent (and very high ceilings!). Does anyone know the origin of this photograph? Thank you to everyone who entered to win Spy Vibe's many holiday prizes. Your packages were sent out on Saturday and should arrive early this week. Enjoy!
