New release: James Bond fans eagerly await the release of the new 007 novel by Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider series). Trigger Mortis, which comes out in early September, takes place in 1957 and only two weeks after the end of Goldfinger. Not only was Horowitz able to include unpublished material by Bond creator Ian Fleming, but the story sees the return of Pussy Galore! To celebrate this historic literary event, Vintage Books will release a "Trigger Mortis Edition" of Goldfinger on August 20th, 2015 that features an excerpt of the upcoming novel. More info at AmazonUK. Thanks to the Book Bond for putting this on our radar. From the Trigger Mortis press release: "James Bond is back where he belongs. Anthony Horowitz's new novel is a thrilling tour de force,
sure to delight fans of the original 007 novels and new readers alike. It also
features previously unseen material written by Bond's creator, Ian Fleming. The story begins in the lethal world of Grand Prix and an
attempt by the Russians to sabotage a race at Nürburgring, the most dangerous
track in Europe. Bond is in the driving seat but events swiftly take an
unexpected turn, pitching him into an entirely different race with implications
that could change the world. Anthony Horowitz recreates the golden age of Bond, packed
with speed, danger, strong women and fiendish villains, in this brilliantly
authentic adventure." Related posts: Lee King Perry Pussy Galore, Pussy Galore Calypso, Unseen Fleming in new 007. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: 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, Diana Rigg eBook, 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, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, 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.
New release: Otto Penzler will release a new compilation of Sherlock Holmes stories this fall. As the editor of Vintage Crime and Black Lizard anthologies, and proprietor of the Mysterious Bookshop in New York, Penzler is deeply immersed in the rich history of genre fiction. Spy Vibers may also remember him for his scholarly writings about collecting Ian Fleming's publications and the sale of his historic collection in 2010. Now Penzler has his sights set on the great detective in The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories. US editions will be released by Pantheon (HC) and Vintage (PB, Kindle) on October 27th. UK editions will be published by Head of Zeus (HC) and Vintage (PB). In addition, Goldsboro Books in the UK is offering a limited hardcover edition signed by the author (available September 28th). More info at Amazon, Amazon UK, and Head of Zeus. Penzler previously published a Sherlock Holmes library in the 1990s. From the press release: "Arguably no other character in history has been so
enduringly popular as Sherlock Holmes. From his first appearance, in Arthur
Conan Doyle's 1887 novella A Study in Scarlet, readers have loved reading
about him—and writers have loved writing about him. Here, Otto Penzler collects
83 wonderful stories about Holmes and Dr. John Watson, the majority of which
will be new to readers. Among these pages are tales by acclaimed Sherlockians
Leslie S. Klinger, Laurie R. King, Lyndsay Faye and Daniel Stashower; pastiches
by literary luminaries both classic (Kenneth Millar, P. G. Wodehouse, Dorothy
B. Hughes) and current (Anne Perry, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman); and parodies by
Conan Doyle's contemporaries James M. Barrie, O. Henry, and August Derleth." Below: Cover design for the UK hardcover edition. Related posts: Sherlock At 221B, Mystery Sunday. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: 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, Diana Rigg eBook, 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, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, 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.
Exhibit: Design Vertigo. An interesting photograph appeared on the Spy Vibe radar screen today via Katharine Boyd (Mod Tales). Taken in 2010, the image illustrates how classic 1960s Op Art aesthetics are alive and well in the contemporary art scene. A special collaboration in Milan resulted in installations at Spazio Fendi and featured this incredible black and white Op Art room by Beta Tank Berlin. Large inflatable (and reflective!) balls were included to create a more dynamic vertigo-inspiring effect. Spy Vibers may be aware that I've been working on a spy novel that includes a climactic scene in a similar environment. The book is called Elevator Girl and features a young Japanese female spy in 1965. Early drafts received high praise from Raymond Benson (James Bond, Black Stiletto) and Jeremy Duns (Paul Dark series). The manuscript is being sent around to literary agents now and I hope to share it with readers soon. In the meantime, just imagine spies fighting it out in Design Vertigo. Photo by Simona Ghizzon. Related posts: Victor Vasarely Op Maestro, Set Countdown: the 10th Victim, Striped Light Nude. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: 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, Diana Rigg eBook, 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, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, 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.
Happy Birthday to Diana Rigg. Born on this day in 1938, Rigg spent her early years in India. She returned to England at age eight and began her training at RADA in 1955. Her first big break on television was in a 1963 episode of Sentimental Agent. Broadcast two years prior to her debut as Mrs. Emma Peel on The Avengers, the young actress already displayed her trademark gravitas and irresistible intelligence and charm. Following her seasons on The Avengers, Rigg went on to appear in numerous stage productions, films, and television shows, including her own series, Diana (1973-1974). Spy Vibers continue to celebrate Rigg for her role in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), often voted the best James Bond film of all time. She appeared most recently in Game of Thrones and Doctor Who, and has expressed an interest in returning to the Royal Shakespeare Company. At age 77 she shows no signs of slowing down. "I don't want to retire," she said. "I never want to retire. What's the point of it?" She channeled her perspective on theatrical reviews in the book No Turn Unstoned in 1983 and her biography was published in 2004 by Kathleen Tracy. Paying tribute to her Avengers co-star Patrick Macnee, who passed away in June, she said, "Patrick was a very dear man and I owe hime a great deal." Macnee famously helped champion better working conditions and deals for his female co-stars and he continued to celebrate Diana Rigg and the other actresses for their importance as strong female role models in the 1960s. Selected Spy Vibe posts: Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Mods to Moongirls, Peeling Off the Trench Coats, Jean Varon, The Avengers Sing. Many Happy Returns, Diana!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: 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, Diana Rigg eBook, 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, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, 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.
New release: Mandrake the Magician comics from the 1960s return in a deluxe edition by Hermes Press! Slated for a November release, Mandrake the Magician: the Complete King Years Volume One collects the early Silver Age classics from King Comics featuring the famous crime-busting magician. Hermes always does a great job including fun extras, like vintage artifacts and original art. Spy Vibers with an interest in eccentric vigilantes, detectives, and the occult should not miss this edition. Mandrake was created by Lee Falk in 1934, two years before he launched The Phantom, and the character went on to defend the world against arch-villains and mystic baddies through a long series of comic strips, comic books, radio shows, and a cliffhanger serial. From the Hermes Press blog: "This first volume of the complete comic book run of Mandrake
the Magician presents the first five comics in the series together with all of
the back-up stories printed in King Features’ Flash Gordon title. These stories
feature artwork by such Silver Age luminaries as Don Heck, Werner Roth, and
Andre LeBlanc, with scripts by Dick Wood. Volume One also contains tons of extras including extensive
essays on Lee Falk’s Mandrake the Magician and the artists who created the
comic book series. Also included is the complete original art to one of the back-up stories." Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: 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, Diana Rigg eBook, 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, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, 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.
Research for my upcoming book about the Spy Boom and history of the genre continues to provide fun discoveries each day. It's always exciting when titles appear on my radar screen, even if they've been hiding in plain sight within the mainstream culture. I had a chance to meet up with old friend Stephen Bissette (Swamp Thing, Tyrant, Heavy Metal) last week over breakfast in Vermont. As usual, our conversation was a stimulating journey down the rabbit holes of our curiosity and the various threads and connections we've discovered doing media research. I was excited to talk about UK writer/director/producer Ralph Smart, who had worked on The Adventures of Robin Hood and HG Wells' Invisible Man before starting Danger Man with Patrick McGoohan. While I was intrigued by the apparent 1950s choice to make the Invisible Man an agent in the series, Steve pointed out Universal had already made that leap back in 1942 with Invisible Agent. I always loved the Claude Rains original, but had never explored the rest of the series. It figured the studio would channel their properties into the war effort. It was common for movies during the lead-up and early years of WWII to feature spies and saboteurs. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes was brought into the contemporary world and drafted into service in Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942), Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942), and Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943). Even Tarzan battled the Axis powers in Tarzan Triumphs (1943). With his powers of invisibility, the Invisible Man was indeed a natural choice for espionage work. Apparently the 1942 version went on missions in the buff? He was so under cover, he didn't need covers. It's too bad Ralph Smart chose to give his 1958-1960 protagonist invisible lab clothes to wear under his disguises, otherwise it really would have been a Cold War! Universal's film centered around the grandson of the original scientist, who is prompted by Pearl Harbor to use the family recipe to spy on Nazi Germany, make fools of the enemy, and to woo a double-agent dish. Unfortunately The Invisible Agent is not celebrated as a great classic, but the concept was timely. I think the studio images on their own, featuring the "invisible" hero fighting Nazis, stand as interesting artifacts of this period in spy/thriller history. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: 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, Diana Rigg eBook, 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, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, 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.
