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.
