The Seniors’ College Association of Nova Scotia Spy School 201 … · 2020-01-23 · 2017-11-01 1...

2017-11-01

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Spy School 201Post Cold War Fiction Ian MacVicar, CD, DSS

30 Oct 2017

The Seniors’ College Association of Nova Scotia

presents

Homework for 30 October 2017

• Q1 – Who was Karla (who played her/him), why did he/she not speak, and what was his/her distinguishing personal habit?

• Q2 – Who was “the last little doll” inside Bill Hayden?

• Q3 – There are two spy agencies with the initials NISA. One is real, one is fictional with a Canadian connection. Who are they?

• Q4 Why should spies never say rosewater in Iran even in fun? There is a Canadian connection to this one too.

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Homework – Answers (Ian)• Q1 - “Karla” is a fictional character in several novels by John le Carré. A Soviet

Intelligence officer, he most often appears as a distant antagonist of “George Smiley.” His real name is never revealed; instead he takes his codename from that of the first network that he recruited. His most prominent appearances are in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974); The Honourable Schoolboy (1977); and Smiley's People (1979), three novels which were later published as a single omnibus edition entitled Smiley Versus Karla (1982) or The Quest for Karla in the US.

• In the BBC's television adaptations of both Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People, “Karla” is played by British actor Patrick Stewart. Karla is only seen briefly in one scene in each production and does not speak.

• Most identifiable characteristic is his habit of chain smoking Camels.• References: • A. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_(character)• B. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiley_Versus_Karla

30 Oct 2017SCANS – Spy School 201

© 2017 Ian MacVicar, CD, DSS4

Homework – Answers (Ian)• Q2 - Smiley uncovers mole - Bill Haydon, in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

(1974). • Haydon reveals that Karla has directed all of his activities, including

encouraging Haydon to cuckold Smiley. He tells him that Karla regarded Smiley as the person most likely to uncover Haydon and that the affair was calculated to cloud Smiley's judgement and cast any accusations he may make as the vengeance of a wronged husband.

• As he drives to break the news to his cheating spouse, Smiley reflects that Haydon's self-justifying "confession" was an inadequate explanation for becoming a traitor in the first place, and only Karla discerned the quality in Haydon that allowed him to be turned. In Smiley's words, only Karla saw "the last little doll inside Bill Haydon.“

• Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_(character)



Homework – Answers (Hugh)

• Q3 -

• Q4 -



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_(character)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiley_Versus_Karla

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_(character)

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Has the Spy Novel Come in from the Cold (War)?

•What has changed in the genre?

•What has remained constant genre?

•How have genre writers adapted?

• Limitations:• 1990-2017• English language• Espionage central to plot• Time and preference.



1990-2001 Themes

• Temporary loss of nemeses, New York Times briefly stopped publishing spy novel review column.

•Historical themes (e.g. WWII).

•Cold War authors continue; new authors emerge.

•Degree of reorientation to include transnational crime.



Tallinnn, Estonia

1990-2001 Spy Novels – U.S.A.

• Norman Mailer. (1991). Harlot’s Ghost.

• Joseph Finder. (1991). Moscow Club.

• Jim DeFelice. (1993). Coyote Bird.

• Gayle Lynds. (1996). Masquerade.

• Daniel Silva. (1996). The Unlikely Spy.

• New U.S. authors:• David Ignatius. (1997). Agents of Innocence.

• David Baldacci. (1999). Saving Faith.

• Vince Flynn. (1999). Term Limits; and series featuring C-Terrorism expert Mitch Rapp.

30 Oct 2017SCANS – Spy School 201© Ian MacVicar, CD, DSS

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1985- 2001 Spy Novels – U.K.

• Robert Harris. (1985). Enigma (WWII).• 2001 film. Dir. Robert Apted

• Hugh Laurie. (1996). The Gun Seller.• House actor

• Andy McNab. (1998). Remote Control.• Author (1993) Bravo Two Zero• Intro “Nick Stone”

• Henry Porter. (2000). Remembrance Day.

• Charles Cumming. (2001). A Spy By Nature. • (U.S. release (2007)).• Intro of Alex Milius30 Oct 2017

SCANS – Spy School 201© Ian MacVicar, CD, DSS

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2001-2010 Themes• Global War on Terror – a.k.a. “GWOT”• Recognition of continued relevance of the genre:

• 2004. International Thrillers Writers (ITW) established.• Murder mystery, detective, suspense, horror, supernatural, action,

espionage, true crime, war. • 2006. First ITW Conference.• http://thrillerwriters.org/

• “Insider” authors exploring personal/professional past.• Not new (e.g. Childers, Buchan, Maugham, LeCarré, Forsyth….)• Growing….

• Integration of Info Technology (IT).• Old….and….new enemies….• Spying, but not necessarily by nation-states….30 Oct 2017

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2001-2010 New & Established Authors (U.S.A)

New authors:

• Brad Thor. (2002). The Lions of Lucerne.

• Ted Bell. (2003). Hawke.• Intro Alexander Hawke

• Alex Berenson. (2006). The Faithful Spy.• Intro John Wells

• Brett Battles. (2007). The Cleaner.• Intro Jonathon Quinn.

• Ellis Goodman. (2008). Bear Any Burden.

• Olen Steinhauer. (2009). The Tourist.

Established authors entering spy fiction:• Kyle Mills. (2005). Fade.

• James Patterson. (2010). Private.30 Oct 2017


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http://thrillerwriters.org/

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Post Cold War – Insider Fiction

Nation-state competition fading….???

A new Cold War?

Adaptable?


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2001-2010 “Insider” Authors (U.S.A)• Barry Eisler. (2002). A Clean Kill in Tokyo

• Assassin John Rain dating daughter of victim

• Charles Gillen. (2003). Saigon Station;• Apprentice spy scapegoat for 1968 Tet Offensive

• Raelyn Hillhouse. (2004). Rift Zone• Religious icon smuggling to learn fate of relative in U.S.S.R.

• Gene Coyle. • (2004). The Dream Merchant of Lisbon; MICE recruiting • (2009). No Game For Amateurs; WWII Japanese mole hunt

• Thomas F. Murphy. (2005). Edge of Allegiance• Double agent recruiting.

• Mike Ramsdell (2005). A Train to Potevka; • Failed spy mission causes U.S. spy to flee by train across Russia.

• T. H. E. Hill. (2008). Voices Under Berlin;• Black humour tale of a Cold War spy tunnel under Berlin.

• Duane Evans. (2009). North from Calcutta.• Pakistani agent tries to prevent Kashmiri terrorist attack on India.



Jason Matthews (b. 1952)http://www.simonandschuster.ca/authors/Jason-Matthews/406807038

• (2013). Red Sparrow. • Dominika Egorova, SVR, struggles against being a

sparrow targeting Nate Walsh, CIA mole.• Recipes (à la Len Deighton) end of each chapter.• “a primer in twenty-first century spying” • 2 March 2018. Release of movie Red Sparrow.

• (2015). Palace of Treason.• Double-agent Dominika survives an Iranian

assassination attempt and Putin’s affections.• resurrected the spy novel…to reflect the deadly serious

stakes of the new Cold War. On a scale of one to five stars, Palace of Treason is a six” (New York Journal of Books).

• (2018). The Kremlin’s Candidate. • February. Russian mole who may reveal Dominika.30 Oct 2017


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http://www.simonandschuster.ca/authors/Jason-Matthews/406807038

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Jason Matthews on MICE• 33 year career, denied area

operations.• “You wake up in the morning,

and there’s a cigarette stubbed out in the ashtray. An entry team has come in the house at night and left the butt to let you know they were there.”

• CIA Station Chief.• Recruited agents.• Counter-proliferation and

Counter-Terrorism.


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T.L. Williams (b. 1950)

Ex-CIA (1980-2009) agent:

• (2013). Cooper's Revenge. • Intro Logan Alexander.

• 2013 Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Award.

• (2014). Unit 400:The Assassins.

• (2017). Zero Day: China's Cyber Wars.• 2017 Florida Authors and Publishers

Association's Gold President's Award in Adult Fiction-General, and E-Book.

• October 2017 - Silver Medal, Royal Palm Literary Awards competition.


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http://www.tl-williams.com/

2001-2010 New & Insider Authors (U.K.)• New authors:

• Stephen Leather. (2004). Hard Landing; • First book in the Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd series.• Undercover cop versus transnational drug dealer.• Research in Belmarsh Prison, South London and Durham Prison.• Crime Writer’s Association nominated Hard Landing for the Ian Fleming

Steel Dagger Award for best adventure/thriller novel

• William Boyd. (2006). Restless. • Young woman discovers her mother was a BSC spy during World War II.• Inner world of double agents.

• Insider Authors:• Alan Stripp. (2001). The Code Snatch (Bletchley Park cryptographer);

• 1944 Operation Paperchase' steal the Japanese military 2244 codebook about to be used throughout South-East Asia.

• Dame Stella Rimington. (DG MI5 1992-1996): Next slides



http://www.tl-williams.com/

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Stella Rimington, DCB, b. 1935



• MI5 career – 1969 to 1996

• Counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism.

• 1992 - First acknowledged DG MI5

• 1992-1996 - First female DG MI5

• 2001. Autobiography Open Secret rated by majority of Goodreads raters as “dry,” “not revealing.”

• http://dangerouswomenproject.org/2016/04/08/dame-stella-rimington/

Stella Rimington, DCB

• (2004). At Risk. • Intro MI5 Liz Carlyle.

• (2006). Secret Asset.

• (2007). Illegal Action.

• (2008). Deadline.

• (2009). Present Danger.

• (2011). Rip Tide.

• (2012). The Geneva Trap.

• (2014). Close Call.

• (2016). Breaking Cover



Matthew Dunn – Ex MI6

• (2011). Spartan (UK) Spycatcher (USA)• (Intro Will Cochrane).

• Tagline - “Only a real spy can catch another spy.”

• (2012). Sentinel: A Spycatcher Novel.

• (2013). Slingshot: A Spycatcher Novel.

• (2014). Counter Spy: A Spycatcher Novella.

• (2014). Dark Spies: A Spycatcher Novel.

• (2014). The Recruit: A Spycatcher Novel.

• (2015). The Spy House: A Will Cochrane Novel.

• (2016). A Soldier's Revenge: A Will Cochrane Novel.30 Oct 2017


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http://dangerouswomenproject.org/2016/04/08/dame-stella-rimington/

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Matthew Dunn – Ex SIS (MI6)

• PhD Intl Relations, Cambridge

• 1995. Six months SIS selection training: • involving tests of mental agility,

• role playing, repeated interviews, intrusive vetting.

• 5 of 12 on his SIS course were women

• Successful ones a cross-section of UK society.

• Website (inoperative): http://www.matthewdunnbooks.com/



2001-2010 IT Integration

• Swede Stieg Larsson, (d. 2004), world's second best-selling author 2008 due to his Millennium series,

• (Anti)heroine /hacker Lisbeth Salander.

• Published posthumously:• (2005). The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.• (2006). The Girl who Played with Fire.• (2008). The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.

• David Langerkrantz. • (2015). The Girl in the Spider’s Web.• (2017). The Girl Who Takes and Eye for an Eye.

• http://stieglarsson.com/



Anthony Hyde (b. 1946)

• (1985). The Red Fox. History of Russia/U.S.S.R.• “Bearing in mind developments in Putin’s Russia, I

think my look back was insightful; but that’s for the reader to judge.”

• 1992. China Lake. Overlap in ballistic missile development between Nazi concentration camp Dora and Cold War U.S. Naval Weapons Station.• “One vaguely thought the human race was

determined to destroy itself. After visiting the China Lake Research station, one feels quite certain of it…“

• http://www.anthonyhyde.ca/


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http://www.matthewdunnbooks.com/

http://stieglarsson.com/

http://www.anthonyhyde.ca/

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Adrian de Hoog

• Canadian diplomat – Consul-General.

• The Berlin Assignment (2006). Post-wall Berlin and German reunification problems.

• Borderless Deceit (2007). Canadian role in intelligence war against weapons trafficking and money laundering.

• Common. Detailed psychological profiles.• “Literary” spy novels that make you think:

• The Berlin Assignment illustrates the social dynamics of post-wall Berlin.

• Borderless Deceit appeal to readers with an appetite for the intricacies of technical intelligence collection and analysis.

• Moral of both stories expressed by a Gorbachev quote in The Berlin Assignment. When asked his opinion of the Honecker regime just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Gorbachev replies, “History punishes those who act too late.” (TBA p. 420).



James Phelan (b. 1979)/

• ADFA grad, ex-RAN Clearance Diver, served in Iraq, East Timor, Afghanistan.

• International investigative journalist.

• “The right man in the wrong place.”

• Spy books (hero “Lachlan Fox”):• (2006). Fox Hunt.• (2007). Patriot Act. • (2008). Blood Oil. • (2010). Liquid Gold.• (2010). Red Ice.

• YA fiction:• (2014). Thirteen. (The Last Thirteen series)• (2010). Chasers. (Alone series).

30 Oct 2017 SCANS – Spy School 201© 2017 Ian MacVicar, CD, DSS

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http://www.jamesphelan.com.au

Post Cold War – British “Masters”Le Carré, Deighton+2

Nation-state competition fading….???

Rise of: 1) transnationalism, 2) electronic surveillance, 3) economic globalization.

Relevant?

Adaptable?


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http://www.jamesphelan.com.au/

http://www.jamesphelan.com.au/

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John le Carré(b. David Cornwall, 1931) – Post Cold War

• .(1963). The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

• 12 post Cold War novels

• .(1990). The Secret Pilgrim.

• 2008. The Times ranks him 22nd on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945.“

• .(2010). Our Kind of Traitor.

• 2011. Wins annual Goethe Medal.

• 2012. Doctor of Letters (h.c.), Oxford University

• .(2013). A Delicate Truth.

• .(2017). A Legacy of Spies.


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John le Carré – Post Cold War Non-Fiction

• The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life (2016)

• LeCarré remains relevant, adapts

• "Out of the secret world I once knew, I have tried to make a theatre for the larger worlds we inhabit. First comes the imagining, then the search for reality. Then back to the imagining, and to the desk where I'm sitting now."

• https://www.johnlecarre.com/


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John le Carré

• Remains relevant – adapts….

• (2017). A Legacy of Spies. (Retrospective through class action lawsuit by descendants of Cold War Operation WINDFALL casualties).• Smiley saga without the moral imperative of anti-Communism.

“What I was saying to myself is: This is a story now that will be viewed solely in humanistic terms, not in political terms. This is the cost of behaving like this. The cost of living like this.”

• 7 Sep 2017. "These stages that Trump is going through in the United States and the stirring of racial hatred ... these are absolutely comparable signs of the rise of fascism and it’s contagious, it’s infectious. Fascism is up and running in Poland and Hungary. There’s an encouragement about."


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https://www.johnlecarre.com/

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Len Deighton – Post Cold War

• “The poet of the spy story”

• (1994). Faith. Continues Bernard Sampson saga from 1987 Spyline. Gradual fall of DDR.

• (1995). Hope. Bernard and wife Fiona struggle to reconcile treachery in their marriage.

• (1996). Charity. Winds up Bernard Sampson story.

• Remains in the Cold War setting.

• http://www.deightondossier.net/



Ken Follett (b. 1949)

• (2000). Code to Zero. Cold War rocket scientist that overcomes induced amnesia, slowly uncovering a conspiracy to hold U.S.A. back in space race.

• (2001). Jackdaws. WWII SOE agent/Resistance.

• (2002). Hornet Flight. WWII flight Denmark to UK with photos of German Himmelbett radar sites.

• (2004). Whiteout. Terrorist theft of deadly Ebola virus from a lab in snow-covered Scotland.

• Kingsbridge trilogy (1989; 2007; 2017) – balance between religious tolerance and fanaticism.

• Century Trilogy (2010; 2012; 2014) – family saga.

• Gradual move from espionage as central plot device.30 Oct 2017

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https://ken-follett.com/

Frederick Forsyth, CBE – Post Cold War

• (1994). The Fist of God. (Gulf War 1).

• (1996). Icon. (Fascism in new Russia).

• (1999). The Phantom of Manhattan.

• (2001). The Veteran. (Short stories).• Critics panned.

• (2003). Avenger. • (Extraordinary rendition).

• (2006). The Afghan.• US/UK/ISI CT op vs. AQ in Pakistan

• (2010). The Cobra. (Cocaine Trade).

• (2013). The Kill List.


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http://www.deightondossier.net/

https://ken-follett.com/

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Frederick Forsyth – Retirement?

• “I ran out of things to say,” AND after trip to Somalia as research for The Kill List, Forsyth said his wife told him: “You’re far too old, these places are bloody dangerous and you don’t run as avidly, as nimbly as you used to.”

• 2015 autobiography: The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue.

• Express, 27 Oct 2017 columnist: “There is constant chaos in this digitised world we live in”

• http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/frederick-forsyth/871811/Digital-world-incompetent-breaking-down-frederick-forsyth

• http://www.frederickforsyth.co.uk/


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Changes - Post Cold War

• 1990-2010:• Demise of transnational conflict.

• Rise in ideological/religious conflict.

• Rise in transnational crime.

• IT dependence and IT related crime.

• Climate fueled migration.

• 2010s:• All of the above, plus….

• Return of transnational conflict?


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Constants• Insider fiction:

• Erskine Childers (1903). The Riddle of the Sands.• John Buchan. (1915). The 39 Steps.• Ian Fleming. (1953). Casino Royale.• Jason Matthews. (2013). Red Sparrow.

• Motivation: MICE• Enticement: MICE + sex, drugs, Rock n’Roll. • Tradecraft (NYT article on Jason Matthews):

• “Dominika Egorova, a Russian agent secretly working for the United States, and Nate Nash, her C.I.A. lover and handler — depend mostly on traditional tradecraft. They spend a lot of time walking around and trying to avoid being followed.”

• Gadgets: Pistol disguised as lipstick.• Morals: “the stench of hypocrisy” (Len Deighton).• Speculative fiction as a window on the craft – and

of contemporary political concerns.30 Oct 2017


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http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/frederick-forsyth

http://www.frederickforsyth.co.uk/

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Reading List – Contemporary Spy Fiction

• U.K. – Matthew Dunn(ex-MI6)• Spycatcher/Will Cochrance series

• Real James Bond authenticity

• U.K. – Stella Rimington (ex-MI5)• Liz Carlyle series

• U.S.A.:• Jason Matthews (ex-CIA) – Red Sparrow

trilogy

• T.L. Williams (ex-CIA) – Zero Day (2017)

• Canada – Adrian de Hoog

• Australia – James Phelan.


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Homework for 6 Nov 2017

• Ian:

• Q1 – Who said that the “The real hero of intelligence work is Sherlock Holmes, not James Bond” – and why?

• Q2 – What is the percentage of OSINT versus covert INT collection today – and what was it during the Cold War?

• Hugh:

• Q3 There are two spy agencies with the initials NISA. One is real, one is fictional with a Canadian connection. Who are they?

• Q4 Why should spies never say rosewater in Iran even in fun? There is a Canadian connection to this one too.

30 Oct 2017


© 2017 Hugh Williamson, CD, MBA, LLB39

The Seniors’ College Association of Nova Scotia Spy School 201 … · 2020-01-23 · 2017-11-01 1...

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