Spy Fiction:
I spy with my little eye a subgenre full of espionage!
What is spy fiction?
Spy fiction is a subgenre of mysteries and thrillers that has taken on a life of its own. For a novel to be considered spy fiction, espionage must be a main plot point. Simply having a spy character present isn’t enough - they must be integral to the story. This can include just one key spy, or a whole agency of spies working together.It is thought that spy fiction was born out of rivalries between the major powers and the establishment of modern intelligence agencies. And you can see why! Morally questionable acts being committed secretly at the hands of the government are universally intriguing. Using fiction to speculate these cunning plots will therefore always be gripping for readers.
What's the difference between spy fiction and detective fiction?
A detective story classically involves a puzzle, something happens that makes the reader question ‘Whodunnit?’. A true spy story is not concerned with such matters. The ‘who’ is often given right at the outset - it forms the driving force of the story (of course an intelligence agency knows who they’re after!). There isn’t necessarily a puzzle either, all the questions are often answered at the outset, the concern of the narrative is more ‘why?’. In this, a spy story is more concerned with psychology and often feels more real. Unlike detective stories, spy stories also may not finish with the clear-cut triumph of good over evil, again making them feel even closer to real life.
History of spy fiction
Spy fiction as a genre started to emerge in the 19th Century with "The Spy" being published in 1821 by James Fenimore Cooper, which is thought to be one of the earliest examples.Later, at the turn of the 20th Century, the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, created by Arthur Conan Doyle, served as a spyhunter for Britain in the stories "The Adventure of the Second Stain" (1904), and "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" (1912). Later, Doyle turned him into a double agent in “His Last Bow” layering the intrigue and suspense even further and solidifying the character as a family favourite.
All of these novels are still in print over 100 years later, highlighting their continued popularity and the popularity of the genre as a whole.
During World War II, the spy fiction genre had another surge of popularity (this often seems to happen when we are experiencing a major world conflict). It is at this time that "Above Suspicion" was published, written by Helen MacInnes. The plot involves a married couple that are asked to undertake a complicated secret mission, which ultimately goes south (as they typically do in these types of stories). Another favorite from the same time period is Graham Greene's "The Ministry of Fear" published in 1943, which centers around an innocent man released from an asylum who gets caught up in web of espionage after accidentally receiving an item meant for a Nazi spy.
Ten years later, perhaps the most famous fictional spy was born. One who goes by the name of Bond, James Bond. Fleming introduced his most famous fictional character in Casino Royale in 1953 and after his death the franchise continued under other British and American authors, including Kingsley Amis, Christopher Wood, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, Sebastian Faulks, Jeffery Deaver and William Boyd.
Spy authors of the world - we thank you for writing such incredible treacherous tales of secret villainy, near misses and questionable allegiances.
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Sometimes structuring a story can be a tricky thing to get right. We have been working on a supportive guide, to help new writers structure a short story into a highly readable work….
The magazine includes exclusive articles on character development, plot planning and where to find inspiration, as well as words of encouragement from authors who have been there and got the t-shirt!
This luscious bookzine is available in both EPub and a beautiful printed gift version, which we will post out to you.
Have A Spy Story That You Want to Get Published?
CALLING ALL UK NEW WRITERS!
It’s your chance to get your story published in a glossy hardback book…
We’re offering 20 lucky winners the chance to see their work published in a beautifully illustrated book and have a professional podcast made of their work. They will also receive extensive coverage across our social media channels.
Sound good?
To find out more, simply click the link below and it will show you how to enter the competition:
This is your chance to showcase your skills. Your story must be original and between 1000 and 1500 words, written in English from among the following given topics：
Adventure/travel
Thriller/Dark
Romance
Science/Fantasy
YIPPEE! We now have three special categories:
Three County Challenge (Bucks, Herts & London)
UK Challenge (British Isles and Northern Ireland)
11yrs - 18 yrs Challenge (UK- British isles and Northern Ireland)
<<<Purchase your Entry Form here>>>
* HURRY! Entries due by 20th July *
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How to write spy fiction:
1. Think of a killer conceptSpy fiction has had a long history and therefore it can be difficult to come up with an original concept, but it is so important if you want to stand out amongst the noise. What’s your unique angle? If you’re a history buff and have a specific area of interest—like Russian operatives, or American soldiers in the Middle East—go with where your passion lies. We’d recommend doing your research and taking inspiration from real life conflicts - it will ground your work in reality and make it more believable. Perhaps you could also play with the form of the genre, writing a spy fiction short story or spy flash fiction instead of a novel.
2. Get familiar with spy tools and surveillance gear
The gadgets and gizmos that get unearthed in spy fiction are half the fun - make sure you swat up on your spycraft and the tools of the trade before you put pen to paper. It is also useful to do a bit of research on types of surveillance equipment too. For the most part, spy novels emerge from actual events, but doesn’t mean you need to just use real tools of the trade! Have some fun with the creative process and create your own brand of spy tech!
3. Create an engaging and kick-ass protagonist
From Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, to Ian Fleming’s James Bond, the protagonists of spy stories have long been ingrained in popular culture. Create a main character who readers will root for (even if their moral compass doesn’t always point north!) and who will persevere no matter what obstacle you throw in their way! Try to add some individuality here too, we see a lot of cis, hetero, white, male spies, it would be great to see a new face in the game!
4. Make use of page-turning literary devices
Plot twists, cliffhangers, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, red herrings: When you write a spy novel, you’re allowed (in fact encouraged) to use these literary tools liberally. To write a real page-turning story of espionage, take advantage of as many of these as you can for maximum suspense.
Some of our favourite spy fiction novels
Check out these impressive examples of the genre for inspiration to write your own short story about daring espionage...- Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett (1978): Set during WWII, this novel follows a German spy nicknamed “the Needle” who lives in London in order to figure out Britain’s plans for invading Normandy. He is in radio communication with Berlin where he sends his updates—until two Brits discover his whereabouts and an epic chase begins.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré (1974): One of the most famous spy novelists in literature, John le Carré is the author of many stories of espionage, like his 1963 book The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and his 2019 book Agent Running in the Field. In Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the character George Smiley works for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service and must root out Soviet spies sent from a fictional Moscow organisation based on the KGB.
Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene (1958): Set in Havana, Greene’s story is a somewhat comedic look at espionage, as a vacuum cleaner salesman is recruited by the British to be an undercover informant. In need of money, the informant accepts the position. But with a lack of real details to report, he begins fabricating enemy movements and information to send back to London.
At Risk by Stella Rimington (2004): Author Stella Rimington is the former director general of the British intelligence agency MI5. Upon retiring, she became an author of espionage stories. Her first novel, At Risk, follows Liz Carlyle, an intelligence officer out to stop a planned terrorist attack in London.
* Find more fiction inspiration in our podcasts*
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