THE FIRST QUESTION facing every spy novelist is whether the protagonist is an expert or everyman. James Bond — and his successors — are experts: trained intelligence officers who can handle a gun, groom a potential asset, conduct and evade surveillance. An everyman protagonist is harder to write but allows for more character development as he or she responds to pressure, obstacles and crises. Eric Ambler’s novels, such as his classic The Mask, often feature an everyday person rapidly sucked into a deadly vortex of intrigue and betrayal.
Passed-by spies
Apr 28, 2022
3 minutes
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