My Top 10 Favorite Spy Book Series of the 60s/70s

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I searched for the best existing thread to post this, but nothing seemed to really fit. On my personal blog site, I just posted an update with an expanded version of an article which I wrote for publication in Paperback Fanatic 50. It focuses on my top 10 favorite spy series from the 60s and 70s. Please note, I have not attempted to make this an exhaustive list; these are simply my personal favorites from a lifetime of collecting and reading espionage thrillers.

If you’re a fan of espionage fiction and particularly series devoted to spy adventures, then you may find this worth your time. And yes, James Bond is on the lst, though not in my top spot. I invite you to read and share your thoughts and especially share anything you think I missed that should be included. Thanks and I hope you enjoy!

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Thanks for that - I did not know many of those, will check them out!

Also: cool site!

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Thanks for taking the time to check it out. Much appreciated!

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Very interesting list, some of my favourites (Modesty, Matt Helm, Bond) there. Honourable mention would go to Marc Olden’s Black Samurai on a tangent to the spy genre and Trevanian’s satirical Eiger-/Loo-Sanction/Shibumi triptych.

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Oddly enough, I covered the Black Samurai series in a separate blog post, which can be read here:

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Captivating blog, huge thanks for the link.

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With regards to Marc Olden, I have fond memories of Gaijin, a novel with a WW2 espionage plotline in its 1940s part (and a patently gruesome torture sequence). Have to dig that one out again one of these days, it’s been 40 years since I read that one…

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Olden was a solid writer. I am a fan of his prose style, which was far more literary then would seem necessary for a men’s adventure series. His non-series books are especially good and I’m particularly fond of his historical occult-themed mystery/thriller, Poe Must Die.

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