Espionage Novels

[Silktie]

There should be a third option on the poll, namely that both has its place.

Personally, for the most part I prefer it to be as authentic as possible. That's why I love John le Carre so much; his spies aren't superheroes. Stephen Hunter has also written a very good spy novel, Tapestry of Spies, which seems close to reality for the time period it takes place in.

But I think there is also room for the over-the-top, glitzy James Bond type of spy novel and movie. It's fun, it's entertaining, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. And I enjoy reading one of those every once in a while as well. I know it's not realistic, and so does most other people probably. That's why it's called 'fiction' after all.