thebigh
Dr. Hamburger Face
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2022
- Messages
- 1,631
- Reaction score
- 5,743
Yesterday I read The Ability to Kill by the thriller writer Eric Ambler. The book is a miscellaneous grab-bag of essays, short stories, and other hard to classify writings. I've previously read a few of his novels and enjoyed them.
I bought this book years ago second hand but I don't think I've ever done more than flick through it because the stories in it were all unfamiliar. The pick of the bunch is a piece called Spy-Haunts of the World. It's written in the style of a guide for birdwatchers or trainspotters, but is about where and how to observe international spies. It starts with a general overview of the spy-spotting world, lamenting about how difficult it has become to observe spies in the modern world before moving on to specifics. The louche-rating, a method for identifying a spy on a 1-10 scale of how sketchy they are, is a highlight. So is the author's story about his own encounter with a genuine bona fide spy, though he didn't recognise her as such at the time.
It's only about 15 pages long and good for a chuckle if you're in the mood for a whimsical clever story.
I bought this book years ago second hand but I don't think I've ever done more than flick through it because the stories in it were all unfamiliar. The pick of the bunch is a piece called Spy-Haunts of the World. It's written in the style of a guide for birdwatchers or trainspotters, but is about where and how to observe international spies. It starts with a general overview of the spy-spotting world, lamenting about how difficult it has become to observe spies in the modern world before moving on to specifics. The louche-rating, a method for identifying a spy on a 1-10 scale of how sketchy they are, is a highlight. So is the author's story about his own encounter with a genuine bona fide spy, though he didn't recognise her as such at the time.
It's only about 15 pages long and good for a chuckle if you're in the mood for a whimsical clever story.