With continuous advances in technology,
many have pointed to the demise of the espionage thriller novel. Luckily, there
are still authors that are willing to tackle the topic, because people love
them, but does it take a reader willing to suspend disbelief of reality to
enjoy a modern-day spy novel, or an author with enough creativity to figure out
a way it can be done realistically?
Traditionally, espionage novels had a main
character who was in the practice of spying, employed by governments or special
espionage agencies. They use a variety of techniques, including eavesdropping,
undercover work, surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance, and in the
past they impressed users with their arsenal of futuristic tools that helped
them gather information on their foes.
Your typical thriller features a tough and
resourceful protagonist that woks to undermine the antagonist that is out to
destroy the spy, their organization or country, or even the whole world.
Thrillers have an intense time-sensitive plot, which is dependent on the spy
being able to avoid or escape traps and find and neutralize the bad guy before
their evil plot succeeds.
The espionage thriller work best when the
protagonist is unknown, so they can infiltrate the threatening organization,
but is it even possible for someone to be unknown spy today? In the world we
live in now everyone leaves a digital fingerprint, and if they have one wiped
clean it would be a red flag for any organization recruiting someone. This is everything
from online banking to telephone records, social media pages, and LinkedIn
network contacts. These are just some of the challenges that authors face when
crafting a believable spy story for readers of the 21st century.
