Archetypal Spy Novels Analysis

Spy thrillers are genre novels and so they have a contract with the reader to deliver a certain type of story that is within those genre boundaries. That limits the options to four archetypal spy novel plots that are included in the mission, the mystery, on the run, and playing defence.

Mission plot is a straightforward one but it’s as well one of the best. The Protagonist is simply authorized a ‘mission’ and attempts to carry it out. The Protagonist often works for an espionage agency or a secret military unit and their Prize is successfully accomplishing the mission.

The Protagonist is given a mission to carry out by their Mento. He will be ducked by the Antagonist as they attempt to accomplish the mission. He plans
One could be investigating a mystery while the other has a mission. This is a hybrid of the mission and the on the run plots. The protagonist starts off on a mission but it goes wrong and they eventually end up on the run chased by the antagonist.

Starting off playing defence and then morphing into a Mission is also common, it is like defence and attack operation. Again it’s a question of prominence. If the antagonist is on the defensive before halfway through the story then its not a playing defence plot.

Some novels though they might use spy motifs are hybrids with other genres such as romance or adventure. For example, The Great Impersonation presents itself as a Mission but is really a hybrid of mystery and gothic romance. Similarly, The Riddle of the Sands is a hybrid of mystery and sailing adventure, and Casino Royale, is a mission for the first two acts but then becomes a romantic tragedy.

Spy novels have an overriding goal which to keep the reader turning the pages. There’s no greater compliment to the spy thriller author than for their readers to say ‘I couldn’t put it down.’ It has unputdownable trait to keep the reader engrossed. It is supposed to be thrillers to keep the readers interest in
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