Today I left the local public library, two fine works of spy fiction under my arm. Let me pause to reflect on just how good one blogging experience was.
Last week I had a sudden hankering for good spy stories, after watching some episodes of the astonishing British spy series, Sandbaggers. But I didn't have a lot of luck checking Google and Amazon for the kinds of fiction I had in mind. Amazon lists didn't pan out, and Google results were too broad.
So I blogged about my desire, listing a few titles I was thinking of, trying to narrow down what I had in mind. A bunch of people posted suggestions in the comments. More people contacted me directly, via IM, and in several conversations within the fine Brainstorms community.
Next, I assembled a list, then blogged it. When that appeared, still more people offered suggestions, and commented on each other's. So I revised the list, revised it again, and am delighted with the results. It looks like a lot of fun reading. And it will probably grow as i read, and as more suggestions flow in.
What a win for online collaboration. Open expression of interest, hyperlinks, comments, responses, and aggregation. Between this blog and Brainstorms, I now have a rich syllabus (Kim is a treat so far, btw). The results are out on the Web, for anyone with an interest in this subject. And this process is visible (on the blog side), and now commented upon.
Many thanks to all!
It's reasons like those that make me a diehard fan of the Internet...
Posted by: Alexandra Kitty | September 03, 2008 at 22:17
Forgot all about Kim. I loved that story. Funny enough, it was the chapter quotes in Declare that led me to Kim.
Enjoy your reading! I'm in the midst of my annual reading of the Complete Sherlock Holmes, but I'm already dusting off a few spy novels from the back of the shelf.
Posted by: John M. | September 03, 2008 at 22:30
Yes, thanks for doing this. The genre of "intelligent spy fiction" is one of my absolute favourites and I felt like I had almost exhausted it, but your call turned up a number of gems I'm looking forward to exploring.
Posted by: Scott Leslie | September 04, 2008 at 11:41
I'll try to get Sand Blind out to you this weekend:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9906E1DA1E30F93BA1575BC0A962958260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Posted by: Steven Kaye | September 04, 2008 at 15:52
Me too, Alexandra.
Enjoy your return to Baker Street, John M.
Let us know what you discover, Scott Leslie.
Thanks in advance, Steven!
Posted by: Bryan Alexander | September 11, 2008 at 07:05