Spy-fi (subgenre)

Spy-fi is a subgenre of spy fiction that includes elements of science fiction, and is often associated with the Cold War.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] Features of spy-fi include the effects of technology on the espionage trade and the technological gadgets used by the characters, even though the technologies and gadgets portrayed are well beyond contemporary scientific reality.^[6]

Definition and characteristics

Spy-fi can be defined as media that centers around the adventures of a protagonist (or protagonists) working as a secret agent or a spy. Usually, these adventures will revolve around defeating a rival superpower or singular enemy from achieving a nefarious aim. Content may include themes such as world domination, world destruction, futuristic weapons, and gadgets. Settings vary from outright fantasy, such as outer space or under the sea, to real but exotic locations.^{[citation needed]} Spy-fi does not necessarily present espionage as it is practiced in reality but rather glamorizes spy-craft through its focus on high-tech equipment, agencies, and organizations with nearly limitless resources and incredibly high-stakes adventures.^{[citation needed]}

The spy protagonist may discover in his or her investigation that a mad scientist or evil genius and his secret organization are using futuristic technology to further their schemes.^[7]^[8]^[9] Examples of these include the James Bond film series, the use of advanced scientific technologies for global influence or domination in The Baroness spy novels, using space travel technology to destroy the world as in Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die, weather control in Our Man Flint, using a sonic weapon in Dick Barton Strikes Back, a death ray in Dick Barton at Bay, or replacing world leaders with evil twins in In Like Flint.^{[citation needed]}

Examples

Films and television

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV series)^[10]
Alias (TV series)
James Bond (film series)^[11]^{[page needed]}
Mission: Impossible (TV series)^[12]
Austin Powers (film series)^[13]^{[page needed]}
The Avengers (TV series)^[14]^{[page needed]}
Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (TV series)
Spy Kids
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series)^[15]
Danger Man (TV series)^[15]
Get Smart (TV series)^[15]
The Prisoner (TV series)^[15]
Matt Helm (film series)^[15]
Face/Off^[16]
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow^[15]
Tenet^[17]^[18]

Games

References

^ "Spy Fi Shelf". Goodreads.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
^ Danesi, Marcel (2012). Popular Culture: Introductory Perspectives (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated. p. 76. ISBN 9781442217836.
^ "Relive decades of spy-fi with an epic retrospective on James Bonds' sci-fi gadgets". Blastr. November 6, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
^ "Spy-fi is just around the corner". Tor.com. November 6, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
^ Sexton, Max. "Celluloid Television: The Action Adventure Genre of the 1960s". Dandelion. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
^ "Spyfi". BestScienceFictionBooks.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^ "Spies + Spoofs :: MI6 :: The Home Of James Bond 007". Mi6-hq.com. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
^ Weiner, Robert G.; Whitfield, B. Lynn; Becker, Jack (2010). James Bond in World and Popular Culture: The Films are Not Enough (1. publ. ed.). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars. p. 100. ISBN 978-1443822893.
^ Packer, Jeremy (2009). Secret Agents: Popular Icons Beyond James Bond. New York: Peter Lang. p. xi. ISBN 978-0820486697. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ Wheeler, Andrew (July 27, 2014). "Marvel Announces Mark Waid's S.H.I.E.L.D. And More At Next Big Thing Panel". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015.
^ Stuller, Jennifer K. (2010). Ink-stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology. London: I.B. Tauris & Co. ISBN 978-1845119652.
^ Avam, Elizabeth; Hoskin, Dave (2004). "TV Eye". Metro Magazine (141): 158.
^ Britton, Wesley (2004). Spy Television. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0275981630.
^ Biederman, Danny (2004). The Incredible World of Spy-fi: Wild and Crazy Spy Gadgets, Props, and Artifacts from TV and the Movies. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 081184224X.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Falksen, GD (November 6, 2009). "Spy-fi is just around the corner". Tor.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
^ Anders, Charlie Jane (August 7, 2012). "10 Best Spy-Fi Movies of All Time". io9. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
^ Sherlock, Ben (March 11, 2023). "Tenet's Ending, Explained". Game Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Ison, Blake (August 27, 2020). "'Tenet' Ushers in a New Era of "Spy-Fi"". MovieBabble. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Rossignol, Jim (April 14, 2009). ""Spy-Fi": Global Agenda Footage". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved May 17, 2017.

[1] "Spy Fi Shelf". Goodreads.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.

[2] Danesi, Marcel (2012). Popular Culture: Introductory Perspectives (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated. p. 76. ISBN 9781442217836.

[3] "Relive decades of spy-fi with an epic retrospective on James Bonds' sci-fi gadgets". Blastr. November 6, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2016.

[4] "Spy-fi is just around the corner". Tor.com. November 6, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2016.

[5] Sexton, Max. "Celluloid Television: The Action Adventure Genre of the 1960s". Dandelion. Retrieved May 4, 2016.

[6] "Spyfi". BestScienceFictionBooks.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.

[7] "Spies + Spoofs :: MI6 :: The Home Of James Bond 007". Mi6-hq.com. Retrieved March 13, 2016.

[8] Weiner, Robert G.; Whitfield, B. Lynn; Becker, Jack (2010). James Bond in World and Popular Culture: The Films are Not Enough (1. publ. ed.). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars. p. 100. ISBN 978-1443822893.

[9] Packer, Jeremy (2009). Secret Agents: Popular Icons Beyond James Bond. New York: Peter Lang. p. xi. ISBN 978-0820486697. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[10] Wheeler, Andrew (July 27, 2014). "Marvel Announces Mark Waid's S.H.I.E.L.D. And More At Next Big Thing Panel". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015.

[11] Stuller, Jennifer K. (2010). Ink-stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology. London: I.B. Tauris & Co. ISBN 978-1845119652.

[12] Avam, Elizabeth; Hoskin, Dave (2004). "TV Eye". Metro Magazine (141): 158.

[13] Britton, Wesley (2004). Spy Television. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0275981630.

[Biederman-14] Biederman, Danny (2004). The Incredible World of Spy-fi: Wild and Crazy Spy Gadgets, Props, and Artifacts from TV and the Movies. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 081184224X.

[falksen-15] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Falksen, GD (November 6, 2009). "Spy-fi is just around the corner". Tor.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.

[16] Anders, Charlie Jane (August 7, 2012). "10 Best Spy-Fi Movies of All Time". io9. Retrieved May 18, 2016.

[sherlock-17] Sherlock, Ben (March 11, 2023). "Tenet's Ending, Explained". Game Rant. Retrieved November 23, 2023.

[ison-18] Ison, Blake (August 27, 2020). "'Tenet' Ushers in a New Era of "Spy-Fi"". MovieBabble. Retrieved November 23, 2023.

[19] Rossignol, Jim (April 14, 2009). ""Spy-Fi": Global Agenda Footage". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved May 17, 2017.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

Definition and characteristics

Examples

Films and television

Games

See also

References