This book analyses the gender roles and political contexts of spy
fiction narratives published during the years of the Cold War. It offers
an introduction to the development of spy fiction both in England and in
the United States and explores the ways in which issues such as the
atomic bomb, double agents, paranoia, propaganda and megalomania
manifest themselves within the genre. The book examines the ongoing
marginalization of women within spy fiction texts, exploring the idea
that this unique period in global history is responsible for the active
promotion and celebration of masculinity and male superiority. From
James Bond to Jason Bourne, the book evaluates the ongoing enforcement
of patriarchal ideas and oppressions that, in the name of national
security and patriotic duty, have contributed to the development of a
genre in which discrimination and bias continue to dominate.