From School Library Journal
Grade 7 & Up--Spy-game buffs will enjoy learning the basics of real-life espionage from this well-researched, up-to-date treatment. "Comint" and "Imint" technologies are defined and briefly explained, with a bit of political context provided. Although his tone clearly favors U.S. interests over those of other countries, Fridell objectively presents the failures of intelligence as well as successes, along with news of developments like "robofly" (an extremely small intelligence-gathering robot aircraft). He also covers industrial espionage and does an especially good job of showing how it affects national security as countries that are usually thought of as allies come under suspicion. He concludes that espionage can contribute to world peace, as opposing superpowers can learn one another's real capabilities, reducing the chances of misunderstandings that could lead to war. He also acknowledges the uneasy relationship between secret agencies and the citizens of an open society, and the complications and difficulties posed by drug trafficking and international organized crime. Fridell's accessible style is concise and he does not oversimplify complex situations. The illustrations are mostly black-and-white photographs that are well captioned and keyed to the text. About half are explanatory, and half are illustrative. This book is a good update or replacement for such standards as Michael Kronenwetter's Covert Action (Watts, 1991; o.p.), Gary McCuen's Secret Democracy (GEM, 1990), and Jules Archer's Superspies (Delacorte, 1977).
Jonathan Betz-Zall, City University Library, Everett, WA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Jonathan Betz-Zall, City University Library, Everett, WA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 7-12. There's no Hollywood sensationalism in this brief look at the shadowy business of espionage. Instead, Fridell offers plenty of straightforward terminology for readers and researchers who want an overview. Chapters include a breakdown of the various categories of information gathering (from humans and technology, even from trash); types of espionage (global, industrial, etc.); methods and equipment; and secret agencies in the U.S. Almost every section seems too brief (the events of September 11, 2001, get only a half-page mention, and there's not nearly enough about terrorism or about the specifics of computer espionage). But young adults who don't know much about the subject will appreciate the nuts-and-bolts introduction and find provocative points to discuss, such as Fridell's remark that "espionage rests on shaky moral and ethical ground." Occasional black-and-white photos and a list of recommended reading (mostly adult titles) round out a useful if rather general resource. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
