Ultimate Spy

Book excerpt: Ultimate Spy Enhanced provides a unique opportunity to enter the secret world of espionage, revealing the stories of famous spies, recounting tales of famous spy operations, and showing an amazing range of spy paraphernalia. Throughout history, espionage has been used as a means of trying to gain advantage over the enemy. Ultimate Spy Enhanced outlines the early history of espionage. It then goes to examine key spying operations during the American Civil War, through both World Wars and the Cold War, up to the present day. This expanded edition includes a new section that looks in detail at post-Cold War spying activities, bringing the reader up to date with the rapidly evolving high-technology world of spying. Over the years, the author of Ultimate Spy Enhanced has amassed an incredible collection of spy devices, including concealed cameras, lock picks, suitcase radio, and assassination devices, many hundreds of which were shown for the first time in the original edition. For this new edition, a large number of new items are included, many never seen by the public before. They include laser listening devices, miniature satellite transmitters, new microdot cameras, and various spy cameras hidden in everyday objects, such as pens and key chains. Ultimate Spy Enhanced also includes information on how spies are chosen and recruited, the training they receive, and the tricks of the trade. A glossary explains abbreviations of important intelligence and security organizations and defines many common terms used in espionage.