Spies, Wiretaps, and Secret Operations

Gr 9 Up—The introduction to this set provides a brief overview of espionage—its purpose, its role in the intelligence cycle, how it is related to the bureaucratic community, and how it is controlled. The 600-plus entries that form the body of the work cover individuals, events, organizations, and eras related to American espionage from the 1700s to today. More than half of the articles are biographical, and their average length is about a page. Cross references after each article and a strong index aid navigation. However, the lack of topic guides and the absence of broad articles summarizing eras, movements, and controversies limit the pathways to general research. Though concise and accurate, the entries will be most useful for students already somewhat familiar with a topic. The biographies typically begin with a list of dates and places, without opening context to introduce the figure's relevance. Oleg Penkovsky's family and military progress are discussed, for instance, before the revelation that the man spied for the United States. Examinations of the controversial aspects of espionage offer multiple viewpoints, though with limited depth. Occasionally the text can be confusing as it covers subtle shifts in policies and practice. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner's The Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence and Security (Gale, 2003) goes a bit deeper, while Spies, Wiretaps, and Secret Operations addresses the need for current information, with a particular emphasis on biographical data.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR