Len Deighton's first spy novel, published in 1962 but ahead of its time. Heralded the start of what became the Swinging Sixties. Double agents, brainwashing, kidnapped scientists, H-bomb tests, a nameless secret agent narrator who wears hornrimmed spectacles; and some technical stuff. Unfortunately the sardonic and very entertaining style didn't translate well to the screen: it was made into a ludicrous movie "starring" Michael Caine.