Espionage Aficionados discussion

You've heard it mentioned in this forum. Len Deighton's wonderful "Game, Set, & Match" espionage trilogy.

You've also heard me praise the accompanying BBC mini-series adaptation starring Sir Ian Holm.

But where is it available? This is what no one seems to know.

Your mission: keep an eye peeled for this production and notify us. Provide the link and the price. Go!

Len Deighton is still alive at 93 and still has veto rights over any re-release of the miniseries after the original broadcast. He is also apparently still bitter about the short Sir Ian Holm being cast as Bernard Samson, so he has continually blackballed re-release in any form.

Since Deighton has made it impossible to pay for a legitimate copy, I have no qualms in noting that it has often been available as a torrent on various sites. So, the current options are 1) get it as a torrent or 2) wait for Deighton to die and hope his estate reconsiders. However, Deighton appears bitter enough to have left instructions in his will barring this.

Feliks, since it sounds like you are Jonesing for some more Bernard Samson, why don't you finish reading the series, or at least resume it? I think there are seven books in the series that you haven't read yet. Most are very good, 4 stars. Hook (#4) and Winter (the prequel) are only 3 stars, but Sinker (#6) is close to 5 stars. Except for the prequel, they should be read in order, so don't skip ahead to Sinker.

It is available on YouTube. I currently have a trial of YouTube Premium so I am not sure if it is free to stream or only with a subscription, but all 12 episodes are available. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO...

Good to know it's on Youtube, at least. I, too, will endorse the two trilogies that followed Game, Set, and Match.

P.S. And thanks, Feliks, for mentioning the series. I had not heard of it.

Ah! I did not know Deighton was still around. That is one hardy Englishman. Have I ever mentioned that one of my professors in grad school was on the team which planned Operation Overlord? Whew.

Anyway let me hasten to add that I'm unfamiliar with streaming media or streaming subscription services. So I can't partake of anything like that: I'm in no way setup for it.

I'd like to obtain the series on DVD. My budget? I'm prepared to pony up as much as $300 US. Cold hard cash on the barrelhead.

CoolBreeze: naw dude naw. I truly have no interest in the set of sequels to "Game, Set, and Match". You know I loathe sequels in general.

There's actually still a couple early-career Deighton I still need to explore. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Spy" for example.

Hans: do sample "Game, Set, & Match" and tell us your reaction to it!

All this talks reminds me how great Deighton really is. It's a shame he has let such petty bitterness consume him in the twilight of his career!

C'mon, D-Man --let go o' dat hate!