*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: We’re continuing to introduce the new layout for our books categories, with an image for each book. This week, we return to our Crime, Spies & Sleaze category for a firm favourite here at 30th Century. Often compared to her contemporary James Bond, we have always found Modesty Blaise to be superior! Starring in Peter O’Donnell’s superbly crafted thrillers, Modesty is the former crime queen turned secret operative (often for the UK Gov), along with her partner Willie Garvin. They first appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper strip, and O’Donnell went on to write 11 novels and 2 short story collections (there were also two films: the first from the 1960s with Monica Vitti, Dirk Bogarde and Terence Stamp, which, while having a high camp quotient, was nothing like the characters; the second, produced by Quentin Tarantino (himself a big fan) told of Modesty’s origins and was much truer to O’Donnell’s vision). Eight Modesty Blaise volumes relisted this week, some hardcover, some paperback, including the first (Modesty Blaise) and the last (Cobra Trap). If you haven’t tried Modesty, she really is the best policy!
PICTURED: MODESTY BLAISE BY PETER O’DONNELL ALL SOLD
COBRA TRAP Souvenir Press 2006 1st UK PB VG/FN £6
DEAD MAN’S HANDLE Souvenir Press 1985 1st UK HC VG/FN £18 with DJ VG/FN
THE IMPOSSIBLE VIRGIN Pan 1973 UK PB GD £5
LAST DAY IN LIMBO Pan 1977 UK PB GD £3
MODESTY BLAISE Pan 1966 2nd UK PB GD £4
PIECES OF MODESTY Pan 1975 4th UK PB GD £3
THE SILVER MISTRESS Archival Press 1981 1st US HC VF £15 with DJ VF
A TASTE FOR DEATH Pan 1976 UK PB FN £6