The Matterhorn: truth in fiction
The Matterhorn with Dr. Kathleen Waller
Espionage in Fiction | Episode 47
15
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Espionage in Fiction | Episode 47

How to layer stories with the spy thriller genre and international conflicts
15

Today’s podcast is part of a series to accompany my current serialized novel, An Interpreter in Vienna, as we investigate the truth in fiction. You can also listen to the podcast via Apple or Spotify or in the Substack app.

I appreciate your support as a Matterhorn subscriber and look forward to our discussions. As always, feel free to share any of your work related to the conversation. Thank you!

A full AI-created transcript can be accessed on the desktop version.

Keywords:

  • Espionage - types and the current situation

  • Vienna spies

  • Female spies

  • Spy stories

  • The nature of espionage; questions for fiction

Considerations for your work:

  • Do the characters in your fiction function within their own versions of realities, or do they disguise and dissemble according to context? For what purpose?

  • Who is spying on whom in your fiction? Even if you’re not writing a spy thriller, is somebody trying to gain information in some way? How can you amplify this concept through aspects of spy literature?

  • Which national or cultural identities are at play in your fiction? When do they conflict or change allegiance? What is it that brings them together or separates them? Consider the histories and power dynamics as well as personal interests that can interfere.

Feel free to share your related work or recommendations in the comments.

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The Matterhorn: truth in fiction
The Matterhorn with Dr. Kathleen Waller
The Matterhorn is for writers and curious minds from author and academic Dr. Kathleen Waller.
Each week in this new season, Kathleen shares a chapter of her serialized novels - A Hong Kong Story & An Interpreter in Vienna - and uses it as a catalyst to discuss the layers of literature and how you can use these in your own writing.
The Matterhorn mission is to bring books and texts to life through an interdisciplinary and international approach as well as help writers take risks and create from knowledge.
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https://thematterhorn.substack.com/