Spy-fi is a genre of spy fiction that combines espionage with sci-fi plot themes. James Bond is a well-known example. The use of gadgets is a popular element. The genre has broad appeal and has been parodied in shows like Get Smart. The genre continues to be popular in films and TV shows like Mission Impossible and 24.
Spy-fi is a subset of spy fiction, usually having a very specific type of plot. As the name spy suggests, most spy-fi focuses on characters gifted with espionage, and there are a few well-known ones who fit into this genre, such as James Bond. The second element tends to mean that storylines don’t just surround the efforts of a spy or two, but also deal with sci-fi plot themes. In the work of James Bond, for example, there is almost always a villain bent on taking over the world or extorting money from world leaders, usually through the advent of some fantastically horrifying invention that can blow up the planet. It is often up to the “good guy” to put a stop to the villain’s over-the-top schemes through superior skills as an investigator and a great deal of daring.
The James Bond series, written by Ian Fleming and then the subject of numerous films, is one of the first examples of the spy-fi genre. With the popularity of James Bond, many other writers, television producers and film producers noticed the great interest in the genre and took advantage of it. A number of American television programs in the 1970s reflect some of the spy-fi elements, including programs such as The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, and 1960s programs include the American The Man From UNCLE and the popular British series Doctor Who.
Early expressions of spy TV shows weren’t always serious. Get Smart, for example, made fun of the genre as much as it loved it. Spy-fi proved to have broad appeal, and there were even a few 1970s children’s cartoons, such as Secret Squirrel, in which the title character battled the evil Yellow Pinky
One element of spy-fi that many people liked was the use of gadgets by both spies and their archenemies. James Bond gadgets are perhaps a favorite, including cars that could turn into boats, watches that could blow people up, and a variety of others. Get Smart the TV series is best remembered for its use of the shoe phone, on which Maxwell Smart would receive important communications, simply by listening to his shoe.
There has been a small downturn in interest in this genre, whether it’s taken seriously or not. Films in the James Bond series continue to be box office hits and other spy films are very popular. These include remakes of some TV series, such as 2008’s Get Smart, Mission Impossible and The Avengers. The Austin Powers series has been a popular comedy take on the genre, and there are many indie films like Blade Runner, Total Recall, The Matrix, and Minority Report that are considered to be in this genre, though some may lean more into the sci-fi details.
A stream of television shows in the genre continue to be produced including 24, Doll’s House and Chuck. Some of these are noticeably more realistic than others and less focused on the allure of espionage or fancy gadgets. Some would argue that a show like 24 truly deserves inclusion in the genre. Others argue for his place in the spy-fi world, since the premise that Jack Bauer has to save the world in 24 hours on a regular basis is pretty far off.
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