SEXPIONAGE: The Exploitation of Sex by Soviet Intelligence

by David Lewis ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 25, 1976

A frothy look at the blue side of KGB spying. Generally this is done via specially trained ""swallows"" (female prostitutes) and ""ravens"" (males), though in a pinch any suave and greedy Lothario will do to engage the physical and/or emotional affections of unwary businessmen, lonely secretaries, and in-the-closet Embassy employees. The hapless victim is photographed in delicto and blackmailed into handing over some harmless (albeit classified) info, which is then used as blackmail to extort more secrets. As with nearly all espionage activity, the time, money, and ingenuity involved (and the ill will created) are in no way commensurate with the trivial data thereby gained; even the biggest coup--obtaining some NATO defense specifications from a hapless German rear admiral--can be almost instantly negated by a relatively simple (if inconvenient) change of tactics. And, as with nearly all books on spy activity, the motive behind this superficial exposÉ of Russian boo-boos is as likely to be inspired by the CIA as anything else; the only certainty is that all this pointless, risky activity costs too many indifferent people an awful lot of money.

Pub Date: June 25, 1976

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1976

Categories: NONFICTION