This one was very tough going, and I almost gave up after the first two or three of these short introductions to various private eyes and spies. That alone, gives you an idea of a big problem in this book - frankly, James Bond and Philip Marlowe don't belong in the same book at all. The selection of who to include is also pretty perverse, although I need to remember that this came out in 1977. Still, a book on private eyes that leaves out Travis McGee but includes Modesty Blaise is pretty perverse.

Some of these vignettes are a little bit intriguing, however. It makes me want to pick up one of the early Nero Wolfes, for instance, to get the feel of those. And perhaps Inspector Maigret. ( )