This is one of those books where I feel the story I have to tell is better than the book. But it’s also one of those books from my childhood that I just had to have.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was an American television series from 1964 to 1968, it was probably on reruns when I first saw it and I loved it. I still love it but more for nostalgia reasons than it being well done. There were two dozen books released directly from the TV series and then three written with children in mind so were rather toned down. This is one of the three. I have 16 of the paperbacks and one called The ABC of Espionage, plus The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. I’d go so far as to suggest I have a collection.

If you look closely at the photo you might possibly recognise the man in the head and shoulders shot. Illya Kuryakin was played by David McCallum and we often saw him running away from an interested female. His character was very studious and not interested in playing unless it was a good, in depth conversation. Women weren’t portrayed that way and only wanted to marry him, he ran. I liked that, even as a child I preferred the men who were a little different.

Oh, by the way, David McCallum. He’s currently in NCIS, playing Donald Mallard since 2003. He was also the voice behind Professor Paradox in Ben 10. Don’t know why I didn’t recognise that.

This book was illustrated by a man called Tom Gill. That name instantly made me head off to do some research. Born in 1913, he was most known for his work on The Lone Ranger. He died in 2005, I’d call that a good innings. I had an uncle also called Tom Gill. Bearing in mind he was a physicist, born in 1913 and died in 2006, I’d say the coincidence was just a bit uncanny. Also bear in mind I’ve been known to leap instantly to connections that aren’t there.