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Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters
600 Characters and Shows, 1950s to the Present
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From Emma Peel with her "kinky boots" to Amanda King and her poppy seed cake, from Julie Barnes with her hippie pad to Honey West and her pet ocelot, television's female spies and crimefighters leave an indelible impression, yet there hasn't been a reference book devoted to them until now.
This encyclopedic work covers 350 female spies, private investigators, amateur sleuths, police detectives, federal agents and crime-fighting superheroes who have appeared in more than 250 series since the 1950s, from early pioneers such as The Detective's Wife, through 70s hits like Charlie's Angels and Wonder Woman, to today's favorites, including Elementary, Rizzoli & Isles, Sleepy Hollow, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Entries are alphabetical by both character name and series title, featuring credits and synopses, notable plot points, interesting facts and critical commentary on seminal series and characters. A brief history of female spies and crimefighters on TV places them in chronological perspective and sociological context.
About the Author:
Karen A. Romanko writes books about women and television. Her latest is Women of Science Fiction and Fantasy Television (McFarland, November 2019), a follow-up to Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters (McFarland, 2016). She loves retro TV and discusses it on her blog Small Screen Pop. Karen lives in Los Angeles, where she enjoys walks on the beach and amateur photography.
Press Reviews:
"Written in accessible language--and with a sense of humor--this book will appeal to pop culture fans and academics alike." -- ARBA (American Reference Books Annual)
"This is a book that's easy to get caught up in, following one familiar show to its star and then to others not so familiar, and vice versa for (in my estimation) hours on end." -- Mystery*File
"The clear and respectful coverage of the 1950s underlines the author's meticulousness and sense of history." -- Mystery Scene
"It's an excellent reference book. But, it's also nostalgic for those of us who remember many of those shows, but don't think of them often." -- Lesa's Book Critiques
"Although we think of female action heroes as a relatively new phenomenon, Romanko's book reminds us that there were ladies engaging in acts of derring-do decades ago. Spy fans will want to add this one to their collection." -- Cinema Retro
See the publisher website: McFarland & Co
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All Regular Cast Members in American Crime and Mystery Series, 1948-1959
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by Dave Thomson
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