What happens when the established history of the Cold War encounters scientific possibilities that governments cannot understand, predict or control?
Award-winning bestselling author Alexander Bentley explores these questions through seven interconnected espionage thrillers, combining historical events, intelligence operations and speculative technologies.
From the secret scientific investigations of The Bureau Archives Trilogy to the struggle over human judgment and independent choice in The Consensus Files, Bentley's fiction examines the consequences of extraordinary discoveries in the hands of governments, scientists and intelligence organizations.
This section of the Media Center provides resources for journalists, broadcasters, podcasters, literary interviewers and book clubs interested in discussing the novels, their historical foundations and the ideas behind them.
Discover the stories behind the novels through interviews and conversations exploring the research, historical settings, characters and scientific ideas that shape Bentley's fiction.
Published interviews, podcast appearances and recorded discussions will be featured here, with links to the original programmes and publications.
Interview recordings and published conversations will be added as they become available.
The Cold War provides the historical framework for both series, from the aftermath of the Second World War to the political crises of the early 1960s.
Bentley discusses how actual events, intelligence organizations, political figures and international tensions provide the foundations for fictional stories that unfold within recognizable historical circumstances.
Quantum theory and speculative scientific developments play a central role in Bentley's novels. But the stories are concerned as much with the human and political consequences of technology as with the technology itself.
How might intelligence agencies respond to a discovery that challenges their understanding of reality? And what happens when scientific ambition moves beyond the ability of governments to control its consequences?
Beginning with Furniture Sliders and continuing through Angus Sliders and Cuban Sliders, the trilogy follows British intelligence officers Max Calder and Alicia Rayes through a clandestine struggle involving the Mirror, an experimental technology with extraordinary and unpredictable implications.
Bentley discusses the creation of the Bureau, the development of Max Calder and Alicia Rayes, and the challenge of integrating fictional scientific discoveries into the intelligence world of the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The Teller Threshold, The Budapest Reversal, The Algiers Ultimatum and The House Protocol extend the fictional world into the years 1955–1961.
The series introduces Giles Harrington and Lucy Howard, intelligence officers confronting Decision Locking—a technology capable of influencing human judgment while leaving individuals convinced that their decisions remain their own.
The novels explore political power, institutional authority, intelligence rivalry and the uncomfortable relationship between consensus and freedom.
The novels incorporate real historical figures, intelligence agencies and international events alongside fictional operatives and secret organizations.
Bentley discusses the research involved in creating credible historical settings, the boundaries between documented history and invention, and the importance of maintaining operational realism even when the scientific premise is extraordinary.
From Max Calder and Alicia Rayes to Giles Harrington and Lucy Howard, Bentley's protagonists work in a world where intelligence is incomplete, loyalties are uncertain and apparently rational decisions may carry unexpected consequences.
Their personal relationships, ambitions and weaknesses are as important to the stories as the operations in which they participate.
Alexander Bentley welcomes enquiries concerning author interviews, literary podcasts, radio and television discussions, online conversations, book-club events and other appropriate media opportunities.
Potential discussions may focus on an individual novel, either book series, the wider fictional universe, the historical research or the scientific and ethical ideas underlying the stories.
Interview arrangements and availability can be discussed through the Media Center's Enquiries section.
Supporting materials are available elsewhere in the Media Center, including:
- Author biography and publicity photographs.
- Individual book and series press kits.
- Book covers and spoiler-free synopses.
- Awards, reviews and critical commentary.
For additional background, visitors can also explore the website's Cold War Timeline, Science Behind the Fiction and Intelligence Agencies resources.
Interested in interviewing Alexander Bentley?
Journalists, broadcasters, podcast producers, reviewers and event organizers are invited to submit interview requests, including details of the publication or programme, proposed subject, preferred format and anticipated schedule.
Visit Media Center — Enquiries to request an interview or obtain additional information.
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