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| MINOX: A TOOL USED BY THE MASTER OF TECHNO-THRILLERS! Originally Published in The Minox Memo Series 2, Volume 1, Number 3. Summer 2002 Steve Uhrig Member Executive Committee If Tom Clancy didn't exactly invent the genre now known as the techno-thnller, he certainly has done more than most authors to firmly establish it as a highly successful and popular style of wnting. This unknown former insurance salesman came out of nowhere with his stunningly successful debut novel, The Hunt for Red October, and has since firmly established himself as an internationally known, and extremely successful author of riveting political techno-thriller novels. The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger are just a few of his novels which have been turned into major films, every bit as successful as the novels which spawned them. The Sum of All Fears is hitting the theaters as I type this. |
| One of the hallmarks of a Clancy novel is the absolutely meticulous research he puts into every detail of equipment, procedure and realistic character reactions to a variety of situations. You certainly don't need to be a technophile to enjoy these superbly written adventure novels, but those of you who are will certainly enjoy the added flavor of realism his research gives to his writing. Tom's unique style has established him as a master of the techno-thriller, in |  |
| every bit the same sense as Stephen King is acknowledged
as a master of the modem horror thriller.
Tom and I met professionally through a mutual FBI agent friend, and ended up becoming personal friends. We've spent many pleasanthours discussing and debating the world's problems, and sharing military and law enforcement technology we each have learned through our respective circles. We've impressed each other with factoids of various pieces of military or law enforcement technology. I recalled Tom had made an obscure reference to a Minox camera into his first novel, The Hunt for Red October. In it, some analysts are examining surveillance photos of a Russian sub when one comments 'Well, these weren't taken with a Minox.' I got the sense that Tom, like many of the public, recognized a Minox as a camera that was used in espionage work, but didn't know much else about it. For his birthday last year (2001) I presented him with a Marty Doctor-restored Minox Model B and a full kit of accessories: flash, cases, film, mailers, flash bulbs, tripod, tripod mount, copy stand and even the binocular clamp. What really impressed me more than anything was the fact when he opened the present, he briefly examined the camera before setting it aside. Then, he sat down and opened the owner's manual and began reading it before messing with unfamiliar hardware (RTFM!). Taking the soapbox for a minute as a manufacturer who both publishes tech manuals as well as operates a tech support call center, we don't write these manuals for our health. Now, HERE'S a man after my own heart! There's a special thrill for me, as a founding member and Director of the Minox Historical Society, in having the privilege to introduce my friend and the master of techno-thrillers to an historical example of technology from an earlier time. This introduction likely has led to a mention of Minox in an upcoming Tom Clancy novel. The photos for this article were taken in May 2002, when I was visiting Tom for a few days. They were shot on the second story deck outside his home office; we were lucky our mutual FBI friend also was present so he could be pressed into service to shoot the picture of Tom and I together. The photo of Tom with the Minox to his face was actually taken by me shooting back at him: we were shooting pictures of each other. While we were 'male bonding' that afternoon, as his wife calls it, Tom asked a few questions about the electronic Minox models. While interested, I've known for a while he greatly prefers the concept of the mechanical Minox models. Of course, his reference is the Minox B and kit of accessories I gave him last year, and his preference probably stems from that. What's exciting to me is a Minox camera is once again slated to appear in a new Tom Clancy novel. As a result of his receiving the Minox B as a gift, and his growing familiarity with it, he has already written the appearance of Minox in a forthcoming novel. The novel isn't completed yet, and I'm not allowed to give away any details, but I can tell you to check inside the child's stuffed animal toy! What is incredible is Tom actually seems to be able to think and type almost as fast as his printer can squirt out the pages. I've had a lot of fun sharing Minox with Tom Clancy and am proud to be the source of his personal Minox. Now it may be showing up more often in his writing. Can't wait to read the book! Copyright (c) Steve Uhrig, SWS Security May 2002, for MHS |
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April 20, 2001
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Last updated March 26, 2003.
