This afternoon I am working away at my new novel (historical thriller) while watching a modern day thriller movie, and I started pondering about the difficulties and challenges of the genre in a historical setting.
It's something that I've pondered before, but never really discussed. In a Roman setting I don't have mobile phones, computers or flashy James Bond style gadgets. Instead of explosives and guns, I only have a sword/dagger and poison. When my MC acquires vital information to prevent a conspiracy it can take hours, days or months to communicate this information back to his commander.
But for all these challenges, I have found some very cool information about the network of spies, informers and couriers in Ancient Rome, as well as encryption and ways of signalling etc.
So, how do you take up the challenge? I have found that I must think more creatively. After all, readers will only accept a tortured spy blurting out his secrets only so many times (its a little too easy, I think anyway.) I remember someone saying that a MC needs to work to find the answer his dilemma (whether that's preventing Fawkes blowing up Parliament or the assassination of Caesar - true fact, Caesar had acquired intelligence from his spies of the conspiracy to kill him, but failed to act on it.)
So, how do you rise to the challenge?
It's something that I've pondered before, but never really discussed. In a Roman setting I don't have mobile phones, computers or flashy James Bond style gadgets. Instead of explosives and guns, I only have a sword/dagger and poison. When my MC acquires vital information to prevent a conspiracy it can take hours, days or months to communicate this information back to his commander.
But for all these challenges, I have found some very cool information about the network of spies, informers and couriers in Ancient Rome, as well as encryption and ways of signalling etc.
So, how do you take up the challenge? I have found that I must think more creatively. After all, readers will only accept a tortured spy blurting out his secrets only so many times (its a little too easy, I think anyway.) I remember someone saying that a MC needs to work to find the answer his dilemma (whether that's preventing Fawkes blowing up Parliament or the assassination of Caesar - true fact, Caesar had acquired intelligence from his spies of the conspiracy to kill him, but failed to act on it.)
So, how do you rise to the challenge?