Theme: Techno-Thrillers

The term ‘techno-thriller’ was coined in the 1980s to describe the spy thrillers of Tom Clancy that were dense with explanations about the workings of military equipment.

In its usage here, techno-thriller refers to a work that counts as nominal science-fiction due to its use of advanced technology but where the science-fictional content is not conceptual but secondary to other aspects such as thriller or action. An SF film might concern the devastating aftermath of the release of a Doomsday Weapon, whereas a techno-thriller is merely concerned with the race to prevent its use.

In the works included here, the techno-thriller element is often little more than a McGuffin – a device or a formula that is sought by parties in order to drive the plot in a thriller. Almost all of the entries in Spy Films are included as techno-thrillers because of the employment of fantastical gadgetry by the heroes, extravagant world domination schemes by the villains or the fight to acquire super-science weapons/formulas/devices/inventions.

The topic also includes nuclear thrillers, IT thrillers and works about technologically advanced vehicles.

For more detail and an overview of the genre see the Theme Essay Techno-Thrillers.