In the sixth episode of our TV tie-ins mini-season, Mal, with contributions from a 'Resident Expert' (i.e. her Mum), takes a look at a 60 year old novel - The Man From U.N.C.L.E. by Michael Avallone. This was written in the 1960s, at a time when tie-in authors couldn't immerse themselves in the world of the TV show because they probably had to watch it once a week at the same time the rest of the population did. Does that mean that the novels were a mass of contradictions and discrepancies? Join me for an episode that takes a look at the challenges faced by tie-in authors in the 60s, as well as a (not long enough!) look at the author Michael Avallone the "Fast typewriter in the East".

A special thanks should go out to Lee Goldberg who shared the book 'Tied In: The Business, History and Craft of Media Tie-In Writing' with me. He edited this  ...