S.W.O.R.D. (The Saint)

S.W.O.R.D. (an acronym for Secret World Organization for Retribution & Destruction) is a fictional criminal organization that exists as a creation within a creation. The organization appears in the novel The Saint and the Fiction Makers, written by Fleming Lee. It is credited to Leslie Charteris, who served in an editorial capacity and who created the title character of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". The Fiction Makers was adapted from a two-part episode of the same title written by John Kruse from The Saint TV series.

As depicted in The Fiction Makers, S.W.O.R.D. is a diabolical criminal organization that pulls off ingenious heists. It is a creation of author "Amos Klein", the nom de plume of Joyce Darling, a character in the book. The plot deals with Simon Templar (alias the Saint) fighting to stop S.W.O.R.D. from becoming a real organization.

Templar is hired to bodyguard the reclusive "Amos Klein" on behalf of "his" publisher Finlay Hugoson only to discover "he" is really a clever, if eccentric, woman named Joyce Darling. When they are kidnapped by S.W.O.R.D., they assume Templar is "Amos Klein" and that Miss Darling is his secretary. Now they must help S.W.O.R.D. plan a heist on one of the most secure vaults in the world or die horribly at their hands.

Klein develops the following characters within S.W.O.R.D.:

• Warlock: The megalomaniacal genius who runs S.W.O.R.D.
• The Bishop: A master of disguise. He is usually discovered due to the unique and ornate turquois ring he wears at all times.
• Frug: A giant of a man; all brawn and very little brain.
• Nero Jones: Rip Savage's nemesis.
• Simeon Monk The Bishop's henchman.
• Galaxy Rose: The femme fatale of Klein's books, a voluptuous blonde with a sultry voice. She is Warlock's mistress because of the control he has over her father, but acts against him when the whim takes her. She has a sort of affection for Rip Savage, the hero of the Klein novels, but is notably fickle. She often flirts with Rip just to make Warlock jealous or angry.
• Rip Savage: A parody of James Bond.

Amos Klein's Rip Savage Novels:

• Sunburst Five: The fifth Rip Savage novel.
• Volcano Seven: In the prologue of Episode 11 (The Fiction Makers, Part One), Simon Templar (ironically played by Roger Moore, who would later play Bond) is at the premiere for Volcano Seven, a movie based on the seventh Rip Savage novel. He mocks how formulaic, predictable and unrealistic the character and plot are.
• The Hatelover: The current Rip Savage novel that Klein is working on. She is toying with the idea of killing off the character by electrocuting him.

References

• Roy Ward Baker (Director), John Kruse (Story & Screenwriter). The Saint, Season 6, Episodes 11 and 12 (first aired December 8 & 15, 1968). ITV.
• Robert S. Baker (Producer), Roy Ward Baker (Director), John Kruse (Story & Screenwriter). The Fiction Makers (first released December 24, 1970). ITV. - The feature film, edited together from the two episodes.
• The Saint and the Fiction Makers by "Fleming Lee" (Leslie Charteris). Crime Club (an imprint of Doubleday) (first edition: January 1, 1968). The novelization of the episodes.