I Am (Not) A Number: Decoding The Prisoner Paperback – 9 Nov. 2017

By tracing the order in which the scenes from the Prisoner were shot Alex Cox brings a valuable insight into the way the project, which seems to have started with a number of well meaning and very talented people at cross purposes, unfolded. This book is a professional's view of the work of fellow professionals. I strongly recommend it. It is also the first book in which I have seen a fair appreciation of the work of Nigel Stock who had the unenviable, if not impossible, task of standing in for Patrick McGoohan in a somewhat contrived episode, although seemingly necessarily so. A professional performance by any standards. But the Prisoner - it is like quicksand. The more one becomes drawn into the Prisoner the greater the suction. Yet unlike quicksand the greater the depth of penetration, the greater the appreciation for a quite magnificent piece of performing art. It does more than merely entertain. It challenges an awakened mind like little else has done. Alec Cox's contribution to this process is great. I owe him a debt of gratitude for it.

Just as the success of Danny Baker's wonderful talk-radio format is founded on the input of "people that never usually call radio phone-ins", so I feel that I should also mount a verdict in this book's defence, as I never normally post reviews. In fondly recalling Alex Cox from his BBC 2 'Moviedrome' days - and even more fondly recalling my DVD box-set of 'The Prisoner' - I was prompted to this book's existence by a thought-provoking Radio 3 interview by Cox, with the excellent Matthew Sweet. Consequently, this title's prose reminded me of the way that Cox used to cue up his cult films during each compelling introduction to 'Moviedrome' - sharp, pointed, pithy and provocative. Not only an informed analysis of each individual 'Prisoner' episode, this brief but memorable volume also goes for broke in a bold final coda, attempting to crack the series' supposed (and long-hidden) final secret. I personally feel that Cox's ultimate conclusion may not be entirely on-beam, but disagreeing with him is one of this book's - which absolutely rattles along, incidentally - many joys.

Watched the series on numerous occasions. Always wondered why no 6 was imprisoned in the village and who was no.1. The book gives definitive answers; though you have to decide

I seem to recall the author saying that this was recorded in a shed or something similar. It shows. He has a nice voice, but the editing is all over the place. For such a popular programme it was a false economy not to have had the book professionally produced. Three things are important about talking books. 1. The talking (We all prefer the author to be reading their own book in a pleasant friendly voice, there are some horrible robotic readers out there) 2. The book - predictably enough and 3. The editing and production. This really isn't good, and stops and starts and repetition is just unforgivable.

An excellent, thoughtful, intelligent, thought provoking read. Alex Cox presents the series in the order of production rather than broadcast and makes a good case for watching and interpreting it this way. His version of the underpinning story and meaning are both compelling and unique. A must read for anyone with an interest in The Prisoner.

Well written. Takes each episode and dissects them with what happened and what the author thinks. Winds up with an overall view and what conclusions can be reached. Recommended

I was introduced to The Prisoner as a child in reruns. Despite my advancing years I am too young to have seen it when it originally aired.My mother was a fan of McGoohan's spy series Dangerman but could not fathom The Prisoner.As a kid I loved it and my favourite episode back then was the one where No 6 tells a story to some of the children in the village which involves a lady assassin.I did not learn much from this book as over the years I have watched a few documentary programmes analysing this highly iconic tv show. However I had forgotten a lot of the details behind the show and some I did not know. This book was a pleasing stroll down memory lane.

Many books have been written about The Prisoner. Most of them are awful. This is no exception. I purchased because Alex Cox has a great history. A trusted history but alas he has let us down as this is quite simply dire.If one is to attempt to dissect or 'decode' as Cox calls it, then one would assume, one would watch it, take notes and research it but imho this simply did not happen. The book is sloppy and in some cases factually incorrect.For example actress Jane Merrow does not play a character called Angela (it is actually Alison). Patrick McGoohan HAS done screen kissing in his career, something Cox informs us he hasn't.Many of his dialogue quotes are incorrect. For example Number 6 in The Chimes of Big Ben does not say "All the Earth one big village". He does however say "The Whole Earth as the Village?" In the same episode Number 6 does not donate prize money to a fellow villager. He offers to buy a tapestry that is later used for a sail and where is the small swimming pool in Kosho fights? The list goes on.The book also contains very short episode synopsis for all 17 episodes, often omitting important scenes and then 8 pages 'decoding' it. I won't reveal the content here as you may wish to judge for yourselves but it does appear a little short.In conclusion this book does not decode anything. Cox gives his angle on it and that's fair enough but decode? No. It's interpretation. A wasted effort.