Head of the Secret Service. What to call him?

Maythe · Sep 25, 2016

I'm looking for a good title for the 'head of the secret service' in a fantasy setting. The character's role in court is roughly equivalent to that of Lord Walsingham for Elizabeth I but he was 'Principal Secretary' which is not a very evocative title. 'Spymaster General' or similar feels rather blatant. This is an unofficial role but one that everyone knows he holds, so I could do with a 'job title' that acknowledges it in a slightly sideways or 'doublespeak' sort of way. I'm racking my brains... any ideas?

Shivari · Sep 25, 2016

Tricky one.

But thinking about spying, good covers for spies in the field would include being a merchant, a cartographer or a travelling minstrel of troubadour.

If you want a slightly jokey flavour to the unofficial job title, what about Minister of Minstrels?

Trademaster general?

Master of Maps?

dpaterso · Sep 25, 2016

A kitchen-y title like Head Pie Chef. Always sticking his fingers rudely into other people's pies. He takes the job seriously and inspects the kitchen every day. Whenever he finds spies lurking there and puts them in pies and returns them to their masters.

-Derek

mrsmig · Sep 25, 2016

A simple title like "Special Advisor" or something similar might do the trick.

Silva · Sep 25, 2016

Director of Internal(External?) Security?

Maythe · Sep 25, 2016

Shivari said:
Tricky one.

But thinking about spying, good covers for spies in the field would include being a merchant, a cartographer or a travelling minstrel of troubadour.

If you want a slightly jokey flavour to the unofficial job title, what about Minister of Minstrels?

Trademaster general?

Master of Maps?

It's not a particularly light hearted or humorous story unfortunately because those are good suggestions. Master of Maps could possibly work.

dpaterso said:
A kitchen-y title like Head Pie Chef. Always sticking his fingers rudely into other people's pies. He takes the job seriously and inspects the kitchen every day. Whenever he finds spies lurking there and puts them in pies and returns them to their masters.

-Derek

Lol. I like it. If I ever make a similar story that's humorous I'll definitely consider it. However, this character's about as funny as being smashed in the face with a brick.

mrsmig said:
A simple title like "Special Advisor" or something similar might do the trick.

I like it!

Silva said:
Director of Internal(External?) Security?

'Director' makes it rather modern sounding, or is that just me?

Thanks for your input everyone!

jjdebenedictis · Sep 25, 2016

Minister of Discretion, or the Prudent Advisor, or the Secretary Cryptic?

@LeaLately · Sep 25, 2016

I like Minister of Discretion and then he could be known simply as the MOD.

williemeikle · Sep 25, 2016

The British Secret Service go in for single letters, M in Bond's case, C (for Control) in the Le Carre novels... how about just a single letter which could stand for anything you needed it to stand for?

ClareGreen · Sep 26, 2016

Privy Secretary, or something from one of those two roots.

A Secretary is One Who Keeps Secrets, and Privy is about Someone Who Shares In The Knowledge Of Something Private...

SillyLittleTwit · Sep 26, 2016

ClareGreen said:
Privy Secretary, or something from one of those two roots.

*Visualises someone sitting on the toilet, taking minutes.*

Shivari · Sep 26, 2016

SillyLittleTwit said:
*Visualises someone sitting on the toilet, taking minutes.*

Would that be the lucky person who never runs out of toilet paper?

robjvargas · Sep 26, 2016

Maythe said:
I'm looking for a good title for the 'head of the secret service' in a fantasy setting. The character's role in court is roughly equivalent to that of Lord Walsingham for Elizabeth I but he was 'Principal Secretary' which is not a very evocative title. 'Spymaster General' or similar feels rather blatant. This is an unofficial role but one that everyone knows he holds, so I could do with a 'job title' that acknowledges it in a slightly sideways or 'doublespeak' sort of way. I'm racking my brains... any ideas?

The most secretive title of all would be no title, wouldn't it? A spymaster that no one knows even exists could be pretty darn secret.

I've always liked titles with more of a philosophical bent to them. Like, from Game of Thrones. "The Hand of The King." But I haven't thought one up for this situation.

Once! · Sep 26, 2016

robjvargas said:
The most secretive title of all would be no title, wouldn't it? A spymaster that no one knows even exists could be pretty darn secret.

That would get my vote. I'm not sure that a spymaster would want to have an evocative title. Of course, the people around him would call him all manner of names, but whispered under their breaths. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare called Tybalt "the prince of cats". Not an official title, to be sure, but very memorable.

Shivari · Sep 26, 2016

Once! said:
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare called Tybalt "the prince of cats". Not an official title, to be sure, but very memorable.

How about "The Hidden Paw"?

Oh damn - TS Eliot beat me to it.

Maythe · Sep 26, 2016

ClareGreen said:
Privy Secretary, or something from one of those two roots.

A Secretary is One Who Keeps Secrets, and Privy is about Someone Who Shares In The Knowledge Of Something Private...

I considered some use of privy (Thomas Cromwell was Lord Privy Seal and Principal Secretary) but thought it might cause confusion among some readers. Maybe I'm committing that sin of underestimating the reader!

Maythe · Sep 26, 2016

Running with the idea of titles that are not titles I could just call him That Bastard...

Richard White · Sep 26, 2016

While he might hold an honorary title (Assistant Minister of the Exchequer) to explain why he's around the palace and how he gets paid, his unofficial title could be something like "The King's Shadow" or something evocative if he needs a title at all.

- - - Updated - - -

Shivari said:
How about "The Hidden Paw"?

Oh damn - TS Eliot beat me to it.

Damn that Macavity.

maxmordon · Sep 26, 2016

What about "The Overseer"? Or something along the lines of "The Royal Overseer", "The Majesty's Overseer" or "The Overseer General"?

Shivari · Sep 26, 2016

Richard White said:
Damn that Macavity.

I mean, seriously, don't you just hate it when people have your idea before you?

mccardey · Sep 26, 2016

Bacchus · Sep 27, 2016

Shivari said:
I mean, seriously, don't you just hate it when people have your idea before you?

Try writing cominc fantasy and having an idea that Terry Pratchett hasn't already had...

In answer to the OP's question, in one of my WIPs I have a "Bureau for compliance" which is nicely ambiguous, could you do something along the lines of "Minister for compliance"?

MartinV · Oct 4, 2016

A more ceremonial title: Retainer of the Royal Spyglass

cmhbob · Oct 4, 2016

Crown Minister
Crown Secretary (iat?)

Or maybe play with signet, or seal?

Closet?

Covert?

Crown's Observer

cmhbob · Oct 4, 2016

Riffing off of Guinan's introduction on Star Trek (I tend bar, and I listen.), maybe something to do with ears or hearing or listening.

Crown Recorder?

Who's he?
That's Jehosaphat. He's the Crown's Recorder.
What does he record?
Everything.

Head of the Secret Service. What to call him?

Maythe

Shivari

dpaterso

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mrsmig

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SillyLittleTwit

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Shivari

robjvargas

Once!

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Shivari

Maythe

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Richard White

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cmhbob

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