book's cover indicates this plot element, portraying the Saint as trying to close a door through which armed soldiers are trying to enter. Prelude for War, in retrospect, can be seen as a prelude for Templar's later work on behalf of the war effort, as chronicled in The Saint in Miami and succeeding books written and set during World War II. Television adaptation Prelude for War was adapted as an episode of The Saint entitled "The Saint Plays with Fire". The episode aired on November 28, 1963 during the second season. It is one of only a few full Saint novels to be adapted for the series. 1938 British novels Simon Templar books Novels by Leslie Charteris Works originally published in Cosmopolitan (magazine) Novels first published in serial form Hodder & Stoughton books