My first experience with S.M. Stirling may very well be my last. If you are looking for a novel in which you get to experience the author’s fantasies and have the privilege of the author explaining to your the MANY topics he researched to write the book, this might be the book for you.
Synopsis
Ignore the canned synopses you will find scattered across the internet. Despite it’s claims, this is not what I would define an alternate history novel. Abandon any hope of a novel that features a larger than life Teddy Roosevelt and his exploits in some alternate time line. The story focuses on Luz, a female spy of the alternate history version of the Black Chamber, the forerunner of the NSA. She is tasked with getting close to a German Agent under the guise of a Mexican revolutionary fighter of who's identity she has stolen. In a series of serendipitous events, her life is saved by a stranger and she stumble upon a secret that is far greater than anyone anticipated. On her wits alone, she crafts a mission to save the United States from the most diabolical attack they have ever faced.
Frustratingly Misleading
This is what I would define lazy alternate history. This may stem from my own understanding this type of the concept. It is my expectation that alternate history takes some events of history, changes the outcome and explores what might natural occur as a result. (As an aside, I would suggest you watch The Man in High Castle for a great example. Maybe even read the book. I can't vouch for the original source material). In this novel the author allegedly uses Teddy Roosevelt serving a second term before WWII as the catalyst for the story. Honestly, I am not a student of American History. Maybe these events and the fictionalized Black Chamber would have been natural outcomes but more realistically, this was a massive stretch in an attempt to make the novel seem more interesting.
I Think I was supposed to be Impressed
There was detail in this book. A LOT of detail. From concepts ranging from electrical engineering, spy techniques, language, history, submarines, rockets and weapons. The author did a considerable amount of research on these topics. How do I know this. The author goes out of his way have the characters spout off lots of facts and details related to each of these (and more) topics. My son loves a book series called My Weird School . One character loves to show off the fact that she read the dictionary. She does this by constantly using big words that no one else understands. This is basically what the author has done. Instead of using the research to craft detailed descriptions or show realistic working of weapons, submarines etc., we get a pages devoted to detail and technical specifications. It wasn’t impressive, it was irritating. To make is worse, the protagonist often speaks in Spanish, without any translation provided. My apologies for being fluent in only one language. This was a major irritant throughout the book.
On top of the author’s indulgences, I found the novel contained a troubling love story that underlies the second half of the novel. It is suggested very early that the main female character is a lesbian or bi-sexual. This is not an issue. I only point this out because it is relevant. It is how the romance evolves that I found disconcerting. At one point in the novel, Luz and Ciara, the love interest/serendipitous partner have a discussion about H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine . In an apparent attempt to show he is aware of the representations of women in literature, the characters briefly discuss the trope of the Nubile Savage in The Time Machine . While the character shows some apparent awareness, the character proceeds to use a mix of “skilled but naïve” and “born sexy yesterday” tropes. Ciara is a rather brilliant and beautiful woman who is both naïve about the world as well as her as of yet unexplored sexuality. I could not help but feel uncomfortable though the novel as it felt that it was the innocence and naïveté (about life and her sexuality) that the main character found attractive and appealing. The characters pointed out how H.G. Wells created a love interest that was a “pet with a bosom” while at the same time creating a love interest that was a pet with a bosom that can also do tricks. While the love interest does well for herself in the end, a love story that resolves around an older experienced character falling for a naïve, younger character falling, largely because of those specific characteristics, is questionable in my mind. On top of what I wrote above, the romance was forged during intensely stressful circumstances in which the naïve character had to largely rely on the older experienced character. Regardless of your take, I find love stories that rely on the inequality of the parties to be troublesome.
Final Thoughts
Despite the attempt to market the book as something it is not, the story is written like an action adventure novel. This is not a problem if you are being honest about what you are writing. A James Rollins novel may not make it to Oprah’s book club, but James Rollins never pretends he is writing anything but action adventure. While the story has the trappings of research, social consciousness and attention to detail, it nothing more than a façade covering an adequately written novel with a questionable plot and a misleading premise. Had the author not tried so hard to convince the reader that this story was something it was not, I would have likely been much kinder in my review....more
Gabriel Allon is not the typical spy and assassin. I have enjoyed the intelligent tone of these books and the Excellent Intellectual Intrigue - 4
Gabriel Allon is not the typical spy and assassin. I have enjoyed the intelligent tone of these books and the complex political, social and racial matters the stories discuss. The third installment of the series continues in this vein.
I enjoyed this nearly as much as the last book in the series but the subplot and resolution of the story was far too similar to the previous installment. Because of this, the book lost a star in my rating. Additionally, there has become a pattern in the stories of new love interests with each subsequent book. After a while this will become tiresome. Here's to hoping that does not happen.
Early in the book we learn that underlying intrigue in the story will focus on secrets in the Vatican. Ever since the Da Vinci Code, everybody and their dog has written a story dealing with the catholic church and their lies/cover ups and secrets. For what its worth, this book was published one year before the Dan Brown novel. That said, the involvement of the Catholic Church in the story is much different that the recent novels and deal with real, historical issues between the Jews and the Catholic Church. Here is an excellent ...more
This book had the misfortune of being read after Robert Harris' far superioPosted to The Literary Lawyer.ca
It's All about the Finish - 3.5 Stars
This book had the misfortune of being read after Robert Harris' far superior An Officer and A Spy . Regardless, The Ghost is a great novel in its own right. While it does not contain the fullness of what I consider to be a better novel, it is compact and straight to the point. It is filled with conspiracy which leaves you guessing until the end.
Plot summary
Our main character is a Ghost, or more appropriately, a professional ghost writer who has ghost written well received autobiographies of famous stars. His fortunes are looking up when he is offered a gig to finish ghost writing the highly anticipated autobiography of the former and controversial British Prime Minister. The previous ghost writer had died in an apparent suicide after spending the previous year putting together a manuscript for the book. The task is seemingly straight forward. He is to retire for several months to Martha's vineyard in the US, interview the Prime Minister, fix the poorly drafted manuscript and take home an absurd payday. Nothing is as it seems as the Ghost becomes increasingly suspicious regarding the death of his predecessor. While investigating the death of the first Ghost, he uncovers a conspiracy that will shock the world.
The Good
Conspiracy Nut Unite!
If you love a good conspiracy, the Ghost will certainly deliver. While I will not spoil the surprise, the conspiracy is certainly one that would shock the world and would make for some tense international relations. This underlying secret was the thrust of the novel and twists and stumbles will leave you guess and mistrusting every character you encounter.
If you like you endings to be explosive, you are in for a treat. I thought I had it all figured out but my ideas were turned on their head. A+ for a great finish.
The Bad
One Trick Pony
While I love where the story ultimately took me, the story often felt like filler until the big reveal. The audiobook was a relatively short 8 hours. Had it been longer, I would have likely lost interest in the filled and skipped to the big reveal. The first three quarters lacked the tension and buildup I felt the conspiracy required. There was some weak attempts at character building in the story, but given it is really a one trick pony, these attempts felt flat.
Can this Book Stand Alone
Yes. It is a stand alone novel.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, this is not a book you would read more than once. Once the plot fully reveals itself, there is not need to look at it again. This should not be taken as a criticism. I really did enjoy this novel. If I had not enjoyed the reveal as much as I did, I would have given this less stars. Enjoy this one for the anticipation of the reveal and for a delicious helping of conspiracy.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations. When reviewing language, mild obscenities are words like, shit, hell or damn. Religious exclamations are words such as Christ or Jesus when used as profanity.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2
There is a minor subplot involving affair. The entanglements are not graphic.
Language -
There are around 26 mild obscenities, 16 religious exclamations and 19 f-words.
Violence - 2.5
There is talk of death, violence and the mistreatment of prisoners. There is some mild description of waterboarding techniques. Overall, the elements for a background and are not graphic....more
An Intriguing Look into Historical Scandal A Literary Lawyer winner of a 2015 Gavel Award for
* Best Historical Fiction
My #4 Best Read for 2014
An Intriguing Look into Historical Scandal 5 Stars
Robert Harris has written an intriguing thriller chronicling what is know as the Dreyfus affair. I don't blame you if you know nothing of this event as it was unknown to me when I open the novel. Fans of political thriller, historical fiction and history should find this to be a perfect mesh of genres. While I remain unable to separate the fact from the author's fiction, further investigation leads me to believe this is reasonably accurate version of events.
Plot summary
In 1894 a Captain in the French Army by the name of Alfred Dreyfus was arrested, charge with selling secrets to the Germans, convicted of Treason and sent to serve an inhuman sentence on Devil's Island in French Guiana. The conviction was based on a compilation of poor evidence, anti-Semitism, political pressure and anti-German sentiment. Soon after the conviction, Georges Picquart takes over as the head of the intelligence branch of the Army where he comes to have serious doubts regarding the guilt of Dreyfus. Given the political climate in France and the implications of his discoveries, Picquart does not know whom he can trust and engages in an investigation that may never have a satisfactory resolution.
The Good
An Eye for History
Like the best Historical Fiction, the author has a keen eye for the period and historical accuracy. The story felt properly situation within the time period. The mannerism and speech felt appropriate and little felt out of place. The author also exploring the rampant anti-Semitism that was running through France at the time. This theme was dealt with in a deft manner and never turned into a political statement. It simply came off as an honest description of the attitude of the French during these years.
The Story is not Bad Either
The Dreyfus Affair was a complex and divisive matter in its day. It is no less complex today. The author was masterful in the manner in which he was able to distill the varying reasons for the affair and elegantly lay them out in cohesive manner. This is by no means a "light and fluffy" read. In is multilayered and by its nature is filled with unsatisfactory answers. Amongst the complexities, the story does an admirable job of introducing the reader the counter-intelligence methods of the period. While the novel describes the intelligence branch as the future of the Army the methods used were equally crude, impressive and ripe for misuse.
The Bad
Let's Get to know Each Other
If I have anything negative to say it is that I was a bit disappointed with the development of George Piquart. The character was obviously conflicted through out the story and I would have enjoyed if the author had explored that theme. I appreciate that this may have been deliberate and at any rate, it is a minor complaint. One other issue was the audiobook itself. David Rintoul is a top notch narrator and I take no issue with his performance. I simply question why the narrator is British and not French? The majority of audiobooks use the local accents with their novels. There was not a single French accent to be heard.
Can this Book Stand Alone
Yes. This is not part of a series
Final Thoughts
Some readers will find the pace to be far too slow. Personally, I am a fan of the meandering novel and I did not take issue with the pacing. This is simply a warning to prospective readers. While the intrigue continued to string me along, it was not blistering action and thrills that propelled my interest. The novel is complex, deals with serious issues of politics, legal systems and prejudice. In my opinion, is a Thriller in the best sense.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2
A subplot involves an extramarital affair. There are several secret rendezvous throughout the story but the sex is generally implied and is not graphic.
Language - 2
The adult language is generally very mild as many of the interactions are between officers and their superiors. As such, the language is often formal and leaves little room for adult language.
Violence - 2.5
There is some violence in the form of suicides/murders. They are simply discovered and the description are moderately graphic. The situation of Richard Dreyfus is discussed from time to time and his living conditions are, at best, squalid. Some readers my find the mental torture inflicted to be disturbing. Outside of this, physical violence is low. ...more
This marks the first book I have read by Daniel Silva. The Kill Artist, the first in the Gabriel Allon Series was first An Average Read Until the End
This marks the first book I have read by Daniel Silva. The Kill Artist, the first in the Gabriel Allon Series was first published in 2000 and it is starting to feel its age. The story resolves around Israeli and Palestinian conflict. There is a cast of a "villain" and an "anti-hero" and retaliation is the word of the day. The plot feels tired. Granted, had I read it first in 2000, I may have not felt this way.
As in many books that are the first in a series, the story starts of slowly as we are introduced to the characters. Despite my issues with a tired plotline, the characters are interesting. Our "hero" is a former Israeli intelligence officer who has retired and is working as a reclusive, world class art restorer. He finds himself (surprise, surprise) drawn back into action for the protection of Israel. He is an interesting and nuanced character.
His sidekick / love interest/ former love interest / partner is an aging (ok. she is 33 but she says that she is old for her job) world class fashion model. She has also worked an Israeli agent using her "assets" to get information or put foreign diplomats in compromising positions.
I was rather bored of the book by the halfway point. I only continued to read because the author has been highly recommended by multiple sources. The action picks up halfway through and zips on to a high finish leading a final 3.5 star rating. I plan on reading the next in the series.
A fast pace, plenty of action, international espionage and some futuristic technology make this an exciting read. A Fast Paced Thriller - 3.5 Stars
A fast pace, plenty of action, international espionage and some futuristic technology make this an exciting read. While it stumbles from time to time as the story progresses, the unrelenting pace will keep you turning the pages.
Plot summary
A British Scientist, in the midst of ground-breaking research into Alzheimer's pharmaceuticals is called upon to the US government to assist in some classified work. Due to her specific skill set, she find herself paired with a group of Black OPS agents for a Program called PERSONA. The Lead Agent, Adam Gray, through a combination of technology and drugs is able to have the personality and memories of any person "uploaded" into his own mind. In doing so, he is able to speak and think as any person from which their personality can be downloaded. The story follows several plotlines that included mission using the PERSONA technology and a search into the past and for the memories of Adam Gray.
The Good
Action, Science and Technology!
The action in the story is its greatest strength. The author has a wonderful sense of pacing and never fails to keep the reader from turning pages. In particular, there is an excellent car chase at the end of the book which is very vivid and cinematic. I wouldn't be surprised if the author wrote the story with a film script in mind.
The PERSONA concept was quite intriguing. While the technology was cumbersome and difficult to execute (the characters had to carry around heavy equipment, kidnap and subdue the subject, inject the agent and subject with a precise cocktail of drugs, wait a period of time to for the persona to download, then inject the subject with drugs to wipe their short term memory while setting up the scene to make the subject think he an accident) the result was original and intruding. The idea that a person's memories and essentially their personality can be taken from their mind, stored and transferred to another person was novel and filled with possibility. In order to take new personality, the main character had to have his own memories and personalities wiped, essentially leaving a blank slate for the imprinting of other personas. This allowed for some excellent espionage and plotlines where the bad guys are hunted for their minds.
The Bad
I Know You want me to Suspend my Disbelief, But...
While the action was wonderful and the pacing superb, the supporting cast left much to be desired. I have always wondered why authors don't "stick to the stuff they know". Here we have a British author who begins the story in a British location with a British character. He then takes that characters, flies her to the US where she is inserted into a group of US Black Op agents. The entire setup for this absurd beginning was weak and poorly executed. As a result, the main female character never seems to fit within the story. She is a catalyst for drama in the second half of the book but her inclusion and influence on the characters was never justified. I simply don't understand why the author went out of his way to set the story in the US. It would have been more believable had the story involved Americans or British only. Throughout the story, I had the distinct impression that the story was not written by an American as the phrasing and terms often felt "British" and the "Americanisms" felt stereotypical and occasionally obnoxious. For example, one character CONSTANTLY referred to others as "Brah" which made me wish my kindle had a feature to block obnoxious words.
Final Thoughts
While I enjoyed novel, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. There idea was excellent and the technology was interested. The book description was accurate in portraying the story as Jason "Bourn-esce" Unfortunately, the character development was weak the main female character was completely out of place and unbelievable. In the end, the book was saved by the excellent action, an interesting main character in Adam Gray and some novel technology.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
There were one or two comments were sexual content was implied. Outside of this, the sexual content was very low and suitable for all ages.
Language - 2.5
I may be erring on the low side in this instance. I was forced to put this book down for a week and lost a sense of the overall occurrences of adult language. There is some use of mild obscenities and there may be a couple of f-words but the overall impression was that content would be acceptable for network TV.
Violence - 3
While there are many occurrences of violence throughout the book, it seemed as if the author wanted the book to be appropriate to younger readers are well as more mature readers. The descriptions of the violence were not graphic and I think they would be acceptable for a young adult reader.
Sharpe's Tiger , my first foray into the world of Bernard Cornwell, was a success! The story is filled with interesting characters A rousing 4 Stars
Sharpe's Tiger , my first foray into the world of Bernard Cornwell, was a success! The story is filled with interesting characters, an exotic locale and exciting action and espionage all set against the background of a British Army Battalion in 1799.
Characters
In reading other reviews, some readers complained that the characters were flat and one-dimensional. I have to respectfully disagree. While the characters may not be developed to point you may find in a Tana French novel, there is sufficient development of the major players for the reader to be concerned about their well being and keep the cheering for their safety (or death).
The main character, Richard Sharpe, is more on an anti-hero. Unlike the majority of characters of HF novels focusing on British Army, Richard Sharpe is not paralysed by his sense of morality. Given that he does not automatically choose "the high road" this leads to more satisfying plot turns.
Setting
The setting is India in 1799. The British Army is at war with the Tippo, a Muslim Leader in a Hindu nation, for the purpose of securing their trade routes and keeping the French at bay. I have read many novels set in this period but this is first set in India. Personally, I found the setting to be both intriguing and exotic. The setting provided an interesting mix of Christian, Hindu and Muslim elements. This alone provided an interesting mix of plot points and characters.
Plot
In short, a former thief and would-be deserter, Richard Sharpe, finds himself given an opportunity to literally save his hide. In saving his hide, he is forced to put in right back into danger by accepting a mission from his commanding officers that if both important to the war at hand and, by all accounts, likely bound for failure. The story is in part Historical Fiction Espionage and Historical Fiction Action Adventure.
The reason my rating was only 4 stars is the story takes a while to get off the ground. At the 1/3 point, the book was about 3 stars. One Sharpe makes his deal that will seal his fate, the excitement level increased substantially.
There are elements of the story that are not for the faint of heart. The descriptions of violence are more graphic than many other such HF novels. There are scenes of floggings, gun battles and public executions that have liberal descriptions of blood and various crunching sounds.
Overall, an exciting book and great start to the series. I am looking forward to reading on....more
In the past 16 years, with the exception of the Bible, I have never read a book twice. I enjoy the Still Amazing the Second Time Around - 5 Stars
In the past 16 years, with the exception of the Bible, I have never read a book twice. I enjoy the unknown and the mystery of the unravelling. When doing a Book Pal read, I decided to pick up a book that is in my Top 10 and to break my rule about never reading a book twice. What an excellent decision. Even the second time around, I was amazed by the excellent story and the author's ability to created suspense even when you know the eventual outcome. The author makes it clear from the outset that the book is about a failed assassination attempt. While this would generally spoil the story for me, this story was about the preparation, the chase and the excitement of the near miss. This is likely the reason it was still an amazing read the second time around. Whether it is your first time, second or fifteenth, fans of Thrillers, spy novels and political thrillers should pick up this classic volume.
Plot
I will not belabour the storyline. The story is that of an assassination plot on French President/General Charles De Gaulle. The uses up a significant number of pages to outline the history leading to the attempt and the tension and power struggle between the President and the OAS who were determined to oust De Gaulle and keep Algeria French. Admittedly, the opening is slow as it reads as a history. While the first chapter or two is dry, it provide the read with an excellent synopsis of the Algerian war, De Gaulle's rise, fall and second ascent to the presidency. After 6 failed attempts at assassination, the OAS hatches its best plan to date. Enter the Jackal. The top OAS leaders hire a foreign assassin to plan his own attack and assassination of the president. The story follows two major storylines. Firstly, the OAS leaders which eventually combines with that of the Jackal and his precise planning and attempt. Secondly, the story follows the French Detective who is tasked with the unenviable job of finding a killer with no evidence and clues. The result is an excited a detailed investigation/planning and one of the best international chases you will ever read.
My Take
This is widely accepted as one of the best spy/assassin thrillers of all time. Without a doubt, the author amazing eye for detail is a major reason for this. The reader does not miss a single step in the Jackal's planning. When he visits a forger to obtain fake papers, we get to see him return. We don't miss any steps. Additionally, we follow an equally detailed investigation into the identity and plan of the killer. It is truly an immersive experience.
While the actual details of the Jackal's true identity and his planning are not well known, the author does an amazing job of taking the facts and filling in the blanks with some educated guesses. The result is a completely believable and engaging story. The Jackal is one of my favourite characters in literature. There is little back story for the character but this results in an incredibly mysterious and dangerous character. Even when you think you know him, you quickly realize you don't.
Beyond the Jackal himself, the story of the investigation is equally amazing. The character of the French Detective is a small, unassuming and henpecked man but his looks belie his sharp intellect and tenacity. He is made to report daily to approximately 10 of the top men in the French government and to steer the largest manhunt in French history. The kicker is that there are quite literally no clues to go on. With a small bit of good fortune and some excellent instincts, he is able to track down an illusion. This is truly one of the most brilliant investigations I have read. Coupling this with the Jackal's story vaults this book into my top 10.
Any fan of Thrillers need to read this excellent novel. While this was written decades ago, the writing, content and story does not feel dated. This story remains exciting and entertaining, even in time of instant gratification. Even though you know the end at the beginning, it is the journey that is exciting. A highly recommended book!...more
Tim The Enchanter
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