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Checkpoint Charlie
A dozen stories tracking the CIA's most adept--and unusual--spy
There are no more spies like Charlie Dark. An old-timer whose experience stretches back to the Second World War, his main distinction is that after decades playing the game he is still alive. He is overweight, clumsy, and afraid of guns--a nonconformist in an agency built on toeing the line. Though his superiors hate him for his eccentricities, they privately admit that he may be the best spy they have. Charlie travels the globe in these twelve stories, working in Berlin, Moscow, Africa, and Asia. He fights a female assassin in Dar es Salaam, and looks for a computer chip lost in the permanent snows of the Aleutian Islands. He adapts continuously, for each adventure is a new puzzle, and a new opportunity to die.
There are no more spies like Charlie Dark. An old-timer whose experience stretches back to the Second World War, his main distinction is that after decades playing the game he is still alive. He is overweight, clumsy, and afraid of guns--a nonconformist in an agency built on toeing the line. Though his superiors hate him for his eccentricities, they privately admit that he may be the best spy they have. Charlie travels the globe in these twelve stories, working in Berlin, Moscow, Africa, and Asia. He fights a female assassin in Dar es Salaam, and looks for a computer chip lost in the permanent snows of the Aleutian Islands. He adapts continuously, for each adventure is a new puzzle, and a new opportunity to die.
- GenresThrillerShort Stories
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
30 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Brian Garfield
134books73followersBrian Francis Wynne Garfield was an American novelist and screenwriter. He wrote his first published book at the age of eighteen and wrote several novels under such pen names as "Frank Wynne" and "'Brian Wynne" before gaining prominence when his book Hopscotch (1975) won the 1976 Edgar Award for Best Novel. He is best known for his 1972 novel Death Wish, which was adapted for the 1974 film of the same title, followed by four sequels, and a remake starring Bruce Willis.
His follow-up 1975 sequel to Death Wish, Death Sentence, was very loosely adapted into a film of the same name which was released to theaters in late 2007, though an entirely different storyline, but with the novel's same look on vigilantism. Garfield is also the author of The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History. Garfield's latest book, published in 2007, is Meinertzhagen, the biography of controversial British intelligence officer Richard Meinertzhagen.
Brian Garfield was the author of more than 70 books that sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, and 19 of his works were made into films or TV shows.He also served as president of the Western Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America.
Brian Garfield passed away on December 29, 2018 at his home in Pasadena, California. He had struggled with Parkinson's Disease during the last years of his life.
His follow-up 1975 sequel to Death Wish, Death Sentence, was very loosely adapted into a film of the same name which was released to theaters in late 2007, though an entirely different storyline, but with the novel's same look on vigilantism. Garfield is also the author of The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History. Garfield's latest book, published in 2007, is Meinertzhagen, the biography of controversial British intelligence officer Richard Meinertzhagen.
Brian Garfield was the author of more than 70 books that sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, and 19 of his works were made into films or TV shows.He also served as president of the Western Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America.
Brian Garfield passed away on December 29, 2018 at his home in Pasadena, California. He had struggled with Parkinson's Disease during the last years of his life.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 25, 2012
In the introduction, Garfield admits that Miles Kendig is the origin for Charlie Dark. As a result, Myerson, Cutter, Ross and Yaskov inhabit Charlie's world. The difference here is that Charlie is a troubleshooter, solving individual problems in each story. The stories are puzzles, games, and thinking pieces, both clever and entertaining. The quality level of these stories is consistently high. Highly recommended.
August 26, 2019
Brian Garfield je známý jako autor předlohy k filmu Death Wish� a u nás mu kdysi vyšla kniha Strach v hrsti prachu (pod pseudonymem), ze které jsem byl nadšený. Čili jsem prubnul jeho sborník špionážních povídek. Dokonce jsem se před ním i podíval na film Hopschotch s Walterem Matthauem, na který to (některými postavami) navazuje. (Matthau fajn, film spíš nudnější.)
Hlavní hrdina je dost atypický špión. Je tlustý, odmítá používat zbraně, je starý� a zuby nehty se drží v práci, protože v penzi by jednak zešílel nudou a jednak nemá dost peněz, aby si mohl vůbec nějakou penzi dovolit. Jeho šéf ho nenávidí (a on jeho), ale bohužel se oba potřebují, aby si udrželi místa. Takže je Charlie Dark vysílaný, aby řešil neřešitelné problémy.
I když je to zasazené do špionážního světa, tak série je spíše detektivní. Hrdina obvykle musí vyřešit nějaký rébus. Zjistit, kdo ze tří lidí je nájemný vrah, kdo vynáší informace, jestli někdo ukradl nebo neukradl tajné spisy� nebo jak dostat zpátky do vězení člověka, kterého museli propustit v rámci jednání s teroristy. Tady nastává trochu problém, protože jak se doba vyvíjí, jsou použité finty z dnešního pohledu už často hodně naivní. Asi nejzajímavější mi přišla povídka, ve kterého Dark bojuje s ruským agentem� a celý souboj spočívá v tom, že sedí na pařezech a rozebírají, kdo z nich má víc co ztratit a kdo je schopný to dotáhnout až do sebezničení. (Aneb výhoda toho, že člověk nemá naspořeno na důchod.)
Jak jsou to krátké povídky, není v nich velký čas na budování postav, světa či atmosféry, o nějakých špionážních fíglech ani nemluvím. Charlie přijede, zjistí situaci a vyřeší ji. Zápletky jsou často zajímavé, jenže ta řešení už zavál prach. Díky tomu na mně knížka působila až moc suše. Nepřináší ani napětí, ani humor, ani nějaké originální postřehy ze špionážního světa. Dočteno spíše z respektu, než že by mě zajímalo, co se bude dít dál.
P.S. Pobavila jedna povídka, kde pojmenoval vedlejší postavy Parker Dortmunder, Kelp, Grofield� evidentně poklona jednomu svému literárnímu kolegovi.
Hlavní hrdina je dost atypický špión. Je tlustý, odmítá používat zbraně, je starý� a zuby nehty se drží v práci, protože v penzi by jednak zešílel nudou a jednak nemá dost peněz, aby si mohl vůbec nějakou penzi dovolit. Jeho šéf ho nenávidí (a on jeho), ale bohužel se oba potřebují, aby si udrželi místa. Takže je Charlie Dark vysílaný, aby řešil neřešitelné problémy.
I když je to zasazené do špionážního světa, tak série je spíše detektivní. Hrdina obvykle musí vyřešit nějaký rébus. Zjistit, kdo ze tří lidí je nájemný vrah, kdo vynáší informace, jestli někdo ukradl nebo neukradl tajné spisy� nebo jak dostat zpátky do vězení člověka, kterého museli propustit v rámci jednání s teroristy. Tady nastává trochu problém, protože jak se doba vyvíjí, jsou použité finty z dnešního pohledu už často hodně naivní. Asi nejzajímavější mi přišla povídka, ve kterého Dark bojuje s ruským agentem� a celý souboj spočívá v tom, že sedí na pařezech a rozebírají, kdo z nich má víc co ztratit a kdo je schopný to dotáhnout až do sebezničení. (Aneb výhoda toho, že člověk nemá naspořeno na důchod.)
Jak jsou to krátké povídky, není v nich velký čas na budování postav, světa či atmosféry, o nějakých špionážních fíglech ani nemluvím. Charlie přijede, zjistí situaci a vyřeší ji. Zápletky jsou často zajímavé, jenže ta řešení už zavál prach. Díky tomu na mně knížka působila až moc suše. Nepřináší ani napětí, ani humor, ani nějaké originální postřehy ze špionážního světa. Dočteno spíše z respektu, než že by mě zajímalo, co se bude dít dál.
P.S. Pobavila jedna povídka, kde pojmenoval vedlejší postavy Parker Dortmunder, Kelp, Grofield� evidentně poklona jednomu svému literárnímu kolegovi.
July 2, 2019
I really liked this book of short stories about a CIA agent (Charlie Dark) who uses his brain instead of a gun.The interaction between him and his boss is hysterical.Too bad Mr. Garfield only wrote this one book about Charlie because it was very enjoyable.
June 29, 2020
Excellent Collection From B Garfield
I haven’t read anything from Brian Garfield in over 20 years, so I was excited to come across this collection. True to form, all the stories are interesting and great examples of espionage. ENJOY!
I haven’t read anything from Brian Garfield in over 20 years, so I was excited to come across this collection. True to form, all the stories are interesting and great examples of espionage. ENJOY!
February 28, 2023
I really enjoyed Charlie.
A man after my own heart. Charlie doesn’t believe in killing people. Yes, a couple of the stories I too caught the clue but these are enjoyable little bits of puzzle.
A man after my own heart. Charlie doesn’t believe in killing people. Yes, a couple of the stories I too caught the clue but these are enjoyable little bits of puzzle.
August 10, 2020
These stories were fun, though often the ending seems a tad rushed. With the right artist, these stories would could easily be turned into a successful graphic novel.
March 20, 2025
The adventures of aging, and overweight, CIA agent Charlie Dark.
May 18, 2019
I enjoy Brian Garfield's work but this collection of spy short stories didn't wow me. I think it's because too many details were glossed over making all the stories a 1-2 punch with nothing much in the middle. A shame really as Charlie Dark was worthy of being the subject of a full-length novel.
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