Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I know for a fact we've got an upsurge in 'join group' activity so...hello to you new folks! Build yourself a drink over at my wet-bar (pops out behind the painting of the Battle of Trafalgar). Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello back to you, Sir!

heh heh. Say Simon. "Why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?

:D

Hi Feliks. Big fan of espionage fiction so figured this was the place to find a home in. My favourite spy author is the most obvious choice: John Le Carre but my favourite author ever is Graham Greene who also dabbled in espionage both in reality and in fiction.

Greene -- infinitely better.

I go along with LeCarre and Greene; they both make it into the category of classical literature.

Greene better than LeCarre? o_0

H'mmm. Although both men have backgrounds in the field I have yet to see a genuine work of espionage from Greene. Its more like he writes fiction and some of his characters sometimes have a task or a job which is occasionally, somewhat related to spying. He seems to spend very little time writing about tradecraft.

Of course, there's plenty from him I haven't read: I'm sure that 'This Gun For Hire' must have some crime/intrigue in it. But when it comes to such a book--where I already know the movie so well--I don't feel any great urge to take it up, frankly.

Anyway welcome Kevin!

Greene's "Our Man in Havana" isn't much on tradecraft, but it's a delightful book that's very telling about the foibles of intelligence.

Glad to hear. Its been on my TBR list for a long while. I was very much taken by his 'The Comedians'...big win..fascinating backdrop to that novel...but I *loathed* 'The Power and the Glory'. A real disappointment, that one.

In any case I must say that the bookcovers he's been given by (Penguin? Whoever his publisher is?) are stupendous!

Our Man in Havana is a pretty good movie as well. Staring Sir Alec Guiness and Earnie Kovacs as Cpt Sequia..

Thanks for the welcome Feliks. Our man in Havana is his most obvious spy related book. He even got in trouble with the future director of MI6 for inadvertenly (or maybe intentionally) revealing part of the tradecraft. Another excellent espionage related novel was 'The Ministry of Fear' although this is more Hitchcock-esque (ordinary man accidently becomes embroiled in international conspiracy) than Le-Carre like.

Hello Feliks. This is my first comment. I enjoyed Our Man in Havana several years ago but my favorite Le Carre book has always been TINKER, TAILOR. Back in the 70's when it was first released I shared my copy with a long time employee of the British government (not a spy). She verified its authenticity and enjoyed it very much. I read most of his books and really enjoyed the often overlooked THE NIGHT MANAGER.

I am currently reading Daniel Silva's THE ENGLISH GIRL. I've read several other Gabriel Allon stories and plan to continue. THE ENGLISH GIRL is another good addition to the series, however I have to question the exchange at the end of Chapter 11 and the beginning of Chapter 12. After Allon treats an adversary in a most unfriendly manner, the subsequent Q & A sounds too much like a casual conversation. I was expecting the villain's responses to show much more distress.

Glad to have this opportunity to participate.

Hi, I am Steve. I read a wide variety of stuff, and got into spy fiction primarily as a fan of Ian Fleming, the Bond movies and TV's "Mission Impossible," along with other pulpy stuff like Leslie Charteris' stories about the Saint.

Along the way I began reading Le Carre and really digging it. I still have a bunch of Le Carre to catch up on, but I recently read "A Delicate Truth" and before that the first two Smiley books. I am reading "The Honourable Schoolboy" now.

I picked up some Graham Greene recently, and will get to that sooner or later.

You're reading my #1 favorite espionage work, Steve. I can only hope you read the earlier LeCarre in sequence leading up to it; if not you are going to miss out on some subtle pleasures.

LeCarre writes like a composer does movements or perhaps, symphonies; all his novels (up to the last of the Smiley saga) refer back to well-honed themes and details he developed in previous books.

Welcome to both you and Samuel. If you two wanna know how much I admire LeCarre, please see the reviews I committed to his titles on their respective Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ pages. I gave my all.

Steve, please share your reactions to any part of 'Schoolboy' as you go along. I promise not to reveal any spoilers for you.

Thanks, Feliks. My first observation on this work (as in every other Le Carre I have read) is the great care he takes to assure all his characters are fully human. No cookie-cutter characters, no pure-snow heroes and no pure-evil villains. I also like the way the plot builds slowly, and how it he reader is tugged along trying to decide what is significant and what is not. Unraveling these plots are a bit like unraveling an espionage plot ...

I will check out your reviews, too. Thanks!

Good man. Let me know if you have trouble locating them; the review section for Tinker, Tailor is especially lengthy!

And of course do not overlook this extended discussion tied to the 'Tinker' page:

Guys, I've re-ordered our shelves a little bit today.

I think its clearer now what-goes-where.

Authors, just remember: if you are introducing yourself with a blurb or pitch for your work, always do this in the 'Author Promo' bin. Place all giveaways and sales announcements there.

If you are just saying 'hello' as a new member, then this 'Welcome new...' section (where you're reading this now) is appropriate for that. This is where you just hang like the rest of us, enjoying chat.

Readers looking for recommendations? Look in the 'Want a Title!' section.

Series Recommendations? There's a discussion board specifically for that.

Everything else is self-explanatory, I believe.

Enjoy! We are getting a steady flow of new readers lately!

Feliks wrote: "You're reading my #1 favorite espionage work, Steve. I can only hope you read the earlier LeCarre in sequence leading up to it; if not you are going to miss out on some subtle pleasures.

LeCarre ..."

Thanks for the welcome,Feliks. Always ready to discuss LeCarre's books. I recently enjoyed "A Colder War" by Charles Cumming. Will look for more of his titles as well.

Feliks wrote: "You're reading my #1 favorite espionage work, Steve. I can only hope you read the earlier LeCarre in sequence leading up to it; if not you are going to miss out on some subtle pleasures.

LeCarre ..."

Hi again, Feliks. I just read your review of Tinker Tailor. You did an amazing job, well articulated and entertaining. Thanks for suggesting the review. It was worth studying. Great!

I am interested in some of the other reviews of this classic. Opinions are well worth reading, receiving the various points of view.

Aye Steve. That's mainly why I'm on the site. I certainly didn't need Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to help me organize my bookshelves. I'm looking for exchange and discourse.

p.s. Here's some of the other review links, they're scattered around at random so I keep a shortlist to *start conversation*. I wish I could get more people talking about these great books!

John LeCarre's 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' (espionage)
/review/show...
John LeCarre's 'The Honourable Schoolboy' (espionage)
/review/show...
Adam Hall's 'The Quiller Memorandum' (espionage)
/review/show...
Clive Cussler's Raise the Titanic! (thriller)
/review/show...
Norman Hartley's 'The Viking Process' (thriller)
/review/show...
Adam Hall's 'The Sinkiang Executive' (espionage)
/review/show...
John LeCarre's 'The Spy Who Came In from the Cold'
/review/show...
Thomas Gifford's 'The Wind Chill Factor' (thriller)
/review/show...
Charles McCarry's 'The Secret Lovers' (espionage)
/review/show...
Frederick Forsyth's 'The Day of the Jackal' (thriller)
/review/show...
John Peter Nettl's 'Rosa Luxemburg' (biography)
/review/show...
Thomas Harris' 'Black Sunday' (thriller)
/review/show...
William Goldman's 'Control' (thriller, sci-fi)
/review/show...
William Goldman's 'Brothers' (thriller, sequel to 'Marathon Man')
/review/show...
Dashiell Hammett's 'Red Harvest' (pulp crime)
/review/show...

I'm here. Sorry if there's a delay in replies.

By the way as moderator I can see a steady stream of new members joining Its really reassuring!

Re: 'Name of the Father'--that's AJ Quinnell eh? He kicked butt with 'Man on Fire'. Agree that he disappeared, wonder what happened. I hate that they cast Denzel Washington in that movie, so STUPID!

Re: LeCarre. No, do not start his books with 'Spy Who'. Definitely do not do that.

Start with 'Call for the Dead'. Then, 'Spy Who'. Then, 'Looking Glass War'. Then, 'Tinker, Tailor'.

Some of leCarre's early works are not spy-related; but its not all that hard to avoid them. The one, lone murder mystery he penned is called, 'A Murder of Quality'. George Smiley is the protagonist but if you have a mount of TBR books you can certainly skip it and save it for later.

If only the milksops at the Vatican actually had stood up to Germany at the time instead of 'turning the other cheek'--the world might have a lot better opinion of those poltroons! Pretty big scandal of that era.

Its a fast paced world these days and any author without an active fanbase seems quickly lost...

Just a tally:

we've added twelve new members in the last 20 days.

I'm gonna give them each an individual shout-out if I have time...

Lookit 'em all...recently-signed up members..

Pam
Puja
Simon
Dax
Kev
Steve
Trevor
Cphe
Korey
Mark
Ian
Jim

Thanks for the shout out Feliks!

Feliks: I finished "Schoolboy." You were right. It is outstanding in every way.

Way to go, Steve. Are you going to pen a review? Who was your favorite character? Most riveting scene?

I wrote a brief review, but nothing so in-depth as yours, Feliks. I was into this book quickly, but I'd say I was totally engrossed from midpoint on. I don't want to issue any spoilers, of course, but I will say that the very human drives of key characters really compelled me to keep going. I thought all the characters were well-drawn, but I think the one I would most like to spend an evening drinking with is Craw.

Yah! Craw was wonderful. Old Craw! He had seen it all!

Crazy Luke, too..but I confess my fave was The Rocker. Sgt Rockhurst. It couldn't have been him in the Club but someone there ordered their drinks barking an order like, "Hey boy! Beer! You bringee now, chop chop! And cold, hear? Muchee coldee!" Like to double me over laughing, reading that.

And how about where Fawn breaks that kid's arm? Good lord. You couldn't film something like that; people wouldn't believe it.

After this title, no one could ever say LeCarre couldn't write action scenes. He showered us with action in this book.

Its the Nicholas Nickelby of spy novels. Over 700 pages, as I recall, right?

The Bantam paperback I read came in at 532 pages, with smallish type.

I enjoyed the action sequences, too, particularly knowing that Le Carre's characters do not always come to a good end. It ratchets up the tension when you don't know the fellow you are reading about is going to survive.

Craw appealed to me, in part, because he is a journalist, as am I. I also loved his theatrical manner of speaking. In my mind's eye Richard Harris portrayed the gent.

hey that's a great lead-in. I pictured Craw as being played by...someone dark-haired, even more wrinkles..craggy features, reedy limbed..military bearing..maybe like a Trevor Howard ...or one of the officers in 'King Rat'

I plan to read "Absolute Friends" next, but I am going to wait until I am sure I have time to devote to it.

Only six more members to go and then we crack the 400 mark...!

FYI, I've turned the group back into a 'public' group. This means anyone on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ may see our discussions; and anyone may join.

There was a while--a few months ago--when we were being infested with malcontents. I think that has passed.

So I will cease personally approving every new member; however I will still examine every new member we take on.

Individuals with hidden profiles may be asked to recuse themselves.

Just three more members to go and then we hit the 400 mark!

Just TWO more members to go!


"Looks like they must've heard of the 918", eh Doubledf99?

The suspense is killing me....

(I hope it continues!)

Remember, one rattlesnake loose in a town isn't a story. But a hundred rattlesnakes is!

Hi All,

Thanks for the welcome!

I have read a bunch of Ian Fleming and loved the PBS series "Tinker, Tailor, Spy." Wanted to pick that up in book form but wasn't on the shelf. I'm starting with "The Secret Pilgrim." Haven't had the time to read in years but now all I have is time. Just finished reading "A World at War" and am now reading Speer's "Inside the Third Reich." I should finish that tonight. I can't rave about it but have learned a lot about architecture and saw another side of what was happening in Germany with Hitler in power.

Those are good picks, especially those nonfiction titles. I will add that Speer book to our bookshelf.

I'm all about espionage nonfiction and real history. People forget that this is where the fiction comes from.

LeCarre: remember, if you read LeCarre's 'Smiley' saga it is so much more rewarding to beginning at the chronological beginning of the tale. Trust me. 'Tinker, Tailor' is third from the end. And fourth from the start. When you go looking for 'Tinker Tailor' look for 'Call for the Dead' first and then read 'Spy Who Came in from the Cold' and then 'Looking Glass War'...then, 'Tinker'.

I wouldnt advise this if I didnt believe in it fully!

Thanks for the advice. I didn't notice the mention of Smiley on the book jacket, but there it is! I may have to just part with some money and read Call for the Dead on my Kindle!

Yep! It goes 'best' like this:

Call For the Dead
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (fine movie too)
A Small Town in Germany (not Smiley but worth a read)
The Looking Glass War
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (with BBC mini-series)
The Honourable Schoolboy
Smiley's People (BBC miniseries sequel, same cast)

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (with BBC miniseries)

Smiley's People (BBC miniseries sequel, same cast)"

==============

... I still find it strange that Saul Esterhase's accent went from plummy Pommy (TTSS) to Hungarrian (SP) between the two series.

Also that the TTSS movie was odd, neither an updated contemporary version of the book, nor a true depiction of the book itself, although enjoyable in itself I suppose.

no idea on either point

I assume he had to put the plummy accent on in TTSS to fit into the circus. Le Carre delves into his East european back story fairly heavily in Smiley's People.

Hi Christine, I largely agree with Feliks. Reading A Secret Pilgrim will spoil much of the series for you as its the last of the Smiley books.

Hi Kev,
I am beginning at the beginning with Call for the Dead. Have it on my Kindle now. Finished up Inside the Third Reich last night so ready to start this new book.

These are books which require careful, slow, deliberate reading.

Hi Christine, as an Ian Fleming fan who's interested in ww2, you might like 2 novels by Damian Stevenson. The title of each begins, The Ian Fleming Files, followed by separate subtitles. They are both set in the early forties, of course, feature a British agent named Ian Fleming who is the prototype for James Bond. They read pretty much as 007 stories would if they were set in that time frame: lots of sex, technology and alcohol. I read about half of one, and thought it was a little better than the James Bond stuff. The best part is that the Kindle versions are free if you have Amazon Prime or Unlimited

Thanks for the suggestion, Dave. Been years since I read the Fleming books. I will put the Stevenson books on my list. I've just started reading Call of the Dead and it has already drawn me in.