- Mass Market Paperback: 567 pages
- Publisher: Bantam USA; Bantam pbk. e. edition (1 Sep 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0553574604
- ISBN-13: 978-0553574609
- Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 3 x 17.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,636,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
From the master of the novel of international intrigue comes a riveting new book as timely and unsettling as tomorrow's headlines.
It is summer 1999 in Russia, a country on the threshold of anarchy. An interim president sits powerless in Moscow as his nation is wracked by famine and inflation, crime and corruption, and seething hordes of the unemployed roam the streets.
For the West, Russia is a basket case. But for Igor Komarov, one-time army sergeant who has risen to leadership of the right-wing UPF party, the chaos is made to order. As he waits in the wings for the presidential election of January 2000, his striking voice rings out over the airwaves offering the roiling masses hope at last--not only for law, order, and prosperity, but for restoring the lost greatness of their land.
Who is this man with the golden tongue who is so quickly becoming the promise of a Russia reborn? A document stolen from party headquarters and smuggled to Washington and London sends nightmare chills through those who remember the past, for this Black Manifesto is pure Mein Kampf in a country with frightening parallels to the Germany of the Weimar Republic.
Officially the West can do nothing, but in secret a group of elder statesmen sends the only person who can expose the truth about Komarov into the heart of the inferno. Jason Monk, ex-CIA and "the best damn agent-runner we ever had," had sworn he would never return to Moscow, but one name changes his mind. Colonel Anatoli Grishin, the KGB officer who tortured and murdered four of Monk's agents after they had been betrayed by Aldrich Ames, is now Komarov's head of security.
Monk has a dual mission: to stop Komarov, whatever it takes, and to prepare the way for an icon worthy of the Russian people. But he has a personal mission as well: to settle the final score with Grishin. To do this he must stay alive--and the forces allied against him are ruthless, the time frighteningly short....
It is summer 1999 in Russia, a country on the threshold of anarchy. An interim president sits powerless in Moscow as his nation is wracked by famine and inflation, crime and corruption, and seething hordes of the unemployed roam the streets.
For the West, Russia is a basket case. But for Igor Komarov, one-time army sergeant who has risen to leadership of the right-wing UPF party, the chaos is made to order. As he waits in the wings for the presidential election of January 2000, his striking voice rings out over the airwaves offering the roiling masses hope at last--not only for law, order, and prosperity, but for restoring the lost greatness of their land.
Who is this man with the golden tongue who is so quickly becoming the promise of a Russia reborn? A document stolen from party headquarters and smuggled to Washington and London sends nightmare chills through those who remember the past, for this Black Manifesto is pure Mein Kampf in a country with frightening parallels to the Germany of the Weimar Republic.
Officially the West can do nothing, but in secret a group of elder statesmen sends the only person who can expose the truth about Komarov into the heart of the inferno. Jason Monk, ex-CIA and "the best damn agent-runner we ever had," had sworn he would never return to Moscow, but one name changes his mind. Colonel Anatoli Grishin, the KGB officer who tortured and murdered four of Monk's agents after they had been betrayed by Aldrich Ames, is now Komarov's head of security.
Monk has a dual mission: to stop Komarov, whatever it takes, and to prepare the way for an icon worthy of the Russian people. But he has a personal mission as well: to settle the final score with Grishin. To do this he must stay alive--and the forces allied against him are ruthless, the time frighteningly short....
From the Back Cover
Russia 1999.
A once great nation teetering on the brink of anarchy.
A charismatic new leader offering hope to his country's disillusioned people - and an olive branch to his fellow world leaders.
A secret document smuggled to the West sends a chill down the spines of all who read it...
An ex-CIA agent returns to Moscow - his mission to prevent, at all costs, the tragedy of history repeating itself...
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I read a spy novel by the likes of Frederick Forsythe or John Le Carré, the excellence of such a work reminds me how much trash is written by other authors in the same genre.
Forsythe unfolds the events in ICON's first half by switching back and forth between two timelines. The first, in 1999, finds the British Embassy in Moscow coming into possession of the "Black Manifesto". This document, written by Igor Komarov, reveals his secret plan for his rule of Russia once he wins the presidential election scheduled for January 2000. Since Komarov is far ahead in the polls, and his Manifesto espouses both military aggression against surrounding countries and genocide against certain Russian minorities, the Brits are understandably worried. The second timeline, from 1983 to 1994, follows the upwardly mobile career path of CIA officer Jason Monk, as he becomes case officer for several key spies within the Soviet military, intelligence and scientific communities. Over time, Monk watches helplessly as his agents are betrayed by the real-life CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames, and subsequently captured, tortured and executed by the sadistic KGB Colonel Anatoli Grishin. The second half of the book has Monk, separated from the CIA since 1994, returning to Russia in 1999 on behalf of Western interests to discredit Komarov and destabilize his campaign for the Russian presidency. In the process, he matches wits with Grishin, now serving as Komarov's Chief of Security.
One of the strengths of this novel, besides the intricate plot and fine cast, is the (apparently factual) history of the Aldrich Ames betrayal, an absolute fiasco on the part of the CIA. This sort of background information adds immeasurably to any novel, yet isn't a part of many. In my mind, this writing technique is one of the reasons why Forsythe is at the top of his profession.
ICON proceeds at a crisp, clear and riveting pace. It was a book that was difficult to put down in deference to life's more mundane responsibilities. My only criticism, and one that prevents me from awarding 5 stars, was the heavy-handed ending lacking the finesse of what came before. It was as if Forsythe suddenly found himself faced with a publisher's deadline, and he had to achieve closure quickly. The final confrontation between Monk and Grishin was both clumsy and anticlimactic. Despite these closing flaws, however, the novel is top drawer.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Another well-constructed and well-written book from the master. Forsyth has exploited the fragile political situation in Russia beautifully to come up with a great yearn.
If there are criticisms to be made then one would be the reliance on coincidence to keep the story moving and a second would be that too much seems to go the way of the "good guys".
Still, if it's an action-packed read you're after, this will fit the bill perfectly!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Before this book, I thought Tom Clancy was a must. But FF showed me that someone can write an even better story on political affairs, inteligence movements and cold wars, changing the scenario every 50 pages.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another good read....
You are rarely disappointed with a Frederick Forsyth book (though it happens sometimes). This one is a winner - it has enough factual detail to make you believe everything that... Read more
Published 5 months ago by MJ Gallagher
The best thriller writer there is?
Forsyth even when he's not at his best, is still better than 90% of other thriller writers out there. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Matt Richards
Icon
Typical Forsythe. In my opinion few of his other books are as good as the Day of the Jackal but this is a very good read. I enjoyed it.
Published 18 months ago by Barbara Adair
One of his best
This is all you expect from FF and more as he slots his novel seamlessly into an accurate depiction of the time. Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by D. A. Wright
Good in parts
At over 500 pages this was something of a slog and elements stretch your belief a little too far. However, Forsyth fans will enjoy his usual strong points but purists should start... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2009 by Mr. S. Burgess
fascinating and powerful
Part in which he describes russians,their psychology and post soviet times very truthfully. Though it's just thriller but all the details are so believable and real so i even... Read more
Published on 5 July 2009 by D. Gorelik
Forsyth at his best
Icon is probably one of the last truely great Soviet/Russia-USA thrillers of the 90's.
Right from the start it builds up little bits of detail and ties it up into the... Read more
Right from the start it builds up little bits of detail and ties it up into the... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2009 by Mr. Clark Gillies
Forsyth again
Excellent read, but it didn't grab me as much as most of his works do.
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by Robin Walker
an icon is to be respected and could be vulnerable to threats...
First 6 chapters way too slow. Story build-up about an important document written by the upcoming President of Russia is missing. Now i think is going to stay that way... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2008 by SKYW4LKER
Fine storytelling, if a little implausible
I read Frederick Forsyth a lot since his books are all well-researched and have an intricate yet accessible plot, usually with a few surprises thrown in. And so it is with Icon. Read more
Published on 28 July 2007 by R. Paterson
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