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The Once and Future Spy
  
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The Once and Future Spy (Hardcover)

by Robert Littell (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Faber and Faber (4 Jun 1990)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0571144004
  • ISBN-13: 978-0571144006
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,012,034 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Synopsis

A thriller, from the author of "The Sisters", which explores the inner workings of a disquieting espionage operation launched in Washington. The book intertwines past and present - through historian Silas Sibley - as it becomes clear that the clandestine CIA operation has been leaked.

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous Decision to Reissue, 15 Dec 2002
By taking a rest - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Once and Future Spy: A Novel of Obsession (Hardcover)
Robert Littell has written a variety of wonderful books that all earn high marks in whatever genre he places them. He has written the spy novel as well as anyone, he has written historically based fiction so well, that some find his version of events easier to believe than those generally accepted as fact. And he has explored relationships that have nothing whatsoever to do with the other categories I mention. His are some of my favorite books, and I hope that many will now be issued once again.

For the spy lovers there have been, "Walking Back The Cat", "An Agent In Place", and most recently, "The Company". Historically based fiction rarely gets better than, "The Sisters", and "The Visiting Professor", fills the relationship category. It's not an easy decision, but my favorite work of his is likely, "The Revolutionist". All of these books I would enthusiastically recommend.

"The Once And Future Spy", is akin to traversing a labyrinth that is made of mirrors instead of green hedges. I also walked through one made entirely of chain link fence once, and with all that it allowed you to see, that it "showed clearly", it too was especially, or perhaps unique in its puzzle.

And despite all that transpires in this book, when you finally put down, or it finishes with you, you are anywhere but at the end. Government conspiracy enthusiasts will love this book, for it not only is clearly modeled after a specific US Presidency, it also portrays a variety of players that are identical to that administration in all but name. The act contemplated has a logic in their world, but once outside of their tortured, groupthink, any ends justifies the means sideshow, what they contemplate doing is no less than a crime against humanity.

Mr. Littell plays a wonderful game of slight of hand, and three card monty novel writing. But he does it with such skill that it never seems contrived, and when you think you have finally found the correct card, he will turn over another, proving you wrong once again. Even when he appears to come clean at the story's conclusion, has he really? By my reading he has not. An uneasy truce based not on mistrust, or threats, but rather participants not knowing where they stand, seems to be the closest anyone can come to comfort.

If you have never read this writer's work, please do, you will find a variety of genres, all capably handled by an extremely talented, imaginative, and skilled pen.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, 17 Sep 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Once and Future Spy (Paperback)
A great story which calls into question the dividing line between reality and fiction - and manages to remain readable and fun. The superimposition of different historical perspactives (read the story!!) make for a challenging multilayered experience, but you can still take it a face value if you like.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and facile., 2 Dec 2007
By Jeremy Smith "snafu fubar" (Luxembourg) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Once and Future Spy (Paperback)
Whilst the writing was competent i felt this book had a middle, no real beginning and a rushed and obvious end. The premise is at first intriguing and interesting with a number of possibilities and avenues for development but the finished product ignores most of these in progressing an almost "by the numbers" story with lacklustre "twists." The ending is somewhat obvious and the experience of reading this book left me wholely un-satisfied.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Having read and enjoyed "The Company" by this author, I was looking forward to reading another of his books. What a disappointment. Read more
Published 5 months ago by S. R. Slater

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