Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 105
November 9, 2018
Sadly An Anti-Semitic Writer can't bring herself to say Israel....
Just finished reading "The Face Of Water - A Translator On Beauty And Meaning In The Bible" by Sarah Ruden, released by Pantheon Books.
Oh, I just know I'm going to get into a lot of trouble for this review. Now having said that, let's jump right in.
As frequent readers of my reviews know, I always deduct stars when a book takes promotes anti-Semitic diatribe and/or decides to take swipes at political beliefs that they author doesn't agree with. So because Sarah Ruden, who is a visiting scholar at Brown University can't bring herself to say Israel, and instead calls Israel by the incorrect name of Palestine, that gets an automatic two star deduction. An additional two stars were also deducted because while I do respect Sarah Ruden's right to make foolish statements about the Tea Party, such boorish comments have no place in a discussions about passages from the Old and New Testaments.
So now "The Face Of Water" is down to one star, and it's not even going to keep that rating.
Sarah Ruden presents herself as a translator on a quest to understand how the language of the bible has shifted over the centuries and how that shift impacts the meaning of certain key passages. All well and good, until she admits in the last pages that she used modern Hebrew to support her thesis - and effectively renders the book a work of slip-shod translating..
Sadly, I can not recommend this book - which I had intended to give to Zack Newsome to read; but Sarah Ruden set up a false premise and only admitted to it at the end - a rather odd thing for a translator to do. So off this book goes to be sold at Chamblin's Bookmine tomorrow.
STRONGLY NOT RECOMMENDED!
ZERO STARS!
Oh, I just know I'm going to get into a lot of trouble for this review. Now having said that, let's jump right in.
As frequent readers of my reviews know, I always deduct stars when a book takes promotes anti-Semitic diatribe and/or decides to take swipes at political beliefs that they author doesn't agree with. So because Sarah Ruden, who is a visiting scholar at Brown University can't bring herself to say Israel, and instead calls Israel by the incorrect name of Palestine, that gets an automatic two star deduction. An additional two stars were also deducted because while I do respect Sarah Ruden's right to make foolish statements about the Tea Party, such boorish comments have no place in a discussions about passages from the Old and New Testaments.
So now "The Face Of Water" is down to one star, and it's not even going to keep that rating.
Sarah Ruden presents herself as a translator on a quest to understand how the language of the bible has shifted over the centuries and how that shift impacts the meaning of certain key passages. All well and good, until she admits in the last pages that she used modern Hebrew to support her thesis - and effectively renders the book a work of slip-shod translating..
Sadly, I can not recommend this book - which I had intended to give to Zack Newsome to read; but Sarah Ruden set up a false premise and only admitted to it at the end - a rather odd thing for a translator to do. So off this book goes to be sold at Chamblin's Bookmine tomorrow.
STRONGLY NOT RECOMMENDED!
ZERO STARS!
October 21, 2018
Classic Tanith Lee
Just finished re-reading "Kill The Dead" by Tanith Lee, first published by DAW Books back in September 1980.
Tanith Lee is perhaps one of the most underrated fantasy and science fiction authors of the late 20th Century - even though she was the first woman to win the highly prestigious British Fantasy Award. Her novels, a majority of them were short like "Kill The Dead," were lyrical works of stylistic writing with heavy Gothic overtones. Yet after ten years of steadily having her novels published here in America - primarily by DAW Books, book publishers began rejecting her novels and she had trouble getting published; and even her earlier works weren't being reprinted. Prior to her death 2015, Tanith Lee was enjoying a resurgence of her original novels being published by small publishers and as e-books on various formats. And, if I'm correct, DAW Books and the estate of Tanith Lee have resolved their issues [which I think were over money owed to the estate - ironic when you consider that Sheila E. Gilbert, president of DAW Books was at the time she de-friended here on Facebook, a firm believer in the 99%, because as she stated in a post on her Facebook page that she did not have a living wage. When I pointed out to her that she makes a very decent salary as a publisher at DAW Books, she and her husband told me off for daring to point that out and de-friended me on Facebook. Funny how the 99% movement has all but fizzled out.]
Now for those who came in late, last year, I decided to start what I call my "Great Re-Reading of my Favorite Books From When I Was Younger" Project, and "Kill The Dead" by Tanith Lee is the latest book in what will undoubtedly be a very long on-going project.
As with a majority of the books I have re-read, I originally purchased "Kill The Dead" at Michelle's Bookstore which was located in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I bought my re-reading copy of "Kill The Dead" from Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, Florida - only the best bookstore on the entire East Coast of the Untied States.
"Kill The Dead" is perhaps the most extremely Gothic ghost story that Tanith Lee ever wrote.
"Kill The Dead" is basically the story of Ghost-Killer Parl Dro and his unwanted traveling companion of the road Myal Lemyal - a not so talented musician/thief.
Parl Dro is the most renowned Ghost Killer of his world. He goes from village to village sending ghosts to the final rest. His ultimate goal is to utterly destroy Tulotef - a city of ghosts that has endured for centuries. Ghosts that inhabit the world of Parl Dro and Myal Lemyal feed off the physic energy of the living - making them ephemeral vampires. It's only when Myal foolishly provides a link to a young woman who drowned herself in revenge after Parl has sent her deceased sister's ghost packing that Parl reluctantly seeks to use Myal as a means to destroy Tulotef. Yet, there are many ways that the dead can link to the living and continue to exist.
I think this is a book my good friend Barry Baron Samedi Adaska would probably enjoy reading.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF GOTHIC FANTASIES!
FIVE STARS!.
Tanith Lee is perhaps one of the most underrated fantasy and science fiction authors of the late 20th Century - even though she was the first woman to win the highly prestigious British Fantasy Award. Her novels, a majority of them were short like "Kill The Dead," were lyrical works of stylistic writing with heavy Gothic overtones. Yet after ten years of steadily having her novels published here in America - primarily by DAW Books, book publishers began rejecting her novels and she had trouble getting published; and even her earlier works weren't being reprinted. Prior to her death 2015, Tanith Lee was enjoying a resurgence of her original novels being published by small publishers and as e-books on various formats. And, if I'm correct, DAW Books and the estate of Tanith Lee have resolved their issues [which I think were over money owed to the estate - ironic when you consider that Sheila E. Gilbert, president of DAW Books was at the time she de-friended here on Facebook, a firm believer in the 99%, because as she stated in a post on her Facebook page that she did not have a living wage. When I pointed out to her that she makes a very decent salary as a publisher at DAW Books, she and her husband told me off for daring to point that out and de-friended me on Facebook. Funny how the 99% movement has all but fizzled out.]
Now for those who came in late, last year, I decided to start what I call my "Great Re-Reading of my Favorite Books From When I Was Younger" Project, and "Kill The Dead" by Tanith Lee is the latest book in what will undoubtedly be a very long on-going project.
As with a majority of the books I have re-read, I originally purchased "Kill The Dead" at Michelle's Bookstore which was located in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I bought my re-reading copy of "Kill The Dead" from Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, Florida - only the best bookstore on the entire East Coast of the Untied States.
"Kill The Dead" is perhaps the most extremely Gothic ghost story that Tanith Lee ever wrote.
"Kill The Dead" is basically the story of Ghost-Killer Parl Dro and his unwanted traveling companion of the road Myal Lemyal - a not so talented musician/thief.
Parl Dro is the most renowned Ghost Killer of his world. He goes from village to village sending ghosts to the final rest. His ultimate goal is to utterly destroy Tulotef - a city of ghosts that has endured for centuries. Ghosts that inhabit the world of Parl Dro and Myal Lemyal feed off the physic energy of the living - making them ephemeral vampires. It's only when Myal foolishly provides a link to a young woman who drowned herself in revenge after Parl has sent her deceased sister's ghost packing that Parl reluctantly seeks to use Myal as a means to destroy Tulotef. Yet, there are many ways that the dead can link to the living and continue to exist.
I think this is a book my good friend Barry Baron Samedi Adaska would probably enjoy reading.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF GOTHIC FANTASIES!
FIVE STARS!.
October 17, 2018
How Israeli Ingenuity Transforms The World
Just finished reading "Thou Shalt Innovate" by Avi Jorisch, published by Gefen.
One of the key guiding principals in Judaism is that every Jew strives to make the world a better place for those who follow after him/her; and in "Thou Shalt Innovate," Avi Jorisch, takes a look at how Israeli Jews tackled the problems they say facing the young nation and through sheer Chutzpah, found solutions and answers to the problems that they were seeking to resolve - whether it be the invention of ambucycle - that allows for EMTs to speed past congested traffic to reach a person in need; to innovative bandages that save countless lives; to an innovative way of harvesting Interferon B; to a researcher who discovered a new medical use for pot; to an innovative way of reviving extinct plant species
A must read to help and encourage people to think outside predetermined boxes.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!.
One of the key guiding principals in Judaism is that every Jew strives to make the world a better place for those who follow after him/her; and in "Thou Shalt Innovate," Avi Jorisch, takes a look at how Israeli Jews tackled the problems they say facing the young nation and through sheer Chutzpah, found solutions and answers to the problems that they were seeking to resolve - whether it be the invention of ambucycle - that allows for EMTs to speed past congested traffic to reach a person in need; to innovative bandages that save countless lives; to an innovative way of harvesting Interferon B; to a researcher who discovered a new medical use for pot; to an innovative way of reviving extinct plant species
A must read to help and encourage people to think outside predetermined boxes.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!.
Great New Prose Adventures of The Lone Ranger and Tonto
Just finished reading "The Lone Ranger Chronicles" edited by Matthew Baugh and Tim Lasiuta, released by Moonstone Books back in 2012.
It's hard to believe that with the possible exception of the novelization of "The Legend of The Lone Ranger" movie back in 1990 that there was an absolutely no new Lone Ranger novels and/or prose short stories written after the passing of Fran Striker back in 1962.
Moonstone Books "The Lone Ranger Chronicles" is a more than welcome anthology of new short stories that span the beginning of the boyhood friendship between Tonto and the Masked Man from it's later years that also features encounters with Doc Holiday, Judge Roy Bean, Wyatt Earp, and even a darker Cisco Kid. Each story resoundingly captures what makes The Lone Ranger and Tonto so popular and why their adventures resonate to this very day.
We learn what Tonto really thinks of his Kemosabe's favorite disguise and we also learn from The Lone Ranger that he's gotten used to wearing the mask.
My favorite stories in this collection are: "The Great Dinosaur Rush," "The Nobelist Vengeance," "The Fallen Angel of Dodge City," and "The Blue Roan." It was really hard to pick my favorites because all stories in this collection are really great adventures of The Lone Ranger and Tonto.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
It's hard to believe that with the possible exception of the novelization of "The Legend of The Lone Ranger" movie back in 1990 that there was an absolutely no new Lone Ranger novels and/or prose short stories written after the passing of Fran Striker back in 1962.
Moonstone Books "The Lone Ranger Chronicles" is a more than welcome anthology of new short stories that span the beginning of the boyhood friendship between Tonto and the Masked Man from it's later years that also features encounters with Doc Holiday, Judge Roy Bean, Wyatt Earp, and even a darker Cisco Kid. Each story resoundingly captures what makes The Lone Ranger and Tonto so popular and why their adventures resonate to this very day.
We learn what Tonto really thinks of his Kemosabe's favorite disguise and we also learn from The Lone Ranger that he's gotten used to wearing the mask.
My favorite stories in this collection are: "The Great Dinosaur Rush," "The Nobelist Vengeance," "The Fallen Angel of Dodge City," and "The Blue Roan." It was really hard to pick my favorites because all stories in this collection are really great adventures of The Lone Ranger and Tonto.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
Another Rousing Adventure of Blue Satan and Mrs. Kean
Just finished reading "Whisper Of Death" by Patricia Wynn, released by Pemberley Press.
"Whisper Of Death" is the sixth novel featuring the adventures of Blue Satan and Mrs. Keen
I first discovered the Regency adventures of Blue Satan and Mrs. Keen when the first novel in the series, "The Birth Of Blue Satan," was self published by Patricia Wynn through her Pemberly Press publishing company back in October 2001 when it was displayed rather prominently in the New Release section of the small independently owned bookstore - whose name I can't remember now - at the Shoppes of the World Golf Village - back when there was actually retail shops there.
"Whisper of Death" finds Mrs. Kean in dire circumstances. She had been unable to elope with the outlaw St. Mars, who was wrongfully accused of murdering his father; and she overhears someone planning murder while on a tour of St. Paul's Cathedral with her cousin Mary.
Meanwhile Mary's would be suitor, who is married and who Mary rebuked and refused to have anything to do with, is murdered and the blame falls on James Henry - the man she loves.
Mrs. Kean knows James Henry is innocent, yet she fears she must prove his innocence alone, wrongfully thinking that St. Mars wants nothing more to do with her.
Only St. Mars is coming to claim his rightful bride, and all hell be damned.
I am now finding myself eagerly waiting for the next volume in one of my favorite mystery series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
"Whisper Of Death" is the sixth novel featuring the adventures of Blue Satan and Mrs. Keen
I first discovered the Regency adventures of Blue Satan and Mrs. Keen when the first novel in the series, "The Birth Of Blue Satan," was self published by Patricia Wynn through her Pemberly Press publishing company back in October 2001 when it was displayed rather prominently in the New Release section of the small independently owned bookstore - whose name I can't remember now - at the Shoppes of the World Golf Village - back when there was actually retail shops there.
"Whisper of Death" finds Mrs. Kean in dire circumstances. She had been unable to elope with the outlaw St. Mars, who was wrongfully accused of murdering his father; and she overhears someone planning murder while on a tour of St. Paul's Cathedral with her cousin Mary.
Meanwhile Mary's would be suitor, who is married and who Mary rebuked and refused to have anything to do with, is murdered and the blame falls on James Henry - the man she loves.
Mrs. Kean knows James Henry is innocent, yet she fears she must prove his innocence alone, wrongfully thinking that St. Mars wants nothing more to do with her.
Only St. Mars is coming to claim his rightful bride, and all hell be damned.
I am now finding myself eagerly waiting for the next volume in one of my favorite mystery series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
October 6, 2018
Classic Heinlein!
Just finished reading "Tunnel In The Sky" by Robert A. Heinlein, published by Del Rey Books in 1977.
For those who may have came in light to my reviews here on Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads, and other social media sites -, nearly a year ago, I decided to embark on what I dubbed my "Great Re-Reading Project of All the Favorite Books From My Younger Days," and "Tunnel In The Sky" by Robert A. Heinlein; which is, I believe the 9th book in his series of 12 Juvenile Science Fiction Novels, is the latest book I have finished re-reading.
Like a majority of the novels in my great re-reading project, I originally discovered this novel on the New Science Fiction Section in Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Myar Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina in March 1977. As always, I found my re-reading copy at Chamblin's Bookmine = the best bookstore here in the United States - here in Jacksonville, Florida.
"Tunnel In The Sky" is vintage Heinlein - Rod Walker and his fellow high school students are getting ready to take the final exam for their planetary survival course on a future Earth where interplanetary and interstellar travel is possible through Ramsbotham Gates that open up short cuts through time and space. Only what was supposed to be just a ten-day survival test of their skills stretches out into years as something goes wrong with the gate, leaving Rod and his fellow students stranded.
Of special interest here is that Heinlein postulated a future where women are members of an elite Amazon Military Fighting Force. And most interesting of all, for a "juvenile" novel first published in 1955 - there is a lot of implied sex going on,and even though couples do get married and have children, they do have to create special marriage licenses to keep things legal. Yet even as I was intrigued by the new "Light Of Peace" religion that Heinlein created for "Tunnel In The Sky," there was one section that disturbed me in this novel - when a list of books was complied the survivors, there was no mention of the Old Testament - even though the New Testament, the Koran, The Book of Mormon, and other religious texts were mentioned. Judaism doesn't seem to exist in this particular Heinlein universe - although Heinlein does invoke images of Judaism when Rod discovers a beach littered with bones.
Also of interest is how Heinlein presents the press when Rod and his fellow students are finally rescued and even hints that Rod has PTSD - and he does display the symptoms.
Over all, a very enjoyable science fiction adventure novel, yet I'm deducting a star because of Heinlein's quiet and possibly not intentional anti-Semitism in these pages..
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars..
For those who may have came in light to my reviews here on Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads, and other social media sites -, nearly a year ago, I decided to embark on what I dubbed my "Great Re-Reading Project of All the Favorite Books From My Younger Days," and "Tunnel In The Sky" by Robert A. Heinlein; which is, I believe the 9th book in his series of 12 Juvenile Science Fiction Novels, is the latest book I have finished re-reading.
Like a majority of the novels in my great re-reading project, I originally discovered this novel on the New Science Fiction Section in Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Myar Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina in March 1977. As always, I found my re-reading copy at Chamblin's Bookmine = the best bookstore here in the United States - here in Jacksonville, Florida.
"Tunnel In The Sky" is vintage Heinlein - Rod Walker and his fellow high school students are getting ready to take the final exam for their planetary survival course on a future Earth where interplanetary and interstellar travel is possible through Ramsbotham Gates that open up short cuts through time and space. Only what was supposed to be just a ten-day survival test of their skills stretches out into years as something goes wrong with the gate, leaving Rod and his fellow students stranded.
Of special interest here is that Heinlein postulated a future where women are members of an elite Amazon Military Fighting Force. And most interesting of all, for a "juvenile" novel first published in 1955 - there is a lot of implied sex going on,and even though couples do get married and have children, they do have to create special marriage licenses to keep things legal. Yet even as I was intrigued by the new "Light Of Peace" religion that Heinlein created for "Tunnel In The Sky," there was one section that disturbed me in this novel - when a list of books was complied the survivors, there was no mention of the Old Testament - even though the New Testament, the Koran, The Book of Mormon, and other religious texts were mentioned. Judaism doesn't seem to exist in this particular Heinlein universe - although Heinlein does invoke images of Judaism when Rod discovers a beach littered with bones.
Also of interest is how Heinlein presents the press when Rod and his fellow students are finally rescued and even hints that Rod has PTSD - and he does display the symptoms.
Over all, a very enjoyable science fiction adventure novel, yet I'm deducting a star because of Heinlein's quiet and possibly not intentional anti-Semitism in these pages..
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars..
June 20, 2017
Great New Sime-Gen Novel!
Just finished reading "A Change of Tactics: A Sime~Gen Novel -Clear Spring Chronicles #1" by Mary Lou Mendum, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and Jean Lorrah released by Wildside Press.
I was delighted when Wildeside Press began reprinting the classic [previously published] Sime-Gen novels by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and Jean Lorrah. along with the previously unpublished ones that Jacqueline and Jean had written. Due to the success in sales of the reprints and previously unpublished Sime-Gen novels, Wildside Press has rather smartly decided to publish more new Sime-Gen novels, of which "A Change of Tactics: A Sime~Gen Novel -Clear Spring Chronicles #1" is hopefully the first in a long line of original Sime-Gen novels.
Mary Lou Mendum first began writing her Clear Springs Chronicles, which highlight the adventures of Tecton Donor Den Milnan and his cousin First Level Channel Rital Madz, in the Sime-Gen Fanzine AMBROV ZEOR back in 1990.
So when Wildeside Press wanted a new Sime-Gen Novel, Jacqueline asked Mary Lou if she wanted to expand her first two stories about how Den and Rital arrived in Clear Spring to expedite/herald a technology exchange of Selyn Batteries.
Now I may be wrong in this, but I do believe that it was Jacqueline Lichtenberg who first broke ground in the publishing industry by not only allowing fan fiction of her universe to thrive - but also allowing another writer, Jean Lorrah to co-write joint and solo novels in the Sime-Gen series. There is a strong argument to be made that shared-world novels and anthologies flourished because of her willingness to take a step, at that time, I don't recall any other author and/or publisher doing. Without Jacqueline Lichtenberg paving the way, I strongly suspect that the co-written novels of Andre Norton, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and other science fiction writers would have gotten off the drawing board. Success does tend to encourage more success.
"A Change of Tactics" examines who to adapt to the dual new situations of outright hatred and violence, and the willingness to chuck established procedure out the window when it doesn't work. It also challenges Den's and Rital's long traditional beliefs about how to reach out to people who have to worry about offending their neighbors. It also looks unflinching at religious prejudice and how to effectively combat it - something the Jacksonville Community Alliance could definitely benefit from.
How Den confronts and fights against the religious prejudice of Reverend Sinth and his followers is something rarely portrayed in science fiction - thought more in fantasy novels.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next Clear Spring Chronicle.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
I was delighted when Wildeside Press began reprinting the classic [previously published] Sime-Gen novels by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, and Jean Lorrah. along with the previously unpublished ones that Jacqueline and Jean had written. Due to the success in sales of the reprints and previously unpublished Sime-Gen novels, Wildside Press has rather smartly decided to publish more new Sime-Gen novels, of which "A Change of Tactics: A Sime~Gen Novel -Clear Spring Chronicles #1" is hopefully the first in a long line of original Sime-Gen novels.
Mary Lou Mendum first began writing her Clear Springs Chronicles, which highlight the adventures of Tecton Donor Den Milnan and his cousin First Level Channel Rital Madz, in the Sime-Gen Fanzine AMBROV ZEOR back in 1990.
So when Wildeside Press wanted a new Sime-Gen Novel, Jacqueline asked Mary Lou if she wanted to expand her first two stories about how Den and Rital arrived in Clear Spring to expedite/herald a technology exchange of Selyn Batteries.
Now I may be wrong in this, but I do believe that it was Jacqueline Lichtenberg who first broke ground in the publishing industry by not only allowing fan fiction of her universe to thrive - but also allowing another writer, Jean Lorrah to co-write joint and solo novels in the Sime-Gen series. There is a strong argument to be made that shared-world novels and anthologies flourished because of her willingness to take a step, at that time, I don't recall any other author and/or publisher doing. Without Jacqueline Lichtenberg paving the way, I strongly suspect that the co-written novels of Andre Norton, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and other science fiction writers would have gotten off the drawing board. Success does tend to encourage more success.
"A Change of Tactics" examines who to adapt to the dual new situations of outright hatred and violence, and the willingness to chuck established procedure out the window when it doesn't work. It also challenges Den's and Rital's long traditional beliefs about how to reach out to people who have to worry about offending their neighbors. It also looks unflinching at religious prejudice and how to effectively combat it - something the Jacksonville Community Alliance could definitely benefit from.
How Den confronts and fights against the religious prejudice of Reverend Sinth and his followers is something rarely portrayed in science fiction - thought more in fantasy novels.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next Clear Spring Chronicle.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
June 11, 2017
Taunt Cold War Spy Thriller
Just finished reading "Circus" by Alistair MacLean released by Fawcett Crest Books.
I remember when "Circus" was first released in paperback back in 1976. It was on the "New Paperback Releases" section just on the right hand side as you entered the door of Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center.
It was the dramatic cover of a circus aerialist that caught my intention; and then the interior synopsis of a Communist scientist who figured out a formula to keep minute quantities of anti-matter contained for the purposes of making a bomb and thus tipping the balance of the World Power permanently in favor did intrigue me a little; but back in 1976 I read either science fiction, mystery and/or science fiction - hey, I was young and I had certain prejudices when it came to what I liked in the books I wanted to read. I still do.
So when I came across the section in Chamblin Books here in Jacksonville devoted to Alistair MacLean, I decided to pick up "Circus" because my reading tastes have expanded to a variety of genres
"Circus" is a taunt Cold-War spy novel with heart-pounding twists and turns about the recruitment of circus aerialist and mentalist Bruno Wildermann who is seemingly recruited by the an un-named American spy agency - most likely the CIA - to return to his native country - Crau, a satellite country of the Soviet Union - to break into the infamous Eastern European Lubylan Prison and, since he has a photographic memory, read the anti-matter formula before destroying it and killing the scientist who created it.
Appearances in "Circus" aren't always what they appear to be; and Bruno Wildermann isn't your typical follows orders to the letter special agent - especially when it appears that the object of mission has created something more chaos invoking that could also change the world.
A word of advice to those who are so easily offended - Alistair MacLean wasn't a politically correct writer and he easily spins the perilous shades-of-grey webs of the spy game that makes "Circus" and I suspect his other novels as well, such a compelling read.
I'm sorry that nearly 40 years had to pass before I read "Circus."
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Circus-Alistai...
I remember when "Circus" was first released in paperback back in 1976. It was on the "New Paperback Releases" section just on the right hand side as you entered the door of Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center.
It was the dramatic cover of a circus aerialist that caught my intention; and then the interior synopsis of a Communist scientist who figured out a formula to keep minute quantities of anti-matter contained for the purposes of making a bomb and thus tipping the balance of the World Power permanently in favor did intrigue me a little; but back in 1976 I read either science fiction, mystery and/or science fiction - hey, I was young and I had certain prejudices when it came to what I liked in the books I wanted to read. I still do.
So when I came across the section in Chamblin Books here in Jacksonville devoted to Alistair MacLean, I decided to pick up "Circus" because my reading tastes have expanded to a variety of genres
"Circus" is a taunt Cold-War spy novel with heart-pounding twists and turns about the recruitment of circus aerialist and mentalist Bruno Wildermann who is seemingly recruited by the an un-named American spy agency - most likely the CIA - to return to his native country - Crau, a satellite country of the Soviet Union - to break into the infamous Eastern European Lubylan Prison and, since he has a photographic memory, read the anti-matter formula before destroying it and killing the scientist who created it.
Appearances in "Circus" aren't always what they appear to be; and Bruno Wildermann isn't your typical follows orders to the letter special agent - especially when it appears that the object of mission has created something more chaos invoking that could also change the world.
A word of advice to those who are so easily offended - Alistair MacLean wasn't a politically correct writer and he easily spins the perilous shades-of-grey webs of the spy game that makes "Circus" and I suspect his other novels as well, such a compelling read.
I'm sorry that nearly 40 years had to pass before I read "Circus."
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Circus-Alistai...
