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Milo Weaver #1
The Tourist
Milo Weaver used to be a "tourist" for the CIA—an undercover agent with no home, no identity—but he's since retired from the field to become a middle-level manager at the CIA's New York headquarters. He's acquired a wife, a daughter, and a brownstone in Brooklyn, and he's tried to leave his old life of secrets and lies behind. However, when the arrest of a long-sought assassin sets off an investigation into one of Milo's oldest colleagues and exposes new layers of intrigue in his old cases, he has no choice but to go back undercover and find out who's holding the strings once and for all.
In The Tourist, Olen Steinhauer---twice nominated for an Edgar Award---tackles an intricate story of betrayal and manipulation, loyalty and risk in an utterly compelling novel that is both thoroughly modern and yet also reminiscent of the espionage genre's luminaries: Len Deighton, Graham Greene, and John LeCarré.
In The Tourist, Olen Steinhauer---twice nominated for an Edgar Award---tackles an intricate story of betrayal and manipulation, loyalty and risk in an utterly compelling novel that is both thoroughly modern and yet also reminiscent of the espionage genre's luminaries: Len Deighton, Graham Greene, and John LeCarré.
408 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2009
1438 people are currently reading
9156 people want to read
About the author
Olen Steinhauer
31 books1,234 followersOlen Steinhauer grew up in Virginia, and has since lived in Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Massachusetts, and New York. Outside the US, he's lived in Croatia (when it was called Yugoslavia), the Czech Republic and Italy. He also spent a year in Romania on a Fulbright grant, an experience that helped inspire his first five books. He now lives in Hungary with his wife and daughter.
He has published stories and poetry in various literary journals over the years. His first novel, The Bridge of Sighs (2003), the start of a five-book sequence chronicling Cold War Eastern Europe, one book per decade, was nominated for five awards.
The second book of the series, The Confession, garnered significant critical acclaim, and 36 Yalta Boulevard (The Vienna Assignment in the UK), made three year-end best-of lists. Liberation Movements (The Istanbul Variations in the UK), was listed for four best-of lists and was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel of the year. The final novel in the series, Victory Square, published in 2007, was a New York Times editor's choice.
With The Tourist, he has left the Cold War behind, beginning a trilogy of spy tales focused on international deception in the post 9/11 world. Happily, George Clooney's Smoke House Films has picked up the rights, with Mr. Clooney scheduled to star.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/olenst...
He has published stories and poetry in various literary journals over the years. His first novel, The Bridge of Sighs (2003), the start of a five-book sequence chronicling Cold War Eastern Europe, one book per decade, was nominated for five awards.
The second book of the series, The Confession, garnered significant critical acclaim, and 36 Yalta Boulevard (The Vienna Assignment in the UK), made three year-end best-of lists. Liberation Movements (The Istanbul Variations in the UK), was listed for four best-of lists and was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel of the year. The final novel in the series, Victory Square, published in 2007, was a New York Times editor's choice.
With The Tourist, he has left the Cold War behind, beginning a trilogy of spy tales focused on international deception in the post 9/11 world. Happily, George Clooney's Smoke House Films has picked up the rights, with Mr. Clooney scheduled to star.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/olenst...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,418 reviews
January 14, 2020
Here goes a flowing story line, stale intrigue, refreshing coincidences and outright weird heroes...
And, by the way, I hated how Tina was ready to give up on Milo so faaast! Grrr! Feels like a betrayal.
Q: He lifted the desk phone and typed 49, and after a doorman’s military opening gambit—“Yes, sir”—he cut in: “Name.”
“Steven Norris, sir.”
“Listen carefully, Steven Norris. Are you listening?”
“Uh, yes. Sir.”
“If you ever send a goddamned Homelander upstairs again without clearing it with me first, you’re out of here. You’ll be guarding the front gate of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad wearing a George Bush T-shirt instead of body armor. Got it?” (c)
Q: "And, by killing your boss, you've obliterated the only evidence that might have proven at least some small part of your story.""I never claimed to be a genius." (c)
Q:
The truth, three lies, and some omissions.(c)
And, by the way, I hated how Tina was ready to give up on Milo so faaast! Grrr! Feels like a betrayal.
Q: He lifted the desk phone and typed 49, and after a doorman’s military opening gambit—“Yes, sir”—he cut in: “Name.”
“Steven Norris, sir.”
“Listen carefully, Steven Norris. Are you listening?”
“Uh, yes. Sir.”
“If you ever send a goddamned Homelander upstairs again without clearing it with me first, you’re out of here. You’ll be guarding the front gate of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad wearing a George Bush T-shirt instead of body armor. Got it?” (c)
Q: "And, by killing your boss, you've obliterated the only evidence that might have proven at least some small part of your story.""I never claimed to be a genius." (c)
Q:
The truth, three lies, and some omissions.(c)
May 31, 2020
If you like spy novels, this trilogy has a real feel to it. It tells the story from the human side of the character, and makes him real rather than some kind of super hero. This series is second right after I am Pilgrim. I highly recommend them.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
June 22, 2021
Βαθμολογία: 9/10
Το βιβλίο αυτό ήταν σε μια μεγάλη λίστα μαζί με πολλά άλλα κατασκοπευτικά και μη θρίλερ που δεν είχαν μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά και που κάποια στιγμή θα ήθελα να διαβάσω, και να που οι εκδόσεις Πόλις μου/μας έκαναν τη χάρη και το έφεραν στην Ελλάδα, έστω και δώδεκα χρόνια μετά την έκδοσή του στο εξωτερικό. Ομολογουμένως πρόκειται για μια ευχάριστη έκπληξη, γιατί η αλήθεια είναι ότι δεν μεταφράζονται και πολλά κατασκοπευτικά θρίλερ τα τελευταία χρόνια, κάτι πραγματικά κρίμα και άδικο.
Τέλος πάντων, το συγκεκριμένο είναι ένα από τα πιο καλογραμμένα, δυνατά και ενδιαφέροντα κατασκοπευτικά θρίλερ που έχω διαβάσει, το οποίο κατάφερε να με κρατήσει δέσμιό του από την αρχή μέχρι το (κυνικό) τέλος, προσφέροντας απλόχερα ένταση και αγωνία, καθώς φυσικά όλα αυτά τα καλούδια του είδους του, που τόσο πολύ απολαμβάνω σε βιβλία και ταινίες. Ο κόσμος του Τουρίστα δεν έχει καμία σχέση με τον λαμπερό κόσμο του Τζέιμς Μποντ, με τα γρήγορα αυτοκίνητα, τα τρελά γκάτζετ, τις μοιραίες γυναίκες και τους παρανοϊκούς εγκληματίες. Ο κόσμος του Τουρίστα είναι μάλλον γκρίζος και εξαιρετικά περίπλοκος, με ηθικές αμφισημίες και περίεργα παιχνίδια εξουσίας, δεν υπάρχει τίποτα λαμπερό σε αυτόν. Εξάλλου, ο Τζέιμς Μποντ δεν θα σκεφτόταν ποτέ να αυτοκτονήσει, κάτι που έκανε ο συμπαθής Μάιλο Γουίβερ σε μια περίοδο της καριέρας του. Η ιστορία είναι αρκετά περίπλοκη, διαθέτει μπόλικο μυστήριο και κρύβει αρκετές εκπλήξεις, σίγουρα απαιτείται μια κάποια προσοχή στην πλοκή για να μη χαθεί η μπάλα, ενώ και η δράση αυτή καθαυτή είναι περιορισμένη και σε ρεαλιστικά επίπεδα.
Όσον αφορά τη γραφή, είναι πραγματικά πολύ καλή, ευκολοδιάβαστη και οξυδερκής, με εξαιρετικές περιγραφές και φυσικούς διαλόγους, ενώ θεωρώ ότι καταφέρνει να προσδώσει ένα υπαρξιακό/φιλοσοφικό βάθος τόσο στην πλοκή και τον κόσμο της διεθνούς κατασκοπείας, όσο και στον χαρακτήρα του Γουίβερ. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι η γραφή του Στάινχαουερ σε τούτο το βιβλίο είναι ανωτέρας ποιότητας, γι' αυτό και η σύγκριση του με τον Τζον Λε Καρέ, ένα ιερό τέρας των κατασκοπευτικών θρίλερ. Μακάρι να δούμε στα ελληνικά και επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς, ή έστω οποιοδήποτε άλλο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα.
Το βιβλίο αυτό ήταν σε μια μεγάλη λίστα μαζί με πολλά άλλα κατασκοπευτικά και μη θρίλερ που δεν είχαν μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά και που κάποια στιγμή θα ήθελα να διαβάσω, και να που οι εκδόσεις Πόλις μου/μας έκαναν τη χάρη και το έφεραν στην Ελλάδα, έστω και δώδεκα χρόνια μετά την έκδοσή του στο εξωτερικό. Ομολογουμένως πρόκειται για μια ευχάριστη έκπληξη, γιατί η αλήθεια είναι ότι δεν μεταφράζονται και πολλά κατασκοπευτικά θρίλερ τα τελευταία χρόνια, κάτι πραγματικά κρίμα και άδικο.
Τέλος πάντων, το συγκεκριμένο είναι ένα από τα πιο καλογραμμένα, δυνατά και ενδιαφέροντα κατασκοπευτικά θρίλερ που έχω διαβάσει, το οποίο κατάφερε να με κρατήσει δέσμιό του από την αρχή μέχρι το (κυνικό) τέλος, προσφέροντας απλόχερα ένταση και αγωνία, καθώς φυσικά όλα αυτά τα καλούδια του είδους του, που τόσο πολύ απολαμβάνω σε βιβλία και ταινίες. Ο κόσμος του Τουρίστα δεν έχει καμία σχέση με τον λαμπερό κόσμο του Τζέιμς Μποντ, με τα γρήγορα αυτοκίνητα, τα τρελά γκάτζετ, τις μοιραίες γυναίκες και τους παρανοϊκούς εγκληματίες. Ο κόσμος του Τουρίστα είναι μάλλον γκρίζος και εξαιρετικά περίπλοκος, με ηθικές αμφισημίες και περίεργα παιχνίδια εξουσίας, δεν υπάρχει τίποτα λαμπερό σε αυτόν. Εξάλλου, ο Τζέιμς Μποντ δεν θα σκεφτόταν ποτέ να αυτοκτονήσει, κάτι που έκανε ο συμπαθής Μάιλο Γουίβερ σε μια περίοδο της καριέρας του. Η ιστορία είναι αρκετά περίπλοκη, διαθέτει μπόλικο μυστήριο και κρύβει αρκετές εκπλήξεις, σίγουρα απαιτείται μια κάποια προσοχή στην πλοκή για να μη χαθεί η μπάλα, ενώ και η δράση αυτή καθαυτή είναι περιορισμένη και σε ρεαλιστικά επίπεδα.
Όσον αφορά τη γραφή, είναι πραγματικά πολύ καλή, ευκολοδιάβαστη και οξυδερκής, με εξαιρετικές περιγραφές και φυσικούς διαλόγους, ενώ θεωρώ ότι καταφέρνει να προσδώσει ένα υπαρξιακό/φιλοσοφικό βάθος τόσο στην πλοκή και τον κόσμο της διεθνούς κατασκοπείας, όσο και στον χαρακτήρα του Γουίβερ. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι η γραφή του Στάινχαουερ σε τούτο το βιβλίο είναι ανωτέρας ποιότητας, γι' αυτό και η σύγκριση του με τον Τζον Λε Καρέ, ένα ιερό τέρας των κατασκοπευτικών θρίλερ. Μακάρι να δούμε στα ελληνικά και επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς, ή έστω οποιοδήποτε άλλο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα.
August 19, 2021
Ο νέος Le Carre.
June 25, 2021
Εξαιρετικό page-turner, κυριολεκτικά δεν με άφηνε να το αφήσω.
Πέρα όμως από την πλοκή, διεκδικεί να συγκριθεί στα ίσια με τους μεγάλους του κατασκοπευτικού μυθιστορήματος (Γκριν, Λε Καρέ) και να ακουμπήσει μεγαλύτερα υπαρξιακά/φιλοσοφικά βάθη. Η αλήθεια είναι πως τελικά τα σαρώνει όλα η πυκνή και καλοστημένη πλοκή (χωρίς αυτό να είναι απαράιτητα κακό), επιτυγχάνοντας μάλιστα ένα ταιριαστό (στο είδος και στο ύφος του βιβλίου) φινάλε.
Ελπίζω να συνεχίσει ο εκδοτικός την σειρά του Μάιλο
Πέρα όμως από την πλοκή, διεκδικεί να συγκριθεί στα ίσια με τους μεγάλους του κατασκοπευτικού μυθιστορήματος (Γκριν, Λε Καρέ) και να ακουμπήσει μεγαλύτερα υπαρξιακά/φιλοσοφικά βάθη. Η αλήθεια είναι πως τελικά τα σαρώνει όλα η πυκνή και καλοστημένη πλοκή (χωρίς αυτό να είναι απαράιτητα κακό), επιτυγχάνοντας μάλιστα ένα ταιριαστό (στο είδος και στο ύφος του βιβλίου) φινάλε.
Ελπίζω να συνεχίσει ο εκδοτικός την σειρά του Μάιλο
March 10, 2009
It was the wife that killed him!
I kid. The book is one twisty-ass mofo, and I don't want to spoil it. But I do want to spoil Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent , and just have.
In terms of sheer plotting, this rivals a couple of my favorite spy thrillers -- I kept recalling the phenomenal Soul of Viktor Tronko by David Quammen (yes, that Quammen), another espionage novel steeped in postmodern concerns about identity and narrative without losing the bite and snarl of history or realpolitik. Steinhauer's novel ... well, I'm still stewing over its impact, and I read it in a 24-hour stretch, and I stayed up late last night to finish it. Those are signifiers of great readerly pleasure -- you take it from there.
I kid. The book is one twisty-ass mofo, and I don't want to spoil it. But I do want to spoil Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent , and just have.
In terms of sheer plotting, this rivals a couple of my favorite spy thrillers -- I kept recalling the phenomenal Soul of Viktor Tronko by David Quammen (yes, that Quammen), another espionage novel steeped in postmodern concerns about identity and narrative without losing the bite and snarl of history or realpolitik. Steinhauer's novel ... well, I'm still stewing over its impact, and I read it in a 24-hour stretch, and I stayed up late last night to finish it. Those are signifiers of great readerly pleasure -- you take it from there.
September 23, 2021
Ένα εξαιρετικά καλογραμμένο κατασκοπικό μυθιστόρημα.
August 12, 2019
Life as a Tourist is a little different from ordinary life. You never have stability, never have roots. You are always on the move and always a stranger in a strange land. You're off the charts. No connections. No loyalties. Except to the Company and the Bureau of Tourism. Milo is a spook or, as they are colloquially known, a Tourist.
Milo thinks he left Tourism behind, has a wife and daughter, a job in administrative back in the States. He's safe. He merely compiles a Tourism brochures for agents in the field. But, having a safe family life as a civilian is something Hamilton's Matt Helm couldn't make work. It divides the concentration. It can be used against you. But, you never stop being a Tourist. You're never really a civilian again. If you ever were.
This is not a bang bang shoot em up kind of secret agent story although there is some action. It's one where loyalties are tested and there are plots within plots and you never know who to trust. And, Milo may never trust anyone again. Like Jason Bourne, he ends up on the run.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
Milo thinks he left Tourism behind, has a wife and daughter, a job in administrative back in the States. He's safe. He merely compiles a Tourism brochures for agents in the field. But, having a safe family life as a civilian is something Hamilton's Matt Helm couldn't make work. It divides the concentration. It can be used against you. But, you never stop being a Tourist. You're never really a civilian again. If you ever were.
This is not a bang bang shoot em up kind of secret agent story although there is some action. It's one where loyalties are tested and there are plots within plots and you never know who to trust. And, Milo may never trust anyone again. Like Jason Bourne, he ends up on the run.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
December 31, 2015
Meh. I like spy thrillers, but this one was a little different than what I'm used to. It felt like I was taking notes at a lecture. There wasn't very much action. Most clues found were obtained through dialogue, not a result of action. This book was heavy on dialogue which is usually a good thing, but for this genre I like it balanced.
October 24, 2013
What started out as a firm 3-star novel (mostly because spy books belong to a genre I never could quite penetrate) finished up as a near-enough-to-four-star novel that I gave it the benefit of the up-rounding. Four stars!
All the standard twists and double-crosses one would expect from a well-plotted spy story are here, but what makes this one particularly compelling is the palpable despair that chokes protagonist Milo Weaver (he's the CIA Black Ops "Tourist" of the title) as he struggles to balance his double life as a Tourist with his desire to be a plain ol' family man. The character is well-drawn and painfully familiar to this 41-year old family guy who travels out of town every week for a living -- though Milo's trials make mine seem minor in comparison (I've never had to kill anyone, for instance).
Bonus points for the standalone factor: The Tourist is a one-off novel -- not merely the first book in an endless series that takes the reader to exotic locations populated with dangerous ne'er-do-wells! Steinhauer may reconsider when George Clooney's adaptation makes massive bank, but The Tourist will always work exceptionally well as a self-contained (and compelling) story. An excellent diversion & a damned good read.
All the standard twists and double-crosses one would expect from a well-plotted spy story are here, but what makes this one particularly compelling is the palpable despair that chokes protagonist Milo Weaver (he's the CIA Black Ops "Tourist" of the title) as he struggles to balance his double life as a Tourist with his desire to be a plain ol' family man. The character is well-drawn and painfully familiar to this 41-year old family guy who travels out of town every week for a living -- though Milo's trials make mine seem minor in comparison (I've never had to kill anyone, for instance).
Bonus points for the standalone factor: The Tourist is a one-off novel -- not merely the first book in an endless series that takes the reader to exotic locations populated with dangerous ne'er-do-wells! Steinhauer may reconsider when George Clooney's adaptation makes massive bank, but The Tourist will always work exceptionally well as a self-contained (and compelling) story. An excellent diversion & a damned good read.
September 2, 2021
«Όλα τα πλάσματα της φύσης ζουν με έναν κοινό σκοπό: την επιβίωση. Είναι η μόνη αδιαμφισβήτητη θεωρία των πάντων.»
«Τουρίστας» ονομάζεται ένας εκπαιδευμένος πράκτορας της CIA, ο οποίος εκτελεί «συμβόλαια» θανάτου σε όλο τον κόσμο. Δεν έχει προσωπική ζωή, οικογένεια, φίλους. Ένας «Τουρίστας» δε θα διστάσει να σκοτώσει οποιονδήποτε, εάν λάβει σχετική εντολή από την υπηρεσία του.
«Ο Τουρίστας» του Olen Steinhauer είναι μια περίπλοκη ιστορία για την «τέχνη» της κατασκοπίας. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι στην αρχή με «τρόμαξε» λίγο. Μου πήρε περί το ¼ της διαδρομής για να αρχίσει να ανεβάζει ταχύτητες. Μέχρι τότε ήταν αρκετά αργό, για το συγκεκριμένο είδος λογοτεχνίας. Από κει και πέρα όμως, ανέβασε στροφές και οι ανατροπές διαδέχονταν η μία την άλλη. Υπήρξαν κεφάλαια με έντονη δράση που πραγματικά με τράβηξαν πολύ και τα απόλαυσα όσο τίποτα. Παρόλο που σε σύγκριση με άλλα κατασκοπευτικά θρίλερ, το συγκεκριμένο δεν είχε πολλές περιπετειώδεις σκηνές, εν τούτοις θεωρώ ότι είχε τόσο όσο χρειαζόταν, για να μην αποσπά η δράση την προσοχή του αναγνώστη, από το μυστήριο και τα γεγονότα που οδηγούν στην επίλυσή του.
Οι χαρακτήρες είναι όλοι καλογραμμένοι, ρεαλιστικοί και συναρπαστικοί. Ο Milo δεν είναι ακριβώς ένας συμπαθητικός χαρακτήρας. Ακόμα και μετά το τέλος του βιβλίου, δεν αισθάνομαι ότι πραγματικά τον συμπάθησα. Κι όμως, αυτή ακριβώς η αίσθηση που έχω απέναντι στο πρόσωπο του βασικού ήρωα, νομίζω ότι είναι και η επιτυχία του. Γιατί ο Μάιλο δεν είναι ο σούπερ ήρωας που τα πετυχαίνει όλα με ένα μαγικό τρόπο. Είναι πανέξυπνος, είναι άριστος στη δουλειά του αλλά δεν είναι ήρωας. Δεν είναι Τζέιμς Μποντ. Είναι ένας απλός και καθημερινός άνθρωπος με τα προτερήματα και τα ελαττώματά του. Κι έχει μπόλικα από αυτά τα δεύτερα... Κι αυτό ακριβώς είναι που τελικά μου αρέσει.
«Αυτός είναι στ’ αλήθεια ο λόγος που γράφω κατασκοπική λογοτεχνία: για να εξετάσω τις επιπτώσεις που έχει μια ζωή εξαπάτησης και υποκρισίας πάνω σε ουσιαστικά ηθικούς ανθρώπους.»
Θα έλεγα πως το στοιχείο που κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο να ξεχωρίζει, δεν είναι η ανατρεπτική πλοκή, ούτε η περιπέτεια και η δράση. Είναι ο τρόπος γραφής του Steinhauer. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, το πώς αλληλεπιδρά ο κύριος χαρακτήρας με τα κομμάτια της αφήγησης. Σε πολλά κατασκοπευτικά βιβλία, ο αναγνώστης είτε γνωρίζει από την αρχή την απάντηση, είτε παραμένει στο σκοτάδι, μέχρι τη μεγάλη αποκάλυψη στο τέλος του βιβλίου. Εδώ δε συμβαίνει τίποτα από τα δύο. Ακολουθούμε κατά πόδας το Μάιλο και ανακαλύπτουμε μαζί του τα μυστικά και βιώνουμε τις ανατροπές. Κι εκεί που νομίζουμε ότι έχουμε την πλήρη εικόνα των πραγμάτων, ξαφνικά έρχεται η επόμενη ανατροπή η οποία καταμαρτυρά πως δεν είμαστε τίποτα άλλο παρά «υποχείρια» του συγγραφέα, ο οποίος παίζει με το μυαλό μας.
Ακριβώς επειδή υπάρχουν πολλά τα οποία τρέχουν παράλληλα και που πρέπει να τα παρακολουθεί στενά ο αναγνώστης, το βιβλίο απαιτεί την προσοχή στη λεπτομέρεια. Δυστυχώς για μένα, δεν το γνώριζα αυτό κι επέλεξα για να το διαβάσω, μια πολύ πιεσμένη χρονική περίοδο, όπου δε μου έμενε αρκετός χρόνος για διάβασμα. Το αποτέλεσμα ήταν ότι από ανάγνωση σε ανάγνωση έχανα την επαφή μου με το κείμενο και ξεχνούσα τα δεκάδες ονόματα, για να μην αναφέρω τα τμήματα που βρίσκονται εντός των τμημάτων της CIA και του FBI. Μόνο με λίστα και σημειώσεις τα έβγαλα πέρα. Παρ’όλες όμως τις δυσκολίες, χαίρομαι που το διάβασα και περιμένω σύντομα το επόμενο της σειράς.
Θέλω να αναφερθώ και στην πάρα πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα εισαγωγή του συγγραφέα, ο οποίος μοιράζεται μαζί μας τις σκέψεις και τις εμπειρίες που τον οδήγησαν να γράψει τον «Τουρίστα» καθώς και στις αναλυτικές σημειώσεις της μεταφράστριας, κυρίας Άλκηστις Τριμπέρη, που δίνουν πολλές κι ενδιαφέρουσες πληροφορίες για διάφορα γεγονότα, πρόσωπα κτλ, που αναφέρονται στο βιβλίο.
«Κάθε ανόητος έχει την ευκαιρία να είναι νέος κάποτε.»
Εν κατακλείδι… ευφυέστατη πλοκή, καλογραμμένη ιστορία γεμάτη ίντριγκα και μυστήριο, ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες και απολαυστική γραφή. Τι άλλο να ζητήσει κανείς από ένα βιβλίο κατασκοπευτικής λογοτεχνίας;
Καλές αναγνώσεις!
Διαβάστε περισσότερες βιβλιοαπόψεις στο blog των ΒΙΒΛΙΟγραφικών: https://vivliografika.blogspot.com/
«Τουρίστας» ονομάζεται ένας εκπαιδευμένος πράκτορας της CIA, ο οποίος εκτελεί «συμβόλαια» θανάτου σε όλο τον κόσμο. Δεν έχει προσωπική ζωή, οικογένεια, φίλους. Ένας «Τουρίστας» δε θα διστάσει να σκοτώσει οποιονδήποτε, εάν λάβει σχετική εντολή από την υπηρεσία του.
«Ο Τουρίστας» του Olen Steinhauer είναι μια περίπλοκη ιστορία για την «τέχνη» της κατασκοπίας. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι στην αρχή με «τρόμαξε» λίγο. Μου πήρε περί το ¼ της διαδρομής για να αρχίσει να ανεβάζει ταχύτητες. Μέχρι τότε ήταν αρκετά αργό, για το συγκεκριμένο είδος λογοτεχνίας. Από κει και πέρα όμως, ανέβασε στροφές και οι ανατροπές διαδέχονταν η μία την άλλη. Υπήρξαν κεφάλαια με έντονη δράση που πραγματικά με τράβηξαν πολύ και τα απόλαυσα όσο τίποτα. Παρόλο που σε σύγκριση με άλλα κατασκοπευτικά θρίλερ, το συγκεκριμένο δεν είχε πολλές περιπετειώδεις σκηνές, εν τούτοις θεωρώ ότι είχε τόσο όσο χρειαζόταν, για να μην αποσπά η δράση την προσοχή του αναγνώστη, από το μυστήριο και τα γεγονότα που οδηγούν στην επίλυσή του.
Οι χαρακτήρες είναι όλοι καλογραμμένοι, ρεαλιστικοί και συναρπαστικοί. Ο Milo δεν είναι ακριβώς ένας συμπαθητικός χαρακτήρας. Ακόμα και μετά το τέλος του βιβλίου, δεν αισθάνομαι ότι πραγματικά τον συμπάθησα. Κι όμως, αυτή ακριβώς η αίσθηση που έχω απέναντι στο πρόσωπο του βασικού ήρωα, νομίζω ότι είναι και η επιτυχία του. Γιατί ο Μάιλο δεν είναι ο σούπερ ήρωας που τα πετυχαίνει όλα με ένα μαγικό τρόπο. Είναι πανέξυπνος, είναι άριστος στη δουλειά του αλλά δεν είναι ήρωας. Δεν είναι Τζέιμς Μποντ. Είναι ένας απλός και καθημερινός άνθρωπος με τα προτερήματα και τα ελαττώματά του. Κι έχει μπόλικα από αυτά τα δεύτερα... Κι αυτό ακριβώς είναι που τελικά μου αρέσει.
«Αυτός είναι στ’ αλήθεια ο λόγος που γράφω κατασκοπική λογοτεχνία: για να εξετάσω τις επιπτώσεις που έχει μια ζωή εξαπάτησης και υποκρισίας πάνω σε ουσιαστικά ηθικούς ανθρώπους.»
Θα έλεγα πως το στοιχείο που κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο να ξεχωρίζει, δεν είναι η ανατρεπτική πλοκή, ούτε η περιπέτεια και η δράση. Είναι ο τρόπος γραφής του Steinhauer. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, το πώς αλληλεπιδρά ο κύριος χαρακτήρας με τα κομμάτια της αφήγησης. Σε πολλά κατασκοπευτικά βιβλία, ο αναγνώστης είτε γνωρίζει από την αρχή την απάντηση, είτε παραμένει στο σκοτάδι, μέχρι τη μεγάλη αποκάλυψη στο τέλος του βιβλίου. Εδώ δε συμβαίνει τίποτα από τα δύο. Ακολουθούμε κατά πόδας το Μάιλο και ανακαλύπτουμε μαζί του τα μυστικά και βιώνουμε τις ανατροπές. Κι εκεί που νομίζουμε ότι έχουμε την πλήρη εικόνα των πραγμάτων, ξαφνικά έρχεται η επόμενη ανατροπή η οποία καταμαρτυρά πως δεν είμαστε τίποτα άλλο παρά «υποχείρια» του συγγραφέα, ο οποίος παίζει με το μυαλό μας.
Ακριβώς επειδή υπάρχουν πολλά τα οποία τρέχουν παράλληλα και που πρέπει να τα παρακολουθεί στενά ο αναγνώστης, το βιβλίο απαιτεί την προσοχή στη λεπτομέρεια. Δυστυχώς για μένα, δεν το γνώριζα αυτό κι επέλεξα για να το διαβάσω, μια πολύ πιεσμένη χρονική περίοδο, όπου δε μου έμενε αρκετός χρόνος για διάβασμα. Το αποτέλεσμα ήταν ότι από ανάγνωση σε ανάγνωση έχανα την επαφή μου με το κείμενο και ξεχνούσα τα δεκάδες ονόματα, για να μην αναφέρω τα τμήματα που βρίσκονται εντός των τμημάτων της CIA και του FBI. Μόνο με λίστα και σημειώσεις τα έβγαλα πέρα. Παρ’όλες όμως τις δυσκολίες, χαίρομαι που το διάβασα και περιμένω σύντομα το επόμενο της σειράς.
Θέλω να αναφερθώ και στην πάρα πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα εισαγωγή του συγγραφέα, ο οποίος μοιράζεται μαζί μας τις σκέψεις και τις εμπειρίες που τον οδήγησαν να γράψει τον «Τουρίστα» καθώς και στις αναλυτικές σημειώσεις της μεταφράστριας, κυρίας Άλκηστις Τριμπέρη, που δίνουν πολλές κι ενδιαφέρουσες πληροφορίες για διάφορα γεγονότα, πρόσωπα κτλ, που αναφέρονται στο βιβλίο.
«Κάθε ανόητος έχει την ευκαιρία να είναι νέος κάποτε.»
Εν κατακλείδι… ευφυέστατη πλοκή, καλογραμμένη ιστορία γεμάτη ίντριγκα και μυστήριο, ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες και απολαυστική γραφή. Τι άλλο να ζητήσει κανείς από ένα βιβλίο κατασκοπευτικής λογοτεχνίας;
Καλές αναγνώσεις!
Διαβάστε περισσότερες βιβλιοαπόψεις στο blog των ΒΙΒΛΙΟγραφικών: https://vivliografika.blogspot.com/
March 8, 2021
Stephen King spunea despre aceasta carte: "Iata cel mai bun roman de spionaj pe care l-am citit vreodata si care n-a fost scris de John le Carre."
Eu nu as zice ca e cel mai bun roman de spionaj pe care l-am citit vreodata dar este bine scris si ofera multa satisfactie iubitorilor genului.
Surprinzator, autorul a petrecut un an in Romania prin intermediul unei burse Fulbright si in urma experientei avute in tara noastra si-a scris primele 5 romane care au ca tema Razboiul Rece.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, il avem in prim plan pe Milo Weaver, agent al unei sectiuni a CIA ce poarta numele de Turism. Desi se retrage la un moment dat, el este reactivat si trimis in misiune pentru a investiga o agenta si fosta prietena de-a sa care era suspectata ca vinde informatii secrete inamicilor. Moartea acesteia, cat si a unui alt spion va declansa o incurcatura in care Weaver va deveni din vanator cel vanat si toti se vor pune pe urmele sale.
Calitatea de Turist implica respectarea unor principii si reguli ale Turismului si am selectat aici cateva:
"Fiindca Turistii sunt adesea proactivi; cei mai buni te fac sa te duci tu la ei."
"Unui Turist, succesul si esecul ii sunt harazite in aceeasi masura. Pentru un Turist, succesele si esecurile reprezinta acelasi lucru - misiunile indeplinite."
"Insa un Turist afla foarte repede ca acel "s-ar fi putut" reprezinta un lux pe care si-l permit doar altii. Turismul nu-ti da niciodata timp de regrete, regretul fiind de fapt o pacoste pentru orice Turist."
"... adevar fundamental al Turismului: sa n-ai incredere in nimeni. Iar daca erai nevoit totusi sa ai incredere in cineva, in niciun caz persoana nu trebuia sa fie un alt Turist."
"Spionajul, si in particular Turismul, nu reprezinta altceva decat arta de a povesti."
Mi-a placut foarte mult ca parola de recunoastere intre agenti si superiori reprezinta prima propozitie din romane celebre. Avem astfel pentru Weaver parola : "Riverrun, past Eve / and Adam's" - inceputul romanului Finnegan's Wake de James Joyce. La alti agenti gasim de exemplu, parola din "Codul Rebecca" de Ken Follett: "Ultima camila / s-a prabusit la amiaza" sau "Americanul ii intinse inca o ceasca / de cafea lui Leamas" - din "Spionul care a iesit din joc" apartinand lui John le Carre.
Cel mai mult m-a distrat o amenintare a sefului cel mare la adresa unui angajat care suna cam asa:
"Daca-mi mai trimiti vreodata sus vreun nenorocit de angajat al Departamentului fara sa-mi ceri aprobarea, ai zburat de aici! O sa pazesti poarta de la intrarea in Ambasada SUA din Bagdad purtand un tricou cu George Bush in loc de vesta antiglont."
Am aflat de asemenea cum se numeste Serviciul Secret German BND - Bundesnachrichtendienst si va provoc sa-l rostiti repede si cu voce tare.
Ce nu mi-a placut este ca Milo are episoade depresive si mie mi se pare aceasta profesie una foarte captivanta si interesanta si odata ce intri in aceasta bransa, stii ca trebuie sa-ti asumi unele lucruri si sa mergi pana la capat. Constiinta si regretele mi se par nefolositoare pentru un spion.
Alt lucru care nu mi-a placut este ca sotia lui Milo refuza sa-l insoteasca in locul de retragere atunci cand el doreste sa dispara. Consider ca o sotie de spion care stie cu ce se ocupa sotul ei este constienta ca la un moment dat va trebui sa-si piarda urma undeva, pentru ca nu te poti pur si simplu pensiona din aceasta profesie.
Ca si concluzie as zice ca avem de-a face cu un roman de spionaj bun, scris intr-un mod alert cu misiuni interesante si un protagonist de care s-ar putea sa va placa. Merita citit mai ales de catre fanii genului.
Eu nu as zice ca e cel mai bun roman de spionaj pe care l-am citit vreodata dar este bine scris si ofera multa satisfactie iubitorilor genului.
Surprinzator, autorul a petrecut un an in Romania prin intermediul unei burse Fulbright si in urma experientei avute in tara noastra si-a scris primele 5 romane care au ca tema Razboiul Rece.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, il avem in prim plan pe Milo Weaver, agent al unei sectiuni a CIA ce poarta numele de Turism. Desi se retrage la un moment dat, el este reactivat si trimis in misiune pentru a investiga o agenta si fosta prietena de-a sa care era suspectata ca vinde informatii secrete inamicilor. Moartea acesteia, cat si a unui alt spion va declansa o incurcatura in care Weaver va deveni din vanator cel vanat si toti se vor pune pe urmele sale.
Calitatea de Turist implica respectarea unor principii si reguli ale Turismului si am selectat aici cateva:
"Fiindca Turistii sunt adesea proactivi; cei mai buni te fac sa te duci tu la ei."
"Unui Turist, succesul si esecul ii sunt harazite in aceeasi masura. Pentru un Turist, succesele si esecurile reprezinta acelasi lucru - misiunile indeplinite."
"Insa un Turist afla foarte repede ca acel "s-ar fi putut" reprezinta un lux pe care si-l permit doar altii. Turismul nu-ti da niciodata timp de regrete, regretul fiind de fapt o pacoste pentru orice Turist."
"... adevar fundamental al Turismului: sa n-ai incredere in nimeni. Iar daca erai nevoit totusi sa ai incredere in cineva, in niciun caz persoana nu trebuia sa fie un alt Turist."
"Spionajul, si in particular Turismul, nu reprezinta altceva decat arta de a povesti."
Mi-a placut foarte mult ca parola de recunoastere intre agenti si superiori reprezinta prima propozitie din romane celebre. Avem astfel pentru Weaver parola : "Riverrun, past Eve / and Adam's" - inceputul romanului Finnegan's Wake de James Joyce. La alti agenti gasim de exemplu, parola din "Codul Rebecca" de Ken Follett: "Ultima camila / s-a prabusit la amiaza" sau "Americanul ii intinse inca o ceasca / de cafea lui Leamas" - din "Spionul care a iesit din joc" apartinand lui John le Carre.
Cel mai mult m-a distrat o amenintare a sefului cel mare la adresa unui angajat care suna cam asa:
"Daca-mi mai trimiti vreodata sus vreun nenorocit de angajat al Departamentului fara sa-mi ceri aprobarea, ai zburat de aici! O sa pazesti poarta de la intrarea in Ambasada SUA din Bagdad purtand un tricou cu George Bush in loc de vesta antiglont."
Am aflat de asemenea cum se numeste Serviciul Secret German BND - Bundesnachrichtendienst si va provoc sa-l rostiti repede si cu voce tare.
Ce nu mi-a placut este ca Milo are episoade depresive si mie mi se pare aceasta profesie una foarte captivanta si interesanta si odata ce intri in aceasta bransa, stii ca trebuie sa-ti asumi unele lucruri si sa mergi pana la capat. Constiinta si regretele mi se par nefolositoare pentru un spion.
Alt lucru care nu mi-a placut este ca sotia lui Milo refuza sa-l insoteasca in locul de retragere atunci cand el doreste sa dispara. Consider ca o sotie de spion care stie cu ce se ocupa sotul ei este constienta ca la un moment dat va trebui sa-si piarda urma undeva, pentru ca nu te poti pur si simplu pensiona din aceasta profesie.
Ca si concluzie as zice ca avem de-a face cu un roman de spionaj bun, scris intr-un mod alert cu misiuni interesante si un protagonist de care s-ar putea sa va placa. Merita citit mai ales de catre fanii genului.
March 20, 2020
I first fell in love with spy novels as a teenager reading Ian Fleming's stories of that bad boy, James Bond...and then there was Ludlum's Jason Bourne and so many others. But the real master of the genre in my humble opinion is John LeCarre and I do believe Olen Steinhauer is following in those illustrious footsteps.
In The Tourist, he introduces Milo Weaver who works for the CIA as an operative in the top-secret 'Tourism' department:
"What is Tourism? We know the pitch--Langley will tell you that Tourism is the backbone of their readiness paradigm, the immediate response pyramid, or whatever they've rebranded it this year. That you, as a Tourist, are the pinnacle of contemporary autonomous intelligence work."
Milo is an interesting character, suicidal when we first meet him, but then he meets a woman and his life does a 180...Now, he has a wife and child to live for. There are many layers to Milo's character and the secrets of his past will impact that family he so treasures.
What a tangled web of deception and intrigue! Steinhauer makes use of foreshadowing in the story, hinting that this is not going to work out well for our hero. "Remember: Your primary function as a Tourist is to stay alive." Maybe the first rule of spy craft should be to trust no one.
I was fortunate enough to receive all four books in this series from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews. Many thanks! I'm intrigued enough to want to know what happens next.
In The Tourist, he introduces Milo Weaver who works for the CIA as an operative in the top-secret 'Tourism' department:
"What is Tourism? We know the pitch--Langley will tell you that Tourism is the backbone of their readiness paradigm, the immediate response pyramid, or whatever they've rebranded it this year. That you, as a Tourist, are the pinnacle of contemporary autonomous intelligence work."
Milo is an interesting character, suicidal when we first meet him, but then he meets a woman and his life does a 180...Now, he has a wife and child to live for. There are many layers to Milo's character and the secrets of his past will impact that family he so treasures.
What a tangled web of deception and intrigue! Steinhauer makes use of foreshadowing in the story, hinting that this is not going to work out well for our hero. "Remember: Your primary function as a Tourist is to stay alive." Maybe the first rule of spy craft should be to trust no one.
I was fortunate enough to receive all four books in this series from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews. Many thanks! I'm intrigued enough to want to know what happens next.
August 21, 2011
I thought this book was an absolute mess. It was clear the author was hoping to channel a bit of John le Carré and weave a complex international plot around a compelling and non-conformist central figure, but almost nothing about the novel works.
Where the story is supposed to be complex, it is muddled. There's something going on about the Sudan, and China, and an international assassin but all of that is an ill-formulated backdrop to what is supposed to be a primary focus on the main character, a "troubled" CIA agent named Milo Weaver.
The problem is, Milo spends a lot of time moping but his actions are predictably those of any standard-issue CIA agent in a novel like this. Thus, the author pays lip service to character depth but none of that depth translates into the character's behavior. Other characters in the book are even less developed and appear merely as plot devices. They all talk the same, and seem to have the same motivations and level of knowledge. The personality traits the author grants to some of them are feeble - one is a lesbian, another is a Christian Scientist. But it ultimately doesn't matter - nearly all secondary characters are cut from the same cloth.
So, with no coherent story, a main character who is less compelling than the book thinks he is, and secondary characters who are all basically the same there's really nothing left to hope for except, perhaps, expert writing. It's too bad, then, the writing is inconsistent and, in some cases, embarrassing.
Excerpts: "Paula Chabon, that Lebanese-French bombshell who sold her own line of jewelry at little boutique shops positioned in many world capitals, had moved to Berlin."
"He laughed, which pleased her, then they made love, which pleased her more."
"Milo returned to the sofa. 'You set me up, Tom. You had me flee from Disney World when I didn't have to run. I was under suspicion, but that was all. Right?'"
No legitimate spy novel should ever have the main character say: "You had me flee from Disney World."
Where the story is supposed to be complex, it is muddled. There's something going on about the Sudan, and China, and an international assassin but all of that is an ill-formulated backdrop to what is supposed to be a primary focus on the main character, a "troubled" CIA agent named Milo Weaver.
The problem is, Milo spends a lot of time moping but his actions are predictably those of any standard-issue CIA agent in a novel like this. Thus, the author pays lip service to character depth but none of that depth translates into the character's behavior. Other characters in the book are even less developed and appear merely as plot devices. They all talk the same, and seem to have the same motivations and level of knowledge. The personality traits the author grants to some of them are feeble - one is a lesbian, another is a Christian Scientist. But it ultimately doesn't matter - nearly all secondary characters are cut from the same cloth.
So, with no coherent story, a main character who is less compelling than the book thinks he is, and secondary characters who are all basically the same there's really nothing left to hope for except, perhaps, expert writing. It's too bad, then, the writing is inconsistent and, in some cases, embarrassing.
Excerpts: "Paula Chabon, that Lebanese-French bombshell who sold her own line of jewelry at little boutique shops positioned in many world capitals, had moved to Berlin."
"He laughed, which pleased her, then they made love, which pleased her more."
"Milo returned to the sofa. 'You set me up, Tom. You had me flee from Disney World when I didn't have to run. I was under suspicion, but that was all. Right?'"
No legitimate spy novel should ever have the main character say: "You had me flee from Disney World."
April 4, 2016
A spy novel which seems to take place in Europe mostly but is very US centric. This is the first installment in the stories of a spy aka a tourist [hence the title] by the name of Milo Weaver.
The story starts with a near burned out Milo hunting a missing station chief who was carrying several million dollars to get a voice talking about a war criminal. When this first part of the story ends Weaver lies shot in street next to a very pregnant lady very upset with him.
The next phase of the book is Mila Weaver post 9/11 tracking down this elusive assassin down south in the US where he catches up with the master killer sitting in a southern jail. It turns out that this uncatchable killer has let himself be taken simply because he wanted his nemesis to catch the people that killed him and then he dies. Never again will you have this sense of Weaver being the nemesis of this brilliant killer as he turns out to be a gifted searcher but no more.
The tourists are essentially operators on foreign soil that defend the American empire and they are not chosen for their smartness but their skills that take care of clandestine jobs outside the US. Mila Weaver in the book never is the smart person all other characters around him seem to do better and out-think him every step of the way. In that sense Weaver is a catalyst of the story that is about a somewhat far-fetched conspiracy.
The good thing is that the book is fairly easy to read and does not require any large brain exercise to understand it. Most of the story has been done better in the average Ludlum novel. The one thing that really jumps out is the turf-war within the US intelligence community and how really awefull these services rather mess with each other than combine their strengths and really do some intelligence work. This book seems to be more about self importance within this community that the real job of making the US and the world a safer place. It is this part that is farily well illustrated that lifts the book to a 3 star verdict, even if I consider 2 1/2 star far more closer to the actual verdict.
Not the best of the spy-novels I read but perhaps not the worst either.
The story starts with a near burned out Milo hunting a missing station chief who was carrying several million dollars to get a voice talking about a war criminal. When this first part of the story ends Weaver lies shot in street next to a very pregnant lady very upset with him.
The next phase of the book is Mila Weaver post 9/11 tracking down this elusive assassin down south in the US where he catches up with the master killer sitting in a southern jail. It turns out that this uncatchable killer has let himself be taken simply because he wanted his nemesis to catch the people that killed him and then he dies. Never again will you have this sense of Weaver being the nemesis of this brilliant killer as he turns out to be a gifted searcher but no more.
The tourists are essentially operators on foreign soil that defend the American empire and they are not chosen for their smartness but their skills that take care of clandestine jobs outside the US. Mila Weaver in the book never is the smart person all other characters around him seem to do better and out-think him every step of the way. In that sense Weaver is a catalyst of the story that is about a somewhat far-fetched conspiracy.
The good thing is that the book is fairly easy to read and does not require any large brain exercise to understand it. Most of the story has been done better in the average Ludlum novel. The one thing that really jumps out is the turf-war within the US intelligence community and how really awefull these services rather mess with each other than combine their strengths and really do some intelligence work. This book seems to be more about self importance within this community that the real job of making the US and the world a safer place. It is this part that is farily well illustrated that lifts the book to a 3 star verdict, even if I consider 2 1/2 star far more closer to the actual verdict.
Not the best of the spy-novels I read but perhaps not the worst either.
June 25, 2009
In this excellent spy novel, we are introduced to Milo Weaver, a Tourist, or clandestine officer for the CIA, who is used for protection, and assassanation. Milo works for Tom Granger who runs the operation out of offices in New York. Early on we find Weaver, who has his own secrets, being brought in to help another spy Angela Davis track down a missing spy who apparently stole $3,000,000. They find him tied to a Russian, and in the ensuing gun battle, Weaver is injured, the thief is killed and Weaver meets his soon to be wife. Eight years later, Weaver, who has been working on tracking an assassin is called back to New York to investigate Davis who supposedly has turned.
The resulting operation leaves Weaver on the run, Davis dead, and various pieces pointing at others on the table. Weaver's past, his father, his dead mother, and the assassin all play prominent roles as does an intrepid agent from Homeland security.
Its not quite the Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but I liked it.
The resulting operation leaves Weaver on the run, Davis dead, and various pieces pointing at others on the table. Weaver's past, his father, his dead mother, and the assassin all play prominent roles as does an intrepid agent from Homeland security.
Its not quite the Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but I liked it.
March 26, 2020
Since there is a new book out this year from this series I wanted to go back to the 2009 book that started it. Before I started reading it I read a rather negative review on the CIA's website. I thought I should definitely check it out after reading that surprising (to me) publication.
Who knew the CIA was into book reviewing?
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-fo...
So..having been introduced to the character Milo Weaver I do intend to follow on. He has a complicated web of untruths to balance and it certainly requires some brain power to keep up with it. It's interesting stuff.
Library Loan
Who knew the CIA was into book reviewing?
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-fo...
So..having been introduced to the character Milo Weaver I do intend to follow on. He has a complicated web of untruths to balance and it certainly requires some brain power to keep up with it. It's interesting stuff.
Library Loan
July 5, 2021
Πρόκειται για το πρώτο μέρος μίας μυθιστορηματικής σειράς με πρωταγωνιστή τον Μάιλο Γουίβερ, ο οποίος εργάζεται σε ένα παρακλάδι των μυστικών υπηρεσιών της Αμερικής ως "τουρίστας".
Ο Μάιλο Γουίβερ ύστερα από έναν τραυματισμό που στάθηκε η αφορμή για να γνωρίσει τη γυναίκα της ζωής του, έχει αποσυρθεί από την ενεργό δράση και εκτελεί δουλειά γραφείου για λογαριασμό της υπηρεσίας του.
Όσο ο καιρός περνάει καλλιεργείται εντός του η ανάγκη να αποσυρθεί εντελώς από την υπηρεσία και να ζήσει μία ήρεμη και φυσιολογική ζωή, μακριά από τους κινδύνους της κατασκοπίας, στο πλευρό της οικογένειας του.
Η αναπάντεχη ωστόσο σύλληψη του πολυπόθητου "Τίγρη" , τον οποίο ο Γουίβερ θα κληθεί να αναγνωρίσει μιας και τους συνδέει μία πολύχρονη σχέση καταδίωξης, θα πυροδοτήσει μία σειρά γεγονότων εντός των οποίων ο Μάιλο θα εγκλωβιστεί, με τον ίδιο να χρεώνεται τον φόνο της συναδέλφου και στενής του φίλης Άντζελας Γέιτς.
Έτσι, ξεκινά ένα ανθρωποκυνηγητό με τον Μάιλο να αγωνίζεται να αποδείξει την αθωότητά του, σε ένα άνισο παιχνίδι ανάμεσα στην αλήθεια και το ψέμα, όπου τα όρια του θύτη και του θύματος είναι δυσδιάκριτα, σε ένα ρευστό παιχνίδι αβεβαιοτητων...
Ο Όλεν Στάινχαουερ δημιουργεί ένα καταιγιστικό, περιπετειώδες ανάγνωσμα πλούσιο σε κοινωνικό-πολιτικές αναφορές και σε συγκρουσιακά δίπολα, που αναδεικνύει τον σκοτεινό και ιδιαίτερα σκληρό κόσμο της κατασκοπίας, όπου η υποψία οποιαδήποτε μορφής προδοσίας δε συγχωρείται και πληρώνεται συνήθως με θάνατο.
Πρόκειται για ένα υψηλής αισθητικής κατασκοπικό θρίλερ που φέρει τη στόφα κλασικών μυθιστορημάτων του είδους.
Είμαι σίγουρος πως αν σας αρέσουν τα μυθιστορήματα του αείμνηστου Τζον Λε Καρρέ, τότε θα αγαπήσετε αμετάκλητα τον Όλεν Στάινχαουερ και τον ήρωα του, Μάιλο Γουίβερ!
July 25, 2021
Δεν διαβάζω κατασκοπικά μυθιστορήματα, για την ακρίβεια δεν έχω διαβάσει ποτέ, ούτε θυμάμαι να έχω δει κάποια ταινία, η μόνη μου επαφή ήταν πριν λίγο καιρό που είδα την Μικρή Τυμπανίστρια επειδή την έχει σκηνοθετήσει ο Τσαν Γουκ Παρκ και κάποια από τα γυρίσματα έχουν γίνει στην Ελλάδα. Η πρώτη μου αναγνωστική επαφή λοιπόν έγινε με τον Τουρίστα και στέφθηκε με απόλυτη επιτυχία, αφού είναι ένα από τα βιβλία που απόλαυσα περισσότερο αυτό το καλοκαίρι και παρά το γεγονός ότι η πλοκή δεν είναι αυτό που λέμε καταιγιστική, το ενδιαφέρον υπάρχει και διατηρείται καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια, με την ιστορία να κλιμακώνεται σιγά σιγά και να γίνεται όλο και πιο εθιστική. Γεγονός είναι επίσης ότι λάτρεψα τον Μάιλο, ενώ βρήκα εξίσου καλά δουλεμένους τους γυναικείους χαρακτήρες. Μεγάλη η χαρά μου επομένως όταν διάβασα ότι οι αγαπημένες εκδόσεις Πόλις θα εκδώσουν και το δεύτερο βιβλίο.
May 31, 2024
a strange book ... I didn't like the beginning ... I didn't like the ending ... I could not follow the multiple characters and plot lines which were presented in a purposely confusing manner ... yet I finished the book and can't say I didn't enjoy the read ...
December 2, 2018
I thought this book was pretty unusual, not your typical spy novel. It was more character-driven than most, but there were plenty of twists and turns and intrigue to keep it interesting.
Milo Weaver, the main character, is a former "tourist", a secret group that travels a lot doing black op jobs for a secret US government agency, perhaps the CIA. I forget, but it doesn't matter except to those that care, like other secret agencies. Mainly, they're all spies.
The book starts with Milo in a gunfight, lying low but tempted to just stand up and get shot. He's tired of it all, and dying sounds like as good a solution as any, since it's not easy to just quit and live to a ripe old age when you know too many secrets. Milo has a wife and daughter that he cares about, so he is trying to retire, but that wouldn't make for a very good story, so of course, he can't.
Most of the book is concerned with trying to figure out who are the good guys, and who are not so good. Nobody seems to know, least of all me. I'm still not 100% sure, so I'm moving right on to the next book to see if I can figure out what's happening. I've already read a little, and it starts out pretty good, with many of the same people and concerning the same operation, it seems.
Milo Weaver, the main character, is a former "tourist", a secret group that travels a lot doing black op jobs for a secret US government agency, perhaps the CIA. I forget, but it doesn't matter except to those that care, like other secret agencies. Mainly, they're all spies.
The book starts with Milo in a gunfight, lying low but tempted to just stand up and get shot. He's tired of it all, and dying sounds like as good a solution as any, since it's not easy to just quit and live to a ripe old age when you know too many secrets. Milo has a wife and daughter that he cares about, so he is trying to retire, but that wouldn't make for a very good story, so of course, he can't.
Most of the book is concerned with trying to figure out who are the good guys, and who are not so good. Nobody seems to know, least of all me. I'm still not 100% sure, so I'm moving right on to the next book to see if I can figure out what's happening. I've already read a little, and it starts out pretty good, with many of the same people and concerning the same operation, it seems.
October 6, 2012
Given how lauded this book was when it debuted in 2009, I had high hopes for this one, but I felt very "meh" about the whole experience. Perhaps I've seen too many spy movies, but I really wasn't very impressed. My heart did not race even once while reading, I was not worried about the life of the protagonist (it never hung in the balance), and I didn't really care about the outcome either way.
That said, I think this was part of the originality of this novel: the reality of it. The protagonist is a mostly retired spy, so he's not going to have a bag of tricks up his sleeve to be thwarting those in pursuit left and right - he's out of practice. And he has something to lose, rather than nothing (he has a family, so he wants to be careful about how he handles situations). Plus, in real life, I'm sure there aren't gunfights on every corner, and men throwing themselves off of bridges (I'm thinking of the Bourne films, otherwise known as The Holy Grail because I love them so). So, in that respect, I found this novel quiet refreshing in its banality. Will I read another novel by Steinhauer? Probably not.
That said, I think this was part of the originality of this novel: the reality of it. The protagonist is a mostly retired spy, so he's not going to have a bag of tricks up his sleeve to be thwarting those in pursuit left and right - he's out of practice. And he has something to lose, rather than nothing (he has a family, so he wants to be careful about how he handles situations). Plus, in real life, I'm sure there aren't gunfights on every corner, and men throwing themselves off of bridges (I'm thinking of the Bourne films, otherwise known as The Holy Grail because I love them so). So, in that respect, I found this novel quiet refreshing in its banality. Will I read another novel by Steinhauer? Probably not.
October 5, 2016
Spy stories really aren't my thing, but I have come across some notably good ones, like Cairo Affair by Olen Steinhauer. That coupled with the fact that I have always had lower standards for audio books than I do for paper/digital paper ones made me give this one a go. And yet, something about it just didn't work for me. Steinhauer is a good writer and he takes the time with his characters, but there just wasn't enough otherness here to distract me from the spyness of it all. Maybe because this is the first in series, it didn't develop all the way to leave some things for further books, maybe I just wasn't in love with Milo Weaver, not sure. He's an interesting enough character. There were a few twists that elevated the listening experience, the audio book reader did a decent (though not exceptionally so) job. It entertained to a reasonable level as far as noise in the ears to distract from the world while walking, but didn't really impress. Fans of spy fiction might like it a lot more though.
Read
September 23, 2022Σύγχρονο κατασκοπευτικό μυθιστόρημα που καταφέρνει να ξεφύγει από τα κλισέ και να δώσει μια βαθύτερη προσέγγιση στον κόσμο των πρακτόρων στη σύγχρονη εποχή. Χωρίς να στερείται πλοκής και δράσης, μας βάζει στη σκέψη του κεντρικού ήρωα, τα διλήμματα και τις αμφιβολίες του. Καθοριστικό είναι το κυνήγι της αλήθειας μέσα από ψέματα και μισές αλήθειες, που αναπόφευκτα οδηγούν σε εικασίες που άλλοτε επιβεβαιώνονται και άλλοτε όχι. Αυτό δίνει μια υψηλή αίσθηση ρεαλισμού καθώς κάποια πράγματα παραμένουν στο σκοτάδι ακόμα και όταν ξετυλίγεται όλο το κουβάρι.
Πιστεύω πως αποτελεί ένα πολύ αξιόλογο δείγμα κατασκοπευτικού μυθιστορήματος ικανό να προσεγγίσει και αναγνώστες που δεν τους αρέσει το είδος.
Πιστεύω πως αποτελεί ένα πολύ αξιόλογο δείγμα κατασκοπευτικού μυθιστορήματος ικανό να προσεγγίσει και αναγνώστες που δεν τους αρέσει το είδος.
April 22, 2012
Lately, my favorite spy, espionage, thriller writers have gotten a bit boring. Vince Flynn writes thrillers after the fact which makes them alternative history, Tom Clancy has forsaken Jack Ryan, David Baldacci is writing cute (last one was a Nicholas Sparks with a happy ending). The only thing Alex Berenson wrote that I enjoyed was his 2008 review in NY Times of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. I only read Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series when stolen or forged art is involved, and Brian Haig has stopped writing his Sean Drummond series at the bequest of his publisher BUT I found a new author that I'm currently reading - Olen Steinhauer.
Steinhauer is widely acclaimed for his Eastern European crime series, which he was inspired to write while on a Fulbright scholarship. He is a two-time Edgar Award finalist and has been shortlisted for other mystery awards. The book I'm reading is his debut Milo Weaver novel THE TOURIST. The jacket flap states that film rights have been optioned by Warner Brothers for George Clooney.
Only two novels in the Milo Weaver series have been published to date. Weaver is a field agent with the CIA's clandestine Department of Tourism. These undercover agents are called Tourists for they have no home nor identity. Although professional reviews of both THE TOURIST (2009) and THE NEAREST EXIT (2010) are dead serious about the espionage stuff: I find that Milo Weaver, a reluctant semi-retired spy who pops Dexedrines yet likes to eat well and who has recently chased an assassin named The Tiger, who sounds Asian...but is an Israeli Christian Scientist with AIDS - a bit humorous!
And the author writes well. He calls a Tennessee county a "flag-draped kudzu wasteland...between the Elvisology of Memphis" and the Tennessee River's tri-state border. He tags the 9-11 disaster as "Beirut times fifty..all of Dresden stuffed into a few minutes...and the first wave of barbarians coming to sack Rome." He is definitely a word-master.
So come join Milo as he enjoys a plate of fried calamari or a flavorful dish of ciccheti (seafood with grilled vegetables) and chases The Tiger in Italy. And later leaves his desk on the 22nd floor of the Avenue of the Americas building to go to Paris to help investigate and exonerate one of his oldest colleagues.
The MILO WEAVER series, according to SYKM and the author's website, are THE TOURIST (2009), THE NEAREST EXIT (2010) with a final novel to be published in March of 2012 - AN AMERICAN SPY.
Steinhauer is widely acclaimed for his Eastern European crime series, which he was inspired to write while on a Fulbright scholarship. He is a two-time Edgar Award finalist and has been shortlisted for other mystery awards. The book I'm reading is his debut Milo Weaver novel THE TOURIST. The jacket flap states that film rights have been optioned by Warner Brothers for George Clooney.
Only two novels in the Milo Weaver series have been published to date. Weaver is a field agent with the CIA's clandestine Department of Tourism. These undercover agents are called Tourists for they have no home nor identity. Although professional reviews of both THE TOURIST (2009) and THE NEAREST EXIT (2010) are dead serious about the espionage stuff: I find that Milo Weaver, a reluctant semi-retired spy who pops Dexedrines yet likes to eat well and who has recently chased an assassin named The Tiger, who sounds Asian...but is an Israeli Christian Scientist with AIDS - a bit humorous!
And the author writes well. He calls a Tennessee county a "flag-draped kudzu wasteland...between the Elvisology of Memphis" and the Tennessee River's tri-state border. He tags the 9-11 disaster as "Beirut times fifty..all of Dresden stuffed into a few minutes...and the first wave of barbarians coming to sack Rome." He is definitely a word-master.
So come join Milo as he enjoys a plate of fried calamari or a flavorful dish of ciccheti (seafood with grilled vegetables) and chases The Tiger in Italy. And later leaves his desk on the 22nd floor of the Avenue of the Americas building to go to Paris to help investigate and exonerate one of his oldest colleagues.
The MILO WEAVER series, according to SYKM and the author's website, are THE TOURIST (2009), THE NEAREST EXIT (2010) with a final novel to be published in March of 2012 - AN AMERICAN SPY.
February 10, 2009
Deceit is thick in the air in this modern spy novel. Shifting shapes, names, loyalties are as loosely moored as ever in the spy industry. While China's interest in Sudan's oil is mentioned, interpersonal human drama is the real center of this absorbing 6th novel from expatriate Olen Steinhauer. The clash of jurisdictions between the CIA and Homeland Security in the USA adds a touch of verisimilitude. Steinhauer does a very good job creating characters one cares about. He did the right thing by modelling his work on the great spy novelists of old.
April 22, 2024
It kinda read like a james bond story or the water keeper, but it didn't reach the mark. It was fine in the beginning but I didn't care for the plot and eventually I began to dislike the characters too
January 5, 2011
There have been many espionage thrillers published throughout history, but Olen Steinhauer’s The Tourist stands out of a majority of the crowd to join an impressive company. This novel has a plethora of twists and turns, which is a main staple of the genre, and gains a personal connection to the readers within its main character, Milo Weaver, a former CIA agent that reluctantly gets drawn back into the life he tried to leave behind. Milo does not have James Bond’s suave demeanor or Jason Bourne’s incredible skills, but instead he gives the reader a character one can relate to. He is a scarred man who has traded in his old life for a wife, daughter and normal American home, but is now forced to return. The idea may be a little cliché, but I still found myself fully invested in whether or not Milo lives to return to the life he loved or dies without the chance to say goodbye.
The Tourist’s plot is full of questions, betrayals and twists that leave you unable to put down the book; just when you get a feel for where the story is going, it jerks you completely in the opposite direction and you have to regain a sense of what in the world just happened. Steinhauer does exactly what he set out to do in creating an intense spy thriller that will keep almost anyone in his or her seat until reaching the end of the novel. While he is not quite in the same league as other, more established espionage authors like le Carré, Steinhauer proves to be an effective, skilled author of spy novels.
The Tourist’s plot is full of questions, betrayals and twists that leave you unable to put down the book; just when you get a feel for where the story is going, it jerks you completely in the opposite direction and you have to regain a sense of what in the world just happened. Steinhauer does exactly what he set out to do in creating an intense spy thriller that will keep almost anyone in his or her seat until reaching the end of the novel. While he is not quite in the same league as other, more established espionage authors like le Carré, Steinhauer proves to be an effective, skilled author of spy novels.
September 22, 2017
Watching Berlin Station on epix which is written by Olen Steinhauer I recognized the name. I thought his books would be just as good. But to my disappointment it was not. As I started to read the novel about one third the way through it it reminded me a little of the novel The Soul of Viktor Tronko by David Quammen about disinformation. Disinformation for those who do not know what it is is a lie covered by another lie covered by another lie. As it turns out near the final end of the book the word disinformation appears. Books about disinformation is not worth your time reading. You think you are reading the truth but it is a lie. It is hard to distinguish what is fact, truth and lie or disinformation. The story becomes confusing, misleading and convoluted. The book is an easy read but the disinformation I picked up quickly made it hard to pick up and read every night. It is not a spy story worth reading. If the dust jacket would have mention something about disinformation I would not have even read it. In the novel, a Tourist is a poorly educated, untrained, clumsy spy like James Wormold in Our Man From Havana by Graham Greene that are stationed throughout Europe. Olen Steinhauer could have come up with a better character of Milo Weaver. I give this book 2 stars.
July 26, 2011
With all due respect to John LeCarre, the master, I now think that The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer is the best espionage novel I have ever read.
A lot of praise has already been written about this book, but I only stumbled upon it recently. I wish I had known about it earlier.
Milo Weaver, the sympathetic, multi-layered main character is a "Tourist" for the CIA. When his friend and colleague is murdered in Paris, Milo is the prime suspect. He's sent on various fact finding missions before it becomes clear that he's the CIA's suspect, but when that happens, the action and tension ramp up. Nuggets of information and clues are peppered through his interviews, interrogations and investigation and at times I was left wondering: how is this going to come together?
Well, it does, and unlike many books in the espionage/conspiracy genre, it comes together coherently.
The book is so intriguing. It's filled with deception, murder, assassins and beautiful scenery. I hear it is being turned into a movie. That's great, but no doubt the movie can't match the book.
I'm going to get the follow-up right now.
A lot of praise has already been written about this book, but I only stumbled upon it recently. I wish I had known about it earlier.
Milo Weaver, the sympathetic, multi-layered main character is a "Tourist" for the CIA. When his friend and colleague is murdered in Paris, Milo is the prime suspect. He's sent on various fact finding missions before it becomes clear that he's the CIA's suspect, but when that happens, the action and tension ramp up. Nuggets of information and clues are peppered through his interviews, interrogations and investigation and at times I was left wondering: how is this going to come together?
Well, it does, and unlike many books in the espionage/conspiracy genre, it comes together coherently.
The book is so intriguing. It's filled with deception, murder, assassins and beautiful scenery. I hear it is being turned into a movie. That's great, but no doubt the movie can't match the book.
I'm going to get the follow-up right now.
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