The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (George Smiley, #3) in Langley suckers

Apr 09, 2023 Mary rated it it was ok

Shelves: espionage

I’ll be berated, I’m sure: I failed to enjoy this.

The main character (the protagonist) works for MI6 and is ordered back to London from his position as Head of Station, Berlin (he must be a top spy - good at what he does - dedicated - loyal); the network of spies he was running has been steadily dismantled by the opposition (the East German intelligence agency). This order from on-high comes after the death of an informer: a death perpetrated under the aegis of Hans-Dieter Mundt, a member of the I’ll be berated, I’m sure: I failed to enjoy this.

The main character (the protagonist) works for MI6 and is ordered back to London from his position as Head of Station, Berlin (he must be a top spy - good at what he does - dedicated - loyal); the network of spies he was running has been steadily dismantled by the opposition (the East German intelligence agency). This order from on-high comes after the death of an informer: a death perpetrated under the aegis of Hans-Dieter Mundt, a member of the opposition.

Even to the young, little innocents, like me, that spells, “Leak.” Where is the next question, “London?” “Berlin?”

We then enter a huge, complex and time consuming venture in order to return the poor, hapless, dispirited, disillusioned, depressed, Alec Leamas (the protagonist) to East Germany as a ‘double-agent’ in order to set Mundt up: paint him as an informer working for MI6.

Even to the young, little innocents, like me, that spells, “Revenge.” At a huge cost, and, risky. Is it wise to send the poor, hapless, dispirited, disillusioned, depressed off into the world of ‘double-agenting’? The young, little innocents, like me would have thought that job needed the sharp-minded, determined and loyal.

Ohh well.

Young, little innocents, like me, believe the one skill that is absolutely essential in the ‘spy game’ is that of reading people.

Using a carrot and not a stick, the wily MI6 offer Leamus goodies to tempt him: one juicy carrot is that they’ll allow Leamus to retire from MI6. Ouch!

Young, little innocents, like me, know full-well, you retire from the British Intelligence Services, by saying, “That’s it. Enough is enough.” Can we be expected to believe you will be forced to continue in that line of work, when your heart ain’t in it?

Whilst forcing myself to endure the endless conversations of morals, meaning and measure, I find that all along Mundt is a double-agent working for MI6: a valuable asset. Would the wily MI6 risk exposing such a valuable asset, he might be able to provide valuable information? My mind immediately went back to the word, “Leak.” Why would the wily spies of London want any attention focused on a double-agent, in situ, trusted, and able to provide information?

The foundation of this plot is based upon, the dismantling of a network of spies by the opposition. That spells, “Leak.” It does does not spell, “Let’s spend all our time and huge resources teaching them nasty East Germans not to mess with us.”

It’s a terribly boring book, with a ridiculous plot-line and the pages are filled with introspection, self-recrimination and regret.

And, after all that, it does not end well. ...more

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Mar 16, 2023 John rated it liked it

Shelves: thriller, suspense, espionage, spy-thriller, crime

A too long and too convoluted tale.

An atmosphere of a dismal, dark, depressing outlook felt by the spies at the height of the Cold War is evident.

I was left with the feeling, that I've heard voiced before: it's a game that we know we can't win, we know we can't lose, we know we can't turn our back on, and well it is after all just a game. Much that transpired in this seemed to have little point and the plot at times did want for a direction. ...more

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Jun 27, 2021 Jack Douglass rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spy-novels

A classic spy novel which became the gold standard for this genre. Alec Leamas fakes a defection to East Germany to get close to his counterpart in the Stasi. A great read with a lesson in the moral ambiguity of the secret world of international espionage.

4 likes · Like · see review