norm@umcp-cs.UUCP (Norm Glick) (12/17/85)
Following is a response by my wife Ruth: I've read a fair number of books in the suspense field. As some of the other respondents have noted, Bourne Identity is somewhat different from Ludlum's other books. My particular favorite is the Chancellor Manuscript. One of the respondents mentioned the Eye of the Needle. It's by Ken Follett. As far as I'm concerned he's much better than Ludlum. Ludlum writes the same characters over and over again (e.g., the poor jerk wandering around getting shot at and miraculously surviving--that's what makes Bourne somewhat different. Even if he doesn't know who he is, his reflexes remember how to defend him). Follett has more interesting characters. My personal favorite Follett book is Triple which has the international espionage aspects you like. The Key to Rebecca and Eye of the Needle are also very good. McInnes doesn't have quite the level of action (If you like Ludlum's having his hero shot at or assaulted every 20 pages, you won't like her!). LeCarre is also a lot slower than Ludlum, but you might like The Little Drummer Girl. I don't think Forsythe is as good as Follett or Ludlum. The Odessa File was OK, but not exceptional. Clive Cusler has been recommended to me, but I picked up one of his books and couldn't get into it.
edwards@uwmacc.UUCP (mark edwards) (12/18/85)
In article <2586@umcp-cs.UUCP> norm@umcp-cs.UUCP (Norm Glick) writes: > >the Chancellor Manuscript. One of the respondents mentioned the >Eye of the Needle. It's by Ken Follett. As far as I'm concerned >he's much better than Ludlum. Ludlum writes the same characters >over and over again.. As long as everyone else is joining in ... I like Follet but he has a lot of sexual perversion, swearing and the like. Do any of his books not use this cheap technique to further the plot? Maybe my standards are to high. I liked Alaistar Maclean but his stories seem to be more of the same topics with different characters in different places. His earlier stuff is better. I like Joe Poyer, Craig Thomas ( Fire Fox, and others ), I really like Ludlum his stories have bulk to them, if just in pages. mark