donn (03/12/83)
Reference: ihuxk.287 I read a couple Ludlum novels when I was an undergraduate and I was a bit disimpressed, especially after having been introduced to Le Carre's elaborately "realistic" novels. My recollection is that the characters were not very believable although they were several notches above Ian Fleming. It would be nice to hear that Ludlum has improved on this account... Meanwhile Le Carre has written THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL. This novel has all the intricacy of plot and character of his previous novels, despite its rather stark subject matter of terrorist bombings in Europe and Israeli efforts to infiltrate Palestinian organizations. The climax, involving an assassination attempt, is rather more spectacular than the climax of some of Le Carre's previous novels (not that they suffer for this). The story is told from the viewpoint of a struggling English actress of mildly radical political views who is selected by the Israelis to play the part of the girlfriend of the head terrorist's brother. The sequence where she is kidnapped and persuaded to cooperate is beautifully done and quite convincing. In the end she is playing her part with such determination that the distinction between the act and the reality blurs. The book has some nasty things to say about both sides in the Arab-Israeli conflict which are bound to stir controversy... Yet another excellent story from Le Carre, although in a different vein from his last few novels. Donn Seeley UCSD Chemistry Dept. RRCF ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdchema!donn