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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Ludlum's 14th suspense caper has the earmarks of all his others: the mysterious cabal involved in global conspiracy; the surges of sudden violence; the careful veneer of local color to provide authenticity; and the rather graceless prose punctuated with breathless italicizing to keep the suspense going. The protagonist this time is Congressman Evan Kendrick, who secretly goes to Oman to rescue a large group of Americans held hostage there. Disguised as a terrorist and aided by the young sultan and a beautiful American-Arab agent, Kendrick succeeds so well that his anonymity is betrayed, and he becomes an instant hero back home, as well as a reluctant presidential candidate. After his cover is blown, however, he also becomes the target for terrorist assassination. Behind all the evildoing is a cabal headed by a man who calls himself the Mahdi, its purpose to acquire the power that money brings by selling arms to religious fanatics. And on this side of the ocean there are other secret forces at work, with awesome power at their command. While violence piles on violence, Ludlum does some high-flown moralizing. The story's underlying philosophy can be found, or at least sought, in the characteristically fuzzy statement: "The arrogance of blind belief led all the mendacities of human thought." Hardcore fans will have fun with this one, but it's not Ludlum's best by a long shot. 500,000 first printing; BOMC main selection; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Library Journal
The American embassy in Oman is seized by terrorists who threaten to execute their hostages. Evan Kendrick, a Colorado congressman who had made a fortune as a builder in that part of the world, offers to help free the captives, but asks that his role be kept secret. His mission to Masqat alone would have been a thrilling novel for another writer, but for Ludlum it is only the start of this long, intricate, exciting story of conspiracies within conspiracies. A year after the rescue, Kendrick finds himself famous as the hero of Masqat. The secret group Inver Brass (from Ludlum's The Chancellor Manuscript ) has determined to propel him into the highest offices. Is Inver Brass behind the murders of people close to Kendrick? Are the terrorists, assisted by top government figures, seeking revenge? Once you start reading you just can't stop. BOMC main selection. Charles Michaud, Turner Free Lib., Randolph, Mass.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't do it. Really.,
This review is from: The Icarus Agenda (Mass Market Paperback)
I'm a bit surprised at the high ratings by the other reviewers. I've read eight other Ludlum novels, enjoyed them tremendously... then the Icarus Agenda happened. This was an awful yawner. All the minor irritating ticks of his other novels become the focal points in this one simply because of a lack of sustained action. You get the worst of Ludlum, namely his political naïvety and stereotyped ethnic characters. And let's not forget his tendency to reuse canned personalities - a drinking, smoking Johnny do-gooder who has a drinking, smoking do-gooder girlfriend, with a crotchety sidekick doing the grumpy old man schtick. Our heroes go on endless rants about greed and corruption in the US government, while somewhere in the story our do-gooder friends somehow end up with millions in their laps from the same government and live happily ever after (in this case, our protagonist keeps the 50 million dollars with which the government/lobbyist villians attempted to bribe him).It took me 3 months to get through this one. A word of advice: Ludlum fans don't let future Ludlum fans read Icarus Agenda. Recommend instead: The Bourne Identity, Apocalypse Watch, Gemini Contenders, The Sigma Protocol
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Actual,
By
This review is from: The Icarus Agenda (Mass Market Paperback)
Congressman Evan Kendrick went to Oman to help free the hostages at the American Embassy in Mascat from an arab terrorist cell but once inside the country he found out that the embassy crisis was not an isolated case but one of a serie of well planned violent acts by somebody called Mahdi is directing to create caos in the area and gain control of the economic, political and spiritual lidership over the arab countries. Evan with the help of Manny, Kalila and a Mossad comando destroy the complot but once in USA the congressman is launched as a favorite by a secret society called Inver Brass to the candidature of the vice presidency of United States and again Evan is involved in another trama, this time one of corruption in the highest spheres of Washington.A very well written novel and very actual, some personages, like Mahdi has a clear resemblance with Osama Bin Laden, the Inver Brass Club as the "secret establishment" or the so called power behind the throne which indirectly govern in Washington for generations, the arab-israeli conflict or the nowaday international terrorism histeria. A story that has a little of everything, espionage, terrorism, action, romance, intrigue, policy and philosophical point of views.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another winner,
By
This review is from: The Icarus Agenda (Mass Market Paperback)
What is not to like about this book? It has probably the best hero in all of Ludlumville - Evan Kendrick. The story of the Middle East is intriguing and the action and conclusion are near perfection.This is one of those books in which I enjoyed the changing of the settings with the chapters. Also, as another reviewer has written, it is really more than one book - each of which could have been flushed out to a story of its own. There is not a lot of fluff in this one despite its size.
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