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5.0 out of 5 stars
Wickedly Witty, Fun, & Lite, Non-stop Read for McCarry Fans, Oct 28 1999
By A Customer
Too close to reality? Speaking of China, Bill Clinton, W-88's and "technology transfer," If you have not read the novel Lucky Bastard by Charles McCarry, you owe it to yourself. It is a fast, witty, hilarious and phenomenal read. The book will have you rolling on the floor in laughter. (I waited anxiously for it and bought it as soon as it came out, then ripped through it in two days; a thoroughly enjoyable "could-not-put-it-down" reading experience.) But this book is also a serious study in politics, intelligence operations, subversion and corruption cloaked in light humor that is well crafted with more than a ring of truth derived from inside knowledge of the intelligence business. McCarry's portrayal of tradecraft is excellent. He draws from professional personal experience.From the book jacket: 'Lucky Bastard is the ...story of a gifted politician with dangerous friends and a zipper problem.' 'Lucky Bastard is ...a thrilling and imaginative vision of power and conspiracy in the "age of Clinton."' In hind sight perhaps a little too close to realty for comfort. Lucky Bastard is a thriller, full of suspense, following its anti-hero, Jack, the illegitimate son of of a famous political figure, from his early days as a draft dodger, who takes his best friend to the airport to ship out to Viet Nam, then "assaults" his loyal best friend's girl on the trip home. Jack goes to Europe on a foundation scholarship and becomes involved with a notorious German terrorist organization, then after a mysterious unaccounted for trip to Russia, returns and successfully enters politics. With the help of his wife (handler), (and some foreign monetary assistance), a machiavellian, strong willed, ardent radical who masterminds his political moves while guarding against the threat that his wild libido will destroy his career he becomes governor of his home state. Then against all odds, he becomes President of the United States. A surprise twist involves the Chinese, who cannot believe their good fortune. The girlfriend and wife of his best friend, knowing Jack for what he really is, takes great risks to expose him, but will anyone believe her. The novel has an interesting perspective as it is told from the point of view of Jack's maverick Russian intelligence service handlers. The prophetic Lucky Bastard is in hard back, published in 1998 by Random House and has been out about a year and a half. It was particularly timely in that it was released just before Bill Clinton's trip to China in 1998. Charles McCarry is (in my opinion) the best American author in the espionage/intelligence fiction genre. His tradecraft is a par excellence that has given him a deserved reputation with those in the know. McCarry is the author of seven works of non-fiction and 9 works of fiction. He has contributed to U.S. News & World Report and Esquire and was the first and only editor-at-large of National Geographic magazine. He draws on experience from his years as a field agent during the cold war era to produce some of the most engaging, profound and authentic novels you will ever read. Also by Charles McCarry, Last Supper is an epic work of pre- and post cold war World War II era. One of the best (if not THE BEST) American novels I have ever read.
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