Spy Sinker by Len Deighton

Published by HarperCollins in September 1990

Spy Sinker retells the Samson saga (as developed in the Game, Set, and Match trilogy and in the first two books of the Hook, Line, and Sinker trilogy) from the points of view of players other than Samson: notably his wife Fiona, the bombastic fellow agent Bret Rensselaer, the Director General Henry Clevemore, and the power behind the scenes, Silas Gaunt. Most of the novel centers on the Game, Set and Match time frame. It fills in gaps and provides additional insight into Fiona, but unlike the other novels, this one is more expository, more telling than showing.

Spy Sinker is essential if you've read the other five for the clarifying background it provides and for tying up loose ends (and maybe even for making sense of the whole thing, because trying to keep information straight that develops over the course of five books is challenging: this novel acts as an outline of prior events). As a stand-alone, however, it's a bit more of a yawner than other books in the series, and certainly a spoiler if you don't save it for last. Its main interest derives from the insight it provides into characters you've grown to know (and to like or dislike, depending on the character) over the course of the first five books.

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Beyond this Horizon by Robert Heinlein

First published in 1948

Is there life after death? Hamilton Felix, the main character in Beyond the Horizon, is troubled by that question, as well as one that is equally large and related: What is the meaning of life? Heinlein's novel tackles a simpler question: Are these questions answerable only by faith, or are they the proper subject of scientific investigation?

The story meanders, it dangles some loose ends that aren't nicely resolved at the end, but in essence, the novel follows Hamilton Felix, the recipient of an unusually good genetic structure, as he makes the decision to reproduce, creating genetically designed children whose existence will make a beneficial contribution to the human race. As Hamilton ponders his reproductive decision, he helps foil a plot to rid the world of (supposedly inferior) individuals who haven't been genetically designed, befriends a man from the 1920's who somehow remained in stasis until Hamilton's time (the details of that little accomplishment are foggy), and instigates experiments into telepathy and other areas of scientific inquiry that might provide some insight into the meaning of life and the aftermath of death.

Admittedly, some aspects of the novel are a little silly, particularly the notion that this supposedly evolved society has adopted 19th Century formalisms of gentlemanly politeness, complete with duels if offense is given. Heinlein might have thrown that in to explain why his characters are running around armed. And maybe there's just too much going on (genetic engineering, telepathy studies, the possibility of reincarnation, the stasis thing, not to mention differing philosophies of parenting and life's meaning) and a corresponding lack of coherence. Later in his career, Heinlein proved more adept at juggling lots of big ideas in a single novel. Finally, the ending seems a bit out of the blue. But the story is still fun, many of the ideas it advances are still intriguing after more than half a century, and the writing is lively (if occasionally a little clunky).

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Adios Muchachos by Daniel Chavarria

Published by Akashic Books on May 1, 2001

Alicia is a bicycle prostitute in Havana. She dresses in shorts and wiggles her butt as she pumps her pedals. One pedal is rigged to fall off, allowing her to tumble in front of the foreign men she seeks as customers. When one helps her up, she persuades him to give her a ride home where her mother makes dinner. The mother then leaves while Alicia seduces the man. Pretending to be too proud to accept money from him, she instead accepts gifts of air conditioners and motor scooters, which she stores in the garage until mother sells them. Because Alicia's wiggling butt is irresistible, she is confident that sooner or later the right man will fall in love with her -- the right man being the one who meets her high standards of wealth and virility.

From this premise, written in prose that borders on hilarity, Daniel Chavvaria crafts a novel that is more a comedy than a mystery -- and a very funny comedy it is. Alicia is hired to have sex with men while a couple watch from behind a mirror. The arrangement leads to prosperity for Alicia, but unfortunate circumstances involve her in what seems to be a kidnapping scheme that goes awry. Alicia maintains her cheery self-confidence throughout the novel, an attribute that makes her a very likable character. The phrase "wickedly funny" could have been invented to describe this book. It isn't deep, it isn't a traditional mystery, but it's loads of fun.

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The Shattered Stars by Richard S. McEnroe

Published by Bantam Books in January 1984

The Shattered Stars is an old fashioned space opera. There's nothing very original in the novel's components, but McEnroe assembles them effectively, creating a fun story that pits good guy underdogs against a bad guy telepath who seeks to increase his already immense power.  It represents a good start to the author's short-lived "Far Stars and Future Times" series.

Moses Callahan, an independent freight hauler, is stuck on Hybreasil with a lien against his ship (the Wild Goose) for unpaid docking and service charges when Axyll Jakubowski offers him a contract to deliver cargo to Avalon. Callahan accepts the offer and hires the last available pilot on Hybreasil, Deacon Hallorhan, a former member of the Marine Infantry who was an "enhanced" soldier, a killing machine who fought a successful but bloody battle at Mishima before being conditioned against violence and discharged. Jakubowski's cargo turns out to be a weapon that creates a nuclear reaction from any element. Just before the Wild Goose is scheduled to depart, Jakubowski is killed and two passengers come aboard, one of whom is acting as a node for James Emerson White, a rogue telepath. The ship's engineer and third crew member, Mitsuko "Spooky" Tamura, is a also telepath, a fact she tries to keep hidden. Her former instructor, Eisberg, enlists her unwilling assistance in dealing with White, who is a threat to the telepathic community. Conflicts emerge in due course as the Wild Goose makes its way to Avalon.

As a good guys vs. bad guys story, The Shattered Stars is a bit formulaic; there's not much doubt about the goodness of the good guys or the badness of the bad guys, nor is there much doubt about who will prevail -- although to be fair, there's at least one significant surprise in the ending. Nonetheless, for what it is, the novel is well done: actions scenes crackle with vivid descriptions of battle; the crew members of the Wild Goose are easy to cheer for; and the story, despite being formulaic, is satisfying. Fans of classic space opera could do worse than to pick up a copy of The Shattered Stars.

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Nelly's Version by Eva Figes

First published in 1977

A woman arrives at a country inn, checks into a room under (she tells us) an assumed name, and finds a large sum of money in her suitcase as she unpacks. She does not remember her identity, does not know the reason she has taken up residence in an inn, but believes that someone will come for her to make her mission clear. As the days slowly unfold, she explores the town and has curious experiences. Cases of mistaken identity abound. She befriends strangers who may actually be friends or family members. When she is finally persuaded to move out of the inn and into a house, she wonders whether the house is hers and about the identity of a mysterious occupant.

I enjoyed puzzling about just how unreliable the narrator was, what was real and what wasn't. Is she suffering from amnesia, from paranoia (she's suspicious of everyone, sees conspiracies everywhere), from delusional thinking? The novel bears rereading in an effort to grasp its meaning. The mysteries aren't neatly resolved so if you can't abide a novel that leaves loose ends dangling, you might want to give this one a pass. I thought the ambiguity was delicious, given that the point of view is that of a disturbed mind.

Figes writes in a quiet but penetrating voice that moves a compelling story along with wit and wry charm.  This is the best of the Figes novels I've read.

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