Dave's Fiction Warehouse

In which I bloviate about books, TV, movies, politics and other stuff.

  • Books
  • Movies
  • TV
  • politics
  • Other Stuff
  • thatfuckingtrump

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Powered by Genesis

Trump in spyland

December 1, 2019 by Dave Knadler

I just finished John Le Carre’s latest: “Agent Running in the Field.” It’s a pretty good book for those who like literate spy stories, but to me it’s noteworthy for at least one other reason: It’s the first time I’ve explicitly encountered the dark and dimwitted presence of Donald J. Trump in popular fiction. Probably won’t be the last.

Trump is not a character, thank God. But he does provide the dark milieu in which he, and his totally excellent compadre Vladimir Putin, continue to amplify the disastrous consequences of Brexit and the 2016 American election. 

This is not any kind of political diatribe (although at least one Trumpist reviewer on Goodreads called it that. Because of course). The stoic and deliberate Le Carre has never been a  polemicist. In simpler times he might have been a proud Tory, or a Republican. But he knows quite a bit about the clandestine services. And here he deftly illustrates what happens when chaotic bumblers like Trump (and Boris Johnson) are somehow turned loose in the China shop of international espionage. 

Spoiler:  It ain’t pretty. Allegiances and loyalties are tested. And because it’s a spy novel, nothing is as it seems. Well, almost nothing. 

I’m always skeptical of fiction that tries to leverage current headlines. Just as I’m skeptical of these one million books purporting to dish about the Trump administration while it’s still in progress. But this one, “Agent Running in the Field,” is subtle and incisive enough that it might remain relevant decades on. It starts slow but it gets better. Dave Bob says check it out. Let me know if you agree.

 

More along these lines:

  • sarh palin at freedom summitPotpourri … and Palin
  • Worst of both worlds
  • The shit keeps coming
  • Times are tough? Here’s how you copeTimes are tough? Here’s how you cope
  • My best read(s) of the year

Filed Under: Books, thatfuckingtrump, Writing

About Dave Knadler

Obscure writer. Lazy photographer. Bashful guitarist. Perhaps too fond of wine. Tireless nemesis of New York Times crosswords, Wordle, Semantle and all other puzzles du jour.

Comments

  1. John H. says

    December 2, 2019 at 12:09 pm

    Thanks for the review, Dave. I’m a Le Carre fan from the “Tinker, Tailor…” days. He always writes well, though I haven’t found his newer stuff as compelling. I’ll have to check this one out.

    The situation with Vlad and Donny could indeed come from a Le Carre novel, except that Vlad’s influence is right out in the open instead of being clandestine. It’s debatable what benefit Trump’s international moves have had for the U.S., but all have had a clear benefit for Russia.

Recent posts

  • We don’t need no stinking followers
  • This could be
    the last time
  • Still life with dicks
  • Not throwing away
    my shot
  • February fugue

Recent comments

  • Paul Silverman on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers

FInd something

send dave cash

The obligatory PayPal donation button. Go ahead: Make my day.