Another "50 greatest..." list

[George K]

"The 50 Greatest Spy Novels of All Time, an expertly compiled list that showcases the very best espionage books ever written."

Link to video

So you don't have to watch:

1. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - John le Carré
2. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold - John le Carré
3. The Hunt For Red October - Tom Clancy
4. The Quiet American - Graham Greene
5. Eye Of The Needle - Ken Follett
6. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming
7. The Day Of The Jackal - Frederick Forsyth
8. The 39 Steps - John Buchan
9. From Russia With Love - Ian Fleming
10. Red Sparrow - Jason Matthews
11. The Sympathizer - Viet Thanh Nguyen
12. A Mask For Dimitrios [^1] - Eric Ambler
13. The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum
14. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad
15. American Spy - Lauren Wilkinson
16. The Alice Network - Kate Quinn
17. Our Man In Havana - Graham Greene
18. Gorky Park - Martin Cruz Smith
19. Smiley's People - John le Carré
20. I Am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes
21. Berlin Game - Len Deighton
22. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
23. The Kill Artist - Daniel Silva
24. Slow Horses - Mick Herron
25. Ashenden - W. Somerset Maugham
26. The Ipcress File - Len Deighton
27. The Honourable Schoolboy - John le Carré
28. American Assassin - Vince Flynn
29. Agents Of Innocence - David Ignatius
30. Night Soldiers - Alan Furst
31. Damascus Station - David McCloskey
32. Clear And Present Danger - Tom Clancy
33. The Odessa File - Frederick Forsyth
34. The Bourne Ultimatum - Robert Ludlum
35. Box 88 - Charles Cumming
36. The Cardinal And The Kremlin - Tom Clancy
37. The Charm School - Nelson DeMille
38. The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson
39. Need To Know - Karen Cleveland
40. The Berlin Exchange - Joseph Kanon
41. Patriot Games - Tom Clancy
42. Transcription - Kate Atkinson
43. Kim - Rudyard Kipling
44. The Russia House - John le Carré
45. The Secrets We Kept - Lara Prescott
46. Secret Service - Tom Bradby
47. The Innocent - Ian McEwan
48. The Company - Robert Littell
49. The Riddle Of The Sands - Erskine Childers
50. Goldfinger - Ian Fleming

[bachophile]

Read 26 of them

[George K]

@bachophile said in Another "50 greatest..." list:

Read 26 of them

I'm such a loser - only 24.

BTW: Did you know that "The Ipcress File" was made into a mini-series? Not bad. Not great, but not bad.

[bachophile]

I saw the movie with Michale Caine years ago but didn’t see the mini series and that’s not one of my 26

[George K]

Sort of off-topic, but on topic.

If you like Le-Carre's stuff, and I know you do, you might want to check out "Sandbaggers"

https://nodebb.the-new-coffee-room.club/post/309514

I loved the first season, and maybe I'll binge through #2. The episodes are all stand-alone, but there is an over-reaching arc to the story, sort of like much late 70s stuff. It never got a third season because the guy who was writing it died - under mysterious circumstances.

[bachophile]

Apropos le carre, this is out now, on my to read list

Written by Cornwell’s son

[George K]

Is this the first "Non Le-Carre" Le-Carre book?

Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert's prequels of the Dune universe have been maligned for not being fatithful to the vision of Brian's dad. I enjoyed them, but I'm easy to please in that regard.

How are the reviews?

And, I suppose I should re-read the Karla books before diving into this one. It's been years and years.

Oh, and "Spy Who Came In..."? Sandbaggers has that kind of ending.

[bachophile]

mixed reviews on Amazon

Yes the Karla trilogy is worth a reread, they are so good. spy who came in from the cold is not a prerequisite.

[Renauda]

Surprised that Le Carre’s A Perfect Spy is not on the list. I recall it being every bit as gripping a page turner as any of the Karla trilogy.

[George K]

Speaking of Le Carre...

Have you read "The Night Manager?" It was also made into a miniseries with Tom Hiddelston Olivia Colman and Hugh Laurie. Book was good as was the miniseries.

THey're making another season of the miniseries, though, considering how the book ended, I don't see how.

[bachophile]

Yes I read it. I’ve read the whole le carre repertoire.

[George K]

@bachophile said in Another "50 greatest..." list:

I’ve read the whole le carre repertoire. oeuvre.

It's pedantry Sunday.

[bachophile]

You are right, repertoire didn’t seem the right word but oeuvre failed me. That would be a good Thursday ny times word for a crossword clue

[jon-nyc]

I read one. (Stieg Larson) during his 15m of fame. Tried a couple others and put them down. Just not my genre.

Seen some of the movies though.

[Renauda]

@George-K

Have you read "The Night Manager?"

Yes about six years ago. Loved it, couldn’t put it down.

Wasn’t aware of the miniseries. Will keep an eye out for it.

[George K]

@Renauda said in Another "50 greatest..." list:

Yes about six years ago. Loved it, couldn’t put it down.

Hugh Laurie as Roper - he plays a bad guy SO well.

[LuFins Dad]

I admit, I’ve never read le Carrè. Might have to read a couple.

I was going to post a poll about who was the best, Clancy or Fleming, but according to this list it’s easily le Carrè.

[George K]

Forsyth and Le Carre are equals, IMO. Clancy and Fleming are pulp. Good pulp, but pulp. Fleming's best was "Casino Royale."

Le Carre's writing is dense, much in the same style as Mick Herron (Slow Horses) and Alastair Reynolds. His books are not to be skimmed.

Speaking of Fleming, my ex's ex wrote a Bond book. It was mediocre.

[Renauda]

@George-K

Oh, and "Spy Who Came In..."? Sandbaggers has that kind of ending..

Le Carre wrote a follow up to a The Spy Who Came in from the Cold called A Legacy of Spies published in 2017. Again, a first rate novel in the genre - a real pager turner again. It is essentially a story of the hypocrisy [and stupidity] of progressive liberal political correctness in relation to the stark reality of the Cold War and the spy trade in general. I would recommend a reread of a The Spy Who Came in from Cold to jog the memory and give context to the story line before cracking the spine of Legacy….

[bachophile]

Honestly I don’t think anyone on the list comes close to le carre.

And the apex is the Karla trilogy.