"The Revolutionist" is a captivating novel about a fictional man, Alexander Til, as he helps in the Russian Revolution but becomes disillusioned over the course of decades. Robert Littell presented the story well, although he could have expounded more on certain aspects of the plot. The ending, however, was incredible. Robert Littell's use of symbolism was better than any I've ever read. The book left me feeling quite satisfied. This book, while not Solzhenitsyn, gives a more personal touch to the hope presented by Communism and the horror of Stalinism. "The Revolutionist" is not complex, however; I'm only 16. Littell spent years researching the facts, yet some inaccuracies remain. Regardless, anyone interested in Soviet history should definitely read this novel.

Robert Littell's extensive knowledge of Russia is put to gooduse in this expose of the bankruptcy of Soviet Communism. The hopes ofAlexander Til and his friends are interwoven with historical accounts of one of the greatest thefts of all time. Littell shows how Stalin and others stole the hopes of the Russian people for a better life after the Revolution. The book is a great read and very informative about Russian and Soviet history. Great character development.

Littell's book reads as well today as it did when published. This is an excellent introduction to the cold war science of defector exploitation told from both the US and Soviet view. This short book is a good, fast read from an author who frequently "does" intelligence right. After a career in the business myself, he is one of only a few authors who I can always read.

Despite the hype, Robert Littel is not the American John le Carre. Indeed, This spook opus seems to self-consciously position him as the anti-le Carre, Littel's brave and virtuous heroes pretty much unbothered by any hint of psychological complexity.

But despite the bland protagonists, if you come to The Company expecting a solid page-turner, you won't go away disappointed. As history or literature The Company may fall short, but it's a terrific read, engaging and propulsive over virtually all its 900 page length.

The detailed and atmospheric Berlin opening perhaps promises more depth and texture than Littel plans to deliver -- initial lead Harvey Torriti is by far the most nuanced character in the book -- and by the time we learn the entire cold war was born out of a single Yale dorm room we've moved into the territory of the better Tom Clancy books -- the lack of historical and psychological complexity happily nullified by propulsive storytelling and a well-earned suspension of disbelief.

If you're looking for le Carre-style introspection or a genuine history of the CIA, try elsewhere. But for a rollicking cold war page-turner, The Company's a lot of fun.

First let me say that this is an outstanding reading experience. It has raised the bar for espionage novels that I will be reading going forward. At approx 900 pages, it's an epic and demands the attention of the reader throughout. Get this book.

With that said, I was stunned to read other reviews for this book that ruin the reading experience. If it were possible to have someone's review removed...I would look to see how it was done. Harmless as it may seem, there are a few plot twists that come near the end and are profoundly important to the whole scope of the book. To be this careless, simply amazes me.

So please. Don't read the following reviews by other readers without some warning that you may be getting more information about the book than you really need or should want at this point.

Thank you,
islebyours

I must admit that I had never hear of Littell until I saw this book at the local bookstore. I have always been a Cold War genre fan and so I picked it up. I need only say that, having just finished this book, it will probably become a classic. Both in scope and detail, this book encapsulates an entire era. "The Company" is told with obvious insider knowledge of the workings and history of the CIA as well as keeping a fast-paced, engaging dialogue. There is also an honesty to this book about the workings of the agency of the past 60 years. It doesn't shy away from the failures of the CIA. However, it also gives pretty convincing ideas about why the Company has had failures (Bay of Pigs, Hungary, etc.) by introducing the idea of a high level American spy who leaks the secrets of these actions to his KGB handler. Just finding out who this character is (code name SASHA) makes the book a great read.

I read this book and I think that the author lives in a dream land! Wake up!

The fascinating thing about Shimon Peres is his sheer stamina. At 78 he still wants to be Prime Miniater!

He is criticised for being a dreamer but he is a diplomat politician statesman as well.

We need optimists and realists right now and he is both otherwise Sharon would not have him in his government.

Robert Littell is the perfect foil to Mr Peres and I would describe this book as a work of art. It is also jounalism at its highest and I cannot commend it too much

great book,intended for the future of our great great children

I seldomly fail to complete a novel of intrigue. I tried to remain patient hoping that something would develop that captured my imagination but nothing did. I put the book back on the bookshelf without completing it.

I enjoyed this book and found it very easy to read finishing it in one long day. I particularily liked the character development of the Soviet killer Parsifal and would have enjoyed a whole book or at least a few more chapters about him getting to be what he was. The Indian stories and their gambling was tied in and fit in the story well.

Robert Littell doesn't seem to get the recognition he deserves. Every time I read one of his novels I am pleasantly suprised. Walking Back the Cat is a great read, with great character development.

"The Publisher's Review" was kind to end its assessment of the book with, "...but a little silly."

"Silly" began about page five and reappeared frequently during the remaining 285 pages. We're looking here at "silly" at the high school composition level, and the plot is strained and worse even than the writing.

This was copywritten 13 years ago, and Littell has become a somewhat better writer in the interim. I just finished his latest, "The Company," and it was worth about 3 1/2 stars. I'll skip anything else by him.

The old phrase, "the book's not worth the candle," is too kind for "The Once and Future Spy."

Bottom line, I liked the premise and enjoyed the read - that is, until I reached the end. I confess, I don't yet quite get it. In six months, once I have had a chance to reflect on the book for a little longer, "Whose truth, what truth?" may help the book come into better focus. But at this point, I simply am not sure how to interpret the end. For instance, where did large parts of the story take place - in the "real world" or in Silas' head? What was Snow's motivation for doing what she did at the end - was she mistaken about her information (re: Huxstep) and more convinced that something wasn't quite right with Silas? Ambiguity is a given in the world of intelligence, but this was a bit too ambiguous for my tastes.

Fellow fans, help me out. If you can, I may come back again and revise my rating upwards. If not, then let's let a 3-star rating stand for a good book make a little too complicated for its own good.

Robert Littell has written a variety of wonderful books that all earn high marks in whatever genre he places them. He has written the spy novel as well as anyone, he has written historically based fiction so well, that some find his version of events easier to believe than those generally accepted as fact. And he has explored relationships that have nothing whatsoever to do with the other categories I mention. His are some of my favorite books, and I hope that many will now be issued once again.

For the spy lovers there have been, "Walking Back The Cat", "An Agent In Place", and most recently, "The Company". Historically based fiction rarely gets better than, "The Sisters", and "The Visiting Professor", fills the relationship category. It's not an easy decision, but my favorite work of his is likely, "The Revolutionist". All of these books I would enthusiastically recommend.

"The Once And Future Spy", is akin to traversing a labyrinth that is made of mirrors instead of green hedges. I also walked through one made entirely of chain link fence once, and with all that it allowed you to see, that it "showed clearly", it too was especially, or perhaps unique in its puzzle.

And despite all that transpires in this book, when you finally put down, or it finishes with you, you are anywhere but at the end. Government conspiracy enthusiasts will love this book, for it not only is clearly modeled after a specific US Presidency, it also portrays a variety of players that are identical to that administration in all but name. The act contemplated has a logic in their world, but once outside of their tortured, groupthink, any ends justifies the means sideshow, what they contemplate doing is no less than a crime against humanity.

Mr. Littell plays a wonderful game of slight of hand, and three card monty novel writing. But he does it with such skill that it never seems contrived, and when you think you have finally found the correct card, he will turn over another, proving you wrong once again. Even when he appears to come clean at the story's conclusion, has he really? By my reading he has not. An uneasy truce based not on mistrust, or threats, but rather participants not knowing where they stand, seems to be the closest anyone can come to comfort.

If you have never read this writer's work, please do, you will find a variety of genres, all capably handled by an extremely talented, imaginative, and skilled pen.

As a newly appointed board member for the Home Improvement Council in Buffalo, NY, I was looking for ways to stimulate the participation of our members. I heard of a concept called netweaving at a Jeffrey Gitomer Seminar(who is amazing). I went in search for related material to help me with my goal. This was the only book of it's kind. I was a little shocked at the sticker price but thought that it would be money well spent! I was wrong. The authors seem to have a weatlth of knowledge on the subject, according to the letters they put after their names. While reading this 154 page paperback, you get bogged down with their cute little success stories how "netweaving worked for them". The real meat of the book, could literally be condensed into a brochure or pamphlet. I am not a literary expert but with anything I read, I want a challenge, you won't find that here. This book reads like a newspaper with a sixth grade reading level, it also has the tone of a "self-help" book. I was disappointed because this book could have been groundbreaking for the "netweaving" approach, but it is drowing in its own self righteousness. Hey, if anyone wants to buy it, let me know-New Condition! Not even read once!

The author has done a masterful job of capturing the quintessential art of networking - with a dose of a Southern hospitality and the unselfish ambitions of a saint. He has given a name to the process of continually building a network of people to whom you become a catalyst for introduction and connectivity to others who can help them. In the end, your personal gain is based on the inherent value built in your relationships and those you have spawned. The results are - NetWeaving.

The sum of this strategy results in a win-win-win strategy, a new paradign described by Littell where you leverage the value of networking among others by forebearing and deferring your personal advantages, in favor of connecting others who will benefit by your introduction.

Kudoos for Bob Littell and NetWeaving. The world and the business community will be greatly enriched by following the concepts advocated in this book.

The writing was a bit difficult at times, but the story was GREAT! Heller is a cryptologist who blackmails the CIA. You know you want to read it rather than hearing more about it!

What turned me off this book was that not only did it fail to portray the horror of Communist tyrrany, as I thought it would ,but it glorifies a bunch of degenerates without a hint of dissaproval by the author of their intellectual dishonesty, or even of the cruel exploitation of children by the hateful dwarf.The style of writing was however good and that is why I will give it two stars instead of one