I thought I would drop in a quick review of the book I am currently reading (for the umpteenth time) – The Prometheus Deception.
Those of you who know me well will know that I am a dedicated Robert Ludlum fan; this is my favourite of his books. (Although it’s a close run thing with some of the others) Obviously he is famous at the moment for penning the Bourne trilogy which is currently being adapted into a large (unrelated-to-the-book) movie franchise. While the B3 are a good set, some of his more recent books (this was from 2000) have a better depth of language, while not losing that unrelenting pace.
Better still – this book is probably one of the best outplaying of some of the arguments both for and against DRM, which I talked about recently 
Like all Ludlum books, The Prometheus Deception twists and turns, never really letting you know who the good guys or the bad guys are, and always letting you feel a certain understanding for the bad guys, which makes the divide all the more confusing. Add to this the frantic pace, which builds to climax again and again before dropping back to a ’slower’ pace as the plot thickens visibly around you.
Ludlum has a very visual quality to his books; they are very easy to imagine. But, unlike some other authors I have read, it does not feel like the story is an adaption of a film – it is a purely litererary construct. I would love the challenge of making a Ludlum book into a film, but the chances of fitting all the nuances of the plot into a short film seems impossible.
If you’ve never read Ludlum, then this would be a good starter. Yes, the B3 has got a lot of exposure at the moment, but I don’t believe they are necessarily his best works (although they are excellent). Take a look at his more recent stuff first – this book, the Jansen Directive, etc – and then look at some of his older books.
mrBen
At least by then I will be looking at just over a quarter of a year (91.25 days).