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amritesh's review against another edition
5.0
Then the bullet entered his brain and then there was nothing but a terrible, all-encompassing silence.
'My name is Bond. James Bond'
While everyone I knew (who watched Hollywood movies) obsessed over the very famous James Bond, I was never really attracted towards those stories.
Instead, I got attracted towards the mysterious, brooding Jason Bourne, played brilliantly by Matt Damon. And as soon I heard that they were loosely based on books, I HAD to read them.
And Robert Ludlum! What. A. Writer. He just blew me away, with the tense writing, his complex plots, and his unique protagonists.
After Ludlum's death, Eric Van Lustbader continued the Bourne series (which were already complete by the way) and made Bourne from an ageing person, who had everything to lose at all points, into a more Bond-esque character, with no age, and not many emotional ties. Basically a different character with the same name.
It was with the certain knowledge that this was a war, and it had just begun.
This book is the second one in the Lustbader's Bourne series, and while I think I liked his first one more, this was pretty thrilling to read.
Lustbader's writing is descriptively tense, and while the villain and his goal is pretty clichéd (Islamic Fundamentalist Leader, Destroy Americaaaaa!), the plot and the characters keep you invested throughout.
'They don't make men like him anymore. He's a born killer.'
So is Bourne, Karim al-Jamil thought with a bitterness that burned like acid.
So enjoy the thrilling ride through Washington, Ras Dejen, Odessa, Ilyichevsk, Istanbul, Miran Shah, as Bourne struggles with his past and the numerous betrayals, and as the story switches between different characters, each having their own stories.
Definitely recommended.
'My name is Bond. James Bond'
While everyone I knew (who watched Hollywood movies) obsessed over the very famous James Bond, I was never really attracted towards those stories.
Instead, I got attracted towards the mysterious, brooding Jason Bourne, played brilliantly by Matt Damon. And as soon I heard that they were loosely based on books, I HAD to read them.
And Robert Ludlum! What. A. Writer. He just blew me away, with the tense writing, his complex plots, and his unique protagonists.
After Ludlum's death, Eric Van Lustbader continued the Bourne series (which were already complete by the way) and made Bourne from an ageing person, who had everything to lose at all points, into a more Bond-esque character, with no age, and not many emotional ties. Basically a different character with the same name.
It was with the certain knowledge that this was a war, and it had just begun.
This book is the second one in the Lustbader's Bourne series, and while I think I liked his first one more, this was pretty thrilling to read.
Lustbader's writing is descriptively tense, and while the villain and his goal is pretty clichéd (Islamic Fundamentalist Leader, Destroy Americaaaaa!), the plot and the characters keep you invested throughout.
'They don't make men like him anymore. He's a born killer.'
So is Bourne, Karim al-Jamil thought with a bitterness that burned like acid.
So enjoy the thrilling ride through Washington, Ras Dejen, Odessa, Ilyichevsk, Istanbul, Miran Shah, as Bourne struggles with his past and the numerous betrayals, and as the story switches between different characters, each having their own stories.
Definitely recommended.
canada_matt's review against another edition
2.0
Eric van Lustbader puts out a decent book, filled with suspense and intrigue and uses that 21st century buzz plot, the fight against terrorists seeking to take over parts of the US. It has all the thrills you could want, some very descriptive fight scenes and even some graphic attacks that leave you wincing and wishing you had a doctor on hand. Fairly decent dialogue and the book flows fairly well. It is.... WAIT A MINUTE!! This is one of the Bourne series. Scratch the above and keep reading!
MISSING IN ACTION!!! Jason Bourne/David Webb, that Jekyll/Hyde character created by Robert Ludlum is missing and presumed erased by someone who took Ludlum’s reins and continued the series. Lustbader insults true Bourne fans by Hollywood-ising the story and completely ruins the foundation that was set out by the famed espionage author. We have gaping holes that are not addressed:
1) If Arab and Islamic terrorists are the front and centre, we must assume that it is post-September 11, 2001. This makes Bourne at LEAST 61 years old (if we hold true to Ludlum’s foundation of the character)
2) Mrs. Bourne is dead (this is not a spoiler, as it is announced in the preface), and he is off with NO mention of the children. Eldest is, at most 13 years old and no nanny is mentioned or calls home to ensure food is being consumed.
3) The Jason Bourne we know has no moment of switchover from his Webb identity, so we are to assume that he lives like this all the time.
4) The character, besides being close to a senior, fights as though he is a young, Damonian version of himself that one might see on the silver screen. Has Lustbader tried to cater the character to meet the Matt Damon litmus test? Get people interested in reading the series from this point on?
I should have known that when Scott Brick stopped narrating, the greatness of the series would leave too. I have no issues with suspending reality, but not in mid-series. Either begin with dragons and unexpected happenings or do not do it at all. Put the series to rest and out of its misery, and let poor Robert Ludlum keep from turning over in his grave.
SHAME Mr. Lustbader. Alas, having promised myself to read the entire series, I will continue. That said, I will be sure to keep reviewing honestly and not pussyfoot around.
MISSING IN ACTION!!! Jason Bourne/David Webb, that Jekyll/Hyde character created by Robert Ludlum is missing and presumed erased by someone who took Ludlum’s reins and continued the series. Lustbader insults true Bourne fans by Hollywood-ising the story and completely ruins the foundation that was set out by the famed espionage author. We have gaping holes that are not addressed:
1) If Arab and Islamic terrorists are the front and centre, we must assume that it is post-September 11, 2001. This makes Bourne at LEAST 61 years old (if we hold true to Ludlum’s foundation of the character)
2) Mrs. Bourne is dead (this is not a spoiler, as it is announced in the preface), and he is off with NO mention of the children. Eldest is, at most 13 years old and no nanny is mentioned or calls home to ensure food is being consumed.
3) The Jason Bourne we know has no moment of switchover from his Webb identity, so we are to assume that he lives like this all the time.
4) The character, besides being close to a senior, fights as though he is a young, Damonian version of himself that one might see on the silver screen. Has Lustbader tried to cater the character to meet the Matt Damon litmus test? Get people interested in reading the series from this point on?
I should have known that when Scott Brick stopped narrating, the greatness of the series would leave too. I have no issues with suspending reality, but not in mid-series. Either begin with dragons and unexpected happenings or do not do it at all. Put the series to rest and out of its misery, and let poor Robert Ludlum keep from turning over in his grave.
SHAME Mr. Lustbader. Alas, having promised myself to read the entire series, I will continue. That said, I will be sure to keep reviewing honestly and not pussyfoot around.
hlandes1's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read, but I have to say that the writers who are "finishing" Ludlum's work are definitely not Ludlum.
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