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A review by kris_mccracken
The Eiger Sanction by Trevanian
3.0
A perplexing blend of Bond-esque spy thriller tropes and quirky humour, Trevanian's [b:The Eiger Sanction|30893|The Eiger Sanction (Jonathan Hemlock, #1)|Trevanian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388752495l/30893._SY75_.jpg|2160448] leaves me questioning whether it's a serious attempt at the genre or a tongue-in-cheek parody. While the novel's mountain climbing sequences are undeniably thrilling, the rest of the story is marred by some seriously outdated attitudes and an unlikeable protagonist.
Jonathan Hemlock, the story's lead, is a bizarre mix of an internationally renowned art professor, world-famous mountaineer and skilled (secret) assassin who just happens to be utterly irresistible to women and is cursed by a condition that renders him fantastic in bed. Note: I am not joking about that last bit.
Of course, his interactions with women are more often than not cringeworthy, indulging in a full range of misogynistic stereotypes that have not aged well. Additionally, the novel's portrayal of racial minorities is problematic, relying on outdated stereotypes, however much he's happy to take them into his bed (with two notable exceptions).
Yet despite these shortcomings, the novel's climax, where Hemlock tackles the treacherous Eiger mountain, is undeniably gripping. The vivid descriptions of the mountain's dangers and Hemlock's determination to conquer them make for an exhilarating read. However, this sudden shift in tone, from the lighthearted spy caper to the intense mountain climbing adventure, is jarring and disjointed.
Overall, [b:The Eiger Sanction|30893|The Eiger Sanction (Jonathan Hemlock, #1)|Trevanian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388752495l/30893._SY75_.jpg|2160448] is a mixed bag, and the book's straddling the line between the ludicrous and the serious makes it difficult to discern the author's true intent and left me scratching my head.
★ ★ ★
Jonathan Hemlock, the story's lead, is a bizarre mix of an internationally renowned art professor, world-famous mountaineer and skilled (secret) assassin who just happens to be utterly irresistible to women and is cursed by a condition that renders him fantastic in bed. Note: I am not joking about that last bit.
Of course, his interactions with women are more often than not cringeworthy, indulging in a full range of misogynistic stereotypes that have not aged well. Additionally, the novel's portrayal of racial minorities is problematic, relying on outdated stereotypes, however much he's happy to take them into his bed (with two notable exceptions).
Yet despite these shortcomings, the novel's climax, where Hemlock tackles the treacherous Eiger mountain, is undeniably gripping. The vivid descriptions of the mountain's dangers and Hemlock's determination to conquer them make for an exhilarating read. However, this sudden shift in tone, from the lighthearted spy caper to the intense mountain climbing adventure, is jarring and disjointed.
Overall, [b:The Eiger Sanction|30893|The Eiger Sanction (Jonathan Hemlock, #1)|Trevanian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388752495l/30893._SY75_.jpg|2160448] is a mixed bag, and the book's straddling the line between the ludicrous and the serious makes it difficult to discern the author's true intent and left me scratching my head.
★ ★ ★