A review by arytaco
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

The Thirty-Nine Steps is often credited with pioneering the spy genre, but John Buchan’s novel should not be credited for much else. The author does an adequate job of painting the picture, that being English cities and Scottish countrysides amidst the outbreak of the First World War. However, Buchan’s novel is a tedious experience, despite being almost novella-like in length. Unfortunately, protagonist Richard Hannay is stiff figure, and very few of the characters are very memorable. Furthermore, most of the narration is composed of recounting Hannay running and hiding, which becomes agitating after the umpteenth time. Really, there is very little nuance to this text, and the authors that were inspired by it — namely Raymond Chandler and Eric Ambler — created far superior stories. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film deserves even more credit for transforming a bland thriller into a timely warning. (A popular review on Goodreads championing this novel claims that those who do not like it do not like old books. Frankly, The Thirty-Nine Steps is simply unremarkable, while many contemporary novels are both compelling and relevant.)