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Friday, March 21, 2008Operation Snake
Tandem Books 1969
 I hate to admit it, but I was a Nick Carter virgin. I had never read any of Carter's adventures, which is practically a criminal offence here at Teleport City. I figured I’d better quickly rectify the situation and ducked into the nearest second hand book shop. I only had two to chose from, and for an old paperback, at a fairly inflated price. They must be collectible around here?The two choices were Operation Snake from the late 1960’s and Tunnel For Traitors published in 1986. Just by looking at the cover image, you can tell why I went for ‘Snake’ first. This adventure starts with Nick Carter, Agent N3 for AXE travelling in an old DC3 to Khumbu in the heart of the Himalayas. During his flight he flashes back to his mission briefing with Hawk. In Nepal, a religious leader named Ghotak – the Head of the Teeoan People and Snake Society – is planning a coup which will see the Red Chinese taking over Nepal. The Nepalese people fear Ghotak because all who have opposed him have been slain by the Yeti. Yes, the Abominable Snowman. Carter’s contact in Katmandu is Leeunghi, who is an aid to the King. Carter lands in Khumbu and meets his first contact. He is a fellow agent named Harry Angsley. Angsley is in hospital on his deathbed. He tells Carter that he must go to the Tesi Pass, where he will be met by a guide who will take him the rest of the way. Adding to the mix is a meddlesome English reporter named Hilary Cobb. She tries to tag along with Carter, but he refuses. In response she arranges for Carter’s equipment to be stolen. Carter realises she is behind the theft, and pretends to have changed his mind. She can come along after all. He will co-operate. Cobb returns his equipment, but suddenly the fun and games are over. Carter strips her down, ties her to a chair, slaps her across the face and tweaks her nipple. Politically correct, Nick Carter aint! He tells her to go home, and leaves her tied up. Carter then begins his trek through the mountains to the Tesi Pass. Here he is met by a guide who leads Carter further up into the mountains. As they rest, the guide attacks Carter, and tries to send him flying over an ice ledge. Carter gives as good as he gets and kills the impostor. He then marches back down to the pass and meets his real guide. Her name is Khaleen, the daughter of his contact Leeunghi. Naturally she is a looker. She leads him to Katmandu and into the world of Ghotak. Ghotak isn’t happy to have Carter in his world, and arranges for a trio of killer monks to take care of him. But, as you’ve guessed, Nick Carter knows how to take care of him self and gives the monks a lesson in the ways of unarmed combat. Later that night there is a ritual being overseen by Ghotak. A ritual to honour the fertility of the Spirit of Karkotek, Lord Of All Serpents. It’s at this ritual that Carter and Leeunghi intend to expose Ghotak as a charlatan. Their plan doesn’t go as planned. The ritual is more of an orgy than a religious ceremony and Khaleen get’s drawn onto the stage, and starts to writhe around and disrobe. Nick goes to her rescue, while Leeunghi enters into a slanging match with Ghotak. As it is one man’s word against another the Nepalese need a sign or symbol to show who’s telling the truth. The end result being that Leeunghi has to go up into the mountains. If he speaks the truth, in three days he will return safely. If Ghotak speaks the truth, then the Yeti will slay Leeunghi. Now it’s up to Nick Carter to reveal the truth and save the day. As my first introduction to Nick Carter, I was pretty impressed with Operation Snake. It was better written than I though it would be. It has some good, tight, descriptive passages. And as expected, it was fast paced, violent and with a healthy does of sex thrown in. I realise that the Nick Carter books are written by different authors, so the story telling quality can vary from one book to the next. I notice that this one is written in first person, where Tunnel For traitors is written in third person. I am fond of first person narratives, as you feel you are making the journey with the hero, rather than just having it reported back to you. So on this level, if your a Nick Carter fan, I would highly recommend this entry in the series. Labels: Espionage, Series: Nick Carter posted by David at 9:58 PM | 1 Comments Tuesday, March 11, 2008Central Asian Adventure
Been working my way through a series of books about the struggle for empire in Central Asia, circa 1800-1918...
The Great Game by Peter Hopkirk, being an account of the struggle to conquer or at least influence Central Asia undertaken by the British and Russian empires during the 1800s. Absolutely fascinating history, and regardless of your opinion of empire building or the Russo-British opinion that their countries were entitled to rule the world, some of the agents and explorers both sides sent into the largely unmapped and incredibly violent and hostile Central Asian wilderness were incredibly ballsy. I mean, when you start every mission knowing full well there is an 85% chance you will end up dying of exposure in the desert or with your head hanging out front of some local potentate's palace entrance, that takes some nerve. Although it's largely a history of the struggle between Russia and England, the look at the geography, cultures, and wild diversity of the Central Asian countries is equally as fascinating. I'm still amazed by how it can go "desert, desert, murderous tribe, mountains, desert, mountains, murderous tribe, mountains, massive palace made of gold." I have to say, at no point in my reading career have I so desperately wanted to reach into a book or back through history and soundly throttle someone. General Elphinstone has got to be one the most colossal idiots in the history of military endeavors. But I guess that's what you get when you put in charge a man whose name was apparently taken from someone's Hobbit fanfic. Seriously? Who falls for "No, this time I won't massacre your troops. Ha ha! Got you. OK, no, seriously, this time I won't do it. Oh man! You fell for it again. OK, OK, no, OK, this time I swear..." like nine times. Is there something in the water that makes military leaders completely lose their senses when they enter Afghanistan? Like Hidden Fire: Peter Hopkirk's follow-up to The Great Game, this one detailing Germany's late but enthusiastic entry into Central Asiatic empire building, circa 1890-1914, with the focus being on Germany and Turkey's efforts to foment a Holy War against England and Russia throughout Central Asia and India. As with the last book, Hopkirk tells the story through the stories of the men on both sides who were involved in the various adventures and intrigues. What's most striking here -- as it was with the end of The Great Game is the vast alteration in the environment. When the Great Game started, it was one guy here or there struggling against impossible odds and certain death in territories that were practically impossible to reach. By the end, a mere hundred or so years later, the difference in the ability to travel and the familiarity with Europeans in these previously inaccessible regions is striking. By this second book, railroads and roads have transformed once romantic and foreboding names like Kashgar, Samarkand, and Bhokara into mere stops along the way. But what's even more striking is the vast gulf between German diplomatic language and that of Russia and England. Whenever England or Russia annexed a piece of Asia for their own use, the move was accompanied by profuse bowing and syrupy diplomatic assurances that what was done was done in the best interest of the people, who were excited for British/Russian rule, and of course, we will be leaving the very second the region has stabilized, etc etc. By sharp contrast, when Germany takes over Tsingtao in China, their diplomatic announcement afterward went something like, "We have crushed them, and all of China will shake as they feel the iron grip of German awesomeness tighten around their puny necks." As always, a fascinating subject, made even more fascinating on account of it now combines two of my favorite subjects -- 19th Century exploration, adventure, and intrigue; and World War I. posted by Keith at 5:40 PM | 0 Comments |
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