Rating: 
Summary: Great book - well worth the time to read
Review: If you have an interest in the intelligence community, or are interested in reading about a great spin on world affairs spread over the last fifty years, you have a good book to read.
I picked up this book based on the subject matter - authors I like include Forsyth, and Le Carre (blubs on the jacket say this author compares favorably to both) - and the premise of a "history of the CIA." I was not dissapointed in ther least.The book gives you a history of the Cold War (the very bad "good old days" for spy fiction writers), starting with recruits into the newly formed CIA (an offshoot of the OSS during the Second World War).
The book has basically half a dozen fictional charecters interspersed brilliantly with historical personages. From JFK and Ronald Reagan, to Richard Bissell, RFK, William Colby and many others. The book delves into basically five periods over the last fifty years, the immediate post-war era in Germany (think Le Carre's "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold") to Cuba and the Bay of Pigs debacle (I think Littell does a very decent job in showing why Kennedy didn't commit armed force to the operation). The book then jumps to the seventies (the second golden age of cold war novels), dealing with the hints of the coming fall of the Soviet Union, and finally with the heighth of the Cold War, the early 1980's. Also, a subplot involving the papal 'assasination' of John Paul in 1978 is included. Finally, the book ends with the early 1990's and the end of the Soviet Union. Interspersed in the book is a spy under deep cover in the United States and the method of operation for this "cutout." Personally, I found this description so interesting in showing how a spy could potentially operate in the United States without being caught. Yes, this book is long, clocking in at about 900 pages, but after 50 pages, it is very difficult to put down. The book is really terrific, and if you have any hesitation, forget it and read this book. Do I have criticisms of this book? Not really. True the charecters are not developed completely as in other spy fiction books, but as in fiction of this type 'A history of the CIA', the purpose of the charecters is to feed the story, the narrative, not the other way around. If you are looking for a charecter study, I have a hunch that the author's other books such as "The Defection of A.J. Lewinter, " or "The Once and Future Spy" are more involved charecter studies. A related criticism some may feel is that the author assumes you have a pretty comprehensive knowledge of Cold War history over the last fifty years. If you don't have it, I am sure the book reads just fine, but some of the nuances of the plot will be lost on you. After all, in a sense the author is attempting to give you an 'alternative history' of the Cold War. In short, I was very pleased with this book. Since this is my first exposure to Mr. Littell, I can only say I will be on the lookout for his new books, and I am already ordering several of his older works, including the books mentioned here. Go ahead, read away!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!
Review: I read every bestselling novel in the spy, espionage, thriller, police procedural, mystery category. LeCarre,Grisham,Paterson, Ludlum,Silva, Margolin,and the list goes on. Nothing I've read comes anywhere close to this book. Its 1:10am in the morning, and I just finished reading it, and immediately logged on to give my review of this book. It's the most lavish, attention to detailed fiction novel ever written about the CIA, or espionage. Covering over forty years of actual world history and melding it with fictional characters, that have you wondering is it really true! The almost 900 pages may concern alot of people, like it did me, But you will find yourself not wanting the story to end. To list something I've read that had as much impact emotionaly on me, I have to leave fiction and go to nonfiction... like the bible!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read...but not Non-Fiction!
Review: Robert Littell's novel blends some elements of historical fact with a fictionalized account of what it would be like to be a 'fly on the wall' of the KGB resident or a CIA station or working in operations. The author has the ability to weave his characters through events and periods which are well known to those who have read about both of these 'spy' agencies. The fact that his characters have 'warts' and are not supermen or superwomen lends credibility to his storyline. One must not forget that the purpose of the novel was not to be an historical text on the subject..it is not a work of non fiction but because of the skill of the author it almost comes across as one. There are evil doers and good guys and gals but none of the James Bond tricks or gimmicks and a comparison to Tom Clancy is not in order..two very different styles. In the end, most of the characters come off as almost believable. My only concern is that with the limited knowledge of some readers they might come to the conclusion that this novel is actually non fiction. This is not the author's problem...just a commentary on the overall condition of critical thinking in our society. Oliver Stone's movies blur the line between fiction and historical fact and for some viewers ..they end up being reality. I was happy to see that the characters were not all good or bad, but in the end... just human. I have the honor of knowing someone who had his career in the CIA ruined for a period of time by James Jesus Angleton... the initial of his last name also started with a "K" and the storyline as to how he came to be under suspicion is very close to what happened to him in real life. He was cleared some time afterwards...and has published a book on his experiences. Unfortunately, Littell's book dredges up the old allegations once more..but it is a fiction. Only those with an insiders knowledge of the community will recognize how Littell's account might upset 'K' who is a veteran of the OSS and the CIA and who served with honor and bravery and who gave up a part of his own body for this country. The last I heard he was retired and living in Florida and interacting with his colleagues and friends. Except for my feeling very uneasy about the above...I would recommend the book as an entertaining read which tries to make its point through character development coupled with the backdrop of history. However, unless one has 'lived the life'...no amount of peering into 'the looking glass' will convey what really took place in the periods that were touched upon. Only the participants know that...and they are limited in what they can say..in the world of non fiction. This novel will probably leave some readers with the question...was it really fiction or... ? I suspect that was the intent of the author to create the feeling that the work reads like an account of the 'fly' on the wall.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: I was given this book as a gift and quite frankly I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But after getting started, I found it to be compelling. I disagree with some of the reviews here that imply the book is somehow anti-CIA. Just because the CIA isn't perfect (ala Tom Clancy) doesn't mean that this book was meanspirited. Not everyone has to be a CIA cheerleader. The big thing was that there were some interesting characters here and most of them were the good guys. Otherwise, there wasn't much of an overall plot (and the one there was wasn't all that great), but instead was like several short stories-- most of which were interesting. My only problem was that everyone was so polarized politically-- I mean, all KGB agents believe in the Soviet system and all CIA agents are die-hard capitalists? Doesn't anyone join these organizations for the money? Anyway, it was a pretty good book and much better than some of the other stuff in this genre.
Rating:
Summary: Entertainment at its best
Review: With a book and a story like this, 900 pages will feel like 100!
I simply couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular
Review: This book should have 10 stars! Not since LeCarre's books about George Smiley have I read an espionage novel with the scope that Littell writes. There is a tremendous amount of research that went into writing this book as historical characters are deftly woven with fictional ones into a credible mosaic that takes the reader fom the mean days of Post War Berlin to the Moscow Putsch in 1991. We see James Angelton pursue the American Mole in the light of PhilBy, Burgess and MacLean's treachery. We are treated to the moments during the Bay of Pigs and the Hngarian crisis. We see how presidential ambition and mismanagement impact the people on the frontlines. This is a 900 pages book that leaves you wanting more! Little has indeed raised the bar for the espionage novel, and very few will meet it. This is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ!
Rating:
Summary: Anti-le Carre
Review: Despite the hype, Robert Littel is not the American John le Carre. Indeed, This spook opus seems to self-consciously position him as the anti-le Carre, Littel's brave and virtuous heroes pretty much unbothered by any hint of psychological complexity. But despite the bland protagonists, if you come to The Company expecting a solid page-turner, you won't go away disappointed. As history or literature The Company may fall short, but it's a terrific read, engaging and propulsive over virtually all its 900 page length. The detailed and atmospheric Berlin opening perhaps promises more depth and texture than Littel plans to deliver -- initial lead Harvey Torriti is by far the most nuanced character in the book -- and by the time we learn the entire cold war was born out of a single Yale dorm room we've moved into the territory of the better Tom Clancy books -- the lack of historical and psychological complexity happily nullified by propulsive storytelling and a well-earned suspension of disbelief. If you're looking for le Carre-style introspection or a genuine history of the CIA, try elsewhere. But for a rollicking cold war page-turner, The Company's a lot of fun.
Rating:
Summary: Great for reading & working out your biceps!
Review: The book is simply BRILLIANT - Littell has spun the optimum covert spy-tale. Carrying it to the check-out line may deter potential readers due to its' sheer size (weighing in at roughly 900 pages) but the ingenious way Littell shares this fictional account of the ENTIRE cold-war between the CIA & its never-sleeping nemesis, the KGB, will intrigue the reader from page 1 until the last.... Or is it fiction? I guess it would depend upon, which side of the looking-glass you're looking from. As with the wonderful world of Alice, we too maybe living in a world that isn't what it has seemed to be all along. You will not want this book to end. I also enjoyed The Company on audio cassette... The reader does a masterful job with this masterpiece. So, if you don't have the time (or the strength) to pickup and read The Company you will still LOVE the unabridged version of this novel!
Rating:
Summary: Worth the time, politics aside
Review: An interesting look at the cold war from an intrigue/spy novel standpoint. "Just in time" events get a little tiresome, as does the not-quite-subtle political commentary. Some of the details offered or implied as historical fact are debatable. Still, it has all the elements of a good espionage story, and it kept me reading through the end. So, as a spy novel, 4 stars! As an honest, even-handed look at the history of the CIA...nah.
Rating:
Summary: What a story!
Review: This is easily one of the finest spy novels I have ever read. I've never gone through a 900-page book with such interest before. It's very well written and cleverly combines real historical events and people with fictional ones. Either way, Littel paints all the characters so vividly that I can't count the number of times I checked the internet to see if one of the characters I was reading about was real or fictional. Any fan of spy fiction owes it to themselves to read this book.
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