Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing book with an artificial ending
Review: TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY is one of the best fictions I've ever read. The 'sequel' THE HOURABLE SCHOOLBOY - which is really an independent story in its own right - disappointed me but that did not stop me from getting this third book. Again I was disappointed.Part of the reason is probably because I am familiar with le Carre's bag of tricks by now. The repetitous moralizings, for one, which I enjoyed in TINKER, TAILOR where he compared the traitor in the intelligence network to the lost of heart of the British Empire - when the grandeur of the empire could no longer inspire loyal subjects. However, in SMILEY's PEOPLE, we caught le Carre moralizing for the sake of moralizing even when there was nothing to moralize about. He simply overdid it this time. SMILEY'S PEOPLE could be rightly called the sequel to TINKER, TAILOR and as such, resolved what le Carre started in that book, namely the rivalry between Smiley and Karla. I find the ending artificial and rather unconvincing. It was as if this book was only written to justify Smiley's assertion in the first book: something about Karla's extremity will bring about his end. There are still good things in this book. For example, we are gradually shown that Smiley has become a bit of the monster he has been fighting - his cutting off from Ann, a glimmer of quick temperedness, and not wanting to recover the lighter from Ann. One cannot help but wonders what will become of him had there been another book on Smiley of a later day. I am still a great fan of John le Carre and will probably re-read TINKER, TAILOR. I really miss the organic, believable and unforgettable characters such as Jim Prideaux and Roach.
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