Rating: 
Summary: Forsyth is the icon
Review: With the end of the Cold War, and most of all, of old Soviet nation, the spy-thriller writers had to modify their story-style, or ajust it to the new world order. Most writers did it very well, like John LeCarré and Frederick Forsyth. So that's what this last book by Forsyth is all about: the new era, mostly for Russia. The action is passed in yhe near future, 1999, in the world's biggest country. Without the support of the state, the country is now owned by the underground mafia, and is a paradise to prostituition, killing and poverty. In this scenario, what everybody is willing to do is ascend to the presidency. The UPF an ultra-right party and his foreman, the widely known and liked Mr. Igor Komarov, are a certain name to win the elections to be held soon. But, by accident, the English embassy at Moscow puts hand in an interesting document which is called "Black Manifesto", containing the ral intentions of UPF and Komarov. So the most powerful people in th! ! e world divises a plan to finish Komarov ascension, calling for the job ex-CIA, Russia-expert Jason Monk, retired from work and spending his life running a fisherboat in the Caribbean. The book can be divided in two parts. The first one is mostly about Jason Monk and what he accomplished during his time at Langley. It's like a briefing on the main character, and Forsyth writes it so well that you actually fell intimate with Monk. I read in a review below that it's got nothing to do with the rest of the book, but I don't think like that. In fact, I liked this part better. The second part, about half the book, is ICON properly. It tells how Monk struggles to prevent Russia of having a Nazi-like dictatorship, with all the Forsyth-ian usual twists, bullet-dodging and games of interest. I think this book was written when everybody thought Russia as a lost country, and indeed it seemed that would happen. But now I think Russia has got into the right tracks again. Anyway, "I! ! con is a great exercise of imagination, one like Forsyth ga! ves so many times, like the Odessa File. I won't even talk about the Jackal. It stands on a very higher ground.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Read From Forsyth
Review: In 'Icon' Frederick Forsyth takes us to the dark, frightening underworld of modern Russian politics. Though the novel is fictional and the characters cleary the author's creations, it nevertheless shows the extent of the author's exhaustive research into today's Russia. The story centers around a major Russian political power who loses a secret protcol (an updated 'Mein Kampf') and his frantic search to get it back before his policies of destruction become known. Aware of this secret protocol is an ex-CIA agent, Jason Monk, who will stop at nothing to expose this would-be-Hitler as the monster he is. Along the way he tangles with the Russian Politician's securtiy chief- a former KGB officer who bested Monk during the cold war. This is another exciting novel from a master of suspence. It not only effectivly weaves cold war intrigue and modern day fears about a rearmed Russia, but Forsyth's inclusion of the true story of Aldrich Aimes, the notorious CIA traitor, make this a particularly wild ride. While 'Icon' isn't of quite the same caliber of Forsyth's earlier work, it is a riviting novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Genre work
Review: This is possibly my favorite Forsyth novel, and Forsyth is definitely my favorite spy-novelist. As in The Negotiator, this book has a somewhat disjointed flow - there's a great deal of set-up (half the book) that isn't really part of the rising action. But who cares - it's thrilling and fun, and Forsyth has a good ear for the language. First Rate!
Rating: 
Summary: Shaky ending mars fine start
Review: Frederick Forsyth will never write a book as good as "The Day Of The Jackal" or "Odessa File" again. That's not a knock. Few authors ever get that lucky or brilliant once, let alone twice, especially their first two times off the blocks."Icon" suffers from a beginning that suggests otherwise. You read the first 300 pages and they grab you in a way few books ever do, with alternating suspense yarns set years apart, each somehow building on the drama of the other. You agonize for poor Jason Monk as his Soviet assets are undone one after the other by real-life traitor Aldrich Ames, kind of what Benedict Arnold might have been had the Revolutionary figure succeeded in not only giving up West Point to the Redcoats, but Fort Ticonderoga and Philadelphia as well. The fact that its now well after 1999 and the ultra-nationalist movement in Russia has not taken control doesn't lessen the sense of fear and loathing Forsyth gets across as he slowly sets up the principal story with a nice sense of balance, nuance, and loving detail. You think to yourself: "Can it be? Did Forsyth find his wellspring once more?" Then it all goes to pieces in Part 2, along with the chief villians. After drumming in their diabolical competance in Part 1, Forsyth apparently allows them to forget their medication in Part 2. Not only do they act ridiculously, but Monk the hero, like the protagonist in "Fist Of God," seems to anticipate everything that happens in such a way to alleviate any creative unease the reader might feel. The book that starts so promisingly ends not with a bang but a yawn. Even at the very end, when Forsyth reveals a key trick in his narrative, he does so in such a rote way as to raise more questions than answers. Clearly he went for a "He was my father" type finale, but what we get instead is another of those coincidences that pock the narrative's second half. I love Forsyth, even lesser Forsyth. There's a lot to enjoy here, especially in the first half, and people who like their resolutions tidy and suspense-free may enjoy the rest as well. But I sort of wish the master could have taken more time to sort out the second half of his story with the same apparent care he bestowed on the first.
Rating:
Summary: Icon - The Finest Spy Thriller
Review: Russia is in ruins with famine, inflation, corruption, and widespread unemployment in the summer of 1999. The story begins with the accidental sighting of a secret file containing the plan of recreating Hitler's Third Reich in Russia. This document belongs to Igor Komarov, the future president, who is providing hope to the people for law, order, and prosperity. The 'Black Manifesto' falls into the hands of the British and American governments. They are appalled by its contents, but refuse to take any action. They cannot do anything officially yet because Komarov does not yet have any government backing. Nevertheless, an ex-British spymaster, Sir Nigel Irvine, decides to stop Komarov. He recruits ex-CIA agent-runner, Jason Monk, for the job. Monk is introduced as the finest CIA agent-runner ever. His agents, however, fell into KGB hands because of a mole in the CIA. These agents were then tortured in Russia by Colonel Anatoli Grishin of the KGB, who now happens to be Komarov's personal security chief. Monk had sworn never to go back into Russia, but decides to stop Komarov and avenge the torture that Grishin had inflicted on his agents. Monk and Sir Irvine put together a plan using ingenuity and guile to force Komarov and Colonel Grishin to panic and commit mistakes. It is exciting to discover the strategies used by two retired spies to foil Komarov's plans. I love the way Forsyth uses the pace to build up the excitement to a climax and keep the reader glued to the book. He increases it gradually making the book more than just thrilling by the climax. The way he goes over all the background information in the beginning connects you to the story. Forsyth's style of blending the actual historical references with fiction is exceptional and the story seems to be more factual than fictional. I had also read his first book, The Day of the Jackal, and found these same qualities of painting a clear picture with the background information and blending actual occurrences into his fiction. Furthermore, I enjoyed the epilogue that explains the final fate of the characters and clarifies some of the obscurities. I also liked the way the co-incidences help to pull the plot along making it amusing. Forsyth's style of writing novels with all the twists and turns always leaves you asking for more. This sample passage from Icon will give you a taste of the book. This extract is the start of the planning Sir Irving and Jason Monk do. Sir Irvine has just convinced Monk to go back into Russia and is beginning to crystallize his plan. Things were very different now. Russia had changed out of all recognition from the old USSR that Monk had briefly known and duped. Technology had changed, almost every place name had reverted from its Communist designation to its old pre-Revolutionary name. Dumped into modern Moscow without the most intensive briefing, Monk could become bewildered by the transformation. There could be no question of his contacting either the British or American embassies to seek help. These were out of bounds. Yet, he would need some place to hide, some friend in need.
The worst hazard for Monk was the pandemic level of corruption. With virtually limitless funds, which Komarov, and therefore Grishin, seemed to have from the Dolgurki Mafia, that underpinned their drive for power, there was no level of cooperation from the organs of the state that they could not simply buy by bribery. Enough money could buy complete cooperation from any state security organization, or a private army of Special forces soldiers.
Add to that Grishin's own Black Guard and the thousands of fanatical Young Combatants, plus the invisible street army of the underworld itself, and Komarov's henchman would have an army out to track down the man who had come to challenge him.
Of one thing the old spymaster was certain: Anatoli Grishin would not be ignorant of the return of Jason Monk to his private turf, and he would not be pleased.
The first thing Irvine did was to assemble a small but trustworthy and thoroughly professional team of former soldiers from Britain's own Special Forces. I selected this passage because it was a good representation of Forsyth's style of setting the scene for the main action. It gives you a feel of the difficult conditions Monk would need to work under and the risks involved. He has already explained the whole background and is just about to launch an operation. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense thrillers. Frederick Forsyth is a master of suspense and this is a book that would make one seek out more of his works.
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Summary: Strange sense of Deja Vu
Review: Though I like most of what Forsyth writes but this is definitely one of the books where Mr. Forsyth looks out of his touch a bit. The research as usual is brilliant but the Russian characters sounds very similar to the Devil's Advocate's character. The tone of the book is kind of slow and sluggish until Jason Monk takes over the main stage. All in all Mr. Forsyth doesnt traverse any unchartered territory. The plot and characters sound similar to his earlier books. Read it because the twists and turns in the end are neat or like for me I cant resist a Forsyth book but do not expect Jackal...
Rating:
Summary: Exciting and plausible
Review: Like all Forsyth's work, this book is exciting, fast-paced, plausible and feels authentic. The contemporary thriller at its best!
Rating:
Summary: Who needs TV???
Review: A good ole' fashion Cold War style spy novel by one of the masters of the genre. Fans of the TV shows 24 and Alias (both shows I love) turn off the TV and read a great thriller!
Rating:
Summary: Suspension of Disbelief
Review: This book may not be as tight as Forsyth's classics, with some gaping holes in the plot, but hey, it's fun and incredibly accurate. Forsyth did monstrous research for that one! Absolutely stunning attention to detail and a great pace -- especially Part 2. The ending is sudden but totally believable. A great page-turner!
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Summary: tank potter
Review: This was brilliant! As a first time reader of Forsyth, I didn't know what to expect, but after reading this i will definitely read all his books. He weaves the past/present plots in part 1 perfectly which sets up the spy verse spy part 2 brilliantly. What results is a good climax although it is a little short. As a diehard action fan, this was a good change and although action was scarce, Icon is packed with suspense. Icon made my top 3 favourite books behind ice Station by Matthew reilly and Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy. Brilliant work by Forsyth!
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