The Silent Man, by Alex Berenson

Before the collapse of the Soviet Union suspense writers could rely on self-interested Russians, who were not bent on blowing up the world, but just wanted a bit more power and the destruction of the capitalist system as we know it. Once upon a time the spy war (cold war) of fiction was fought out by professionals playing a deadly game. Now we have a world of decentralized terrorists in a war where there are no truces - where the goal of a certain secret organization is far more sinister. It goes beyond economic ideology and moves into fanaticism, hatred, and death. In both fact and fiction the rational agents of one side now must fight bitter and vicious extremists on the other.

It is in this strange, lopsided war that Alex Berenson excels at depicting. On one side John Wells is backed up by an intelligence apparatus that includes the CIA with all of its assets, personnel, satellites, communication devices, and weapons, as well as the U.S. military. Yet ultimately relying on the initiative of the individual. On the other side, there is money yes, but the control is decentralized and not always well-coordinated. Technology and physical resources are limited even though passion and inventiveness are not.

One of the many fascinating aspects of "The Silent Man" is the efforts by the terrorists to overcome their lack of access to technological resources. Their methods for going about this are completely believable. The way they acquire enriched uranium in order to build a nuclear device relies on stealth, intelligence, boldness, and ruthlessness. At the same time we see how these self-same qualities coupled with their own romantic notions of themselves and their beliefs can also cause them trouble. When transporting nuclear material to the site where it is to be constructed into a bomb they choose a dangerous way to go about it. Because they are not professional spies, they are a bit haphazard in their work, which in a stormy North Atlantic sea has important consequences for their self-imposed mission.

Berenson has a facility for getting inside the heads of his characters. Yes, John Wells is an archetype, but well fleshed out with personality, and subject to feelings and doubts any human would have under the circumstances in which he is put. (Possible spoiler here.) An interesting case is when he is bent on revenge upon an arms dealer. He actually botches his attempt, but in the course of it expends much of his psychic energy. In the end, he and the arms dealer, though not friendly, end up working on the same side, mainly because there are suddenly bigger "fish to fry".

Another great thing about Berenson's writing is his ability to infuse secondary characters with life. Even some of the bad guys have good qualities. Interestingly enough, it is these very qualities that get them in trouble with their own side. There is a character early in the novel, Grigory Farzadov, who is weak, but goes through some transformative change that nearly ennobles him. (Another possible spoiler.) If I have one complaint about this aspect, it is when Grigory met his doom I actually felt some remorse for his loss. I was actually hoping he would somehow avoid his fate and become a recurring character in a later novel. Yet Grigory's death did have the effect of making the bad guys who disposed of him even more believable.

I very much enjoy the thoroughness with which Berenson writes. I get the feeling he has researched his subject well. The details of the nuclear device make me believe that if Berenson were given the tools that he himself could construct one (without looking at the blueprints). Even with regard to characterization this is true. Grigory Farzadov is a chess player. Berenson's passing references to the game made me believe that he could hold his own on a chess board. This thoroughness makes for great story-telling, largely because Berenson also seems to know what to leave out. The book is not cluttered with unnecessary description. The mood is appropriately set, the props are put into place, and the action occurs.

There is a driving rhythm to "The Silent Man" that keeps the reader moving from chapter to chapter. Berenson has been on top of the NY Times bestseller list. He deserves his acclaim. "The Silent Man" is part of a series of novels about John Wells, yet this book can stand alone. Fascinating, fun, action-packed, and thoughtful all at the same time, this book is highly recommended.

The Silent Man is available at Amazon.