Tue 18 Oct 2016
ADAM HALL – Quiller. Jove, paperback; 1st US paperback printing, December 1985. First published in the UK as Northlight by W. H. Allen, hardcover, 1985 (shown).
After reading Michael Shonk’s recent review of the Quiller novel The Tango Briefing, along with the episode of the TV series based on it, I thought I’d give one of the books a try myself. I’m glad I did.
It’s only a guess, but I assume the name change made by the US paperback publisher was an attempt to get a bit more name recognition out there where a would-be buyer could see it. Even in the UK all of the titles after Northlight began with Quiller as the first word. I do not know why the first US publication of the book was in paperback. The Quiller Memorandum came out as movie in 1965, so interest in the series by hardcover publishers may have diminished greatly in the 20 year meantime.
Northlight, as you may be wondering, is the name of the mission that Quiller is given in the book. An American atomic sub has been attacked and destroyed by a trigger-happy Russian naval officer, acting on his own initiative. The problem is that a peace conference between the US and Russia is about to convene in Vienna. What Quiller is asked to do, with the British government acting as a middleman, is go underground behind the Iron Curtain and retrieve the double agent up above the Arctic Circle who has a tape recording detailing the incident in detail.
All is not what it seems, however, and not unexpectedly Quiller is often left on his own and unaware of all of the intrigue going on at levels far over his head. He has to be wary of everyone he meets, including a cell of operatives who seem to be an extremely interested third party in the operation.
This is a tough, suspenseful book from beginning to end, even at a length of over 350 pages. Quiller tells his own story, so it is hard to pinpoint who he is exactly, but he is basically world-weary and dedicated, suspicious of everybody and everything at every turn. tough-minded and resourceful, terse and not very good at James Bondian repartee. I assume so, at least, for he does not even try. There is very little humor in the story he tells, making George Segal, somewhat offbeat as an actor, seem to me to be an unusual choice to portray him in the movie, which I have net seen in over 50 years.
The book does not make for very relaxing reading, which is exactly as it should be, with cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter. I had a good time with it.
October 18th, 2016 at 9:04 pm
This was a bit of a reboot for the series, tougher and more action oriented than ever.
Quiller always seemed to me the Continental Op of spy fiction.
Physically I thought Michael Jayston was well cast as Quilled, and frankly Daniel Craig’s Bond fits as well.
October 18th, 2016 at 10:59 pm
Quiller and the Continental Op. An interesting comparison, one that hadn’t occurred to me, but I think it’s a good one.
As for Daniel Craig, my picture of Quiller is that he was a chunkier fellow. Don’t know why, as there certainly isn’t any description of him, given the first person narrative.
October 19th, 2016 at 7:43 am
This is one of the series that I have on my to be read list as I have heard many good things about it. Read the first book in the series, which was very good but not earth shattering, this review may make me go back to it.
Sometimes starting a series at the beginning isn’t always fair to the author as they haven’t found their voice yet, but for the sake of background, I usually try to read in order.
October 19th, 2016 at 8:58 am
George Smiley, Bernard Samson and Quiller, the Holy Trinity of spy fiction.
October 19th, 2016 at 11:17 pm
Elleston Trevor is a splendid after whose many fine books include FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX. He certainly knew how to write a thriller and adventure story.
One of the Quiller novels features a high speed chase on the autobahn, which aside from being a great action scene, is the best car chase description I’ve ever read in a thriller.