Fun and fizzy spy story, sharply written and infused with melancholy. ( )

Anthony Burgess is without a doubt one of the greatest writers I've read. First the commentary from the narrator is never without opinion but is spot on and never dull. The plot lines and conclusion of this novel make it hard to put down but the description and sheer amount of pre-writing thought that went into its construction make it more than just an entertaining read. It is provocative without ever being ridiculous. ( )