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For 30 years, Robert Ludlum's novels have set the standard for the finest in international intrigue and suspense. With an unbroken string of bestsellers in almost every country in the world, Robert Ludlum's books have been enjoyed by hundreds of millions of readers, and are widely acknowledged as classics in the field. Now, after the bestselling Covert-One novels The Hades Factor and The Cassandra Compact comes the third thrilling novel in the series - The Paris Option.A fiery explosion in show more the dark of night shatters one of the laboratory buildings in Paris's esteemed Pasteur Institute. Among the dead is Emile Chambord, one of the leaders in the global race to create a molecular - or DNA - computer. Unfortunately, Professor Chambord kept the details of his work secret, and his notes were apparently destroyed in either the bomb blast or the raging fire that followed.
The scientific community does not expect a workable DNA computer to be developed for years. But suddenly U.S. fighter jets disappear from radar screens for a full five minutes, and there's no explanation. Utilities across the Western states cease functioning, and all telecommunications abruptly stop, with devastating consequences. This is not the work of a clever hacker, although Washington, worried about a panic, assures the public it is. Only the enormous power and speed of a DNA computer could have caused such havoc.
Under the cover of visiting his friend Marty Zellerbach, who was severely injured when the Pasteur lab was destroyed, Covert-One agent Jon Smith flies to Paris to search for the connection between the Pasteur explosion and the forces now wielding the computer. Following a trail that leads him across two continents, Smith uncovers a web of deception that threatens to wreck havoc and forever reshape the world.
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I thought I was getting to like the Covert-One series but this one is certainly a turkey. The plot is totally unbelievable...not the idea of development of an organic computer...that is fine but the red herrings and useless twists to the plot. I won't mention them in case you read this but there are HUGE holes in the logic of this story which amounts to little more than having Jon, Randi and Peter go from one location to another and getting involved in a firefight. I was so frustrated I was screaming into the book for the bad guys to not take Jon prisoner as all it did was give further clues to the enemy's plans and you had to know that they would leave him unguarded.
You can surely tell the difference between a collaboration between show more Ludlum and Lynds and Ludlem and the story is much worse in the former pairing show less
You can surely tell the difference between a collaboration between show more Ludlum and Lynds and Ludlem and the story is much worse in the former pairing show less
A decent story, but could have been better.
And by 'better', I'm thinking better told. According to the cover, it's a collaboration, and I think it shows. It's a fair bit longer than it really should be (it follows the premise of the last 'Bourne' I read, by having the whole thing build to a climax in the middle, then go on again. You know you're only half way through, as you can see there's still a couple of inches of book to go, it can't possibly have the impact it really should), and a bit flabby. Robert Ludlum's originals are usually a lot more tightly-written and suspense-filled than this. It could be trimmed and streamlined and not lose anything.
Plus, the main concept of 'the problem' (without giving anything away) wasn't developed show more as deeply as it could have been. The results of its 'deployment' were just shown as tests, not full-blown attacks, and weren't described in deep enough detail, so didn't really carry the level of dread they really should have. That of course, affects the levels of suspense generated when they're trying to stop the bad guys. You really have to believe they're fighting to save civilisation from this 'problem', and here it's a little 'meh'. That's as good as I can put it.
A second 'plus...', the English secret agent - you can tell he's English (if you should forget his introductory section), because he calls people 'lad', says 'frightfully', and generally runs around in the background like James Bond. He doesn't actually say 'I say!', but only because it probably got edited out.
Still, a right rattlin' read - Harlev bibliotek scores again! show less
And by 'better', I'm thinking better told. According to the cover, it's a collaboration, and I think it shows. It's a fair bit longer than it really should be (it follows the premise of the last 'Bourne' I read, by having the whole thing build to a climax in the middle, then go on again. You know you're only half way through, as you can see there's still a couple of inches of book to go, it can't possibly have the impact it really should), and a bit flabby. Robert Ludlum's originals are usually a lot more tightly-written and suspense-filled than this. It could be trimmed and streamlined and not lose anything.
Plus, the main concept of 'the problem' (without giving anything away) wasn't developed show more as deeply as it could have been. The results of its 'deployment' were just shown as tests, not full-blown attacks, and weren't described in deep enough detail, so didn't really carry the level of dread they really should have. That of course, affects the levels of suspense generated when they're trying to stop the bad guys. You really have to believe they're fighting to save civilisation from this 'problem', and here it's a little 'meh'. That's as good as I can put it.
A second 'plus...', the English secret agent - you can tell he's English (if you should forget his introductory section), because he calls people 'lad', says 'frightfully', and generally runs around in the background like James Bond. He doesn't actually say 'I say!', but only because it probably got edited out.
Still, a right rattlin' read - Harlev bibliotek scores again! show less
Akwardly written - it just doesn't flow well. I finished the book out of curiosity, but easily could have put it down half-way through and been fine. I love Ludlum, and perhaps this is an earlier version of Lynds' writings. Several occurrences of events in the book are so contrary to normal activity that they become conjured for the sake of the storyline, and as a result the book loses reality.
Another disappointing novel in the Covert One series.
No dramatic tension, as readers already know that no one we like will die
No dramatic tension, as readers already know that no one we like will die
FAST PACED AND ACTION PACKED, NOVEL BLENDS HIGH STAKES ESPIONAGE WITH SCIENTIFIC INTRIGUE IN A RACE TO PREVENT CATASTROPHE.
A good read - a few twists that help sustain interest to the end.
The usual stuff expected from Robert Ludlum…
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199+ Works 77,204 Members
Robert Ludlum was born May 25, 1927 in New York City. He enlisted in the Marines at the age of eighteen and received a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1951. He began acting professionally at the age of sixteen in the 1943 Broadway production of Junior Miss. He also had roles in summer stock and appeared in over 200 television dramas for such live show more programs as Studio One and Kraft Television Theater. He then tried producing with the 1956 Broadway production of The Owl and the Pussycat. He took the play, four years later, to his creation of Shopping-Center Theater at Playhouse-on-the-Mall in Paramus, New Jersey. His first novel, The Scarlatti Inheritance, was published in 1971. His other works include The Matlock Paper, The Chancellor Manuscript, The Bourne Identity, The Scorpio Illusion, The Matarese Countdown, and The Bancroft Strategy. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd. He died on March 12, 2001 at the age of 74. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
21+ Works 5,999 Members
Gayle Lynds is an award-winning American author. She is known for writing spy fiction or spy thrillers. She has co-authored three novels with Robert Ludlum. Her books are published in over 20 countries. Lynds was born in Nebraska, but raised in Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Journalism, and now lives in California show more where she is a full-time novelist. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Objectif Paris
- Original publication date
- 2002
- People/Characters
- Lt. Col. Jonathan "Jon" Smith, M.D.; Marty Zellerbach (PhD); Emile Chambord (Doctor); Nathaniel Frederick Smith "Fred" (Covert One Chief); Samuel Adams Castilla (President); Randi Russell (show all 7); Peter
- Important places
- Paris, France; L'Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Spain; Algeria; Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
- First words
- The first warm winds of spring gusted along Paris's narrow back streets and broad boulevards, calling winter-weary residents out into the night.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)We've got a DNA computer to build.
- Disambiguation notice
- "The Paris Option" is the same book as "Robert Ludlum's The Paris Option"
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- 14