Good leftist spy novels

[Mandarin]

My question is: are there any? I've been a major fan of the spy fiction genre, but most novels always seem to focus on or to be biased toward NATO.

I'd be really interested in any alternatives.

[Stalinist Speaker]

You should maybe check out Jan Guillou`s carl hamilton novels. he probably writes anti nato books but im not to sure.

[Creative Destruction]

I'm going to check out the Carl Hamilton novels... those look interesting. Other than those, I don't know of any explicitly leftist spy novels.

The Bourne Trilogy (the Ludlum novels) have some plot points in there that would interest a leftist, maybe. One of the newer Bond flicks, Quantum of Solace, pits bond against a corporation that is trying to take over Bolivia's water supply. It also implicated the British and American governments in helping the corporation. That's a pretty radical critique, especially coming from a very bourgeois franchise. Of course, it's got the normal James Bond sexism (though not as much of it in this film) and the gross product placement, but it is what it is.

[blake 3:17]

I really love the early John Le Carre novels -- they're not exactly Left (he's moved to the Left over time), but they offer a rather haunting and realistic picture of how spies work.

The other writer I'd suggest is Graham Greene, who like Le Carre was a spy, and became disillusioned with the whole thing. Two of his I'd suggest are The Quiet American, set in Vietnam as the French are withdrawing and some new "friends" appear, and Our Man in Havana, which is very funny, but not that unlikely...

[Lenina Rosenweg]

Its TV not in book form but this is extremely good

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17_Moments_of_Spring

I have seen it online, I'm a bit busy now but it may be on youtube or Vimeo.

[Mandarin]

One of the newer Bond flicks, Quantum of Solace, pits bond against a corporation that is trying to take over Bolivia's water supply. It also implicated the British and American governments in helping the corporation. That's a pretty radical critique, especially coming from a very bourgeois franchise. Of course, it's got the normal James Bond sexism (though not as much of it in this film) and the gross product placement, but it is what it is.

Interesting, loved James Bond before I began reading stuff, so to speak, therafter I've boycotted every little thing that's had to do with it. I'll check it out, thanks friend.


I really love the early John Le Carre novels -- they're not exactly Left (he's moved to the Left over time), but they offer a rather haunting and realistic picture of how spies work.

The other writer I'd suggest is Graham Greene, who like Le Carre was a spy, and became disillusioned with the whole thing. Two of his I'd suggest are The Quiet American, set in Vietnam as the French are withdrawing and some new "friends" appear, and Our Man in Havana, which is very funny, but not that unlikely...

I'll check them out, thanks comrade.