The Afghan [Paperback]

Frederick Forsyth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

When British and American intelligence catch wind of a major Al Qaeda operation in the works, they are primed for action - but what can they do? They know nothing about the attack: the what, where or when. They have no sources in Al Qaeda, and it's impossible to plant someone. Impossible, unless...The Afghan is Izmat Khan, a five-year prisoner of Guantanamo Bay and a former senior commander of the Taliban. The Afghan is also Colonel Mike Martin, a 25-year veteran of war zones around the world, a dark, lean man born and raised in Iraq. In an attempt to stave off disaster, the intelligence agencies will try to do what no one has ever done before - pass off a Westerner as an Arab among Arabs - pass off Martin as the trusted Khan. It will require extraordinary preparation, and then extraordinary luck, for nothing can truly prepare Martin for the dark and shifting world he is about to enter. Or for the terrible things he will find there...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Forsyth writes as if preparing for the movie or television miniseries he knows will surely follow. His multiple focus in terms of characters and settings makes for thrilling cinema and engrossing reading, but in an audio version, a global smattering of Afghani, Arabic, Pakistani, British, Indonesian and other names can cause a bout of verbal vertigo. Wise listeners will replay the first CD or at least part of it. Once the characters, ships and locales are in place, the narrative is much easier to follow, despite Forsyth's love of minutiae. Powell plods through the novel with all the enthusiasm of a distracted Oxbridge tutor. His presentation is careful and eloquent but ultimately dull. He doesn't understand the nuances of most accents, including those of the Americans, all of whom have gruff voices. Powell does best with his performance of Colonel Mike Martin, the reluctant hero of this tale. The action, when it comes, is too little and too late to hold one's attention on audio. Powell's lethargic pace inflates this particular flaw in Forsyth's novel. It would be better to read the print version or wait for the film.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In Forsyth's latest novel, British and American intelligence forces learn of an impending al-Qaeda terrorist strike. However, they don't know exactly when or where the strike will take place. Their solution: to have one of their own officers infiltrate the terrorist group, posing as one of its own. It's an inventive story, and Forsyth spins it eloquently and with enough nail-biting suspense to leave readers' fingertips raw. One of the masters of the political thriller, Forsyth writes with a bare-bones, reportorial style that makes his stories feel as realistic as anything one might read in the daily newspaper. He set the standard for political thrillers with 1971's Day of the Jackal, and, although he has myriad competitors today, no one else has managed to make the very flatness of the documentarian's style an effective instrument for generating tension. Forsyth's name doesn't draw a crowd the way it used to, but this one deserves the attention of those who read such modern espionage masters as Daniel Silva. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 343 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Press; Export / Airport ed edition (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0593057260
• ISBN-13: 978-0593057261
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (147 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Frederick Forsyth is the author of fifteen novels and short-story collections. He lives in England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Diverting but Deeply Flawed, December 1, 2006

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Afghan (Hardcover)

In general, I am highly skeptical of the "international political thriller" genre, however I will concede that Forsyth is a master storyteller well worth anyone's time. "Day of the Jackal" and "The Odessa File" have got to be in the genre's all time top five, and I also greatly enjoyed his short story collection "No Comebacks." This latest book, while perfectly serviceable and engaging (as long as you don't think too hard about it), falls well short of these.

Through a gripping opening highlighting the use of technology in the "war on terror", Western intelligence agencies learn of the existence of an impending Al-Qaeda attack that will be even more shocking than 9/11. Unfortunately, they don't have a clue what it is, or how to find out. A chance remark (one of the many, many coincidences required by the plot), leads them to enlist retired SAS officer Mike Martin in a desperate attempt to infiltrate Al-Qaeda. They do this via an elaborate switcheroo with an Afghan who's been disappeared into Guantanamo for five years. In another massive (though, alas, not the most egregious) coincidence, Martin just happens to have known this Afghan years ago while fighting the Soviets. The first half of the book involves setting this plan up,and the second half follows Martin's attempt to uncover the plot. (Apparently Martin was the hero of an earlier Forsyth book, "The Fist of God", however, I've not read it. Other reviewers report an egregious number of continuity errors between the two books relating to Martin.)

The story unfolds so that readers not particularly conversant with the "war on terror" and the history of Al-Qaeda will get brought fully up to speed. There's also a very clunky section explaining the difference between mainstream Islam and extremist Wahabbism. Similarly, the reader is given a very good understanding of the global reach and appeal of Al-Qaeda, for example, in Trinidad. And of course there is plenty of insiderish detail about the workings of modern espionage, which is fairly interesting stuff: telecommunications, piracy, money laundering, satellite imagery, facial identification software, and so on.

Unfortunately, the plotting is exceedingly awkward. For example, once Martin passes for the Afghan, he is directed by Bin Laden to personally participate in the grand scheme that's been set in motion. Stroke of luck that, eh? It's particularly problematic because there is absolutely no reason for him to take part. He is chaperoned halfway across the world to basically stand about on a ship, and oh yeah, foil the plot. Very weak indeed. Even worse, there's a pointless extended subplot about the "real" Afghan from Guantanamo, who is disappeared to a CIA cabin in Washington State. The reader can only assume we keep returning to him because he's going to escape at some point, and escape he does -- thanks to the engine falling off a passing F-15 and destroying the cabin! This reads like something from a parody of the genre and the reader is asked to swallow such foolishness for no good reason. The escape and pursuit, while gripping unto itself, has no bearing on the rest of the story.

Finally, as the plot accelerates to the finish line, the reader is blindsided by withheld information which is altogether silly. For the last 1/3 or so of the book, Western intelligence agencies know the Al-Qaeda threat is seaborne and have been going to massive lengths to try and figure out its probable target. Suddenly, the reader is informed that the G8 summit meeting is taking place on the QE2 sailing from New York to points south. Gee, you think that might be the target? The idea that the G8 summit would be held in such an uncontrolled environment is silly to start with, but to believe they would continue with that plan even as they are racing around with their heads cut off trying to locate a Al-Qaeda ghost ship? Paugh!

So, to recap, there is plenty to like in the book, and plenty to dislike. Like virtually everything in the genre, the book is plot-driven and the characters are pretty thin. There is some great detail and some great set piece sequences. However, there are so many contrivances and flaws that it's ultimately a disappointment, not up to Forsyth's usual standards.

Note: Various reviewers have pointed out a boatload of details Forsyth's researcher failed to get right, which I've listed below. None of these are particularly important, except for the last one, which is a pretty bad blunder for an espionage story:

-- Malaysian Airlines _does_ serve alcohol.

-- The hero is taken to the Falklands war aboard HMS Ark Royal, a ship not in service until three years after the war's end.

-- Chivas Regal is a blend and not a single malt liquor.

-- The 9/11 attacks did not occur at breakfast time in London but in the mid afternoon.

-- There is no U.S. Army rank of "Senior Captain"

-- A U.S. Air Force pilot of twenty years is ranked a Major, which is almost impossible under the U.S. military promotion system.

-- In the U.S. government a GS-15 is not a "junior staffer," but rather the highest ranked of the non-executive service, making more than$100,000/year.

-- The British SBS is the "Special Boat Service" not the "Special Boat Squadron."

-- The M21 sniper rifle was replaced by the M24 Sniper Weapon System in 1988.

-- It's somewhat unclear, but the story seems to imply that the hero learned passable Pashto from hanging out with Tajiks for six months. That's roughly like learning learning German by hanging out in France.

-- The hero is impersonating an Afghan ex-mujahedeen turned Taliban fighter. His teeth are inspected by very thorough Al-Qaeda security men, who somehow fail to notice his Western dental work.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Big letdown for Forsyth fans...very average book by Forsyth Standards, April 28, 2007

By 

Gaurang Mokashi (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Afghan (Hardcover)

Being a great fan of Frederick Forsyth, I was eagerly waiting for the next installment of intrigue and drama from the great one.

The Afghan was big disappointment for me. The book falls short on a number of accounts when compared to his previous offerings. Detailed information and complex plot are Forsyth hallmarks. This novel fails in both aspects. Also the story lacks the drive and engrossing quality of his other novels. If you add an ending which peters out rather than reaching the climax then you have a very oridinary novel by Forsyth standards.

But then again, the novel is ordinary only by his own standards. If you have not read a Forsyth novel before then it can be a good read. Also the media hype surrounding Al-qaeda and taliban and easy availibility of information about them may have taken out some intrigue from the book.

36 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A SPLENDID NARRATION ADDS TO THE TENSION AND SHOCKING FINALE, August 23, 2006

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Afghan (Audio CD)

While "fresh as this morning's headlines" has become a rather timeworn expression, it is not at all trite but decidedly true in regard to Frederick Forsyth's latest spine tingler. Even as I write this we are hearing of another terrorist plot which would have been even more horrific than 9/11 had it not been stopped. Yes, in the very real world we're the targets of hatred and the fictional world of Forsyth mirrors our plight.

A giant at creating international thrillers (The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Dogs of War), Forsyth has now crafted a novel so loaded with the latest in espionage technology and tactics that it raises the hair on the back of your neck.

The time is today and the CIA and the British Secret Intelligence Service have learned of a planned terrorist attack. That's it, that is all they know. In order to circumvent the unthinkable they must infiltrate Al Qaeda and discover the nuts and bolts of this heinous plan - who, what, where.

Forty-four year old Mike Martin is a British Special Forces veteran who has seen his share of battle in some of the most volatile spots on our planet. Now retired he only wants to spend the rest of life in peace and quiet. However, he is the one person, the only man for this job. He was raised in Iraq, speaks fluent Arabic, and has skin dark enough to pass for a Middle Easterner.

He has a double - it is Izmat Khan, an Afghan who has been held at Guantanamo for some five years. After intensive training Martin takes Khan's place and a fake escape is staged, allowing Martin to eventually contact Al Qaeda.

True to form Forsyth leads listeners on a suspense filled trail as Martin attempts to uncover Al Qaeda's plan. Also true to form, award winning actor Robert Powell delivers a splendid narration adding to the tension and building to a shocking finale.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke