Customer Reviews

The Black Tulip: A Novel

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First novels are reputed to rely heavily on biographical material. Here is a first novel that could be written only by someone who has first-hand knowledge of the elements of character required for the clandestine operations of the CIA. Milt Bearden has provided a vivid account of life with the Afghan forces battling the Russians. Death and cruelty are commonplace but his reporting is softened by the imagery of his poetic description of the Maidens of Kiev and the subtle irony of the black tulip. The Black Tulip is the name given to the plane that carries the coffins of those killed in battle back to mother Russia. Black refers to death and tulip, the flower of youth. Here is an adventurous account, interlaced with history, of a little-known conflict that played out as the cold-war end game. A page-turning espionage thriller, this novel is more truth than fiction.

Unfortunately, much of what passes today as thrillers consist of manical, blood-thirsty super villains; super hero level good guys (PC = persons?); a preponderance of far-out technical devices; and weak, unrealistic plots. Fortunately, "The Black Tulip" by Milt Bearden is a well-written and well-crafted espionage thriller set during the 1980s in Afghanistan and the Soviet Union at one of the those times when the Cold War was simmering a bit. The main characters are not deep, but they are interesting. Unlike the super hero/villain to which readers are constantly subjected in other works, the characters in this book are portrayed as competent professionals with foibles. The depiction of tradecraft and the inner workings of the intelligence community are fairly realistic. The plot keeps the reader's interest, moves along at a good pace, and plugs in well with the events of the period. While coincidence plays a role, unlike most thrillers these days, the plot is plausible and does not depend on wildly ridiculous coincidences and turns of events. The story is not overwhelmed by gadgets, and, instead, depends on human characters to make it all happen. In sum, "The Black Tulip" is a refreshingly intelligent and realistic thriller. I hope that Mr. Bearden's next book will appear in the near future.

I would remind a previous reviewer, who bemoaned the lack of character development in this novel, that each book has its place and its readers. If you want great literature, go to a different section of the bookstore. Don't ask this adventure/history book to do it all, because no book (or only a rare great one) can do that. Be realistic. This book is outstanding for what it does -- describe in wonderful detail the secret CIA war in Afghanistan. There's outstanding action and lots of interesting characters.

Also unlike a previous reviewer who bemoans how long it took for this novel to reach the shelves, and suggets that it is out of date, I would like to gently suggest that knowing history -- even if it is history of the 1980s--eons ago!--is extremely helpful to my understanding of a critical period in world history, leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union. That story will never be out of date!

Overall, this is a great read and very informative.

As one of those who served on the Central American Task Force at CIA and in the field, I was fascinated to learn of this book by one of America's greatest espionage warriors--not only did he run the Afghan war from the field, he was also Chief of the Soviet Division and Chief of Station in Germany, the equivalent of an Olympic "clean sweep." I read this book critically.

It is simply super, and full of nuances that get better with a second reading. The most important of these is the thoughtful manner in which the fall of the Soviet military in Afghanistan is related to the subsequent weakening of the Soviet hold over Eastern Europe, a hold that eventually broke and led to the unification of Germany and chaos in those portions of Eastern Europe where neither Europe nor the US was ready to help convert communists to capitalists. This is an inspiring book that shows in great detail how covert action--behind the lines action--can serve a great nation. This book will cleanse the palate of all those who soured on covert action as done so badly (and occasionally in violation of the law) in Central America.

Evidently I bought the last used copy, released for public sale by the Indianapolis Public Library--too bad, since we need more young spies from that area and they would have been highly motivated by this book. I hope the publisher reissues it, this is a tale that is much more truth than fiction, and of lasting value to those who would understand the deeper value of covert action in the national service. We still need spies, there is still great evil around the world, and I can only hope that books like this will help the clandestine service recruit those with "the right stuff."

"Black Tulip: A Novel of War in Afghanistan" has strong and weak points. Despite the weak points, this novel by Milt Bearden is very much worth the time spent to read it. Especially for those without much background in US covert operations, the book can open many doors.

The operational detail that serves as the background of this book is probably without parallel in any espionage or war novel. Mr Bearden communicates in a convincing and succinct way the procedures and tradecraft of US activities during the Soviet attack on Afghanistan. Bearden integrates themes such as the technological superiority of the CIA over the USSR in a very interesting fashion.

The book has two weak areas. First, the story itself has almost no psychological foundation or development. The characters, whether Soviets, Afghans, or Americans, are one dimensional, which is regrettable because with a little more care and a better editor this could have been quite an interesting novel. Secondly, Mr Bearden's understanding of the subtleties of Cold War geopolitics, at least as expressed in this novel, is risible at best.

The novel's style is uneven. Often, Bearden writes quite well, but by moments the text reads as though the editor went to sleep.

The value of this novel is undermined by its long gestation period. Published in 1998, the novel's political themes have become, with the passage of time, clichés rather than the fruit of lived experience and accurate insight.

In the Afgan war the USSR faced it's Vietnam. It was a war of attrition that we were winning until the stinger missiles shifted the advantage to the rebels. The unflawed western characters and the coincidences of relationship between advisaries is unrealistic, but the story of the conflict and the characters who participated in the actual life and death struggles was very well done. Maybe this is so because the author was in charge of the Afgan rebel force.

Although it becomes slightly uneven towards the end, Mr. Bearden has crafted an entertaining book that I recommend for anyone. He blends his experience with the CIA with a great plot (which falters ever so slightly towards the end). His characters a developed well-enough for his tale, without too much detail or boredom. His conversations never appear stilted or unrealistic, but instead, he manages to capture the moment on several levels. On top of all of this, he neither writes down to the reader, nor does he insult the reader's intelligence. Better yet, his subtle approach to some issues and careful crafting is so nicely done, that you find yourself cheering for some of the characters while wishing serious bodily harm to others. Best of all, he shows just how crazy our world is. A very fine job, Mr. Bearden. But damn you, sir, your book kept me up all night until I finished.

I would lover to read a book by him on the current IraqNam fiasco.

Written by a career CIA operations officer, Bearden knows what he is writing about, and his craftsmanship shows. The story is set during the waning days of the Cold War, the Soviet Union struggling in Afghanistan as a former CIA officer takes the initiative to "stick it" to the Russians, while pursuing an agenda of his own. This latter, parallel story line is what prevents this book from receiving 5 stars.

The internal politicking and maneuvering, the over-seas recriutment and "dancing" between intelligence officers, the operational strategizing are riveting and will certainly keep you turning pages. Bearden's personal experience shines here, and for those who wish to get an idea of what the covert arm of the CIA does, it is an interesting glimpse of what "human intelligence" is about.

However the book's weakness is the contrived plot device of a relative who works for the KGB, and coincidentally is also working in Afghanistan. I felt it detracted from the story rather than added to it, and saw it as an unnecessary distraction. Perhaps it was included out of concerns of upsetting the CIA; maybe the author thought the story wasn't good enough without a "family tie." Either way it didn't feel "authentic" and didn't quite fit.

However, _Black Tulip_ is a great read, certainly on par with the best of the spy-thriler authors, and better than most. Recommended.

In "The Black Tulip", Milt Beardon, a 30 year veteran of mysterious high level CIA activity, weaves a tale with the vision of "early" Clancy and the complexity of Follett.

The action moves easily from the Soviet Union to southwest Asia to the Orient and back. Like most "first" novels, the reader is treated to the incredible knowledge, insight and philosophy of the author. We see close-up the unvarnished feelings of the officers of a crumbling Evil Empire, the passion of the Afghan freedom fighters and how the USA (through the CIA) catalyzed this conflict. Beardon also introduces us to an array of military hardware as well as the "Russian Mafia".

The glue holding this vast treasure of information is a fascinating tale of an exceptional family seperated by a generation and the Iron Curtain.

The Black Tulip is a "must read" for everyone who likes international thrillers and has an interest in the "USSR's Viet Nam".

This is a suspensful novel based on the author's own experience which lends veracity to the plot. A good mix of locations and characters with an unusual twist to the story. The rapprochement between the Russian and American characters portrays in an unusually unbiased fashion the reality. Russians are not all-bad nor are Americans all-good. We are real people. The sub-plot of the fairy tale is most original and congruent with the Russian culture. The pace of the story was exciting, the story very believable and the intrigue sustained until the very end. Not your ordinary CIA thriller.