Customer Reviews

Declare

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Declare" is a daring blend of spy and fantastorical genres. Tim Powers takes his familiar brand of historical mysticism and inserts it into Cold War European politics. In his afterward to the novel, Powers outlines the genesis of "Declare". He studied the biographies of Russian spy Kim Philby and the British agent commonly known as Lawrence of Arabia. Powers found unexplained time periods and unusual occurences. He filled in the gaps with pieces of his fictional story, all of which resulted in a fascinating and very well-written story.

The story tracks a fictional Englishman, born with the gift for bizarre dreams. British secret service drafts him as a child and not many years later places him into service as a secret agent. What follows is a powerful tale that jumps over various time periods and locales, filled with Russian spies, Nazi plots and all-powerful djinn.

As a devotee of both fantastic fiction and spy thrillesr I was treated to a masterpiece of bothe genres. The political plotting kept me on the edge of my chair. The demonic djinn left me enthralled. I particularly enjoyed the scenes of the assault on the djinn's habitat on Mount Ararat. Very compelling reading.

A word of warning however. I've spoken with several diehard Tim Powers fans who feel that is not one of his stronger works. I disagree with their opinions on early Powers novels as well as this one. If you're a big fan of his "On Stranger Tides" and "The Stress of Her Regard" you may be disappointed by "Declare". But as those same Powers aficionados said, even lesser Powers is great reading. I highly recommend "Declare".

The problem with reading a Tim Powers book, and, believe me, it is a problem of the best kind, is that Mr. Powers overestimates the intelligence of his readers. If only other authors had such a problem.

"Declare" can be called a brilliant novel, if only. If only you know about Kim Philby, Lawrence of Arabia, Rudyard Kipling, Arabic folklore, djinn etc. I have read everything that Mr. Powers has written and I have only one suggestion to make to him. Please include a foreword to your novels that states the following; if you want to enjoy this novel to the fullest, please read the following books first.

Mr. Powers assumes that the reader is conversant with all the historical events that he bases his wonderful stories on, but, unfortunately, this isn't always the case. When I first read "Stress of Her Regard" I thought it was rather dry and contrived. But then I did a little research into the lives of Byron and Shelley and realized what a brilliant book it is. (A little knowledge of the Arthurian legends, specifically the Fisher King lore, is also of great benefit when reading much of Powers' work.)

Don't get me wrong. I love the fact that Mr. Powers writes with the basic assumption that his readers are intelligent and have read these basic source materials. But it would be great for him/or his publishers to give us a short reading list in the preface in order that we might fully appreciate his genius.

Just an opinion.

Tim Powers does not write ordinary books. From my ancient copy of 'The Drawing of the Dark' until now, Powers has managed to find a unique vision with each new effort. Even in a genre that is noted for its imaginative flare. This time he has produced a novel that is part John Le Carre, part John Milton, and part H. P. Lovecraft, and, of course, all Tim Powers.

The story starts in 1963, when Andrew Hale, a minor British academic, is called back into action by one of England's most obscure espionage organizations. On top of Mount Ararat things are stirring, and Andrew's assignment is to foil the efforts of a Russian expedition intended to establish further communication with the residents of that legendary mountain. These are those who have 'looked on God's face and will see it nevermore,' those fallen angels that did not plummet all the way to hell, but remain here with us. He is uniquely qualified for this task, having already had several brushes with these alien spirits.

Hale shares this story with a collection of characters that, at first, appear to be mundane spies doing ordinary undercover sorts of things. But, gradually, almost one word at a time, each reveals unexpected qualities and powers. Elena, a Russian spy whom Hale falls in love with teaches him how to walk with a pacing that makes him invisible. Kim Philby, another British spy, is actually a Russian agent. He has some strange linkage to Hale, and was born with the knack for being in two places at once.

Powers tells this tale in parallel, gradually bringing the story of Hale's origins, the making of him into a spy, his work during World War II, and his several brushes with the demonic into sharper and sharper focus. Initially, this is a bit confusing, for we see the bits of plot and character out of order. Like looking at a faceted gem from too close a distance it takes some time before the stones entire shape is visible. There is a rhythm to the writing, and, once it is mastered, the story begins to unfold in compelling detail. [Philby is based on a historical British espionage figure, who actually did defect to the Russians.]

The story meanders not only over time, but over place as well. Britain, France, Russia, the Middle East, and, repeatedly, Mount Ararat. Its interior landscape is just as varied and unpredictable. Strange voices and sounds pour forth from short wave radios. Ankhs and anchors serve unexpected purposes. And Russia's guardian angel wanders through graveyards looking for a bite to eat.

As I have already indicated, the book starts slowly. It is over 500 pages, and for a while I was afraid that its fragmentary start was a bad omen. Persistence paid off, however, and in the final analysis, I found the book a strangely rewarding read. This is a tale made up of subtle detailing, not suspense and action, and so will not be every reader's cup of tea. Tim Powers is addictive, though, and the patient fan will find 'Declare' a great treat.

I started reading "Declare" with a great deal of scepticism. I had previously read "Stranger Tides" and "Anubis Gate," and was very leery of what looked like it was going to be a standard spy story. OY! What a surprise! I plowed through the entire book in only three days!

Powers doesn't get around to putting a firm identification of the What behind the mysterious goings-on of Operation Declare until page 160, but by then he has laid a firm groundwork of interesting characters and events of which the reader wants to learn more. Once we learn something in "Declare," however, Powers builds on it, and builds beautifully.

Although "Declare" deals with Andrew Hale and Elena for hundreds of pages, it's actually inspired by (seemingly minor character) Kim Philby, and, in his afterward, Powers states that his intent was to write a novel about Philby which explored his life and work without changing any of the well-known facts of Philby's life. Its the interpretation which Powers puts on the events of Philby's life which make "Declare" mind-bogglingly good. Who, after all, REALLY knows what goes on in the deepest, darkest recesses of the world of espionage? Maybe some of the weirdness of the Looking Glass World really is due to a supernatural element, and if that supernatural element happened to be extremely ancient....

The title "Declare," which hardly compels at first, DOES make sense. Don't miss the reference to Job near the beginning of the book ("Declare, if thous hast understanding...."), and note the reactions of various characters to the word's use, and you won't be surprised yourself when the word turns up with greater frequency in various dialogues. One of the habits of Powers as a writer is his dropping of clues willy-nilly in plain sight, clues which only become significant when they've been seen again and again from different angles. In some books this has been an annoyance; in "Declare" it is a virtue and an art. (Consider the recurring phrase, "O Fish ..." -- at first it is gibberish in a dream, then begins to make sense, and then takes on a meaning so terrible that merely hearing the words can kill.)

From the Cotswolds to Cairo to the Rub al-Khali; from Paris to Berlin to al-Kuwait; from Beiruit to Mount Ararat to Moscow, "Declare" weaves around the world of The Great Game in Europe and the Middle East, and jumps backwards and forwards in time with breath-taking rapidity, but Powers has learned his craft well, and "Declare" never disappoints. The number of "slow" pages numbers less than a dozen among 600+ pages.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in thrillers, spy novels, histories, or the supernatural. It straddles all of those genres with ease. Although it makes no reference to the "Cthulhu Mythos," it would fit snugly into any "Cthulhu Now" framework, and Powers is a far better writer than most of the Mythos writers, including H. P. Lovecraft himself.

Tim Powers has earned his well-deserved reputation in science fiction. He is well respected in the field (by other authors) and, in my experience, deserves to be more widely known by the reading public. One of the problems with writing science fiction is that one, ever after, is pigeon-holed and, often, is then beneath the notice of some book reviewers and readers who are unaware of what far-ranging styles are covered under that label.

Hopefully, "Declare" will be Powers "break-out" novel. It is first and foremost a spy novel. Our hero, Andrew Hale, is introduced to us driving back down Mount Ararat in 1948 with blood on his hands, trying to find some surviving soldiers from some unnamed catastrophe that has just occurred on the mountain above. He finds some living but none sane.

The story then jumps to 1963 where Hale is living in London as an academic. He receives a coded phone call that suddenly summons him back into undercover work. While making his appointment with a boss he hasn't seen in over a decade, we are given glimpses of his past. Hale was born under mysterious circumstances. He has never known his father and was always under the protection of a super-secret British intelligence service. He was being groomed for a purpose that he did not know.

In other words, Powers has written a first-rate, John-le-Carre-type spy novel set in the heyday of the Cold War. While not as action-oriented as a James Bond movie, it is every bit as intense and disturbing. (Powers obviously did a great deal of research on this story, but I greatly hope that some of the things he portrays are exaggerated. At one point, to give Hale a credible identity as a defector to the Russians, British operatives [destroy] two innocent men and frame him for the crime).

But in addition to being a spy novel, "Declare" is also a supernatural thriller and arguably a horror novel. In Powers version of history, there are supernatural beings who survived the Noahic Flood and who are being sought for protection. Powers doesn't write graphically, for the most part, but simply his reinterpretation of the planned starvation of the Ukraine by Communist rulers as a form of human sacrifice for a fallen guardian angel that protects the Soviet Union was horrific enough.

Interestingly, this is also Powers most "Christian" novel to date. Other novels have presupposed a Christian story (most notably "The Anubis Gates", but this is the first in which his hero (as well as his heroine) struggle with faith and recommit themselves to the Christian faith of their childhood. Both begin as lapsed Catholics and both in their own way take refuge in God when confronted by the demonic. This is all done in a very believable and natural way without being the slightest bit "preachy."

Since I mentioned a heroine, I should also mention that Powers includes romance. This is quite typical for him, and a reason for his popularity. He knows the clout of the boy-meets-girl storyline and he does it convincingly.

Finally, Powers has written a historical novel. All the major events and especially the movements of the villain, Kim Philby, are actually historical, according to Powers. He wrote this story around several puzzles that still exist in the life of that Communist double-agent.

If you're looking for some escapist and yet engaging reading, "Declare" is a good place to look. --Mark

I had a small idea of what i was in for after reading the reviews for this book. I had no idea how well researched Tim Powers was on everything. I highly recommend reading the notes about the book afterward, it is incredible how he uses so much real history and just how little he fills in the gaps with absurd fiction. And even the fantasy part is based on legends of Saudi Arabia, I'm talking about the Djjin, which are demon creatures.
The demons in this story are not your horrorific demons with red horns and fangs. These demons are seen more of as forgotten and lost angels, very complicated as a race, and very real. Throughout the story, we visit the lost city of Wabar (might also be called Sodom and Ghomorrah) Mt. Ararat, and many other places.
This book is stimulating on many levels, and you really get the idea that Powers was trying to make this novel a lot more than just a novel that gets one point across. The story is about secret governemnt cover ups and ancient histories linked to today, but what I thought when i read this book, interestingly enough, is that all of that fantasy aspect was really just a scenerio to run along a love story. Underneath all of the adventure and complication, in the end, this story ends up a simple story about a boy and a girl. It's an adolescent fantasy that takes our main character, Andrew Hale, as a spy at the age of 18, falling in love with another young spy named Elena, who he must partner with. After they are separated for twenty years is when the story of Ararat, and the Djjin really picks up, and by the end of the book, you get the vibe that that was all introductory to what happens at the end.
The climax of the story surrounding the Djjin on Mt. Ararat I thought was a little abrubt, but again, I don't think that was supposed to be the main and most important aspect of the book. The ending AFTER that is brilliant and is one of the most satisfactory endings I've read in a long time, in a long stream of quickly ended books. I had to re-read the very last paragraph of the book several times because it was so brilliant.
I highly recommend this book if you like stuff that's very historical, or if you like stuff that's very whacky, or if you just want a simple story about a spy and his long lost love. I stress that you can't be easily offended if you want to read this book. They toy with a lot of things in religion, like The Bible and The Koran. I am a christian, and i liked this book. I'm just saying that they present some ideas about the origin of The Ark (the one we think we know of, anyway) and Solomon's splitting of the baby proposal, that are very bizzare, just to name a few. But I highly recommend it.

Of any living writer, Tim Powers is the undisputed master of the "secret history," the conspiracy within the conspiracy, and this may well be his most intriguing (so to speak), best developed, and best written example of that genre yet. I generally prefer his earlier stuff -- especially _Anubis Gates_ and _Drawing of the Dark_ -- to more recent titles like _Expiration Date_ or _Earthquake Weather._ But in those early works, most of the background of his tapestry was fictional. This time, everything outside of the Declare conspiracy itself is very close to absolute fact, which Powers has reinterpreted in oh, so plausible ways to fit his story. His characters ring true, too: Andrew Hale, recruited to the most Secret Service at the age of seven. Elena, Spanish Catholic turned Russian Communist agent turned semi-French Catholic again. And the repellent Kim Philby, master spy, master traitor, and a thoroughly disgusting little snot . . . even though Powers shows you why he turned out that way. I believe it's time to go back and re-read all of Powers's old books, while I wait for his next one!

This book requires some dedication on the reader's part, at 500+ pages, but the payoff is worth it.

Not only does Powers weave an unusual story of supernatural powers and cold-war-era spyfaring, but he makes it all the more compelling by using real locations, historical events, and even personas.

The main character, Hale, is a British spy whose lineage brings him into the fold of an ultra-secret spy organization within the British government whose directive is to counter the supernatural machinations of the enemies of the crown. The story begins when Hale is recalled to service in order to rectify a botched operation following WWII.

To that end, the story alternates between different timelines, explaining his original introduction to the service and leading to the doomed operation on Mount Ararat, in addition to his resumption of the operation years later. The reader is at first given only a cursory idea of what the service entails, but then is later treated to some very compelling and convincing events that bring this strange and frightening world into focus.

The author really shines in his attention to historical, geographic, and geopolitical detail as the story unfolds. Actual historical events and persons are used to great effect to build the story's foundation of spies and intrigue in Europe and the Middle East. From there, the author convincingly adds the menacing and fascinating aspect of the supernatural, while deftly maintaining the mystique by refusing to focus on it more than is necessary.

Just to underscore his hard work and love for the craft, the author appends some notes at the end of the story revealing quite a bit of the facts and characters behind the story, which is in itself a fun read.

I finished reading this story wondering if, in fact, the events of the story may have actually happened. That should say quite enough.

I just finished this book and I enjoyed so much, I now consider this Powers best book to date, slightly edging out The Anubis Gates. Powers has taken the real life events of English spy/traitor Kim Philby, added his own blend of the supernatural, and produced a great cold war spy novel with the typical Powers skewed view of things. I don't think my ignorance of Philby's life hindered the story at all. In fact, Philby, Hale and the other characters can be seen as completely fictional characters and the story is still enjoyable. That's how I read the book. Then I read the Afterword where Powers describes Philby and the mysteries surrounding his life and how the supernatural events he used filled in those mysteries. I found his explanation gave me another level on which to enjoy the book and makes me want to read more about Philby.

The writing is up to Powers usual high standards, though I did frequently see echoes of ideas he has already used in Last Call, Expiration Date, Earthquake Weather series. The structure of the book moves back and forth in time, usually within the same chapter. This can make it difficult to follow if you don't have the time to devote to a sustained reading.

Overall I'd give it 4.5 stars, but I can't round up to 5 since a 5 star book would have to completely wow me. This came close.

I've been reading Tim Powers' work for several years now, and have been constantly amazed by the new ground he breaks. But Declare is truly his master work. Nominally a spy story reaching back to before World War II, the book traverses decades up to the present. This is not, however, just your basic "shoot-em-up" spy story. The plot intertwines with the supernatural, combining historical details such as Lawrence of Arabia and the occupation of Berlin with tales from the Arabian Nights.

Definitely a must-read, but don't expect to read it just once.