The Gemini Contenders [Mass Market Paperback]

Robert Ludlum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1989

Dead of night.  Salonika, Greece, December 1939.  A clandestine order of monks embarks on a desperate mission: to transport a mysterious vault to a hiding place high in the Italian Alps.  Its sinister contents, concealed fro centuries, could rip apart the Christian world.  Now, as the Nazi threat marches inexorably closer, good men and evil will be drawn into a violent and deadly hunt, sparking a relentless struggle that could forever change the world as we know it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His most ambitious novel. Its twists and turns carry the reader on a fast bobsled run...A marvelously unflagging imagination."—The New York Times

From the Publisher

Dead of night. Salonika, Greece, December 1939. A clandestine order of monks embarks on a desperate mission: to transport a mysterious vault to a hiding place high in the Italian Alps. Its sinister contents, concealed fro centuries, could rip apart the Christian world. Now, as the Nazi threat marches inexorably closer, good men and evil will be drawn into a violent and deadly hunt, sparking a relentless struggle that could forever change the world as we know it.

"His most ambitious novel. Its twists and turns carry the reader on a fast bobsled run...A marvelously unflagging imagination." -- The New York Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; 9th edition (July 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553282093
• ISBN-13: 978-0553282092
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #461,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Ludlum, Robert

More About the Author

After a successful career in the theatre, Robert Ludlum launched his career as a best-selling writer with THE SCARLATTI INHERITANCE in 1971, the first of twenty-two consecutive international bestsellers. Robert sadly passed away in March 2001.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How did I miss this?, November 3, 2002

By 

gotta run now (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Gemini Contenders (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought I had read everything Ludlum had ever written, but came across this in a backpacker hostel. What a find! This book made me remember what it was I loved about Ludlum's writing, and reminded me that his older writings are better than all this stuff they're finding now that he's gone.
Vittorio Fontini-Cristi is the eldest son of a wealthy Italian industrialist. His father's involvement in the hiding of a vault containing powerful religious documents leads to Vittorio's becoming enmeshed in events he doesn't fully understand. With World War II as a backdrop, he is hunted by many who want the vault's contents and protected by some who believe he will lead them to the vault as his life is transformed. He is never to escape this legacy, and before he dies, must pass it on to his twin sons--the Geminis who have both become involved in wars of their own. One son is career army with a Vietnam background, the other a peace loving war protester. They must cast aside their mutual dislike to once and for all solve the mystery that has always been part of their heritage.
The book leads you through twists and turns, and the plot is classic Ludlum. He doesn't keep the story moving with useless dialogue and the characters are believable. The power contained within the hidden vault motivates many to devote their lives to it's discovery. You've got to wonder what it could possibly contain to drive people this way.
This book is Ludlum at his best, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of his best plots, July 5, 2000

By 

Jared Garrett (Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gemini Contenders (Mass Market Paperback)

Robert Ludlum proves that his capacity for plot creation is stellar. This novel rocks you with its pace and twists. After a hundred or so pages you ask, "What could happen next?" Ludlum keeps you on a fast paced run to find out what in the world is in the vault, and you sometimes wish it would slow down so you can make sure you don't miss anything. This book is wonderfully researched and I found myself turning back a few pages regularly in order to not miss anything. One of his very best plots indeed! Read it.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, well-researched and believable!, September 18, 2000

By 

Mr N Forbes-warren "author of RESURGENCE and ... (Newport, South Wales, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gemini Contenders (Mass Market Paperback)

Vittorio Fontini-Christi is the head of a highly regarded Italian family who harbours a deadly secret. When a vault from a religious order called Xenope is transported from Greece to Switzerland and Italy, his secret could alter the course of World War 2 - a secret which could shake the foundations of religion itself. From 1939 and on up to 1973(when this book was written, I should imagine), the feuding offspring of Vittorio - one a US Army soldier hardened by Vietnam, the other a radical peace campaigner, struggle to get their hands on the vault - but for what cause? Read on and you will be hooked. The action sweeps across well-researched European locations which I have visited and could relate to quite well, especially Rome and Milan. The action never stops and builds up to an awesome climax in the Alps. Unlike some of Ludlum's other books, the ending here builds up at the right pace - not too quickly and it certainly isn't an anti-climax - the last page will leave you breathless. A must read, and a Ludlum classic.