Guest of Honor [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Irving Wallace (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The sure touch that produced veteran novelist Wallace's bestsellers ( The Second Lady ) isn't detectable in this faltering political thriller with all the subtlety of a comic strip. Following the assassination of President Prem Sang of Lampang, an island nation in the South China Sea, his Wellesley-educated wife, Noy Sang, assumes power. When she arrives in Washington to ask President Matt Underwood for a huge loan, Underwood is so smitten that he impulsively gives Lampang an even heftier sum. Formerly a TV anchorman, this chief executive has an enchanting manner, a nonchalant management style, "middle-age syn drome" and a shrewish wife who was once Miss America. Ignoring his responsibilities, Underwood periodically dashes off to join Noy, even though their inadvisable frolic on a Lampang beach is revealed by an investigative reporter. When a dangerous political foe orders her kidnapped, of course the president valiantly charges in and shoots one of her captors. These buffoonish characters give their sexual urges top priority--Underwood runs for reelection merely to prolong his affair with Noy. Heads of state never looked so pitifully befuddled. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Imagine a President Aquino clone visiting a President Reagan type to obtain a huge loan in return for a U.S. air base near China. Then imagine that they fall in love and that (horrors!) she is kidnapped by her defense minister. Further, imagine that the Reagan character launches, in person, the search for his new true love. Add in a few peripheral characters who provide various services and the sex interest. What you get is the 18th novel by a best-selling author whose loyal fans may have to dig pretty deep to find reasons to admire this weary story. For summer reading, this brief, slick concoction chugs along reliably, revealing a plot linked to the current news. If the dialogue is a little homogenized or the development too mechanical, fans will still get a dose of Wallace-style fantasy.
- Barbara Conaty, Library of Congress
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Doubleday (December 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385298188
• ISBN-13: 978-0385298186
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,481,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The presidency, an international affair ... riveting, March 11, 2002

By 

Mary Chrapliwy (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guest of Honor, The (Mass Market Paperback)

In this book the main character is Matt Underwood -- President of the United States. He has an affair with Noy Sang -- ruler of a small asian country. Ultimately they fall in love. This is the intricate story of his wife finding out, the CIA entering the deadly game, and how their love affair ultimately threatens world peace. Excellent storytelling by a great author!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a typical Wallace effort, September 8, 2008

By 

avid reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guest of Honor (Hardcover)

An immensely disappointing novel, especially from an author like Wallace. The plot was thin. I now know exactly what people refer to when calling characters cardboard- there was little to no character development. And realism? The 6-year old son of Noy speaks of his various classes in school: arithmetic, geography, history- a 6 year old? And he complains how lame one arithmetic class is. Also, President Underwood demands that the secret service not cover him while he confronts "the bad guy". Not to worry- they outfit him with a gun! Not realistic at all, in my opinion.

I've read a number of Wallace's books: The 3 Sirens, The Plot, The Second Lady, and The Almighty. These were excellent, riveting books. Perhaps Wallace was not well at this time, because this novel is a shadow of the others.