The Hydra Head [Paperback]

Carlos Fuentes (Author), Margaret Sayers Peden (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Novel of international intrigue by Carlos Fuentes, published in 1978 as La cabeza de la hidra. Set in Mexico, the book features the Mexican secret service. The story concerns the attempt by the Mexican government to retain control of a recently discovered Mexican oil field. Secret agents from Arab lands, Israel, and the United States attempt to wrest control of the source for their own purposes. In a plot thick with dirty tricks, violence, sex, amazing coincidences, and betrayals, the novel's movie-loving hero, Felix Maldonado, confronts the villains. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374515638
• ISBN-13: 978-0374515638
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,235,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Not always credible, but powerful, September 7, 2006

By 

algo41 "algo41" (philadelphia, pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hydra Head (Paperback)

Hydra Head is a mystery story, an immersion into a corrupt political world, and an exploration of different kinds of attraction between man and woman. Surprisingly, Fuentes in the latter part of the book ties up all the loose ends of the complex mstery. However, neither the characters, nor their motivation as it relates to the Mexican oil reserves, are realistic. The characters probably are not meant to be entirely realistic, Fuentes is more interested in their impact on the reader, and I was OK with most of them, Felix's spymaster/friend being an exception. Still, I wish the strategic interest in the exact amount and location of the oil reserves made more sense; e.g. reserves do not help alleviate shorter term oil shortages, unless they are in a place like Saudi Arabia where production can be ramped up quickly. The motives for the attack on the President made less sense to me than would a simple desire for more power. Despite that, "Hydra Head" is an interesting, powerful novel.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third World spy thriller, December 23, 2006

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Hydra Head (Paperback)

Released as a translated to English novel in 1978 as a follow up to the monster epic historical fantasy "Terra Nostra," Fuentes displays his versatile written skills with adept perception. This is a captivating spy novel that features many characters but focuses on Felix Maldonado who is a low level Mexican bureaucrat. Maldonado is portrayed as a sort of everyman who suddenly finds himself thrust into bigger than life circumstances. On a day when the president of Mexico is making an appearance Maldonado, who was looking forward to the day suddenly finds himself being involved unvoluntarily into an assassination plot. He is declared dead and given a new identity, a sly bit of writting to create another faceless citizen of Mexico. From here the novel takes off into twists and turns to unravel the mystery and Maldonados and others role in the assassination attempt. The introduction of a diverse cast of characters with intriguing backgrounds adds to the mystery. The secret agents,the seductive women, the Mexican politicians and Maldonado's love for three different Jewish women all intertwine to create a story of infidelities and political Arab-Mexican intrigue. Fuentes is his usual self, posturing political convictions via his characters to create a a rich story that has multiple meanings beyond the spy story. The masquerade and unveiling of characters is brilliant. This is another in a long line of superb novels by Carlos Fuentes. The information written over twenty five years ago is as relevenat as the headlines coming out of the Middle East today. The tension of the Middle East and the seemingly hopeless better future clash in this novel like the current political situation. Catch this novel for a good spy mystery ride through the Third World.