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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific Spy Thriler By A Master Of The Genre!, July 22, 2003
In the mid 1970s three back-to-back best sellers were provided by the reclusive and somewhat mysterious author who wrote under the pen name of Trevanian. The three novels were first, "The Eiger Sanction", followed quickly by a sequel, "The Loo Sanction", and finally, by a complete change of pace with "Shibumi". Of the three, While The Eiger Sanction was easily the most commercially successful, the Loo Sanction provided more of a showcase for Trevanian's considerable intellect, panache for taking pot-shots at the British culture, and sheer gift for words. Like its predecessor, this is a taut and thrilling tale of a once famous mountaineer and retired government assassin turned college art history professor named Jonathan Hemlock, who is forced back into the "sanction" business both by personal greed and crude manipulation, this time around by the British through blackmail, setting in motion another terrific spy thriller. The book opens with a graphic description of a pederast being slowly impaled on a stake through the inexorable force of gravity by way of his bodyweight. An aggravating and dangerous entrepreneur named Maximillian Strange is using his own filmed trysts catching British government officials to blackmail them, and the British Intelligence was an outsider like Hemlock who cannot be traced to sanction (assassinate) him. To do so, Hemlock must infiltrate Strange's private estate/bordello called The Cloisters, and it is considered an almost impregnable fortress/resort. Of course, Professor Hemlock gets diverted along the way by the well-turned limbs of a lovely lady, and gets consequently involved in the trendy world of the London art world, where his expertise as an appraiser of original art is both highly regarded and which also allows him some humorous diversions along the way. Once we finally make it to the Cloisters, the action is literally non-stop, quite accurate technically, and absolutely riveting to read about. While this is both amusing and fanciful stuff, owing more to Bond-like super-hero stuff than real life, it is escapist work of the first magnitude. The author holds our rapt attention with a plot that unfolds in a quite plausible and inevitably tragic fashion with no one necessarily spared as the frenzy reaches its natural conclusion. This is a terrific spy thriller, on e written by someone who has a wonderful command of prose and entertainment, and who employs them both to great advantage here. This is great entertainment, and something I can heartily recommend as a great summer read. Enjoy!
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely funny. Masterful prose., July 23, 2002
By A Customer
I noticed that one reviewer called this book a light read. I suppose this is true, in the sense that the book, when taken in its entirety, makes no sweeping statement about society; will not revolutionize the world of literature; and simply is not to be taken too seriously. It is upon closer inspection that the connoisseur of literature notices the brilliance of Trevanian's writing; evinced by the surprising number of sentences the reader wants to reread to simply admire the gift of the author: the choice of words; the economy of words; the evocative descriptions; and the ability to phrase, with exquisite precision, thoughts that are both abstract and sometimes profound. Neverthelss, the Loo Sanction, as a whole, is largely a farce, lampooning with special force and flair, the status of the modern art world. In the midst of the potpouri of untalented, self-described art experts, Jonathan Hemlock is one of the few truly knowledgable art scholars, occasionally sharing his expertise with reluctant disdain; while the others in the field acknowledge his preeminence with reluctant, and jealous admiration. One character attempts to hire Hemlock to appraise a half million dollar sculpture at a value of [$$$] million, knowing that Hemlock's expressed opinion will instantly increase the market value of the sculpture. The rest of the plot consists of avid British-bashing, and an absurd, yet intricate attempt by an arch criminal to blackmail high-ranking members of the British establishment. Despite the largely farcical nature of the story, the author was able to make this reader, at least, acutely sad about the ultimate demise of Hemlock's female companion. THough this book may be hard to find, it is highly recommended to anyone who has found themselves among the true appreciators of Trevanian's craft.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
All Trevanian books rock!, September 5, 2007
I really enjoyed reading this book. The previous book "The Eiger sanction" was also really good. Good suspense, well written, and amazing charachters. The dialogue and tactics each of the charachters use in these books are what sold me on them. You will definately enjoy reading these books.
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