Customer Reviews

Lucky Bastard

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Too close to reality? Speaking of China, Bill Clinton, W-88's and "technology transfer," If you have not read the novel Lucky Bastard by Charles McCarry, you owe it to yourself. It is a fast, witty, hilarious and phenomenal read. The book will have you rolling on the floor in laughter. (I waited anxiously for it and bought it as soon as it came out, then ripped through it in two days; a thoroughly enjoyable "could-not-put-it-down" reading experience.) But this book is also a serious study in politics, intelligence operations, subversion and corruption cloaked in light humor that is well crafted with more than a ring of truth derived from inside knowledge of the intelligence business. McCarry's portrayal of tradecraft is excellent. He draws from professional personal experience.

From the book jacket: `Lucky Bastard is the ...story of a gifted politician with dangerous friends and a zipper problem.' `Lucky Bastard is ...a thrilling and imaginative vision of power and conspiracy in the "age of Clinton."' In hind sight perhaps a little too close to realty for comfort.

Lucky Bastard is a thriller, full of suspense, following its anti-hero, Jack, the illegitimate son of of a famous political figure, from his early days as a draft dodger, who takes his best friend to the airport to ship out to Viet Nam, then "assaults" his loyal best friend's girl on the trip home. Jack goes to Europe on a foundation scholarship and becomes involved with a notorious German terrorist organization, then after a mysterious unaccounted for trip to Russia, returns and successfully enters politics. With the help of his wife (handler), (and some foreign monetary assistance), a machiavellian, strong willed, ardent radical who masterminds his political moves while guarding against the threat that his wild libido will destroy his career he becomes governor of his home state. Then against all odds, he becomes President of the United States. A surprise twist involves the Chinese, who cannot believe their good fortune. The girlfriend and wife of his best friend, knowing Jack for what he really is, takes great risks to expose him, but will anyone believe her. The novel has an interesting perspective as it is told from the point of view of Jack's maverick Russian intelligence service handlers.

The prophetic Lucky Bastard is in hard back, published in 1998 by Random House and has been out about a year and a half. It was particularly timely in that it was released just before Bill Clinton's trip to China in 1998.

Charles McCarry is (in my opinion) the best American author in the espionage/intelligence fiction genre. His tradecraft is a par excellence that has given him a deserved reputation with those in the know. McCarry is the author of seven works of non-fiction and 9 works of fiction. He has contributed to U.S. News & World Report and Esquire and was the first and only editor-at-large of National Geographic magazine. He draws on experience from his years as a field agent during the cold war era to produce some of the most engaging, profound and authentic novels you will ever read. Also by Charles McCarry, Last Supper is an epic work of pre- and post cold war World War II era. One of the best (if not THE BEST) American novels I have ever read.

Perhaps Christopher Hitchens' "The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice" could offend more people than "Lucky Bastard," but I'm not taking bets. Dick Morris reviewed this book and remarked that there were too many sex scenes and that we might want to skip past them; this drollery impelled me to buy the book. The religious left is best advised to give it a miss, unless they want to test their HMO's stroke-care facilities. For the Clinton hating right, it is strong pornography. For the majority in the middle, it stands or falls as a thriller, no sillier than any number of other penny dreadfuls. John Fitzgerald Adams, the soi disant bastard of JFK, is a charming liar, a coward, a draft-dodger, and a sex fiend. And a Soviet agent, caught in a honey trap. He marries Morgan Weatherby, an icy, dedicated woman, who happens to be a Soviet agent too, but she's had the equivalent of Green Beret training and is the ballast to Jack's indiscipline. Jack and Morgan are run by Dmitri, a spy who sees to getting them the money that they need to win elections and relaying instructions from Peter, the true spymaster. Jack, as his mother insists he be called, rises to Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, then Governor, and then to the presidency, all with a little help from his "friends." Friends in Moscow, and friends in America. Jack's best friend, a boyhood friend, is Danny, who married Cindy, an attorney, who is described with the prostrate adoration of women that one finds from men who marry intelligent, pretty, and kind wives who love them, or from gay men who just wish we could. Cindy is described in some of the most empurpled prose I've read in bound pages, up to and including being called "an American goddess," an appellation which I find equally possible from either category. But she is spectacular: after endless digging and probing-brains, beauty, determination AND loyalty--she divines the truth, and failing to stop Jack through legal ways, she stops him in the only way she can, with a honey trap of her own. The ending is a bit short, and a bit abrupt, and quite factitious, even for a thriller, but by that time the book had run on long enough and I didn't wish for any more pages although I didn't regret having read what I had. And about the sex: there is nothing in it as graphic as what the grand jury in Washington is hearing. Perhaps Mr. Morris was bored; there is not a single mention of feet.

When I bought this book, it was for my husband. He raved about it so much, I read it myself. It is like 3 stories, rolled into one. First is the story of the young rapist/spy. Second, is the story of spy/politician. Third is the race for the presidency. McCarry wove all three stories together masterfully. The energy didn't keep up all the way to the end, but it is still a great read!

Those that are giving this 1 star are inconsoloble Clinton lovers. This is the best book written about the Clinton's....yes the Clinton's. The deal with China in the book spells it all out and is historically accurate. I can't believe this is not in paperback, this is a great thriller and just plain intersting whether you love or hate Bill. Highly recommended. BUY IT!

I bought this book in August of 1998. I know WHY I bought it as I had just finished Shelley's Heart written by the same author and was anxious to read another. What I don't know is why I waited almost eight year's to read it, however it was well worth the wait. Others have outlined the plot and the comparison to "Slick Willie" Clinton. You would have to be brain dead or from another planet not to see the connection, but that is no reason to savage the book as it is funny, racy, satirical and a well told, if somewhat implausable story of politics and intrigue.You probably won't find any copies in the gift shop of the Clinton Library, however if you do come across one, buy it and enjoy it.

Mc Carry is an engaging writer, and the premise of Lucky Bastard is a good one. It's the 60s. A young man who believes he is JFK's illegitimate son is recruited by the KGB. Jack (yes, that's his name) has charm, charisma, a fabulous smile, more luck than anyone can believe and is addicted to sex. The addiction is how the KGB ensnares him, believing that one day, he could become President and he would be their man. He marries a woman who is also on the KGB payroll, and she becomes Jack's control. Now here's where McCarry loses it. The man in charge of the operation forbids Jack and Morgan (Jack's new bride) to have sex again for as long as they live. That plot twist makes the whole remainder of the book too hard to believe. I read the whole thing because of a sleepless night and because it was handy. There were some good touches, and some interesting developments -- but toward the end of the story, Jack gets another control -- with whom he is allowed to have sex all day long. As she (the new control) explains, "Peter never makes the same mistake twice". McCarry should've listened.

I just learned today that the author was a ghost writer for President Eisenhower and others. This insider access gives the book a new slant for me.

Some of it is improbable, but on the other hand who'd of thunk of Monica?

A very interesting story line. The "charmed" aspect of the President and his connection to JFK (both literal and figurative) was very much on point. Nothing could stop this guy.

Some of the sex is a little too graphic and too much, but on the other hand vital to the story.

After the FALN pardon, I'd believe just about anything about the Clintons.

Much shorter than "Shelley's Heart" but every bit as good.

Lucky Bastard is an excellent book. Can this quite possibly be a take on the story of Hill and Bill?----no. after all McCarry has the disclaimer in back!?!?----then again, why a disclaimer? READ THIS ONE, FOLKS!

I enjoyed Shelley's Heart, and looked forward to reading McCarry's latest. However, this transparent attack on Clinton quickly grows boring. There are some nuggets of a solid thriller, but these are buried by McCarry's personal agenda.

Well-writen, rapidly paced, thoughtful, enlightening...I could go on, but better you should just buy it and read it. I stayed up late to finish it. Bill and Hilary and those who support them will find this book distasteful and will want to argue with its premises, but if those of you in this category can read through to the end you just might learn something... Vietnam veterans will love it -- thanks, Mr. McCarry, for caring and for supporting us. I have read McCarry's other books; this is one of his best.