The Overseer [Mass Market Paperback]

Jonathan Rabb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999

The most original and acclaimed thriller of the year...

"Rabb, who has a master's degree in political theory from Columbia, has fashioned a slick and readable thriller from unusual material. At the center is a political treatise rumored to outline a plan for world domination. Written by a 16th-century monk named Eisenreich, this manuscript was so explosive that the Pope supposedly had Eisenreich killed in order to suppress it. But the work...somehow survived, and it has fallen into the hands of a ruthless group who plan to use it to subject the world to their control..."--Library Journal

"A stunning accomplishment."--Larry Bond

"Intelligent and skillful."--The Washington Post Book World

* The author's academic background adds rich flavor and authenticity to this historical-political thriller

* "A smooth blend of Ian Fleming and Umberto Eco" (Lorenzo Carcaterra)

"Dazzling plot twists...highly sophisticated and diverting...superior entertainment. Put it in your beach bag."--The Washington Post Book World

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A U.S. agent and a Columbia University professor race to find a 16th-century manuscript in this intriguing debut thriller. Rabb imagines a Swiss monk called Eisenreich, a contemporary of Machiavelli's, who wrote a long-suppressed book called On Supremacy, an outline for world conquest that goes far beyond the ruminations of The Prince. When a group of conservative ideologues decides to put a modern version of the plan into action, the task of stopping them falls to undercover agent Sarah Trent (who worked for several members of the right-wing committee's inner sanctum during an earlier phase of her espionage career) and Xander Jaspers, a brilliant young academic who eventually unravels the intricacies of the plan. The cabal is led by the mysterious "overseer" of the title; his minions include a Limbaugh-like demagogue, a brainwashing "educator" in charge of producing footsoldiers to carry out the plan and a prominent conservative financier. Trent and Jaspers are a quirky, entertaining couple, and their hunt for the historical prize incorporates many tightly written scenes (although the scenes in which Trent and Jaspers are captured and recaptured tend to blur together). The satisfying climax reveals the surprising identity of the overseer; meanwhile, there's plenty of intellectual meat in Rabb's description of the origins of the manuscript and the implications of the plan. Using an innovative conceit that combines imaginative brainwork and stirring action scenes, Rabb has given us a thriller worth remembering. Major ad/promo; foreign rights sold in Italy, Germany and Holland; Random House audio.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

David Garrison's narration almost saves this choppy abridgment of Rabb's debut thriller, which manages to tie up loose ends but cardboard characters leave much to be desired. Sarah Trent, career espionage agent, and Xander Jaspers, a Columbia University political theorist, team up in a race to find copies of the 16th-century manuscript "On Supremacy." Conservative terrorists, led by the Overseer of the title, want to put this outline for world dominance into action through brainwashing, chaos, and bloody confrontation. The chase around the globe after copies of the manuscript ends with a creative solution to outwit the terrorists. Garrison's performance adds to this production but not enough to gain a recommendation. Pass and wait for the unabridged edition.?Sandy Glover, West Linn P.L., OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Jove (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 051512558X
• ISBN-13: 978-0515125580
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,210,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ludlum was never this clever, December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Overseer (Mass Market Paperback)

Read the other reviews. People either loved it or hated it. Had to see for myself. It's true that Rabb does use a bit too much flowery language from time to time, but the story, and the way he makes the philosophy so important to the plot make this a far cry from anything Ludlum ever did. Nice first try. I really couldn't put it down.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absoutely nail biting thriller, May 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Overseer (Hardcover)

Rumors abound in twentieth century academic circles that in the sixteenth century, a contemporary of Machiavelli wrote a treatise on how to rule the world that makes The Prince look like an elementary school primer. The book, On Supremacy, was considered so harsh, the Pope killed its author and banned the printing of its content.

An ultra-conservative group, headed by the mysterious Overseer, plans to implement the book's guidance so that they can establish a new world order built on their concept of society. While most people from Gibson to Roberts to others reject a conspiracy theory, Fed Sarah Trent and Columbia University professor Xander Jaspers realize that an evil plot to homogenize the world under the cabal's rule is happening. They know that the only way to stop the group from succeeding is to obtain a copy of the infamous Eisenreich manuscript and expose the identity of the Overseer.

The incredibly brilliant story line turns THE OVERSEER into one of the best political thrillers of the decade. The out-Machiavelling of The Prince comes across as genuine with a real historical feel to it. Though the lead protagonists seem to be captured and un-captured a bit too much, Jonathan Rabb has written a thriller that will remain popular way into the new millennium.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Manuscript at the end blew me away!, July 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Overseer (Hardcover)

I went out and bought this after reading the Washington Post review, and I completely agree. This has got to be one of the smartest thrillers I've ever read. Not only is it a page-turner, but the characters are really compelling, and the twists totally catch you by surprise. Plus, i'ts written very well which is usually hit or miss with a book like this.

The best thing about the book, though, is how it manages to get all the ideas about politics and philosophy across. It's clear Rabb really knows his stuff. Read the manuscript at the end. It will blow you away.