Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Objective (Jason Bourne Novels) [Hardcover]

Eric Van Lustbader (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jason Bourne Novels | Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Facing down mercenaries in Africa, Jason Bourne witnesses the death of an art dealer named Tracy Atherton. Her killing dredges up snatches of Bourne's impaired memory, in particular the murder of a young woman on Bali who entrusted him with a strangely engraved ring­­-an artifact of such powerful significance that people have killed to obtain it. Now he's determined to find the ring's owner and purpose. But Bourne never knows what terrible acts he'll discover he committed when he digs into the past.

The trail will lead him through layers of conspiracy to a vicious Russian mercenary, Leonid Arkadin, who was also a graduate of the Central Intelligence training program Treadstone. A covert course designed to create ruthless assassins for C.I., it was shuttered by Congress for corruption. Yet before it was dismantled, it produced Bourne and Arkadin, giving them equal skills, equal force, and equal cunning.

As Bourne's destiny circles closer to Arkadin's, it becomes clear that the eventual collision of these men is not of their own making. Someone else has been watching and manipulating them. Someone who wants to know, Who is the more deadly agent?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lustbader's cookie-cutter fifth Jason Bourne novel in the Ludlum franchise (after The Bourne Deception) downgrades the title character to a mere co-star with villain Leonid Arkadin, a graduate of the same covert training program, who also possesses almost superhuman combat skills. Bourne and Arkadin's globe-trotting pursuit of each other drives the main plot, which includes yet another secret cabal bent on world domination, Severus Domna. The members of Severus Domna have their eye on a ring Bourne possesses that's a clue to the location of King Solomon's legendary gold. Arkadin's use of silly aliases (e.g., Stanley Kowalski, Frank N. Stein) dissipates any effort at realism, while implausible and formulaic side stories involving Soraya Moore, ousted from her position with the CIA, don't help. Those who don't mind Bourne's devolution from the tortured amnesiac soul Ludlum created into a stock action hero will be most satisfied. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day." (CHICAGO SUN TIMES )

"Lustbader is an excellent storyteller and is not afraid to keep the twists and turns coming in this sequel...This is an explosive addition to a series with an unrivaled heritage and storied pedigree." (Bookreporter.com on THE BOURNE BETRAYAL )

"Reading a Ludlum novel is like watching a James Bond film...slickly paced...all-consuming." (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY )

"As twisted, dark and exciting as the others." (THE OKLAHOMAN on THE BOURNE SANCTION )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446539813
• ISBN-13: 978-0446539814
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Van Lustbader is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, a New York Times bestseller for 24 weeks, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fictions most beloved and enduring heroes. His New York Times bestselling novel, "The Testament," was published in September, 2006 and in paperback in August, 2007.
His novels have been translated into over twenty languages; his books are best-sellers worldwide and are so popular whole sections of bookstores from Bangkok to Dublin are devoted to them. The Ninja was sold to 20th Century-Fox. It is now in pre-production.
Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business. He is a second-level Reiki master.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars the bourne objective, June 29, 2010

By 

julius f. gaillard (Oakland, California, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Objective (Jason Bourne Novels) (Kindle Edition)

a waste of time. endless conversations by a host of characters you soon lose interest in. of no interest to folks looking for exciting writing. this was phoned in.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Please Stop Writing Bourne Books, July 20, 2010

By 

Corbett Hoxland - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Objective (Jason Bourne Novels) (Hardcover)

I liked the original 3 Bourne Novels. Liked, not loved. Bourne could get a bit whiny about Marie at times. Nevertheless, the original 3 Bourne Novels would get solid 4 star ratings from me.
The last batch of Bourne Novels Suck.
if I am counting them right, there are 5 novels written by Eric and each one is worse than the previous one.
I remember reading a review where they reviewer said it was terrible and that Eric goes on and on about the Nemsis and not Bourne. I thought i would give Eric one last try with the Bourne Objective.

He failed and should be shot. From one novel to the next Bourne is a different person. He no longer ages, he falls in love with women after knowing them for a day or three, yet forgets about his dead wives, he lost son and the children he abandoned.

Bourne in Erics books is terrible. I tried, really tried to like this Bourne and i cant. I hate the Bourne that Eric is writing about and will not buy another book by this author.

Instead I have taken to the Gabriel Alon series by Daniel da Silva. I find those a good enough replacement for the Bourne i was looking for.

Eric, do us all a favour and let Bourne die with dignity. Your novels have a character named Bourne in them, who gets some mention while focusing on several other characters who are boring.
Stop writing Bourne. Do something else, go kill some other series.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So-So IF you compare it to Ludlum--based on the NEW Bourne Books, pretty Good, June 4, 2010

By 

Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Objective (Jason Bourne Novels) (Kindle Edition)

It would seem those who have picked up and attempted to read the further exploits of Jason Bourne written by Eric Van Lustbader generally fall within two groups...those who seem to enjoy them, and those who compare them way TOO much to the incomparable Robert Ludlum. I admit, I fell into that category myself back when the first Post Ludlum Bourne novel was released (the Bourne Legacy). I had a difficult time separating the writing of the original 3 books with that of the new...that is until I began to see it a bit differently. I decided to judge the book based on not having read Ludlums earlier works, and upon that little epiphany, my enjoyment actually improved exponentially.

Many have chimed in on the 4th Lustbader Bourne novel being not quite up to par (at least with his other books) and while I can accept that, the Bourne Objective was an entirely different Bourne book--especially compared with #4. The storyline was a bit familiar with plots already established by the late, great Robert Ludlum, but I tried to focus on what I liked more than be picky. With that in mind, Bourne #5 became a roller coaster of suspense, and action. Death & mayhem were on virtually every other page, and finally the conspiracy came close to being what our dearly departed author may have come up with...or at least I'd like to THINK so.

For those who simply cannot separate Eric Van Lustbaders writing style from Ludlums, well, maybe you ought to just let this one pass, but if you can judge a book as though you had never read him before, I believe you just may enjoy this one--or at least a whole lot more than you will if you don't...I suppose it really depends on the person ultimately.

Will Lustbader EVER reach the status of Ludlum? My guess is no--not even close...few authors ever will if you want to be honest. In a way I like to compare these novels (loosely) to some of the many Star Wars books floating around (follow me here...), some capture the *essence* of Star Wars and the subtle character flaws as they were portrayed in film...and SOME just happen to be set in a galaxy far, far away and feature people with the names of Luke, Leia and Han--but that's about it. Some get it, some don't. While Lustbader writes quite differently than Ludlum, I still enjoyed HIS stories set in Roberts Universe. Based on that alone, I can recommend the Bourne Objective, otherwise, if you didn't like any of the others, I'd skip this one, too.