Customer Reviews

The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My first introduction to Lawrence Block's Evan Tanner was in his 1998 book, "Tanner on Ice." The spy-hero had been absent for twenty-five years was brought back by Block. There were seven previous novels, all out-of-print and now available in paperback. "The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep," was Block's first Evan Tanner mystery. We learn early in this first work Tanner had his sleep center destroyed during the war and therefore no longer needs to sleep. He spends all of his time awake that may or may not be to his benefit. Tanner probably never planned on being a spy but here in our first encounter with him he led a revolution in Macedonia treks from Ireland to the continent and across Europe to Turkey in search for missing gold. Tanner is an interesting character although not as humorous as Bernie Rhodenbarr in Block's The Burglar who series or a serious as Matt Scudder in the long standing series with that New York City based detective. None the less "The Thief who Couldn't Sleep," is pleasant to read. I am pleased that the powers-that-be decided to reprint the entire Evan Tanner series. I am looking forward to the others, which I was able to order from Amazon.com.

The first Evan Tanner Novel, where our hero, a bit of a con-man and thief, who has a disorder which prevents him from sleeping, accidentally finds himself on an espionage mission.

While the later novels are spy stories with satirical overtones, this one is a crime caper with spies in pursuit and a comedy of errors in progress.

I can't recommend the series highly enough. It's literate, it's funny, and the commentary on European ethnic nationalism is still extremely valid.

When the Berlin Wall fell, my first thought (ok, maybe my forty-third) was: "Please, Mr. Block, let us know what Evan Tanner thinks about this!" Tanner's view of the world is humane, educated and hopeful; after he explains the centuries of strife between Armenian and Turk even I can remember the details. This is a very welcome, long-awaited reprint of the first book in a series of top-rate thrillers; it's not the best (either Tanner's Twelve Swingers or the Cancelled Czech), but it's not the worst (Me Tanner, You Jane--still a decent book). They all have a light touch evocative of Mrs. Pollifax (Mr. Block, did you ever consider phoning Dorothy Gilman and suggesting a crossover adventure?); their solid grounding in the obscure passions that drive real people make them unique.

Lawrence Block has several characters that we can follow through those series. The Evan Tanner books are earlier works (except for "Tanner on Ice") and he got better as he got older. If you are expecting Tanner to be a Bernie Rhodenbarr, you will be in for a disappointment. This book is enjoyable fantasy and comedy about super spies employed by secret agencies of the USA.

Block is literate and has a lot of wry humor throughout the book. Like his earlier works, starring Chip Harrison, his main character always has these gorgeous nymphomaniacs who have to bed him repeatedly. For the men who are still emotionally 14 years old, this part will appeal to them. For the rest of us, it is only comedy. Evan Tanner is able to pull a scam on the criminals who intend to cut him out of his reward, and the way he does it is appealing.

It's a good read and a fast one, too.

I saw Lawrence Block on comedian Craig Ferguson's Late, Late Show and immediately resonated to his whimsical personality. Because Ferguson said Block was one of his favorite authors, I knew Block had to be something special. Amazon revealed that there were numerous Lawrence Block characters, so I started with one whose title appealed to me, being interested in the psychology of sleep.

It turned out that "Tanner," the main character of this amusing tale, is a totally unique fictional character. I was immediately taken by his perverse penchant for joining lost causes, such as the Flat Earth Society and restoration of the monarchies in various countries.

As the story develops it is not at all clear what kind of character Tanner really is. Is he a spy? Or an adventurer? A revolutionary? A con man of the highest level? And indeed by the end of the story one is still not sure.

But whatever he is, I remained totally engrossed and amused until the end. A character this unique deserves high praise.

Keller and Scudder are great characters with great stories. Now I can add Evan Tanner to the list. This is the first book in the Tanner series and it's a blast! Keeping in mind that it was written in the mid-1960's (note the political and geographical references), it's a great "road' book (in a manner of speaking). Like Ian Fleming's "entertainments" starring James Bond, this book is not meant to be taken seriously, but simply meant to provide several hours of reading enjoyment. And it does! Don't miss this one!!

Lawrence Block's Evan Tanner series lacks the depth of the Matt Scudder books and the texture of the Bernie Rhodenbarr books. Evan Tanner is a character built on quirks and traits, but he's engaging, and his adventures are worth a read (in paperback.) Tanner had his sleep center destroyed during the war, so now he needs to occupy 24 hours per day, instead of the 16 to 18 available to the rest of us. He pursues lost causes in obscure foreign nations, and earns a living (of sorts) by ghost-writing term papers.

Fun, but not as satisfying as Block's other series.

I like this character even more than Matthew Scudder

Interesting and funny at times but overall it put me to sleep.