Customer Reviews

Tucker's Last Stand

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

 

 

Apparently one of Buckley's more (for Buckley, at least) ambivalent takes on the Cold War. I read this after being introduced to Buckley's Blackford Oakes series by way of the novel Saving the Queen. I also recently watched (and reviewed on Amazon.com) the movie The Quiet American. Tucker's Last Stand dovetails nicely with The Quiet American, as both stories are espionage-thrillers set in Vietnam during the murky years between WWII and America's full-scale war in that country. If you enjoy Buckley's erudite yet breezy writing, and you enjoy historical fiction -- particular of this era -- then count this book as a "recommend."

A workmanlike later novel in the Blackford Oakes series. The detail about Vietnam and the politics of the time (much of it is set in 1964) is striking and vintage Buckley. However, the fate of Oakes' colleague and titular character is obvious from early in the book. Read it for how it brings history to life in a fictional setting and to catch up on the latest in the life of the series hero -- both are worthwhile, and entertaining, reasons. But not as much for the storyline; there isn't much mystery here.

Buckley gives us an interesting snapshot of one aspect of the Vietnam War -- namely, a high-tech attempt to interdict movement down the fabled Ho Chi Minh Trail. Although fictional, it deals with a lot of fact and brings back searing memories of those days in the early 1960s before the U.S. became so fully immersed in the Vietnam War. Though an interesting period piece, the book fails to excite the reader. In typical Buckley style, "Tucker's Last Stand" moves deliberately but lacks compelling moments. You won't stay awake reading this book. The best part of the book is the glimpse it gives of some real, historic people (LBJ, Goldwater, MacNamara). A fictional footnote it is. A thriller it aint.

Bill Buckley took a break from Blackford Oakes to give us this exciting Vietnam-era war novel, and I'm glad he did. Tucker is an excellent protagonist in the vein of Clancy's "Mr. Clark".

I found that this novel had more viewpoints than an actual story. And just what was the story? It seemed that ten pages could have been enough. Stupid, stupid, and more stupid!