The Afghan

By: Frederick Forsyth

Narrated by: Robert Powell

Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A chilling story of modern terrorism from the grandmaster of international intrigue.

The Day of the Jackal, The Dogs of War, The Odessa File: the books of Frederick Forsyth have helped define the international thriller as we know it today. Combining meticulous research with crisp narratives and plots as current as the headlines, Forsyth shows us the world as it is in a way that few have ever been able to equal.

And the world as it is today is a very scary place.

When British and American intelligence catch wind of a major Al Qaeda operation in the works, they instantly galvanize, but to do what? They know nothing about it: the what, where, or when. They have no sources in Al Qaeda, and it's impossible to plant someone. Or is it?

The Afghan is Izmat Khan, a five-year prisoner of Guantanamo Bay and a former senior commander of the Taliban. The Afghan is also Colonel Mike Martin, a 25-year-old veteran of war zones around the world; a dark, lean man born and raised in Iraq. In an attempt to stave off disaster, the intelligence agencies will try to do what no one has ever done before, pass off a Westerner as an Arab among Arabs, and pass off Martin as the trusted Khan.

It will require extraordinary preparation, and then extraordinary luck, for nothing can truly prepare Martin for the dark and shifting world into which he is about to enter. Or for the terrible things he will find there.

Filled with remarkable detail and compulsive drama, The Afghan is further proof that Forsyth is truly master of suspense.

©2006 Frederick Forsyth (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., and Recorded Books, LLC. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"A cut above...other post-9/11 spy thrillers." (Publishers Weekly)
"When it comes to espionage, international intrigue, and suspense, Frederick Forsyth is a master." (The Washington Post)

A great peek into terror networks

This is a tremendous sagea of the very optimistic view of the west's views, understanding & response to one of the multiple, far fetches terrorist plots against the west designed to surpass 9-11.... that said, it's well written, engaging & believable on the personal level.

Forsyth at his best

Don’t let the lass than glowing reviews fool you. If you’re a fan of Forsyths keen insight into the workings of global intelligence ops you will love this one. Combine with an under current of humanity and sense for the plight of nations caught in the grips of kleptocracy.

Terrific read

Would you consider the audio edition of The Afghan to be better than the print version?

Cannot answer this as I've not read the book.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The story/characters is fiction but very applicable to today's Middle East relationships and wound around a plot that reveals significant research. The history/environment of the plot is factual. The complexities and characters are interwoven in such a way to be entertaining without being tedious.

What about Robert Powell’s performance did you like?

His vocal characterizations made listening so much easier to follow the plot. Great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The most moving portion was the ending; fast moving, unanticipated, and tradition made informative.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend to anyone interested in international relations, or Middle East history, or international intelligence.

Typically Brilliant

The Afghan is Forsyth in top form. His attention to details not only informs but makes the plot even more cohesive and thus rewarding to follow. I have been reading JF since Day of the Jackal, and this book rates as high as any of his superior early works. He seems to be getting better, his research is impeccalbe, and the narrator is superbly low key, letting the story carry the plot and not inventing any unecessary drama.

nicely done

written in the context of past and relatively current events. kept me interested all the way.

well read

very good story and narration. only thing is narrator could have done better research on how to pronounce local place names.

Not what I was expecting. Amazing

Not what I was expecting. Amazing
Great story great writer and I never could figure out where the ship was headed.

Somewhere In Between

The reviewers of this book either loved it or hated it, thought the plot profound or boring, and the reader great or dreadful. My view is that it is one of the few books that I think I would have been better off reading - and not because of the reader.

The problem with this book in audible format is that the multiple sub-plots and characters are switched between abruptly and frequently. I have to believe that in written format that there are double spaced lines or some other visual clue that would alert you to the change. In audible format I often missed those cues. Further, it is one of the worst books to "rewind" that I have ever encountered. If you had an interruption or lost concentration and tried to return to where you were in the story, it was very difficult to find the break point.

I certainly would not discourage anyone from buying this in audible format if your reading time is all verbal. If you have time to read in written format, however, I think that would be a better way to go.

Reader's Voice Complements Tension

The reader (Robert Powell) is perfect. The tension builds and the plot is interesting. Very entertaining, I thought. In the last quarter, the plot wobbles but it works overall.

Slow Part 1 - Great Part 2

Part 1 is slow. You can start at Part 2 and it will stand on it's own as a great story.