The Company

A Novel of the CIA

By: Robert Littell

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 41 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Crisis constantly lurks around the corner, monitored by spies who are always with us. In his career-capping thirteenth novel, master of the espionage thriller Robert Littell has crafted a breathtaking story of the legendary CIA - "The Company" to insiders.

At its heart lies a spectacular mole hunt involving the CIA, MI6, KGB and Mossad - a stunningly conceived trip down the rabbit hole to the labyrinthine Alice-in-Wonderland world of espionage, "a wood where things have no names."

Racing across a landscape spanning the legendary Berlin Base of the 1950s - the front line of the simmering Cold War - the Soviet invasion of Hungary, the Bay of Pigs, Afghanistan, and the Gorbachev putsch, The Company tells the thrilling story of agents imprisoned in double lives, fighting an enemy that is amoral, elusive, and formidable. It also lays bare the internecine warfare within the company itself, adding another dimension to the spy vs. spy game.

©2013 Robert Littell (P)2013 Phoenix Audio

Critic reviews

"If Robert Littell didn't invent the American spy novel, he should have." (Tom Clancy, author of Patriot Games) "If le Carre is the Joyce of spy novelists, Littell is the Dickens." (Booklist, starred review). "An epic tale...peopled by heroes and villains who seem almost mythological in retrospect...Keeps you riveted." (Nelson DeMille, author of Up Country)
"Destined to become the definitive novel about the CIA." (Amazon.com)

My Review of the Reviews

I don't really like spy novels, but I love long books. So I read most of the reviews and decided to give the book a try. So here are my responses to the reviews:
1 Some said it had too much cursing. I don't get easily offended by too much cursing. I kept an ear out for it, but felt there was very little cursing. Unless you are overly sensitive to cursing, don't worry about this one. And now, I'm going to find another book by this author...
2 Some said too long. I do like long books and felt that every hour was great. There was 1 slight lull in the 80's after a major plot climax, but overall, it was captivating.
3 Some got mixed up with names because of it being a spy novel. This was my biggest concern. I have the same problem. But I was able to be reasonably sure of what was going on at all times.
4 ...It was a condemnation against democracy. This is the most ridiculous claim. I didn't see any "preaching" for or against. It is a spy novel. The author showed that the Russian actually believe in their cause. Characters on both sides of the "game" were well developed and real.
Spy novels aren't my genre, but I would recommend this book highly.

Hang on to your Hat

Littel has spun a tale so true-to-life that I found myself thinking it might be thinly veiled non-fiction. More than once I found myself sitting in my car, listening until the very last moment I could walk in to work. The characters are fully three dimensional, the plot develops naturally, and the history lessons contained within the story are so well woven I couldn't tell where the fiction ended and the history began.

Don't miss this revealing look at the rise and near-fall of one of this country's governmental institutions.

Full of twist and turns and surprises.

This is one of the most complicated and deeply written plot, based on real people and historical events. While a novel, you soon forget that fact as the characters develop and the story unfolds. You have to pay attention, because the plot turns on itself, and you can loose the storyline. I don't know how many times I had to replay a section, because I missed a switch in the plot.

Character development is great and you soon know and care about the characters. It is sometimes hard to tell who the good guys are and who are the evil ones. No matter, you will find yourself engrossed by the story. If you lived through some of these actual events, the book makes you wonder if it has let you in on what really happened and why things happened the way they did.

I will definitely be reading more of Mr Litell's books.

The Company

a winner - both the book and narrator - perfect all around ... give me more!!!

Excellent from Start to Finish !

This book is excellent from start to finish. You will not want to break from the non-stop action. Its the best book I've bought from Audible since I started this service 18 months ago.

Outstanding

An exciting story that sustains throughout and delivers a one-two punch from start to finish. A well written spy novel, modern-day mystery, and character study wrapped up in great style and delivered through the brilliant narration of Scott Brick. If you want to relive the cold war through real people, true events, and a step-by step walk through a dark corridor of history -- don't miss this book.

Fantastic - will take over your life !

This book is huge.....long.....and captivating all the way......
It had me wanting to continue listening for more at every minute of it's (40?) hours. It is the most enjoyable listen I have had to date and gave a seemingly realistic insight into the workings of the CIA and other spy agencies.
The character development is excellent, from the Uni study days, through recruitment , training , first posts and on to senior positions and eventually end of careers.
It nicely ties in realistic events in great detail, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion and leaves you wondering if this is a non fiction or a novel.
Be warned...it will take over your life ! Your family will be sicj of seeing you listening and wearing your earphones - you won't be able to stop listening.
Excellent narration. Highly recomended

Absolutely Fascinating!

This is one book I make sure to revisit once a year. I love all the characters and especially the mystery. Really well done!

Gut wrenching roller coaster! Fiction? NO WAY!!!!

Unbelievably fast paced tale of historical fiction! I have several friends in the "intel" business and worked at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia myself - this tale seems too real to be fiction! I enjoyed every minute of this 40+ hour book and wished it would go on forever! If nothing else, it gives a look at what may be ONE explanation of events..very very intriguing food for thought.

top quality

I couldn't wait to get into my auto so i could keep listening to this saga. I even picked up some history in the process.