• The Once and Future Spy

  • A Novel of Obsession
  • By: Robert Littell
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (223 ratings)

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The Once and Future Spy  By  cover art

The Once and Future Spy

By: Robert Littell
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Publisher's summary

An elite plan is afoot, a plan so secret and dangerous that its existence is known only to a tiny group of specialists within the innermost core of the CIA. There is virtually no paper trail - but somehow the plan has sprung a leak and the plotters must urgently plug it - or face deadly consequences.
©1990 Robert Littell (P)2003 New Millennium Audio, All Rights Reserved

What listeners say about The Once and Future Spy

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Challenge and it's worth it!

This is my first Robert Littell book and I must admit it was a little confusing at first. However once I got into it this story kept me guessing right up to the very last sentences. Full of twists and turns and very plausible American "foreign policy". It made me think and taught me a little about the American Revolution to boot!
It was narrated by Scott Brick who is one of my favorites and he made the story a pleasure to listen to. Not everyone will agree but you should all judge for yourselves....it is worth your time to do so.

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • 9S
  • 07-19-03

Not up to standard

I really don't have much to say about this novel. It in no way measures up to Littel's other fine works. I was very dissapointed.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth every penny

I will admit it started off a bit slow, but once you hang in there it all comes together. By the time you reach the end you will be sitting on the edge of your seat. Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Started off very slow

I have to admit that after reading "The Company" this publication lacked substance.
The dialog in this work was sooo much at the beginning that I found myself wondering "Why are they talking so much, where is the action."
This would be better if there was more ACTION less Dialog.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Save your time and money

Robert Littel may have some talent, but it wasn't apparent to me in this novel. The plot was ludicrous, many of the characters are so crudely drawn they are more like caricatures, and the tie to the past was a gimmick.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not his best work

Not Littell's best work by any means, but tolerable if you've got nothing else to listen to.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Not very good

I had high hopes for this book after LOVING The Company. This one isn't even in the same league. It's disjointed, the characters are completely incompetent and the "surprise" in the end doesn't hold up. Overall, while not a complete waste of time, I'd pass on this one.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Intriguing

This very thoughtful, compelling, and ironic book is definitely Littell. I have enjoyed all his other audiobooks, but there is an added depth and substance to this novel. The author weaves intricately between the past, and the present in a unique and interesting manner.

The folks that didn't like it, didn't 'get' it or were looking for excitement. While this book is well read by Scott Brick, and keeps ones interest, it isn't filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense that so many others have. Still, it is unusual, imaginative, and worth the read.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Different

The weaving into the story of a historical connection made this book. Without it, I don't think I would have liked it as much or cared as much about the protagonist. It provided a depth of character that by itself is not unusual, but the means of doing so was very original. This is my third book from Littell, and while it's my least favorite of the three, its still a very enjoyable "read". I'm starting to think I'd like anything from Littell.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Full of twists

Great performance by reader. Plot has enough twists to keep your attention. Enjoy.

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5 people found this helpful