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)

One of the best

This is hands down one of the most interesting and worthwhile books I have ever listened to. The story spans the period from the end of WWII through the 1991 Soviet coup d'?tat attempt known as the Putsch. Each major event is woven together through the eyes of the central characters. It was hard to stop listening to.

Spell-binding

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite audiobooks. It is very very long. There are a lot of characters to follow on. The story is very intricate and full of twist and turns. The character developments are amazing. It is a good story even if you are not particularly familiar with spy's stories, like I am.

Excellent Book!

This is an excellent book! I can only agree with the other reviewers, in that it is deeply engaging , with well developed characters, and a nice pace. You will be very pleased even with its hefty length. It is great story with alot of documentary elements . When you delve into CIA and american history you'll find that much of the contents of this book ring true. very relevant book . buy it!

Longer isn't always better

I know one reader commented that she liked long books. I do, as well; and find that I feel better about spending the subscription money when they are lengthy. However; this one may well challenge that perspective, at least with me. I'm only on part 1, and continually choose other books over completing this one. It is like a huge history lesson; almost too much to try to keep straight. For some reason, it seems even more complicated when actual historical figures are revealed. I kept trying to remember what I should already know about them, as well as what was previously written about them by this author, but were
skimmed over in my listen with too many characters to keep proper track. I absolutely love historical novels, and long ones at that. I am currently choosing to listen to the multi-parted "The Historian" rather than torture myself with the rest of "The Company". I would never consciously choose a documentary to distract me; and, if it weren't for my favorite narrator, I may not have even gotten this far.

Perhaps, when I run out of credits and am "forced" to complete all the many, many, many parts, I will feel differently, and am likely to be better informed, if not entertained. However; it seems to have all the character development of a history lesson, and I am not looking forward to slogging through it all, especially if it is all like the first part. I apologize if this is unfair; however, I did expect more of a fictional thriller experience.

Well, most of it could be true, right?

This book is quite long but that's not a bad thing, as you can really sink your teeth into it and enjoy it. It's written in such a way that even though the characters are fictionalized, they are woven into actual events in such a way that you wonder if perhaps the stories are about real people. Very well done and very enjoyable reading. Highly recommend it.

Evolution of the CIA

Excellent review of the post-WW II history of international relations. Well written but not particularly complimentary to the CIA. Could have done without the gratuitous portrayal of President Regan. Having seen the mini-series on TV provided the opportunity to put faces an the characters, especially "Mother" and "The Sourcorer". Scott Brick is superb at bringing out the characters. Great choice.

Epic Spy Drama

The Company is not a "McNovel" that can be absorbed quickly, and it requires a measured pace to track the intertwined plot lines and character development tracks. If you expect 40 hours of action-packed excitement, you will be very disappointed in this book. If, however, you enjoy character-driven, epic stories of intrigue, I would recommend it. Certain situations were overly dramatized, or were used as devices to anchor the plot to a particular historical event or period. Despite these intermittent interruptions, the plot progresses at a good pace.

Taking place over about 50 years, The Company involves you in the stories of the families that rise to the top of the US intelligence community. They are among the most permanent fixtures in the US political system, and this book reveals how much power has been held by the arcane agency that, in many ways, defines them and their interactions. Although fiction, this book has caused me to view news and political events in a whole new light. The situations depicted are hyper-real, starting with a seed of plausibility and finishing off with appropriate embellishment. The Company feels like fiction that may not be so.

twists and turns

I thought this book had enough twist and turns to keep me interested. Narration was good, not great. The charactors are the real gem in this book. You will recognize some!! Good time.

Worth the wait

For me, the first hour or so of the book was confusing because I listened to it in 10-15 minute bursts. But, once I got all the characters straight this was a fun ride. It is a fascinating story and because historical fact is woven so seamlessly with fiction, it is hard to tell which is which! A great read/listen and well worth the time investment.

Exciting & Satisfying Historical Fiction

This is a long spy novel with lots of historical fictionalization, fantastic characters, and great writing. I enjoyed this immensely. The blending of history with fiction is very engaging, and the characters (including the Russian spys) are fully developed with interesting motivations. The story follows the CIA from the end of WWII through the fall of the Soviet Union. Beware that, while much of the the story is based on history, some is unlikely fiction (KGB assassination of Pope John Paul I). Some of the CIA's biggest mistakes are very lightly glossed over.

This book include quite a bit of rough language, sex, and bloody violence, so is not for those that don't like this sort of thing. The bit about a doddering, manipulated, Ronald Reagan will annoy some readers.

One of the best aspects of the book is the point of view which shows some of the Soviet spies as honorable, and some in the CIA members as dishonorable, the CIA successes and failures, the CIA efforts to circumvent both the congress and the white house, and the transition of old enemies to new allies as the Soviet Union collapses.

The narration was excellent with a very wide range of great character voices, each with unique emotionality.