The Once and Future Spy

A Novel of Obsession

By: Robert Littell

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

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

Not his best work

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

Full of twists

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

ho-hum

Littel has let me down. His last book The Company was far superior, even though it took me weeks of commuting to get through it. The ending of this one was disappointing as well.

Interesting Concept

Would you listen to The Once and Future Spy again? Why?

No. Aside from the fact that I don't listen to stuff twice, it just isn't worth a second listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nate.

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

When I was wondering what was true and what was made up. The whole concept of "maybe the main character is crazy" is very interesting, but as a reader/listener I want real answers damn it!

Any additional comments?

The author really gets you with this book, and in doing so perhaps gives the reader a taste of what being a spy is really like. You really don't know what's real and what is an evil plot. You might think you know, but careful analysis shows that not knowing is all a part of the book.

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.

Keeps drawing the reader further and further in

One of the best spy novels I've listened to in a long time. Each chapter keeps drawing the listener in further and further with question after question piling up.
The ending is still driving me nuts! (In a good way) I'm going to have to listen to it again to see if I missed anything and to try to figure it all out. I really hated to see it come to an end. Totally unpredictable

An enjoyable read

The Once and Future Spy is a good yarn, the concept behind the secret is complex, plausible and scary as hell. Do I think there are people in the government capable of instigating a program like the one described as the book? Absolutely. I do wish the story had been told with fewer gimmicks. The redundant scenes probably worked better in print.

Overall a solid read.

Don't read this book at once

Strange book. The first 2 hours are not page turners (how do you call that for audibles?). Then it gets into gear. So does Scott Brick (who does an excellent job!). Robert did a fine job by mixing a historic novell into a modern story (although in the beginning I though that I had a part of a different book included.
The characters are hardly made clear (enough left for your imagination).
The end is rushed (so it seems to me) and leaves enough room for the main characters to appear as spies for another countries agency.
For non US readers: the American history is somewhat unclear and makes it hard to understand.
I don't think that you should listen to this book in one sit. Let the chapters sink in, give it some time (at least after the first 2 hours) so what is narrated is getting clearer.
It was my first Robert Littell and at the same time the last.

Littell is the master story teller

Littell has not let me down once. All of his books have great characters, a plot that moves along at a good pace, and with a great finale. Brick is a great pairing for Littell as well. Wish I could find more authors like Littell. This book might not be his best but still it is five star worthy. Highly recommend for anyone into espionage books.

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.