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Roger J. Mattson

Goodreads Author

Born

Central City, NE, The United States

Genre

Biography, History, Nonfiction

Influences

Kurt Vonnegut

Member Since

May 2019

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Roger published “SPYWRITER: Richard Krebs' Astonishing Journey from German Communist Conspirator to American Combat Veteran” in early 2021. It is a biography of the German communist spy, Richard Krebs, alias Jan Valtin, who saw the light, abandoned his position in the Comintern, came to America as an illegal alien, wrote the best selling non-fiction book of 1941 “Out of the Night,” was awarded a Bronze Star in the battle for the Philippines, earned his American citizenship, and collaborated with elements of America’s Cold War intelligence apparatus.

Roger’s first literary work was “Stealing the Atom Bomb: How Denial and Deception Armed Israel,” published in 2016. Response to the book from nuclear cognoscenti and the general public has been ...more

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I understand you recently spoke at a Conference in France concerning German Communist spy Richard Krebs. I've been reading his book, "Out of the Night." Now, I've learned you are writing an upcoming book on Krebs. I am so excited to learn more about this spy who escaped to America and became a U.S. citizen. What will we learn new from your book?

Roger J. Mattson Hi Sharon,

Thanks for your question. You’re right, I recently attended a “Jan Valtin Retrospective” at the University of Poitiers in France. Jan Valti…moreHi Sharon,

Thanks for your question. You’re right, I recently attended a “Jan Valtin Retrospective” at the University of Poitiers in France. Jan Valtin was the pen name of Richard Krebs of whom you ask. Here is the URL for the conference program https://sha.univ-poitiers.fr/master-h....

Scholars from a half dozen countries gathered there to discuss Valtin’s role as a midlevel operative in the Comintern in the interwar years and his life after renouncing communism in 1937.

My new book will be the first biography of Krebs by an American since his best-selling 1941 autobiography “Out of the Night.” As to what’s new in my book, I would count interesting insights about the last dozen years of his private life as a best-selling anti-communist writer, revered by the House Un-American Activities Committee and snubbed by the Hollywood establishment. In addition, there is growing evidence of his dabbling in clandestine affairs before and after his service in the Pacific during World War II. I also will deal frankly with his chronic depression, which was probably associated with PTSD. And I am looking at the parallels between his life, as a spy turned writer, and the life of his contemporary, Ernest Hemingway, a writer turned spy.

The book has fresh insights from two of Krebs’s sons who have been most helpful with my research. And there is new information from three families associated with Krebs’s gutsy comrade Hildegard Volkersen. She and Krebs went underground in Germany in the early days of the Third Reich, resulting in their arrest and imprisonment.

European researchers with access to the declassified files of the secret services in Russia, Scandinavia, Great Britain, and Germany have confirmed much of what Valtin described in his autobiography, which I am pleased to learn you are reading. Let me know what you think of it.

Best Regards,
Roger
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Roger J. Mattson’s books

Average rating: 4.42 · 33 ratings · 8 reviews · 4 distinct works

	Stealing the Atom Bomb: How Denial and Deception Armed Israel 4.34 avg rating — 29 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	SPYWRITER: Richard Krebs’ Astonishing Journey from German Communist Conspirator to American Combat Veteran it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Swedish Family History: From Asa to Lone Tree it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	SPYWRITER: Richard Krebs’ Astonishing Journey from German Communist Conspirator to American Combat Veteran 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Irreducible: Consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature

by Federico Faggin (Goodreads Author)

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Mar 06, 2026 03:01AM

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Roger Mattson is currently reading Irreducible: Consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature by Federico Faggin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 06, 2026 03:01AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Irreducible by Federico Faggin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Irreducible by Federico Faggin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Mattson rated a book it was amazing The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 12, 2026 08:45PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Correspondent by Virginia Evans <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Mattson rated a book it was amazing Out of the Night: The Memoir of Richard Julius Herman Krebs alias Jan Valtin by Jan Valtin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Readers of Out of the Night might also enjoy Spywriter which tells the life story of Richard Krebs, alias Jan Valtin. https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Astoni... ...more
Feb 12, 2026 11:30AM · 1 like · like · see review
Roger Mattson rated a book it was amazing The Proving Ground (The Lincoln Lawyer, #8; Harry Bosch Universe, #40) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 08, 2025 03:23PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Mattson rated a book really liked it Clown Town (Slough House #9) by Mick Herron	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 07, 2025 11:42AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Clown Town by Mick Herron. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Clown Town by Mick Herron <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Mattson rated a book it was amazing The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Towles does it again The man is a wonderful storyteller. Here he combines his talent with that of the greatest storytellers in history. Bravo.
Oct 08, 2025 12:55PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Mattson finished reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 05, 2025 03:13PM · 1 like · like
Roger Mattson rated a book it was amazing Blood Ties: A Novel by Jo Nesbø (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 06, 2025 08:19PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Blood Ties by Jo Nesbø. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Blood Ties by Jo Nesbø <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Mattson has read Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia by Anne Garrels	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 20, 2024 11:35PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Putin Country by Anne Garrels. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Putin Country by Anne Garrels <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Mattson rated a book it was amazing The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial by David Lipsky	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 10, 2024 12:49AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Parrot and the Igloo by David Lipsky. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Parrot and the Igloo by David Lipsky <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">