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Circus
Bruno Wildermann of the Wrinfield Circus is the world’s greatest trapeze artist, a clairvoyant with near-supernatural powers and an implacable enemy of the East European regime that arrested his family and murdered his wife.
The CIA needs such a man, and recruits Bruno for an impossible raid - on the impreganble Lubylan fortress, where his family his held.
Under cover of a circus tour, Bruno prepares to return to his homeland. But before the journey even begins a murderer strikes twice. Somewhere in the circus there is a communist agent with orders to stop Bruno at any cost…
The CIA needs such a man, and recruits Bruno for an impossible raid - on the impreganble Lubylan fortress, where his family his held.
Under cover of a circus tour, Bruno prepares to return to his homeland. But before the journey even begins a murderer strikes twice. Somewhere in the circus there is a communist agent with orders to stop Bruno at any cost…
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
103 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Alistair MacLean
347 books1,208 followersAlistair Stuart MacLean (Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair MacGill-Eain), the son of a Scots Minister, was brought up in the Scottish Highlands. In 1941, at the age of eighteen, he joined the Royal Navy; two and a half years spent aboard a cruiser were to give him the background for HMS Ulysses, his first novel, the outstanding documentary novel on the war at sea. After the war he gained an English Honours degree at Glasgow University, and became a schoolmaster. In 1983, he was awarded a D. Litt. from the same university.
Maclean is the author of twenty-nine world bestsellers and recognised as an outstanding writer in his own genre. Many of his titles have been adapted for film - The Guns of the Navarone, The Satan Bug, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare and Bear Island are among the most famous.
Maclean is the author of twenty-nine world bestsellers and recognised as an outstanding writer in his own genre. Many of his titles have been adapted for film - The Guns of the Navarone, The Satan Bug, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare and Bear Island are among the most famous.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
April 14, 2012
I read a lot of Alistair Maclean's books in my teens, and loved them, so was curious to see if they held up so many years later. Hmm. This one didn't. It seemed quite dated, and although the actual break-in sequence was intriguing, the rest of the book was not particularly interesting. And it's very odd to read something that was written in the days when female characters were there merely to show how clever the men were. Maria, the love interest, is supposed to be a CIA agent, but is totally clueless. You could take her out of the book and not notice. Can't really blame Maclean, he was a man of his time, but it makes for rather irritating reading.
September 17, 2018
This is a pretty ordinary Cold War-era spy novel. The only unusual thing about it was the mind-boggling stupidity and general uselessness of the Maria character. Everything she is told, particularly that they are almost always being followed, is met with a wide-eyed astonishment more befitting a child than a supposed spy. But she's apparently quite good-looking, so naturally allowances are made and not one person ever seems to wonder just how this dimwit got a job as a secret agent. Ah, the 70's.
One slightly funny thing -- I have an old paperback copy of this book which, unlike every other edition, does not show a guy on a high wire or a circus trapeze artist on the cover. Apparently some marketing genius at Fontana/Collins didn't think that would be an interesting enough picture, so he chose instead a generic 41 Magnum bullet, something that doesn't have the slightest thing to do with the book.
One slightly funny thing -- I have an old paperback copy of this book which, unlike every other edition, does not show a guy on a high wire or a circus trapeze artist on the cover. Apparently some marketing genius at Fontana/Collins didn't think that would be an interesting enough picture, so he chose instead a generic 41 Magnum bullet, something that doesn't have the slightest thing to do with the book.
May 1, 2021
I read this book between sports breaks on tv and at points where I couldn’t continue watching my team. But it quickly turned into my main book which I only read during proper sit down concentration times I was enjoying it that much.
The story had an easy premise: CIA mission in the 1970’s to stealthily break into a high security prison to steal intellectual property. The quirk was the mission was recruited to a group a circus performers. Lots of trapeze, animal-taming, knife throwing and a super strong guy. They made an interesting combination and the suspenseful whodunnit was interesting (although not too hard to solve but that’s ok).
The love story involved didn’t do it for me. Love at first sight is way too convenient for me in books. But it wasn’t intrusive so again it was ok.
Overall it was a compelling read. I liked the pace and uniqueness about it. Some parts were a touch too detailed. This author’s vocabulary is impressive. I definitely needed the dictionary for this one.
The story had an easy premise: CIA mission in the 1970’s to stealthily break into a high security prison to steal intellectual property. The quirk was the mission was recruited to a group a circus performers. Lots of trapeze, animal-taming, knife throwing and a super strong guy. They made an interesting combination and the suspenseful whodunnit was interesting (although not too hard to solve but that’s ok).
The love story involved didn’t do it for me. Love at first sight is way too convenient for me in books. But it wasn’t intrusive so again it was ok.
Overall it was a compelling read. I liked the pace and uniqueness about it. Some parts were a touch too detailed. This author’s vocabulary is impressive. I definitely needed the dictionary for this one.
June 14, 2009
I got these Maclean books from my dad, and I've liked the ones I have previously read. This one I'm not sure about. I'm close to two-thirds done with it, and I'm still not entirely sure if a couple of the heroes are good guys or bad guys.... Oh well. :) It's compelling enough to keep going and find out. :)
I liked it, but I'm not still not sure how much. I gave it four stars because of the suspense and stuff... In the end, I was still shocked by who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. But he did a good job with the story and everything. I don't know if I'd read it again, but I would recommend it to anyone who likes spy novels. :D
I liked it, but I'm not still not sure how much. I gave it four stars because of the suspense and stuff... In the end, I was still shocked by who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. But he did a good job with the story and everything. I don't know if I'd read it again, but I would recommend it to anyone who likes spy novels. :D
May 17, 2014
There's something inherently comfortable about re-reading Alistair MacLean's novels. The action and dialogue is corny & chauvinistic and incredibly convenient. But it's fun and sometimes you just need a comfy book to read that doesn't challenge and which happily suspends all reality for a day or two. Circus is definitely one of these books.
I first read Circus as a teenager and have kept coming back to it year after year, so much so that I finally had to discard my original copy as it simply fell apart. This is not a book that I compare against others. The characters are rather flat, the female character presented as weak and ineffectual, even though she is a CIA agent (Agent Salt she's not). The hero of the piece is talented beyond the ordinary yet with a cloudy background not worthy of close analysis. The 'bad guy' and his henchmen are classically evil. Perhaps it is the long list of foibles with this novel that make it such an ongoing pleasurable read. After all this time I am well aware of what I'm getting when I read it - yet I return, again and again. Despite its apparent weaknesses and flaws there remains a certain magic in the writing, in the action, in the possibility that reinforces the talent of Alistair MacLean at the height of his popularity.
I like this book. I always will. :)
I first read Circus as a teenager and have kept coming back to it year after year, so much so that I finally had to discard my original copy as it simply fell apart. This is not a book that I compare against others. The characters are rather flat, the female character presented as weak and ineffectual, even though she is a CIA agent (Agent Salt she's not). The hero of the piece is talented beyond the ordinary yet with a cloudy background not worthy of close analysis. The 'bad guy' and his henchmen are classically evil. Perhaps it is the long list of foibles with this novel that make it such an ongoing pleasurable read. After all this time I am well aware of what I'm getting when I read it - yet I return, again and again. Despite its apparent weaknesses and flaws there remains a certain magic in the writing, in the action, in the possibility that reinforces the talent of Alistair MacLean at the height of his popularity.
I like this book. I always will. :)
February 22, 2025
Chronologically this is probably MacLean’s last true cold war thriller. With the exceptions of Partisans and San Andreas the remainder of his novels (Seawitch, Golden Gate, Goodbye, California, River of Death, Floodgate, Santorini) became formulaic terrorist plots, each one a little less interesting than its predecessor.
However, Circus is largely a techno thriller with lots of double dealing characters.
It also features one of his most indestructible heroes. Still, I liked it. I also enjoyed the audio narrator as I re-read this novel.
However, Circus is largely a techno thriller with lots of double dealing characters.
It also features one of his most indestructible heroes. Still, I liked it. I also enjoyed the audio narrator as I re-read this novel.
February 16, 2017
I enjoyed this book because Alistair MacLean is one of my favorite authors. He wrote Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare (among my favorite movies).
Circus is suspenseful and takes place during the Cold War. The Soviets have developed a formula rendering nuclear weapons obsolete. The West needs to steal the formula and prevent the advantage from tipping to the side of the Reds.
They recruit Bruno, a circus high-wire artist with a knack for memory, balance, and a grudge against the Soviet Union. He must travel with a circus to East Germany on tour. During the performances he must break away from the main group and walk a high voltage electric wire 300 yards long to a laboratory where the formula is kept. He is provided a phony relationship with a woman to be his wife, and together they travel to the east in an expensive circus train with his own car and service. She begins to fall in love with Bruno, but he holds back.
You beg the question why? And the story is suspenseful as persons helping them infiltrate the East are murdered. The circus scenes are suspenseful and the reader is taken back to a time when the Cold War was in full heat.
Circus is suspenseful and takes place during the Cold War. The Soviets have developed a formula rendering nuclear weapons obsolete. The West needs to steal the formula and prevent the advantage from tipping to the side of the Reds.
They recruit Bruno, a circus high-wire artist with a knack for memory, balance, and a grudge against the Soviet Union. He must travel with a circus to East Germany on tour. During the performances he must break away from the main group and walk a high voltage electric wire 300 yards long to a laboratory where the formula is kept. He is provided a phony relationship with a woman to be his wife, and together they travel to the east in an expensive circus train with his own car and service. She begins to fall in love with Bruno, but he holds back.
You beg the question why? And the story is suspenseful as persons helping them infiltrate the East are murdered. The circus scenes are suspenseful and the reader is taken back to a time when the Cold War was in full heat.
May 30, 2018
Not one of his best.
The characterisation is poor and feels a little rushed. The use of a circus as the main plot device gives Alistair the opportunity to draw on some uniquely-skilled and highly clichéd individuals. He does so recklessly. The love interest feels tacked-on (Maria adds nothing else to the plot line or daring plan). Even the bad guys are sketchily drawn caricatures of any number of Eastern European villains.
As usual for Alistair Maclean, it is fast-paced and packed with tension and twists (at least one too many). A quick, fun read for a holiday book but with nothing particularly memorable or mesmerising to take you back for a second read.
The characterisation is poor and feels a little rushed. The use of a circus as the main plot device gives Alistair the opportunity to draw on some uniquely-skilled and highly clichéd individuals. He does so recklessly. The love interest feels tacked-on (Maria adds nothing else to the plot line or daring plan). Even the bad guys are sketchily drawn caricatures of any number of Eastern European villains.
As usual for Alistair Maclean, it is fast-paced and packed with tension and twists (at least one too many). A quick, fun read for a holiday book but with nothing particularly memorable or mesmerising to take you back for a second read.
October 18, 2007
This author is the one that I read over and over when I just need a get-away and not think hard book. I have read some of his books so many times but never get tired of them. The good guy always wins, not necessarily with the girl but right always triumphs in the end. I rated them as 4's because I don't know that they have a great social value but as for enjoyment they do rate a 5. Circus is my favorite.
December 31, 2015
Surprisingly good. Given the way Maclean's later works deteriorated, and also considering the average rating of this book, I didn't have much expectations. But since I'm a sucker for circus stories and themes, and the completeist in me wanted to gun down the rest of Maclean, I started on this as a quick read and was pleasantly surprised.
December 4, 2017
The CIA is in search of a special person to do the impossible. Bruno Wildermann, trapeze artist, is just the man they want for the job. he is more than he seems also being a clairvoyant with supernatural powers. Bruno also has some payback for what happened to his family. This is a great adventure story by an author with many amazing books to check out
July 11, 2012
You could make a very good argument for labeling this thriller Maclean's #1 best. Certainly in his top 6-7 titles. Simply smashing.
August 15, 2012
One of my favorites of his.
March 30, 2024
on top of being a mostly boring book, i’m convinced this guy doesn’t know how to write women. why is maria, who is supposed to be a skilled cia agent, a bubbling fucking idiot.
August 18, 2022
Endingnya terlalu Amerika
August 10, 2016
This is a tale of espionage set in the time of the Cold War.
Bruno is the world’s greatest trapeze artist and also a mentalist. He hates the East European regime that arrested and imprisoned his family and murdered his wife. So he is a ready candidate for the CIA when they recruit him with his special skills to help them in the Arms Race.
Bruno is presently a naturalized American, but he is sent back to his native village of Crau under the cover of a circus touring Eastern Europe. There he is to break into a heavily guarded fortress which houses a research lab where a scientist holds the deadly formula for Anti Matter, a substance which could cause massive destruction. The fortress also imprisons Bruno’s family who he will be able to release after accessing the annihilating formula. The prison is heavily guarded and connected to a nearby power station by a three hundred yard long high tension cable, which is how Bruno is to get into the prison.
Bruno’s most heralded act in the circus is flying blindfolded on a trapeze with his two brothers. But he is also a mentalist, a skill which enables him to read pieces of paper kept in a sealed envelope. In addition, Bruno has a photographic memory, a gift which allows him to read documents and retrieve the memory instantly at a later time. The CIA wants Bruno’s to use his ability as an aerialist to access the impenetrable fortress, find the formula for Anti Matter, memorize it and then destroy it. With his combination of unique skills, Bruno is probably the only man who can do this impossible job.
Bruno gets into the fortress with his helpers Ken Dahn the strong man, Roebuk the cowboy roper and Manuelo the rope thrower. There are stabbings, disappearances, murders and kidnappings during the mission but Bruno remains committed to the cause, rescues his family and completes the assignment.
The novel includes excellent diagrams which help the reader appreciate the difficulty in achieving the mission, understand all the details of the plan and later follow Bruno as he executes it.
This novel was published in 1975 and reflects the espionage thriller of its time, with Capitalist America as the heroes and the Communist East as the villains. The heroes are brave and patriotic, there is a beautiful woman whose role is to fall in love with the hero and there are quietly closeted secret and double agents. The story includes lots of twists and turns and several murders before the hero completes the assignment and saves the world from the possibility of mass destruction.
The story is well plotted, although it really stretches the bounds of what is believable. It is told at a leisurely pace, except for the conclusion which feels a little rushed. There is not a great deal of suspense, but there are some clever surprises.
An entertaining read if one keeps in mind the time period in which it was written.
Bruno is the world’s greatest trapeze artist and also a mentalist. He hates the East European regime that arrested and imprisoned his family and murdered his wife. So he is a ready candidate for the CIA when they recruit him with his special skills to help them in the Arms Race.
Bruno is presently a naturalized American, but he is sent back to his native village of Crau under the cover of a circus touring Eastern Europe. There he is to break into a heavily guarded fortress which houses a research lab where a scientist holds the deadly formula for Anti Matter, a substance which could cause massive destruction. The fortress also imprisons Bruno’s family who he will be able to release after accessing the annihilating formula. The prison is heavily guarded and connected to a nearby power station by a three hundred yard long high tension cable, which is how Bruno is to get into the prison.
Bruno’s most heralded act in the circus is flying blindfolded on a trapeze with his two brothers. But he is also a mentalist, a skill which enables him to read pieces of paper kept in a sealed envelope. In addition, Bruno has a photographic memory, a gift which allows him to read documents and retrieve the memory instantly at a later time. The CIA wants Bruno’s to use his ability as an aerialist to access the impenetrable fortress, find the formula for Anti Matter, memorize it and then destroy it. With his combination of unique skills, Bruno is probably the only man who can do this impossible job.
Bruno gets into the fortress with his helpers Ken Dahn the strong man, Roebuk the cowboy roper and Manuelo the rope thrower. There are stabbings, disappearances, murders and kidnappings during the mission but Bruno remains committed to the cause, rescues his family and completes the assignment.
The novel includes excellent diagrams which help the reader appreciate the difficulty in achieving the mission, understand all the details of the plan and later follow Bruno as he executes it.
This novel was published in 1975 and reflects the espionage thriller of its time, with Capitalist America as the heroes and the Communist East as the villains. The heroes are brave and patriotic, there is a beautiful woman whose role is to fall in love with the hero and there are quietly closeted secret and double agents. The story includes lots of twists and turns and several murders before the hero completes the assignment and saves the world from the possibility of mass destruction.
The story is well plotted, although it really stretches the bounds of what is believable. It is told at a leisurely pace, except for the conclusion which feels a little rushed. There is not a great deal of suspense, but there are some clever surprises.
An entertaining read if one keeps in mind the time period in which it was written.
September 19, 2018
Another great action thriller by the author, but this fails in amping up the thrill as much as his previous works. The twist at the end is quite unnecessary as the action in itself gives you the thrills
February 7, 2017
This is a low point for Maclean, who is usually a great storyteller.
The main character, trapeze artist Bruno (also an accomplished mentalist - for some reason), is bland and unlikable, his 'charm' mainly confined to constantly being the smartest man in the room - and boy does he know it! Almost the entire book is about a dull journey of a circus from America to the Eastern bloc, organised by the CIA so the main character can steal some plans regarding anti-matter from an 'impenetrable' Commie fortress. Along the way several people die due to soviet activities and the entire story seems somewhat pointless as the bad guys seem to know who is going to try and steal the plans and how he is going to do it but don't bother nabbing him, instead kidnapping his brothers - for some reason. Oh, and *SPOILER* in the end his entire family, hereto unmentioned, turn out to be prisoners at the fortress, so he rescues them while stealing the plans.
One of the characters even has the first name 'Tesco'. Honestly Maclean, what were you smoking that day?! The entire book comes across almost as a pastiche or parody of a Maclean novel rather than a serious effort.
The main character, trapeze artist Bruno (also an accomplished mentalist - for some reason), is bland and unlikable, his 'charm' mainly confined to constantly being the smartest man in the room - and boy does he know it! Almost the entire book is about a dull journey of a circus from America to the Eastern bloc, organised by the CIA so the main character can steal some plans regarding anti-matter from an 'impenetrable' Commie fortress. Along the way several people die due to soviet activities and the entire story seems somewhat pointless as the bad guys seem to know who is going to try and steal the plans and how he is going to do it but don't bother nabbing him, instead kidnapping his brothers - for some reason. Oh, and *SPOILER* in the end his entire family, hereto unmentioned, turn out to be prisoners at the fortress, so he rescues them while stealing the plans.
One of the characters even has the first name 'Tesco'. Honestly Maclean, what were you smoking that day?! The entire book comes across almost as a pastiche or parody of a Maclean novel rather than a serious effort.
August 17, 2013
Disappointingly tedious. Meet Bruno Wildermann, high wire daredevil on a journey of espionage, tasked with retrieving secret documents from an impenetrable prison.... who spends most of his time sitting in cafes and telling everyone around him how stupid they are.
The bulk of the story takes place on a train heading closer and closer to the final destination, but fails to build any dramatic tension as it does.
Beyond the distinctly unlikable Bruno, a cast of utterly indiscernible characters come and go, introduced with told-not-shown character traits then lost in a mass of such weak characters that telling and keeping one from another becomes often impossible.
The lack of dramatic tension and strong characters leaves the reader with little to invest in, a problem not helped by most of the eventual plot being shrouded in mystery.
It is a good premise poorly executed, a book I only really finished out of a reluctance to abandon it. If there is nothing else to hand it isn't too bad a read, but I would not recommend it.
The bulk of the story takes place on a train heading closer and closer to the final destination, but fails to build any dramatic tension as it does.
Beyond the distinctly unlikable Bruno, a cast of utterly indiscernible characters come and go, introduced with told-not-shown character traits then lost in a mass of such weak characters that telling and keeping one from another becomes often impossible.
The lack of dramatic tension and strong characters leaves the reader with little to invest in, a problem not helped by most of the eventual plot being shrouded in mystery.
It is a good premise poorly executed, a book I only really finished out of a reluctance to abandon it. If there is nothing else to hand it isn't too bad a read, but I would not recommend it.
March 3, 2017
Overall was a dull read. It wasn't bad enough for me to stop reading it, but I'm glad to be done with it. Circus lacks the intensity of a thriller and the excitement of a heist, and overall the pacing is too slow. Probably the worst aspect, however, are the characters. Bruno, the hero, is presented as near super human, so when he faces his ultimate challenge the intended intensity doesn't come through, since he's easily beaten challenges that appear much more difficult. We also never see enough of his struggles to sympathize with him, so I never care about what happens to him. Mariah, his love interest, is even worse. It only takes a few interactions with her for us to realize her only purpose is to be the love interest. She's incredibly incompetent and goes into near hysterics whenever she hears that Bruno will be putting himself in danger. Other characters are almost completely ignored for much of the book, only to become essential towards the end. The only good thing I can say about this book is that it didn't completely bore me, yet I can't figure out why it didn't.
May 5, 2014
This MacLean novel, two thirds of the way into his writing career, has a fairly straightforward plot: world-famous circus aerialist Bruno Wildermann is recruited by the CIA to break into a Russian prison/research lab to steal the plans for creating an antimatter bomb. I liked the circus setting for this espionage thriller and I thought it had a good ending, though I highly doubt MacLean ever visited a proper circus. He largely sets his scenes in cafes and train cabins, rather than inside the circus tent, probably because he’s more comfortable with those surroundings. He then skips almost all of the circus performances, going straight to the end of the tour and the daring break-in, which is certainly the strongest part of the novel. All in all, this is not one of MacLean’s better novels, but it has some good moments near the end that make it a passable read.
August 11, 2015
I hadn't read a Maclean for years before this one, and I picked an old copy of this that was lying at home to check it out. It was an enjoyable read -- as always, it's well-written and blazingly fast paced, with shocking deaths and unexpected twists at regular intervals. The ending had some nice surprises which felt amazing when I read it, but in retrospect, it feels like one of those contrived twist endings -- one that the rest of the story is sort of force-fitted towards. Again in retrospect, the overall plot itself wasn't thaat great -- a miracle circus performer being used by the US to undertake a daring, Mission Impossible-style heist on a Russian facility.
Nevertheless, this book is solid entertainment for the 3-4 hours which it lasts, and its flaws only materialize if you look at it critically.
Nevertheless, this book is solid entertainment for the 3-4 hours which it lasts, and its flaws only materialize if you look at it critically.
September 3, 2017
So here's the thing; I enjoyed this book. (sort of).
As a mystery, it doesn't have that nicely sprinkled foreshadowing throughout the book. Nothing is really explained, like how Bruno's memory works or how he's basically Sherlock. Speaking of Sherlock, this book reminds me of the newer episode of the show, mainly season four, where the audience has no way of figuring things out for themselves before it's told to us. The last few pages are a good example of telling, not showing, which in this case, was very annoying.
Bruno's near superhuman abilities also made the whole break-in very non-exciting to say the least. You could easily guess that a conflict would arise involving all the protagonists, secondary characters and antagonists. Really though it was more of a non-flict in for it turned out, it's not surprising that all the "good guys" survived it.
As a mystery, it doesn't have that nicely sprinkled foreshadowing throughout the book. Nothing is really explained, like how Bruno's memory works or how he's basically Sherlock. Speaking of Sherlock, this book reminds me of the newer episode of the show, mainly season four, where the audience has no way of figuring things out for themselves before it's told to us. The last few pages are a good example of telling, not showing, which in this case, was very annoying.
Bruno's near superhuman abilities also made the whole break-in very non-exciting to say the least. You could easily guess that a conflict would arise involving all the protagonists, secondary characters and antagonists. Really though it was more of a non-flict in for it turned out, it's not surprising that all the "good guys" survived it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2013
First read this many, many, years ago.
A compact well assembled story combining espionage and associated intrigue with the entertainment world. The Circus to be exact and this one is traveling behind the Iron Curtain to the U.S.S.R.(Russia for you youngsters).
There is a member of the Circus who has a special talent. His memory is eidetic. Truly a photographic memory. But how he decided to use it is the core of this story.
Unexpectedly good and has held up well. Highly recommended for an entertaining read and for spy/crime/espionage fans!
The 'read' date is approximate based on the receipt inside the front cover of the copy I have on the shelf.
A compact well assembled story combining espionage and associated intrigue with the entertainment world. The Circus to be exact and this one is traveling behind the Iron Curtain to the U.S.S.R.(Russia for you youngsters).
There is a member of the Circus who has a special talent. His memory is eidetic. Truly a photographic memory. But how he decided to use it is the core of this story.
Unexpectedly good and has held up well. Highly recommended for an entertaining read and for spy/crime/espionage fans!
The 'read' date is approximate based on the receipt inside the front cover of the copy I have on the shelf.
August 22, 2014
I really liked the idea of having circus performers use their skills for something other than entertainment. This was a fast paced read, and there were plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing - right up to the last page.
I was disappointed by the romance angle of it - it was poorly executed, and I think unneccesary. I don't know if this is something Alistair Maclean usually includes in his novels, it just had the feel of being unpracticed, thrown in to appeal to a wider audience maybe? That said, it didn't detract from the pacing or appeal of the book.
Not something I would read again to be honest, but an enjoyable way to pass the time on night duty.
I was disappointed by the romance angle of it - it was poorly executed, and I think unneccesary. I don't know if this is something Alistair Maclean usually includes in his novels, it just had the feel of being unpracticed, thrown in to appeal to a wider audience maybe? That said, it didn't detract from the pacing or appeal of the book.
Not something I would read again to be honest, but an enjoyable way to pass the time on night duty.
January 20, 2024
HVAD BOGREOLEN GEMTE!
Endnu engang har jeg rodet rundt i bogreolerne. Denne gang faldt jeg over gode gamle Alistair MacLean. Jeg har haft mange gode timer i hans selskab, men indrømmet - det er nok 15-20 år siden jeg sidst læste en af hans bøger. Javist, spiongenren er kommet langt siden "Cirkus" blev skrevet og man mærker det tydeligt undervejs. I dag ville helten nok have et armbåndsur med en
masse finurligheder eller sko med sære evner. Da denne bog blev skrevet, var rå muskelkraft hovedingredienserne. Og jeg er ganske tilfreds. Jeg har en varm følelse af, at have mødt en god gammel ven. Så 4 stjerner trods "alderspåvirkningen".
Endnu engang har jeg rodet rundt i bogreolerne. Denne gang faldt jeg over gode gamle Alistair MacLean. Jeg har haft mange gode timer i hans selskab, men indrømmet - det er nok 15-20 år siden jeg sidst læste en af hans bøger. Javist, spiongenren er kommet langt siden "Cirkus" blev skrevet og man mærker det tydeligt undervejs. I dag ville helten nok have et armbåndsur med en
masse finurligheder eller sko med sære evner. Da denne bog blev skrevet, var rå muskelkraft hovedingredienserne. Og jeg er ganske tilfreds. Jeg har en varm følelse af, at have mødt en god gammel ven. Så 4 stjerner trods "alderspåvirkningen".
June 10, 2018
If 1973’s ‘The Way to Dusty Death’ is the first truly lacklustre Alistair MacLean novel, and 1977’s ‘Seawitch’ the point at which the rot set in good and proper, he did at least make a couple of returns to form between them: ‘Breakheart Pass’ and ‘Circus’. The latter mixes Cold War espionage, betrayal and MacLean’s trademark “traitor within the camp” tension building, as well as throwing in a quasi-sci-fi MacGuffin. ‘Circus’ is an admirably compact novel, with plenty of intrigue, red herrings and instances of derring-do. That it remains mid-tier MacLean has to do with his disinterest in characterisation (everybody is a Central Casting type) and a romantic subplot that fails to convince.
May 19, 2023
If you can imagine a government that is willing, even anxious, to kidnap its talented citizens if that's what it takes to get them to represent their country... If you can imagine a young woman in the intelligence field who is more beautiful than brainy (not dumb, mind you)... If you can imagine a man possessed of almost superhuman mental powers, used on the ground, on the high-wire, and on the trapeze... You'll still have to read the book, because you'll never imagine the story being told this way.
June 3, 2018
"Circus" follows the MacLean formula familiar to fans of his best-known works like "The Guns of Navarone" or "Ice Station Zebra." This time, it's set among a circus touring Europe, including countries behind the Iron Curtain. You can expect the usual plot twists, the traitor, and the intelligent woman with very little to do in the book except be protected. Nevertheless, it's entertaining, which was the whole point when MacLean wrote it. If you like his other novels, you'll find this one enjoyable, though definitely not in the upper tier of his works.
January 21, 2009
This is the first Alistair MacLean I read. I picked it up at a used book sale and remember my parents reading them. What fun this was! I read it in a couple of days and enjoyed it immensely. It's too bad these books are out of print. If you can find them, and if you like a good cold war spy novel - then I'm sure you will like this. Clever, not too heavy and fun. Now I want to find the others.
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