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The Crook Factory
"Wonderful...brilliantly realized...a gripping narrative."
- Iain Pears, "New York Times" bestselling author of "An Instance of the Fingerpost"
In 1942, at the height of World War II, the famous writer Ernest Hemingway sought permission from the U.S. government to operate a spy ring out of his house in the Cuban countryside. This much is true...
It is the summer of '42, and FBI agent Joe Lucas has come to Cuba at the behest of the Director to keep an eye on Ernest Hemingway, who has recklessly decided to play spy in the Caribbean. Lucas has been instructed to somehow gain the great writer's trust and friendship, but all the agent's cool intellect and training has left him unprepared to withstand the human whirlwind known as "Papa."
Hemingway has assembled a spy ring that he calls the "Crook Factory"--including an American millionaire, a twelve-year-old Cuban orphan, a Spanish jai alai champion, a priest, and a fisherman, among others--to play a dangerous game of amateur espionage. Then, against all odds, Hemingway uncovers a critical piece of intelligence, and the game turns deadly for himself, Lucas, and for untold innocents.
In "THE CROOK FACTORY," Dan Simmons weaves an unforgettable tale of riveting suspense, peopled by larger-than-life characters who inhabit the sensual, intoxicating Cuban landscape of the 1940s. It is a novel of honor, passion, and deadly conspiracy.
And it could very well have happened...
Interestingly, about 75% of the stuff in this book actually happened. The remaining 25% adds an excellent spy story that may have happened while still fitting all known/revealed facts about Hemingway and his friends in Cuba during WWII.
- Iain Pears, "New York Times" bestselling author of "An Instance of the Fingerpost"
In 1942, at the height of World War II, the famous writer Ernest Hemingway sought permission from the U.S. government to operate a spy ring out of his house in the Cuban countryside. This much is true...
It is the summer of '42, and FBI agent Joe Lucas has come to Cuba at the behest of the Director to keep an eye on Ernest Hemingway, who has recklessly decided to play spy in the Caribbean. Lucas has been instructed to somehow gain the great writer's trust and friendship, but all the agent's cool intellect and training has left him unprepared to withstand the human whirlwind known as "Papa."
Hemingway has assembled a spy ring that he calls the "Crook Factory"--including an American millionaire, a twelve-year-old Cuban orphan, a Spanish jai alai champion, a priest, and a fisherman, among others--to play a dangerous game of amateur espionage. Then, against all odds, Hemingway uncovers a critical piece of intelligence, and the game turns deadly for himself, Lucas, and for untold innocents.
In "THE CROOK FACTORY," Dan Simmons weaves an unforgettable tale of riveting suspense, peopled by larger-than-life characters who inhabit the sensual, intoxicating Cuban landscape of the 1940s. It is a novel of honor, passion, and deadly conspiracy.
And it could very well have happened...
Interestingly, about 75% of the stuff in this book actually happened. The remaining 25% adds an excellent spy story that may have happened while still fitting all known/revealed facts about Hemingway and his friends in Cuba during WWII.
580 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
147 people are currently reading
1824 people want to read
About the author
Dan Simmons
289 books13.6k followersDan Simmons is an American science fiction and horror writer. He is the author of the Hyperion Cantos and the Ilium/Olympos cycles, among other works that span the science fiction, horror, and fantasy genres, sometimes within a single novel. Simmons's genre-intermingling Song of Kali (1985) won the World Fantasy Award. He also writes mysteries and thrillers, some of which feature the continuing character Joe Kurtz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
October 22, 2018
OMG. Okay, let's face it. Dan Simmons is a consummate author. Consummate because he does a TON of fantastic research, thorough follow-through, and fantastic characters. Not only that, but he happens to have been one of my favorite authors ever since I read Hyperion back in the day. Since then, he's equally well-known as a hard-SF writer and an epic horror novelist, equally good in either branch....
But then something weird happened. He's been writing historical novels. I didn't quite realize this until now, which makes me kinda an idiot. I read Drood which was all about Dickens and Wilkie Collins, and then there's the Terror and THIS novel. And there's more, obviously.
I'm ... frankly blown away. Drood was everything in Victorian England. This was utterly WWII Cuba. :) HEMINGWAY, FOLKS! As the author names it, 95% of everything in this novel is true, and whatever narrative liberties he makes, it's all for the good.
Ernest Hemingway ran his own spy ring fighting the Nazis in Cuba. Notable persons involved in the tale are Hoover, Ian Flemming, Ingrid Bergman, Gary Cooper, a wide cast of real people I have no idea about, and it all makes for a rollickingly awesome spy tale. :)
For anyone who knows anything about Hemingway, he's a man's man with a lot of animal charisma that shines through not just his fantastic prose, but in his real-life actions. It would be super easy to go on and on about the man, but that's just it. He had a really fascinating life.
Many wives, a lost briefcase of all his early short stories, getting shot up in wars, serving as war correspondents and an ambulance driver, being a huge part of the Lost Generation, being an expatriate, and generally being a superstar literary genius. To be treated with a novelization of his spy ring, tho? The Crook Factory? ...Is something truly extraordinary. :)
But I should mention that this will only appeal to fans of Hemingway, spy fiction in general, WWII buffs, and the positively curious. Otherwise, all this name dropping focus on the man will go to waste. Alas.
Good thing I'm a fan of everything that went on here, right? :)
But then something weird happened. He's been writing historical novels. I didn't quite realize this until now, which makes me kinda an idiot. I read Drood which was all about Dickens and Wilkie Collins, and then there's the Terror and THIS novel. And there's more, obviously.
I'm ... frankly blown away. Drood was everything in Victorian England. This was utterly WWII Cuba. :) HEMINGWAY, FOLKS! As the author names it, 95% of everything in this novel is true, and whatever narrative liberties he makes, it's all for the good.
Ernest Hemingway ran his own spy ring fighting the Nazis in Cuba. Notable persons involved in the tale are Hoover, Ian Flemming, Ingrid Bergman, Gary Cooper, a wide cast of real people I have no idea about, and it all makes for a rollickingly awesome spy tale. :)
For anyone who knows anything about Hemingway, he's a man's man with a lot of animal charisma that shines through not just his fantastic prose, but in his real-life actions. It would be super easy to go on and on about the man, but that's just it. He had a really fascinating life.
Many wives, a lost briefcase of all his early short stories, getting shot up in wars, serving as war correspondents and an ambulance driver, being a huge part of the Lost Generation, being an expatriate, and generally being a superstar literary genius. To be treated with a novelization of his spy ring, tho? The Crook Factory? ...Is something truly extraordinary. :)
But I should mention that this will only appeal to fans of Hemingway, spy fiction in general, WWII buffs, and the positively curious. Otherwise, all this name dropping focus on the man will go to waste. Alas.
Good thing I'm a fan of everything that went on here, right? :)
July 12, 2011
Talk about a concept that sells itself: Ernest Hemingway battles Nazis spies in Cuba during World War II. Who wouldn’t pay money to see that fight?
In this historical fiction based on Hemingway’s activities in the Caribbean during the war, Joe Lucas is an FBI agent who has been busting up Nazi intelligence networks all over North America since Pearl Harbor, but he is given a special assignment by J. Edgar Hoover himself. Ernest Hemingway has talked the US ambassador to Cuba into getting him authorization and funding to set up his own network of spies he calls the Crook Factory to root out Nazi infiltrators on the island. Hoover sends the reluctant Lucas to spy on Hemingway under the guise of being his government liaison.
Lucas is less than thrilled to be pulled off his high profile assignments stopping real Nazi spies to babysit the famous writer and can’t understand why Hoover even cares. As a writer, Hemingway doesn’t impress Lucas because he doesn’t even read fiction, and the FBI agent doesn’t think much of Hemingway as an spy ringleader either. Lucas finds Hemingway’s loose network of Cuban workers and drinking buddies to be laughable, and Hemingway himself to be a boastful overgrown child playing spy games. Lucas is even more horrified when Hemingway comes up with a harebrained scheme to have his own fishing boat outfitted with small arms and other equipment to try to lure a Nazi sub to the surface to be captured and convinces the government to go along with it.
Yet Lucas soon realizes that there’s a swarm of serious spies hovering around Hemingway’s Crook Factory (including British agent Ian Fleming), and he starts to think that both he and Hemingway are being set up somehow in someone else’s operation. As Lucas has to start depending on the writer, he learns that there’s more to Hemingway than just the larger than life image he works so hard to maintain.
Dan Simmons simply astounds me with the way he can shift from crime novels to sci fi to horror, but this was the start of several historical fictions he’d do including Drood, The Terror and Black Hills. He must do an enormous amount of research on these novels, but his flaw is that he tries to cram every tidbit of knowledge he picks up into them. Which is weird because he could create an entire universe in his Hyperion series and give you just enough detail to make it believable, but not lapse into so much that it become overwhelming. Yet in a book like this, Simmons describes things like the motors on the boats or the codes being used in exhausting detail. It helps build the atmosphere, but he lets it get the better of the story at times.
Still, I enjoyed this novel with it’s depiction of Hemingway that seems to confirm the things his critics say and yet manages to transcend them to give a portrait of an artist who both uses and is trapped by his image. There’s an interesting afterward where Simmons writes that most biographers write off this period in Hemingway’s life as a wacky novelty, yet the government files on the Crook Factory are still classified, and that Hoover’s FBI maintained active surveillance on the writer until he took his own life.
It’s an interesting premise with a fascinating portrayal of Hemingway and lots of spy intrigue, but the pace could have been increased with a bit less detail.
In this historical fiction based on Hemingway’s activities in the Caribbean during the war, Joe Lucas is an FBI agent who has been busting up Nazi intelligence networks all over North America since Pearl Harbor, but he is given a special assignment by J. Edgar Hoover himself. Ernest Hemingway has talked the US ambassador to Cuba into getting him authorization and funding to set up his own network of spies he calls the Crook Factory to root out Nazi infiltrators on the island. Hoover sends the reluctant Lucas to spy on Hemingway under the guise of being his government liaison.
Lucas is less than thrilled to be pulled off his high profile assignments stopping real Nazi spies to babysit the famous writer and can’t understand why Hoover even cares. As a writer, Hemingway doesn’t impress Lucas because he doesn’t even read fiction, and the FBI agent doesn’t think much of Hemingway as an spy ringleader either. Lucas finds Hemingway’s loose network of Cuban workers and drinking buddies to be laughable, and Hemingway himself to be a boastful overgrown child playing spy games. Lucas is even more horrified when Hemingway comes up with a harebrained scheme to have his own fishing boat outfitted with small arms and other equipment to try to lure a Nazi sub to the surface to be captured and convinces the government to go along with it.
Yet Lucas soon realizes that there’s a swarm of serious spies hovering around Hemingway’s Crook Factory (including British agent Ian Fleming), and he starts to think that both he and Hemingway are being set up somehow in someone else’s operation. As Lucas has to start depending on the writer, he learns that there’s more to Hemingway than just the larger than life image he works so hard to maintain.
Dan Simmons simply astounds me with the way he can shift from crime novels to sci fi to horror, but this was the start of several historical fictions he’d do including Drood, The Terror and Black Hills. He must do an enormous amount of research on these novels, but his flaw is that he tries to cram every tidbit of knowledge he picks up into them. Which is weird because he could create an entire universe in his Hyperion series and give you just enough detail to make it believable, but not lapse into so much that it become overwhelming. Yet in a book like this, Simmons describes things like the motors on the boats or the codes being used in exhausting detail. It helps build the atmosphere, but he lets it get the better of the story at times.
Still, I enjoyed this novel with it’s depiction of Hemingway that seems to confirm the things his critics say and yet manages to transcend them to give a portrait of an artist who both uses and is trapped by his image. There’s an interesting afterward where Simmons writes that most biographers write off this period in Hemingway’s life as a wacky novelty, yet the government files on the Crook Factory are still classified, and that Hoover’s FBI maintained active surveillance on the writer until he took his own life.
It’s an interesting premise with a fascinating portrayal of Hemingway and lots of spy intrigue, but the pace could have been increased with a bit less detail.
February 8, 2019
I was given this book, by a friend from work for Christmas. we talk a lot about books, he knew I read Hemmingway, had a interest in WW2, hate Nazis with a passion, and enjoy espionage books in general. He told me (Dan Simmons who I had never heard of to be honest) was a really good author of both historical fiction and Sci-Fi two of my favorite genres. Other than Game of Thornes we have similar taste in book. he further stoked my intrigue by telling me Ian Fleming is in the Crook Factory.
the Crook Factory is not a good example of historical fiction. in my opinion! a Historical Fiction should take you back in time. maybe because it did not take place that long ago or the style it was written. but there was something very modern about the book. Joe Lucas was a very modern character, he is very like Alex Cross, Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan and Jason Bourne in construct. which is a good character construct for the action thriller genre. but not historical. when you read a James Bond book he seems to be form a different era that's all I am saying.
the crook factory is more like two separate books. the first half is where Simmons lays down the set-up. and most of the books impressive 95% true facts. Simmons sprinkles celebrity guest in between boring tediously exact FBI Files. on noteworthy personages of the day, everybody from movie stars, Politicians, intelligence agents, Elanor Rosenfield, JFK, and Hemmingway himself. interesting but very boring the way they are relayed to the reader. Simmons almost kills the intrigue of espionage. overall the first half is awful and I had to struggle to keep going. but I did because of the encouragement of Ned (my friend) "stick with this one until the end the payoff is good!" he said.
the Book style changes with the death of a young boy. and Lucas deciding to tell Hemmingway everything. from that point on The Crook Factory becomes a true spy Thriller not Historical Fiction. the fact that this Is about Ernest Hemmingway becomes less important as Hemmingway morphs into a legit Espionage Operative. the book best character. Lucas stands in awe of him, less of a professional and more of a adviser. the book makes some predictable twist and wraps up nicely with a debrief courtesy of Beta Phillip and Ian Fleming. where the book should have ended but continues a little longer. I would tell you to skip ahead to the last 150 pages but you would be loss without the excruciating long set-up.
the way Hemmingway is portrayed in the first half is mostly negative. the second half he is portrayed completely different. seeming less posturing joke and more of a badass and under appreciated genius. this in a time frame of his greatest popularly is another reason The crook Factory seems less Historical Fiction. Hemmingway is a divisive character himself in the early 21st century. some hate him, some respect him, some like him, some call him a hack. but almost all have a opinion. check a GR review of any of his books like Old man and the sea. and you will get a taste of the viciously passionate arguing that sometime makes GR and other social media sights unbearable. But Hemmingway is a interesting guy if not a literary icon. this book is only notable because of him.
the Crook Factory is not a good example of historical fiction. in my opinion! a Historical Fiction should take you back in time. maybe because it did not take place that long ago or the style it was written. but there was something very modern about the book. Joe Lucas was a very modern character, he is very like Alex Cross, Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan and Jason Bourne in construct. which is a good character construct for the action thriller genre. but not historical. when you read a James Bond book he seems to be form a different era that's all I am saying.
the crook factory is more like two separate books. the first half is where Simmons lays down the set-up. and most of the books impressive 95% true facts. Simmons sprinkles celebrity guest in between boring tediously exact FBI Files. on noteworthy personages of the day, everybody from movie stars, Politicians, intelligence agents, Elanor Rosenfield, JFK, and Hemmingway himself. interesting but very boring the way they are relayed to the reader. Simmons almost kills the intrigue of espionage. overall the first half is awful and I had to struggle to keep going. but I did because of the encouragement of Ned (my friend) "stick with this one until the end the payoff is good!" he said.
the Book style changes with the death of a young boy. and Lucas deciding to tell Hemmingway everything. from that point on The Crook Factory becomes a true spy Thriller not Historical Fiction. the fact that this Is about Ernest Hemmingway becomes less important as Hemmingway morphs into a legit Espionage Operative. the book best character. Lucas stands in awe of him, less of a professional and more of a adviser. the book makes some predictable twist and wraps up nicely with a debrief courtesy of Beta Phillip and Ian Fleming. where the book should have ended but continues a little longer. I would tell you to skip ahead to the last 150 pages but you would be loss without the excruciating long set-up.
the way Hemmingway is portrayed in the first half is mostly negative. the second half he is portrayed completely different. seeming less posturing joke and more of a badass and under appreciated genius. this in a time frame of his greatest popularly is another reason The crook Factory seems less Historical Fiction. Hemmingway is a divisive character himself in the early 21st century. some hate him, some respect him, some like him, some call him a hack. but almost all have a opinion. check a GR review of any of his books like Old man and the sea. and you will get a taste of the viciously passionate arguing that sometime makes GR and other social media sights unbearable. But Hemmingway is a interesting guy if not a literary icon. this book is only notable because of him.
May 12, 2019
Ένα επικό ταξίδι στην Κούβα του Β' Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, με ξεναγό τον ειδικό πράκτορα Τζο Λούκας!
Η απίστευτη ιστορία του Χέμινγουεϊ και της Φάμπρικας Απατεώνων, που γίνεται ακόμη πιο απίστευτη αν λάβει κανείς υπόψιν ότι είναι κατά 95% αληθινή!
Η απίστευτη ιστορία του Χέμινγουεϊ και της Φάμπρικας Απατεώνων, που γίνεται ακόμη πιο απίστευτη αν λάβει κανείς υπόψιν ότι είναι κατά 95% αληθινή!
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August 19, 2021Η ιστορία βασίζεται στα γεγονότα που διαδραματίζονται στην Κουβά το ΄40 με πρωταγωνιστή τον Έρνεστ Χεμινγουέι. Ο Simmons λέει ότι βασίστηκε στο μεγαλύτερο κομμάτι της ιστορίας σε πραγματικά γεγονότα. Ως ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα κατασκοπίας είναι εξαιρετικά γραμμένο και λεπτομερές, αλλά το "είδος" βιβλίων που έχουν κατασκοπία, κυνήγι κατασκόπων, διπλούς πράκτορες κτλ δεν μου αρέσουν. Ειδικά αν αναφέρονται εκτεταμένα σε ονόματα οργανώσεων-πρακτόρων, ορολογίες κατασκοπίας και ιστορικών γεγονότων. Γι'αυτό θα αποφύγω να δώσω βαθμό.
December 13, 2015
Another absolutely GREAT story by Dan Simmons!! I am never ever tired of reading his works and he doesn't disappoint again in this historical fiction tale about Ernest Hemingway and his stranger than life exploits as a spy for the U.S. down in Cuba during World War II.
Like many of Simmons's novels, there is at least as much fact as there is fiction in this brilliantly crafted tale of espionage, politics, drama, and intrigue down in the Caribbean during the first years of American involvement in the war with the Axis Powers.
The premise is rooted firmly in obscure historical fact, which Simmons has a nose for discovering and then using the framework of history as a template and then filling in the rest with his one of a kind imagination. The way he creates a fictional account of factual events in which no one really knows what took place, a la "Drood" "The Terror" and "Black Hills" to mention a few.
The way Simmons writes can be described only as page-turning. The prose is written as a master craftsman, changing ever so slightly dependent on the topic, the time period, and the voice of the narrator and point of view for the story. If you read through other books by Simmons, you will be astonished at the ability he has to write in any genre like he was born in it.
This book has a little bit of everything, love, action, mystery, suspense, anything you are looking for, it has. I wish I could find the trough of information that Simmons collects about these fairly obscure historical events that virtually no one knows about, yet really happened. In fact, in The Crook Factory, the book packs all that much more of a punch when right after the end, Simmons details out all the facts that surround the story, and insert into the book, the actual FBI documents and correspondence that took place back in the 40's. It absolutely brings to life an author most of us know, but not anywhere close to this depth.
As I say in every Simmons review I write, I would read his shopping list if he would publish it. And I mean it.
You cannot go wrong with Simmons.
Like many of Simmons's novels, there is at least as much fact as there is fiction in this brilliantly crafted tale of espionage, politics, drama, and intrigue down in the Caribbean during the first years of American involvement in the war with the Axis Powers.
The premise is rooted firmly in obscure historical fact, which Simmons has a nose for discovering and then using the framework of history as a template and then filling in the rest with his one of a kind imagination. The way he creates a fictional account of factual events in which no one really knows what took place, a la "Drood" "The Terror" and "Black Hills" to mention a few.
The way Simmons writes can be described only as page-turning. The prose is written as a master craftsman, changing ever so slightly dependent on the topic, the time period, and the voice of the narrator and point of view for the story. If you read through other books by Simmons, you will be astonished at the ability he has to write in any genre like he was born in it.
This book has a little bit of everything, love, action, mystery, suspense, anything you are looking for, it has. I wish I could find the trough of information that Simmons collects about these fairly obscure historical events that virtually no one knows about, yet really happened. In fact, in The Crook Factory, the book packs all that much more of a punch when right after the end, Simmons details out all the facts that surround the story, and insert into the book, the actual FBI documents and correspondence that took place back in the 40's. It absolutely brings to life an author most of us know, but not anywhere close to this depth.
As I say in every Simmons review I write, I would read his shopping list if he would publish it. And I mean it.
You cannot go wrong with Simmons.
June 1, 2018
As boring as Hemingway’s novels itself, so that’s appropriate.
Look, Dan Simmons is the greatest author alive today. His bibliography speaks for itself. With ‘The Crook Factory,’ readers receive more facts that fiction as Simmons states in the afterward that 95% of the novel is true. This is fine, especially since some of those facts are fascinating history. Other facts, such as the FBI records that take up pages with textbook like material, can be a bit daunting.
The multiple cameos from famous actors and politicians and authors were fun, the main character’s annoyance with Hemingway’s forced macho behavior was suitable as I found myself agreeing with him. This just didn’t grab me as much of other Simmons novels, I believe Simmons could publish his “to-do list” and make it at least a fraction interesting and that is what ‘The Crook Factory’ was to me; a fraction of interesting material. 2.5/5
Look, Dan Simmons is the greatest author alive today. His bibliography speaks for itself. With ‘The Crook Factory,’ readers receive more facts that fiction as Simmons states in the afterward that 95% of the novel is true. This is fine, especially since some of those facts are fascinating history. Other facts, such as the FBI records that take up pages with textbook like material, can be a bit daunting.
The multiple cameos from famous actors and politicians and authors were fun, the main character’s annoyance with Hemingway’s forced macho behavior was suitable as I found myself agreeing with him. This just didn’t grab me as much of other Simmons novels, I believe Simmons could publish his “to-do list” and make it at least a fraction interesting and that is what ‘The Crook Factory’ was to me; a fraction of interesting material. 2.5/5
March 6, 2018
I “discovered” Dan Simmons through his “Hyperion” science fiction quadrilogy. Imagine my surprise when I found a used copy of this suspense book on my own husband’s bookshelf. I have read Ken Follett and Tom Clancy and others, but, it’s not my “go to” genre. This is an impressive espionage “historical fiction” (where I get most of my history)....and, well, HEMINGWAY! I do love Hemingway.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Complex, but not overwhelming. Satisfying. My estimation of Mr. Simmons has grown exponentially. I’m always impressed when an author I appreciate, crosses the lines of literary classifications and comes out a resounding success.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Complex, but not overwhelming. Satisfying. My estimation of Mr. Simmons has grown exponentially. I’m always impressed when an author I appreciate, crosses the lines of literary classifications and comes out a resounding success.
August 25, 2018
The Crook Factory was okay. It certainly had its great moments, but those moments were few and far between. On the front cover, you'll see the caption "A Novel of Suspense" but I would declare said caption to be more of a classification of genre, than a description for the book.
I don't mean to reiterate what is said in other reviews, but (as we know of many Dan Simmons books) there were too many details and much info-dumping and did not balance well with the story. In other books, it's tolerable...even interesting. I always find myself learning new things and fun facts when I read Dan Simmons, so I guess it really all depends on the subject matter.
The primary subject matter of The Crook Factory was espionage. I didn't find myself loving it, and surprisingly so. I thought I would more interested, but he goes on and on and on with the trading secrets, gathering information, which ships get placed where, when subs will move there, radio codes, who's fucking who, etc... whenever we dive into somebody's dossier, I start to lose my attention. And, whenever Lucas (spy partner of Hemingway) intercepts a new code, it takes multiple pages to describe the process of deciphering; and once you, the reader, finally see the decoded message, you won't even understand the significance until later on.
So those were the bads. But, there were plenty of goods. Enough good about this book that I'm glad I read it, and for last half, mostly enjoyed it. The characters were likeable, so that's important. Especially Ernest Hemingway, you can't help but to like him. He's got a giant heart under his rough edges. Joe Lucas, our narrator, is an SIS spy by profession, so he can be cold and calculating, but means well. Santiago is a cool lil guy as well.
I liked the atmosphere as a whole. The entire story takes place in Cuba so you learn much about the culture and the geography. Even the weather. This book is best read in the summer, on a beach, since much of the setting is the sea. Our way out at sea. I enjoyed the comradery with Lucas, Hemingway, his two kids and his band of amateur spies. Much like a whole family, they're always out on the boat fishing by some exotic location in the Caribbean, driftwood camp fires, lots of food and sandwiches, and of course quite a fair share of booze.
So all in all, once you get past the politics and fine details, this was a fun read. And if you like WWII espionage novels then it's a great read.
I don't mean to reiterate what is said in other reviews, but (as we know of many Dan Simmons books) there were too many details and much info-dumping and did not balance well with the story. In other books, it's tolerable...even interesting. I always find myself learning new things and fun facts when I read Dan Simmons, so I guess it really all depends on the subject matter.
The primary subject matter of The Crook Factory was espionage. I didn't find myself loving it, and surprisingly so. I thought I would more interested, but he goes on and on and on with the trading secrets, gathering information, which ships get placed where, when subs will move there, radio codes, who's fucking who, etc... whenever we dive into somebody's dossier, I start to lose my attention. And, whenever Lucas (spy partner of Hemingway) intercepts a new code, it takes multiple pages to describe the process of deciphering; and once you, the reader, finally see the decoded message, you won't even understand the significance until later on.
So those were the bads. But, there were plenty of goods. Enough good about this book that I'm glad I read it, and for last half, mostly enjoyed it. The characters were likeable, so that's important. Especially Ernest Hemingway, you can't help but to like him. He's got a giant heart under his rough edges. Joe Lucas, our narrator, is an SIS spy by profession, so he can be cold and calculating, but means well. Santiago is a cool lil guy as well.
I liked the atmosphere as a whole. The entire story takes place in Cuba so you learn much about the culture and the geography. Even the weather. This book is best read in the summer, on a beach, since much of the setting is the sea. Our way out at sea. I enjoyed the comradery with Lucas, Hemingway, his two kids and his band of amateur spies. Much like a whole family, they're always out on the boat fishing by some exotic location in the Caribbean, driftwood camp fires, lots of food and sandwiches, and of course quite a fair share of booze.
So all in all, once you get past the politics and fine details, this was a fun read. And if you like WWII espionage novels then it's a great read.
February 26, 2013
having only read now 4 of dan simmons' novels, i love him as a writer. i love his exact, careful style. but that style is more at home in victorian novels like Drood and Terror. but here, as in Flashback, the execution of the style falters in the face of a faster paced narrative. due to the delicate writing style, action scenes are robbed of any immediacy. couple the stylistic missteps with long passages of ver batim FBI notes and close attention to irrelevant detail, and the suspense which should run tightly throughout the entirety of the novel, is completely lost.
July 27, 2025
3,5 -> επειδή τον αγαπάμε, 4
Είναι 1942, οι ΗΠΑ είναι και επισήμως μπλεγμένες στον Β’ΠΠ και ο Τζορτζ Λούκας, πράκτορας του FBI αποστέλλεται στην Κούβα για να στελεχώσει τη Φάμπρικα Απατεώνων, την οργάνωση αντικατασκοπίας του Χέμινγουέι, με εντολές κυρίως να... τον παρακολουθεί και να δίνει αναφορά μέσω ενός και μόνο ενδιάμεσου στον μοναδικό Χούβερ.
Το σέτινγκ είναι ιδανικό, Κούβα, κατάσκοποι, γερμανικά U-BOAT και πάνω απ’ όλα ο γίγαντας Χέμινγουέι, μεταξύ μύθου και πραγματικότητας (όπως σε όλο του το βίο), εκρηκτικός, θορυβώδης, γλετζές, αντιφασίστας, ανώριμος σαν αιώνιο παιδί, έτοιμος να παίξει μπουνιές ανά πάσα στιγμή, περιστοιχιζόμενος από ηθοποιούς παγκόσμιου βεληνεκούς, χαμίνια του δρόμου, πουτάνες και κατάσκοπους (όπως και συνέβαινε στην πραγματικότητα).
Σε μια όμορφη ιστορία, που σύμφωνα με το συγγραφέα (τον οποίο και δεν έχω λόγο να αμφισβητήσω) είναι 95% πραγματικότητα και 5% μυθοπλασία, τα πέπλα παραπλάνησης πέφτουν, οι πλεκτάνες αποκαλύπτονται και η αλήθεια βγαίνει σιγά σιγά στην επιφάνεια. Όπως και τα πτώματα...
Όμορφο και ατμοσφαιρικό (με ατμόσφαιρα τροπικών, προφανώς), χωρίς να ασελγεί πάνω στο όνομα του μεγάλου συγγραφέα (όπως έχει γίνει σε άλλες περιπτώσεις), είναι ένα καλογραμμένο και καλοζυγισμένο βιβλίο, όχι αριστούργημα, αλλά σίγουρα ενδιαφέρον, όμορφο και αξιόλογο. Ίσως κουράσει λίγο στο σημείο με την αποκρυπτογράφηση των μηνυμάτων, αλλά αφενός είναι λετζίτ δουλειά του Β’ΠΠ, αφετέρου, το βιβλίο πραγματεύεται ΑΚΡΙΒΩΣ αυτό: αντικατασκοπεία (έστω και σαν πρόσχημα για άλλες δουλειές)
Για όσους τον γνώρισαν μέσα από τη Hard SF των Hyperion Cantos και Illium, είναι μια πολύ ευχάριστη έκπληξη το ότι μπορεί να αποδώσει εξίσου καλά και σε ένα τελείως διαφορετικό genre.
Είναι 1942, οι ΗΠΑ είναι και επισήμως μπλεγμένες στον Β’ΠΠ και ο Τζορτζ Λούκας, πράκτορας του FBI αποστέλλεται στην Κούβα για να στελεχώσει τη Φάμπρικα Απατεώνων, την οργάνωση αντικατασκοπίας του Χέμινγουέι, με εντολές κυρίως να... τον παρακολουθεί και να δίνει αναφορά μέσω ενός και μόνο ενδιάμεσου στον μοναδικό Χούβερ.
Το σέτινγκ είναι ιδανικό, Κούβα, κατάσκοποι, γερμανικά U-BOAT και πάνω απ’ όλα ο γίγαντας Χέμινγουέι, μεταξύ μύθου και πραγματικότητας (όπως σε όλο του το βίο), εκρηκτικός, θορυβώδης, γλετζές, αντιφασίστας, ανώριμος σαν αιώνιο παιδί, έτοιμος να παίξει μπουνιές ανά πάσα στιγμή, περιστοιχιζόμενος από ηθοποιούς παγκόσμιου βεληνεκούς, χαμίνια του δρόμου, πουτάνες και κατάσκοπους (όπως και συνέβαινε στην πραγματικότητα).
Σε μια όμορφη ιστορία, που σύμφωνα με το συγγραφέα (τον οποίο και δεν έχω λόγο να αμφισβητήσω) είναι 95% πραγματικότητα και 5% μυθοπλασία, τα πέπλα παραπλάνησης πέφτουν, οι πλεκτάνες αποκαλύπτονται και η αλήθεια βγαίνει σιγά σιγά στην επιφάνεια. Όπως και τα πτώματα...
Όμορφο και ατμοσφαιρικό (με ατμόσφαιρα τροπικών, προφανώς), χωρίς να ασελγεί πάνω στο όνομα του μεγάλου συγγραφέα (όπως έχει γίνει σε άλλες περιπτώσεις), είναι ένα καλογραμμένο και καλοζυγισμένο βιβλίο, όχι αριστούργημα, αλλά σίγουρα ενδιαφέρον, όμορφο και αξιόλογο. Ίσως κουράσει λίγο στο σημείο με την αποκρυπτογράφηση των μηνυμάτων, αλλά αφενός είναι λετζίτ δουλειά του Β’ΠΠ, αφετέρου, το βιβλίο πραγματεύεται ΑΚΡΙΒΩΣ αυτό: αντικατασκοπεία (έστω και σαν πρόσχημα για άλλες δουλειές)
Για όσους τον γνώρισαν μέσα από τη Hard SF των Hyperion Cantos και Illium, είναι μια πολύ ευχάριστη έκπληξη το ότι μπορεί να αποδώσει εξίσου καλά και σε ένα τελείως διαφορετικό genre.
February 4, 2025
This is the first real sign of Dan Simmons losing his way as a writer and it is thus truly disheartening to read, particularly since this comes after the terrific THE RISE OF ENDYMION. The book starts off fairly strong, with robust writing and a daring premise involving Hemingway's involvement with espionage, as told (mostly) by one Joe Lucas, an FBI agent. While there is some documentation of Hemingway being involved in some way with the FBI, what Simmons fails to dramatize here is his increasing disenchantment. But the plot becomes quickly tedious and unconvincing. And Simmons himself, who starts off having a fairly hard lock on Hemingway's voice, increasingly surrenders his commitment to verisimilitude as the novel progresses. He doesn't seem to have any larger point to make here and thus the novel suffers from a kind of Wold Newtonesque conceit that Philip Jose Farmer could pull off in his sleep, but that is outside Simmons's command. Even Dan Simmons die-hards are likely to be disappointed by this. If you're reading Dan Simmons for the first time, this plodding book, which has maybe 200 pages of energy (and certainly not 450), would not be the place to start.
August 26, 2025
Unexpected from Dan Simmons, especially if you read Hyperion, and even when you know Hemingway will be in it. It's even more unexpected to find out that, as the author says, 95% of this book is true. It's unbelievable what the other 5% can do: a thriller, a mystery, an espionage story, and more. Overall, it's a nice read with lots borrowed from Hemingway himself, making it an awesome historical fiction. But as a tribute to Hemingway, which felt like the author's primary goal, it may lag for some fans.
June 3, 2021
Plot is weaved around an FBI agent and Hemingway’s amateur spy ring called Crook Factory in Cuba at the beginning of WW II. FBI agent Joe Lucas had no clue why he was assigned to this seemingly meaningless job. But as the saying goes, the plot thickens and you will experience the usual characters in a spy novel, a mysterious ruthless killer, a beautiful whore, and James Bond like hero etc.
Anyway it’s a great thriller with Ernest Hemingway as a main character and other famous personas of the era as guest star.
It’s an enjoyable book without any heavy stuff.
Anyway it’s a great thriller with Ernest Hemingway as a main character and other famous personas of the era as guest star.
It’s an enjoyable book without any heavy stuff.
May 2, 2008
Before now, I haven't written more than a handful of reviews, as every story one reads is fairly personal in nature. I won’t even try to summarize The Crook Factory here.
I will say that this novel contained a gritty, vibrant realism which grabbed me immediately --The author's interpretation of Hemingway's behaviors and actions, as well as those of his cohorts, were amazing, like I was seeing through a window to the past. These characters are rich and deceptive, adding intrigue to the story with every chapter. What really added depth to the story was the depiction of life in Cuba at this pivotal moment in history, when the corrupt Batista regime was overthrown and Castro grabbed power.
Sure it's fiction and no one alive (?) really knows what Hemingway was up to in Cuba at the supposed time of this story, but wow... it could have happened just as the author portrayed it. Who knows?
If you were to choose one book by Dan Simmons & didn't especially care for science fiction (Disclaimer: I revel in it), this is a great read by a world-class writer.
I will say that this novel contained a gritty, vibrant realism which grabbed me immediately --The author's interpretation of Hemingway's behaviors and actions, as well as those of his cohorts, were amazing, like I was seeing through a window to the past. These characters are rich and deceptive, adding intrigue to the story with every chapter. What really added depth to the story was the depiction of life in Cuba at this pivotal moment in history, when the corrupt Batista regime was overthrown and Castro grabbed power.
Sure it's fiction and no one alive (?) really knows what Hemingway was up to in Cuba at the supposed time of this story, but wow... it could have happened just as the author portrayed it. Who knows?
If you were to choose one book by Dan Simmons & didn't especially care for science fiction (Disclaimer: I revel in it), this is a great read by a world-class writer.
February 12, 2014
I believe Dan Simmons is a severely underrated writer. He jumps between genres with abandon, and always excels. In recent years he has focused on historical novels. In The Crook Factory he takes on Ernest Hemingway's counterespionage efforts in Cuba during World War II. In the afterword Simmons claims the story is 95% true, which is all the more amazing. He manages to work in many other celebrities in the narrative, including Ian Fleming, J. Edgar Hoover, Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, and more. Recommended!
July 13, 2014
Enjoyable historical fiction novel based on Earnest Hemingway's Crook Factory during WW2 set up to find Nazi subs.
March 1, 2020
Explosão mental. Thriller de espionagem onde a veracidade está representada em 95% da história, este livro é Historia!! Com ele entendemos não só uma.parte da vida de Hemingway, com também os tentáculos das redes de informação e contra-informação que de diferentes países que operavam em Cuba na altura da segunda guerra mundial...
October 29, 2025
Ernest Hemingway really was the most interesting man on the planet in his day. This story chronicles his running of a secret spy organization in Cuba during WWII and according to the author, the amazing Dan Simmons, it is 95% true. I'm sure names and locations were changed but the meat and taters of the story was true and seriously blew my mind. What an amazing tale, highly recommended!
January 22, 2012
Entretenimento puro! No início, o autor conseguia encadear os factos com a ficção, mas em certas partes sacrificava o ritmo da história para fornecer informações sobre o contexto histórico. Felizmente, à medida que nos mergulhou mais fundo nas paisagens românticas da Cuba dos anos quarenta e no mundo da espionagem durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, Simmons abandonou essa tendência, não se deixando arrastar para a corriqueira obsessão de alguns escritores do género de “cuspir” tudo o que pesquisou.
No entanto, é óbvio, para quem lê, que a pesquisa do autor foi, de facto, extensa, apesar de maioritariamente apenas ser subentendida no texto, reflectindo a tal ideia do “iceberg” a que Hemingway se referia quando falava do que era visível e invisível numa novela. Desde usar o máximo do verdadeiro Hemingway no seu “Hemingway”, tornando-o o mais fiel e real possível, a dissecar o funcionamento dos sistemas de informação de vários países, Simmons foi incasável, contudo, não deixou que essa sobrecarga de dados o impedisse de preencher habilmente as lacunas dos “factos” com a sua história, ao ponto de, por vezes ser difícil entender onde acaba a verdade e começa a ficção. Algo particularmente difícil, tendo em conta que muitos dos factos histórico, devidamente documentando, como por exemplo, o desembarque dos espiões alemães em Long Island ou a Assault Unit 30, parecem saídos da britcom «'Allo'Allo!».
No entanto, é óbvio, para quem lê, que a pesquisa do autor foi, de facto, extensa, apesar de maioritariamente apenas ser subentendida no texto, reflectindo a tal ideia do “iceberg” a que Hemingway se referia quando falava do que era visível e invisível numa novela. Desde usar o máximo do verdadeiro Hemingway no seu “Hemingway”, tornando-o o mais fiel e real possível, a dissecar o funcionamento dos sistemas de informação de vários países, Simmons foi incasável, contudo, não deixou que essa sobrecarga de dados o impedisse de preencher habilmente as lacunas dos “factos” com a sua história, ao ponto de, por vezes ser difícil entender onde acaba a verdade e começa a ficção. Algo particularmente difícil, tendo em conta que muitos dos factos histórico, devidamente documentando, como por exemplo, o desembarque dos espiões alemães em Long Island ou a Assault Unit 30, parecem saídos da britcom «'Allo'Allo!».
June 14, 2018
How can a book billed as a "novel of suspense " be so boring?
Page 150 here and struggling. I am a Hemingway fan.Have read and reread his books,read several biographies, etc., but if I thought that interest would sustain me here I was wrong.
This is the second (and last)Dan Simmons I have read. Like the other there is a lot of peripheral action (if we can call it that) and an off putting, numbing attention to detail (every time Lucas prepares to read a file I flip ahead to see how bloody long it will take him).
Even when something does happen Simmon recounts it in a style utterly devoid of tension. I see Simmons has quite a fan base, but I don't get it.
Continued reading against my better judgment: I can't believe that Maria character. I am sure it is meant to be obvious, her origin in Hemingway's Maria of FWTBT, but COME ON.
To finish or not to finish? Considering the boredom factor and the cardboard characters, I doubt it.
Page 150 here and struggling. I am a Hemingway fan.Have read and reread his books,read several biographies, etc., but if I thought that interest would sustain me here I was wrong.
This is the second (and last)Dan Simmons I have read. Like the other there is a lot of peripheral action (if we can call it that) and an off putting, numbing attention to detail (every time Lucas prepares to read a file I flip ahead to see how bloody long it will take him).
Even when something does happen Simmon recounts it in a style utterly devoid of tension. I see Simmons has quite a fan base, but I don't get it.
Continued reading against my better judgment: I can't believe that Maria character. I am sure it is meant to be obvious, her origin in Hemingway's Maria of FWTBT, but COME ON.
To finish or not to finish? Considering the boredom factor and the cardboard characters, I doubt it.
April 15, 2025
Book Thoughts: The Crook Factory by Dan Simmons
What could have been a typical thriller about espionage in WWII turns into something far more literary, and surprisingly intimate.
Introduction: Who is Dan Simmons?
Dan Simmons is one of those rare authors who defies categorization—A literary chameleon. He’s written everything from genre-defining science fiction in the Hyperion Cantos, to classical reimagining in Ilium, to gothic horror in Drood, and nostalgic coming-of-age chills in Summer of Night. Each book feels like it was written by a completely different person—but in the best possible way. The Crook Factory, a work of historical fiction centered around Ernest Hemingway’s real-life counterespionage activities in WWII Cuba, only reinforces Simmons’ status as one of the most versatile authors I’ve ever read.
Espionage, Literature, and a Strange Partnership
The Crook Factory documents the short-lived but real intelligence network created by Hemingway in 1942–1943, where the famous author used his connections, resources, and sheer force of personality to play amateur spy in Cuba. It sounds like pulp fiction, but it’s based heavily on actual FBI files and historical sources.
What makes the book even more compelling is its narrative perspective. Instead of telling the story directly through Hemingway, Simmons writes from the point of view of Joe Lucas, a fictional FBI agent dispatched by J. Edgar Hoover to surveil Hemingway. Lucas is no fan of literature—he doesn’t read fiction and doesn’t see the point of it. His perspective is practical, skeptical, and emotionally closed off.
And that’s exactly what makes him such an interesting narrator.
Lucas vs. Hemingway: Two Worldviews Collide
The novel shines in its quieter moments, especially in the conversations between Hemingway and Lucas. Hemingway, naturally, talks about writing, art, and meaning. Lucas listens. And slowly, something shifts. One of the most satisfying and unexpected turns is watching Lucas grow—not just as a character, but as a narrator. There’s something powerful about seeing a man who doesn't value fiction end up writing a book about a fictionalized version of his experience.
It’s subtle, but Simmons uses that narrative arc to do something clever: he lets Lucas become a writer, even if he doesn’t realize it.
On Characters
All of the characters in this novel are incredibly well realized. Hemingway, of course, looms largest—charismatic, unpredictable, and consistently entertaining. Any scene with him crackles with energy, and fortunately, he's at the center of most of them. Simmons paints him as both mythic and deeply human, a compelling contradiction that drives much of the book's appeal.
The side characters are just as memorable. Cameo appearances from real historical figures like J. Edgar Hoover and a young Ian Fleming add texture and intrigue. The members of the Crook Factory itself—especially Santiago and Hemingway’s two sons—each have a presence and personality that feels distinct. Even those on the other side of the intelligence war, quietly working against Lucas and Hemingway’s efforts, are given depth and weight. Simmons gives every character, no matter how brief their role, a sense of authenticity and purpose that makes the world feel alive.
One standout scene that perfectly captures both the adventurous spirit of the book and its character dynamics involves Hemingway’s son catching fish while out on the Pilar. Instead of hauling the fish into the boat, he hooks them to himself and trails them in the water—a choice that quickly attracts a frenzy of sharks. What starts as a peaceful outing turns into a dangerously tense situation. The sharks swarm fast, drawn by the blood and motion, and suddenly, everyone is scrambling. Hemingway’s response is classic: bold, fearless, and utterly composed under pressure. But when the danger passes, the mood shifts. In a burst of parental fury and exasperation, Hemingway tears into his son, berating him for the reckless decision. It’s a powerful scene—thrilling, cinematic, and deeply human, showing both the magnetism and volatility that define Hemingway’s presence throughout the novel.
Where This Ranks in Simmons’ Body of Work
Having read Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Ilium, Drood, and Summer of Night, I can confidently say that The Crook Factory feels the least like Simmons in terms of voice—but that’s not a bad thing. He adapts his writing style to fit Lucas’s worldview, which means the prose is intentionally colder, clipped, and more procedural. While that makes the writing feel less lyrical or experimental than his other works, it feels right for this character.
Still, I did feel the writing was weaker compared to Simmons' other works I've read. That choice fits the story and its themes, but it limits the narrative’s emotional range and literary power. After the layered, lyrical prose of Drood or the philosophical richness of Hyperion, Lucas’ straightforward narration felt a bit flat. It’s a trade-off: we get a tightly grounded, espionage-toned novel but lose some of the stylistic depth Simmons usually brings.
Final Thoughts
What could have been a conventional WWII spy thriller becomes something stranger and more thoughtful in Simmons’ hands. The Crook Factory is about how people see the world—through fact or fiction, through skepticism or imagination—and what happens when those views collide. Hemingway represents the literary patriot, full of bravado and belief in stories. Lucas represents the realist, the nonbeliever. But the fact that Lucas is the one telling the story suggests that, in the end, fiction might win.
If you're already a Dan Simmons fan, this book will surprise you. And if you're new to him, it's another entry point into a fascinating and ever-changing body of work.
What could have been a typical thriller about espionage in WWII turns into something far more literary, and surprisingly intimate.
Introduction: Who is Dan Simmons?
Dan Simmons is one of those rare authors who defies categorization—A literary chameleon. He’s written everything from genre-defining science fiction in the Hyperion Cantos, to classical reimagining in Ilium, to gothic horror in Drood, and nostalgic coming-of-age chills in Summer of Night. Each book feels like it was written by a completely different person—but in the best possible way. The Crook Factory, a work of historical fiction centered around Ernest Hemingway’s real-life counterespionage activities in WWII Cuba, only reinforces Simmons’ status as one of the most versatile authors I’ve ever read.
Espionage, Literature, and a Strange Partnership
The Crook Factory documents the short-lived but real intelligence network created by Hemingway in 1942–1943, where the famous author used his connections, resources, and sheer force of personality to play amateur spy in Cuba. It sounds like pulp fiction, but it’s based heavily on actual FBI files and historical sources.
What makes the book even more compelling is its narrative perspective. Instead of telling the story directly through Hemingway, Simmons writes from the point of view of Joe Lucas, a fictional FBI agent dispatched by J. Edgar Hoover to surveil Hemingway. Lucas is no fan of literature—he doesn’t read fiction and doesn’t see the point of it. His perspective is practical, skeptical, and emotionally closed off.
And that’s exactly what makes him such an interesting narrator.
Lucas vs. Hemingway: Two Worldviews Collide
The novel shines in its quieter moments, especially in the conversations between Hemingway and Lucas. Hemingway, naturally, talks about writing, art, and meaning. Lucas listens. And slowly, something shifts. One of the most satisfying and unexpected turns is watching Lucas grow—not just as a character, but as a narrator. There’s something powerful about seeing a man who doesn't value fiction end up writing a book about a fictionalized version of his experience.
It’s subtle, but Simmons uses that narrative arc to do something clever: he lets Lucas become a writer, even if he doesn’t realize it.
On Characters
All of the characters in this novel are incredibly well realized. Hemingway, of course, looms largest—charismatic, unpredictable, and consistently entertaining. Any scene with him crackles with energy, and fortunately, he's at the center of most of them. Simmons paints him as both mythic and deeply human, a compelling contradiction that drives much of the book's appeal.
The side characters are just as memorable. Cameo appearances from real historical figures like J. Edgar Hoover and a young Ian Fleming add texture and intrigue. The members of the Crook Factory itself—especially Santiago and Hemingway’s two sons—each have a presence and personality that feels distinct. Even those on the other side of the intelligence war, quietly working against Lucas and Hemingway’s efforts, are given depth and weight. Simmons gives every character, no matter how brief their role, a sense of authenticity and purpose that makes the world feel alive.
One standout scene that perfectly captures both the adventurous spirit of the book and its character dynamics involves Hemingway’s son catching fish while out on the Pilar. Instead of hauling the fish into the boat, he hooks them to himself and trails them in the water—a choice that quickly attracts a frenzy of sharks. What starts as a peaceful outing turns into a dangerously tense situation. The sharks swarm fast, drawn by the blood and motion, and suddenly, everyone is scrambling. Hemingway’s response is classic: bold, fearless, and utterly composed under pressure. But when the danger passes, the mood shifts. In a burst of parental fury and exasperation, Hemingway tears into his son, berating him for the reckless decision. It’s a powerful scene—thrilling, cinematic, and deeply human, showing both the magnetism and volatility that define Hemingway’s presence throughout the novel.
Where This Ranks in Simmons’ Body of Work
Having read Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Ilium, Drood, and Summer of Night, I can confidently say that The Crook Factory feels the least like Simmons in terms of voice—but that’s not a bad thing. He adapts his writing style to fit Lucas’s worldview, which means the prose is intentionally colder, clipped, and more procedural. While that makes the writing feel less lyrical or experimental than his other works, it feels right for this character.
Still, I did feel the writing was weaker compared to Simmons' other works I've read. That choice fits the story and its themes, but it limits the narrative’s emotional range and literary power. After the layered, lyrical prose of Drood or the philosophical richness of Hyperion, Lucas’ straightforward narration felt a bit flat. It’s a trade-off: we get a tightly grounded, espionage-toned novel but lose some of the stylistic depth Simmons usually brings.
Final Thoughts
What could have been a conventional WWII spy thriller becomes something stranger and more thoughtful in Simmons’ hands. The Crook Factory is about how people see the world—through fact or fiction, through skepticism or imagination—and what happens when those views collide. Hemingway represents the literary patriot, full of bravado and belief in stories. Lucas represents the realist, the nonbeliever. But the fact that Lucas is the one telling the story suggests that, in the end, fiction might win.
If you're already a Dan Simmons fan, this book will surprise you. And if you're new to him, it's another entry point into a fascinating and ever-changing body of work.
August 14, 2011
As much as I like Simmons' writing, this story didn't really do much for me. Unlike The Plot Against America, I didn't particularly feel as though I was suffering by not knowing much about the "real" story behind the story, or the people who appeared as characters - I simply wasn't captivated by the story itself. Possibly I have also begun to suffer from Nazi burnout, though.
Apparently a very great deal of this book is, if not taken from, at least extrapolated from actual history. That being the case, Ernest Hemingway was indeed a very interesting guy.
Apparently a very great deal of this book is, if not taken from, at least extrapolated from actual history. That being the case, Ernest Hemingway was indeed a very interesting guy.
April 18, 2014
Seems well-reviewed so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that his writing style is not for me. Too much fact telling. Not sure it was all necessary to advanced the plot or create depth for characters. The story seemed to be based on an intriguing premise...I just couldn't get emerged in the book because of all the historical details.
October 20, 2015
A sorta true story of Hemingway on Cuba spying during WWII. While I liked it, the author missed three excellent points at which to end the book, but instead stretched it out for no good reason.
Very good narrator.
Very good narrator.
October 15, 2020
Mám sice rád jak Hemingwaye, tak Simmonse, tohle mě ale nějak nebralo. A i když to má vycházet ze skutečných událostí, moc jsem jim ten příběh nevěřil. Za mě je to jedna z těch slabších Simmonsových knížek.
July 6, 2025
Dan Simmons wrote "Hyperion" and it would be enough for his name to remain in literature. However, then he made his fans happy with a couple of dozen more novels, among which the Terror, adored by the Russian reader, and the slightly less beloved Drud. I have thirteen of his books in my readership, which allows me not to be unfounded, making generalizations. So: Simmons tends towards the large form (a euphemism for "sins with verbosity"); loves naturalistic descriptions of unbearable cruelty; hates the Nazis and does not miss the opportunity to remind the world of the Holocaust; He loves mountaineering and inserts descriptions of ascents into the book at every opportunity; he is brutal (women either have no place in his books or they play the role of villains); he is literary-centric; he treats biographies of famous writers with postmodern freedom.
In "The Bell of Ham," there are six signs of the magnificent seven of Simmons. Everything except mountaineering - Cuba's terrain is mostly flat. The novel is written on behalf of Joseph Lucas, an FBI agent who was tasked with spying on "Papa" during World War II, when he lived at his Finca Vehya estate near Havana.
The mainspring of the plot is an attempt to sink a German submarine, chasing after which the characters intercept ciphers, rescue a local prostitute (who, for some reason, is settled right there), fish, swim, get drunk, fight, almost crippling each other and engage in other macho things that seem appropriate to the author for the Pope, from whom he confidently sculpts a superhero and almost a demigod.
Пахом звонит в колокол
Дэн Симмонс написал "Гиперион" и этого было бы достаточно, чтобы его имя осталось в литературе. Однако затем осчастливил поклонников еще парой дюжин романов, среди которых обожаемый российским читателем "Террор" и чуть менее любимый "Друд". В моем читательском активе тринадцать его книг, это позволяет не быть голословной, делая обобщения. Итак: Симмонс тяготеет к крупной форме (эвфемизм для "грешит многословием"); любит натуралистичные описания невыносимой жестокости; ненавидит нацистов и не упускает возможности напомнить миру о Холокосте; обожает альпинизм и при всяком удобном случае вставляет в книгу описание восхождений; брутален (женщинам либо нет места в его книгах, либо они на роли злодеек); литературоцентричен; обращается с биографиями знаменитых писателей с постмодернистской вольностью.
В "Колоколе по Хэму" налицо шесть признаков из великолепной семерки Симмонса. Всё, кроме альпинизма - рельеф Кубы преимущественно равнинный. Роман написан от лица Джозефа Лукаса, агента ФБР, перед которым стояла задача шпионить за "Папой" во время Второй Мировой, когда он жил в своем поместье "Финка Вехья" под Гаваной. Его авантюризм, мировая известность с обилием международных связей и бесспорное влияние внушали Эдгару Гуверу опасения. И была еще "Хитрая контора" - нечто, вроде стихийно основанной Хэмом шпионской сети, осведомителями которой были рыбаки, поденщики, рыночные торговцы, шлюхи - посредством которой писатель не то играл в войнушку, не то в самом деле разоблачал коррупционные схемы в тогдашнем кубинском руководстве. В общем, нужен был человек, который держал бы его под наблюдением, таким становится Лукас, герой-рассказчик.
Внедряют его в ближнее окружение писателя, поставив наличие связного условием поддержки со стороны правительства Соединенных Штатов охоты за немецкими подлодками, которые тот намеревался топить со своей яхты "Пилар". А поддержка нужна, хотя бы для снабжения горючим. На энергоносители в воюющих странах были установлены жесточайшие лимиты, к слову сказать, в "Открытой книге" Каверина есть эпизод уборки квартиры при помощи взятого напрокат мощного пылесоса, после которой пришла улыбчивая девушка-техник и перерезала провод - герои израсходовали свой лимит электроэнергии до конца года. Однако вернемся в предместье Гаваны, для всех Лукас океанолог, впрочем, на Финке постоянно толпится куча самого разного народа, что дает Симмонсу возможность ввести в повествование Ингрид Бергман, Марлен Дитрих, Яна Флемминга.
Пружиной сюжета становится попытка потопить немецкую субмарину, гоняясь за которой, герои перехватывают шифровки, спасают местную проститутку (которую, неясно зачем, поселяют тут же), рыбачат, купаются, напиваются, дерутся, едва не калеча друг друга и занимаются прочими мачистскими штуками, представляющимися автору уместными для Папы из которого уверенно лепит супергероя и почти полубога. Обилие авантюрных элементов не делает книгу интересной, она невыносимо скучна и, сокращенная вдвое-втрое, была бы много лучше. Хотя идеальным для этой истории было бы остаться ненаписанной.
Симмонс кажется себе великим популяризатором чтения, когда гальванизирует инсинуациями Диккенса, Коллинза, Хэмингуэя, Дарвина, но на деле это больше напоминает пляски на костях и попытку примазаться к великим со своими четырьмя копейками.
In "The Bell of Ham," there are six signs of the magnificent seven of Simmons. Everything except mountaineering - Cuba's terrain is mostly flat. The novel is written on behalf of Joseph Lucas, an FBI agent who was tasked with spying on "Papa" during World War II, when he lived at his Finca Vehya estate near Havana.
The mainspring of the plot is an attempt to sink a German submarine, chasing after which the characters intercept ciphers, rescue a local prostitute (who, for some reason, is settled right there), fish, swim, get drunk, fight, almost crippling each other and engage in other macho things that seem appropriate to the author for the Pope, from whom he confidently sculpts a superhero and almost a demigod.
Пахом звонит в колокол
Дэн Симмонс написал "Гиперион" и этого было бы достаточно, чтобы его имя осталось в литературе. Однако затем осчастливил поклонников еще парой дюжин романов, среди которых обожаемый российским читателем "Террор" и чуть менее любимый "Друд". В моем читательском активе тринадцать его книг, это позволяет не быть голословной, делая обобщения. Итак: Симмонс тяготеет к крупной форме (эвфемизм для "грешит многословием"); любит натуралистичные описания невыносимой жестокости; ненавидит нацистов и не упускает возможности напомнить миру о Холокосте; обожает альпинизм и при всяком удобном случае вставляет в книгу описание восхождений; брутален (женщинам либо нет места в его книгах, либо они на роли злодеек); литературоцентричен; обращается с биографиями знаменитых писателей с постмодернистской вольностью.
В "Колоколе по Хэму" налицо шесть признаков из великолепной семерки Симмонса. Всё, кроме альпинизма - рельеф Кубы преимущественно равнинный. Роман написан от лица Джозефа Лукаса, агента ФБР, перед которым стояла задача шпионить за "Папой" во время Второй Мировой, когда он жил в своем поместье "Финка Вехья" под Гаваной. Его авантюризм, мировая известность с обилием международных связей и бесспорное влияние внушали Эдгару Гуверу опасения. И была еще "Хитрая контора" - нечто, вроде стихийно основанной Хэмом шпионской сети, осведомителями которой были рыбаки, поденщики, рыночные торговцы, шлюхи - посредством которой писатель не то играл в войнушку, не то в самом деле разоблачал коррупционные схемы в тогдашнем кубинском руководстве. В общем, нужен был человек, который держал бы его под наблюдением, таким становится Лукас, герой-рассказчик.
Внедряют его в ближнее окружение писателя, поставив наличие связного условием поддержки со стороны правительства Соединенных Штатов охоты за немецкими подлодками, которые тот намеревался топить со своей яхты "Пилар". А поддержка нужна, хотя бы для снабжения горючим. На энергоносители в воюющих странах были установлены жесточайшие лимиты, к слову сказать, в "Открытой книге" Каверина есть эпизод уборки квартиры при помощи взятого напрокат мощного пылесоса, после которой пришла улыбчивая девушка-техник и перерезала провод - герои израсходовали свой лимит электроэнергии до конца года. Однако вернемся в предместье Гаваны, для всех Лукас океанолог, впрочем, на Финке постоянно толпится куча самого разного народа, что дает Симмонсу возможность ввести в повествование Ингрид Бергман, Марлен Дитрих, Яна Флемминга.
Пружиной сюжета становится попытка потопить немецкую субмарину, гоняясь за которой, герои перехватывают шифровки, спасают местную проститутку (которую, неясно зачем, поселяют тут же), рыбачат, купаются, напиваются, дерутся, едва не калеча друг друга и занимаются прочими мачистскими штуками, представляющимися автору уместными для Папы из которого уверенно лепит супергероя и почти полубога. Обилие авантюрных элементов не делает книгу интересной, она невыносимо скучна и, сокращенная вдвое-втрое, была бы много лучше. Хотя идеальным для этой истории было бы остаться ненаписанной.
Симмонс кажется себе великим популяризатором чтения, когда гальванизирует инсинуациями Диккенса, Коллинза, Хэмингуэя, Дарвина, но на деле это больше напоминает пляски на костях и попытку примазаться к великим со своими четырьмя копейками.
February 2, 2020
Depois de duas experiências satisfatórias com Dan Simmons em O Terror e A Canção de Kali, decidi arriscar um grande tijolo chamado Clube de Patifes. Sabia muito pouco sobre o livro, mas uma olhadela preambular deixou-me esclarecido sobre vários pontos. Era um livro que falava sobre Ernest Hemingway e sobre redes de espionagem no decorrer da II Guerra Mundial. De facto, ao longo da narrativa esperei sempre encontrar ali algo de sobrenatural, característica decorrente da literatura de Simmons, o que não aconteceu.
E, diga-se de passagem, ainda bem. O livro é um perfeito thriller de espionagem muito pouco fictício. De facto, Simmons permitiu-se a alguma liberdade narrativa para unir certos pontos, mas como ele adverte na nota de autor, 95% do que ali conta aconteceu de facto. O protagonista é fictício, mas mais do que sobre Joe Lucas, Clube de Patifes fala sobre Ernest Hemingway.
O autor de Por Quem os Sinos Dobram e O Velho e o Mar é a personagem capital do livro, e acompanhamos vários momentos da sua luta contra o nazismo até à suposta morte por suicídio, cuja obra de Simmons põe em dúvida. Clube de Patifes traz ainda à tona escândalos e curiosidades, referenciando figuras da elite política da época e transformando celebridades em personagens decorrentes do livro.
Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Berman, Gary Cooper ou Ian Fleming são personagens de Clube de Patifes, que me surpreenderam pela forma casual e detalhada com que Simmons os descreveu. Questões relacionadas com Adolf Hitler ou John F. Kennedy também me deixaram surpreendido, sobretudo por serem verídicas. O livro é extremamente bem construído, e apesar de alguns períodos de grande “infodump”, determinantes para permitir ao leitor inteirar-se do contexto sócio-político, é uma leitura bem proveitosa.
Em Clube de Patifes, o agente do FBI Joe Lucas (personagem fictícia) é contactado por J. Edgar Hoover a fim de manter debaixo de olho o famoso escritor Ernest Hemingway. É que vive-se o auge da Segunda Grande Guerra e Hemingway pediu apoio ao governo americano para criar uma rede de espionagem a partir da sua residência em Cuba. Mas as intenções de Hemingway são duvidosas para Hoover, que pretende colocar Lucas como uma rédea curta, preparado para eliminar o escritor se para tal haja necessidade.
Joe torna-se facilmente integrante do Clube de Patifes, nome com que Hemingway baptizou a sua rede, e pouco a pouco vai-se inteirando das rotinas e modos de vida do autor norte-americano, ao mesmo tempo que passa informações a Hoover através de um contacto que dá pelo nome de Delgado. Nesse jogo do gato e do rato, Joe Lucas ganha afeição por Hemingway e decide explorar mais a fundo a investigação até decidir de que lado está realmente.
Ao contrário do que aconteceu em A Canção de Kali, Dan Simmons descurou um pouco a descrição do ambiente e a elegância da escrita e apresentou uma prosa mais direta e prática, mas por sua vez muito mais rica a nível de informação. Clube de Patifes não mexe muito com as nossas emoções, mas é um livro excelente de espionagem e ação, intelectualmente riquíssimo. E quando escreve, de uma forma ou de outra, o que Simmons escreve é sempre bom.
Os anos 40 em Cuba são extraordinariamente bem retratados pelo autor, uma verdadeira passadeira vermelha de celebridades e informações que deixam qualquer leitor deliciado. Sejam ou não verdadeiras as informações confidenciais que Lucas e Hemingway descobriram neste livro, muito do que ele nos traz é verdadeiramente perturbador, ou não vivêssemos então os anos terríveis do nazismo. Recomendado!
https://noticiasdezallar.wordpress.com
E, diga-se de passagem, ainda bem. O livro é um perfeito thriller de espionagem muito pouco fictício. De facto, Simmons permitiu-se a alguma liberdade narrativa para unir certos pontos, mas como ele adverte na nota de autor, 95% do que ali conta aconteceu de facto. O protagonista é fictício, mas mais do que sobre Joe Lucas, Clube de Patifes fala sobre Ernest Hemingway.
O autor de Por Quem os Sinos Dobram e O Velho e o Mar é a personagem capital do livro, e acompanhamos vários momentos da sua luta contra o nazismo até à suposta morte por suicídio, cuja obra de Simmons põe em dúvida. Clube de Patifes traz ainda à tona escândalos e curiosidades, referenciando figuras da elite política da época e transformando celebridades em personagens decorrentes do livro.
Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Berman, Gary Cooper ou Ian Fleming são personagens de Clube de Patifes, que me surpreenderam pela forma casual e detalhada com que Simmons os descreveu. Questões relacionadas com Adolf Hitler ou John F. Kennedy também me deixaram surpreendido, sobretudo por serem verídicas. O livro é extremamente bem construído, e apesar de alguns períodos de grande “infodump”, determinantes para permitir ao leitor inteirar-se do contexto sócio-político, é uma leitura bem proveitosa.
Em Clube de Patifes, o agente do FBI Joe Lucas (personagem fictícia) é contactado por J. Edgar Hoover a fim de manter debaixo de olho o famoso escritor Ernest Hemingway. É que vive-se o auge da Segunda Grande Guerra e Hemingway pediu apoio ao governo americano para criar uma rede de espionagem a partir da sua residência em Cuba. Mas as intenções de Hemingway são duvidosas para Hoover, que pretende colocar Lucas como uma rédea curta, preparado para eliminar o escritor se para tal haja necessidade.
Joe torna-se facilmente integrante do Clube de Patifes, nome com que Hemingway baptizou a sua rede, e pouco a pouco vai-se inteirando das rotinas e modos de vida do autor norte-americano, ao mesmo tempo que passa informações a Hoover através de um contacto que dá pelo nome de Delgado. Nesse jogo do gato e do rato, Joe Lucas ganha afeição por Hemingway e decide explorar mais a fundo a investigação até decidir de que lado está realmente.
Ao contrário do que aconteceu em A Canção de Kali, Dan Simmons descurou um pouco a descrição do ambiente e a elegância da escrita e apresentou uma prosa mais direta e prática, mas por sua vez muito mais rica a nível de informação. Clube de Patifes não mexe muito com as nossas emoções, mas é um livro excelente de espionagem e ação, intelectualmente riquíssimo. E quando escreve, de uma forma ou de outra, o que Simmons escreve é sempre bom.
Os anos 40 em Cuba são extraordinariamente bem retratados pelo autor, uma verdadeira passadeira vermelha de celebridades e informações que deixam qualquer leitor deliciado. Sejam ou não verdadeiras as informações confidenciais que Lucas e Hemingway descobriram neste livro, muito do que ele nos traz é verdadeiramente perturbador, ou não vivêssemos então os anos terríveis do nazismo. Recomendado!
https://noticiasdezallar.wordpress.com
March 21, 2024
Hop aboard the Pilar with Ernest Hemingway and crew to scout for German subs off the coast of Cuba: Operation Friendless.
This historical fiction was an intriguing look into an obscure piece of WW2 history, 95% of which is said to be true.
I enjoyed living in the guest house of Hemingway's Finca. Drinking cocktails at all hours and watching Fuentes making fine dishes out at sea.
While the espionage and suspense was enjoyable I feel as though the imaginative interactions with Hemingway was the most enjoyable part.
Quote:
“I can say that Mr. Hemingway is the most bookish man with whom I have ever spent time. He reads newspapers in the morning, novels while on the toilet, magazines such as the New Yorker and Harpers While drinking by his swimming pool, books of history while eating lunch, more novels while sitting in the cockpit of his boat when others are at the wheel, foreign newspapers while drinking at the Floridita, letters between breaks in shooting competitions, collections of short stories while waiting for a fish to strike his line far out on the Gulf, and his wife's book manuscript by oil lamp while his boat is tied up behind a nameless key off the coast of Cuba during antisubmarine patrol. Hemingway is acutely sensitive to memory and nuance. He is also hypersensitive to praise and insult.
Such tendencies would-one would think—lead the man to be a college professor or a prisoner of his own ivory tower. But instead we are confronted with the persona Hemingway has built for us-the hairy-chested brawler, the big-game hunter, the heavy-drinking adventurer, and the sexual braggart.
Hemingway is physically graceful and imposing, Mr. Director, while at the same time the man can be as clumsy as an ox in a phone booth. His vision is not good, yet somehow he manages to be an excellent wing shot. He hurts himself constantly. I have seen him run a fish hook through the ball of his thumb, split a gaff and ram splinters into his leg, slam a car door on his foot, and siam his head into a door frame. If he has a religion, it is exercise; he urges all those around him to immerse themselves in one violent form of exercise or another-even to the point of ordering his executive officer on the Pilar, a millionaire named Guest, to do road work and run several miles a day with the current Mrs. Hemingway. Yet at the earliest sign of a sore throat or cold, Hemingway will take to his bed for hours or days on end. He is a habitual early riser, yet he often sleeps in until late morning.”
This historical fiction was an intriguing look into an obscure piece of WW2 history, 95% of which is said to be true.
I enjoyed living in the guest house of Hemingway's Finca. Drinking cocktails at all hours and watching Fuentes making fine dishes out at sea.
While the espionage and suspense was enjoyable I feel as though the imaginative interactions with Hemingway was the most enjoyable part.
Quote:
“I can say that Mr. Hemingway is the most bookish man with whom I have ever spent time. He reads newspapers in the morning, novels while on the toilet, magazines such as the New Yorker and Harpers While drinking by his swimming pool, books of history while eating lunch, more novels while sitting in the cockpit of his boat when others are at the wheel, foreign newspapers while drinking at the Floridita, letters between breaks in shooting competitions, collections of short stories while waiting for a fish to strike his line far out on the Gulf, and his wife's book manuscript by oil lamp while his boat is tied up behind a nameless key off the coast of Cuba during antisubmarine patrol. Hemingway is acutely sensitive to memory and nuance. He is also hypersensitive to praise and insult.
Such tendencies would-one would think—lead the man to be a college professor or a prisoner of his own ivory tower. But instead we are confronted with the persona Hemingway has built for us-the hairy-chested brawler, the big-game hunter, the heavy-drinking adventurer, and the sexual braggart.
Hemingway is physically graceful and imposing, Mr. Director, while at the same time the man can be as clumsy as an ox in a phone booth. His vision is not good, yet somehow he manages to be an excellent wing shot. He hurts himself constantly. I have seen him run a fish hook through the ball of his thumb, split a gaff and ram splinters into his leg, slam a car door on his foot, and siam his head into a door frame. If he has a religion, it is exercise; he urges all those around him to immerse themselves in one violent form of exercise or another-even to the point of ordering his executive officer on the Pilar, a millionaire named Guest, to do road work and run several miles a day with the current Mrs. Hemingway. Yet at the earliest sign of a sore throat or cold, Hemingway will take to his bed for hours or days on end. He is a habitual early riser, yet he often sleeps in until late morning.”
April 2, 2021
It's no secret that Dan Simmons does a lot of research before writing a book. It's no secret because Simmons lets you know throughout the book that he did that research, because if he found some interesting factoid that's only tangentially related to the story, it's going to go into the narrative. It's both the best and the worst thing about reading a Simmons novel, because while it definitely adds something to the story, all of it together bloats up the book something awful.
Interestingly, Simmons paraphrases one of Hemingway's adages about writing -- it should be like an iceberg, where only 1/8th of the story should be visible -- but doesn't quite seem to do it himself. This is ironic, but not so much as Simmons also paraphrasing Hemingway's feelings about ending a novel, during the two epilogues that seem superfluous.
While I was reading it, I started doing a little research of my own to see how much of the story is factual, and I ran across something Simmons said about the novel, that it's 95% factual. At the time, I found myself wondering why Simmons didn't just write a nonfiction book about it, but later in the story, he paraphrases Hemingway again, having him talk about why he writes fiction instead of nonfiction. There, readers, was my answer, and I was okay with it.
The story isn't really quite four stars for me, because it feels overlong and over-detailed, but neither is it just a three-star book. I can't round it down for its faults, because despite those faults, it's still a Dan Simmons book, which means it's compelling, interesting, and thoughtful. I prefer his genre stories to his history stories, but I can't deny he's a good writer, no matter what he writes.
2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set in a country beginning with "C"
Interestingly, Simmons paraphrases one of Hemingway's adages about writing -- it should be like an iceberg, where only 1/8th of the story should be visible -- but doesn't quite seem to do it himself. This is ironic, but not so much as Simmons also paraphrasing Hemingway's feelings about ending a novel, during the two epilogues that seem superfluous.
While I was reading it, I started doing a little research of my own to see how much of the story is factual, and I ran across something Simmons said about the novel, that it's 95% factual. At the time, I found myself wondering why Simmons didn't just write a nonfiction book about it, but later in the story, he paraphrases Hemingway again, having him talk about why he writes fiction instead of nonfiction. There, readers, was my answer, and I was okay with it.
The story isn't really quite four stars for me, because it feels overlong and over-detailed, but neither is it just a three-star book. I can't round it down for its faults, because despite those faults, it's still a Dan Simmons book, which means it's compelling, interesting, and thoughtful. I prefer his genre stories to his history stories, but I can't deny he's a good writer, no matter what he writes.
2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set in a country beginning with "C"
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