The Tangent Factor

Peter Tangent #2

by Lawrence Sanders

Two men--one, a troubleshooter for an American oil company and the other, a ruthless power-hungry politician--square off in a duel fueled by greed and honor, but are united by one woman who loves them both.

Genres: Thriller, Adventure

281 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 17, 1978

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Lawrence Sanders was the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mystery and suspense novels. The Anderson Tapes, completed when he was fifty years old, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel. His prodigious oeuvre encompasses the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books. Stand-alone novels include Sullivan's Sting and Caper. Sanders remains one of America’s most popular novelists, with more than fifty million copies of his books in print. Also published as Mark Upton.

Reviews

[Marc Kirner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This G.P. Putnam's hardback is not signed/autographed. Also there's no visual picture of it on the Goodreads website.

[Debra Booton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The country of Asante, on the Atlantic coast of Africa, has been taken over by rebels. The new president quickly coordinates his next plan, the rule of the fabulously rich continent. The story involves a representative of an American oil company, underground English wheeler-dealers, men who will fight for money and the women who love them. Turmoil and intrigue combine for a great read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit better than the first Tangent book. Ruler of an African country has his eye on expanded his rule to countries other than his own. Again involves an American oil company representative.

[Luís · Rating 4 out of 5]

Só tenho um reparo a fazer a este livro escrito em 1978.
Algumas das personagens originárias da Republica do Benim têm nomes portugueses e em sua honra é. servido no palácio de Ashanti, uma feijoada à portuguesa com vinho Mateus Rosé e aguardentes portuguesas.
O Daomé, depois República do Benim, foi uma colónia francesa, tendo os portugueses possuído uma pequena feitoria em São João Baptista de Ajudá, hoje Uidá, que foi abandonada em 1961, por imposição do exército local.
Com o fim da escravatura, muitos ex-escravos do Brasil foram para Daomé, trazendo consigo a língua portuguesa. Isso explicaria o facto de a feijoada ter sido feita com feijão preto. Era, pois, uma feijoada brasileira.
Fiquei com a sensação de que o autor teve problemas com o final do livro.

[Elizabeth Martina]

A cynical troubleshooter for an American oil company and a ruthless African with the goal to take over a large chunk of Africa: Someone is going to try to take over several countries in a coup. These two men will go head to head. Their women will support them, they hope. A thriller from the first page.

[Rob Worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asanti President Obiri Anokye has big plans for Africa. A United Africa States. Just how does one go about uniting when Asanti neighboring countries, Togo and Benin, are on the brink of war with each other?

[Raymond Michihara · Rating 1 out of 5]

horrible and uninteresting

[Miles Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A strange and not terribly well-executed book by the man known in the 70s and 80s as "Mr. Bestseller," Lawrence Sanders, "The Tangent Factor" is nevertheless possessing of a certain charm. It is the story of a white American oil executive, Peter Tangent, and the African dictator, Obiri "The Little Captain" Anyoke, he has chosen to serve. The Captain has come to power in the fictional nation of Ansante via a coup, and has bold plans to unite all of Africa under his rule, but has issues balancing his crazy white mistress with his traditionalist black fiance. Tangent, on the other hand, is an oil man who has become a de facto part of the Captain's government, but is new to intrigue and also fumbling through a clumsy romance with an African woman. Overlaying them both is yet more intrigue involving British, French and American intelligence, all of whom want to exploit Anyoke's ambitions for their own ends.

Sanders meat and drink as a novelist was mysteries, and when writing international intrigue he was on less surefooted ground, a position weakened further by his inability to decide whether Tangent or the Captain was the real subject of the book. He also spends a great deal of time exploring the interracial romances of the characters, which was probably quite shocking when the book was written but won't raise much eyebrow now. On the other hand, Sanders was such an outstanding prose writer that, like pizza, he is good even when he is bad; and his overall concept, a story about a "black Napoleon" uniting Africa by force, guile and sheer charisma, is fascinating if somewhat dated (Pan-Africanism was a big deal in the 70s, but ethnic and religious politics in Africa being what they are, the idea of a united continent seems ridiculous right now). While I struggled with maintaining interest in the book during its middle chapters, which is unusual for a guy who was so good at making the reader turn pages, Sanders did manage to interest me enough in the saga of the Little Captain to buy the sequel, "The Tangent Objective."

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very different from any other Sanders novel I have read before. Storyline is about a President of a small African country who has a very large ambition - to break down barriers and try to develop all of Africa into the United African States. Of course there are many people both in favor as well as against his plan. Tangent is an American working with the African leader who gets to witness and participate in the events. Good solid read - nothing amazing but a worthwhile choice.

[Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can a book be boring and interesting at the same time because that's what I think about it. There is not much to review about because I couldn't get much out of it other than tangent sleeps with a bunch of women, typical tangent. I guess if your curious read it your self other wise don't bother.

[Biju Bhaskar · Rating 3 out of 5]

General Obiri Anokye has usurper power in a tiny West African nation Asante. He has delusions of being the modern African Napolean and conspires to bring his two neighboring countries under his hegemony.

[Joni · Rating 2 out of 5]

4

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mythical African president plots the overthrow of neighboring countries. Peter Tangent, oilman, gets involved with the CIA and the overthrow.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tale of espionage set mainly in Africa and one county's leader hunger to create a united Africa.