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El quinto jinete
El quinto jinete es una novela de suspense escrita en 1980 por Larry Collins y Dominique Lapierre. En ella, los autores imaginan el primer chantaje nuclear de la historia.
La casa Blanca recibe un mensaje: el coronel Kadhafi dice que si en 36 horas los israelíes no les devuelven las tierras a los palestinos, una bomba atomica destruirá Nueva York. Pero no pueden decirle ni una palabra de esto a los medios de comunicación ni a la población, todo debe hacerse en secreto, si no la bomba explotará. Un Consejo de Seguridad se reúne en el Pentágono. ¿Que hacer? ¿Deben negociar? ¿Aceptar el chantaje? ¿Avisar a la población? Treinta y seis horas de diabólico suspense en el que se pone en juego el destino de Nueva York.
La casa Blanca recibe un mensaje: el coronel Kadhafi dice que si en 36 horas los israelíes no les devuelven las tierras a los palestinos, una bomba atomica destruirá Nueva York. Pero no pueden decirle ni una palabra de esto a los medios de comunicación ni a la población, todo debe hacerse en secreto, si no la bomba explotará. Un Consejo de Seguridad se reúne en el Pentágono. ¿Que hacer? ¿Deben negociar? ¿Aceptar el chantaje? ¿Avisar a la población? Treinta y seis horas de diabólico suspense en el que se pone en juego el destino de Nueva York.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 1980
82 people are currently reading
904 people want to read
About the author
Dominique Lapierre
50 books349 followersDominique Lapierre was born in Châtelaillon-Plage, Charente-Maritime, France. At the age of thirteen, he travelled to America with his father who was a diplomat (Consul General of France). He attended the Jesuit school in New Orleans and became a paper boy for the "New Orleans Item". He developed interests in travelling, writing and cars and later traveled across the United States as a young man.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 24, 2024
3rd reading - Just finishing two of my favorites from the early 80s - this story and "The Sixth Commandment" by Lawrence Sanders.
Here, Libyan/Palestinian terrorists have planted a hydrogen bomb in New York City. The ultimatum is that the U.S. must force Israel to depart the lands they've taken from the Arab people. We have multiple players - The President and his cabinet, who can't evacuate the people or the bomb will blow; the nuclear folks who spend the little time left searching for the needle in the haystack; my favorite, Angelo, a NYPD detective partnered with a young FBI agent looking for any Arabs in the neighborhood.
Great tension in this global police procedural.
2nd reading - I had originally read this when it came out in paperback in the early 80s. Awesome suspense involving a terrorist cell smuggling a dirty nuclear bomb into the states.
I thoroughly enjoyed the main character of NY police officer Angelo, an everyman looking for the needle in the haystack. His life revolves around his girlfriend, Grace, and his Down Syndrome daughter.
One of the many good parts: using a lie detector that looks at eye patterns leads to unexpected results.
I re-read this 30 years later and the terrorism elements seem even more prescient in these times.
Here, Libyan/Palestinian terrorists have planted a hydrogen bomb in New York City. The ultimatum is that the U.S. must force Israel to depart the lands they've taken from the Arab people. We have multiple players - The President and his cabinet, who can't evacuate the people or the bomb will blow; the nuclear folks who spend the little time left searching for the needle in the haystack; my favorite, Angelo, a NYPD detective partnered with a young FBI agent looking for any Arabs in the neighborhood.
Great tension in this global police procedural.
2nd reading - I had originally read this when it came out in paperback in the early 80s. Awesome suspense involving a terrorist cell smuggling a dirty nuclear bomb into the states.
I thoroughly enjoyed the main character of NY police officer Angelo, an everyman looking for the needle in the haystack. His life revolves around his girlfriend, Grace, and his Down Syndrome daughter.
One of the many good parts: using a lie detector that looks at eye patterns leads to unexpected results.
I re-read this 30 years later and the terrorism elements seem even more prescient in these times.
August 12, 2017
Today anybody looking for news about international relations, terrorist groups, nuclear weapons, or secret warfare can simply surf the web. Lapierre and Collins successfully merged an imaginative, fully fictional concept with their knowledge of international relations and military operations, creating the hottest political military story you could imagine at the time. A page-turning thriller based on real global issues. So much so that Hollywood majors’ abandoned project to make a movie out of it because it could inspire real terrorists. This very detailed and yet fast-paced thriller deserves six - well, okay, five plus - stars to me.
February 25, 2017
I haven't read a thriller in a while, and reading this (a too good one ) made me realise how much of my patience have been taken away by the visual media. I kept thinking, why couldn't they make a movie out of this.! It was intense and amazing to have it inside your head, the world's various intelligence agency control rooms, government control rooms and their operations. Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre never fails to impress me!
July 18, 2020
“(…) un pensamiento de Sartre: “El hombre no puede realizar nada si no ha comprendido primero que sólo debe contar consigo mismo.” Ella estaba sola en aquellas tinieblas, sin nadie que la obligase a rechazar este brazo, a apartar la sábana, a levantarse, a emprender el camino que había elegido.” (p. 165)
Es una buena novela para pasar un buen rato y la indicada para aquellos apasionados de la narrativa estadounidense y la obras con el sello I love USA.
En síntesis, la novela trata sobre las medidas que se van tomando y los distintos planes de acción que se van calibrando cuando una amenaza de bomba nuclear a estallar en Nueva York llega al presidente de los EEUU, amenazado por un líder terrorista palestino. La trama se desarrolla en la década de los sesenta, siendo la fortaleza del relato la capacidad de descripción de toda la compleja situación… Aunque evidentemente con una visión sesgada del asunto.
Tiene personajes puntuales que por su descripción y participación en la trama me han gustado en forma particular, entre ellos Leila Dajani, Grace Knowland y Moamar Gadaffi.
Es una buena novela para pasar un buen rato y la indicada para aquellos apasionados de la narrativa estadounidense y la obras con el sello I love USA.
En síntesis, la novela trata sobre las medidas que se van tomando y los distintos planes de acción que se van calibrando cuando una amenaza de bomba nuclear a estallar en Nueva York llega al presidente de los EEUU, amenazado por un líder terrorista palestino. La trama se desarrolla en la década de los sesenta, siendo la fortaleza del relato la capacidad de descripción de toda la compleja situación… Aunque evidentemente con una visión sesgada del asunto.
Tiene personajes puntuales que por su descripción y participación en la trama me han gustado en forma particular, entre ellos Leila Dajani, Grace Knowland y Moamar Gadaffi.
October 27, 2025
I found the 1980 hardback edition in a massive sprawling used bookstore in Boise (sadly the owner is now retired, and the store is shuttered). The property was so large that the owner gave up trying to keep it organized and the shelves were either overflowing or bare. My copy was buried amongst thirty-year-old diet books and multiple copies of Men Are from Mars; Women Are from Venus and Iron John: A Book About Men (remember those?). At first it didn't register with me - probably because it was so out of place, but then I remembered. It was the winter of 1983. I was fifteen years old and gladly read/devoured anything about terrorism, the cold war, nuclear weapons and so forth. I read "The Fifth Horseman" in a just a couple days and found it topical, terrifying and exhilarating. In a nostalgic mood I bought it and dove in that day. I wanted to see how much had and hadn't changed.
It's hard to believe now, but in August 1980 ,when the novel was released, it created a huge splash. I recall "People" magazine running excerpts from the novel over a period of several weeks. The novel was also a topic of discussion on television shows. It was controversial to have the villain be an actual and living person (Qaddafi claimed to be greatly amused) while the multitude of technical details amazed many. The novel was also terrifyingly topical.
In the summer of 1980 the U.S. was in the middle of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan was eight months old, the Solidarity labor union was stirring things up in Poland, oil prices were sky-rocketing and the presidential campaign between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan was going full tilt. Terrorism was emerging as a very real concern to the United States (it had been a very real threat to Europe, the Middle East and Israel for many years already) and the Middle East was definitely flexing it's muscles.
Looking back the past forty-one years it's now apparent that "The Fifth Horseman" was not only an example of a novel that enjoyed perfect timing in it's release, but also ushered in what we now call the Technothriller. It was a huge hit. In the two years that followed it's publication the writers were popular guests on news shows as Qaddafi stirred things up; Sadat was assassinated in 1981, U.S. and Libyan fighters fired missiles at each other and Israel invaded Lebanon in 82 (these are just a few of the dramatic events that occurred during those two years). It even appears that the book caused the French government to stop it's sale of nuclear reactors to Libya. But the world moves on and memories are short. The movie adaptation was never made (that's a headscratcher) and Tom Clancy and other authors soon overtook it.
I love reading novels that were once so commanding, but are now essentially historical artifacts. It's fascinating to see how they have held up; what they got right and what they got wrong. To begin with it's still a pretty good read. Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre were journalists and they brought a journalistic approach to this novel. They did their research, using a trailer load of data to ratchet up the suspense. Having Qaddafi, Begin and Carter as actual characters in the novel works, but it also can be jarring, and I found it removed me from the fictional setting. It would have been better to have used fictional names for the leaders. Of course, the technology is dated and there is one amusing sequence when a detective has to look for a payphone that is actually working. I approached the novel as a piece of historical fiction (perhaps even a "secret history") and got past the detailed descriptions of obsolete tech.
However, there were other details that are still very real concerns. The biggest would have to be the continuing Israeli - Palestinian Conflict. The issue of the Israeli settlements is a significant reason for Libya smuggling a nuclear bomb into New York City. The settlements continue to be a major issue in 2021. As I write this review the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis cease fire is in it's fifth day and over 250 people are dead. The Israeli settlements are at the center of the most recent outbreak of violence. There are other things as well. Twenty years after the novel was published there occurred the 9/11 attacks followed by war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Qaddafi was killed by rebels in October 2011 and it's Iran that has a nuclear program.
In the novel Qaddafi is shown as being a very calm, controlled intelligent man. In the years since his death details have emerged of a very different person from the fictional depiction. He has been described as impulsive, unpredictable, unaware of world events and not capable of holding a coherent conversation. Evidently Castro had high hopes for him as a fellow revolutionary but was disabused of that romantic idea after meeting him. Strangely in his final years he actually worked to bring Libya closer to the West; gave money to the family members of the victims of Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie, Scotland) and turned over the two men responsible for that attack in 1999 (after years of economic sanctions and heavy diplomatic pressure). It was also learned that Libya's nuclear program never really got past the early stages while Pakistan and Iran were well on their way to manufacturing nukes. But in 1980 that was all in the future.
The novel is very much a product of it's time. There is an uncomfortable condensation towards blacks and other ethnic groups are also type casted. The characterization in general tends to be rather surface. The United States probably comes off as too noble, but that could have been an editing choice for the American readers. I do know there are differences between the American and French editions so who can say. Women are mostly minor characters with men dominating the scene. There isn't one woman involved with the crisis management teams or working as an investigator in Washington D.C., New York City, Jerusalem or Paris. Interestingly the one prominent, strong female character is a terrorist who is part of the team that smuggles the bomb into New York City. Go figure that out.
All in all still a very readable technothriller despite being over forty years old. Though aspects of the story are dated it can hold your interest. Nuclear bombs, terrorism and the Middle East are still around after all so while some details have changed it isn't like reading a suspense novel of Austrian police trying to stop an assassin at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
It's hard to believe now, but in August 1980 ,when the novel was released, it created a huge splash. I recall "People" magazine running excerpts from the novel over a period of several weeks. The novel was also a topic of discussion on television shows. It was controversial to have the villain be an actual and living person (Qaddafi claimed to be greatly amused) while the multitude of technical details amazed many. The novel was also terrifyingly topical.
In the summer of 1980 the U.S. was in the middle of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan was eight months old, the Solidarity labor union was stirring things up in Poland, oil prices were sky-rocketing and the presidential campaign between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan was going full tilt. Terrorism was emerging as a very real concern to the United States (it had been a very real threat to Europe, the Middle East and Israel for many years already) and the Middle East was definitely flexing it's muscles.
Looking back the past forty-one years it's now apparent that "The Fifth Horseman" was not only an example of a novel that enjoyed perfect timing in it's release, but also ushered in what we now call the Technothriller. It was a huge hit. In the two years that followed it's publication the writers were popular guests on news shows as Qaddafi stirred things up; Sadat was assassinated in 1981, U.S. and Libyan fighters fired missiles at each other and Israel invaded Lebanon in 82 (these are just a few of the dramatic events that occurred during those two years). It even appears that the book caused the French government to stop it's sale of nuclear reactors to Libya. But the world moves on and memories are short. The movie adaptation was never made (that's a headscratcher) and Tom Clancy and other authors soon overtook it.
I love reading novels that were once so commanding, but are now essentially historical artifacts. It's fascinating to see how they have held up; what they got right and what they got wrong. To begin with it's still a pretty good read. Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre were journalists and they brought a journalistic approach to this novel. They did their research, using a trailer load of data to ratchet up the suspense. Having Qaddafi, Begin and Carter as actual characters in the novel works, but it also can be jarring, and I found it removed me from the fictional setting. It would have been better to have used fictional names for the leaders. Of course, the technology is dated and there is one amusing sequence when a detective has to look for a payphone that is actually working. I approached the novel as a piece of historical fiction (perhaps even a "secret history") and got past the detailed descriptions of obsolete tech.
However, there were other details that are still very real concerns. The biggest would have to be the continuing Israeli - Palestinian Conflict. The issue of the Israeli settlements is a significant reason for Libya smuggling a nuclear bomb into New York City. The settlements continue to be a major issue in 2021. As I write this review the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis cease fire is in it's fifth day and over 250 people are dead. The Israeli settlements are at the center of the most recent outbreak of violence. There are other things as well. Twenty years after the novel was published there occurred the 9/11 attacks followed by war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Qaddafi was killed by rebels in October 2011 and it's Iran that has a nuclear program.
In the novel Qaddafi is shown as being a very calm, controlled intelligent man. In the years since his death details have emerged of a very different person from the fictional depiction. He has been described as impulsive, unpredictable, unaware of world events and not capable of holding a coherent conversation. Evidently Castro had high hopes for him as a fellow revolutionary but was disabused of that romantic idea after meeting him. Strangely in his final years he actually worked to bring Libya closer to the West; gave money to the family members of the victims of Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie, Scotland) and turned over the two men responsible for that attack in 1999 (after years of economic sanctions and heavy diplomatic pressure). It was also learned that Libya's nuclear program never really got past the early stages while Pakistan and Iran were well on their way to manufacturing nukes. But in 1980 that was all in the future.
The novel is very much a product of it's time. There is an uncomfortable condensation towards blacks and other ethnic groups are also type casted. The characterization in general tends to be rather surface. The United States probably comes off as too noble, but that could have been an editing choice for the American readers. I do know there are differences between the American and French editions so who can say. Women are mostly minor characters with men dominating the scene. There isn't one woman involved with the crisis management teams or working as an investigator in Washington D.C., New York City, Jerusalem or Paris. Interestingly the one prominent, strong female character is a terrorist who is part of the team that smuggles the bomb into New York City. Go figure that out.
All in all still a very readable technothriller despite being over forty years old. Though aspects of the story are dated it can hold your interest. Nuclear bombs, terrorism and the Middle East are still around after all so while some details have changed it isn't like reading a suspense novel of Austrian police trying to stop an assassin at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
December 8, 2020
probablemente no sea del todo un mal libro al punto de calificarlo como pésimo, pero si queremos verlo como uno que te permita enganchar al dedillo y mantenerte pegado, puede ser mejor que busques por otro lado porque será lo último que veas.
sí, hay Conspiración, chantaje, trama de terroristas palestinos, una amenaza de bomba que puede explotar en cualquier momento matando a más de 5 millones de personas en Nueva York y más... pero la manera de contarlo probablemente no sea para que te intrigues. gran parte del libro está lleno de mucha descripción y palabras que sólo hacen que la trama apenas avance, redundando siempre en lo mismo y en donde apenas observas la acción; muchos personajes que saltan de escena cada párrafo más o menos, Y no olvidar que es muy técnico en cuanto a los detalles mismos de la bomba.
de las 10 partes que tiene el libro, las partes pares se comprenden mejor que las impares, y de esas, la última es la mejor del libro, que es lo que le retribuye esta calificación. Capaz también que es cosa de acostumbrarse, pero eso sí, leerse con calma y atención para intentar pescar lo mayor posible.
sí, hay Conspiración, chantaje, trama de terroristas palestinos, una amenaza de bomba que puede explotar en cualquier momento matando a más de 5 millones de personas en Nueva York y más... pero la manera de contarlo probablemente no sea para que te intrigues. gran parte del libro está lleno de mucha descripción y palabras que sólo hacen que la trama apenas avance, redundando siempre en lo mismo y en donde apenas observas la acción; muchos personajes que saltan de escena cada párrafo más o menos, Y no olvidar que es muy técnico en cuanto a los detalles mismos de la bomba.
de las 10 partes que tiene el libro, las partes pares se comprenden mejor que las impares, y de esas, la última es la mejor del libro, que es lo que le retribuye esta calificación. Capaz también que es cosa de acostumbrarse, pero eso sí, leerse con calma y atención para intentar pescar lo mayor posible.
March 20, 2015
Por fin logré terminar este libro, nada hubiese deseado más que poder leerlo de una manera más constante. En algún momento a mitad del libro pensé en que ni loco podría darle las 5 estrellas debido al gran aburrimiento que me estaba causando, pero luego de leer varias páginas más me di cuenta de que para entenderlo completamente hay que leerlo sin muchas pausas (días sin leer) y disfrutando cada detalle que te dan en las páginas, porque si no se hace así, puede llegar a ser tedioso.
Para mí el único "fallo" (y si, las comillas están justificadas) que tuvo este libro fue la cantidad de personajes que presentan en tan poco tiempo, al principio deja un poco perplejo e incluso me costó seguir el ritmo de cada personaje con los saltos de lugar/tiempo que ocurrían en algunas partes de los capítulos, pero esto es compensado con la excelente representación de los personajes más carismáticos de la obra, como Angelo, también otorgándole una gran mención a Gadaffi, incluso con sus pocas líneas de diálogo, pero de eso lo retomaré mas adelante.
Aunque mi amor incondicional a Nueva York pueda nublar un poco el juicio de esta parte, me pareció que la forma de plasmar la ciudad, y describir cada uno de sus lugares especiales, desde hitos turísticos hasta callejones y lugares en lo mas oscuro de la urbe, dándole un toque de imperfección que la hace mas perfecta aún, enseñando y "destripando" sus secretos, mostrando sus bondades y las dificultades que atraviesa día a día, es simplemente hecha a la medida, llevando al lector a ese lugar y momento y haciéndolo sentir lo que sentiría cualquier ciudadano al recorrer aquellas grandes avenidas, largas calles y estrechos callejones.
En cuanto a la trama no podría ser más enganchante, es de esos libros que no te dejan soltarlos y que debes leer esa "página más" antes de dejarlo hasta el día siguiente. La tensión de las situaciones se transmite y hacen el libro cada vez mas adictivo pero mas agobiante (de la buena manera) a la misma vez .
Ahora, volviendo al villano de turno, Gadaffi, debo decir que nunca había sentido tanto amor por un personaje "malvado" de un libro. La representación del líder libio en esos pocos diálogos que tiene es simplemente excepcional, muestra el lado más oscuro e interesante de un fanático religioso con aires de poder absoluto y a la misma vez demuestra que un villano no debe tener siempre un punto débil el cual "los buenos" del asunto puedan explotar fácilmente.
Este libro pasará a ser uno de mis favoritos y definitivamente lo volveré a leer cuando tenga la oportunidad para poder captar los detalles que se me pudieron escapar en esta leída. 100% recomendado para todo el que desee leer un libro en el que se desarrolla una gran situación de crisis.
Para mí el único "fallo" (y si, las comillas están justificadas) que tuvo este libro fue la cantidad de personajes que presentan en tan poco tiempo, al principio deja un poco perplejo e incluso me costó seguir el ritmo de cada personaje con los saltos de lugar/tiempo que ocurrían en algunas partes de los capítulos, pero esto es compensado con la excelente representación de los personajes más carismáticos de la obra, como Angelo, también otorgándole una gran mención a Gadaffi, incluso con sus pocas líneas de diálogo, pero de eso lo retomaré mas adelante.
Aunque mi amor incondicional a Nueva York pueda nublar un poco el juicio de esta parte, me pareció que la forma de plasmar la ciudad, y describir cada uno de sus lugares especiales, desde hitos turísticos hasta callejones y lugares en lo mas oscuro de la urbe, dándole un toque de imperfección que la hace mas perfecta aún, enseñando y "destripando" sus secretos, mostrando sus bondades y las dificultades que atraviesa día a día, es simplemente hecha a la medida, llevando al lector a ese lugar y momento y haciéndolo sentir lo que sentiría cualquier ciudadano al recorrer aquellas grandes avenidas, largas calles y estrechos callejones.
En cuanto a la trama no podría ser más enganchante, es de esos libros que no te dejan soltarlos y que debes leer esa "página más" antes de dejarlo hasta el día siguiente. La tensión de las situaciones se transmite y hacen el libro cada vez mas adictivo pero mas agobiante (de la buena manera) a la misma vez .
Ahora, volviendo al villano de turno, Gadaffi, debo decir que nunca había sentido tanto amor por un personaje "malvado" de un libro. La representación del líder libio en esos pocos diálogos que tiene es simplemente excepcional, muestra el lado más oscuro e interesante de un fanático religioso con aires de poder absoluto y a la misma vez demuestra que un villano no debe tener siempre un punto débil el cual "los buenos" del asunto puedan explotar fácilmente.
Este libro pasará a ser uno de mis favoritos y definitivamente lo volveré a leer cuando tenga la oportunidad para poder captar los detalles que se me pudieron escapar en esta leída. 100% recomendado para todo el que desee leer un libro en el que se desarrolla una gran situación de crisis.
April 11, 2010
A timeless story about terrorists desiring to set an explosion in New York unless the United States will agree to their demands and agrees to set up an independedt Palistinian state. Libyan Col. Mummar al-Qaddafi has given the US 36 hours to agree to his terms or else, he will set off the device, wiping New York off the map.
Det. Angelo Rocchia and his girlfriend, Grace Knewland are two of the New Yorkers who would be killed in the explosion. Over dinner, Grace tells Angelo how happy she is to learn of her unexpected pregnancy.
In Washington, DC, the President decides to find the answers and tells his agents not to worry about diplomatic immunity. The agents set up wire taps on Libyan diplomats.
Quentin Dewing, FBI assistant director for investigation is in charge of mobilizing his agents to examine all know terrorists' fingerprints and photographs.
The common man helps, from pimps to pickpockets each doing their best to find answers.
The terrorists, Laila Kajani, her brothers Whalid and Kamal have the device. Only Whalid exhibits any sense of remorse that he will be killing so many innocent people.
The authors have a background in reoprting and the story reads as if the it was taken from news bulletins from the local papers. The narrative style works well and the story is captivating.
Det. Angelo Rocchia and his girlfriend, Grace Knewland are two of the New Yorkers who would be killed in the explosion. Over dinner, Grace tells Angelo how happy she is to learn of her unexpected pregnancy.
In Washington, DC, the President decides to find the answers and tells his agents not to worry about diplomatic immunity. The agents set up wire taps on Libyan diplomats.
Quentin Dewing, FBI assistant director for investigation is in charge of mobilizing his agents to examine all know terrorists' fingerprints and photographs.
The common man helps, from pimps to pickpockets each doing their best to find answers.
The terrorists, Laila Kajani, her brothers Whalid and Kamal have the device. Only Whalid exhibits any sense of remorse that he will be killing so many innocent people.
The authors have a background in reoprting and the story reads as if the it was taken from news bulletins from the local papers. The narrative style works well and the story is captivating.
August 3, 2014
Terrorismo não é um tema que me leve às prateleira de um livraria em busca de um livro, mas este Quinto Cavaleiro caiu-me no colo e foi impossível ignora-lo.
Comecei a leitura de pé atrás mas fiquei presa logo nos primeiros capítulos. Primeiro a uma escrita fluida que nos faz deslizar pelas páginas e depois pelo enredo que evolui rapidamente e atinge um ritmo imparável até ao final. Final que acaba por não ter nada de surpreendente mas que vale pelo suspense até às últimas linhas.
Escrito no final dos anos setenta a duas mãos, Dominique Lapierre e Larry Collins fizeram um trabalho de investigação notável e rodearam-se de especialistas para que o livro não apresentasse falhas.
Terroristas ligados a Muammar Kadhafi, a eterna disputa sobre a Palestina, os colunatos Judeus e - obviamente - o envolvimento Norte Americano na questão árabe, formam um cocktail que culmina com uma bomba nuclear em Nova York e a ameaça de pulverizar a cidade e 10 milhões de pessoas. O tema não tem nada de original e, infelizmente, continua atual, mas está muito bem desenvolvido e contado com bastante rigor técnico.
Desde as primeiras páginas, e cada vez mais com o avançar da história, achei que este livro daria uma boa adaptação cinematográfica. Bons atores nas mãos de um bom realizador e teríamos filme para nos deixar colados ao ecrã a roer as unhas
Comecei a leitura de pé atrás mas fiquei presa logo nos primeiros capítulos. Primeiro a uma escrita fluida que nos faz deslizar pelas páginas e depois pelo enredo que evolui rapidamente e atinge um ritmo imparável até ao final. Final que acaba por não ter nada de surpreendente mas que vale pelo suspense até às últimas linhas.
Escrito no final dos anos setenta a duas mãos, Dominique Lapierre e Larry Collins fizeram um trabalho de investigação notável e rodearam-se de especialistas para que o livro não apresentasse falhas.
Terroristas ligados a Muammar Kadhafi, a eterna disputa sobre a Palestina, os colunatos Judeus e - obviamente - o envolvimento Norte Americano na questão árabe, formam um cocktail que culmina com uma bomba nuclear em Nova York e a ameaça de pulverizar a cidade e 10 milhões de pessoas. O tema não tem nada de original e, infelizmente, continua atual, mas está muito bem desenvolvido e contado com bastante rigor técnico.
Desde as primeiras páginas, e cada vez mais com o avançar da história, achei que este livro daria uma boa adaptação cinematográfica. Bons atores nas mãos de um bom realizador e teríamos filme para nos deixar colados ao ecrã a roer as unhas
March 2, 2013
A book about a threatened nuclear holocaust! A great doomer book
I read this a long time ago - and just now reread it
The prospect of an event such as this is everyone's worst nightmare. Yet it is precisely what the think tanks who are responsible for national security have on their agenda, and have for years...what to do...if.... This book is about the prospect of a nuclear attack in New York City
The prospect was so daunting that the US and USSR for decades pulled out all the stops to insure that a nuclear explosion would never be initiated at the expense of either side But at the same time everyone who has nuclear power has also invented every diabolical delivery vehicle, intellectual platform and system capable of destroying NY or MOSCOW in a NY minute. Now it is horribly realistic, save the inability to acquire and successfully detonate one .
Fanaticism is unpredictable. An extraordinary look into a fictional story which we should hope never strays from being fiction.
I read this a long time ago - and just now reread it
The prospect of an event such as this is everyone's worst nightmare. Yet it is precisely what the think tanks who are responsible for national security have on their agenda, and have for years...what to do...if.... This book is about the prospect of a nuclear attack in New York City
The prospect was so daunting that the US and USSR for decades pulled out all the stops to insure that a nuclear explosion would never be initiated at the expense of either side But at the same time everyone who has nuclear power has also invented every diabolical delivery vehicle, intellectual platform and system capable of destroying NY or MOSCOW in a NY minute. Now it is horribly realistic, save the inability to acquire and successfully detonate one .
Fanaticism is unpredictable. An extraordinary look into a fictional story which we should hope never strays from being fiction.
December 24, 2024
¡Feliz navidad! Justo en la misma época del año en la que ocurre la historia, la leo, toma ya.
Poco que decir sobre la prosa de Collins y Lapierre. Sí que es la primera vez que leo un drama suyo cien por cien ficción (o sea La Ciudad de la Alegría entra dentro de “cotidianeidad”), pero ya me sorprende menos su extenuante trabajo de documentación y el nivel de detalle en absolutamente todo. Lo CUAL no quita que sea una jodida flipada. O sea tengo entendido que todos los personajes son REALES, pero, ¿en serio? ¿Los Dajani también? ¿¿El poli Rocchia?? ¿¿¿El fed Rand??? ¿¿¿El chulo Enrico Díaz???? el número de personajes, los trasfondos de cada uno y la acción era tan variada y diversa que en mucho casos me he perdido y aun leyendo todos los días perdía la pista sobre cómo iba la investigación en Francia y cómo en EEUU, etc. La sensación un poco como de ver un capítulo de CSI, pero dirigido por Christopher Nolan.
En verdad lo más flipante, como siempre, ha sido leer cómo esta gente se trabaja personajes emblemáticos como Begin, Gadaffi, o el Presidente de Estados Unidos (Carter, entiendo, aunque nunca mencionen su nombre). O sea es un trabajo monumental porque pueden enfadar a mucha gente, y yo creo que también es por eso que todos ellos son representados como hombres respetables, maduros, empáticos con su país y que solo piensan en el bien último, cada uno desde su perspectiva… En fin, creo que ha llegado un punto en el que me hacía más gracia que otra cosa, porque después de la Pandemia creo que todos tenemos absolutamente claro que ni el gobierno ni el presidente de Estados Unidos son siquiera la mitad de empáticos, trabajadores, y pulidos de lo que sale aquí. Vamos, definitivamente.
De hecho, creo que la razón por la que le doy cuatro estrellas y no cinco es que me parece un libro un poco hipócrita y, a grandes rasgos, un lavado de cara para Estados Unidos (y sobretodo el Presidente). O sea, la demonización del acto de Gadaffi por encima de todo lo que hacen EEUU e Israel, que casi parece que Israel solo esta mandando gente de turismo a Cisjordania, y de que Estados Unidos es símbolo de paz, pues… O sea, obviamente Gadaffi está cometiendo un acto extremo de terrorismo, pero que no se evidencie en ningún momento que amenazar con bombas atómicas es el juego nacional de Estados Unidos, que el país más radical, fanático y de acciones más diabólicas es precisamente el del digno presidente, pues…
En fin, justo leer este libro con la Invasión de la franja de Gaza, quizá lo ha hecho más interesante, o quizá lo ha pifiado un poco, o quizá el libro está siendo muy equidistante con todos para mantener el tono neutral (clásico estilo periodístico de Lapierre) y a mí me parece demasiado insulso. No sé, me esperaba una crítica más fuerte de esos dos.
Igualmente, ¡ha sido un libro muy interesante! ¡Yyyy ahora no tengo la menor idea de qué leer! ¿Poberty by America? Hmmm, ¡sería un buen colofón!
Poco que decir sobre la prosa de Collins y Lapierre. Sí que es la primera vez que leo un drama suyo cien por cien ficción (o sea La Ciudad de la Alegría entra dentro de “cotidianeidad”), pero ya me sorprende menos su extenuante trabajo de documentación y el nivel de detalle en absolutamente todo. Lo CUAL no quita que sea una jodida flipada. O sea tengo entendido que todos los personajes son REALES, pero, ¿en serio? ¿Los Dajani también? ¿¿El poli Rocchia?? ¿¿¿El fed Rand??? ¿¿¿El chulo Enrico Díaz???? el número de personajes, los trasfondos de cada uno y la acción era tan variada y diversa que en mucho casos me he perdido y aun leyendo todos los días perdía la pista sobre cómo iba la investigación en Francia y cómo en EEUU, etc. La sensación un poco como de ver un capítulo de CSI, pero dirigido por Christopher Nolan.
En verdad lo más flipante, como siempre, ha sido leer cómo esta gente se trabaja personajes emblemáticos como Begin, Gadaffi, o el Presidente de Estados Unidos (Carter, entiendo, aunque nunca mencionen su nombre). O sea es un trabajo monumental porque pueden enfadar a mucha gente, y yo creo que también es por eso que todos ellos son representados como hombres respetables, maduros, empáticos con su país y que solo piensan en el bien último, cada uno desde su perspectiva… En fin, creo que ha llegado un punto en el que me hacía más gracia que otra cosa, porque después de la Pandemia creo que todos tenemos absolutamente claro que ni el gobierno ni el presidente de Estados Unidos son siquiera la mitad de empáticos, trabajadores, y pulidos de lo que sale aquí. Vamos, definitivamente.
De hecho, creo que la razón por la que le doy cuatro estrellas y no cinco es que me parece un libro un poco hipócrita y, a grandes rasgos, un lavado de cara para Estados Unidos (y sobretodo el Presidente). O sea, la demonización del acto de Gadaffi por encima de todo lo que hacen EEUU e Israel, que casi parece que Israel solo esta mandando gente de turismo a Cisjordania, y de que Estados Unidos es símbolo de paz, pues… O sea, obviamente Gadaffi está cometiendo un acto extremo de terrorismo, pero que no se evidencie en ningún momento que amenazar con bombas atómicas es el juego nacional de Estados Unidos, que el país más radical, fanático y de acciones más diabólicas es precisamente el del digno presidente, pues…
En fin, justo leer este libro con la Invasión de la franja de Gaza, quizá lo ha hecho más interesante, o quizá lo ha pifiado un poco, o quizá el libro está siendo muy equidistante con todos para mantener el tono neutral (clásico estilo periodístico de Lapierre) y a mí me parece demasiado insulso. No sé, me esperaba una crítica más fuerte de esos dos.
Igualmente, ¡ha sido un libro muy interesante! ¡Yyyy ahora no tengo la menor idea de qué leer! ¿Poberty by America? Hmmm, ¡sería un buen colofón!
January 31, 2019
Un libro q te mantiene en vilo hasta la última escena, sin embargo no llega a 5 estrellas, me pregunto si realmente la película se basó en este libro xq a pesar de las similitudes son muy diferentes.
August 21, 2011
J'ai commencé ce livre sans savoir ce qui m'attendait, à défaut d'avoir autre chose à lire, sans a priori...
Au fur et à mesure de la lecture, on est complétement happé par un thriller à couper le souffle, un peu à la 24 heures Chrono. Le temps se déroule tout naturellement, et l'urgence des situations nous oblige à rester dans le livre, à le dévorer en un éclair.
Pourtant paru 21 ans avant les attentats du World Trade Center, il est plus que jamais d'actualité et nous fait rentrer dans les coulisses du terrorisme, de l'espionnage, du contre-espionnage et du journalisme en écartant tous les préjugés qu'on pouvait avoir.
Selon la préface, de vraies études ont été menées par les auteurs pour ne rien inventer, ni déformer. À part le scénario, tout ce qui est raconté dans ce livre est une stricte réalité.
Et c'est ce qui rend ce livre si effrayant : On en vient à se demander à la dernière page ce qui empêche réellement une bombe H d'exploser en plein New York.
Le livre pointe aussi du doigt le "Devoir d'information" sacré des journalistes, cette quête de la vérité et de la transparence qui n'est pas forcément si souhaitable que ça.
Il ne vous reste qu'à le lire, Le Cinquième cavalier est génialissimement bien.
Quant à moi, il faut maintenant que j'arrive à l'oublier un peu pour pouvoir le relire !...
Au fur et à mesure de la lecture, on est complétement happé par un thriller à couper le souffle, un peu à la 24 heures Chrono. Le temps se déroule tout naturellement, et l'urgence des situations nous oblige à rester dans le livre, à le dévorer en un éclair.
Pourtant paru 21 ans avant les attentats du World Trade Center, il est plus que jamais d'actualité et nous fait rentrer dans les coulisses du terrorisme, de l'espionnage, du contre-espionnage et du journalisme en écartant tous les préjugés qu'on pouvait avoir.
Selon la préface, de vraies études ont été menées par les auteurs pour ne rien inventer, ni déformer. À part le scénario, tout ce qui est raconté dans ce livre est une stricte réalité.
Et c'est ce qui rend ce livre si effrayant : On en vient à se demander à la dernière page ce qui empêche réellement une bombe H d'exploser en plein New York.
Le livre pointe aussi du doigt le "Devoir d'information" sacré des journalistes, cette quête de la vérité et de la transparence qui n'est pas forcément si souhaitable que ça.
Il ne vous reste qu'à le lire, Le Cinquième cavalier est génialissimement bien.
Quant à moi, il faut maintenant que j'arrive à l'oublier un peu pour pouvoir le relire !...
May 3, 2014
A nuclear bomb capable of destroying NYC is hidden in the city by Lybian agents as blackmail to get Israel to abandon their settlements on the west bank. Even though written in the 1980's, it is a plausible story today. The story does not suffer from the changed technology since its writing. The president decides it is best not to tell the population about the bomb because part of the threat is that if an evacuation of the city begins, the bomb will detonated immediately.
It is a race against time as officials try to find and dismantle the bomb before the 48 hour deadline expires. Naturally, it is a seasoned NYC police veteran who figures it all out but only with minutes to spare.
It is a race against time as officials try to find and dismantle the bomb before the 48 hour deadline expires. Naturally, it is a seasoned NYC police veteran who figures it all out but only with minutes to spare.
July 9, 2019
Excelente thriller, muy llevadero y súper exacto en cuanto a los datos y descripciones de los personajes y sus oficios.
July 7, 2020
So in the Libyan fable it is told
That once an eagle, stricken with a dart,
Said when he saw the fashion of the shaft,
With our own feathers, not by others' hands
Are we now smitten --Aeschylus (quoted at p. 378)
The history books tell us that, when Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi surrendered his 30-year nuclear program in 2004, his program had "remained in very early initial, developmental stages."
But what if Qaddafi had succeeded in his nuclear ambitions--succeeded beyond his wildest dreams? This thriller offers a thoroughly detailed and believable scenario, wherein the Libyan dictator smuggled a 3 megaton H-bomb into New York City. Qaddafi threatens to detonate the nightmare weapon, unless Israelis evacuate their "settlements," and allow the "right to return" to Palestinians.
The book makes for an exciting read, and is an absorbing book, on account of the authors' 4 years of research to detail the book with a number of "open secret" details:
page 34: The essential workings of the hydrogen bomb, with a reference to the Charles Hansen letter of 1979, offering more details (if anyone's interested) :P
pages 123-132: A detailed description of the "fail safe" procedures of an Israeli pre-emptive nuclear strike on Libya. In the book, the strike is aborted at the last minute.
page 151: A reference to the US "Doomsday Plane".
pages 195-199: The detailed effects of a 3 megaton groundburst detonated at the heart of New York City
pages 211, 242-250, 294-297, 337-338: Discussion of the feasibility of evacuation of New York City. The book refers to a document, "The Feasibility of Crisis Relocation in the Northeast United States," which is a very real document
pages 330-333: How to divert plutonium from a nuclear reactor
Needless to say, this is a deeply interesting, suspenseful and well-crafted thriller.
That once an eagle, stricken with a dart,
Said when he saw the fashion of the shaft,
With our own feathers, not by others' hands
Are we now smitten --Aeschylus (quoted at p. 378)
The history books tell us that, when Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi surrendered his 30-year nuclear program in 2004, his program had "remained in very early initial, developmental stages."
But what if Qaddafi had succeeded in his nuclear ambitions--succeeded beyond his wildest dreams? This thriller offers a thoroughly detailed and believable scenario, wherein the Libyan dictator smuggled a 3 megaton H-bomb into New York City. Qaddafi threatens to detonate the nightmare weapon, unless Israelis evacuate their "settlements," and allow the "right to return" to Palestinians.
The book makes for an exciting read, and is an absorbing book, on account of the authors' 4 years of research to detail the book with a number of "open secret" details:
page 34: The essential workings of the hydrogen bomb, with a reference to the Charles Hansen letter of 1979, offering more details (if anyone's interested) :P
pages 123-132: A detailed description of the "fail safe" procedures of an Israeli pre-emptive nuclear strike on Libya. In the book, the strike is aborted at the last minute.
page 151: A reference to the US "Doomsday Plane".
pages 195-199: The detailed effects of a 3 megaton groundburst detonated at the heart of New York City
pages 211, 242-250, 294-297, 337-338: Discussion of the feasibility of evacuation of New York City. The book refers to a document, "The Feasibility of Crisis Relocation in the Northeast United States," which is a very real document
pages 330-333: How to divert plutonium from a nuclear reactor
Needless to say, this is a deeply interesting, suspenseful and well-crafted thriller.
October 17, 2017
Los autores, Dominique Lapierre y Larry Collins, nos narran la historia de un chantaje nuclear de enormes dimensiones. El coronel Gadafi, presidente de Libia y líder la la liga pan-árabe logra hacer pasar un artefacto explosivo nuclear de gran calibre a Nueva York, y allí ocultarlo custodiado por unos agentes terroristas capaces de defenderlo con su vida. Con la amenaza nuclear en juego, se pide el rescate al presidente de los Estados Unidos Jimmy Carter, aunque no se le menciona por su nombre en toda la novela) que consiga que Israel retire a sus colonos de los territorios palestinos si no quiere que haga detonar la bomba y borre Nueva York de la faz de la tierra. Fue escrito en 1980. Es una historia interesante, se lee muy rápido. Estos autores también han escrito otro excelente libro “OH, Jerusalem, pues es muy buena ya que explica como se origina el conflicto entre israelíes y palestinos que en su momento convivían pacíficamente como buenos vecinos. En el caso de "Oh, Jerusalem" se trata de una narración con rigor histórico en tanto que “El quinto jinete” es una ficción.
April 12, 2021
Superb thriller one of the very best I have ever read. Nail biting suspense and a plot that moves with all the pace and impact of a bazooka. Excellent mixture of fiction and political intrigue. What I loved was the parallel plots; on the one hand the desperate search on the ground in New York for the device and the activity of what is essentially a PLO Active Service Unit running parallel with the political manoeuvrings that literally cover the globe.
The research that went into this must have been awesome and written in an almost journalistic style that make it seem all the more real. As relevant and terrifying now as it seemed 40 years ago when it first appeared. Chose this for a book club read (male) some time ago and everyone agreed it was probably the best and most thrilling read we had ever selected. Incredibly it was the only novel that this duo ever wrote together. Unfortunately it must be only a matter of when not if this happens for real. If you have not already done so read it!
The research that went into this must have been awesome and written in an almost journalistic style that make it seem all the more real. As relevant and terrifying now as it seemed 40 years ago when it first appeared. Chose this for a book club read (male) some time ago and everyone agreed it was probably the best and most thrilling read we had ever selected. Incredibly it was the only novel that this duo ever wrote together. Unfortunately it must be only a matter of when not if this happens for real. If you have not already done so read it!
January 19, 2018
This wasn't a bad book, however I think it would have been aided by a bit of reduction in length and/or a bit more pace to the narrative.
The story itself is reasonably original, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi holds the United States hostage by planting a thermonuclear bomb in New York and demanding the force the Israeli's to remove their settlements from Palestinian lands. So whilst the premise is very much a topic of its time - the 1980s - it still is compelling today.
There was plenty of background and lead up to all the events, I think whilst they were somewhat of interest and did give more atmosphere the story wouldn't have been hurt that much by leaving most of the events in France out completely, or relegated to a mere paragraph or two.
Overall, it was a decent book but not one I'd race out for.
The story itself is reasonably original, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi holds the United States hostage by planting a thermonuclear bomb in New York and demanding the force the Israeli's to remove their settlements from Palestinian lands. So whilst the premise is very much a topic of its time - the 1980s - it still is compelling today.
There was plenty of background and lead up to all the events, I think whilst they were somewhat of interest and did give more atmosphere the story wouldn't have been hurt that much by leaving most of the events in France out completely, or relegated to a mere paragraph or two.
Overall, it was a decent book but not one I'd race out for.
March 6, 2021
El Quinto Jinete (2.5 estrellas)
Para ser sincera este no es el tipo de libro que me llama la atención. Y debo confesar que lo leí más por obligación y compromiso que por otra cosa.
Si bien el tema que abarca es muy interesante, ya que habla sobre una bomba que es colocada en Nueva York por unos terroristas, para que el presidente cumpla sus demandas extremistas.
La narración es muy atrapante, eso si debo concederlo, porque una vez que empiezas es muy sencillo continuar con la lectura, pero cada vez que dejaba de leer, tardaba días en volver a agarrar el libro, porque no me interesaba saber nada de él. No conecté con casi ningún personaje (ya que ninguno se profundiza), el clímax de la historia no tuvo nada de clímax y según yo todo pasó muy lento y extraño.
El final no me convenció y de paso me salté un montón de párrafos para poder terminarlo, esto debido a que es un libro que describe mucho las acciones políticas de los países (porque se eso se trata), pero aun así esos párrafos enormes eran puro relleno. Tal vez no era mi momento de leer ese libro, porque está muy bien estructurado y su narración, como ya mencioné es muy fácil de llevar (cuando no había relleno).
Definitivamente este es un libro poco memorable para mí.
Para ser sincera este no es el tipo de libro que me llama la atención. Y debo confesar que lo leí más por obligación y compromiso que por otra cosa.
Si bien el tema que abarca es muy interesante, ya que habla sobre una bomba que es colocada en Nueva York por unos terroristas, para que el presidente cumpla sus demandas extremistas.
La narración es muy atrapante, eso si debo concederlo, porque una vez que empiezas es muy sencillo continuar con la lectura, pero cada vez que dejaba de leer, tardaba días en volver a agarrar el libro, porque no me interesaba saber nada de él. No conecté con casi ningún personaje (ya que ninguno se profundiza), el clímax de la historia no tuvo nada de clímax y según yo todo pasó muy lento y extraño.
El final no me convenció y de paso me salté un montón de párrafos para poder terminarlo, esto debido a que es un libro que describe mucho las acciones políticas de los países (porque se eso se trata), pero aun así esos párrafos enormes eran puro relleno. Tal vez no era mi momento de leer ese libro, porque está muy bien estructurado y su narración, como ya mencioné es muy fácil de llevar (cuando no había relleno).
Definitivamente este es un libro poco memorable para mí.
September 16, 2025
Llevo meses en un bloqueo lector algo irregular y, cuando eso sucede suelo recurrir a algún thriller. El Quinto Jinete se ha convertido, con total seguridad, en una de mis mejores lecturas de 2025. Es un libro ágil, con capítulos en principio largos, pero divididos internamente y con una construcción sólida del relato; muy al estilo de los grandes thrillers de los años ochenta.
Es de esas novelas que lees y sientes como si estuvieras viendo una buena película: agencias de inteligencia, presidentes, policía, operaciones encubiertas, terrorismo y conflictos geopolíticos. No conocía a Larry Collins ni a Dominique Lapierre, así que tendré que leer algo más de ellos.
Es de esas novelas que lees y sientes como si estuvieras viendo una buena película: agencias de inteligencia, presidentes, policía, operaciones encubiertas, terrorismo y conflictos geopolíticos. No conocía a Larry Collins ni a Dominique Lapierre, así que tendré que leer algo más de ellos.
January 17, 2018
We live in an age where the 'Terrorist-with a nuke in New York' plot is a standard genre of our contemporary literature. This is one of the better written examples of the type, the characters are real and likable and the plot is fast paced. However it was published in 1980 and there are many jarring little things in the book which make it seem dated now. Such as using the term 'mongoloid' instead of Down's Syndrome, the lack of cell phones, and the navy's submarine nukes being controlled by punch card computers. But demonizing the Palestinians and the Libyans, that hasn't changed.
August 16, 2018
Ecrit par un journaliste.
Degré de détail qui ne trompera personne.
Toutes les échelles sont prises en compte, des plus hautes sphères de l'état au hommes du terrain.
Une montée en puissance du suspens menée à la perfection, tant le lecteur comprend au fur et à mesure les enjeux et intrications que ce chantage historique implique.
Si bien réalisé d'ailleurs, qu'on en reste presque sur sa faim dans les dernières pages qui passent trop vite.
Géopolitique internationale, physique nucléaire, enjeux de pouvoir, enquête policière, un must!
Degré de détail qui ne trompera personne.
Toutes les échelles sont prises en compte, des plus hautes sphères de l'état au hommes du terrain.
Une montée en puissance du suspens menée à la perfection, tant le lecteur comprend au fur et à mesure les enjeux et intrications que ce chantage historique implique.
Si bien réalisé d'ailleurs, qu'on en reste presque sur sa faim dans les dernières pages qui passent trop vite.
Géopolitique internationale, physique nucléaire, enjeux de pouvoir, enquête policière, un must!
May 17, 2021
As I finished reading this book in this specific moment of magnified attacks against Palestine, I have to say that even when this was written in the 80's, this book had a great projection of what could have been a better ending for a millennial conflict, if it weren for the "Most powerful" nation's ego and hidden interests.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2021
No estaba muy seguro de si me iba a gustar un thriller político, por lo que me ha sorprendido para bien.
Tiene algunos problemas, como la cantidad de veces que se cambia la narración de una situación y personajes a otros, y la cantidad de nombresy sus títulos, por lo que al principio es bastante confuso. Hay alguna trama que me ha parecido que sobraba, pero en general es muy dinámico y siempre pasa algo interesante.
7,5-8
Tiene algunos problemas, como la cantidad de veces que se cambia la narración de una situación y personajes a otros, y la cantidad de nombresy sus títulos, por lo que al principio es bastante confuso. Hay alguna trama que me ha parecido que sobraba, pero en general es muy dinámico y siempre pasa algo interesante.
7,5-8
February 2, 2025
Tarde en leerlo pero se volvió apasionante una vez que lo retome y no pude parar hasta terminarlo . Nunca me imaginé leyendo un thriller sobre terrorismo con tanto entusiasmo . Me gustó mucho la narrativa “cinematográfica “ que emplean los autores , cambiando escenas rápidamente para darle más ritmo a los eventos .
September 15, 2020
El hombre no puede realizar nada si no ha comprendido primero que solo debe contar consigo mismo, (cita de Sartre)
Es la acción lo que agrupa a los hombres, no las ideas
Cuando amenaza un peligro verdadero el interés superior exige batirse en retirada (reseña de Maimónides)
Es la acción lo que agrupa a los hombres, no las ideas
Cuando amenaza un peligro verdadero el interés superior exige batirse en retirada (reseña de Maimónides)
February 16, 2022
Novela muy extensa y completa, fascinante durante la mayor parte del relato... Aunque, cierto es, densa, y no apta para todos los lectores. Recomendable para los amantes de las intrigas geopolíticas y de los textos sobre espionaje.
April 21, 2023
De la época de los Best Sellers de política ficción de los 80. Muy entretenida, le puse las 5 estrellas porque verla aquí me llevó a mi juventud y, e aquella época, me entretuvo mucho y me hizo pensar (era la época de la guerra fría).
August 23, 2023
If I had read this around the time it was released, it would be a solid 5*. Sadly, this could still happen, if not exactly like story. The debating and negotiating, the options, the moral struggles within each person, and decision really digs in and made me wonder where moral compass points.
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