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The Golden Gate
A tense and nerve-shattering classic from the highly acclaimed master of action and suspense.
A ROLLING FORT KNOX
is how the journalists describe the Presidential motorcade as it enters San Francisco across the Golden Gate. Even the ever-watchful FBI believe it is impregnable—as it has to be with the President and two Arab potentates aboard.
But halfway across the bridge the unthinkable happens. Before the eyes of the world a master criminal pulls off the most spectacular kidnapping in modern times…
A ROLLING FORT KNOX
is how the journalists describe the Presidential motorcade as it enters San Francisco across the Golden Gate. Even the ever-watchful FBI believe it is impregnable—as it has to be with the President and two Arab potentates aboard.
But halfway across the bridge the unthinkable happens. Before the eyes of the world a master criminal pulls off the most spectacular kidnapping in modern times…
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
18 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read
About the author
Alistair MacLean
345 books1,205 followersAlistair Stuart MacLean (Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair MacGill-Eain), the son of a Scots Minister, was brought up in the Scottish Highlands. In 1941, at the age of eighteen, he joined the Royal Navy; two and a half years spent aboard a cruiser were to give him the background for HMS Ulysses, his first novel, the outstanding documentary novel on the war at sea. After the war he gained an English Honours degree at Glasgow University, and became a schoolmaster. In 1983, he was awarded a D. Litt. from the same university.
Maclean is the author of twenty-nine world bestsellers and recognised as an outstanding writer in his own genre. Many of his titles have been adapted for film - The Guns of the Navarone, The Satan Bug, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare and Bear Island are among the most famous.
Maclean is the author of twenty-nine world bestsellers and recognised as an outstanding writer in his own genre. Many of his titles have been adapted for film - The Guns of the Navarone, The Satan Bug, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare and Bear Island are among the most famous.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 1, 2020
Although it was originally published in the hijacking heyday of 1975, the plot of MacLean's Golden Gate will strike a familiar note in the present day for anyone who has viewed Air Force One, White House Down, and, of course, Die Hard (not to mention countless lesser straight to video/DVD rip-offs) in the last thirty or so years. In brief, a cunning and incognito lawman has to rescue the U.S. president and other VIPs being held hostage by a resourceful group of terrorists on the famed San Franciscan landmark. The dialogue - mouthed by American characters, but oddly including such British-sounding phrases as 'bloody,' 'old boy,' and 'gone quite mad' - occasionally rang false, plus there was a noticeable lack of cussing (not that I really missed it) for number of police, military, and government personnel in a 'once in a lifetime' crisis situation. Some of the names used (like Revson and Reston) were also too similar for almost all-male cast filled with stock or one-note personalities. It just felt dated, and there was more suspense than actual action, leading to an anti-climactic finale.
October 14, 2021
The Golden Gate is a suspense–thriller, around a meticulously planned, daring kidnapping. The book opens with master-criminal Branson, who with his crew is beginning to give effect to something they’ve been planning for a while, each team of men taking the places they’re meant to including as policemen and naval pilots. Soon we find out that two Arab guests—a King and Prince, both of whom control vast amounts of oil—are to be taken by the American President, Chief of Staff, General Cartland, the President’s ‘energy czar’, Hansen, Under-Secretary of State Muir and the Major of San Francisco, John Morrison to the site of a proposed new plant the Arab potentates are to invest in. The cavalcade, described as ‘a rolling Fort Knox’ must pass the Golden Gate Bridge and it is here that Branson and his crew strike. They take over the entire cavalcade, and the President and his guests along with the accompanying media men and women are his hostages, and he soon demands a king’s ransom (may be even more—no pun intended). Not only is Branson threatening his VIP hostages but Branson also threatens to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge.
But the ransom alone is not all Branson wants. He also wants a show. So not only is he allowing the accompanying media to remain, he also keeps holding press conferences and wants everything to play out in the public eye including fitting explosive on the bridge on live TV! The hostages too, are not hidden but right in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Outside, Chief of Police Hendrix, FBI director Hagenbach, VP Richards and others begin to discuss how the hostages are to be freed. Branson, who has planned his crime minutely, has neutralised all the agents who were part of the entourage and media accompanying the President and his guests, but even with his attention to detail, one has escaped detection. This is the expertly trained and somewhat lethal agent Revson, on board in the guise of a photographer. Revson begins to communicate with Hagenbach with the help of some subterfuge and also the doctor and a female reporter present on the bridge and thus begins a game of wits between Branson and his crew and the authorities. Will they have to give in to Branson’s demands or will the FBI succeed in freeing the hostages?
This was an exciting read, full of suspense and tension in the atmosphere but at the same time, I did end up a little disappointed with it on some counts.
I enjoyed the setting of the book which plays out almost entirely on the Golden Gate Bridge. We learn a little of the history of the bridge—how it was built by the audacious and ‘pig-headed’ Joseph Strauss, at a jaw dropping cost; the interesting lay out of its towers which even the maker needed a manual to navigate. Also, the forbidding Golden Gate below with its dangerous tides and currents, and the bridge being the site of many suicides, known and undetected. The atmosphere of the bridge, of standing there and experiencing being there—with the fogs, rain, and storms, watching fireworks in the sky—all that comes through very well.
The book does play out, as other reviewers have also noted, like one of those hostage/thriller films but with a difference. For here while Branson and his crew are threatening lives and indeed damage to the Golden Gate Bridge, and are very capable of doing what they threaten, they stay clear of any unnecessary violence, in fact any violence at all—there are no loud threats or bullets fired (like typical hostage movies), just a quiet menace. In fact, it is emphasized throughout that Branson has never killed anyone, and when putting into effect his plans, the crew merely disables and knocks out people causing no long-term damage and certainly not taking any life. In contrast, Revson and the others seem to have no compunctions in taking out the villains (though he too, doesn’t actually kill them all), which often left me as the reader rooting for Branson and his crew, rather than the authorities.
I enjoyed the suspense that MacLean creates in the book, and in a sense keeps up as well, as the battle of wits plays out between the two sides. Branson while highly intelligent seems publicity hungry and has a bit of an ego and his opponents often use more psychological tactics to try and get to him. Meanwhile Revson begins to arrange access to equipment and also begins to tackle Branson’s men. MacLean keeps one reading to see which of them ends up getting the upper hand at the end.
However, despite the enjoyable setting and suspense elements, there were also aspects that left me rather disappointed. For instance, throughout the book, it is hinted, even said on various occasions, that Branson is wealthy and isn’t aiming for either money or fame, but there is some underlying reason, a grudge perhaps which has led him to come up with and give effect to his plan. But at no point is it properly explained what this motivation actually was. We learn something of his backstory, his disillusionment with his own father’s profession, but may be a little more would have given us some idea of why he was doing what he was.
Then we also have Branson presented as highly intelligent and one who has paid attention to every minute detail, yet when Revson is working on his counter plans, much of it seems to get past Branson even if he comes close to discovering it; also, there are elements he seems to have missed. I thought may be this could have been more balanced, as it didn’t seem to be in line with Branson’s intelligence and Revson seemed to get much of what he wished done too easily.
And finally, throughout the book I kept waiting for a twist, a surprise somewhere along the line, something that would make the events really exciting but none came at all. So, while I did enjoy reading the book, the story did end up feeling a little flat overall. I’d rate this mid-way at 3 stars.
The Golden Gate by Alistair MacLean is my second pick for the #1976Club hosted by Karen at Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings (https://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordp...) and Simon at Stuck in a Book (https://www.stuckinabook.com/1976-clu...).
But the ransom alone is not all Branson wants. He also wants a show. So not only is he allowing the accompanying media to remain, he also keeps holding press conferences and wants everything to play out in the public eye including fitting explosive on the bridge on live TV! The hostages too, are not hidden but right in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Outside, Chief of Police Hendrix, FBI director Hagenbach, VP Richards and others begin to discuss how the hostages are to be freed. Branson, who has planned his crime minutely, has neutralised all the agents who were part of the entourage and media accompanying the President and his guests, but even with his attention to detail, one has escaped detection. This is the expertly trained and somewhat lethal agent Revson, on board in the guise of a photographer. Revson begins to communicate with Hagenbach with the help of some subterfuge and also the doctor and a female reporter present on the bridge and thus begins a game of wits between Branson and his crew and the authorities. Will they have to give in to Branson’s demands or will the FBI succeed in freeing the hostages?
This was an exciting read, full of suspense and tension in the atmosphere but at the same time, I did end up a little disappointed with it on some counts.
I enjoyed the setting of the book which plays out almost entirely on the Golden Gate Bridge. We learn a little of the history of the bridge—how it was built by the audacious and ‘pig-headed’ Joseph Strauss, at a jaw dropping cost; the interesting lay out of its towers which even the maker needed a manual to navigate. Also, the forbidding Golden Gate below with its dangerous tides and currents, and the bridge being the site of many suicides, known and undetected. The atmosphere of the bridge, of standing there and experiencing being there—with the fogs, rain, and storms, watching fireworks in the sky—all that comes through very well.
The book does play out, as other reviewers have also noted, like one of those hostage/thriller films but with a difference. For here while Branson and his crew are threatening lives and indeed damage to the Golden Gate Bridge, and are very capable of doing what they threaten, they stay clear of any unnecessary violence, in fact any violence at all—there are no loud threats or bullets fired (like typical hostage movies), just a quiet menace. In fact, it is emphasized throughout that Branson has never killed anyone, and when putting into effect his plans, the crew merely disables and knocks out people causing no long-term damage and certainly not taking any life. In contrast, Revson and the others seem to have no compunctions in taking out the villains (though he too, doesn’t actually kill them all), which often left me as the reader rooting for Branson and his crew, rather than the authorities.
I enjoyed the suspense that MacLean creates in the book, and in a sense keeps up as well, as the battle of wits plays out between the two sides. Branson while highly intelligent seems publicity hungry and has a bit of an ego and his opponents often use more psychological tactics to try and get to him. Meanwhile Revson begins to arrange access to equipment and also begins to tackle Branson’s men. MacLean keeps one reading to see which of them ends up getting the upper hand at the end.
However, despite the enjoyable setting and suspense elements, there were also aspects that left me rather disappointed. For instance, throughout the book, it is hinted, even said on various occasions, that Branson is wealthy and isn’t aiming for either money or fame, but there is some underlying reason, a grudge perhaps which has led him to come up with and give effect to his plan. But at no point is it properly explained what this motivation actually was. We learn something of his backstory, his disillusionment with his own father’s profession, but may be a little more would have given us some idea of why he was doing what he was.
Then we also have Branson presented as highly intelligent and one who has paid attention to every minute detail, yet when Revson is working on his counter plans, much of it seems to get past Branson even if he comes close to discovering it; also, there are elements he seems to have missed. I thought may be this could have been more balanced, as it didn’t seem to be in line with Branson’s intelligence and Revson seemed to get much of what he wished done too easily.
And finally, throughout the book I kept waiting for a twist, a surprise somewhere along the line, something that would make the events really exciting but none came at all. So, while I did enjoy reading the book, the story did end up feeling a little flat overall. I’d rate this mid-way at 3 stars.
The Golden Gate by Alistair MacLean is my second pick for the #1976Club hosted by Karen at Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings (https://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordp...) and Simon at Stuck in a Book (https://www.stuckinabook.com/1976-clu...).
February 21, 2018
There was a time when I really loved the thriller genre - Alistair MacLean was pretty much God then. In this novel, the President of the U.S. along with his motorcade is trapped on the Golden Gate Bridge by criminals for ransom. However, Agent Revson who is part of the team has another plans.
A fast-paced thriller with strategies and counter-strategies, with the good guys outwitting the bad guys in the end. Enjoyable.
A fast-paced thriller with strategies and counter-strategies, with the good guys outwitting the bad guys in the end. Enjoyable.
September 10, 2017
I was going through my collection of favorites and glad I kept this hardback copy I found in a thrift store about fifteen years ago. I had yet to be published and admired MacLean's ability to write novels and screenplays. Some of his books have been made into memorable movies (The Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare, Ice Station Zebra, to name a few).
The President of the United States arrived in San Francisco to meet with a number of Mid-East leaders to observe progress on an oil refinery. While traveling across the famed Golden Gate Bridge they are halted and taken captive on their presidential bus by an over-zealous criminal mastermind. To ensure the police and secret service do not thwart his plans, Branson (the leader of the group) wires the bridge towers with explosives and threatens to detonate them if they make any attempt to rescue his hostages. It's a bold move and would send Branson, his cronies, the Middle East officials, and POTUS to the bottom of San Franciso Bay should they follow through with their threats.
Branson lays down his ransom in exchange for the safe return for his hostages, but the authorities don't want to deal with him. Doing so would send the wrong message to terrorists and other criminal groups throughout the world. Branson becomes a bit edgy when a ship breaks through the fog heading their way.
"My God!" he exclaims. "What's that battleship doing coming our way?"
He grabs the president and forces his face against the window. "See that ship? It better not pass under the bridge." He stared hard into the president's eyes. "Know what I'll do if it does...."
This book could be a good movie even by today's standards, so long as the producer and director follow the script. We've had enough nonsense with Die Hard 4 and Transporter 3 comedy action that is too impossible to believe. MacLean writes this lean story of less than 300 pages in a fast-paced version of what happens when highly motivated terrorists capture the president's motorcade on the Golden Gate bridge. You won't be disappointed if you enjoy realistic action in good literature.
The President of the United States arrived in San Francisco to meet with a number of Mid-East leaders to observe progress on an oil refinery. While traveling across the famed Golden Gate Bridge they are halted and taken captive on their presidential bus by an over-zealous criminal mastermind. To ensure the police and secret service do not thwart his plans, Branson (the leader of the group) wires the bridge towers with explosives and threatens to detonate them if they make any attempt to rescue his hostages. It's a bold move and would send Branson, his cronies, the Middle East officials, and POTUS to the bottom of San Franciso Bay should they follow through with their threats.
Branson lays down his ransom in exchange for the safe return for his hostages, but the authorities don't want to deal with him. Doing so would send the wrong message to terrorists and other criminal groups throughout the world. Branson becomes a bit edgy when a ship breaks through the fog heading their way.
"My God!" he exclaims. "What's that battleship doing coming our way?"
He grabs the president and forces his face against the window. "See that ship? It better not pass under the bridge." He stared hard into the president's eyes. "Know what I'll do if it does...."
This book could be a good movie even by today's standards, so long as the producer and director follow the script. We've had enough nonsense with Die Hard 4 and Transporter 3 comedy action that is too impossible to believe. MacLean writes this lean story of less than 300 pages in a fast-paced version of what happens when highly motivated terrorists capture the president's motorcade on the Golden Gate bridge. You won't be disappointed if you enjoy realistic action in good literature.
September 28, 2019
The plot had possibilities,the kidnapping of the US President and two Arab Sheikhs.But it wasn't too good.
March 7, 2020
Even in the 1960s, Alistair MacLean was writing terrorist types of stories. Dark Crusader, Golden Rendezvous and Satan Bug are good examples. In his later career, he shifted more consistently to this type of story, and The Golden Gate is a good example.
I originally read this novel when it was first published in 1976, so I dusted off my hardcover. The key elements are here: calculating hero, maniacal villain, and willing assistant (often female). There are two distinctions here. First, our hero is non-lethal--or attempts to be. Second, this is the first novel where we have a high profile target (future targets being California, the Alaska pipeline, Holland, and the like).
I have only one criticism of the book (and for that it gets only four stars). The FBI does not protect POTUS, it is the Secret Service. MacLean should have known that, and his American publisher (Doubleday) should have fixed it in the editorial process.
I originally read this novel when it was first published in 1976, so I dusted off my hardcover. The key elements are here: calculating hero, maniacal villain, and willing assistant (often female). There are two distinctions here. First, our hero is non-lethal--or attempts to be. Second, this is the first novel where we have a high profile target (future targets being California, the Alaska pipeline, Holland, and the like).
I have only one criticism of the book (and for that it gets only four stars). The FBI does not protect POTUS, it is the Secret Service. MacLean should have known that, and his American publisher (Doubleday) should have fixed it in the editorial process.
March 18, 2017
A disappointing later effort. It appears that MacLean's skills diminished over time. This book has a good premise, but is lacking the tautness of his earlier work. There's too much jocularity to it, as though the whole thing is a great lark. Not just in the prose, but in the dialogue, which takes the reader out of the story. It really needed an editor to step up and strip some of the unnecessary verbiage, awkward and out-of-place colloquialisms. It's also distracting to have cusswords replaced by the word "deleted."
Unfortunately about a third of the way in, I more or less gave up on this, the writing was too flabby, lazy and flat-out bad.
Unfortunately about a third of the way in, I more or less gave up on this, the writing was too flabby, lazy and flat-out bad.
June 29, 2015
I'm not really sure how I feel about this one. I normally like MacLean novels, and to a certain degree, I enjoyed this, but I think it had some flaws too.
The book is about the hijacking of the US president and an Arab king and prince on their coach in the middle of the Golden Gate bridge during a visit to San Francisco. Everything has been meticulously planned out. The bridge is wired with explosives. Three coaches are hijacked; the other two contain journalists and FBI agents. (MacLean somehow thinks that FBI agents protect the president, not the Secret Service.) Branson, the bad guy, and his 17 men take over and demand half a billion dollars, among other things. Fighting against them is Revson, an FBI agent posing as a photographer, who is under immediate and aggravating suspicion for being something other than what he is. Branson doesn't trust him, but has him searched and discovers nothing, so.... Revson enlists the aid of a beautiful blonde to get messages to the head of the FBI and the VP, as well as others, and to get their coded responses. He uses an ambulance for this. The ambulance delivers all sorts of unlikely weapons and the powers that be deliver a submarine for his assistance. He starts executing a psychological warfare operation against Branson and his men and it works and there's a final show down to end the book. The ending is abrupt and, in my opinion, deeply unsatisfying.
Among the things I didn't like about this book was the fact that the bad guy was so much more likeable than the good guy. He had so much more personality. Revson was a cold fish. He went about his business like a robot. Another thing I didn't like was the dialogue. I think this is one of MacLean's real weaknesses. No matter where the setting -- Brazil, Britain, Africa, the Mediterranean, the US, the Netherlands -- the people all sound the same -- like upper class British people. It's like he's never talked to an American before. I don't think he got "American" down very well for this novel. Another thing I didn't like was the opening was pretty good. It had a lot of action. Then for the remainder of the book, it really kind of just dragged. It was pretty boring. Maybe I shouldn't compare, but it's hard not to.
So, normally I would give a MacLean book a four or five star review, and I was going to give it four, but upon reflection, I think it's really only worth three stars. I'm not sure I would recommend it as a thriller. Maybe if you run out of other books....
The book is about the hijacking of the US president and an Arab king and prince on their coach in the middle of the Golden Gate bridge during a visit to San Francisco. Everything has been meticulously planned out. The bridge is wired with explosives. Three coaches are hijacked; the other two contain journalists and FBI agents. (MacLean somehow thinks that FBI agents protect the president, not the Secret Service.) Branson, the bad guy, and his 17 men take over and demand half a billion dollars, among other things. Fighting against them is Revson, an FBI agent posing as a photographer, who is under immediate and aggravating suspicion for being something other than what he is. Branson doesn't trust him, but has him searched and discovers nothing, so.... Revson enlists the aid of a beautiful blonde to get messages to the head of the FBI and the VP, as well as others, and to get their coded responses. He uses an ambulance for this. The ambulance delivers all sorts of unlikely weapons and the powers that be deliver a submarine for his assistance. He starts executing a psychological warfare operation against Branson and his men and it works and there's a final show down to end the book. The ending is abrupt and, in my opinion, deeply unsatisfying.
Among the things I didn't like about this book was the fact that the bad guy was so much more likeable than the good guy. He had so much more personality. Revson was a cold fish. He went about his business like a robot. Another thing I didn't like was the dialogue. I think this is one of MacLean's real weaknesses. No matter where the setting -- Brazil, Britain, Africa, the Mediterranean, the US, the Netherlands -- the people all sound the same -- like upper class British people. It's like he's never talked to an American before. I don't think he got "American" down very well for this novel. Another thing I didn't like was the opening was pretty good. It had a lot of action. Then for the remainder of the book, it really kind of just dragged. It was pretty boring. Maybe I shouldn't compare, but it's hard not to.
So, normally I would give a MacLean book a four or five star review, and I was going to give it four, but upon reflection, I think it's really only worth three stars. I'm not sure I would recommend it as a thriller. Maybe if you run out of other books....
February 15, 2017
This was not my favorite MacLean book. I love the way it started out, the fast paced, thrilling sequence of the kidnapping and the shutting down and take over of the Golden Gate Bridge, I literally could not put the book down.
The strategy that went into Branson plan, spoke volumes about his intelligence and ability to function with a cool head under pressure. I found him fascinating. Revson was a formidable opponent, no slouch in the smarts department, but I found my self drawn to Branson and wanting him to succeed.
I did not care for the ending, it did not match up with Branson's personality.
The strategy that went into Branson plan, spoke volumes about his intelligence and ability to function with a cool head under pressure. I found him fascinating. Revson was a formidable opponent, no slouch in the smarts department, but I found my self drawn to Branson and wanting him to succeed.
I did not care for the ending, it did not match up with Branson's personality.
July 23, 2014
I read this back in the 80's and found myself disappointed in that I could not like the hero and did like the baddy. I have read most of McLean's books and this is the only one that I have never gone back to re-read. I picked it up last week, took a deep breath and re-read it... only to find myself again liking Branson and NOT liking Revson.
It is a good story and quite exciting in the vein of all the McLean books - I just do not like the hero.
Frankly, I do not know why he did not simply kick him off the bridge - he knew he was trouble from the beginning.
It is a good story and quite exciting in the vein of all the McLean books - I just do not like the hero.
Frankly, I do not know why he did not simply kick him off the bridge - he knew he was trouble from the beginning.
January 22, 2011
not one of his best efforts. It had some fine action moments and an interesting plot, but the writing was uninspiring. Made me think of a Steven segal action movie, and I'm not a big fan of those, either.
July 17, 2010
The Golden Gate was exciting and vivid. The intense plot and effective surprises keep the story moving along quickly, but the characters were pretty shallow.
August 2, 2011
Luin kesälukemisena tämän kirjahyllyjen pölyistä löytyneen poikien klassikon kylläkin suomeksi: "Kaappaus San Franciscossa". Tuskin MacLeanin parhaimmistoa, hauskaa 70-luvun retroa kuitenkin...;))
March 15, 2012
I've been a fan of the 'adventure' genre since I was a kid with not a little influence from my father's love of C.S. Forrester, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Alister MacLean. It has only been in the last few year that I have have actually started reading MacLean and I finally dug up the Golden Gate. Being a native of the San Francisco Bay area does give me a better picture of the setting than most and as I grew up during the early 1970's, the time frame of the story is spot on for me.
One of the things I expect from an author is at least decent research when you are writing about an area and that should include learning something about the weather. My entire childhood in the Bay Area was sans thunderstorms, not one in 20 years yet here MacLean coughs one up like magic. And that, a very violent storm more likely to occur in the South. I know, some might say 'but there have been thunderstorms in San Francisco just within the last six months'. That's today's weather patterns, not 1976.
Another thing, and bear with me as I am listening to this on audio and can't flip back to find a page so I might have the number wrong, there is no Highway 280 that runs up the coast. That's 101 as anyone from the state will tell you. Also he mentions the 'State Patrol', we call them the California Highway Patrol, CHiPs to those of you old enough to remember the TV show.
Then there's the use of the USS New Jersey, which at the time, 1976, have been out of commission since 1969 and would not return to active duty until 1982. You could have used an aircraft carrier, Mr. MacLean. Also, as the USS New Jersey has a mast height of @198 ft and the clearance of the Golden Gate at mean HIGH tide is 220 ft there would be no reason to have the ship pass under the bridge only at LOW tide. There is also this nonsense that this ship would not be able to stop or turn back. As I said, nonsense. Ok, I am drifting onto a 'technical rant'.
Let's talk story. Just exactly how much of the population does Mr. MacLean believe to be 'mad' as he accuses half the characters in the book of harboring some for of insanity at one time or another. The head bad guy, I can see it, but it seems to be a term tossed about with abandon in Mr. MacLean's world. And I am not going to get into his usual problems with trying to write an 'American' character. I sometimes wonder if he ever met a Yank let alone talk to one.
Unlike his earlier HMS Ulysses, I never developed an empathy for his characters nor did his setting, the middle of the bridge, convey the atmosphere of that earlier work. Some attempt was made, I guess, with the thunderstorm but that pretty much failed in light of personal experience as I mentioned.
There is little to set this book apart and nothing to suggest it to any but a die hard MacLean fan and even they will find it rather mundane. I finished it because I hate to leave any book unread once started. Given a choice again, I would skip it.
One of the things I expect from an author is at least decent research when you are writing about an area and that should include learning something about the weather. My entire childhood in the Bay Area was sans thunderstorms, not one in 20 years yet here MacLean coughs one up like magic. And that, a very violent storm more likely to occur in the South. I know, some might say 'but there have been thunderstorms in San Francisco just within the last six months'. That's today's weather patterns, not 1976.
Another thing, and bear with me as I am listening to this on audio and can't flip back to find a page so I might have the number wrong, there is no Highway 280 that runs up the coast. That's 101 as anyone from the state will tell you. Also he mentions the 'State Patrol', we call them the California Highway Patrol, CHiPs to those of you old enough to remember the TV show.
Then there's the use of the USS New Jersey, which at the time, 1976, have been out of commission since 1969 and would not return to active duty until 1982. You could have used an aircraft carrier, Mr. MacLean. Also, as the USS New Jersey has a mast height of @198 ft and the clearance of the Golden Gate at mean HIGH tide is 220 ft there would be no reason to have the ship pass under the bridge only at LOW tide. There is also this nonsense that this ship would not be able to stop or turn back. As I said, nonsense. Ok, I am drifting onto a 'technical rant'.
Let's talk story. Just exactly how much of the population does Mr. MacLean believe to be 'mad' as he accuses half the characters in the book of harboring some for of insanity at one time or another. The head bad guy, I can see it, but it seems to be a term tossed about with abandon in Mr. MacLean's world. And I am not going to get into his usual problems with trying to write an 'American' character. I sometimes wonder if he ever met a Yank let alone talk to one.
Unlike his earlier HMS Ulysses, I never developed an empathy for his characters nor did his setting, the middle of the bridge, convey the atmosphere of that earlier work. Some attempt was made, I guess, with the thunderstorm but that pretty much failed in light of personal experience as I mentioned.
There is little to set this book apart and nothing to suggest it to any but a die hard MacLean fan and even they will find it rather mundane. I finished it because I hate to leave any book unread once started. Given a choice again, I would skip it.
March 16, 2015
"Η απαγωγή", εκδόσεις ΒΙΠΕΡ.
Μια ομάδα εγκληματιών με αρχηγό τον ιδιοφυή Πίτερ Μπράνσον πραγματοποιεί μια απαγωγή που θα μείνει στην ιστορία. Οι εγκληματίες αυτοί, καταφέρνουν να κάνουν το απίθανο, να απαγάγουν τον πρόεδρο των ΗΠΑ καθώς και δυο Άραβες αρχηγούς κρατών, και όλα αυτά στην γνωστή γέφυρα Γκόλντεν Γκέιτ του Σαν Φρανσίσκο. Ο Μπράνσον και οι άντρες του απέκλεισαν και τις δυο εξόδους της γέφυρας με εκρηκτικά και άλλα μέσα, και είχαν σαν απαίτηση την άμεση καταβολή 500.000.000 δολαρίων, ειδάλλως οι συνέπειες θα ήταν ανυπολόγιστες. Οποιαδήποτε προσπάθεια για εξωτερική επέμβαση με σκοπό την απελευθέρωση των ομήρων, θα ήταν μοιραία για την ζωή του Αμερικανού προέδρου και των δυο Αράβων.
Φυσικά υπάρχουν και τα τρωτά σημεία στην όλη επιχείρηση, μιας και ο Μπράνσον είναι ένας εγωμανής που έχει μανία με τα ΜΜΕ και θέλει να δείξει σε όλο τον κόσμο τι κατάφερε. Έτσι στη γέφυρα έχουν παραμείνει και δημοσιογράφοι και διάφοροι τεχνικοί, ανάμεσα στους οποίους και ένας μυστικός πράκτορας του FBI που δεν φοβάται τίποτα και θα κάνει τα πάντα για να ματαιώσει τα σχέδια του Μπράνσον.
Μπορεί η όλη ιδέα να φαίνεται εξωπραγματική (και είναι), αλλά η πλοκή είναι ιδιαίτερα συναρπαστική και ενδιαφέρουσα, με σασπένς και μπόλικη δράση, και έτσι το βιβλίο διαβάζεται απνευστί δίχως σκέψεις για την αληθοφάνεια της κεντρικής ιδέας και της εξέλιξης της πλοκής. Οι περιγραφές του μεγαλεπήβολου σχεδίου από μέρους του Μπράνσον, για την απαγωγή του Αμερικανού προέδρου και της κατάληψης της γέφυρας, παραστατικές και έδειχναν ότι ο Μακλίν είχε μελετήσει διάφορα πράγματα τεχνικής φύσεως. Η όλη ατμόσφαιρα του βιβλίου ωραία και ευχάριστη. Οι χαρακτήρες βέβαια δίχως βάθος, αλλά ο Μακλίν δεν φημίζεται για την ανάπτυξη των χαρακτήρων των βιβλίων του, αλλά για τις τραβηγμένες ιδέες και τις συναρπαστικές πλοκές.
Είναι από τα βιβλία του Μακλίν που δεν έχουν μεταφερθεί στην μεγάλη οθόνη και αυτό είναι παράξενο. Σίγουρα θα γινόταν μια καλή ταινία δράσης με τόσο δυνατό σενάριο.
Μια ομάδα εγκληματιών με αρχηγό τον ιδιοφυή Πίτερ Μπράνσον πραγματοποιεί μια απαγωγή που θα μείνει στην ιστορία. Οι εγκληματίες αυτοί, καταφέρνουν να κάνουν το απίθανο, να απαγάγουν τον πρόεδρο των ΗΠΑ καθώς και δυο Άραβες αρχηγούς κρατών, και όλα αυτά στην γνωστή γέφυρα Γκόλντεν Γκέιτ του Σαν Φρανσίσκο. Ο Μπράνσον και οι άντρες του απέκλεισαν και τις δυο εξόδους της γέφυρας με εκρηκτικά και άλλα μέσα, και είχαν σαν απαίτηση την άμεση καταβολή 500.000.000 δολαρίων, ειδάλλως οι συνέπειες θα ήταν ανυπολόγιστες. Οποιαδήποτε προσπάθεια για εξωτερική επέμβαση με σκοπό την απελευθέρωση των ομήρων, θα ήταν μοιραία για την ζωή του Αμερικανού προέδρου και των δυο Αράβων.
Φυσικά υπάρχουν και τα τρωτά σημεία στην όλη επιχείρηση, μιας και ο Μπράνσον είναι ένας εγωμανής που έχει μανία με τα ΜΜΕ και θέλει να δείξει σε όλο τον κόσμο τι κατάφερε. Έτσι στη γέφυρα έχουν παραμείνει και δημοσιογράφοι και διάφοροι τεχνικοί, ανάμεσα στους οποίους και ένας μυστικός πράκτορας του FBI που δεν φοβάται τίποτα και θα κάνει τα πάντα για να ματαιώσει τα σχέδια του Μπράνσον.
Μπορεί η όλη ιδέα να φαίνεται εξωπραγματική (και είναι), αλλά η πλοκή είναι ιδιαίτερα συναρπαστική και ενδιαφέρουσα, με σασπένς και μπόλικη δράση, και έτσι το βιβλίο διαβάζεται απνευστί δίχως σκέψεις για την αληθοφάνεια της κεντρικής ιδέας και της εξέλιξης της πλοκής. Οι περιγραφές του μεγαλεπήβολου σχεδίου από μέρους του Μπράνσον, για την απαγωγή του Αμερικανού προέδρου και της κατάληψης της γέφυρας, παραστατικές και έδειχναν ότι ο Μακλίν είχε μελετήσει διάφορα πράγματα τεχνικής φύσεως. Η όλη ατμόσφαιρα του βιβλίου ωραία και ευχάριστη. Οι χαρακτήρες βέβαια δίχως βάθος, αλλά ο Μακλίν δεν φημίζεται για την ανάπτυξη των χαρακτήρων των βιβλίων του, αλλά για τις τραβηγμένες ιδέες και τις συναρπαστικές πλοκές.
Είναι από τα βιβλία του Μακλίν που δεν έχουν μεταφερθεί στην μεγάλη οθόνη και αυτό είναι παράξενο. Σίγουρα θα γινόταν μια καλή ταινία δράσης με τόσο δυνατό σενάριο.
September 28, 2018
Having read Patterson & Clinton’s ‘The President is Missing’ and Sam Bourne’s ‘To Kill the President’ in quick succession, I decided to go back to the Alistair MacLean canon. ‘The Golden Gate’ opens with the meticulous preparations that lead up to the hijacking of a presidential motorcade halfway across the titular bridge.
One of MacLean’s more improbable narratives, it suffers from the lazy adjective-spattered writing that characterise his later novels, but benefits from one of his more interesting antagonists. Most MacLean novels focus on the hero, the villain usually backgrounded to the point of invisibility or - as in ‘Athabasca’ - left unrevealed until the very last moment. Here, however, we have Branson, a master criminal whose self-styled moral imperatives (he is unfailingly polite and abhors the use of violence) and tendency to showmanship are his undoing as undercover FBI man Revson engages him in a battle of wills.
MacLean makes effective use of his single setting and the focus on a psychological contest rather than a physical one (although there’s a big set piece at the end) is interesting.
One of MacLean’s more improbable narratives, it suffers from the lazy adjective-spattered writing that characterise his later novels, but benefits from one of his more interesting antagonists. Most MacLean novels focus on the hero, the villain usually backgrounded to the point of invisibility or - as in ‘Athabasca’ - left unrevealed until the very last moment. Here, however, we have Branson, a master criminal whose self-styled moral imperatives (he is unfailingly polite and abhors the use of violence) and tendency to showmanship are his undoing as undercover FBI man Revson engages him in a battle of wills.
MacLean makes effective use of his single setting and the focus on a psychological contest rather than a physical one (although there’s a big set piece at the end) is interesting.
August 3, 2015
I'm normally a huge fan of MacLean's thrillers. Most of them have aged remarkably well and still have the ability to portray gripping action.
The Golden Gate, sadly, didn't fit into that category. It was a badly developed plot that had me rooting for the bad guys the whole way through.
The basic premise is that a group of hijackers kidnap the President of the United States in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge and hold him for ransom.
The main character wasn't fleshed out at all and appeared to be a heartless machine. It was difficult to sympathize with the hero because, as a reader, I had no information about his motivations, thoughts, or feelings. While there is a sort of hard-boiled sensibility that enjoys and thrives on that kind of distance from characters, it didn't work in this case.
As an aside, I can see this being made into a movie someday if it already hasn't. That doesn't mean I'd want to see it, but it seems like the kind of heist/hijacker plot that is attractive to many movie studios.
The Golden Gate, sadly, didn't fit into that category. It was a badly developed plot that had me rooting for the bad guys the whole way through.
The basic premise is that a group of hijackers kidnap the President of the United States in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge and hold him for ransom.
The main character wasn't fleshed out at all and appeared to be a heartless machine. It was difficult to sympathize with the hero because, as a reader, I had no information about his motivations, thoughts, or feelings. While there is a sort of hard-boiled sensibility that enjoys and thrives on that kind of distance from characters, it didn't work in this case.
As an aside, I can see this being made into a movie someday if it already hasn't. That doesn't mean I'd want to see it, but it seems like the kind of heist/hijacker plot that is attractive to many movie studios.
April 5, 2018
Alistair MacLean... een naam die onmiddellijk een belletje deed rinkelen.
Hoewel ik nog nooit een boek van deze man gelezen had, meende ik me te herinneren dat het een zeer goed gesmaakte thriller auteur was.
Toen ik dit boek zag staan in een boekenruilkast dacht ik dus dadelijk een 'gouden ouwe' (jaja, toepasselijk ;-) )gevonden te hebben.
Na een flitsende start liet het boek me echter een beetje op mijn honger zitten. De good-guy had net iets te veel onrealistische handigheidjes nodig om dit verhaal tot een goed eind te brengen. De bad-guy was dan weer irritant naïef en zelfzeker. Het verliep allemaal net iets te makkelijk.
Geen absolute tegenvaller, maar ook geen hoogvlieger, wat mij betreft.
Hoewel ik nog nooit een boek van deze man gelezen had, meende ik me te herinneren dat het een zeer goed gesmaakte thriller auteur was.
Toen ik dit boek zag staan in een boekenruilkast dacht ik dus dadelijk een 'gouden ouwe' (jaja, toepasselijk ;-) )gevonden te hebben.
Na een flitsende start liet het boek me echter een beetje op mijn honger zitten. De good-guy had net iets te veel onrealistische handigheidjes nodig om dit verhaal tot een goed eind te brengen. De bad-guy was dan weer irritant naïef en zelfzeker. Het verliep allemaal net iets te makkelijk.
Geen absolute tegenvaller, maar ook geen hoogvlieger, wat mij betreft.
August 31, 2012
Alistair McLean's The Golden Gate has the normal ingredients of Mclean,
a daring plot and systematic execution.
Add his brand of dry Humour.
The Golden Gun has one novelty-the hero handles the situation literally with his hands hands and brains-no weapons!
An intersting Read.
Alistair McLeanAlistair McLean
a daring plot and systematic execution.
Add his brand of dry Humour.
The Golden Gun has one novelty-the hero handles the situation literally with his hands hands and brains-no weapons!
An intersting Read.
Alistair McLeanAlistair McLean
July 28, 2014
Although an avid reader, this was my first Alistair MacLean book. I found the main plot was original but slighly unbelievable at times. The characters were numerous and at times I had to go back to see who was a 'goodie' and who was a 'baddie'. The main good guy, Revson, was most likeable and easy to warm to.
It was thoroughly enjoyable and the star of the book survived at the end, the bridge! I look forward to reading more of his books.
It was thoroughly enjoyable and the star of the book survived at the end, the bridge! I look forward to reading more of his books.
July 9, 2015
Has to be one of McLean's top 5 novels, if not for anything just for the villain. In Peter Branson, McLean creates one of the most memorable bad guys, whom you would actually end up rooting for. Egoistic to the core, Branson's wry asides on the US President, their dependence on oil, make this novel worth a read. It also has an equally smart hero in Revson, who uses his brains to outwit Branson. Racy, enjoyable, this is one helluva book.
July 2, 2010
Reread this recently and still loved it. The crime is audacious and daring and the odds for foiling it seem unsurmountable...
There are no huge or epic events, but it is strife with tension and keeps you glued to the story. I hate putting down this book, even when it is over. What else would expect from the writer of Guns from Naverone and Where Eagles Dare?
There are no huge or epic events, but it is strife with tension and keeps you glued to the story. I hate putting down this book, even when it is over. What else would expect from the writer of Guns from Naverone and Where Eagles Dare?
March 31, 2014
Peter Branson has the brains and the means of carrying out this latest "job." Escaping at the end will be easy compared to holding the President hostage and bringing down the Golden Gate Bridge.
But he (literally) misses a single detail - and his plan is now in danger of being what comes crashing down.
But he (literally) misses a single detail - and his plan is now in danger of being what comes crashing down.
December 1, 2013
I had mixed feelings about this book. I thought that the beginning was amazing, the heist perfectly planned out. Then, the book started to get confusing. I knew what was happening but not sure why it was happening. I didn't understand the end either. The language is effective, and I really like Peter Branson's dialogue, but I thought that some of the adjectives were too complex.
January 24, 2015
This was the first Alistair MacLean book I read, and it helped establish him as my favourite author in the action/adventure genre.
I've re-read it once and enjoyed it a second time around, but can't imagine it would hold up again. A MacLean book is one I will pick up when I feel like a lazy, easy, but fun read.
I've re-read it once and enjoyed it a second time around, but can't imagine it would hold up again. A MacLean book is one I will pick up when I feel like a lazy, easy, but fun read.
May 18, 2016
This novel started out causing me, the reader, to want for the antagonists to win, but shortly turned it around so that I wanted them to fail. There were multiple subplots transpiring simultaneously; Alistair managed to pull this off beautifully! I thought this was a great book for anyone young adult and up. My definite recommendations!
July 18, 2018
Napisałabym - stary dobry McLean. Cóż z tego, że możliwość zaistnienia takiego przypadku jak dwóch szejków i prezydent USA w jednym autobusie na moście Golden Gate jest praktycznie niemożliwa?. Mistrz potrafi tak zawiązać intrygę, że czyta się z zapartym tchem. Ukazana walka umysłów, podchody, wreszcie finał - znakomita lektura
January 15, 2019
Another excellent novel from Alistair MacLean. The president is kidnapped while en route across the Golden Gate bridge, and half a billion dollars ransom is requested. It's very interesting to read this novel in 2019, with a deeply unpopular puppet president ransoming his own country for a vanity project (and likely self-enrichment). MacLean seems almost prophetic.
July 29, 2012
My second Maclean book.
The entire book, I kept imagining about the bridge. I had no encyclopedias at home to check out photos, and it was only much later in the 80's that I saw the images in a NatGeo magazine.
The entire book, I kept imagining about the bridge. I had no encyclopedias at home to check out photos, and it was only much later in the 80's that I saw the images in a NatGeo magazine.
August 31, 2014
I think I read all of MacLean in my halcyon days! Each one was like a magnet. I don't think the book jacket alone brings back the story, but I remember the book and that I enjoyed it so! perfect for the idyllic, warm summer months!
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