The Bourne Ultimatum. Part 1 of 2

by Robert Ludlum, Michael Prichard (Read by)

Part One Of Two Parts Summoned by telegrams signed Jason Bourne, two men who share the secret of Bourne's real identity witness a bizarre killing. They recognize the work of Carlos, known as the Jackal, the elusive terrorist. The murder is a signal from Carlos--he seeks a final confrontation with Bourne. David Webb must do what he hoped not to do again. He assumes the identity of Bourne, the deadly alter ego created in the jungles of Vietnam and the streets of Saigon years ago. He must confront the stalking Jackal, outsmart and destroy him. Bristling with high-voltage excitement on every page, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM is a great thriller. It engages the reader with mounting suspense as the deadly antagonists circle each other in a confrontation that must end in a fatal decision.

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Robert Ludlum was a titan of the suspense genre, whose name became synonymous with the modern international spy thriller. Before amassing a staggering readership estimated between 300 and 500 million copies, Ludlum forged a career in the theater as a Marine veteran turned actor and producer. This theatrical background proved foundational to his literary success; he often credited his sense of pacing and "what-happens-next" urgency to his years on stage. Writing from his home in New Jersey, he crafted 27 novels characterized by "lone wolf" protagonists battling shadowy global conspiracies, corrupt corporations, and clandestine military organizations.
Ludlum is most famous as the creator of Jason Bourne, the amnesiac assassin who first appeared in The Bourne Identity (1980). While the blockbuster film adaptations starring Matt Damon brought the character to a new generation, Ludlum’s original trilogy delved deeper into the Cold War paranoia and intricate psychological trauma of the protagonist. His work often drew inspiration from contemporary conspiracy theories, such as rumors surrounding the Trilateral Commission, and he frequently explored the idea of terrorism as a tool for authoritarian manipulation. Even after his death in 2001, his literary estate has continued to expand his universe through video games and posthumous collaborations, cementing his legacy as a master of the "ticking clock" narrative.

Reviews

[Danny Edmonds]

The Bourne ultimatum is a journey about a man named Jason Bourne. He travels around the world working for the CIA. He is in charge of a rescue mission and he is saving his friend, Martin Lindros. Martin Lindros is the executive at the CIA and it is very important that he is rescued. I felt this book was action-packed and was a great read. It had me turning the pages until I completed the book. I recommend this book to anyone that likes books involved with spies and adventure.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started a little slow but once the paid assassins started chasing Bourne it was hard to put down. This book
had a satisfactory ending - I didn't feel like I needed to know anything else - so I'm interested to see what Ludlum does in the next two books. I suppose Bourne still has to get Carlos.