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It is 1999 and Russia is on the edge of total implosion. Social and moral order has collapsed and what small semblance of control there is, is being imposed by mafia-like criminal gangs. While public opinion in the West is largely indifferent, the political analysts are less sanguine - Russian meltdown will make the disintegration of the Balkans look like the collapse of a cup-cake. Out of the chaos, however, a single charismatic voice is starting to be heard - that of Igor Komarov, a visionary patriot who claims he can restore Russia's greatness and bring prosperity to the masses. He even woos Western political leaders with a rather more realistic analysis of the way forward for Russia. Komarov is set to win the next election when a document is smuggled into the British Embassy in Moscow. It's called The Black Manifesto and it appears to show Komarov's secret agenda - his political blueprint is really Mein Kampf, the rebirth of Russia will be as a New Third Reich with Komarov as Fuhrer. But can the document be authenticated? And what can the Western Alliance's most secret Trilateral Commission do about it if it is? They need to find another voice the masses will listen to and obey rather than Komarov - an icon they can cleave to and trust. Once, not that long ago, he was called the Tsar.
And so develops a thrilling and increasingly frightening adventure - Jason Monk, ex-CIA, who used to run agents into the Soviet Union, is recruited and slips back into Russia, into the desperate Moscow world of poverty, luxury, gangsters and prostitutes and underneath it all, the titanic power struggle to ensure the outcome of the forthcoming elections.
And so develops a thrilling and increasingly frightening adventure - Jason Monk, ex-CIA, who used to run agents into the Soviet Union, is recruited and slips back into Russia, into the desperate Moscow world of poverty, luxury, gangsters and prostitutes and underneath it all, the titanic power struggle to ensure the outcome of the forthcoming elections.
544 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1996
1043 people are currently reading
3708 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Forsyth
339 books4,294 followersFrederick Forsyth, CBE was a English author and occasional political commentator. He was best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan, and more recently, The Cobra and The Kill List.
The son of a furrier, he was born in Ashford, Kent, educated at Tonbridge School and later attended the University of Granada. He became one of the youngest pilots in the Royal Air Force at 19, where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958. Becoming a journalist, he joined Reuters in 1961 and later the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. From July to September 1967, he served as a correspondent covering the Nigerian Civil War between the region of Biafra and Nigeria. He left the BBC in 1968 after controversy arose over his alleged bias towards the Biafran cause and accusations that he falsified segments of his reports. Returning to Biafra as a freelance reporter, Forsyth wrote his first book, The Biafra Story in 1969.
Forsyth decided to write a novel using similar research techniques to those used in journalism. His first full length novel, The Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971 and became an international bestseller and gained its author the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. It was later made into a film of the same name.
The son of a furrier, he was born in Ashford, Kent, educated at Tonbridge School and later attended the University of Granada. He became one of the youngest pilots in the Royal Air Force at 19, where he served on National Service from 1956 to 1958. Becoming a journalist, he joined Reuters in 1961 and later the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic correspondent. From July to September 1967, he served as a correspondent covering the Nigerian Civil War between the region of Biafra and Nigeria. He left the BBC in 1968 after controversy arose over his alleged bias towards the Biafran cause and accusations that he falsified segments of his reports. Returning to Biafra as a freelance reporter, Forsyth wrote his first book, The Biafra Story in 1969.
Forsyth decided to write a novel using similar research techniques to those used in journalism. His first full length novel, The Day of the Jackal, was published in 1971 and became an international bestseller and gained its author the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. It was later made into a film of the same name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
June 16, 2015
A destabilised Russia with an up and coming popular politician, the Icon from the title, who is bound to become the next ruler and willing to take Russia into the next century and clean up its internal mess and reshape it into a great country it was once.
Except for a small matter namely the man is mad as Hitler and his thoughts and ideas, full of ethnic cleansing are all written into an account called the Black manifesto. And by sheer accident it lands into the hands of a former soldier who cleans the headquarters of this man. This sets up a chain of events that will change the fate of Russia once more. Only this time it is an engineered change from the outside of Russia.
It is also the story of Jason Monk a former spy whose assets were betrayed by the Agency he required them for. The stupidity and gross oversight of the responsible people burns a whole network of agents inside of Russian. It is the story of a Russian security officer involved in the arresting a lot of the assets and really interested in capturing Monk one day to make him pay for the actions against the great Soviet empire. And he gets his chance as the security chief and military leader of the almost certain future leader of Russia. Jason Monk is returning again to Russia to change the wave of politics in a game that is about manipulation at the highest level.
Another brilliant page-turner that takes his time to set up, a common theme in Forsyths writing. And when the story gets rolling it keeps going at a ever increasing speed, which makes it difficult to lay the novel down, unless you have kids and are married in such a case you are sometimes overruled. Anyhow once the dust is settled at the end of the book the last three pages still have a few surprises in store for the faithful reader.
Another exciting spy/thriller from one of its great master writers.
Except for a small matter namely the man is mad as Hitler and his thoughts and ideas, full of ethnic cleansing are all written into an account called the Black manifesto. And by sheer accident it lands into the hands of a former soldier who cleans the headquarters of this man. This sets up a chain of events that will change the fate of Russia once more. Only this time it is an engineered change from the outside of Russia.
It is also the story of Jason Monk a former spy whose assets were betrayed by the Agency he required them for. The stupidity and gross oversight of the responsible people burns a whole network of agents inside of Russian. It is the story of a Russian security officer involved in the arresting a lot of the assets and really interested in capturing Monk one day to make him pay for the actions against the great Soviet empire. And he gets his chance as the security chief and military leader of the almost certain future leader of Russia. Jason Monk is returning again to Russia to change the wave of politics in a game that is about manipulation at the highest level.
Another brilliant page-turner that takes his time to set up, a common theme in Forsyths writing. And when the story gets rolling it keeps going at a ever increasing speed, which makes it difficult to lay the novel down, unless you have kids and are married in such a case you are sometimes overruled. Anyhow once the dust is settled at the end of the book the last three pages still have a few surprises in store for the faithful reader.
Another exciting spy/thriller from one of its great master writers.
May 28, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in November 1999.
Frederick Forsyth always has interesting ideas, but his writing never does them justice. Icon is no exception to this rule. The idea - a new Hitler attempting to take power in the chaotic ruins of a Russia devastated by mega-inflation and uncontrollable organised crime - is excellent. The major problem is the narrative style. The story takes second place to exposition of the idea - the reader does not really need pages of description of fictional Russian politics, for example. Such diversions break the tension which is needed in a thriller.
The primacy of the idea also overcomes any serious attempt at characterisation, an accusation usually levelled at science fiction rather than thrillers. Icon's characters are just ciphers and stereotypes, from Igor Komarov to the Western agents trying to prevent him from gaining power. Forsyth has bought into the idea that Western is good, Eastern bad; the Russians are corrupt, the British and Americans fighting for an ideal (except of course for Russian controlled double agents).
Like the best of Forsyth's novels, The Day of the Jackal, the idea of Icon is centred around a person. In the earlier book, this forces Forsyth to overcome his limitations as a writer of characters, but Komarov does not do this. The idea is sufficiently interesting and well enough done, however, to keep you reading to the end.
Frederick Forsyth always has interesting ideas, but his writing never does them justice. Icon is no exception to this rule. The idea - a new Hitler attempting to take power in the chaotic ruins of a Russia devastated by mega-inflation and uncontrollable organised crime - is excellent. The major problem is the narrative style. The story takes second place to exposition of the idea - the reader does not really need pages of description of fictional Russian politics, for example. Such diversions break the tension which is needed in a thriller.
The primacy of the idea also overcomes any serious attempt at characterisation, an accusation usually levelled at science fiction rather than thrillers. Icon's characters are just ciphers and stereotypes, from Igor Komarov to the Western agents trying to prevent him from gaining power. Forsyth has bought into the idea that Western is good, Eastern bad; the Russians are corrupt, the British and Americans fighting for an ideal (except of course for Russian controlled double agents).
Like the best of Forsyth's novels, The Day of the Jackal, the idea of Icon is centred around a person. In the earlier book, this forces Forsyth to overcome his limitations as a writer of characters, but Komarov does not do this. The idea is sufficiently interesting and well enough done, however, to keep you reading to the end.
June 23, 2023
A two-books novel; the first one is more like a documentary: sharp, accurate, mixing with many historical and espionage facts and persons. The second one is more fictitious, so it's more readable, although is not the more valuable. The plot is ok, so are the characters, there are some twists in the final, but the so called " Battle for Moscow" it's a little bit too awkward to my taste. So, an enjoyable book, even it has not the genius sparkles from "The Day of the Jackal".
March 9, 2018
Creo que al poner estas estrellas (tres, y siendo generoso) a este clásico de Forsyth casi tengo que pedir perdón…
El caso es que me he acostumbrado a los personajes con cuerpo, reales, y aquí sólo veo un desfile de nombres que hacen cosas. Y eso no me gusta.
Como todo el mundo dice que es magnífica, lo será, pero a mí me gustan mucho más otras suyas.
Por si acaso, perdón.
El caso es que me he acostumbrado a los personajes con cuerpo, reales, y aquí sólo veo un desfile de nombres que hacen cosas. Y eso no me gusta.
Como todo el mundo dice que es magnífica, lo será, pero a mí me gustan mucho más otras suyas.
Por si acaso, perdón.
November 2, 2020
A nice racy thriller by the master of espionage fiction. It interweaves actual events surrounding the biggest spy scandal of Aldrich Ames in USA and how he became an agent of USSR leading to wiping out the entire CIA field agents in Russia. This plot is beautifully embedded in the book where James Monk is entrusted with the task of creating mayhem and foiling a plot by an incumbent president to seize absolute power.
Igor Komarov aided by his deputy Anatoli Grishin wants to seize power and exterminate the Jews, Christians and Chechens in another replay of the fascism wave in Germany. He documents his plan in writing which comes to be known as Black Manifesto. The manifesto lands in the hands of the British embassy and thereon to the Americans. Nigel Irvine, the British spymaster recruits Jason Monk to avert the catastrophe and impending fascist wave.
Nail-biting and as racy as it goes.
Igor Komarov aided by his deputy Anatoli Grishin wants to seize power and exterminate the Jews, Christians and Chechens in another replay of the fascism wave in Germany. He documents his plan in writing which comes to be known as Black Manifesto. The manifesto lands in the hands of the British embassy and thereon to the Americans. Nigel Irvine, the British spymaster recruits Jason Monk to avert the catastrophe and impending fascist wave.
Nail-biting and as racy as it goes.
April 3, 2025
Kai man sako, kad vakariečiai nieko nesupranta apie Rusiją, visada prisimenu du šį įspūdį paneigiančius pavyzdžius: Iano Flemingo "From Russia With Love" ir Fredericko Forsytho "Icon". Abu romanai demonstruoja ne šiaip Rusijos išmanymą ir supratimą, bet gilią rusiškos politikos mechanizmų ekspertizę. Jei Rusiją taip gerai supranta Vakarų politinių trilerių rašytojai, tai galiu tik įsivaizduoti, ką žino ir supranta tikrieji ekspertai.
"Icon" perskaičiau antrą kartą ir antrą kartą sakau: labai geras romanas. Parašytas Jelcino įpėdinystės laikų aktualijoms, bet taip pat gerai tinka šiandien ir visada. Ką daryti, kad Rusijos valdžios neužgrobtų mūsų laikų Hitleris? Forsythas viską paaiškino. Lieka tik realizuoti ir pakartoti, nes Rusijos politinis bangavimas taip pat yra nuolat pasikartojantis.
"Icon" perskaičiau antrą kartą ir antrą kartą sakau: labai geras romanas. Parašytas Jelcino įpėdinystės laikų aktualijoms, bet taip pat gerai tinka šiandien ir visada. Ką daryti, kad Rusijos valdžios neužgrobtų mūsų laikų Hitleris? Forsythas viską paaiškino. Lieka tik realizuoti ir pakartoti, nes Rusijos politinis bangavimas taip pat yra nuolat pasikartojantis.
March 15, 2024
La prima volta che ho letto questo capolavoro della letteratura era l'estate del 1997 e Boris Eltsin era stato rieletto presidente della Russia da appena un anno; io comprai questo libro in edizione economica (era il periodo dei "Miti Mondadori") senza conoscere la trama ma affidandomi solo al peso letterario del suo autore: Frederick Forsyth. Perciò, quando lessi le 450 pagine di Icona, rimasi davvero sconvolto ma allo stesso tempo affascinato dalla storia quasi realistica in esso contenuta: tutto comincia nel 1999 con la morte improvvisa del presidente Cerkassov, successore di uno Eltsin malato ed indebolito politicamente. Si indicono nuove elezioni presidenziali, e tra i tanti candidati alla massima carica dello stato c'è anche Igor Komarov, leader di una destra innovativa di stampo occidentale. O almeno questo è quello che lo stesso Komarov vorrebbe far credere… se non fosse che, per colpa di una banale distrazione, il suo vero progetto politico viene svelato in tutta la sua crudeltà: restaurare a destra la vecchia Unione Sovietica ed eliminare tutti gli ebrei e gli avversari politici. Il vero piano politico di Komarov, dopo un incredibile giro, finisce sul tavolo dei servizi segreti americani e l'ex agente Cia Jason Monk è incaricato di recarsi in Russia e risolvere la crisi prima che sia troppo tardi. Monk, a questo punto, riattiva tutti i vecchi canali che già in passato gli avevano permesso di affrontare il Kgb. Nel frattempo, sempre con l'intento di bloccare il piano di Komarov, un influente gruppo di americani ed inglesi, lavora alla più incredibile delle soluzioni: trovare un discendente dell'ultimo zar e riportarlo sul trono di tutte le Russie.
Come avrete certamente capito, qui il genere fantapolitico sfiora davvero la perfezione con la trama (sviluppata su due differenti linee temporali) che, pur essendo inventata di sana pianta, è abbastanza credibile ed offre non pochi spunti di riflessione.
Libro scritto davvero in modo elegante che, pur trattando un tema abbastanza duro (e con scene abbastanza truculente), ne permette una lettura sciolta ed agevole. Chiudo con una mia piccola considerazione: alla trama del libro sostituite il nome di Komarov con quello di Putin… ed avrete un quadro abbastanza fedele di tutto ciò che sta avvenendo ai confini della Russia in questi anni: mi riferisco ai fatti di Ucraina, Crimea e Cecenia.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Come avrete certamente capito, qui il genere fantapolitico sfiora davvero la perfezione con la trama (sviluppata su due differenti linee temporali) che, pur essendo inventata di sana pianta, è abbastanza credibile ed offre non pochi spunti di riflessione.
Libro scritto davvero in modo elegante che, pur trattando un tema abbastanza duro (e con scene abbastanza truculente), ne permette una lettura sciolta ed agevole. Chiudo con una mia piccola considerazione: alla trama del libro sostituite il nome di Komarov con quello di Putin… ed avrete un quadro abbastanza fedele di tutto ciò che sta avvenendo ai confini della Russia in questi anni: mi riferisco ai fatti di Ucraina, Crimea e Cecenia.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
June 22, 2010
I'm a sucker for spy novels and usually think that most good fiction in that genre died along with the Cold War. I will say, however, that this one was great. I took a little while to get through the first chapter but once I did I honestly couldn't put it down -- I stayed up until almost 3:00 a.m. one night to finish it because I just HAD to know what happened. It's kind of a "what would happen if ..." novel. When it was written in 1993, it actually was set to take place in the future (1999). The interesting part to me is that some of the possibilities it referenced actually came to pass to a degree. It also provided a well-researched snapshot of life in post-socialist Russia. I always appreciate a well-written book that surprises me at the end, rather than the John Grisham-esque "hurry-up-and-wrap-everything-up-in-the-last-couple-of-pages" approach. This one did not disappoint.
May 9, 2009
Icon is one of my favorite novels by Frederick Forsyth because in this work he really makes easy to connect with the characters. Forsyth put many complicated characters in this book, and opened up the world post-Soviet Moscow. An excellent read that projects the settings so wonderfully described into the reader's mind. The dialogue does not fail the reader, and the plot is well developed and has a number of good surprises (which kept me on the edge of my seat). Forsyth also uses his previous experience as a journalist to weave interesting (but plausible) fiction with real organizations, places, people, or ideas. Frederick Forsyth did not disappoint in Icon, and brilliantly explores some important world issues while also keeping his narrative entertaining and tense.
December 12, 2013
This is one of Fredrick Forsyth's best till date. The details he gives is so abundant that after reading you feel like you really had a date with the KGB or the CIA + if you are really interested in espionage this book is mandatory. Hail FF!
June 20, 2019
I personally thought it was thrilling and enjoyed every minute. My full review: https://smolinskiblog.co/2019/06/19/f...
January 23, 2019
Excellently written. A glimpse into what could have been in Russia.
August 3, 2023
Another fantastic high-paced thriller from the master himself. Superbly researched, great characters and a brilliant plot. First published in 1996 and following the plans of a despotic Russian determined to be president I wonder if Forsyth really did see Putin coming?
If you are a fan of Freddie Forsyth this will not disappoint.
If you are a fan of Freddie Forsyth this will not disappoint.
November 28, 2018
The book that both intimidated me by its size and kept me entertained for the whole time I read it. It was the first book I read in English when that wasn't yet my preferred language to read books in. Loved this book, it had me choose more Forsyth books.
June 13, 2025
Forsyth lo vuelve a hacer: una historia con trama sólida, bien documentada y con ese sello suyo de espionaje y geopolítica que tanto engancha.
Este libro tiene ritmo, tensión y una narrativa inteligente. Pero ojo: no es una lectura ligera. Hay demasiados personajes, nombres rusos, operaciones, agencias, ubicaciones… todo eso puede hacer que tengas que regresar páginas para ubicar quién es quién o qué está pasando en dónde.
No es el típico thriller de acción directa; aquí todo se cocina lento, con paciencia. Pero si le das ese tiempo, la recompensa está. La historia es buena, y el final cumple.
Ideal si te gusta el espionaje clásico con tintes de Guerra Fría y te gusta leer con atención. No es para devorarlo de una sentada, pero definitivamente vale la pena.
Este libro tiene ritmo, tensión y una narrativa inteligente. Pero ojo: no es una lectura ligera. Hay demasiados personajes, nombres rusos, operaciones, agencias, ubicaciones… todo eso puede hacer que tengas que regresar páginas para ubicar quién es quién o qué está pasando en dónde.
No es el típico thriller de acción directa; aquí todo se cocina lento, con paciencia. Pero si le das ese tiempo, la recompensa está. La historia es buena, y el final cumple.
Ideal si te gusta el espionaje clásico con tintes de Guerra Fría y te gusta leer con atención. No es para devorarlo de una sentada, pero definitivamente vale la pena.
April 23, 2023
I enjoyed it very much!
December 19, 2018
I was amazed just how much information Freddie Forsyth managed to pack into this book. Having lived through the period covered in Icon and watched the comings and goings of the post-Gorbachov revolutions in Russia without understanding what was going on this book gave me a good idea of the period's history even if it was a fictional one. The characters were thin and cliched but still, I read on. Forsyth lacks the subtlety and romance of his rival in the spy thriller genre, John Le Carrie but the book had a compelling narrative which somehow worked. I admired the work as a tour de force rather than a novel. Russian crypto-fascists prove every bit as villainous as their Communist predecessors whom Forsyth portrayed in The Fourth Protocol and The Deceiver. It's 1999 when the book begins, and ultra-nationalist Igor Komarov's victory in the upcoming Russian presidential election seems assured. But within Komarov's party headquarters, an elderly janitor accidentally discovers Komarov's secret plans for Russia, laid out in a document that comes to be known as the Black Manifesto--a blueprint for a return to dictatorship, military expansionism and genocidal ethnic cleansing. Forsyth seems to understand the dark side of the Russian soul but his characters are not allowed to have their evil way. Perhaps I was wrong when I said he was not a romantic.
October 18, 2011
Too good to be true, don't we say this word about the really grand things we encounter at times ? A really hot lady/guy who for no reason strikes up a conversation with you and is willing to proceed further, a boss who suddenly supports you and gives a pay hike for no reason or maybe a new political leader who in a short time makes a tremendous impact on the masses. While any of these or for that matter any such overtly unbelievable incidents are going on, a small voice at the back of your mind tells you Too good to be true bud ! Don't say that I didn't warn you .
Now that I have fired the opening shot, let me get on with the review. The premise is Russia, a nation that is slowly shrugging off the shackles of Communism and the aftermath of Glasnost. A rather messy state of affairs with hyper inflation, poverty & a few governmental decisions that took a turn for the worst. Into this melee steps in a charismatic and dynamic leader who is messianic in his demeanor towards the populace. But things are not always what they seem and it is up to the British & the Americans as always to save the world. The book is divided into two parts with the first being the build up and the planning part & the next being devoted entirely to execution of those plans to make the world a better place to live. This in my evaluation is not a novel that can be counted as one of Forsyth's best. For one, the suspense factor loses its steam after a while & also to be counted is the fact that a few crucial situations in the plot line are predictable. Nothing kills fun faster than predictability I suppose ! If there is one thing that truly stands out in this book, it is the research that the author must have done. He creates a vivid portrayal of Russia before the turn of the millennium. The bear whose claws have been worn down to stumps and lost all his teeth to add to his woes too !
Let me be honest here, I only took this book up as it featured one of my favorite characters Sir Nigel Irvine from Forsyth's 'Fourth Protocol'. The character referred to as the Fox and the erstwhile head of the MI6 still remains one that I love. While being high handed at times, the shrewdness that the author brings forth with this character is something I love.
Now that I have fired the opening shot, let me get on with the review. The premise is Russia, a nation that is slowly shrugging off the shackles of Communism and the aftermath of Glasnost. A rather messy state of affairs with hyper inflation, poverty & a few governmental decisions that took a turn for the worst. Into this melee steps in a charismatic and dynamic leader who is messianic in his demeanor towards the populace. But things are not always what they seem and it is up to the British & the Americans as always to save the world. The book is divided into two parts with the first being the build up and the planning part & the next being devoted entirely to execution of those plans to make the world a better place to live. This in my evaluation is not a novel that can be counted as one of Forsyth's best. For one, the suspense factor loses its steam after a while & also to be counted is the fact that a few crucial situations in the plot line are predictable. Nothing kills fun faster than predictability I suppose ! If there is one thing that truly stands out in this book, it is the research that the author must have done. He creates a vivid portrayal of Russia before the turn of the millennium. The bear whose claws have been worn down to stumps and lost all his teeth to add to his woes too !
Let me be honest here, I only took this book up as it featured one of my favorite characters Sir Nigel Irvine from Forsyth's 'Fourth Protocol'. The character referred to as the Fox and the erstwhile head of the MI6 still remains one that I love. While being high handed at times, the shrewdness that the author brings forth with this character is something I love.
July 18, 2015
We like FF for his original and plausible plots. When you read him the line between fiction and reality blurs, as he seamlessly blends the both. You know that this is imaginary work but still want to believe it. But the same can not be said about the Icon. The premise is so far fetched and the climax is so bizarre you feel like reading a fantasy book. . But fantasy is enjoyable too. Go figure our for yourself and share your views.
March 19, 2010
simply one of the best! i simply CANNOT put this book down when i started reading it. the plot was simple - stop Igor Komarov from being the Russian President. and how the lead character did it was simply amazing! it was brilliantly thought of and it is no doubt one of my favorite books of all time!
August 17, 2015
An entertaining tale of political arena & espionage in Russia in 1990's. A dictator attempting to take control power in crises during times of huge inflation & mafia crimes. The plot is inspired by glimpses of cold war.
September 3, 2007
Aku cuman mo nambahin kalo buku ini bagussss banget.. trik trik spionasenya ok dah... FF emang jagonya
May 30, 2013
Unlike other novels of his, this time, Forsyth takes us into the future in a tautly written thriller. All the ingredients for disaster are in place.
September 16, 2017
I haven't read Frederick Forsythe in a long time and forgot that I appreciate his novels. Although the details can get a little tedious at times.
March 20, 2018
Very dull. Too many characters and too much fictional politics.
March 20, 2025
Excellent. I like this author. One does need to concentrate on the story.
August 5, 2024
The decade between the fall of the Soviet Union and 9/11 was a difficult one for most thriller writers. They were deprived of longstanding archenemies like the Communists and the Nazis, but correspondingly grave new threats like radical Islam had not yet become apparent.
Forsyth is an excellent thriller writer, maybe the best, and the first 200 pages of this book start out well enough. The British embassy in Moscow has unexpectedly been handed an unsolicited “Black Manifesto”. It reveals that a rising leader in ruined Russia, Igor Komorov, who is likely to win legitimate elections as the next President, is probably a new version of Hitler (note: this was written too early for Forsyth to have Putin personally in mind; he was then a minor official). The manifesto is presented to the highest levels of government in the UK and US. The leadership of both countries (Major and Clinton at the time) decide that they can’t or won’t do anything about it.
It is here that the story goes wildly off the rails. A retired spymaster of MI6 decides without authorization to share the highly classified manifesto with the “Council of Lincoln”. Forsyth describes this as an “invitation only” group of 34 Americans and 6 Brits and “probably the most influential of all” NGOs. While “denying their own existence”, they meet secretly once a year for 5 days in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The tiny membership includes such dubious figures as Henry Kissinger, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, financier Evelyn de Rothchild and, Forsyth notes, the disproportionate number of “seven Jews”. It sounds much like a more secretive and exclusive version of the Bilderberg Group (founded 1954) and the World Economic Forum (founded 1971).
The Council concedes that “Half of what is in the Black Manifesto could well have the agreement of a good proportion of the Russian people”. Nevertheless, this cabal of moguls decide that their opinions matter more than those of Russian voters and the elected UK and US governments. They decide on their own to ruin Komorov by organizing and funding a "destabilization" campaign similar to the many “color revolutions” that began being orchestrated by the West in real life in 1998. No records of their decision are kept and the operational details are left to a small committee, so that the other members can deny any knowledge, involvement or accountability.
And what is the intended outcome of their private mercenary revolution? They plan to restore an heir to the Romanov dynasty as Czar! Believe it or not, these conspirators are supposed to be Forsyth’s “good guys”! Ironic, as it was only a few books earlier that participants in such mercenary coups were the villains in Forsyth’s third novel, The Dogs of War. But, by the time of this novel, the Biafra outsider Forsyth had been invited to join the insider “cool kids” like those of the Council. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) at the time of its publication. Some people feel better about monarchy after being knighted.
The novel goes downhill from there. The skullduggery is almost all accomplished by one character, ex-CIA agent Jason Monk. He is an unbelievable Mary Sue and much of it utterly defies credibility. An excessive number of pages have to be devoted to exposition in order to explain the convoluted scheme to restore the Czar. These include lengthy sections on the Aldrich Ames spy scandal, the Russian Orthodox church, and the Romanov family tree and succession rules.
Forsyth’s action writing is still very good, 4+ stars, but the plot stinks, 1-2 stars, and this is the most repugnant set of purported “good guys” I can recall in a thriller. Only the polished writing manages to barely salvage an overall 3-star rating from this arrogant, elitist, monarchist mess.
Forsyth is an excellent thriller writer, maybe the best, and the first 200 pages of this book start out well enough. The British embassy in Moscow has unexpectedly been handed an unsolicited “Black Manifesto”. It reveals that a rising leader in ruined Russia, Igor Komorov, who is likely to win legitimate elections as the next President, is probably a new version of Hitler (note: this was written too early for Forsyth to have Putin personally in mind; he was then a minor official). The manifesto is presented to the highest levels of government in the UK and US. The leadership of both countries (Major and Clinton at the time) decide that they can’t or won’t do anything about it.
It is here that the story goes wildly off the rails. A retired spymaster of MI6 decides without authorization to share the highly classified manifesto with the “Council of Lincoln”. Forsyth describes this as an “invitation only” group of 34 Americans and 6 Brits and “probably the most influential of all” NGOs. While “denying their own existence”, they meet secretly once a year for 5 days in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The tiny membership includes such dubious figures as Henry Kissinger, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, financier Evelyn de Rothchild and, Forsyth notes, the disproportionate number of “seven Jews”. It sounds much like a more secretive and exclusive version of the Bilderberg Group (founded 1954) and the World Economic Forum (founded 1971).
The Council concedes that “Half of what is in the Black Manifesto could well have the agreement of a good proportion of the Russian people”. Nevertheless, this cabal of moguls decide that their opinions matter more than those of Russian voters and the elected UK and US governments. They decide on their own to ruin Komorov by organizing and funding a "destabilization" campaign similar to the many “color revolutions” that began being orchestrated by the West in real life in 1998. No records of their decision are kept and the operational details are left to a small committee, so that the other members can deny any knowledge, involvement or accountability.
And what is the intended outcome of their private mercenary revolution? They plan to restore an heir to the Romanov dynasty as Czar! Believe it or not, these conspirators are supposed to be Forsyth’s “good guys”! Ironic, as it was only a few books earlier that participants in such mercenary coups were the villains in Forsyth’s third novel, The Dogs of War. But, by the time of this novel, the Biafra outsider Forsyth had been invited to join the insider “cool kids” like those of the Council. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) at the time of its publication. Some people feel better about monarchy after being knighted.
The novel goes downhill from there. The skullduggery is almost all accomplished by one character, ex-CIA agent Jason Monk. He is an unbelievable Mary Sue and much of it utterly defies credibility. An excessive number of pages have to be devoted to exposition in order to explain the convoluted scheme to restore the Czar. These include lengthy sections on the Aldrich Ames spy scandal, the Russian Orthodox church, and the Romanov family tree and succession rules.
Forsyth’s action writing is still very good, 4+ stars, but the plot stinks, 1-2 stars, and this is the most repugnant set of purported “good guys” I can recall in a thriller. Only the polished writing manages to barely salvage an overall 3-star rating from this arrogant, elitist, monarchist mess.
August 27, 2025
The world does not call Mr. Fredrick Forsythe a master story-teller for nothing. I remember finishing "The Day Of The Jackal" in one night. I remember having left completely dumbstruck with "The Devil's Alternative" and I also remember gasping through the twists and turns in "The Negotiator".
Well, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Forsythe has done it again with "Icon".
"Icon" is an out-and-out intelligent saga over decades encompassing a whole universe of characters from multiple periods of time. Icon is a taut, politically charged thriller set in a fictionalized 1999 Russia. It centers on the rise of a fascist demagogue and the desperate covert operation to stop him before he can seize control of the country. Critics praised Forsyth for his masterful research, intricate plotting, and gripping suspense.
In a post-communist Russia plagued by chaos, poverty, and inflation, a charismatic politician named Igor Komarov rises to power, capitalising on public disillusionment. A secret document, the "Black Manifesto," reveals Komarov's horrifying plan for an autocratic, Hitler-like regime, including a new system of gulags and the eradication of minorities. Officially, Western nations can do nothing, so a covert group of elder statesmen recruits former CIA agent Jason Monk to stop Komarov. Monk, a deep-cover specialist who left the agency after his agents were betrayed, is motivated by a personal vendetta against Komarov's head of security, a former KGB torturer. Monk's mission is to expose the Black Manifesto and disrupt Komarov's campaign by forging unlikely alliances with Russian institutions and the mafia. This story shows that intelligence is the ultimate power and can take down any amount of brawn like a hot knife through butter.
This is written in typical style of Mr. Forsythe. It starts off at a gentle pace with high levels of informative planning and then sucks you into the labyrinth before you even realize it. Mr. Forsyth's skillful blend of research and imagination, noting how he "subtly conceals the truth and the existence of a double agent until the very end". Icon is vintage Frederick Forsyth, intricate, exact and gripping.
As usual, I won't reveal much about the story. This book is a must read for anyone who likes "intelligent" plots with less action and extremely high thinking. Icon is a compelling and timely political thriller that showcases Forsyth's deep research and talent for suspense. While its conclusion stretches credulity for some, the intricate plotting and fast-paced action make for an entertaining read. It is an example of Mr. Forsyth's later work reverting to the style of his earlier classics like The Day of the Jackal.
Mr. Forsythe, it's always a crazy ride with you in the pilot's seat.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Forsythe has done it again with "Icon".
"Icon" is an out-and-out intelligent saga over decades encompassing a whole universe of characters from multiple periods of time. Icon is a taut, politically charged thriller set in a fictionalized 1999 Russia. It centers on the rise of a fascist demagogue and the desperate covert operation to stop him before he can seize control of the country. Critics praised Forsyth for his masterful research, intricate plotting, and gripping suspense.
In a post-communist Russia plagued by chaos, poverty, and inflation, a charismatic politician named Igor Komarov rises to power, capitalising on public disillusionment. A secret document, the "Black Manifesto," reveals Komarov's horrifying plan for an autocratic, Hitler-like regime, including a new system of gulags and the eradication of minorities. Officially, Western nations can do nothing, so a covert group of elder statesmen recruits former CIA agent Jason Monk to stop Komarov. Monk, a deep-cover specialist who left the agency after his agents were betrayed, is motivated by a personal vendetta against Komarov's head of security, a former KGB torturer. Monk's mission is to expose the Black Manifesto and disrupt Komarov's campaign by forging unlikely alliances with Russian institutions and the mafia. This story shows that intelligence is the ultimate power and can take down any amount of brawn like a hot knife through butter.
This is written in typical style of Mr. Forsythe. It starts off at a gentle pace with high levels of informative planning and then sucks you into the labyrinth before you even realize it. Mr. Forsyth's skillful blend of research and imagination, noting how he "subtly conceals the truth and the existence of a double agent until the very end". Icon is vintage Frederick Forsyth, intricate, exact and gripping.
As usual, I won't reveal much about the story. This book is a must read for anyone who likes "intelligent" plots with less action and extremely high thinking. Icon is a compelling and timely political thriller that showcases Forsyth's deep research and talent for suspense. While its conclusion stretches credulity for some, the intricate plotting and fast-paced action make for an entertaining read. It is an example of Mr. Forsyth's later work reverting to the style of his earlier classics like The Day of the Jackal.
Mr. Forsythe, it's always a crazy ride with you in the pilot's seat.
November 15, 2020
Finally finished another long pending book which was stuck with me for few years!
This is a first rate espionage thriller with an intricate completely real and believable plot and well formed characters. Perfect for readers who enjoy Robert Ludlum type thriller but with a political twist! Setting is primarily in Russia post Boris Yeltsin period of 1989-2000 where corruption , gangsters and Oligarchs ruled the country!
The main character so resembles Putin in his dictatorial mindset that i had to google and check if this is some real stuff so you can understand the thrill! The story is about how the western democratic forces devise a covert campaign to destroy his support so it is real edge of the seat thriller type fun!
The book had come in 1997 and still got so many things right! I like the statement on page 476/7 which says “ Public Relations they had called it in America, the multi billion Dollar industry that could make a talentless oaf a celebrity, a fool a sage and a base opportunist a statesman” How prophetic keeping the last 2 presidential election in he US!!
This is a first rate espionage thriller with an intricate completely real and believable plot and well formed characters. Perfect for readers who enjoy Robert Ludlum type thriller but with a political twist! Setting is primarily in Russia post Boris Yeltsin period of 1989-2000 where corruption , gangsters and Oligarchs ruled the country!
The main character so resembles Putin in his dictatorial mindset that i had to google and check if this is some real stuff so you can understand the thrill! The story is about how the western democratic forces devise a covert campaign to destroy his support so it is real edge of the seat thriller type fun!
The book had come in 1997 and still got so many things right! I like the statement on page 476/7 which says “ Public Relations they had called it in America, the multi billion Dollar industry that could make a talentless oaf a celebrity, a fool a sage and a base opportunist a statesman” How prophetic keeping the last 2 presidential election in he US!!
January 30, 2025
Not Forsyth's best (It'll always be The Day of the Jackal anyways). I read this as a teen back around 2000 in Japanese. I was kind of underwhelmed back then, I remember. Thinking it over now, the prescience of this book astounds me. It's akin to revisiting GoldenEye (1995), which also predicted the consequences and ramifications of the damaged Russian/USSR pride.
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