One of the techniques thriller writers use to add credibility to their story is to root the plot sufficiently in fact to give it an air of believability. This can be particularly important when the book is set in unfamiliar territories. Many extraordinary things happen in such places that are way outside the experience of the Westerner, and there is a risk therefore that the reader might consider the events on the page to be outside the realms of possibility. To avoid this, the author needs to set them in a context that makes them seem credible.
There are a number of ways of doing this, and one of the key methods starts with the question: what is the issue that gives rise to the problem that the hero has to tackle? If this problem is real and well-known to the reader, then the battle is half-won. When it clear that the background is true, it makes it easier for the author to carry his reader as the plot moves out of the realms of fact into fiction.
Set out below are some examples taken from the Leksin thrillers.
The Oligarch
Plot: The President wants to restore the massive Russian companies acquired for a song by the oligarchs in the 90s to State control. He turns to Leksin when one oligarch resists the order to relinquish one of the world’s largest mining conglomerates.
• Fact: In the mid-90s a group of oligarchs acquired ownership of many of Russia’s largest companies through the so-called loans-for-shares scheme. At the time the severely cash-strapped Yeltsin government was struggling to pay its State employees and pensioners. The oligarchs proposed to an ailing Yeltsin a scheme whereby they would lend the State money, taking as security shares in Russia’s largest companies (mainly, those involved in utilities, energy and natural resources). The conceit was that, by the time the loans became due, the government’s financial position would have improved, so the loans would be repaid. The reality – and fully appreciated by all parties at the time – was that Yeltsin would have no choice but to default and, therefore, ownership of the companies would pass to the oligarchs. This of course is what transpired. Despite the fact that the loans were for far less than the value of the companies, their ownership passed to the oligarchs. • Fact: When Putin became President in 2000, his declared intention was to return these companies to State control. In the end, he realised the oligarchs were too powerful to take on en masse, so he did a deal: don’t plunder further State assets and support me, then you can keep what you’ve got. Initially he kept to his pledge, although he has picked away at individual oligarchs as they’ve fallen out of favour ever since. • With the exceptions of Putin’s cronies, many of the oligarchs have had a troubled history with Putin. Those who tried to oppose him, such as Khodorkovsky or Berezovsky, were either imprisoned or forced into exile while their assets were stripped away under one guise or another. Others have been forced to give up control of their media companies, giving Putin control both of what the population is told and how events outside Russia are reported.
Corruption of Power
Plot: The President is intent on restoring his country to its former glory by regaining territory lost on the break-up of the Soviet Union. Certain that the West’s response to such action will be limited to economic sanctions, he determines to minimise their potential to cause damage by switching the markets for Russia’s massive energy deposits to the East. He turns to Leksin when the plan threatens to cause armed conflict along Russia’s southern border.
• Fact: There can be little doubt that Putin is determined to restore Russian power and would like to expand his influence and control to neighbouring territories. Events in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine stand testimony to this. Western analysts continually express concern about Putin’s intentions in the Baltic States. Most recently, Poland has asked for NATO troops to be posted on its Eastern border as a counter to potential Russian aggression. • Fact: The West did not respond militarily to Russian aggression in Ukraine, but limited its response to economic sanctions. • Fact: Russia is increasingly refocusing its economy towards the East. For some time Russia has been courting China, and this process appears to have taken on fresh impetus since the imposition of sanctions. Recently, Russia announced an agreement to build a pipeline to supply energy to China. • Fact: Ever since he came to power, Putin has been concerned by what he regards as Russia’s soft underbelly. There has been constant unrest within the country’s southern regions (for example, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan). These places have become ready recruiting grounds for ISIS. In addition, Putin has watched with growing concern the gradual resurrection of the Taliban inside Afghanistan and their inexorable expansion towards the borders of former Soviet states such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
There are a number of ways of doing this, and one of the key methods starts with the question: what is the issue that gives rise to the problem that the hero has to tackle? If this problem is real and well-known to the reader, then the battle is half-won. When it clear that the background is true, it makes it easier for the author to carry his reader as the plot moves out of the realms of fact into fiction.
Set out below are some examples taken from the Leksin thrillers.
The Oligarch
Plot: The President wants to restore the massive Russian companies acquired for a song by the oligarchs in the 90s to State control. He turns to Leksin when one oligarch resists the order to relinquish one of the world’s largest mining conglomerates.
• Fact: In the mid-90s a group of oligarchs acquired ownership of many of Russia’s largest companies through the so-called loans-for-shares scheme. At the time the severely cash-strapped Yeltsin government was struggling to pay its State employees and pensioners. The oligarchs proposed to an ailing Yeltsin a scheme whereby they would lend the State money, taking as security shares in Russia’s largest companies (mainly, those involved in utilities, energy and natural resources). The conceit was that, by the time the loans became due, the government’s financial position would have improved, so the loans would be repaid. The reality – and fully appreciated by all parties at the time – was that Yeltsin would have no choice but to default and, therefore, ownership of the companies would pass to the oligarchs. This of course is what transpired. Despite the fact that the loans were for far less than the value of the companies, their ownership passed to the oligarchs.
• Fact: When Putin became President in 2000, his declared intention was to return these companies to State control. In the end, he realised the oligarchs were too powerful to take on en masse, so he did a deal: don’t plunder further State assets and support me, then you can keep what you’ve got. Initially he kept to his pledge, although he has picked away at individual oligarchs as they’ve fallen out of favour ever since.
• With the exceptions of Putin’s cronies, many of the oligarchs have had a troubled history with Putin. Those who tried to oppose him, such as Khodorkovsky or Berezovsky, were either imprisoned or forced into exile while their assets were stripped away under one guise or another. Others have been forced to give up control of their media companies, giving Putin control both of what the population is told and how events outside Russia are reported.
Corruption of Power
Plot: The President is intent on restoring his country to its former glory by regaining territory lost on the break-up of the Soviet Union. Certain that the West’s response to such action will be limited to economic sanctions, he determines to minimise their potential to cause damage by switching the markets for Russia’s massive energy deposits to the East. He turns to Leksin when the plan threatens to cause armed conflict along Russia’s southern border.
• Fact: There can be little doubt that Putin is determined to restore Russian power and would like to expand his influence and control to neighbouring territories. Events in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine stand testimony to this. Western analysts continually express concern about Putin’s intentions in the Baltic States. Most recently, Poland has asked for NATO troops to be posted on its Eastern border as a counter to potential Russian aggression.
• Fact: The West did not respond militarily to Russian aggression in Ukraine, but limited its response to economic sanctions.
• Fact: Russia is increasingly refocusing its economy towards the East. For some time Russia has been courting China, and this process appears to have taken on fresh impetus since the imposition of sanctions. Recently, Russia announced an agreement to build a pipeline to supply energy to China.
• Fact: Ever since he came to power, Putin has been concerned by what he regards as Russia’s soft underbelly. There has been constant unrest within the country’s southern regions (for example, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan). These places have become ready recruiting grounds for ISIS. In addition, Putin has watched with growing concern the gradual resurrection of the Taliban inside Afghanistan and their inexorable expansion towards the borders of former Soviet states such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.