Ed Rasimus wrote:

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 12:53:23 -0400, Eric Pinnell see my web site
wrote:

I am having a dispute with a literary agent and I am conducting
this on-line book survey to add ammunition to my argument. I would
greatly appreciate it if you could answer this survey honestly, but
please dot not send answers via email. Thanks.


1) Who are you favorite espionage/war authors and why?

Assuming you mean fiction, then here is my short list:

John LeCarre
Frederick Forsythe
Nelson Demille
Ian Fleming
Trevanian
Tom Clancy

Ed, if you like DeMille (as do I, and most of the rest of your list),
you'll almost certainly like Brian Haig (Alexander's son, but dont hold
that against him). I'd replace Fleming with Harold Coyle. Unlike Clancy,
he doesn't write techno-porn; **** happens in his books, and the people are
more important than the equipment. Come to think of it, Coyle's first or
second book was set in Korea. And I usually enjoy Stephen Coonts. My
current list would probably go

DeMille (moremystery than espionage or war, but just keeps getting better)
Forsythe (he's had a couple less than terrific ones recently, but like
Arnold Palmer in the Master's, he gets a lifetime pass for "Day of the
Jackal" as well as several lesser but still excellent subsequent works)
Coyle (already described)
Haig (getting better and better, obviously a fan of DeMille. His main
character is an Army JAG type)
Trevanian (haven't read much new by him, but he gets a 10-year pass for the
"Eiger" and "Loo Sanctions" plus "Shibumi")
LeCarre (haven't read his stuff in years, since before "The Little Drummer
Girl". I have a limit on depressing situations, but the man defined the
Cold War spy novel).
Coonts (heading downhill, but still enjoyable trash)
Clancy (he's been coasting downhill, but I still read him).



2) Who are your least enjoyable espionage/war authors and why?

No specifics here. The least enjoyable are also the ones least
published and least known. Typically I don't like pacifists,
apologists and conspiricists.

There are so many bad authors to choose from, but I'll have to give a
special mention to Dale Brown. I avoid his stuff like the plague.


3) What determines if the book you read is a keeper or a reject?

Plot, believability, character development and use of language that
interests me.

We both consider character development important, and yet we both read Tom
Clancy? ;-) Although I've got to say that his last few books have
noticeably dropped off in quality. At least he got through the
toilet-tongue phase he went through a couple of books back.

4) Other than 38 North Yankee and Red Phoenix, have you read any books
about a war in Korea? If so, what are the titles?

A couple by W.E.B. Griffin and James Brady recently, plus Bridges at
Toko-Ri a long time ago. I couldn't tell you the titles of the first two,
they weren't terribly memorable. I tend to read more non-fiction on Korea.

snip

6) Do you prefer war or espionage stories?

Again, if we are talking fiction, I tend toward espionage since there
are more plot convolutions possible. War stories tend to be blood/gore
or sex and tragedy. Both bore quickly.

Generally agreed.


8) Do you still buy espionage/war novels, or do you feel that the
genre is overdone?

Still buy them regularly.

With 8 library cards, who needs to buy? ;-) Seriously, I only buy books Im
going to use as references, or the few books of fiction I'm going to reread
repeatedly.

Guy