When John Le Carrè died he was keen to see his literary legacy live on. He specifically asked his family to do so, leading to a number of successful TV adaptations of his work and the publication of his letters (A Private Spy). Based on this wish, the family asked Nick Harkaway, Le Carrè’s youngest child, if he would be interested in writing a book in Le Carrè’s Circus continuity and featuring spy George Smiley. Harkaway is an established author in his own right, although he has mainly stayed away from espionage, working successfully in new weird (The Gone Away World, Angelmaker) and crime (Titanium Noir). In the introduction to Karla’s Choice Harkaway says that he felt daunted but honoured to be asked and has delivered a fitting entry into this well-loved series.
Karla’s Choice is set in the period between The Spy Who Came in from The Cold and the ‘Karla trilogy’ which starts with Tinker, Tailer, Soldier Spy. George Smiley has retired from the Circus (MI6) and is living a bucolic life with his wife Ann. But the head of the Circus, Control, has other ideas. When a Hungarian émigré comes in with a story of a Russian hitman who has had a change of heart and that his target, her Hungarian boss is missing, Control asks Smiley to come in for ‘one last job’. Thus begins a hunt for the missing man who is also being sought after by a Russian agent known only as Karla. And before long, Smiley is back in the game.
While it is not true to say Karla’s Choice is pastiche, it is written in a style that’s reminiscent of the phase of Le Carrè’s work from the 1960s and 70s. It is an espionage story in the classic vein – slow and methodical until there are short bursts of action. Harkaway does a great job of inhabiting his father’s world, echoing the cadence of Le Carrè’s work without being slavish. Many of the characters from the existing canon are back, but this is really Smiley’s book. That and an origin story for his ultimate nemesis, Karla. And being 2024, Harkaway also introduces some new characters to round out the traditional cast which was mainly white, middle aged men.
Harkaway has well and truly fulfilled the brief here. This is not 100% Le Carrè but it scratches an itch for those seeking a classic espionage hit in a familiar world. Harkaway provides a narrative that fits neatly into the existing continuity, while also delivering an insight into the ‘missing years’ of the Smiley biography and leaving the door open for more.
Robert Goodman
For more of Robert’s reviews, visit his blog Pile By the Bed
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Silverview (John Le Carré) – book review
- The Devil’s Bargain (Stella Rimington) – book review
- Titamium Noir (Nick Harkaway) – book review
Robert Goodman is a book reviewer, former Ned Kelly Awards judge and institutionalised public servant based in Sydney. This and over 450 more book reviews can be found on his website Pile By the Bed.
Reality like exploding pagers and walkie-talkies or even exploding toothbrushes and razors is leaving espionage fiction in the ashtray of history. Why not forget about fictional agents like Bond and Bourne dashing to save the world from disaster and forget about CIA and MI6 officers reclining on their couches dreaming up espionage scenarios to thrill you. Check out what a real MI6 and CIA secret agent does nowadays. Why not browse through TheBurlingtonFiles website and read about Bill Fairclough’s escapades when he was an active MI6 and CIA agent? The website is rather like an espionage museum without an admission fee … and no adverts. You will soon be immersed in a whole new world which you won’t want to exit.
After that experience you may not know who to trust so best read Beyond Enkription, the first novel in The Burlington Files series. It’s a noir fact based spy thriller that may shock you. What is interesting is that this book is apparently mandatory reading in some countries’ intelligence agencies’ induction programs. Why? Maybe because the book is not only realistic but has been heralded by those who should know as “being up there with My Silent War by Kim Philby and No Other Choice by George Blake”. It is an enthralling read as long as you don’t expect fictional agents like Ian Fleming’s incredible 007 to save the world or John le Carré’s couch potato yet illustrious Smiley to send you to sleep with his delicate diction, sophisticated syntax and placid plots!
See https://theburlingtonfiles.org/news_2023_06.07.php and https://theburlingtonfiles.org/news_2022.10.31.php and https://theburlingtonfiles.org/news_2024.08.31.php.