The Bourne Supremacy

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"Write out of love, write out of instinct, write out of reason. But always for money."
Louis Untermeyer

The Bourne Supremacy

By Robert Ludlum
Bantam Books, 646 pp, 1987

Robert Ludlum knows how to craft an action-packed, devious, political thriller. I think I like his work better than Clancy’s, mainly because Ludlum has fewer characters and doesn’t bore us with a load of technical jargon.

The Bourne Supremacy is the sequel to The Bourne Identity, the first Bourne novel. The series ends with The Bourne Ultimatum, and I’ll read that soon!

I can’t tell you too much about this book because it would give away too much from the first one. For those who haven’t read any of these, read them in order. You’ll follow the characters and action much easier that way.

I will say this. It is interesting to read these books set in the “ancient history” of the 1970s and 1980s. How amusing as these poor characters rush to reach a pay phone, when a cell phone would be so much easier! And no e-mail and computers! How did they get by?

But that’s not a big deal. This book is packed with action and intrigue, as well as wonderfully complex yet simple characters. It’s also quite difficult to put down. You should enjoy it.