The Eiger Sanction

By Trevanian

Book Overview

Jonathan Hemlock lives in a renovated Gothic church on Long Island. He is an art professor, a mountain climber, and a mercenary, performing assassinations (i.e., sanctions) for money to augment his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517500345
• ISBN13: 9780517500347
• Release Date: January 1972
• Publisher: Outlet
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 1.57 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good entertaining movie, but even greater novel...

I liked the movie, I saw a library copy, the night before I made this review, but reading a used hardcover that I bought of the original Trevanian novel, it was a lot of fun. Especially remembering the fun plot twists and tight control of textural dynamics by the author Trevanian (who's real name is Rod Whitaker, by the way), sure the Clint Eastwood movie is fun, but the novel is a "guilty" pleasure to watch him do his sanctioning, sure Loo is almost as good, but to watch and "watch" (in the novels, both Loo and Eiger, and the Eiger movie) Jonathan Hemlock in action is a really great romp through the psyche, especially in that Nixonian "secretive" white house plumbers time of rampant secret assassinations, game-playing and ingenious art imitating life plot twists. But what I like is how it departs from real life with gung-ho drama and comedy all mixed into an ingenious ball of wax. Personally, I identify with Jonathan Hemlock, and his whole involvement with CII (C2) in a sense, I don't kill people or anything or perform "sanctions" or even actively climb hills or mountains, but I do identify with that clandestine edge in life like few people in this world do. It's a funny thing, folks, but I love all of Trevanian's work that I've read, including The Main and Shibumi, but Jonathan Hemlock is by far one of my favorite character studies. But to a less "deep" analysis of why I was attracted to Trevanian's novels and the Eiger Sanction movie: When I was a kid, I loved to watch Clint Eastwood movies with my Dad, but before I knew about the Eiger Sanction movie, I saw the book in the library and I was fascinated by the name of the author, one word: "Trevanian", I don't know, the name made me think of the swinging beat of Miles Davis's better works and James Brown's jazzier stuff, you know. And more exotic Neville Brothers/Wild Tchoupitoulas recordings and all that kind of thing combined with a positive version of Hugh Hefner "cool", you know. So, I read and I read and I wasn't disappointed. Another satisfaction of my literary tastes, so to speak. Well, that's my review, enjoy. Captain Josh.

Great thriller

This is a great thriller. Once in a while you read a book that isolates you from the rest of the world. This is one of them. If you like thrillers, this book is a must. It has one of the best endings (I won't say more).

Great

If you haven't read Shibumi don't. Read this one first. One should crawl before they walk. In many ways I enjoyed this book more though. In Hemlock, Trevanian created the perfect man of the times (early 1970s); Cold and disconnected from society, Hemlock is without conscience or remorse or guilt. He is socially incomplete, all too aware , and seemingly incapable to change this. He is a reflection of the fragmented seventies. Now more than ever, we need Hemlock back! Hemlock vs Hel? Hint, hint.

The best spy/assassin novel I've ever read.

I liked the main character, John Hemlock. He's an assassin for the government armed with a sharp tongue. He is a man without conscience but surprisingly Trevanian does a great job of getting you to like his character. I don't wish to spoil the entire book, so if anyone out there likes spy novels, this is the one for you.