OK. That's it.
To keep the size of this file manageable, contributions from Jan 97 (when this forum opened) through Sep 98 have been archived:
Archive File 1 (Jan 97 - Sep 97)
Archive File 2 (Oct 97 - Sep 98)
Archive File 3 (Oct 98 - Dec 01)
The following were contributed from 1 Jan 2002 to the present:
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From: D. P. Gallagher
e-mail: DPGRedbird@aol.com
Date: Tue Jan 8 14:57:09 EST 2002
I am a fan of the Bernard Samson stories so when the TV series came out I made it a point to watch. I was extremely disappointed and can understand why LD was as well. Ian Holm could not have been less appropriate for the role. No offense to this very good actor but he's short! He's much better cast in his latest role as a hobbit! Anyone who has read the books knows that BS is a large, physically intimidating man. I've always pictured someone brittish with the build of Brian Denehy though darker and more brooding.
Also, if movie music is good, as it was in Lord of the Rings, I don't even notice it. But in the TV series of G, S, & M the music was oppressive and depressing. It made the whole production seem gloomy. In my opinion the series was a disaster and it was a great disappointment for me. I enjoy the books so much.
A previous writer said that he could get a copy of the series for $500.00. I don't recommend it.
I, too, wonder if Charity is the end of Bernard Samson. LD, you created a captivating character. He represented a more realistic version of the James Bond myth. You're probably tired of it though. Too bad...as long as you write 'em, we'll read 'em.
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From: James Beaumont
e-mail:
Date: Thu Jan 10 19:18:40 EST 2002
With reference to D P Gallagher. On the contrary, I think Ian Holm IS the definitive Bernard Samson! Every time I read any of the books I picture all the actors from the series. This brings the books to life for me. BS is not a james bond type of spy. And that is the way Ian Holm plays it. Okay, so he's a little shorter than in the book, so what? In fact I would say his size makes him seem more vunerable to others. And IH plays this wonderfully. All credit to him.
I can understand Mr Deighton perhaps being a little miffed that things were changed in the TV series. But that happens in most adaptations of books to TV or film. You have to do this in some cases, but it needn't detract from the quality of the book, or be detremental. In some cases additional scenes etc enhance the book. So lets stop thinking about he men for the role of BS, like Russel crowe. He would play BS as a go getter, shoot em up sort of character. And BS is not like that. Read the books again and get inside BS.
Okay, that's it. I've had my four-penneth worth.
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From: Russell Vinicombe
e-mail:
Date: Fri Jan 11 21:33:42 EST 2002
I have only recently come across this site, I am delighted that the interest in LD is alive and well. I did NOT see the TV adaptation of GS & M but feel that after reading various comments about the definitive BS I am of the impression that after reading the BS books several times that I have a pre-conceived idea of what B is like and it is wrong to try to place a suitable actor into the role. I am sure that Ian Holm made a creditable contribution to the role but I think that our individual interpretations are best left to our imaginations. On another note I would say that E-Bay trading is an excellent source for hard to find books, having just purchased 2 cook books in good condition. I have most 1st editions both UK & US variants and am now building up a collection of european 1st's which I have come across during holidays etc. If any readers have any that would enhance my collection which are no longer required then please let me know and I am sure we can come to some arrangement. I also have some 1st duplicates I could dispose of if wanted. Send me your wants list to russell.vinicombe@ntlworld.com Happy reading
Russell
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From: Mark Leyton
e-mail:
Date: Wed Jan 23 05:46:26 EST 2002
This is from Mark Leyton, get me on tessrules@hotmail.com%09I have not been reading this site for a while and when I come back, well, all I can say is there is a pile of LD fans still reading away, me included.
I read an e-mail way above on GSM published together under one cover with a decent preface by LD. You got to get a copy just to read this and see why, in my opinion, GSM was supposed to be it. The book is readily available on halfprice.com. I think this ties in with why the TV GSM only covers these books.
Back on the subject of the TV tapes. I actually sent an e-mail to Granada and received back several polite letters. I'm sure they must be used to the constant questioning from LD fans. Again, the copyright is run out and that precludes them from doing anything. But I was reading in the newspaper that HP is coming out with a DVD RW that allows you to plug in your VCR and copy from the VCR to the DVD. Of course this system is only to be used for backing up your favorite tape you made while on holiday and never to circumvent any copyright laws. So the first step is to have a good quality VCR recording. Since my wife is after a good PC, I shall invest in this new DVD RW for her: now it is only a matter of when will I have the spare pennies?
And finally I did a whole bunch of searching for the GSM tapes. I think I tried every one mentioned on this site. I even went back into the archives and copied down every suggestion. I came up empty on every attempt. I even tried e-bay and other sites like that. If the tapes are out there they are in private hands and not on any shelf waiting to be bought.
Now back to my question on Fiona getting to the Brandenburg Exit. LD has put drugs as the vehicle in the story. This is clear from several items. The best being Charity when Fiona, Werner and Bernard are talking. Then cross that with items said in Line and Sinker. Stinnes and Thurkettle were running drugs. But still the question is how was Fiona tied in and how did Harry get roped in? I shall have to do a bunch more re-reading to get any sort of handle on that question. Something missing? I can not find it.
As for Ian Holm, yes he is short and a bit more portly than I would have liked, poor guy, but he does capture the feeling of the books quite well. I think he has the mannerisms and attitude I associate with Bernard. I love Werner and Zena, I think they have nailed their characters on the head in Werner's physical appearance and Zena's good looks. Plus they have the proper German accents, rather than fake French ones as in %91Ollo %91Ollo. (Or what ever it is called). But Lisl is different from the books, but, again, I don't think it detracts from the overall story line. One question, if there is ever a remake, where do we get the Berlin Wall from since it is all gone?
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From: Mare
e-mail:
Date: Sun Jan 27 20:07:33 EST 2002
I read your last post, Mark Layton, and I am still reading. I'm on Hook, now. (I read lots in between!) I've been watching, and still no clue regarding the Brandenburg Exit. I'll post again, and meanwhile, I'll watch for the clues you mentioned in the later books . . . although, as far as I'm concerned, it should have been foreshadowed, not explained away, especially since he only expected to write 6 books from the beginning. (I'm sure it was.)
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From: Regina
e-mail:
Date: Thu Jan 31 09:39:37 EST 2002
TO MARE:
Wow, that must have been some 2nd apartment! I could never imagine Zena settling for anything that wasn't incredibly upscale and modern. She is, by the way, my least favorite character in the Bernard Samson saga, and when I re-read the series from time to time, I never even bother to include Mexico Set.
No, I've never seen Anton Rogers in anything, although I will look around for May to December. I guess I've always seen Bernard as a blue collar kind of guy; he is also described in places as being a bear of a man and as being incredibly masculine. He is intelligent and inscrutable and completely intractable. I would choose Russell Crowe because he projects all of these qualities, plus he displays an intensity and subtlety that has garnered him many acting awards.
I have thought about who should play Fiona--it would have to be someone with class, intelligence, and an icy reserve. Emma Thompson might be good, or someone else who can convince us that she can outsmart the KGB. No bimbos, please! (Emma Thompson would have been a more persuasive Mrs. Peel than Uma Thurman, blond hair or not...)
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From: John Malcolmson
e-mail:
Date: Fri Feb 1 16:29:13 EST 2002
The death of Tessa and the matching of her body with another head that had dental work done to make it look like Fiona's was never linked to Gloria's father who is a dentist and at one point was to return to Hungary under conditions arranged by Silas Gaunt. Yet the connection between the falsified dental work and Gloria's father is never explicitly made, only implicitly in Bernard fearing for the safety of Gloria's father. I wonder why.
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From: Mare
e-mail:
Date: Mon Feb 4 19:21:09 EST 2002
REGINA: Re:My second apartment I wish! It wasn't even posh enough for MY pathetic standards, and I worked in a gas station at the time. Gorgeous corner view, though. It was more the general layout I was thinking of, although that was damn awkward too, come to think of it. But that's me: I get a vision in my head of a place, and I can never jar it loose. Probably just as well that I'll never get to see Game, Set and Match on video. *Sob!*
I LOVE Zeena, she's such a greedy little meanie, and so transparent. How tragic for poor Werner, getting hooked by a woman like her. I thought there was hope for him with Ingrid Winter, but no, Zeena's hooks were too deep. I think Werner is one of those people who just needs to love somebody in spite of everything. Bernie made a brilliant observation about Zeena in either Mexico or London; he likened Werner's devotion to
Zeena, to another friend's obsession with reptiles. Apparently the friend was fascinated by the fact that reptiles never show any emotion, no matter how much tender loving care is showered upon them. Quite like Zeena, who doesn't seem to have "any emotion at all for anyone, alive or dead."
This doesn't take into account her quite emotional attack on Moskvin in the Mexican "bank" when she flung herself on him to save Stinnes.
The questions about that arise: 1)Was it done to save Stinnes, or save her interest in his money? I would like to think Zeena is not the reptile Bernie thinks she is, and perhaps Erich is her weak spot. Then again . . . 2)Did Stinnes ever truly return Zeena's affections?
Besides all that, I love the way the physical characteristics of Bernie come out over time, through the voices of other people. After all, it's always him speaking, and it's only when Fiona says something like "That's why I fell in love with you, darling, you're so tough." or, "I don't think you know how intimidating you can be, darling, you're like a man of stone" that we really get a sense of how Bernie comes across to other people. (I paraphrased quite liberally, going from memory. My bro-in-law has all my early ones now. New recruit in the making!) The way Bernie speaks of himself gives no indication of his physical power, except to infer that if something rough needed doing, he would no doubt be the one called in to do it. It's never explicit, and very easily mistakable for any working man's ego: (I might not be good at everything, but dammit, I'm good at this!)
I will never forget Bernie examining his wedding photo, remarking on how the groom in the picture "looked nothing like the wrinkled old fool" whose face he shaved every morning.
We get so close to the man, with comments like that - so close that we feel we know him as a pal. Then, later, he blows away two creeps in a laundromat saving Bret's life, and actually chuckles about it in the car! That was NOTHING, he tells Bret, reveling in Bret's inexperience, and this is why Len is a genius: I understood Bernie's point of view . . . and yet I had Bret's goosebumps all over my arms.
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From: James Beaumont
e-mail:
Date: Tue Feb 12 00:29:00 EST 2002
In response to previous questions.
1 - About the nature of the dental work, supposedly on Tessa, and supposedly by Glorias father. I would imagine that the lack of actual info by LD was to introduce tension into the story and make us, the reader think or come to our own conclusions.
2 - About the drugs and the final showdown at the motorway exit slip road. I have just finished reading 'Line' & 'Sinker' There is no reason for people being at this slip road other than to get them all there. Apparently Stinnes is there because he's involved in drugs. Thurkettle is there because he's supplying Tessa. As for Harry & Fiona - no explanation. Maybe LD forgot or didn't think it neccessary, who knows? It made for exciting reading, but some small measure of explanation would have been nice.
Further to this, I have a few questions of my own.
1 - I wonder why LD chose to kill off tessa, and not just any women who looked like Fiona.
2 - Why did Dickie push Tessa into the van at Werners party? Surely he couldn't have known about the plan to kill her? Unless he was just told to make sure she was in the van, but not even Teacher wanted it. I don't think there was ever any mention of this in Faith, Hope or Charity???
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From: Denis P. McGowan
e-mail:
Date: Tue Feb 12 04:03:08 EST 2002
Dear Friends of LD:
I have been following Len Deighton's wonderful novels for years now, and have grown to love them. I've read the excellent Bernard Samson series twice including "Winter," and I'm starting to read GSM all over again! My Dad got me into LD, sorry for the pun, "hook, line and sinker"
Yes, I am delighted that The Wall is down, and communism is pretty well out of business, thank God. But we need more of our friends, Bernard, Fiona, Werner, that obnoxious Baliol man - Dicky Cruyer, Tante Lisl, selfish Zena, Bret, Frank Harrington, Stinnes, the D-G, Gloria, the whole gang. Couldn't LD start out again, with Bernard's early MI6 career being covered in detail?
Does anyone know whether LD has retired? He has so much talent, and his works are a pleasure to read. It's shame that he can't pump out one more.
Also, could someone here in the United States of America be so kind as to make a copy of GSM on tape? I will pay for the shipping handling, tape and labor of course. Please e-mail me at dtmcgowan@aol.com, and tell me how to get a check out to you.
It's so nice to see this site and so many of LD's fans out there.
Thanks for running the site for us!
Denis McGowan
PS - I'll be you a schnapps or a draught weisse bier at Killmeyer's Old Bavaria Inn if you're ever on Staten Island. It's not Leuschner's but their German food is excellent, and Bernard would like their beers!
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From: Marilyn Reynolds
e-mail:
Date: Thu Feb 14 00:35:38 EST 2002
I'm so thrilled to have found this site and to find I'm not a bit barmy being so addicted to the Samson books.
Just one of the contributors mentioned the audio versions of the books. They are unabridged and the first seven are read brilliantly by Paul Daneman - as far as I am concerned he is Bernard. Its a bit disappointing that the last two are read by another voice. These tapes are really expensive to buy but I borrowed them from The Talking Book Club and really enjoyed them.
I am hoping to visit Berlin this year and would love to go to some of Bernard's haunts - I don't suppose anyone dedicated has done a nice map of Bernard's Berlin? If not, I'll just have to plough through all the books making notes. If it's not in the books, it won't be visited!
All the best fellow addicts.
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From: mark leyton
e-mail:
Date: Thu Feb 14 09:17:05 EST 2002
This question is directed to the female readers. It is not meant to be sexist or anything of that type, but I have to ask the question. Dicky seems to have a constant string of affairs. What is it that females find so attractive in him? Is it his demanding attitude: his clothes: his personality: or what?
I could ask the same question about old-man Bret. But he is single and has money.
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From: Mare
e-mail:
Date: Fri Feb 15 20:21:23 EST 2002
Mark Layton: I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's Dickie's eyelashes that hooked me, in Mexico. His ridiculous little-boy ways are cute too(ON PAPER,) as are his tantrums and his idiotic belief in his own prowess. The whole thing rolls up for me into a rather irresistable package, that would only get him my snorting contempt in real life. (I hope you single men are paying attention.)
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From: Regina
e-mail:
Date: Wed Feb 20 04:22:51 EST 2002
I'm in the process of re-reading Berlin Game
and London Match again, and again I am
transported into the surreal world of counter-intelligence, a twisted world where Bernard
Samson manages to keep his balance and dignity
with a heart-breaking determination and
integrity. For I see integrity as being at
the core of Bernard, probably because of his
father, who was a man of sterling integrity himself. Bernard is an intensely loyal man to his family and friends. And his honed
instincts for ferreting out the secrets of
those around him makes him a man to be reckoned with.
The simple truth is that these two early
Bernard Samson books are so well written
as to be flawless! Mr. Deighton has payed
such exquisite attention to detail that the characters come alive, and suddenly we are transported to Cold-War Berlin and London.
Is it any wonder that Mr. Deighton has so
many devoted fans?
Signed, Regina
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From: Regina
e-mail:
Date: Wed Feb 20 05:39:07 EST 2002
TO MARE:
Everything you've said is true--Deighton paints
a vivid portrait of Bernard by mirroring him
in a number of peoples' eyes, including Bernard's
own. It becomes apparent to us that he is
respected and even feared by his peers, which is
something that Bernard realizes only intuitively
because he has no insight into why Dickie got the
desk that by rights should have been his.
A particularly poignant moment in Bernard's life
occurs ath the end of Berlin Game when Bernard,
freshly savaged by Fiona's brutal betrayal, longs
for the Berlin of his youth, a Berlin where ife's
possibilities seemed infinite even amid the
destruction of the war.
Berlin Game is so rich in nuance, so intricately
plotted, that it probably is the best book of the
series. It is particularly appealing to me
because of the personal content supplied by
the Bernard\Fiona connection. I feel Bernard's
stunned and wounded bewilderment, even as he
acknowledges that part of him has known for
some time that Fiona is duplicitous, he has
just been unsure on what level.
I'm glad that there is someone who appreciates
the detailed characterization of Bernard as much as I do!!!
--Regina
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From: James Beaumont
e-mail:
Date: Thu Feb 21 00:28:42 EST 2002
To Regina,
I could not agree with you more. You have summed it all up. Bernard longs for the simpler times of his youth. He misses too perhaps, the advice and friendship that his father could have offered. Frank, we know is lways saying that he feels responible for Bernard, but is not always on his side. Bernard feels betrayed, and not only by his wife, by all those around him. I can't blame him for despising Dickie and the others. He is at the sharp end and knows what's going on. The trouble is, that these sort of people never listen to the Bernards of the world because they think they know it all don't they?
And Regina, what you say about Bernard for me, gives even more credence to the fact that Ian Holm IS the definitive Bernard Samson. I don't know whether you have the series on tape or remember it, but the music for me definiately brings alive what Bernard is feeling. It's a mournful sort of music which enhances the lonliness of Bernards world.
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From: John Hehir
e-mail:
Date: Sat Feb 23 08:30:02 EST 2002
I just came back from another visit to Berlin. As I walked the side streets along the Kurfurstendamm, I had to think of Len Deighton and his character Lisl.I couldn't help but wonder where Lisl's hotel would have been. So many of the buildings were possibilities.
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From: Mare
e-mail:
Date: Sat Feb 23 20:06:08 EST 2002
REGINA: What I don't like about Emma Thompson as Fiona (or as anybody else) is her teeth: too pointy and scary. It's hard, trying to cast a believable Fiona, she's an intimidating character. One must get it just right, or else. I'd hate to have her standing over my bed in my dreams, Fiona in her drab grey wool suit, her hair all mauled up in a tight bun, forcing her face to keep from twitching: "Cher is dead wrong for the part! Nein! Same with Sandra Bullock!"
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From: james Beaumont
e-mail:
Date: Wed Feb 27 22:01:59 EST 2002
As far as casting is concerned for any remake of the series, I would prefer English actors\actresses. (No offence to non English readers) But if I were to go for anyone else for Fiona, what about Jullianne Moore. She did a tremendous job in 'The end of the affair.'
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From:
e-mail:
Date: Sat Mar 2 07:47:30 EST 2002
I've just completed reading abour Bernard for the first time, but am already looking forward to the re-read. I didn't realise that so many folks around the world had been bitten by the LD bug as I have been. I am considering creating a Bernard Samson web site as part of the requirements for a college course. Do fans have anything interesting that I could use, e.g. sound bits, pictures, or ideas. Still no answer about any forthcoming LD book. Still, we can hope. Best wishes to Tante Lisl. No time for Fiona. What happened to Gloria.
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From: Tobin Price
e-mail:
Date: Tue Mar 5 22:58:18 EST 2002
Hi there,
I just surfed in and must say what an impressive site.
It's good to find people who are as hooked on Deighton as I am. I have read and re-read the sampsons series at least four times and seen the BBC production of the first three novels over and over. I find myself despairing at the fact that very few writers both entice and inspire me in the way that Deighton does.
I do have a few beefs with the BBC production however:
Does it not both anyone that Yuri Rostoff and Bernard's mission to Gdansk have been invented out of whole cloth to justify showing the border crossing that relegated Bernard to a desk in London (which was actually made with Max Binder)?
Also the fact that the writers treated us like babies in Mexico Set, saying Paul Biedermann offered the Volkmanns a holiday, instead of Zena's Aunt and Uncle? (As if we couldn't work out that there was something fishy about Erich Stinnes's prescence in Mexico for ourselves).
Despite these beefs and a few others, I really do enjoy the BBC production and wish they had taken the time to make the next three books into a similar mini-series. *sighs*
I'll check back here occasionally, if anyone wants to have a chat\debate about any facet of the Samson Series I am willing to give it a go.
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From: Dan
e-mail:
Date: Thu Mar 7 04:17:51 EST 2002
Love LD, love Bernard even more. Can anyone help with finding a video copy of G,S,M in the UK, desperate to this and how the director made it.
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From: WILLIAM R. SHANE
e-mail:
Date: Mon Mar 11 22:33:17 EST 2002
THANK YOU FOR THIS FORUM!
wrshane32@yahoo.com Would like to organize
a project to convert the tv series tapes
to dvd disks. This is now possible if a
fan has a good tape copy that they would
be willing to loan for this project.
Once this has been done, copies of the
DVD'S COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL FANS
AT A REASONABLE COST, BECAUSE THE WEAR
FACTOR HAS GONE OUT OF IT!
ANYONE INTERESTED?
WRS.
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From: Denis McGowan
e-mail:
Date: Tue Mar 12 12:18:26 EST 2002
Dear Friends:
I had the most enjoyable conversation this afternoon with two persons who saw my hard cover copy of the complete "GSM." They too were devoted LD fans and we chatted for over an hour over luncheon at The Beekman Pub in lower Manhattan. Not one of the stiff clubs that Dicky would dine at, but it was a gargantuan roast beef meal that Uncle Silas Gaunt would serve up on a Saturday afternoon!
A point of interest. We discussed Bret Rennselaer in detail and the topic came up on the "fraternity ring" that he wears along with a signet ring. Two of us say that he is a Mason (Freemasonry being a very popular fraternity in the United States and the U.K.) and one says that it was an American college fraternity. What do you say?
We're all searching for someone who has GSM on video, and they recommended contacting Mr. Ted Graf at:
Tedgraf@aol.com
I hope this helps everyone. I hope that Ted doesn't ask to meet him at an all-night laundry at 2:30 am and shows up wearing a stocking cap over his head with a shotgun, shouting "Bingo! This is bingo!"
All the best, my friends. "Be seeing you!"
Sincerely,
Denis McGowan
PS - It's not Leuschner's Cafe but Killmeyer's Old Bavaria Inn on Staten Island has authentic weisse biers on tap and delicious German dishes on the menu. Werner would like the food, but Berliner Tante Lisl would say it's too "Bayrischer bauer."
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From: Rob Urban
e-mail:
Date: Thu Mar 14 14:52:21 EST 2002
Hi Game, Set, and Match (GSM) fans,
I've been doing a bit of research into why GSM
is not available anymore, anywhere. It was
apparently produced by Granada Television in the
UK. After 10 years, the rights reverted to
Len Deighton, who apparently was not happy with
the production, and thus has, again apparently,
resolved not to release it again.
What do you say to a small letter-writing
campaign to try to convince him to change his
mind? I'm in the process of trying to get
a postal address for him from a publisher of
his, Arrow Books. Any interest?
Rob Urban
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From: rob urban
e-mail:
Date: Thu Mar 14 14:59:43 EST 2002
one more thing: I will check this forum occasionally,
but it would be good if people could email me
if they're interested in a letter-writing
campaign. My address:
%09urban(at)spielwiese(dot)de
thanks,
-Rob
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From: rob urban
e-mail:
Date: Thu Mar 14 15:01:09 EST 2002
damn. the tab a the front got mangled.
the address is:
urban(at)spielwiese(dot)de
sorry about the confusion.
-Rob
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From: Regina
e-mail:
Date: Fri Mar 15 03:49:36 EST 2002
Sorry I haven't been on for a while, but
I decided to take calculus for some inexplicable
reason, and it's keeping me pretty busy...
Mare: Must say, I never noticed Emma Thompson's
teeth, but I'll take your word for it. It did
occur to me that she is not as flawlessly
beautiful as Fiona is supposed to be, but she
does have intelligence and class. Catherine Zeta
Jones has the beauty, but she kind of approaches
bimboism. James Beaumont might have something when he suggests Julianna Moore (sp?), but what
about her coloring? I never really saw her as a
redhead...
By the by, your descriptions are pretty trippy--
what do you do for a living, anyway? You should
be writing.
One of my biggest concerns would be the
screenplay of the series. I've never seen
the GSM TV production, but by all accounts it is
very good. I only hope that by the time some
producer notices what a great story is sitting
idle, Mr. Deighton is still around to ensure
excellence.
James Beaumont: As far as Ian Holm is concerned,
I am actually a big fan of his. I remember him
especially for his portrayals of Sam Mussobini
in Chariots of Fire and of Polonius in Hamlet. He
is fantastic, but I just don't see him as Bernard.
Maybe I'd change my mind if I saw the Granada production. As for Julianna Moore, you might
have something there...
Mark Leyton: Unlike Mare, I am uninfluenced by
Dicky's long eyelashes (having never seen them).
I personally find Dicky to be utterly obnoxious.
I had always wondered why his superiors tolerated
his incompetance until I learned later in the
series that Bret originally had slated Bernard
for the German Desk, and indeed assigned Bernard
to assist him so that he didn't make hash of it.
As for women throwing themselves at him, Tessa is
fairly shallow--I guess like attracts like.
Actually, one part of the series with which I
have always struggled is the transition that
George makes from Tessa's long-suffering husband
to Polish agent. I find it hard to believe that
Mr. Deighton had originally envisioned him as an
agent.
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From: Jeremy
e-mail:
Date: Sat Mar 16 02:00:06 EST 2002
Hi, everyone. I'm a big fan of Len Deighton's, and spy novels in general. I recently set up an easy-to-use discussion group at Yahoo, dedicated to espionage fiction. Please come along if you want to join the discussion - we've got quite a few LD fans already. Just click on the address below. Thanks, Jeremy
http:\\groups.yahoo.com\group\spynovels
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From: James Beaumont
e-mail:
Date: Tue Mar 19 23:55:29 EST 2002
Regina,
Were you perhaps talking of my descriptions, or was it just wishful thinking on my part? (hope not!) Actually I do love writing and have completed a novel, 95,000 words. I have had 4 rejections so far and have just finished a major re-hash before sending out again. (Anyone konw of a literary agent or publisher that might be interested?) I have also done some short stories for fanzines.
As for any re-make. The screenplay, I think should include a lot of voice-overs from Bernards point of view. This would allow us to view the series like we do the books and let us see things from his point of view, which is important. You would need to do a series of at least 12 episodes per book to capture the atmosphere properly.
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From: Charles Dickenson
e-mail:
Date: Sat Mar 23 07:01:30 EST 2002
My wife and I were in Berlin in February, 2002. We would go to the Friedrichstrasse Bahnhoff every day for coffee or fast food. One day we walked north, across the Spree, and there on the riverside next to the Berlin Ensemble we saw the Weinrestaurant Ganymed. This establishment is mentioned in the first chapter of "Berlin Game". I thought it was a fictitious place! We had dinner there that night and it was a very enjoyable experience. I look forward to returning. Now I wonder if there's not a Cafe Leuschner somewhere around the old Anhalter Bahnhoff facade.
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From: Regina
e-mail:
Date: Wed Mar 27 04:19:21 EST 2002
To James Beaumont:
You must be pretty motivated to have written a
novel--I admire your ambition!! I've always
had a tremendous amount of respect for people
who are driven by something that appears to be
innate. It is a genuine gift to be given
blueprints for living because so few people
really seem as though they know where they are
going, they just stumble through. Anyway, good
luck with what you are doing, just make sure you
take a walk once in a while!
With reference to a screenplay for Game, Set,
& Match, I'd imagine them as being a trilogy
of films. Have you seen L.A. Confidential?
Something like that. In fact, Curtis Hanson
would be an ideal director for the film if he
were able to develop a genuine feel for the
atmosphere and nuance of Cold War Berlin and
London. And that is why I envision Russell
Crowe as the definitive Bernard Samson--he
brought an intensity and subtilety to the role
of Bud White that easily established him as
the central character in that film. He has also
shown himself to be an actor with tremendous
range. This is even though Russell got his
come-uppance for generally-being-a-jerk this
nether Oscar night...
Your mention of voice-overs put me in mind of
the original version of Blade Runner, which
used this technique to great advantage. And
Ridley Scott would also be a phenomenal choice
for director of a film version--he would be
meticulous about every detail and would have
the clout to have things done pretty much the
way that he wanted.
Can you image Berlin Game done meticulously,
with the right casting and a great screenplay?
I'm hoping that just talking about it in print
puts it out there in the airwaves, makes it
a possibility. I believe in that kind of stuff.
To William R Shane:
Yes, I would be interested in a DVD of Game, Set,
and Match. Alas, I do not own a copy of the
Granada production, nor have I ever seen it.
If you accomplish your mission, let me know here
(I use a friend's computer) and I will contact
you. Thanx!
Mare:
Well, Russell got dissed at the Oscars, but I
still favor him as Bernard. One aspect of
Bernard Samson that no one ever discusses is
how sexy the man is. I'm in love with Bernard
and I've never laid eyes on the man. I understand
completely how Fiona and Gloria could both fall
in love with Bernard the first time they meet him,
and this aspect should definitely be included
if and when a movie version becomes a reality.
Other ideas I have for casting include the Well
Manicured Man from the X-files as the DG or as
some other British intelligence bureaucrat. And
Klaus Maria Brandauer might make a great Stinnes
or he could easily double for the Swede.
The Swede is one of my favorite characters in the
series. I think I felt as badly as Bernard did
at his betrayal and death, and that moment in the
book Hope was one of the most wretching scenes in
the entire Samson saga.
-----------------------------------------
From: Rob Urban
e-mail:
Date: Sat Apr 6 22:44:46 EST 2002
apparently not a single person is interested
in the letter-writing campaign.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail:
Date: Sun Apr 7 15:52:38 EST 2002
Hi, this is mark Leyton at tessrules@hotmail.com, again.
For Rob Urban, go for it. Do a writing campaign. I have been writing to LD's literary agent in London for a few years. They are thoroughly professional and know their stuff. And I have gotten absolutely nowhere%85 but it is fun trying.
For Denis McGowan. Where in the books is the fraternity ring mentioned? That one has escaped me.
For Regina. I have just reread Berlin Game, having bought the hard cover omnibus GSM edition, and I disagree with you. Going through the story I would say we come out of that book knowing very little about Fiona. And I mean very little. There is little dialogue between Bernard and Fi. There is little family action. The children are treated as a add-on and not as real people. There is very little of the relationship to go on except what we see through Bernard's eyes, and that is clouded because of Bret and the false affair. I say we really don't know Fi or what she is really like. All we have is a stilted woman at the end of Game turning her back on her husband because she thinks she has the children safe in Moscow.
And the reason for buying the omnibus GSM edition was to read the really interesting forward by LD. It throws a great deal of light on the underlying story. And I still say GSM was all there was going to be. All other books were added later.
One last thing for Regina. I think there is a bit of repetition going on here. Read the following and tell me which books they are from, without looking them up.
"I wanted to run down to the canal and follow it to Lutzowplatz and then to Dad's office on Tauentzienstrasse. I would open his desk and take out the chocolate bar that was his ration. I'd climb up the mountain of rubble that filled half the street, and slide down the other side in a cloud of dust."
Or
"We were running down the canal, and then along it to Lutzowplatz. I ran and ran until I got to Dad's office on Tauentzienstrasse. What a hot summer day it was: only Berlin enjoys such lovely days. I opened Dad's desk and found the chocolate bar, his ration, that he left there for me. He always saved it for me. Today there were two bars: that's why I remember it so vividly. We shared the chocolate between us and then climbed up the mountain of rubble. It filled the middle of the whole street, as high as three floors."
Okay, one more last thing for Regina. Bernard is good, but not that good. If you can read the Omnibus introduction by LD you will read that you have fallen in to a trap laid there by LD. By having GS&M from Bernard's point of view, we get his bias opinion on everyone. If he was that good then why:
A%09Didn't he find out about Fiona and Harry?
B%09Find out about Fiona and Bret?
C%09Know what Fiona was doing in East Germany (once she got there)
D%09Deal with his pesky father in law
E%09Know about George being a spy
G%09Steer clear of Stinnes and his interrogation
H%09Marry Gloria
Bernard is loveable and likable, but he is no super spy. He is first and foremost a field agent and not a desk man. He will never be a desk man because he is not Oxbridge.
And one more thing. Bernard could have been gotten the German desk is Bret had pushed harder. Burried in Sinker is a chat between Silas and Bret. Silas is insinuating it is because Bret did not push\argue for Bernard that it went to the younger Dickie.
And that is all I have to say on that subject: at least until next time. Good night all, I gotta get some shut eye.
Mark
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Mon Apr 22 19:18:16 EST 2002
MARK LAYTON: I know you posed your last questions to Regina, but I cannot let the attitude go unaddressed: Listen, smartypants, it's easy to make up trivia questions with the bible on your lap. Why don't YOU try explaining to ME how Bernard should have answered some of those problems? Particularly the one about the pesky father in law. What should he have done? Or the one about avoiding the Stinnes interrigation. WHICH Stinnes interrigation? The bit about marrying Gloria was obviously out of the question, since he was still married to that horrid cow Fiona. (Poor Fiona)
Bernie may not be a Superspy by your lofty standards (misery-guts!), but the gritty realism and the believable portrayal of a man in the grip of the WORST STRESS OF HIS LIFE while still managing to maintain a love life with a younger woman, a relationship with his children and a working relationship with Dicky, while also managing to competently handle the ugliest end of the most difficult, dangerous and most misunderstood job in the world certainly qualifies him in my book as a Super- something.
If he's not a Superspy, then who is? Fiona? Did we see her out there busting her hump every day? For all she accomplished with her one life-long sacrifice, I still think Bernie's work must be worth more. Werner, maybe? I know both he and Bernie feel that Werner is a superior spy, but I cannot give it credit. Werner comes along and corrects mistakes with the benefit of hindsight, but that's not the same thing as living on the edge, as Bernie does.
Ah, well, those are my thoughts.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mike Sandford
e-mail:
Date: Tue Apr 23 08:13:36 EST 2002
To Mare: (Sorry, I have been out in the cold...)
Your hint: I Corinthians, ch. 13 v. 1. It spaeks of prophecy ansd states: "with Charity. I can move mountains.......Faith, Hope, and Charity. Charity is the most IMPORTANT, But with out "_____" I am nothing." - I am paraphrasing ofcourse. You will have to read the entire verse to draw a conclusion. Let me your answer. I will tell you if you are close.
p.s. Yes Russell Crowe would be good in Bernie's shoes! As for Fiona..???? A little more complicated. I would not want to see one of those Hollywood Tarts in the role.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mike Sandford
e-mail:
Date: Tue Apr 23 08:14:55 EST 2002
To Mare: (Sorry, I have been out in the cold...)
Your hint: I Corinthians, ch. 13 v. 1. It speaks of prophecy and states: "with Charity. I can move mountains.......Faith, Hope, and Charity. Charity is the most IMPORTANT, But with out "_____" I am nothing." - I am paraphrasing ofcourse. You will have to read the entire verse to draw a conclusion. Let me your answer. I will tell you if you are warm.
p.s. Yes Russell Crowe would be good in Bernie's shoes! As for Fiona..???? A little more complicated. I would not want to see one of those Hollywood Tarts in the role.
-----------------------------------------
From: mike sandford
e-mail:
Date: Wed Apr 24 08:11:37 EST 2002
I got it! Natasha Richardson ...or Teresa Russell with dark hair as Fiona. Msandford@BUCCANEER-BREWING.COM www.buccaneer-brewing.com
-----------------------------------------
From: Annette
e-mail:
Date: Fri Apr 26 15:13:39 EST 2002
So glad to have found all the committed LD fans. I am reading HL&S for the 4\5th time and still find it as engrossing as ever. I agree about Russell Crowe playing Samson but I love the original series shown here about ten years ago. When I reread I still see in my mind's eye Ian Holm as Bernie. Such a good creation and the fellow who played Erich Stinnes was suitably dour and devious. I wish I had taped the series at the time I saw it. Any Australians out there who are willing to sell me a copy?
Cheers
Annette
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Fri Apr 26 17:06:32 EST 2002
MIKE SANDFORD: LOVE, BABY, LOVE!!! (It's written all over your face . . . .) Pardon that INXS moment there. But that's the answer, isn't it?
I have to say, I scratched my head for a while, trying to find ways of avoiding having to ask my in-laws for a bible until I realized I could prob'ly find it on the net, so I clicked away, and less than twenty minutes later (eighteen of which were spent feeding the baby) I had what I assume is the answer.
LOVE!
The next chapter in the series? The next chapter in Bernie's life? (I certainly hope so. . . by God, he deserves a break.) By the way, in the part I read, there was nothing whatsoever about Charity. Was I on the (gulp!) wrong road? Was it a condensed version of the Bible, or can I assume Charity is an invention of the info-mercial circuit and now feel free to just say "NO" to all those badge-wearing beggars who come pawing around for coins for such things as Cancer and Diabetes and Liver Disease?
I'm just being snotty, Mike. I'm actually one of those badge-wearing beggars myself, twice a year, I'm proud to say. (Diabetes in October and Kidney in March. Or the other way around, I always have to check the booklets!) But I am interested to know, why is there no reference to Charity in what I read? I thought Faith, Hope and Charity were pretty well standard fixtures, all in a piece.
Is there some other biblical reference to Faith, Hope, Charity and Love which I did not see? That's all I'm asking. Please don't get carried away. I can only handle ten things at a time, and I've already got twenty.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Fri Apr 26 17:59:19 EST 2002
AGAIN TO MIKE S. : Forgot to note that I appreciated your " ...in from the cold" reference, although it's been a long time since I read that book, and I can't remember what happened to him (the protagonist). Did he die at the end or am I remembering wrong?
That wasn't the book that did it for me anyways. The book that did it for me was "Marathon Man." When I bought that book at a garage sale, while living in my first-away-from-home home, I actually thought it was about a runner, and I was so dead-bored I figured I'd read it anyway.
Wow! It swirled my world! It's great reading, for those who haven't yet. In retrospect, it reminds me of the Samson series, in that two impossibly diverse stories come together at a crucial moment, and after that the truth becomes obvious.
There's even a sequel to "Marathon Man" called "Brothers", which seems to be a lot harder to come by. I had it, and lent it to somebody, dammit, and I have never seen any evidence of it since. I can't remember who wrote the books. I keep getting his name mixed up with the guy who wrote "Lord of the Flies." One of them was William Goldstein, or Goldman or Goldberg or something. The other author's name was one of those last names, plus a different first name, or maybe the same first name, I don't know. All I am sure of is, the same guy who wrote "Marathon Man" is the same guy who wrote "Magic", the story about the insane ventriloquist who becomes a split personality (Anthony Hopkins in the movies, many years before he started devouring people whole as Hannibal the Cannibal.)
Well, that's plenty out of me for one day. Thanks for the ear. Ta-ra.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail:
Date: Mon Apr 29 07:05:21 EST 2002
This is Mark Leyton at tessrules@hotmail.com
Talking about getting shot at. But that is okay, keep shooting! But I found it very interesting that LD chose to end London Match and Charity the same way. Why? What was rattling round in his mind that he was trying to convey to us readers%85
But talking about the having a Bible. The reference to 1 Cor 13:1 for charity is a good one. If you don't mind I shall keep this on a very basic level as there are many who have strong feelings about this. In the King James Version the word is %91charity'. Verse 3 is the first instance of %91charity' and carries on. In the 1888 Revised Version the word %91charity' is removed and %91love' is used.
The 1888 Revised Version is the start if the all the new Biblical interpretations that are continuing to this day. I refuse to go into the Klingon Bible translation! To some the 1888 Revised Version is shear heresy in writing, but to others it is a beautiful break from old and false traditions. Is that chasm deep and wide enough for you? I am staying with the King James Version for a multitude of reasons. The best one being a belief it is closer to the original than the new translations that have come along since 1888.
I was laid off and took months going into the history of the Bible. If you think the stories of Len Deighton are full of twists and turns, go and read how the Bible has come down through the times. I find the biggest hoot to be the Irish claim that without them there would be no Bible. And the best part is they are basically right! Then there was this guy on a trip across France. To kill time he decided to put the Bible into chapters and verses. He worked as he traveled on horseback and at the inns in the evening. So now you know why there are some chapter breaks that make no sense. All for now.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mike %22Mickey%22 Sandford
e-mail:
Date: Wed May 1 08:14:44 EST 2002
Mare: You did not read the King James version, which speaks of "Charity". Love has something to do with it but,.......Faith,Hope and Charity and (yes)LOVE need "VERITAS" to work. It binds them.
Bernie sill does not Know the Whole truth about what his good buddy was up to, on the Autobahn that night with Thurkettle. The Veritas has to be revealed by Werner.
P.s. Figure this out and "you've got A New Sensation, A perfect moment."
Leyton: The Irish do have a claim! It goes way deeper than the crusades.....
MSandford@buccaneer-brewing.com
www.Buccaneer-Brewing.com
-----------------------------------------
From:
e-mail:
Date: Wed May 1 08:18:14 EST 2002
-----------------------------------------
From: Wildman
e-mail:
Date: Wed May 1 14:11:30 EST 2002
Greetings all%85 Some random musings...
Doubtless, some may not consider such so amusing, but perhaps they will serve to stimulate thought \ discussion, if nothing else%85I realize that there is a fine line between reading these books for fun and discussing the discrepancies and opening one's self up to the charge of %91Get a life!,' but here goes%85
In comments posted by others above, some folks have expressed grief with BS ending up with Fiona at the end of Charity (1996). I just finished reading LD's Violent Ward (1993) and came away wondering whether we should be careful what we ask for re: more Samson stories--I certainly hope VW was meant to be light entertainment (emphasis on the light!). Violent Ward (for those that have not read it yet, it is an LA-based story with an Irish-American protagonist that is written in a quasi- Raymond Chandler vein) concludes, seemingly out of nowhere, with the protagonist doing a 180-degree turnaround and embracing his former wife (who has few or no redeeming characteristics). Is there some kind of recurring theme here, i.e., is LD simply wrapping up these stories in a convenient, if trite, manner (as if he is bored and just wants to put them to bed)?
Trivia: In Violent Ward, Mickey's secretary's name is Miss Magda Huth%85In SS-GB (1978) the SS Standartenfuhrer is Dr. Oskar Huth! Maybe for those Winter fans, LD will give us a historical novel connecting the SS with the LAPD \ Rodney King!
Pet Peeve: The folks that presumably work on LD's behalf writing copy for the dust jackets of the book sometimes write as though they haven't read the book%853 examples from the back of my paperback copy of Charity
1) The blurb refers to the %91cold-blooded murder of his sister-in law, Tessa, on the streets of Berlin.' Streets of Berlin -- arrrrggg!!!
2) The same blurb, in a vain effort to tie in the title of the novel the copy states: %91Only his childhood friend, Werner Volkmann, seems to offer the charity that Samson craves'%85BS craving charity??? Maybe honor, honesty, and or love, but charity %96 Never!
3) Lastly, it states, '...hovering above all Samson does and tries to be is the persistent memory of his father -- a deadly force to be reckened with, even now.' I am at a loss to describe the elder Samson as a deadly force -- sounds like Darth Vader!
Later
-----------------------------------------
From: Terence Wilkes
e-mail:
Date: Fri May 3 10:49:39 EST 2002
Is anybody aware of the series "Game, Set & Match" being, either, released on Video, DVD, Terrestial or Digital TV. I found it a great series of books and would hope that the TV series has not been forgotten. can someone please contact with any relevant info.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mare
e-mail:
Date: Sat May 4 17:05:31 EST 2002
TO MIKE SANDFORD: Aaah! Veritas. It's true that Bernard never finds out the truth about Werner (I Love To Keep Secrets, Especially From Bernie, Yuk Yuk Yuk) Volkmann's role in the whole Thurkettle drama, but I see that as a sad little thread not even worth pulling. To me, it's like the one glaring discrepancy that makes the whole thing believable and finally finished, as if Len is saying well, okay, we put this one to bed, but a spy's secrets will go on and on . . . (Fade to black.)
Re-reading what I just wrote, I'd hate to think anyone thought I didn't love Werner. I pick on him a bit because he reminds me of my own best friend, and we pick on each other all the time. In fact, I cannot imagine a better best friend, than Werner is for Bernie.
-----------------------------------------
From: David Jackmanson
e-mail:
Date: Fri May 10 22:00:00 EST 2002
Just saw The Ipcress File movie for the first time on cable in the weekend. (brilliant!) In one of the scenes where Harry Palmer has taken the office girl back to his place, there is a Len Deighton cookstrip thumbtacked to the end of the wall that divides the kitchenette from the dining area.
thats all, obiously I need a life
-----------------------------------------
From: annie
e-mail:
Date: Thu May 23 05:10:01 EST 2002
i just recently finished reading Winter:A Berlin
Family and it was amazing. I wish i read it slower so i would still relish every single page of the book. :)
-----------------------------------------
From: Paul Smith
e-mail:
Date: Wed May 29 04:19:23 EST 2002
Hi, I%60ve been a huge fan of the %60Samson series%60 of books since Berlin Game was first published. Is there anyone in the UK who could help me to obtain a VHS video copy of the Granada TV mini-series. Obviously I would pay a fair price to cover costs etc. Thanks in advance.
-----------------------------------------
From: Paul Smith
e-mail:
Date: Wed May 29 04:21:14 EST 2002
Further to my last post; my e-mail address is:
pauls109@nildram.co.uk
-----------------------------------------
From: teoh
e-mail:
Date: Thu May 30 03:50:09 EST 2002
Just one simple question - is Len Deighton still writing, or has he decided to call it quits forever as a writer? Like most of you, I have a fondness for BS and company, and would like to see them return - can we hope?
-----------------------------------------
From: Dror Ginossar
e-mail:
Date: Fri May 31 00:19:50 EST 2002
Hi pals,
as an old LD fan, will greatly appreciate any info on how to acquire a video copy of the GSM trilogy.
My e-mail: ginossar@inter.net.il
Thanks
Dror
-----------------------------------------
From: Ken Rymer
e-mail:
Date: Sat Jun 1 20:49:12 EST 2002
I keep asking at WH Smith's for Len's latest book but I've now more or less decided that he has finally given up writing. Am I right?
I think I have all the books he has written except the French cookbook. He is, and has been for many years, my favourite author.
Ken
-----------------------------------------
From: Ken Rymer
e-mail:
Date: Sat Jun 1 20:49:35 EST 2002
I keep asking at WH Smith's for Len's latest book but I've now more or less decided that he has finally given up writing. Am I right?
I think I have all the books he has written except the French cookbook. He is, and has been for many years, my favourite author.
Ken
-----------------------------------------
From: Ken Rymer
e-mail:
Date: Sat Jun 1 20:49:37 EST 2002
I keep asking at WH Smith's for Len's latest book but I've now more or less decided that he has finally given up writing. Am I right?
I think I have all the books he has written except the French cookbook. He is, and has been for many years, my favourite author.
Ken
-----------------------------------------
From: teresa deiter
e-mail:
Date: Sat Jun 8 09:39:05 EST 2002
he should put a list of all his spy books.
teresa deiter
-----------------------------------------
From: David
e-mail:
Date: Thu Jun 13 13:55:18 EST 2002
Yes, it would seem like Len has stopped writing--is he sick or something? Because I remember reading that he was planning a sequel to Violent Ward (not,unfortunately, the Bernard Samson series). Hope a book turns up from him soon.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mike
e-mail:
Date: Tue Jun 18 11:35:12 EST 2002
Hello,
as a long term LD & BS fan I've enjoyed reading your very observative comments - from regina, Mark Leyton, Mare & others.
Dont have much time so I must move on, inconsistencies in Samson books... as much as I admire Bernard, Bernie tells things from his perspective. He is a human. In East Berlin after being captured he reports "I had a sip of vodka". From other perspective, as in Sinker, Fiona sees him "drink a full glass of vodka". I dont see this as an inconsistency but a great thinking and modelling of human mind by Deighton.
Anyways, many of the inconsistencies discussed earlier fall into this category.
As mentioned earlier, why did Dicky rush Tessa into the van at that night in Berlin? Surely everyone sees, as Bernard did, that Dicky was harmless. But there was also that thing involving Dicky earlier on...
Best wishes,
Mike
PS. Havent seen GSM on TV either. So I'm latest applicant on rush me GSM tape (or DVD) list. Actually havent been looking forwards to watch it, as movies always turn out worse than books. But I'd like to see it in any case. Ian Holm is a good actor. Can't wait to see the others.
-----------------------------------------
From: Eileen
e-mail:
Date: Sun Jun 23 08:07:45 EST 2002
I am very glad to have happened upon your website! I am reading Faith and am so glad to find there are two more books written for a trilogy. Any books written since "Charity"?
-----------------------------------------
From: Richard
e-mail:
Date: Fri Jul 5 16:07:41 EST 2002
Does anyone know why LD hasn't produced a book in the past 5 years?
RP
-----------------------------------------
From: John Tomlin %28site maintainer%29
e-mail: j_a_tomlin@yahoo.com
Date: Thu Sep 12 03:29:23 EST 2002
The log has been down for a while because of a
system problem. It seems to be working OK again
(at least with IE5).
-----------------------------------------
From: John Tomlin
e-mail: j_a_tomlin@yahoo.com
Date: Thu Sep 12 03:47:35 EST 2002
And apparently with Netscape 4.7 as well.
-----------------------------------------
From: Ted Graf
e-mail: writecnmi@yahoo.com
Date: Thu Sep 12 15:40:36 EST 2002
I will be able to make copies of the GSM 12-part television series once I return to the US in early October. I have made copies for a few LD fans in the past and have just located my original tapes which were missing for about a year. Cost will probably be about $60 US, including mailing to you. If interested, email me at writecnmi@yahoo.com and I will reply with an address to send a money order, etc. once I get back to the US and get a post office box.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail:
Date: Sat Sep 14 00:56:13 EST 2002
Ted:
Your'e okay. Just about half the e-mails that come in to this site are about getting a copy of the tapes.You are the only one willing to do this. One comment and then one question. I contacted a fan over in England and he said his copy is worn out. My question to you is what would it take to get your copy onto DVD.
I shall be heading off to England soon and thought I'd pop in and see LD's book agent. The worst they can do is toss me out.
Keep reading LD books.
Mark Leyton (tessrules@hotmail.com)
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sun Sep 15 16:35:36 EST 2002
FLAMING finally! Three times I submitted all sorts of witty, brilliant stuff only to find it does no longer exist. (Of course, I can't remember any brilliant, witty stuff NOW, oh heavens no.)
A thousand bouquets of roses to the man (Ted) who finally had the juice to say he'll make copies of GSM for all us starved fans.
In the interim, however, I've moaned loudly to all sorts of people, and one suggested renting them from the local library. I have not checked that possibility out yet.
Even if they are available from the library I may still be in the market for a copy, so don't go away, Ted!
OKAY, I KNOW WHAT I SAID BEFORE: Unfortunately, it's not all that brilliant or witty. Sometime, a while ago, someone suggested a LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN to Len, with the determined purpose of harassing him into writing three more books (or four, or five, or ten . . . we're easy.) I'm all for it. I figure, what do we have to lose, after years and years of silence from the man? Politically, I don't give a rat's bum, but I admit to being awfully curious about how, for instance, Gloria and Brett are getting along! Also, of course, Bernie and Fiona, and Werner and that horrible cow Zena. And, of course, Dicky has always intrigued me, and I think about old Lisl all the time, as if she were an aged relative of my own.
If we can't harass him into another couple books, maybe we can get him to do a Q & A right here on the fan forum! That would be the absolute ultimate! Does anyone know how we can contact him to ask?
-----------------------------------------
From: John Williams
e-mail: jw30_uk@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue Sep 24 22:51:33 EST 2002
I have just finished reading an utterly engrossing novel by LD entitled 'Spy Game'. Needless to say it is vastly superior to e.g. Le Carre which although good is somewhat trashy in comparison to Deighton. However, I find that this book is not listed in your bibliography. Why is this so? Best Wishes, john willimas
-----------------------------------------
From: James
e-mail: jazza116@hotmail.com
Date: Tue Oct 1 22:59:26 EST 2002
Mare,
Good idea about the Q & A session. One could approach his publisher to see if they would pass on the request to LD. (I beleive he is in retirement in Portugal)
What questions might the fans pose, I wonder?
-----------------------------------------
From: Ted
e-mail: writecnmi@yahoo.com
Date: Wed Oct 2 15:12:23 EST 2002
I have a few copies of the GSM video series left. Email me at writecnmi@yahoo.com if interested.
-----------------------------------------
From: Cookie
e-mail: porter.dg@verizon.net
Date: Thu Oct 3 02:42:48 EST 2002
How do you pronounce Deighton? Is it like dayton? Or does it sound like lighten?
Also, is the author still alive? He'd be only 73 years old, but I haven't seen anything recent from him.
Does anyone know if he has a book in the works?
Thanx.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Thu Oct 3 18:55:38 EST 2002
What questions would a fan pose, you ask? How about "Who'll they pick on at Dickie's dinner parties with Bernard in Berlin?" Dickie's dinner parties were among my favorite scenes all throughout the series. It was always something or another, either bad seating arrangements, or a drunken butler, or some horrible faux-pas on the part of one of the guests; something always happened to make it all memorable.
The main questions, of course, cannot be answered in a sentence or two, they must be answered with new books.
Still, I would love to think that Len himself would visit our humble page, (the page devoted to him, himself!) Wherever he is, whatever he's doing, he must know he's got adoring fans who are intelligent and sophisticated enough to handle a visit from him, asking only questions pertinent to future development of the series.
-----------------------------------------
From: James
e-mail: jazza116@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Oct 3 22:31:15 EST 2002
Mare,
Oh yes, those wonderful dinner parties. Isn't Dickie a poser? Wouldn't you like to be there? I wonder if Daphne will ever leave him? I'd like to see her pour something over him in a fit of rage.He'd be in a fouler mood than ever then.
I dare say that Dickie would manage to get the odd trip over to Berlin and spoil Bernies solitude.
A few questions that need answering:
1) Will Bernie ever find out Werner's true involvment in the affair? and
2) what about Dickie and that party in Berlin and then shoves Tessa in the van. Did he know?
3) What noe the wall has come down, will they
stillneed people like Bernie? perhaps he'll be pensioned off. He could take up as a private detective? he may be asked to go on jobs for the department as a freelance. plenty of options.
Any one else think of anything?
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Wed Oct 9 15:28:31 EST 2002
Believe me, they've both crossed my mind more than once; that is A) Being at one of Dickie's dinner parties, perhaps as the (charming and lovely) date of some minor walk-on with connections to the department, and B) seeing Daphne pour a tureen of soup right over Dickie's head. I'm sure such a thing would necessarily be a parting gesture from Daphne, though, and I'd hate to see the last of her.
Another rather shocking thought just occurred, and please don't shout at me in all caps, or drum me out of the club or try to have me XPD'd or anything . . . it's just a thought:
Certain other writers have allowed someone else to continue a successful series (usually after their own demise, I admit. Maybe it's the estate that makes such a decision, I don't know.) You can read "fake" Nero Wolfe stories, "fake" James Bond stories, "fake" Archy McNally stories, and probably tons of others. Usually, extreme care is taken to ensure continuity and exact detail of character, mood, theme, etc, which makes me think either the author himself or his loved ones must check out lots of people before deciding on one. Now there's a question for our man! Would he ever allow such a thing? Would he cooperate, and even play mentor to a potential successor? The question, if nothing else, might just jolt him into action! (By the way, I'm not running for the job. Please don't have me killed. It was just an idea!)
-----------------------------------------
From: James
e-mail: jazza116@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Oct 10 00:39:55 EST 2002
Mare,
Yes, I know about the Bond stories. I read one once, can't remember the authors name. i don't know if LD would condone such a thing, given as to how he disliked the TV series.
On this track though, I have a thought. What if 'we' the fans could perhaps pen somew short stories or scenes based on the books? Would this be against any rules? They do it with TV series. I've seen Randall & Hopkirk stories on the web and Fugitive stories in a fanzine. So how about it people? let's get writing. Be nice if we could ask LD to give a prize for the best.
As I mentioned before, with the cold war over and Bernie in big 'B' I wonder if he has not been pensioned off. By now though he would be too old for 'active service' wouldn't he? He was in his 40's during the books set in the mid to late 80's. he'd be near retiring age now. I guess any stories would have to be late 80's early 90's?
Hope to read something soon.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Oct 10 04:08:25 EST 2002
Someone else carrying on the Bernard Samson series. Humm now that is an interesting concept. But where would we begin?
I would like to know how Bernard's father died. Brian's death does not seem to have been anything but natural since there is no nasty references to it. So the "other" author has to address that. But I wonder if Brian tumbled to Fiona whilst Bernard and Fiona were in Berlin and had to be quietly removed to protect Bret\Fiona's plans of infiltration. But it was done quietly so as to avoid arousing any suspicion. This would have to be explored.
Then I would like to know how Fiona avoided any further detection of seeing Harry once she returned back to England. What with Sylv following her about the place, how did she do it?
Does the 20 something Gloria really end up with the 60 something Bret? Forty year age difference is quite a lot. I would like to know if it is a show and on who's part?
So you can see "another " author would be nice to have who would fill in the missing bits and pieces. Of course it would have to be three books long. I mean nothing else would do. I would like to see one book written in the first person with Fiona doing the talking. I would like to better understand her motives. Sinker was good, but the omnipresent point of view is not Fiona's point of view. And SInker did not explain why she wanted the children taken over to the East. Was she really thinking that the SIS could get them out when she came back, or were they to be sacrificed as part of the price of the mission?
And finally I did pop along to London to see LD's agent. It was a cold visit and she was not in. So that part of the trip was a bust, but I loved Camden Town and especially the canal locks. Loads of interesting shops and well worth the trip to the area if you are in London.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sun Oct 13 18:30:58 EST 2002
JAMES: I'm all for it! All you fans out there, write a scene, past, present or future, featuring your favorite characters. Make them do something you've always wanted to see.
Heartbreaking to think of Bernie that old (or me THIS old, come to think of it.) But Bernie's Bernie, after all. The Wall coming down must have brought torrents of lost paperwork and unsolved mysteries with it. I can't picture our boy not finding something to tickle his antennae.
MARK L.: Good point about Brian Samson's unmentioned demise. Maybe it's more involved than we know.
I don't get the 3rd paragraph: Do you mean Posh Harry? He wasn't looking for Fiona, was he? Or do you mean Kennedy? He was killed at the Brandenburg Exit. Sylv. was in Bret's pocket. When Bret went, Sylv went. Fiona never did want the kids in the East.
Next time you're in London, make a few sandwiches and wait it out, pleeeeeeeaase!
-----------------------------------------
From: Jim Sutterfield
e-mail: jsutterfield@swslaw.com
Date: Tue Oct 15 01:00:47 EST 2002
Does anyone have any information concerning when, if ever, LD will be coming out with a new book?
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: mark.leyton@hotmail.com
Date: Tue Oct 15 04:27:10 EST 2002
The obscure 3rd paragraph was in reference to Fiona and Harry Kennedy. When Fiona and Bernard came back from their short tour in Berlin, Fiona picked up with Harry Kennedy and kept on the affair without being detected by Sylv, Bret's sidekick. We understand this from the comments Sylv had for Bret as they waited for Gloria to be taken away on the Soviet sub.
How did Fiona manage to avoid\fool, Bernard, Bret and avoid the gumshoe Sylv? Remember Fiona promised Bret the affair was over, but she had to carry on with Harry.
And now back to the thought of "another" author taking over. I like the triplet %91Going (Once)', Going (Twice)', & %91Gone' as the titles for the three books. It has a finality ring to it. Of course there are others as in %91Ready', %91Aim' & %91Fire' but I like Going Going & Gone.
%91Going (Once)' would be similar to Sinker as a book to fill in missing parts to the story. I would start it back at the year 1900 (shades of Winter) to pick up Brian's father in Scotland. Why Scotland? Well that is where Sean Connery (the Bond man) came from. As well as all top-notch mechanics. Remember Scottie on the good ship Enterprise? Then we would follow Brian as he grows up and falls in with Boy Piper. He then has to be in Berlin for the war and his subsequent booting out of the SIS. But how does he get back in? Could there be a Boeing aeroplane in that story??? Of course Brian would have to be involved in the handing over of the spy Konon Molody in Berlin.
, Going (Twice)' would be written in the first person, with Fiona doing the talking. I would like to take it from May 1983 through to March 1987. That covers the time Fiona was in the East. I would like to know what she did there. I would like to know how it really went with Fiona and Kennedy, and Fiona and Werner. I would also like to know how Fiona got involved with Stinnes to be in the car with him at the Brandenburg Exit. And how Kennedy was in the same car? I would through several flash-backs cover important points like how she fell under Silas' spell and became a double agent. Or how did she feel about Bret being her case officer. Or did Fiona have any feelings for Bret? Or was it all business. That would help to understand if Bernard was right to be jealous or not.
& %91Gone' would be written in the first person, with Bernard doing the talking. The book would start in February 1988 and end later that summer, after school is out. I would expect Bernard to be promoted from Deputy Berlin Resident to Berlin Resident. That's right. I would hope Frank finally gets lost in Australia to be with his son. Now with Bernard in charge I would expect him to kick some butt!!! First thing I would do is have Bernard send his close buddy Werner off to East Berlin and then make sure the Stasi knew he was there. I'm sure they would like to have a chat with their old double agent. Ha! That will teach him a lesson about being a real friend. But in the end I would like to see Bernard extricate his children from the clutches of a greedy father-in-law. But I can not see Fiona living too long. Too many upset East Berliners will be after her pretty little neck. Does Bernard find the engagement ring he gave Fiona and she lost in East Berlin? Does Lisl last any longer? Does Silas come back from exile? And who becomes the new D-G? Is it Dicky or someone else? But, the real burning question is, does Gloria end up with the old fart Bret, or with the not quite so old Bernard?
As you can see, I have had a few passing thoughts along these lines -understatement?? But I do not have the "Touch of the Masters Hand". Myra 'Brooks' Welch wrote the lovely poem, which serves to remind us all that LD has that touch and knows how Bernard will turn out in the end.
-----------------------------------------
From: James
e-mail: jazza116@hotmail.com
Date: Tue Oct 15 22:20:49 EST 2002
Good ideas from Mark, like the "going, going, gone" titles, except that I think the last book should be taking place well into the 90's with Bernard now having been made redundant from the SIS, perhaps still living in Berlin, or back in the smoke, who knows. he would describe the events of the night the wall came down.
After retirement\redundancy he would try a few different jobs but get involved in some sort of spy game with Werner and other long lost contacts from the old days. Perhaps a jaunt to Poland or elsewhere.
I don't like the idea of killing off Fiona, just as I didn't like LD killing Tessa. I always thought that Bernie would have ended up in bed with Tessa. I think he would have been better off with Gloria, maybe LD should have killed Fiona on the autobahn in Germany?
Maybe Bernie would get involved with some other woman? We must mention George, of course and all the others we have met along the way.
Maybe, some of us could pen some short scenes \ stories and post it on a special page on this site? Can a special 'short story' page be set up on this site please for this?
Okay, that's my fourpenneth for now.
James.
-----------------------------------------
From: Charlie
e-mail: weigandc@bellsouth.net
Date: Mon Oct 21 05:17:39 EST 2002
Who did the music to "Game, Set, and Match"? Is it original or is it Classical adapted for the soundtrack?
-----------------------------------------
From: Andrew Ermakov
e-mail: sherryfan@yandex.ru
Date: Wed Oct 30 22:49:26 EST 2002
Hello, guys.
Does anybody have an electronical version of Len's Fighter ?
Please send answers to my e-mail.
Thanks in advance.
Andrew.
-----------------------------------------
From: Steve
e-mail: RichSteven@msn.com
Date: Wed Nov 27 13:25:09 EST 2002
I'm a big fan. Just wondered if anyone else thought XPD was his worst. I think the problem arose from LD's lack of knowledge about Hollywood. Other than the Sampson books, I think his best one was Only When I Larf. If you've missed that one, be sure to get it.
-----------------------------------------
From: O Straby
e-mail: ola.straby@home.se
Date: Fri Nov 29 09:24:34 EST 2002
Hello all Deighton fans,
I have a particularly tricky question that I think only Mr Deighton himself can answer, but since I can't find an address to him I'll try my luck here. If you know this you're a die-hard fan!
A long time ago I read the excellent novel Bomber and you may recall a crooked soldier from the east front who tries to sell an antique Kuba carpet. When I read the book I didn't know what a Kuba was, but the book got me curious. This curiosity has now matured into a semi-serious collection of oriental carpets. Since Kuba carpets are not one of the most common types of oriental carpets I wonder if Mr Deighton was inspired by a particular existing carpet for this passage in the book, and if so if anyone can tell me something about this carpet or has a picture. I'd like to know since this carpet in a sense is the genesis of my small collection.
Do any of you know this or perhaps more realistically does any of you have the address to Mr Deighton's current publisher. I thought I might try to send my question through them.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Fri Dec 6 16:54:31 EST 2002
To Steve Above.
I have seen XPD in the bookshops but have never picked it up. Likewise Only When I Larf. Having said that I have also missed City of Gold and a few others that I have seen.
On the other hand I have read Bomber many times. The feeling of the book hits a good note. And, more importantly, asks the moral question of was carpet bombing of cities really necessary? That question is being asked today by a German author %96 no I can't remember his name.
Was Bomber Harris right to take the war to the people, or, as we read in Winter, did the Germans break the bands of commonly accepted war by bombing England from their airships? Or has war passed the point of any decency and any war is going to be hell, a.k.a. The Balkans?
In the same vein I have read Good Bye Mickey Mouse and loved it. To be honest I was pleasantly surprised that an English author would tackle the subject of Americans in England during the war. It was, and still is, a touchy subject.
But in the end it is the quality of the story line, not the extraneous fluff and stuff that is usually added. LD has mastered the art of spinning an excellent yarn and keeping the reader handing on to the end. In my book, that is why I have read and reread the Samson series.
-----------------------------------------
From: Andyh
e-mail: andyh@enter.net
Date: Fri Dec 13 10:38:50 EST 2002
Hi--
Has anyone done the crossword puzzle in "Horse Under Water"? I just did a Google search and found nothing except some book dealers reference to the dust jacket with or without the puzzle.
The dust jacket on my (library's) copy has a NOTE: The discerning reader will discover that the author's chapter titles offer clues to a puzzle, the Solution to which doubles as a Table of Contents. Forewarned, he is challenged to match wits with Mr. Deighton.
So, I have the puzzle clues and the answers, but I don't know how to start a diagramless crossword puzzle. Can anyone help.
Send replies to my email address (as well as this forum) since I don't know when I'll check this fan forum next.
--Andyh
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Mon Dec 30 09:10:15 EST 2002
Unexpectedly I was back in England attending to family things and had time to call LD's agent and ask if they had a few minutes for an LD fan to drop by. They said yes!
It was a typical wet day in England when I dropped off my wife at the shops in Camden Town and I walked up the street to meet with Ann Evans of Jonathan Clowes Ltd., What a lovely office. It is nothing but floor to ceiling of books. It was better than going to the book shop%85 but this was not a sightseeing trip.
Ann is a very personable lady who is willing to listen to a fan about the general desire for LD to add to the Bernard Samson series. Ann said that Len has no plans to write any more about Bernard Samson. She said Len is working on a film deal based on one of his books and, as far as she knew, was not writing at the moment. She added that if the film deal comes off that there might be a flurry of tie-in's of Len's previous works. Now that sounded interesting to me.
Ann did not know that this web site existed. I showed her where it was and I hope she will pass on the location to Len.
We talked about the GS&M TV show. About the only light Ann could throw on it was maybe Len had a picture in his mind of how the first three books should actually be portrayed. And when the TV show came out it did not measure up to his original concept. Aside from that one thought, Ann could not add to why Len does not like the show.
I had a good time visiting with Ann and hope that all LD fans will keep on writing to her so she can pass on the letters, cards and notes. Send them to:
Ann Evans
Jonathan Clowes Ltd.,
10 Iron Bridge House,
Bridge Approach,
London,
NW1 8BD
To be honest, I am not sure when I will be back in England. So no requests to drop by and ask about this or that. Just write Ann and I am confident she will help as much as she can.
-----------------------------------------
From: Paul Finch
e-mail: paulfinch123@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Fri Jan 24 05:08:33 EST 2003
WANTED:Does anyone have an example of the spoof booklet of Hitler head stamps issued with "SS-GB".I am interested!
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Mon Jan 27 20:33:09 EST 2003
TO MARK LEYTON: Re: Oct 15: Okay, I'm going to have to re-read, because I am LOST about Fiona and Bernard in Berlin after which she returned to her affair with Kennedy.
As For Scotland: References to James Bond will not be put-up-with! He is a cartoon in comparison to Bernie. (Cartoon, period.) As for the Star Trek reference, I won't even dignify it with a loud, snotty reply, which eats at my vitals as I deny it. (My husband, however, is standing and applauding.) And who in hell is Konon Molody?
I'm interested to learn about Fiona's thoughts while being recruited, meeting Bernie, falling in love, keeping the big secret, getting married, keeping the big secret, having thier first child, keeping the big secret, etc. That, to me, is the most fantastic deception that could ever be.
Bigamists are not rare, and I'm sure those secrets are hard to keep too. But most garden-variety bigamists are not married to professional spies. For Fiona to keep a secret of that magnitude from a man whose heart and soul it was to snoop out lies and deceptions is a testimony to something . . . I'm not sure what. Perhaps I was wrong: perhaps Fiona IS the superspy of all time. The idea depresses me, because I love Bernie a lot better.
RE: THE LIBRARY CONNECTION: Nothing flaming doing. I've tried all over to get Game, Set and Match. The only thing I haven't tried (because I live in Canada) is to try Blockbuster Video in the U.S. Apparently there is a U.S. listing for it, but we can't get it here. (Pity!) Any Americans reading this, get thee to your nearest Blockbuster Video outlet and quizz them mercilessly. Ya never know.
-----------------------------------------
From: Barnes Carr
e-mail: barnescarr@eudoramail.com
Date: Wed Jan 29 10:57:06 EST 2003
I am looking for interviews with Len Deighton, in newspapers, magazines or books. I've tried indexed newspapers such as The Times, Sunday Times, Guardian, Telegraph, to no avail. Thanks very much.
-----------------------------------------
From: dave
e-mail: guitarman_8us@yahoo.com
Date: Tue Feb 4 10:44:19 EST 2003
Do you think Mr. Deighton will ever write any more novels about bernard samson?
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Sat Feb 8 01:27:41 EST 2003
We are talking about Konon Molody and the Portland spy case. Go to www.google.com and type in Konon Molody and you will see exactly how good he was. You will also see how the KGB targeted certain women with romance to get what they really want. You will see how nicely he was treated rather than being shot as a spy. You will also see many parallels to now the Americans are treating their worse spies in the form of Aims and Hensen. (did I get their names spelled right?)
Then Molody was swapped for a low level English person in Berlin early one morning. That is where we move over to Brian Samson being the Berlin Resident and certain to be involved in the handing over. I would suspect he would take along the young Bernard to have a close up look of a master KGB spy, and one that potentially would be coming back. As it happened Molody died in Moscow. He never came back to the West. He was married with two children.
Sometimes fact is worse than fiction. You realize the damage they can do.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Thu Feb 27 19:12:39 EST 2003
MARK LEYTON: For one thing, I'd like to know: What book\film deal??? ( . . . that you were discussing with Len's publisher.) Also, is there any way to know if he got the message about our web site? It would be a thrill to think of the man himself reading what we've written, and(electric bolt of excitement) maybe answering our questions. This web site is pretty much composed entirely of questions that only Len can answer. We futz around among ourselves as much as we can, but it goes untended for weeks, and even months (in the past) with no new posts, just because none of us knows the answers.
The only way I can think of to get the ball rolling (i.e., get Len here to answer our questions) is to write a letter to the publisher at the address you so kindly provided.
There are different ways we could go about this, but I think the most fun way, and the way to generate the most activity on the web site, is to have a CONTEST! Everyone interested should write a letter to Len Deighton explaining the point of the web site, and how we all would love and appreciate his brilliant novels, but they should all print them here first, so they can be judged. Once somebody wins, it gets signed with the writer's name first, "on behalf of the Unofficial Len Deighton Fan Site or whatever . . . " and we send it off.
Now, who's going to judge the contest? Who runs this web site, anybody know? YOO HOO! ARE YOU OUT THERE? If there is someone in charge, maybe he\she can do it. If that person doesn't want to do it, maybe he\she could appoint someone. If not, I guess it's Lord of the Flies in here, we'll have to fight for it. I'd vote for you, but I might offend James, who also answers me occasionally. Either of you would make a great judge, and since it might be only the three of us submitting entries, I find I can't piddle on either side of the can without scaring off the mouse. I just made that up, but you get the picture.
I'll go this far at least: I don't want to be the judge, and any judge appointed is okay by me.
This is my idea of a starter plan: (edit at will)
"Note to all Len Deighton Fans (LURKERS INCLUDED!): Write a letter to Len Deighton explaining first, the ultimate purpose of this web site: to unite fans from all over who love and appreciate his work; and second, how the survival of this web site would be forever ensured by a reply."
I think we can leave the details up to the individual letter-writers, and the more variety the better.
What does everybody think of this plan? Answer soon!
-----------------------------------------
From: John Gould
e-mail: jcgould@adelphia.net
Date: Wed Mar 26 13:40:21 EST 2003
I have not seen a new book from Deighton in several years. Is he still writing. Are there any forthcoming titles and dates announced?
-----------------------------------------
From: eli bar-on
e-mail: ebaron@rafael.co.il
Date: Sun Mar 30 20:18:15 EST 2003
How can I get a copy of the TV series : Game, Set and Match (even a home made copy on video cassettes)?
-----------------------------------------
From: Roland Huybrecht
e-mail: rolandhuybrecht@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed Apr 16 19:28:34 EST 2003
Is Len Deighton in good health? I'm worried because he doesn't seem to write anymore. Grateful for any reaction.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Tue Apr 22 17:25:13 EST 2003
Well, I'm glad to see everybody is on board with the "Write a Letter to Len" contest! (Pardon me while I wipe the sarcasm off my chin.) Gee whiz, two months and the only replies are from three people asking the same three questions we've heard since the beginning of time?
Does anybody besides me see why we need some help in here? People keep asking and nobody's answering!
Rally round, people! We need Len on board! Let's get him here somehow! It's the only answer! Then he can answer everyone's questions about his future plans, his health, his reasons for not allowing any of his loving fans to see the TV version of Game, Set and Match, and everything else we've always wanted to know but had nobody to ask.
Do me a big favor! Everybody go back three posts and read my original idea again. If it stinks, tell me! At least I'll know you're alive. If you like it and you're working on a letter, tell me that too!
STIMULATING QUESTION OPEN TO ALL: What is the best quotable line Bernie ever said about Karl Marx? I'll E-Mail you a cookie if you can tell me what book it's in.
-----------------------------------------
From: mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Wed Apr 23 23:23:32 EST 2003
Only e-mail the cookie?? Is it chocolate chip or is it a chocolate chip and pecan??? I prefer pecans in with the chocolate chips, it adds a good flavor to the cookie.
Who cares about Carl Marx, I want to know if Bernie was in Saxony town of G%F6rlitz during the spring of 1968. For you history buffs that was the year of the Prague Summer. I am thinking Bernie was there acting as a currier for Brian.
I am thinking Brian needed someone to pick up microfilm from a drop box that was located under a certain rock in the middle of a small stream. I am thinking the microfilm was placed there by a Polish guard. I am thinking all Brian told Bernard was that it was a way for the guard to supplement his meager wage. What Brian did not tell his son was that the Polish guard was, for the most part, filling the roll of currier for another one of Brian's agents. I am thinking the second agent was a former soldier in the Wehrmacht who had been captured by the Poles during the Russian offensive that liberated Poland from the Nazis. After the war he stayed on as a machinist in Wroclaw, once known by its German name of Breslau. I am thinking, he, in turn, was a currier for another one of Brian's agents who was located in Poznan. This third agent, through various means, obtained microfilm copies of certain documents only available to the inner circles of the Polish Communist Party.
Pew%85 that is a lot of thinking. So my question to LD is what happened to the information? Did London Central ignore the information, as did the American government? The Americans were too embroiled in Viet Nam to worry about a little problem of freedom in Prague.
I am thinking that would make a good yarn about Bernard and Brian working together. To see the father teach the son the trade and tradecraft needed to survive in West Berlin.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Apr 24 22:09:10 EST 2003
And while I am thinking of it is anyone else listening to BBC radio 7 on the internet at 7am central time? It is the mystery hour.
What has that got to do with Bernie? Listen to the music and you will realize the dower music of GSM is par for the course.
But the stories are good%85 you ought to listen to them.
-----------------------------------------
From: Ron Dolman
e-mail: Ronncarol@rdolman.fsworld.co.uk
Date: Thu May 1 23:14:09 EST 2003
I've been a fan of Len Deighton since The Ipcress File and could reckon his output as 1 book a year.
That always solved the problem of what to buy for my birthday\Christmas but in recent years we have heard nothing from the maestro.
What's the reason ? Has Len retired or is he suffering from a prolonged writers block ?
Anxiously awaitng your reply.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Tue May 6 19:04:19 EST 2003
MARK LEYTON: Holy cow, man! What was that? I think you qualify for the "Usurping Len's Place in the Universe" contest I ran a while back. It sounded very good to me, but remember, I have no historical knowledge of the cold war and its incidents, or even cities, governments and political trends. I got into the Samson series purely because of the thrill and the mystery behind it all (if I'd done research, that'd have wrecked it for me) and for the unimaginable idea of Fiona's deception. The depth of it; the horrendous, complicated, government-sanctioned filth of it!
I climbed in by accident, browsing through the carousel at the library, seeing the name Len Deighton come up again and again. I didn't care what I read. I picked out one of his, Spy Line, and read it. Wow, what a good book! Months later, I picked up another by Len Deighton, but this time I saw that Berlin Game, London Match and Mexico Set were in a series, so I took "Game" first. Only then did I realize that this book was part of a series I'd already read the end of. Woe was me, I can tell you. Bloody hell, in fact. I'll never know the build-up of tension that leads to Bernie's discovery, although I've attempted to re-live it several times.
By the way, does your "tessrules" e-mail address mean that you love Tessa? Admire her? Lust after her? What???? As a woman, I always figured Fiona would be the gal, or at least Gloria. Please explain.
-----------------------------------------
From: stef@no
e-mail: s290472@hotmail.com
Date: Wed May 7 22:06:23 EST 2003
hi to all the LD fan. Does anybody have news about Len? I've try to contact Harper & Colins to have news from him & got nothing in return. So if someone can tell me about the best spy writer in the wld, that 'd great!
ps; i'm actually reading XPD and it's GREAT!!!
-----------------------------------------
From: kath parker
e-mail: kath.parker@bss.org.uk
Date: Mon May 19 01:06:21 EST 2003
I would love to see the film of "only when I larf" ...its never been on TV as far as I know. ASnd is the book out print? I lost my copy years ago and would like another one. Its my favouraite LD book.
-----------------------------------------
From: Brett Wedd
e-mail:
Date: Fri May 23 12:31:32 EST 2003
Have just located this site and have spent the last few hours trawling thru the last 5 years comments and thought I'd make my contribution.
First got interested in BS when GSM appeared on TV in OZ in 1988 or 89.Unfortunately didnt tape it then or when it was repeated a few years later(Otherwise could have made a mint copying for all you frustrated fans).
Found the GSM trilogy in a bookshop about the time of the rerun and have been hooked on LD ever since.
It would appear there is little liklihood of there being further instalments so I would like to put my two bobs worth on the movie debate.
Having seen the TV series first I thought Ian Holm was outstanding as BS , but after reading the books he didnt fit LD's description.
I agree Russell Crowe would be a good BS if you go with the Ian Holm look alike , and Anton Rogers(Fresh Fields was the program) with LD's description , although he's probably a bit bit old now to pull it off.
I would suggest Rachel Griffiths for the part of Fiona.She has that understated sex appeal that is apparently what keeps Bernard from going back to Gloria.If it was me I,d be heading for G's bed with no hesitation.
I also keep hearing parts of U2's Achtung Baby as an underlying soundtrack particularly during the action sequences 'Zoo station' perhaps.
Back to you Mare and Mark?
Brett (not Bret)
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From: Ron Faircloth
e-mail: ronfaircloth@hotmail.com
Date: Sun May 25 12:15:14 EST 2003
I'm also looking for a copy of the miniseries. I tried Granada TV, but wasn't offered a copy at any price. BTW, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was just released on DVD.
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From: nlpnt
e-mail: nlpnt@yahoo.com
Date: Wed May 28 14:07:44 EST 2003
Hi, I've lurked here before but never posted; I have the usual question marks in my head about the Samson backstory from the early years of the Cold War,but what I really want to know is, what's everyone doing now and how did the kids turn out? (Not to mention where was everyone when the wall fell...)
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From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Thu May 29 06:12:51 EST 2003
Hi Mare:
"Tessrules" comes from a different time and place.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles was subtitled "A Pure Woman" and published in 1891. It is one of Thomas Hardy's saddest tales of rural troubles. I have tried to read it but am stuck half way through. There is sadness and a certain degree of pathos that emanates from the pages which means I will never finish the book. And I know how the story ends.
Since the copyright has lapsed let me quote a bit from the back.
"When they had nearly reached the top of the great West Hill the clocks in the town struck eight. Each gave a start at the notes, and, walking onward yet a few steps, they reached the first milestone, standing whitely on the green margin of the grass, and backed by the down, which here was open to the road. They entered upon the turf, and, impelled by a force that seemed to overrule their will, suddenly stood still, turned, and waited in paralyzed suspense beside the stone.
"The prospect from this summit was almost unlimited. In the valley beneath lay the city they had just left, its more prominent buildings showing as in an isometric drawing - among them the broad cathedral tower, with its Norman windows and immense length of aisle and nave, the spires of St Thomas's, the pinnacled tower of the College, and, more to the right, the tower and gables of the ancient hospice, where to this day the pilgrim may receive his dole of bread and ale. Behind the city swept the rotund upland of St Catherine's Hill; further off, landscape beyond landscape, till the horizon was lost in the radiance of the sun hanging above it.
"Against these far stretches of country rose, in front of the other city edifices, a large red-brick building, with level gray roofs, and rows of short barred windows bespeaking captivity, the whole contrasting greatly by its formalism with the quaint irregularities of the Gothic erections. It was somewhat disguised from the road in passing it by yews and evergreen oaks, but it was visible enough up here. The wicket from which the pair had lately emerged was in the wall of this structure. From the middle of the building an ugly flat-topped octagonal tower ascended against the east horizon, and viewed from this spot, on its shady side and against the light, it seemed the one blot on the city's beauty. Yet it was with this blot, and not with the beauty, that the two gazers were concerned.
Many years ago I cycled up the hill leading out of Winchester going along the same Roman road heading west. This past Christmas I was back on that hill looking down the main street all decked out in Christmas joy. And this past Christmas we went to the cathedral for the Christmas Service.
So think Tess, a poor milkmaid rather than Tessa when you read "Tessrules"
Now that is out of the way, I am wondering why the budding architect, better known as Bernard Samson was doing in the library of the Berlin SIS building talking to the Duchess about a tesseract. I can't find that in any of LD's books but was it something to do with a night class that Bernard was taking? Did his interest in architecture extend to taking some classes whilst he was in his early 20's?
Not to be out done does any one know why Fiona was hot on Paul's eyes? It is the mid 60's when Fiona has finished her %91A' levels and is leaving her private school. She has to clean out her room for the last time and is gazing at the large poster of Paul that was hanging on the wall. She was not interested in John, George or Ringo, only Paul and his eyes. Nope, can't find that in any of LD's books either, but it is Fiona's roommate that I am interested in. I'd like to know about the roommates parents and why was she sent to England and not stay in her native East Germany for an education. How does this friendship play out even into the spring of 1988, after Charity has ended?
All for now, I gotta get back to work.
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From: Martin
e-mail: martin.cooper@lineone.net
Date: Tue Jun 3 20:15:35 EST 2003
If anyone is interested there is a copy of the Masterpiece Theatre - Game Set & Match video for sale on Ebay.
It's item no 3330568835, but beware it is in NTSC format not PAL.
No good to me, but someone may have a way of copying it to English format.
Martin
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From: stef@no
e-mail: s290472@hotmail.com
Date: Wed Jun 4 18:53:25 EST 2003
In response to nlpt, i think we should make a sort of comitee of people who wants to know what d happened to Bernard and the whole characters. I hope, everyday thaht someone will give me any news abour that. In vain ?. See ya nlpt
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From: John Gandolfo
e-mail: john.gandolfo@verizon.net
Date: Thu Jun 5 04:38:09 EST 2003
I have been a long time Len Deighton fan having read all the spy novels as well as his other assorted novels (with the exception of the cooking books). I am especially fond of the early ones (aka Harry Palmer) and the Bernard Samson series. I loved Michael Caine's portrayal in film, it hit my take of the character perfectly. Ian Holm although a wonderful actor would not have been my first choice (again I like Michael Caine)for Bernard Samson otherwise the series was very good.
My question is, with the wholly new world perspective is there any chance that mr. Deighton would revisit these characters in future works. Speaking for legions of fans we would be most appreciative for any positve info in this direction.
Thanks, John Gandolfo L.I.,N.Y.
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From: Gareth
e-mail: itsgau@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue Jun 10 08:16:51 EST 2003
I've just read the Samson noels all the way through for the 4th or 5th time from Game to Charity, and I've just realised that they are a load of pants.
LD makes a big play about things he knows nothing about: his descriptions of a doped up Tessa show that the nearest he's ever come to illegal drugs is seeing the King Size Rizlas in a newsagents.
Bernard Samson the big tough guy - but a total wimp in his personal life just doesn't ring true.
I would be very interested to hear from any Germans about his descriptions of Berlin and Berliners: I imagine them to be very patronising.
G
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From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@ieee.org
Date: Sat Jun 14 12:21:32 EST 2003
To be honest I am not too good at actors and the like. I thought the mix of real German and English actors was good. No need to fake the accent, except the American one for Bret. To do a repeat I would like to see the same approach, the same mix, same idea, but with a much taller Bernard. And someone who needs glasses.
Someone asked about Bernard's kids, They are kept in the background and it is hard to figure out their actual age. Being one to have a go I would say Billy was born Jan 1972 and Sally in May 1974. That fits in with the marriage in March 1971. So at the end of Charity, Jan 1988 that would mean Billy would be 15, or just 16, and getting ready to sit his %91O' Level exams in May %96 July 1988. Being at a private school I would expect him to be taking about 7 exams, each exam consisting of several parts. That would put Billy under tremendous pressure. At this time Sally would be 13 going on 14.
And then to Gareth above. I think he has tumbled to one of LD's little ways of writing. You have to read the preface to the omnibus edition of GSM where LD explains some of the truths about Bernard. Gareth is starting to understand that Bernard is not the all knowing great spy that Bernard leads us to believe. And that is because of the first person writing. It really isn't until we get to Sinker that we get a more objective third person view of what is going on. If I remember rightly someone way up somewhere said LD's descriptions were spot on when in Berlin. If you can get your hands on an English printing of the omnibus edition of GSM you will find a map of Berlin inside the covers. The US version does not! Having the map really does help.
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From: Kasper
e-mail: kasper_flip@hotmail.com
Date: Mon Jun 16 16:56:38 EST 2003
when i was twelve i found the hook, line & sinker trilogy in my mother's book case. i am now fifteen and continue to read as many LD books as i can, and will buy a LD book even if i already have another copy. am i the only person who would like to read more about bernard samson's younger days and also something with brian samson in it?
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From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Thu Jul 3 19:21:21 EST 2003
MARK LEYTON: Thomas Hardy's brilliant. Thank you for clearing up my "Tessrules" misconception. I read "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" in High School, and since then I've read a few others; most recently "Far From the Madding Crowd" and "The Return of the Native". I could not get very far with "Jude the Obscure" though.
So, Bernard is a closet architect? (Perhaps, like George Costanza, he'd always wanted to pretend to be one, which is what drew him into espionage in the first place!) It's an interesting snippet, but I have no idea how to expand on it.
As for Fiona's obsession with ol' puppy eyes Paul . . . would a high-born creature like Fiona even have an interest in the plebean Beatles? Wouldn't they have seemed a little too "pop"? Well, perhaps not, if one of them just happened to have gorgeous brown eyes and an irresistably wild puddin'-bowl haircut. After all, mother and daddy don't have to know everything.
As for the roomy, she calls herself Irmgard Schmidt, and she appears to be nothing more than a young German girl, perhaps a little more upright than necessary--certainly more upright than most members of her class. Her parents are Fredrich and Greta. Fredrich holds a vaguely described position in the upper eschelons of East German government, all well above-board, of course (Irmgard assures Fiona with wide eyes, standing very tall), something to do with importing and exporting. Throughout the year, Fiona and Irmgard become compatible roommates, each very dedicated to their studies. Fiona did eventually grow to wonder, and even worry a little about Irmgard. The girl had no friends of either sex and during the long winter months, took to walking the dog one of the professors twice a week, just to get some evening air. She returned every time in the same ho-hum, weary mood she started out in.
Toward the tail end of the year, Irmgard suddenly bursts into the room and tells Fiona rather excitedly that she's been invited out to a club! By a young man!
Fiona stares at her. Irmgard had never given any indication of being the type to get suddenly hustled off to some 'club,' or even that she would want to be. Finally, Irmgard admits it's not just any young man, but a specific young man. Her pleading eyes tell the rest of the story and beg Fiona to use her womanly instincts to understand and approve.
Fiona finally realizes her role in the little drama, and asks which young man it is.
Irmgard blushingly declines to say, although she does admit that he's quite popular and she's admired him from afar for quite some time. "His father's with the secret police, they say."
"German?" Fiona barks in alarm.
"No, no, English. I don't think it's true, of course. But he does seem to be a man of mystery."
"There are no English secret police," Fiona tells her indignantly, straightening her fringed vest-front with unnecessary violence.
It's probably some harmless oddball subversive, spreading thrilling stories about himself while he wastes his parents' money lying to girls instead of studying, Fiona thinks privately. But still, she decides to forego her usual meeting and, instead, surreptitiously follow Irmgard on her evening out.
Irmgard's date takes Fiona to a loud, psychedelic club, the sort of place that she, or Irmgard either, for that matter, would normally never have gone. Fiona watches her go in with a group of students, some dressed in the usual hippy get-up of the day, others a little more clean-cut. Irmgard does not seem to be hanging closely to any one man more than any other, and Fiona finds her eyes jumping nervously from person to person in the group, trying to distinguish which one might be the 'man of mystery' who'd invited her along.
When the last of them disappears through the doors of the club, Fiona heaves a duty-weary sigh and crosses the street to follow them in.
Okay, so what happens next? Could Irmgard be falling into a dangerous situation? Is she a dangerous situation herself? Does anybody really believe that load about walking the dog?
Take it away . . . .
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From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Mon Jul 21 16:17:22 EST 2003
When I say "Take it away . . . ." what I mean is somebody (anybody!) should try to keep on writing where I left off, just for laughs. Take it anywhere you want it to go! Try to stay within the theme, of course; the idea is to expand on what has been written so far, while still staying absolutely true (or as true as you can) to Len's published works about Bernard Samson. The next contributor to the story should take it from where the last person left off, etc.
MARK LEYTON: I don't know if this sort of thing is what you had in mind or not. If you want to elaborate from where you left off, don't let me stop you! I for one enjoyed it immensely, and I can't wait to read more!
I think this sort of 'story-go-round' might breathe a little life into this site, which is badly needed. Aside from the contributions from a few lively posters, it seems to be more like a grave site where people come to pay their respects, ask a few unanswerable questions to a God who's obviously not listening, drop their flowers and take off.
Len's characters are still very much alive within the minds of his fans. I still wonder about Bernie, Gloria, Fiona, Dickie, Brett, Lisl, Werner . . . . It seems a shame to let them hang forever in limbo. If we can stir them up again it might not exactly retrieve the drama of a Len Deighton spy thriller, but it could be fun seeing where it will go, and not only that it may activate the minds of the fans and make them examine the characters and thier motives more closely.
So I'm waiting, everybody! Fiona has tailed Irmgard into the psychadelic dance club, fearing for her safety. Please tell me what will happen next!
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From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@ieee.org
Date: Sun Jul 27 11:49:10 EST 2003
Mare:
Sorry for the delay, been a bit busy at work. Gerr... my boss came for a visit and has thrown everything out of schedule. But I'll be back on the trail of your addition.
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From: chandresh patel
e-mail: chandresh_baroda@yahoo.com
Date: Sun Aug 10 15:10:21 EST 2003
i am from india and an evid reader of spooky novels.
i use to live in a small city so there were no chances of getting new copies of these books. However i found these books at a footpath bookseller .i started from berlin game and went on to read all the books.
i would like certain actors in certain roles of the novels though i have not seen GSM series.
BS - Pierce brosnan ( now he is physically heavy ) or may be kenneth branagh
Fiona - Emma thompson
bret - james woods
dicki cruyer - hugh grant
silas - lawrence olivier
stinnes - burt reynolds
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From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Wed Aug 13 18:11:53 EST 2003
Chandresh: I got a big kick out of your ideas for actors in the roles of the series! Please indulge me while I give you my own thoughts.
I think Hugh Grant as Dicky is probably a very good choice, although that's not how I pictured Dicky at all. I picture my darling Dicky more like Gary Oldman (a British actor who played Sid in "Sid and Nancy" and lots of other supporting roles in American films) He's not stupendously gorgeous, but he is sexy, and he could lavish on the charm when necessary. I could easily picture him biting his nails, guzzling coffee and cheating on his wife.
I always thought Pierce Brosnan was a shockingly handsome man, until I saw him smile. He should have a lifelong contract with his studio stating he should never be made to, or even allowed to smile on camera. When he does, all his sexy charm goes out the window, and I picture him running a kids' show in a clown costume. So I'd have to give a 'thumbs down' to him as Bernie Sampson. As for Kenneth Branagh, I've never been crazy about him, although I guess he's a good actor. But I'm afraid he'd be the sort of 'showboat' type of actor that the director would get to hate in about five minutes. As Gilderoy Lockhart in "Harry Potter 2" he was great because he got to strut and show off to his little heart's content, but I can't really see him playing the deep, broody, tortured Bernie that I love so much: While Bernie is supposed to be smoking and thinking deep thoughts in a dingy cafe, Kenneth Branagh would be standing on tables and beating his hairless chest, screaming those deep, secret thoughts to the world, probably in a fake Shakespearean accent with a few "thou's" and "thee's" thrown in for good measure. Kenneth Branagh wouldn't last five minutes in Leuschner's. As for my own choice for Bernie Sampson, I admit I'm stumped. I can't think of anyone the right age or type who could do it convincingly. But I'll keep thinking.
Emma Thompson is certainly the right type to play Fiona; educated, upper-crust, and all that rot. She has a sort of no-nonsense type of good looks, but I don't think she's beautiful enough to play Fiona. But I'm a woman, and Bernie's a man, and I suppose beauty's in the eye of the beholder. At the moment I can't think of anyone better.
Lawrence Olivier as Silas Gaunt: This one could be tough to do, as Sir Larry is, I believe, unfortunately dead. I agree with your idea of having a man of Sir Larry's magnitude in the role of Silas, and no doubt, the man could have brought it off brilliantly with one hand tied behind his back. But I always picture Silas as grossly fat, badly dressed, with hardly any hair. If Marlon Brando wasn't such a disagreeable ass, I'd suggest him; he certainly looks the part these days. In fact, Brando's snarky attitude would almost suit Silas, if only the actor could be pursuaded to lead with the other wing. (Right instead of left, that is.) The best choice for Silas, as I see it, would be the guy who played the main character's mentor in a movie called "Criminal Law". I have no idea what his name is, I only saw him in the one movie, but he's fat, sloppy and old, and his character in that movie had a brilliant way about him: Casual, witty and terribly wise, but brutally tough underneath. For Silas, I pick that guy. Whatever his name is.
As for Burt Reynolds as Stinnes, I have to say, I was rolling around on the floor, howling with laughter. Burt Reynolds means to me: Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run . . . movies like that. He always plays a sleazy deep-south comical sort of character, more likely to be seen getting even with a fellow goofball by sticking chewing gum to a chair than infiltrating the SIS. Physically, you're right, he wouldn't be a bad choice, at least in his younger days. I think he's gone a little beefy now, though. My personal pick for an actor to play Erich Stinnes would be the stringy old guy on the TV show "Cheers" who ran the restaurant upstairs and had an affair with Carla. He's mean enough, he's skinny enough, (although he's probably too old) and I have no trouble seeing him clicking his heels together and "falloving o-duzz!"
James Woods as Bret: James Woods would do a good job, but is he the right age? The Bret I imagine is very tall, with blond hair well on its way to silver; is impeccably slender, impeccably dressed and tries to imitate the English in their impeccable manners and good taste. Perhaps if they made James Woods up a bit to look older it would work. He's a good actor, and if he threw himself into it I can see him becoming Bret Rensselaer. I would have to personally direct him, of course.
Chandresh, what are your thoughts on actors playing the parts of people like Werner, Zena, Tessa, Lisl and Gloria? There's no sense even trying to cast the D-G or the DD-G , they're both so damn old they'll be dead before we get our movie off the ground.
Those are my thoughts; thanks for listening.
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From: Ned
e-mail: nedmunoz@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Aug 14 06:33:03 EST 2003
I have not read the more recent comments because I am on "Hope" and do not want to have the series "given away" before I read it. Therefore, I am sorry if this is old news: members of the Boston PBS station, WGBH, can check out the Game, Set & Match tapes from the WGBH video library if they are members of the Ralph Lowell Society. The problem is that to be a member, you must give at least $1,500 (US). So, if anyone in Boston knows a member of the Ralph Lowell Society... Here is a link: https:\\www.wgbh.org\support\major_planned_giving\rls
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From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Aug 28 10:21:18 EST 2003
Here is the continuing story...
When the last of them disappears through the doors of the club, Fiona heaves a duty-weary sigh and crosses the street to follow them in.
The smell of the club was strong and pungent. A mixture of stale beer, vomit and marijuana attacked her olfactory sensors. Definitely not her style of club! The lighting was low and it took her eyes a few minutes to adjust and find out exactly where she was. In those few moments of disorientation a suave man-about-town in a purple velvet two piece suit complete with ruffles on his shirt slid up to Fiona and put his arm over her shoulders.
Fiona hated drunks and hated drunks that thought they were God's gift to every woman that walked by in a skirt. Quickly she removed his arm, "Get lost before I poke your eyes out!" She said venomously in a low voice.
"What's wrong with you?" Came the slurred reply, "Too good for the likes of me are you?"
"Get lost!" said Fiona as she scanned the crowd for her Irmgard and the others.
"Sorry sweetie for breathing," said the drunk in a staggered way. He was having difficulty standing and staying close to Fiona. "I only want to be friendly. Is there anything wrong with that?" By now several other clubbers were noticing the noise at the front and wondering what was going on. Bringing attention to herself was the last thing Fiona wanted. Panic was starting to creep into the pit of her stomach. Should she leave or stay?
The decision was taken away from her by an extremely well built bouncer who wore a black two piece suit, thin black tie and sparkling white shirt. "Is he bothering you?" He asked in a deep baritone voice that was laced with seductive overtones.
Briskly Fiona replied, "Yes. Can you get rid of him?"
"It will be my pleasure."
"Here, you can't do that!" Yelled the purple suit. "Get your grubby hands off me%85" The bouncer had his arem in a hammer lock and was easing him forcefully out the front door and away from the club.
Shaken, but not put off, Fiona went further into the club.
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From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sat Sep 6 19:17:23 EST 2003
THE CONTINUING STORY: (By the way, Mark Layton, thanks for nothing, bro! I was hoping you'd get me through the technical parts, I can handle bar-flies and smarmy bouncers on my own. Don't ask me how. Anyhow, here goes. . . )
Fiona walks around a large dance-floor lit with colored panels of light from above and below to a standing bar populated solely by a man in a denim shirt and jeans. She's seen him walk in with Irmgard and the gang, but he is alone now.
She waits silently, and sure enough, the man shifts around and says, "What's your sign?"
Fiona smiles shortly and leans her elbows on the bartop. "What's yours?"
The man keeps smiling for a few seconds, and then says: "How many letters in your first name?"
Fiona smiles and replies sweetly: "Capricorn."
The man smiles back, and he sways a bit as he adjusts his stance, trying to appear taller. "Yeah, but--"
"Eight," Fiona lies sweetly, while cocking her head at a darling angle, ice-water snaking horribly through her veins. "Now that we've got that out of the way, where's that German girl?"
"In the can, but . . . "
"Let's go, " says Fiona, taking his limp hand and leading him to the multi-colored dance floor.
Fiona tries to match her partner's sluggish moves, stepping always a beat-and-a-half behind the music, pumping hands with a smiling face while watching the curved bar the idiot had come from.
After the end of the first song and the first half of the second, Fiona begins watching the bathroom door.
"Hey! Come back, baby" says the dance-partner, grabbing her hand and twirling her around.
Fiona makes a disco move of her own, which puts the drunken fool directly between herself and the bathroom door. "See?" She explains with a grin, "I always knew you were a Virgo!"
They dance for a while with no big results from the bathroom door, and then the dance-partner says, "I'm a Pisces. Are you friends with the German chick?"
"We're roommates," says Fiona without missing a wrong-beat.
"Because she's really gorgeous."
"Make your move then. I don't think she has a boyfriend."
"Wrong-O. She likes the English guy."
The theme of the music takes them through several fast, ridiculous dance-moves that precludes conversation for a quarter of a minute. After this, Fiona says: "No, she doesn't like the English guy. I heard she likes somebody else."
"No, forget it, she's in love with the English guy!"
Fiona keeps moving her feet and punching her hands in the air, but her mind is roiling at a different speed. "Who the hell is he, anyway?"
At this point the drunken dance partner grabs Fiona's hand and leads her off the dance floor with a wildly-crazy secret grin that promises all sorts of evil secrets un-told.
When he slams her against the wall in a dark alcove, Fiona is half-expecting to have to knee him in the nuts before he gives her his crazy grin again. "What the hell do you care about the German chick?" the drunk breathes in her face, a bitter smile on his face. For some reason, he no longer looks drunk or stupid.
"She's my room-mate," Fiona gasps, staring into his suddenly mean and sober face. Her surprise is much more intense than he would ever know.
Fiona is terrified. The man holds her hair from behind and propels her before him through the noisy bar to a door at the rear. It takes thirty seconds, and throughout those thirty seconds, not a man or woman in the bar notices a body being forced from one end to the other against its will.
Until they get to the door, that is. In the shadow of the big pneumatic door stands Irmgard herself.
"Fee!" she shouts with glee.
In the few seconds Fiona has to realize things, she sees that Irmgard is standing with a man who may or may not be a member of her 'walking-in' party, and she also sees that Irmgard has her hands outstretched in welcome, her normally placid face stretched into a giant smile. As Fiona is shoved roughly through the door, she wonders if Irmgard was in on it from the beginning. . . if Irmgard was stoned out of her brain, prompting the big grin and the wide arms . . . if Irmgard was an innocent by-stander, who should be now phoning police . . . .
Well, there you have it, Mark, my boy. Go to town.
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From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sat Sep 6 19:17:23 EST 2003
THE CONTINUING STORY: (By the way, Mark Layton, thanks for nothing, bro! I was hoping you'd get me through the technical parts, I can handle bar-flies and smarmy bouncers on my own. Don't ask me how. Anyhow, here goes. . . )
Fiona walks around a large dance-floor lit with colored panels of light from above and below to a standing bar populated solely by a man in a denim shirt and jeans. She's seen him walk in with Irmgard and the gang, but he is alone now.
She waits silently, and sure enough, the man shifts around and says, "What's your sign?"
Fiona smiles shortly and leans her elbows on the bartop. "What's yours?"
The man keeps smiling for a few seconds, and then says: "How many letters in your first name?"
Fiona smiles and replies sweetly: "Capricorn."
The man smiles back, and he sways a bit as he adjusts his stance, trying to appear taller. "Yeah, but--"
"Eight," Fiona lies sweetly, while cocking her head at a darling angle, ice-water snaking horribly through her veins. "Now that we've got that out of the way, where's that German girl?"
"In the can, but . . . "
"Let's go, " says Fiona, taking his limp hand and leading him to the multi-colored dance floor.
Fiona tries to match her partner's sluggish moves, stepping always a beat-and-a-half behind the music, pumping hands with a smiling face while watching the curved bar the idiot had come from.
After the end of the first song and the first half of the second, Fiona begins watching the bathroom door.
"Hey! Come back, baby" says the dance-partner, grabbing her hand and twirling her around.
Fiona makes a disco move of her own, which puts the drunken fool directly between herself and the bathroom door. "See?" She explains with a grin, "I always knew you were a Virgo!"
They dance for a while with no big results from the bathroom door, and then the dance-partner says, "I'm a Pisces. Are you friends with the German chick?"
"We're roommates," says Fiona without missing a wrong-beat.
"Because she's really gorgeous."
"Make your move then. I don't think she has a boyfriend."
"Wrong-O. She likes the English guy."
The theme of the music takes them through several fast, ridiculous dance-moves that precludes conversation for a quarter of a minute. After this, Fiona says: "No, she doesn't like the English guy. I heard she likes somebody else."
"No, forget it, she's in love with the English guy!"
Fiona keeps moving her feet and punching her hands in the air, but her mind is roiling at a different speed. "Who the hell is he, anyway?"
At this point the drunken dance partner grabs Fiona's hand and leads her off the dance floor with a wildly-crazy secret grin that promises all sorts of evil secrets un-told.
When he slams her against the wall in a dark alcove, Fiona is half-expecting to have to knee him in the nuts before he gives her his crazy grin again. "What the hell do you care about the German chick?" the drunk breathes in her face, a bitter smile on his face. For some reason, he no longer looks drunk or stupid.
"She's my room-mate," Fiona gasps, staring into his suddenly mean and sober face. Her surprise is much more intense than he would ever know.
Fiona is terrified. The man holds her hair from behind and propels her before him through the noisy bar to a door at the rear. It takes thirty seconds, and throughout those thirty seconds, not a man or woman in the bar notices a body being forced from one end to the other against its will.
Until they get to the door, that is. In the shadow of the big pneumatic door stands Irmgard herself.
"Fee!" she shouts with glee.
In the few seconds Fiona has to realize things, she sees that Irmgard is standing with a man who may or may not be a member of her 'walking-in' party, and she also sees that Irmgard has her hands outstretched in welcome, her normally placid face stretched into a giant smile. As Fiona is shoved roughly through the door, she wonders if Irmgard was in on it from the beginning. . . if Irmgard was stoned out of her brain, prompting the big grin and the wide arms . . . if Irmgard was an innocent by-stander, who should be now phoning police . . . .
Well, there you have it, Mark, my boy. Go to town.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sat Sep 6 19:17:23 EST 2003
THE CONTINUING STORY: (By the way, Mark Layton, thanks for nothing, bro! I was hoping you'd get me through the technical parts, I can handle bar-flies and smarmy bouncers on my own. Don't ask me how. Anyhow, here goes. . . )
Fiona walks around a large dance-floor lit with colored panels of light from above and below to a standing bar populated solely by a man in a denim shirt and jeans. She's seen him walk in with Irmgard and the gang, but he is alone now.
She waits silently, and sure enough, the man shifts around and says, "What's your sign?"
Fiona smiles shortly and leans her elbows on the bartop. "What's yours?"
The man keeps smiling for a few seconds, and then says: "How many letters in your first name?"
Fiona smiles and replies sweetly: "Capricorn."
The man smiles back, and he sways a bit as he adjusts his stance, trying to appear taller. "Yeah, but--"
"Eight," Fiona lies sweetly, while cocking her head at a darling angle, ice-water snaking horribly through her veins. "Now that we've got that out of the way, where's that German girl?"
"In the can, but . . . "
"Let's go, " says Fiona, taking his limp hand and leading him to the multi-colored dance floor.
Fiona tries to match her partner's sluggish moves, stepping always a beat-and-a-half behind the music, pumping hands with a smiling face while watching the curved bar the idiot had come from.
After the end of the first song and the first half of the second, Fiona begins watching the bathroom door.
"Hey! Come back, baby" says the dance-partner, grabbing her hand and twirling her around.
Fiona makes a disco move of her own, which puts the drunken fool directly between herself and the bathroom door. "See?" She explains with a grin, "I always knew you were a Virgo!"
They dance for a while with no big results from the bathroom door, and then the dance-partner says, "I'm a Pisces. Are you friends with the German chick?"
"We're roommates," says Fiona without missing a wrong-beat.
"Because she's really gorgeous."
"Make your move then. I don't think she has a boyfriend."
"Wrong-O. She likes the English guy."
The theme of the music takes them through several fast, ridiculous dance-moves that precludes conversation for a quarter of a minute. After this, Fiona says: "No, she doesn't like the English guy. I heard she likes somebody else."
"No, forget it, she's in love with the English guy!"
Fiona keeps moving her feet and punching her hands in the air, but her mind is roiling at a different speed. "Who the hell is he, anyway?"
At this point the drunken dance partner grabs Fiona's hand and leads her off the dance floor with a wildly-crazy secret grin that promises all sorts of evil secrets un-told.
When he slams her against the wall in a dark alcove, Fiona is half-expecting to have to knee him in the nuts before he gives her his crazy grin again. "What the hell do you care about the German chick?" the drunk breathes in her face, a bitter smile on his face. For some reason, he no longer looks drunk or stupid.
"She's my room-mate," Fiona gasps, staring into his suddenly mean and sober face. Her surprise is much more intense than he would ever know.
Fiona is terrified. The man holds her hair from behind and propels her before him through the noisy bar to a door at the rear. It takes thirty seconds, and throughout those thirty seconds, not a man or woman in the bar notices a body being forced from one end to the other against its will.
Until they get to the door, that is. In the shadow of the big pneumatic door stands Irmgard herself.
"Fee!" she shouts with glee.
In the few seconds Fiona has to realize things, she sees that Irmgard is standing with a man who may or may not be a member of her 'walking-in' party, and she also sees that Irmgard has her hands outstretched in welcome, her normally placid face stretched into a giant smile. As Fiona is shoved roughly through the door, she wonders if Irmgard was in on it from the beginning. . . if Irmgard was stoned out of her brain, prompting the big grin and the wide arms . . . if Irmgard was an innocent by-stander, who should be now phoning police . . . .
Well, there you have it, Mark, my boy. Go to town.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sat Sep 6 19:17:23 EST 2003
THE CONTINUING STORY: (By the way, Mark Layton, thanks for nothing, bro! I was hoping you'd get me through the technical parts, I can handle bar-flies and smarmy bouncers on my own. Don't ask me how. Anyhow, here goes. . . )
Fiona walks around a large dance-floor lit with colored panels of light from above and below to a standing bar populated solely by a man in a denim shirt and jeans. She's seen him walk in with Irmgard and the gang, but he is alone now.
She waits silently, and sure enough, the man shifts around and says, "What's your sign?"
Fiona smiles shortly and leans her elbows on the bartop. "What's yours?"
The man keeps smiling for a few seconds, and then says: "How many letters in your first name?"
Fiona smiles and replies sweetly: "Capricorn."
The man smiles back, and he sways a bit as he adjusts his stance, trying to appear taller. "Yeah, but--"
"Eight," Fiona lies sweetly, while cocking her head at a darling angle, ice-water snaking horribly through her veins. "Now that we've got that out of the way, where's that German girl?"
"In the can, but . . . "
"Let's go, " says Fiona, taking his limp hand and leading him to the multi-colored dance floor.
Fiona tries to match her partner's sluggish moves, stepping always a beat-and-a-half behind the music, pumping hands with a smiling face while watching the curved bar the idiot had come from.
After the end of the first song and the first half of the second, Fiona begins watching the bathroom door.
"Hey! Come back, baby" says the dance-partner, grabbing her hand and twirling her around.
Fiona makes a disco move of her own, which puts the drunken fool directly between herself and the bathroom door. "See?" She explains with a grin, "I always knew you were a Virgo!"
They dance for a while with no big results from the bathroom door, and then the dance-partner says, "I'm a Pisces. Are you friends with the German chick?"
"We're roommates," says Fiona without missing a wrong-beat.
"Because she's really gorgeous."
"Make your move then. I don't think she has a boyfriend."
"Wrong-O. She likes the English guy."
The theme of the music takes them through several fast, ridiculous dance-moves that precludes conversation for a quarter of a minute. After this, Fiona says: "No, she doesn't like the English guy. I heard she likes somebody else."
"No, forget it, she's in love with the English guy!"
Fiona keeps moving her feet and punching her hands in the air, but her mind is roiling at a different speed. "Who the hell is he, anyway?"
At this point the drunken dance partner grabs Fiona's hand and leads her off the dance floor with a wildly-crazy secret grin that promises all sorts of evil secrets un-told.
When he slams her against the wall in a dark alcove, Fiona is half-expecting to have to knee him in the nuts before he gives her his crazy grin again. "What the hell do you care about the German chick?" the drunk breathes in her face, a bitter smile on his face. For some reason, he no longer looks drunk or stupid.
"She's my room-mate," Fiona gasps, staring into his suddenly mean and sober face. Her surprise is much more intense than he would ever know.
Fiona is terrified. The man holds her hair from behind and propels her before him through the noisy bar to a door at the rear. It takes thirty seconds, and throughout those thirty seconds, not a man or woman in the bar notices a body being forced from one end to the other against its will.
Until they get to the door, that is. In the shadow of the big pneumatic door stands Irmgard herself.
"Fee!" she shouts with glee.
In the few seconds Fiona has to realize things, she sees that Irmgard is standing with a man who may or may not be a member of her 'walking-in' party, and she also sees that Irmgard has her hands outstretched in welcome, her normally placid face stretched into a giant smile. As Fiona is shoved roughly through the door, she wonders if Irmgard was in on it from the beginning. . . if Irmgard was stoned out of her brain, prompting the big grin and the wide arms . . . if Irmgard was an innocent by-stander, who should be now phoning police . . . .
Well, there you have it, Mark, my boy. Go to town.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Tue Sep 9 16:13:15 EST 2003
REGARDING THE CONTINUING STORY: Sorry! I just checked now and realized that thing got printed FOUR times! I'm sure I didn't do it. I wouldn't know how if I wanted to. (Unless I leaned on a button, or something!) Also, I was thinking 'English spy' but typed 'English guy'. Neither of them makes any sense, since they're all English, and Fiona doesn't want anyone to think she's looking for a spy. This is why I prefer a paper and a pen! I can edit myself before I commit to something dumb.
I am anxious to see if anyone can find a place in our continuing drama for the guy in the purple suit. I purposely left him alone in my last installment, figuring he'd make a dramatic entrance later on.
-----------------------------------------
From: Jeffrey Eng
e-mail: fresnoeng@yahoo.com
Date: Tue Sep 9 16:20:20 EST 2003
How about Tom Skeritt (Cheers, The Rookie) as Bret?
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From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Thu Sep 11 17:02:35 EST 2003
To Jeffrey Eng: I think Tom Skerett would work well as Bret in attitude and general looks. He's also probably the right age! He should be taller though, but Hollywood can work miracles where that's concerned.
Hey, Jeffrey. Reread the last couple instalments of the Continuing Drama and make a submission. Aw, go on! It's open to anybody. Wherever you take it, the next person has to pick it up from there, so don't worry about wrecking some pre-conceived story plan because there isn't one. Just jump in!
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From: ken kilbey
e-mail: clickerken@blueyonder.co.uk
Date: Tue Sep 16 04:21:39 EST 2003
I have just finished my fourth reading of BS tales and am keeping fit by reading Mickey Mouse. I echo the earlier questions - is LD still active as a writer, or has he decided to finish? Does anyone have an answer. (By the way, shame for Gloria).
-----------------------------------------
From: Chip
e-mail: charles.manor@lmco.com
Date: Tue Sep 23 09:34:11 EST 2003
I'd certainly pitch in financially if someone wanted to undertake the video transfer of Game-Set-Match apparently possible via Granada TV.
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From: Romey K.
e-mail: a44magic@aol.com
Date: Sat Sep 27 16:57:17 EST 2003
Has anyone figured out what W.O.O.C.(P) an acronym for?
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From: Greg Perry
e-mail: gregperry38@yahoo.com.au
Date: Fri Oct 3 11:39:13 EST 2003
I am reading "BOMBER" for the 2nd time & would love to have some comments as to characters storyline etc. There is a need for someone to compile study notes for this book. Maybee I am a little baised but, I think that someday this volume could become required reading at High schools.
Someone with a little more perception than myself would have a field day on Creaking Door's crew, the RAF High Command and the various German defenders such as night fighters, radar personnel & civil personnel at the target area.
I have the impression that LD was critical of Bomber Commands strategy as other war critics are.
There is is also a critism on the class mentality as to troops\commission ranks. These are 2 impressions I have for for starters.
I love LD closing chapter at the end that have effectivly wrapped up the story. It could have been left out but really really added the ice the the cake of a good story.
-----------------------------------------
From:
e-mail:
Date: Fri Oct 10 06:10:52 EST 2003
-----------------------------------------
From:
e-mail:
Date: Fri Oct 10 06:10:56 EST 2003
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From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Wed Oct 29 04:53:53 EST 2003
Boy oh boy... what a clifhanger. Mare where did you think that one up from???
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Wed Oct 29 05:41:19 EST 2003
... the story continues
"So what gives," said Fiona rubbing her sore arm.
"Oh nothing," said Irmgard still with a stupid grin on her face. "Just standing about having a chat and waiting for you to show up."
"I'm here how."
"So I see."
"Cut out the chit chat," said Irmgard's companion in a deep baritone voice that was only a whisper but carried far. "Business, that is what we are here for. Do you have them?"
Still grinning Irmgard said, "Of course I do. Want to see?"
"What about her?" asks Baritone as he pointed a crooked finger at Fiona. It wasn't the finger, it was Irmgard's face and the constant look of glee that was wiped on it.
"She comes with is." Replied Irmgard in a cold matter-of-fact voice. The man from inside grabs Fiona from behind and pulls her arms roughly to her back. There was no grin on his face. Fiona was not invited, but now she was here she could not go running back inside and telling tails to some official. The man knew what to do, the cold Krupps steel in his pocket would be the quick answer.
With Baritone and Irmgard leading down the alley they walked along side a black painted articulated lorry. Irmgard kicked the tyre and said, "In side, just like I promised."
Baritone gave a quick grin and wiped his lips with the tip of his tongue and ran his fingers through his hair as he looked over the lorry. Then he said, "For one so young, you are good."
"Not me, I just have good contacts and know how to get things done."
"Is it open?"
"Don't be stupid! Not in this neighborhood. Too many crooked people willing to steal your back wallet." Replied Irmgard. "Here." She pulled out the key for the lock and tossed it high in the air so Baritone could catch.
He walked over to the lock and slipped the key into the new, but well oiled lock. Off came the lock and up went the retaining handle. Then Baritone swung open the door, pulled out a small torch and began to inspect the goods. He let out a small whistle of admiration. "All genuine?"
"Only the best for you."
"I go look." With that he clambered up and weaseled his way through the pallets inside the lorry. The others could see his light bobble about inside as he grunted his way about the trailer. Form deep inside came the muffled request, "Irmgard come now and see this!"
Rolling her eyes up Irmgard clambered up and, with a little more ease, wended her way between the pallets toward the deep inside.
"Just you and me, baby." Said the only man on the outside. Fiona's skin began to crawl tight over her body. She did not like the smarmy way he said %91baby.' He houghly pushed Fiona up against the tyre so her face was on the cold steel of the trailer and the rest of her body was on the rubber. In a flash he kicked her feet apart and pushed her hard. He didn't want to give her any advantage. Slowly he moved his right hand, his throwing hand toward the pocket that had the very sharp and perfectly balanced piece of quality Krupp steel. Wrapping his fingers about the handle he brought it out. The steel glinting in the ally brought back fond memories. He let a brief smile flash across his face. Then he came back to the task at hand. This was business, nothing personal, just business.
Not knowing what to do or what was going on, Fiona was frozen to the ground. She was expecting the worst, but she had no concept what the man had in mind. Suddenly, she heard a very gentle phut sound. She was not sure where it came from since her first instinct was stereo; both sides at once. Then she...
Hum... what is going on here Mare???
-----------------------------------------
From: Pekka Olavi Kauppala
e-mail: p.kauppala@kolumbus.fi
Date: Mon Nov 3 05:13:24 EST 2003
Hello you LD fans. I'm 49 and live in Finland. I have read many of LD's books. The first one was Berlin Game in 1984. Now I have 14 LD books. Only 14, because LD isn't very known and translated here. At least, they are very difficult to get.
Since yesterday I haven't seen an english copy of LD's books. Yesterday's Spy is now my first english version.
I hope you understand my text and later answer my question greetings Pekka
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From: Catherine
e-mail: CGB6000@AOL.com
Date: Wed Nov 5 13:26:30 EST 2003
Many thanks for this website . I like to listen to the Bernard books on audio tape read by Robert Whitefield. Although Hook Line and Sinker are read by Paul Daneman .I prefer Whitefield's reading and voice but, the photograph of Daneman on the tape caselooks just like what I think Bernard would look like. Also, how about John Nettles, the British actor on the "Midsommer Murders" series (on A&E channel occasionally)for Bernard? I think he would be perfect. I haven't been able to cast the others yet, although I keep looking out for possibillities.
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From: Keith
e-mail: darnold@ca.blm.gov
Date: Thu Nov 6 09:47:31 EST 2003
Mare,
The ideal person to play Fiona would be Cate Blanchett. English, cool as ice, yet fragile.
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From: Jon
e-mail: jont01@earthlink.net
Date: Mon Nov 10 09:42:14 EST 2003
I, too, am a great admirer of the triple trilogy and the Winger prequel. I've managed to acquire the whole set in hardcover, and have read it and reread it many times. Great stuff. Would love to visit Berlin again just to chase down some of the sites mentioned in the books. As with some others, I'm sure curious about where Lisl's hotel would be located. Anybody got any clues? Also, Leutchners?
Best - Jon
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From: Lis
e-mail: biodagar@yahoo.com.au
Date: Mon Nov 10 17:23:31 EST 2003
I am an enormous Deighton fan, becoming hooked after reading
Ipcress File and Billion Dollar Brain. Now we have an enormous
shelf at home full of Deighton books, and have only recently acquired
Only When I Larf and Horse Under Water, both of which are extremely difficult
to find, even secondhand (probably due to all the determined fans!)
I have a few questions tho: Is Deighton still writing\ or at least being active?
and can you still obtain his novels through mainstream stores?
Cheers. BTW I love this site!! :)
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From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sat Nov 15 20:52:53 EST 2003
PEKKA FROM FINLAND: Your English is quite good! Were you able to read through "Yesterday's Spy" in English? If so, you must be pretty advanced. Have you read the rest of the Samson series? (Game, Set, Match\ Hook, Line, Sinker\ Faith, Hope, Charity.) These are his best books, in my mind.
CATHERINE: I didn't even know there were audio tapes of the Samson series. I'll keep my eyes and ears out. I can almost see a hairy-faced Bruce Willis or Russel Crowe playing Werner as long as those actors could be persuaded to settle for second banana.
KEITH: Cate Blanchett is the perfect type, but in my own head she is too imperfect in her facial features, lovely as they are. I see Fiona Samson as a perfect specimen, more like Catherine Zeta Jones. She has become Americanized, but she's originally Welsh so she would be able to handle the accent easily. Also, whatever actress we can think of capable of playing Fiona has to be more beautiful than whatever blond bimbo we can get to play Gloria, and that won't be easy, since beautiful blond bimbos are a dime a dozen. (Not that I think Gloria is a bimbo! I don't think that at all. I'm just trying to do the casting agent thing right now.)
Speaking of casting ideas, what do you think about Alan Rickman, the evil Professor Snape from the Harry Potter movies? He's wonderful and dreadful and handsome all at the same time, but I think he's too tall to be Stinnes. Any other ideas for him in our movie?
MARK L: I dunno, man. I don't even know what Krupp steel is! Let me do some research and get back on it. I'll tell you right now I have no idea what's on those pallets, I'm leaving that up to you. It must be something valuable to somebody, but I won't conjecture what.
I'm counting on you for technical details, because I know I'm an idiot about that stuff, and you're much more knowlegeable. I'll fill in the blanks when I have to, but please be patient with me. Feel free to have a character spit out a nasty line of dialogue that corrects one of my mistakes, if that will help. I won't mind at all! In fact, I'll do the same to you if I see the need.
So, I'm thinking, I'm thinking. Give me a few days.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Sat Nov 15 20:52:53 EST 2003
PEKKA FROM FINLAND: Your English is quite good! Were you able to read through "Yesterday's Spy" in English? If so, you must be pretty advanced. Have you read the rest of the Samson series? (Game, Set, Match\ Hook, Line, Sinker\ Faith, Hope, Charity.) These are his best books, in my mind.
CATHERINE: I didn't even know there were audio tapes of the Samson series. I'll keep my eyes and ears out. I can almost see a hairy-faced Bruce Willis or Russel Crowe playing Werner as long as those actors could be persuaded to settle for second banana.
KEITH: Cate Blanchett is the perfect type, but in my own head she is too imperfect in her facial features, lovely as they are. I see Fiona Samson as a perfect specimen, more like Catherine Zeta Jones. She has become Americanized, but she's originally Welsh so she would be able to handle the accent easily. Also, whatever actress we can think of capable of playing Fiona has to be more beautiful than whatever blond bimbo we can get to play Gloria, and that won't be easy, since beautiful blond bimbos are a dime a dozen. (Not that I think Gloria is a bimbo! I don't think that at all. I'm just trying to do the casting agent thing right now.)
Speaking of casting ideas, what do you think about Alan Rickman, the evil Professor Snape from the Harry Potter movies? He's wonderful and dreadful and handsome all at the same time, but I think he's too tall to be Stinnes. Any other ideas for him in our movie?
MARK L: I dunno, man. I don't even know what Krupp steel is! Let me do some research and get back on it. I'll tell you right now I have no idea what's on those pallets, I'm leaving that up to you. It must be something valuable to somebody, but I won't conjecture what.
I'm counting on you for technical details, because I know I'm an idiot about that stuff, and you're much more knowlegeable. I'll fill in the blanks when I have to, but please be patient with me. Feel free to have a character spit out a nasty line of dialogue that corrects one of my mistakes, if that will help. I won't mind at all! In fact, I'll do the same to you if I see the need.
So, I'm thinking, I'm thinking. Give me a few days.
-----------------------------------------
From: Laura
e-mail: hheap@optusnet.com.au
Date: Tue Nov 18 14:32:58 EST 2003
I have an unresolved query. Who was the truck driver who tried to kill Bernard when he was on his was to see his brother in law? Was he just a psychopath, as implied in Charity (I think), or was there some other explanation, that I missed?
-----------------------------------------
From: Andy
e-mail: squid_001@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Nov 27 04:10:35 EST 2003
Has any one had an luck gettinmg hold of game, Set and match on Video, even if it is NTSC?
-----------------------------------------
From: Catherine
e-mail: Reada6000@aol.com
Date: Fri Nov 28 03:22:28 EST 2003
To Mare:
Game,Set &Match as well as Hope Faith &Charity and Spy line are all read by Robert Whitfield on Blackstone Audio Books (www.blackstoneaudio.com)
Hook is from Chivers Books in the UK and read by Paul Daneman. I do not have Sinker at this time. I love Robt.Whitfield's voice and reading. Bernard's robust nature comes through. However, I listen to tapes at night and fall asleep so there are gaps in my B.Sampson knowledge and do enjoy the fan forum to fill me in. How about Polly Walker who was Lady Caroline in "Enchanted April" for Fiona? I can't remember whether she is blond or brunette. I take visualizing the characters very seriously!!
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@ieee.org
Date: Sat Dec 6 06:03:42 EST 2003
This is for Laura and her mystery truck driver.
I am with you on this one. Was the truck driver a real KGB person or just an opportunistic truck driver after making a quick German Mark. If you recall Werner thought it was the latter as not one knew what Bernard was going to hitch hike to Austria. And the question would be, why try risky hitch hiking anyway? Why not just hope a train and go in comfort to see Werner? Why all the secrecy with the trip when London Central will find out about it anyway?
Therefore, my take on the episode is a rogue driver after easy money and has no bearing on the story.
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@ieee.org
Date: Tue Dec 16 13:21:03 EST 2003
Over the week end I finally sat down and watched the first episode of GSM. The minute it started I kept shaking my head and said, "I don't remember that." Over and over again. And I was not wrong. The first tape is two hours long and that includes the PBS intro with Vincent Price and a short chat with Sir Ian Holm at the end. Somewhere along the way I had totally missed the show.
After watching the opening episode I think I can understand why LD is upset with the show. The story sort of starts while Bernard and Fiona are in Berlin. Fiona solves the Karlshorts incident. And Bernie has to go to Poland to turn a high ranking Polish army officer, and the only contact is his old man. Sounds different enough to wonder which book they were following.
So we must ask why did the show writer change the GSM story line? To be honest I don't think the change adds one bit to an already solid story. Maybe it was to fill in time, or maybe to add some background to an already convoluted story%85
While I am on a roll--- I may be so bold and ruin the end of the show for some, I'd like to quote the interview between Fiona and Bernard that took place at the Normennenstrasse building one cold morning. The text is from the TV show, the descriptive words are all mine. Then go and read how LD handles the interview and let me know what you think about the changes.
--------------------
We find our Bernie in a darkened room. Chairs and a table. Bernard is being questioned; but no hands on Bernard, someone is protecting him. Then in walks Erich into the interrogation room. He has Bernard's file. Erich is not going to try any strong stuff, just talk. What else can he do. But Bernard is not in a talking mood. Just as Stinnes is about to leave the room Bernard asks him why no major effort was made to interrogate him. Stinnes comes back into the room agreeing with Bernard. Stinnes says there should have been five hours of through interrogation, but there was not. Then in walks Colonel Frau Samson. Bernard introduces her to Stinnes. Stinnes is shocked that it was Bernard's wife.
Calmly the seated Bernard says, "Yes my wife, Major Stinnes. The mother of my children."
Sticking to the business at hand Fiona does not pick up the gauntlet but says, "The children were picked up at your mother's last night. After Werner had left."
Sensing the moment Stinnes says, "Colonel. Then you made need this." Stinnes hands Fiona the file and then exits the room leaving husband and wife alone.
Still standing Fiona says, "It's going to cause you a lot of trouble back at London Central, that telephone call. %3Cpause%3E Sentimental really. %3Cpause%3E Thank you. %3Cpause%3E You will be going home."
Trying to rattle his wife Bernard says, "Cramp you style a bit wouldn't it having your husband down the end of the road."
But Fiona is up to the task. She keeps it on a professional level. "I've made it a condition that you should have access to the children."
"Access... where?" demands Bernard.
"In Moscow, I'm afraid. Berlin is too close to the border and too full of your school chums."
"Safe passage?" Asks Bernard
"I can protect you there." replies Fiona
Bernard gets up and walks about. "How long have you been protecting me? There is a tremor in Bernard's voice as he asks the bitter question.
"You haven't needed it really..."
"How long, Fiona" Cuts in Bernard. "God! %3Cpause%3E What a perfect cover I was for you. %3Cpause%3E Every time I came back from the East %3Cpause%3E You sigh your little sigh of relief, pat me on the head and tell me how brave I was %3Cpause%3E Put your arms around me %3Cpause%3E Make me feel warm and safe %3Cpause%3E Jesus Christ %3Cpause%3E How many lives have you made me live?"
"The relief was genuine." There is a long pause then Fiona continues, "I suppose I should say I am glad that the pretending is all over." Another pause, "I hope you will do everything you can to make things easy for the children."
"All depends who's got them, doesn't it." Tosses down Bernard.
"They're waiting for me in Moscow..."
"Apparently for me in London." Changing topic Bernard asks, "What would have happened if you're little gamble had come off? You'd been able to carry on, I suppose. You'd had to have got rid of me though." They stare at each other. Then Bernard asks, "How long Fiona? How long have you been spying?"
She replies in a very cool and calm voice that shows her control of the moment, "I've have my own private good-bye plan for every hour of every day and night." Closing out the conversation Fiona tells Bernard what will happen next, "You've being swapped."
"why?"
"You're more use to me back there. And there is nothing you can tell them here that I can't tell them." Bernard looks crest fallen. Fiona picks up the manila file and starts to head to the door. When she gets there she turns and says, "Besides you were always very good at stirring them up. And I wouldn't want Dicky and Bret to have too easy a time." Bernard turns to look at Fiona. She cuts him off, "Don't ask me"
With Fiona standing at the open door the final penny drops. Bernard concludes "You love me because you were told to." There is no bitterness in his voice, just sadness.
Again Fiona does not reply but stick to the business at hand. "I expect you will want to sleep. You'll have a bed." Fiona exits the room leaving Bernard alone to wallow in the truth of his wife's treachery.
Riveting stuff!!!
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Wed Dec 31 21:06:15 EST 2003
OKAY, MARK L: Ya got me.
Where did you get a copy of GSM? Never mind, I don't care . . . I only care to know where I can get one too.
I'm sure the movie in my head will never match the one on TV, but I think watching it'll be an interesting excersize.
A cold, blond woman I saw in a movie recently might make a passable Fiona. Her name is Victoria Smurfit.
Mark L, you're gonna have to hand it over eventually. I'm on your trail.
I could give you my e-mail, or else you give me yours; either way, we'll get the ball rolling.
What's it going to be? -Mare
-----------------------------------------
From: andy
e-mail: rahunter@ripnet.com
Date: Tue Jan 6 02:56:40 EST 2004
I love the GSM and HLS triology but think that the FHC triology was more about selling more books than cleaning up loose ends. The story of george being a spy and spending alomost the whole book of "Hope" on this story line was a complete waste. I must say I was kinda pissed the good ole Len would screw us the way he did without giving a proper ending to the whole story.
-----------------------------------------
From: andy
e-mail:
Date: Tue Jan 6 04:08:40 EST 2004
As for actors playing the parts. If the series was don enow I'd choose the follwing:
Bernard - Rupert Everett
Fiona - Elizabeth Hurley
Bret %96 James Caan
Dicki - Adam Woodyatt
Silas %96 John Savident
Harry Kennedy %96 Paul Gross
Gloria %96 Katy Ford with blonde hair
Frank Harrington %96 Anthony Hopkins
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Wed Jan 7 19:52:47 EST 2004
ANDY: Regarding your choices for actors to play characters (my favorite topic!), please let me make my remarks, which are always generously open to rebuttal of course.
Rupert Everett as BERNIE: I don't know who Rupert Everett is, so unfortunately I can't comment. What's he been in that I might know? (I'm Canadian, by the way, if that helps.)
Liz Hurley as FIONA: I think she's beautiful and all, but she's a little too 'Supermodel' for the part of Fiona. Just as Tom Cruise always appears to look more like a 'Hollywood leading man' than he does any part that he plays, I'm afraid Elizabeth Hurley suffers the same problem. If she were younger, blonder and more innocent, I could see her as a Gloria type.
James Caan as BRET: I'm sure if we gave James Caan the part he'd do it admirably, but I just can't see his face where I picture Bret's while I'm reading. James Caan has too good a sense of humor, I think. He'd cock an eyebrow, or pull a face somewhere, when the director wasn't looking. And even if he didn't, I'd be watching for it so obsessively that it would wreck the whole thing for me as a viewer.
Adam Woodyatt as DICKY: Again, I don't know who Adam Woodyatt is; I've never seen him in anything. But I'm intrigued to find out about anyone possibly slated to play my darling Dicky, so please post and tell me who this guy is.
John Savident as SILAS: Well, I got lucky here, because I watch Coronation Street and I know quite well who John Savident is and what he looks like. I've never seen the actor in any other role, however, and I find it hard to separate the actor from the role of 'Fred Elliott, the butcher's butcher'. I figure Silas is a bit older than John Savident, but that could be corrected. I can only assume that the habit of saying something, and then REPEATING IT AT FULL VOLUME, is an idiosyncracy of the 'butcher' character, not the actor. If not, it would be hilarious to hear Silas tell Bernard at the end, "She's a damn good girl, I SAY, A DAMN GOOD GIRL! . . . "
Paul Gross as HARRY KENNEDY: He's certainly gorgeous enough, but can he play a sneak? Harry Kennedy is minor enough that any good-looking dude might fill the bill. I think Paul Gross would be a very good choice.
Katy Ford as GLORIA: Again I have to examine my Coronation Street contacts to realize that you might be referring to Kate Ford, who currently plays Tracy on C. St. Kate Ford is a brunette who has a big, evil grin and grinch-style eyebrows. She's a good-looking girl, despite all of that, but my only knowledge of her acting experience is her playing Tracy Barlow on C. St., since Dawn Acton quit the role. (Very odd for Coronation Street to replace an actor in a role. Usually, if the actor dies or quits, the character dies (and stays dead!)) If Katy Ford and Kate Ford are not the same, please respond quickly.
Anthony Hopkins as FRANK: Attitude-wise, Anthony Hopkins would make a great Frank! But I still picture Frank taller, greyer and with a longer head than A. Hopkins, and with a stiff moustache. Besides all that, the vision of A. Hopkins sitting on the floor cross-legged listening to extra-loud jazz records simply does not ring completely true.
Anyways, Andy, those are my thoughts as of today. Thanks for the ear! M
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@ieee.org
Date: Thu Jan 8 00:42:20 EST 2004
My skills at copying tapes are abysmal. I was trying to do a back-up tape and forgot to push the plug in all the way. Oh dear%85 And then there are other technical problems too many and laughable to mention, not accounting for the extreme time things take and coupled with too many kids wanting to be on the PC all compounds into a fiasco every week end. But I am working on it, but may need better tools to crack the nut. So hold on Mare, Technical problems can be overcome but only at the speed of a wet noodle.
But in the meanwhile, let me tell you about the next show%85
-----------------------------------------
From: Andy
e-mail:
Date: Sat Jan 10 12:02:09 EST 2004
To each there own as I always say!
For the record, I do think that Fiona is a supermodel type hence the reason for choosing Liz Hurley.
As requested here are link for Everrett Rupert http:\\home.comcast.net\%7Erupever\index.html
And Adam Woodyatt
http:\\www.bbc.co.uk\kent\fun_stuff\features\adam_woodyatt.shtml
Kate Ford is the one from Corrie which I speak of.
-----------------------------------------
From: ANDY
e-mail:
Date: Mon Jan 12 08:42:39 EST 2004
MARE.....
Maybe after you have a look at Rupert and Adam you can provide comments. If we can agree on John, Paul and Kate. who would you see filling the other roles. I can see Emma Thompson as Fiona (I see Fiona as a stunning beauty as described in the book ) flawless complex, high cheekbones etc etc.
-----------------------------------------
From: MARE
e-mail:
Date: Wed Jan 14 21:55:13 EST 2004
MARK LAYTON: Not to criticize, but aren't you the same guy who had to make a sandwich or something and therefore couldn't hang out to meet Len's publisher????? (I apologize for my poor memory. I've scoured the archives trying to find that entry, to no avail, and I cannot verify that it was really you; it might have been someone else. Anyways, I'm sure you remember the entry.) And now you're telling me the kids yanked out the plug? Speaking from the p.o.v. of a woman with kids all over the place, I understand. So what you have to do is hoof out the kids for as long as it takes and get the deed done, or at least explain to them the gravity of the situation.
RE: Continuing Drama: No, I have not forgotten. Far flaming from it! I'm working on my response. Be patient, eh?
TO ANDY:
FIONA: I've already submitted my idea for Fiona in the person of a cold, blond actress named Victoria Smurfit. I think she will be my final offer, Fiona-wise. I saw her in a recent American movie (?), but I think she's English.
SILAS: John Savident will not do for me. I t
-----------------------------------------
From: JOHN W. BUGLER
e-mail: JBUGLER@AOL.COM
Date: Tue Feb 28 23:32:49 EST 2006
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE DVD AVAILABLE OF " GAME SET MATCH"
SPEAKING AS ONE WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN EXTRACTIONS FROM 1958-1962 I MUST SAY THE 13 PART PRODUCTION WAS BRILLIANT.
YOU SIR ARE THE ONE TRUE LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT.
AS I GROW OLD FOUR SCORE AND TEN I LOOK TO THE EAST TO FIND LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT BUT ALAS THEY TELL US YOU PUT A DEEP FREEZE ON ITS RELEASE.
AT THE RISK OF INFLATING YOUR EGO---GAME SET MATCH
IS THE ONLY CLOSE TO REALITY PRODUCTION TO DATE.
MANY OF US WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THIS SERIES TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
I HAVE READ MOST OF YOUR WORK AND LET ME SAY
BRILLIANT.
PLEASE HEAR OUR CRY--PLEASE ALLOW THE RELEASE OF
GAME SET MATCH ON DVD.
WITH EVERY GOOD WISH. GOD BLESS YOU.
JOHN W. BUGLER
BUGLER.ORG
-----------------------------------------
From: Didier Ollivier
e-mail: didierollivier@neuf.fr
Date: Wed Mar 1 02:14:21 EST 2006
Hello,
I'm french (please excuse my english) and I'm a fan of Len Deighton for over 25 years.
BUT, my problem is that LD most recent books are not published in french: the lasts were "Spy hook", "Spy line" & "Spy sinker".
Have you heard about the publication in french of "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity"?
Wouldn't I know the end of Bernard Samson's story?
Thank you for answering, whatever is the answer!
Cordialy & thank you for your site.
Didier
-----------------------------------------
From: Gary Mellon
e-mail: gary-mellon@hotmail.com
Date: Fri Mar 31 00:32:56 EST 2006
Is Mr. Deighton still writing. I haven't seen a new book in quite some time. I have also noticed that his books seem to be out of print.
-----------------------------------------
From: linda
e-mail: lbb1414@yahoo.com
Date: Fri Mar 31 06:56:39 EST 2006
HI. has L. D stopped writing? Is he still among us? He is one of my favorite authors, but I am reading stuff for the 2nd or 3rd time. Is bernard gone too? Thanks.
-----------------------------------------
From: Cliff Goodwin
e-mail: cliff.goodwin@btinternet.com
Date: Mon Apr 10 20:28:50 EST 2006
I'm writing a commissioned biography of Len Deighton and would like to get hold of copies of any newspaper or magazines interviews, features,etc, or any background material which would help with my research. I would, of course, cover all copying and postage costs and a full credit would be given in the published book.
-----------------------------------------
From: Vincent
e-mail:
Date: Mon May 8 20:25:03 EST 2006
Right after too many poker games, back to the subject.
Wonder why everybody is giving off on Fiona. Find that Fiona is the most formidable character, the only one who match with bernard. Not just as an agent, but also as a person. It's obviously clear that she is traumatised by the whole defection, before and after. Thus meaning there is a reason is for her betrayal to bernard with harry. Furthermore Bernard doesn't try hard enough to crack down her wall when she returns. Because deep in her heart, she loves bernard more than bernard loved her. And deep in her heart she would give up her carriere to be the best wife ever.
-----------------------------------------
From: John Tomlin - Webmaster
e-mail: tomlin@linus.socs.uts.edu.au
Date: Sun May 14 03:38:21 EST 2006
My apologies for the state this site got into. I haven't paid attention to it for a long time.
I just removed about a megabyte of spam from the log file. If I accidentally deleted someone's legitimate post in the process, I'm sorry.
I'll have to find a longer term solution to the spam problem. This may well involve taking down this log and starting a blog. These didnt exist when this site was created.
--John
-----------------------------------------
From: stef@no
e-mail: s290472@hotmail.com
Date: Sat May 20 22:34:43 EST 2006
cool to see that we have make it out! Good to be able to talk. We haven't seen the UK program about Len in the begining of the year here in France. Does anybody knows if there will be a dvd or something?
-----------------------------------------
From: Silhouette
e-mail: silhouetteman1955@yahoo.com
Date: Wed May 24 22:04:10 EST 2006
It is indeede great to get rids of those poker and assorted adverts, just as long as they do not come back in abundance.
Stef@ano, the show 'The Truth about Len Deighton' was first broadcast on BBC Four in early January 2006, and has been repeated a few times since on BBC Four, but as far as I know there are no plans for an official DVD release of the programme, but it would make a great extra on a DVD re-release of one of the Harry Palmer films.
Does anyone here know a reliable way to get a copy of the TV series that was made of 'Game, Set and Match' and why Deighton as not allowed it to be broadcast or made available since it's initial broadcast in 1987?
Best wishes,
Silhouette.
-----------------------------------------
From: Ilona
e-mail: Portable+Audio+Video+Store
Date: Thu May 25 10:45:42 EST 2006
Your site very much Interesting and beautiful! I wish your site of successes and prosperities! If it is interesting to you, visit my page. It is
interesting!
%3Ca href = "http:\\www.portable-audio-video.info\"%3Ewww.portable-audio-video.info%3C\a%3E
-----------------------------------------
From: stef@no
e-mail: s290472@hitmail.com
Date: Sat May 27 05:31:08 EST 2006
Hi to all,
Silhouette (what a funny name - man or woman ?), thanx for the info about the Deighton show on BBC4. Was it good? Will Len be back with a new book? Concerning the Samson serie, i've been told there's an australian web site that sells copies of the show - but i 've never found it ! Who got the rights of the serie? We could try to contact them and ask for a dvd?
See y@
-----------------------------------------
From: Mark Leyton
e-mail: tessrules@hotmail.com
Date: Wed May 31 08:50:37 EST 2006
The answers to all your questions are written above. Just scroll up and there they are.
As for Fiona ever being a true wife to Bernard is pure flights of fantasy. Fiona has been turned too many ways to know what is truth and stop looking over her sholder to see who is behind. The only question is when does she implode, explode, or eliminated by the KGB. Or does her old school chum save or hinder her? And what were the photos that Bernard destroyed in the rubbish can before he went back to London Central that fateful day in the late spring of 1988?
My latest theory, originated from comments written above. Fiona was set up in Berlin as a animal in a labratory to be observed and documented. Certain persons in Moscow were keen to observe and discect her actions and abilities into tools that could be used against the west. As is noted above Moscow never placed a double agent in any leadership position... ever. Ergo Fiona would have been no exception to the rule. But the tightness of the observations were never good due to the ever growing finantial problems of the Soviet Union. Of course the Stazi were watching and that is were we get...
Oops, I can not tell too much as that will take away from the finished product. I have two down and one to go to complete the last set.
On another note, if anyone would like a time line on Bernard or Fiona drop me a line and I will e-mail it to you. I have filled in several key dates and extrapolated others to give a fairly complete picture of what happened and when. A time line is important in establishing all sorts of things. Please remember LD did take some liberties with his time line whilst I tried to stay on schedule.
And as a good comspiray theory person, I would ask what is the connection between the death of Bernard's father, Brian, and T E Lawrence? In my book there is one.
Or why did Bernard and Fiona walk the Olympic stadium in Berlin during their stay in Berlin?
Or Why did Brian enjoy the time of the 1936 Olympics whilst he was in Berlin?
Or what roll did Brian play in the development of the Messersmitt BF109 engine?
Oh dear me. Too many questions and answers to keep all straight. Back to the books for a good read and to fill in some more of the missing bits.
Ta ta for now
mark
-----------------------------------------
From: stef@no
e-mail: s290472@hotmail.com
Date: Thu Jun 1 08:28:20 EST 2006
Argh Mark, you are too dangerous for my health: i had already so much unanswered questions in mind and you push at leat 3 more...i'm going to sleep.
see y@
stef@no
-----------------------------------------
From: Silhouette
e-mail: silhouetteman1955@yahoo.com
Date: Sun Jun 4 21:00:01 EST 2006
Hi stef@ano, Yes, I'm male. Silhouette is my little homage to Ian Fleming's Bond novels. My assumed internet name comes from Fleming's 1955 novel 'Moonraker,' in which Bond is referred to as "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." In 'The Truth About Len Deighton' it said he was currently working on the history of aero engines, but he seems to be just happy doing the research and not really so much in getting anything published. I can report that Len looked in fine form and is still making notes and working away on his current project. There is no sign of any further installments of the Bernard Samson series though. Len's still very much alive for all those who doubted him!
I don't know of any possible DVD copies of the documentary, but the best bet would be to get someone to tape a copy for you from BBC Four.
-----------------------------------------
From:
e-mail:
Date: Sun Jun 4 21:20:53 EST 2006
Sorry, stef@no, I mistook that last part about the DVDs. On reading the comments above there are a few prospective people the DVDs could be bought from.
Here is a newspaper feature on 'The TRuth About Len Deighton,' which will fill in a few of the blanks.
From:
http:\\enjoyment.independent.co.uk\books\features\article336345.ece
Len Deighton: The spy and I
His thrillers made Michael Caine a star, setting the template for his celebrated working-class-hero act. The veteran writer tells Robert Dawson Scott what happened next
Published: 04 January 2006
"There was a time," Len Deighton reflects, rather savouring the memory - "it's difficult to believe now - but before the film came out, Michael was still a struggling actor and I was a famous writer. Of course, he overtook me like a skyrocket, but there was a brief period of time when I was more famous than Michael."
The Michael to whom he refers is Michael Caine. And the Caine connection - it even sounds like a discarded title for one of Deighton's pacy, hard-boiled spy thrillers, which exploded on to the book stalls in their distinctive white covers in the early 1960s - was, as you have probably surmised by now, The Ipcress File, Deighton's first novel.
It was not Caine's first leading film role; that distinction is reserved for Zulu. But it was before Alfie, and Caine acknowledges that the chippy, working-class spy with an attitude problem was a much better showcase for him than the patrician Lieutenant Bromhead at Rorke's Drift. He even remembers reading bits out of the book to his then flatmate Terence Stamp, saying, "Listen to this, Terry, I could do this", and Stamp retorting that, first, they would never make a film of it and, second, even if they did, Caine would never get the part.
Harry Palmer became a defining role for Caine, with two further outings in Funeral in Berlin and Billion Dollar Brain, all based on Deighton novels (in which, famously, the character had no name). At a time when working-class heroes were suddenly in vogue, here was a man who lived in a bedsit, went to work on the bus, was paid a weekly wage and, if he needed a gun, had to get a form countersigned by his boss.
All three films are to be shown in a retrospective of Caine's career at the National Film Theatre this month, including a new print of Sidney Furie's The Ipcress File, which gets an extended run and a limited national release. Deighton will be appearing, too, in the British media for the first time in more than 20 years. An hour-long documentary about him (which includes an interview with Caine) is also due to be broadcast on BBC4 this month, along with two of the films. In a wide-ranging discussion, Deighton acknowledges that if the films were good for Caine's career, they didn't do his any harm, either.
Aged 33 when the book came out, and with his bookish manner and heavy spectacles - like the ones Harry Palmer wears - Deighton may not have seemed an obvious candidate to become one of the hottest names of the 1960s. In some ways he looks rather more spry and dapper now, at 76. He has certainly lost none of his restless, inquiring energy. But, as Sir Max Hastings observes in the BBC4 film, "To those of us who were in our twenties in the 1960s, his books seemed the coolest, funkiest, most sophisticated things we'd ever read." Their sharp-tongued lack of respect for authority and old-fashioned bureaucracy caught the mood.
Nor was it just the spy stories. Already a successful illustrator before he turned to writing (among his more improbable credits is the first British cover for Kerouac's On the Road), Deighton seemed to know no limits. An excellent cook (he had learnt in the kitchens of the newly opened Royal Festival Hall, where he worked during vacations from art school in the early 1950s), he became The Observer's cookery writer; copies of his illustrated cookbooks now change hands on eBay for substantial sums. He wrote guidebooks, was photographed with Patti Boyd and Twiggy, acquired the ultimate jet-set sinecure as travel editor of Playboy, and then became a film producer himself.
Even so, he was a bit taken aback when the phone rang one day and it was Bertrand Russell. "I knew he was a famous philosopher but I didn't know he had my phone number," he says. It turned out Russell wanted advice on the management of his literary estate rather than on the meaning of life. But at the end of their meeting, he mentioned that Paul McCartney wanted to meet Deighton the film producer. Having produced a film, starring David Hemmings, of his own novel Only When I Larf, Deighton and the photographer Brian Duffy had bought the rights to Joan Littlewood's Oh! What a Lovely War. McCartney and the rest of the Fab Four were interested in making an anti-war film themselves. And so it was that McCartney came round for a curry in Deighton's Elephant and Castle flat in 1967. It was that sort of time.
Oh! What a Lovely War was duly released in 1969, though without The Beatles, who wanted to use modern music rather than the music-hall songs of the original. One of the issues that Deighton attempts to settle in the BBC4 film is why he took his name off the credits as producer, something he now describes as "stupid and infantile". It was not that he was dissatisfied with the film. It was the endless stream of people demanding credit for work that, as far he was concerned, they hadn't done. "I thought these people should be ashamed of claiming things they hadn't done. So I thought I would shame them by taking my name off. It doesn't matter. The film got made. In a few years it will be turned into banjo picks."
It was the last time Deighton would mess with the movies. "I realised after having that multimillion-dollar Hollywood singing-and-dancing film on my hands that solitary life behind a typewriter wasn't quite as bad as I had been thinking," he says now.
So he returned to writing, notably several important books about the Second World War, through which he had lived as a child. Bomber was a thinly fictionalised account of an area bombing raid over Germany in 1943, seen - and this, along with the devastating accretion of telling detail, was what shocked people - from both sides. Fighter was a formal account of the Battle of Britain, but one that again provoked outrage, including the German point of view. The research was so meticulous that his conclusions, chiefly that the Few were very brave but their leaders were daft, could not easily be set aside. Indeed, they are now part of the orthodoxy.
Superficially, these books have little in common with the spy stories or Deighton's other novels. If there is a common factor, it is his sympathy with what you might call the poor bloody infantry. Even now, he will not concede that he has any agenda against the generals, the leaders, the politicians, even after his most recent book, Blood, Tears and Folly, a damning overview of the major campaigns of the Second World War.
What he does say is that people in positions of power, who may be sending people off to be killed, should expect to have their deeds examined in rather more detail than those being sent to be killed. It is tempting to see it as a straight class issue. But he deflects the question.
"I was born in a workhouse," he says. (He was, in Marylebone in London, in 1929, though it was just up the road from the hospital, and his parents were by no means destitute; at that time, his father was a chauffeur and skilled mechanic, "in service" to the family of a senior keeper at the British Museum. His mother was a cook. They all, in fact, lived in a mews near Baker Street.) "It trumps the ace of everybody else, doesn't it? Where do you go that's lower than that? So I feel free to criticise anyone I choose. I just speak as I find. I'm not a member of any political party. I hesitate before I join hands, as the old saying goes. What I say is based on my own experience."
'The Truth about Len Deighton', produced and directed by Robert Dawson Scott, BBC4, Saturday, 9.15pm. The NFT Michael Caine retrospective runs to 26 January (www.nft.org.uk)
-----------------------------------------
From: Silhouette
e-mail: silhouetteman1955@yahoo.com
Date: Mon Jun 5 05:38:32 EST 2006
After some searching around I have found the address of the Australian website that can make a copy of Game, Set and Match:
http:\\users.esc.net.au\%7Exenon\3D\runme.html
Click on the tab 'Collectable Movies' and about three quarters of the way down you will find a section called 'Special Collectables,' where the details for the Game, Set and Match audio cassettes and a 7 DVD set of the Granada TV miniseries are located.
Have many people here bought from this Australian site or are there any other people selling the series on DVD around?
Best,
Silhouette.
-----------------------------------------
From: Silhouette
e-mail: silhouetteman1955@yahoo.com
Date: Mon Jun 5 05:43:55 EST 2006
Sorry, for some reason the field switched those forward slashes on the link I posted to the Australian website. It should read:
http:\\users.esc.net.au\%7Exenon\3D\runme.html
-----------------------------------------
From: John Tomlin - webmaster
e-mail: tomlin@linus.socs.uts.edu.au
Date: Fri Jun 9 07:11:22 EST 2006
To whoever posted the article "The TRuth About Len Deighton", thank you! I've included a link to the original at the end of the "Odds and Ends" page.
-----------------------------------------
From: stef@no
e-mail: S290472@hotmail.com
Date: Fri Jun 9 07:16:21 EST 2006
Thanks Silhouette (what a cool name)for everything down here. Concerning the Palmer's movies, i recently watched again the trilogy and FiB is definitively the best adaptation from LD. What do you think friends from the outter world?
ps: if Len is reading, i've recently seen a german Dornier 24 ATT in France and it was massive (http:\\www.hydravions-biscarrosse.com\Galerie.php). Hope you were there...
-----------------------------------------
From: Sune Auken
e-mail: sune@auken.dk
Date: Fri Jun 9 22:26:48 EST 2006
Dear Deightonists
I need to verify a quote from Deighton. Can anyone make an identification. It goes like this:
"You need time, my boy, time. Walk before you run ... Walk before you run, that's right, isn't it?"
"No," I said, "Any mother will tell you that most kids can run before they walk; it's walking that's difficult"
It would be a tremendous help to my research to actually find the quote.
Best wishes
Sune Auken, University of Copenhagen, associate professsor Department of Scandinavian Studies.
-----------------------------------------
From: stef%40no
e-mail: s290472@hotmail.com
Date: Mon Jun 19 18:27:46 EST 2006
To Sune Auken, i've an electronic version of Yesterday Spy. What you're looking for is not in this one. Same thing for Bomber and Fighter. Hope you will find...
Salve
stef@no
-----------------------------------------
From: Parry Halmer
e-mail: panooeygooey@yahoo.com
Date: Thu Jun 22 02:48:06 EST 2006
That Aussie site charges $159 for the set. You can get an 11-disc version of Game, Set, Match from a Danish person who runs this site:
http:\\www.libralion.com\game.htm
Charges 30 pounds ($55-$60) for the DVDs. The video quality isn't great and there is a bit of clipping in a couple of scenes, but it is watchable.
-----------------------------------------
From: Silhouette
e-mail: silhouetteman1955@yahoo.com
Date: Mon Jun 5 05:38:32 EST 2006
After some searching around I have found the address of the Australian website that can make a copy of Game, Set and Match:
http:%5C%5Cusers.esc.net.au%5C%7Exenon%5C3D%5Crunme.html
Click on the tab 'Collectable Movies' and about three quarters of the way down you will find a section called 'Special Collectables,' where the details for the Game, Set and Match audio cassettes and a 7 DVD set of the Granada TV miniseries are located.
Have many people here bought from this Australian site or are there any other people selling the series on DVD around?
Best,
Silhouette.
-----------------------------------------
From: karl simpson
e-mail: k.simpson1@ntlworld.com
Date: Tue Jun 27 10:44:14 EST 2006
I have a very good condition book of Len Deighton's "XPD".
It is published by Hutchinson and Co and I believe it is a first edition.
The dust cover is in VGC and the book soine has gold lettering.
Does anyone know of ts value,and how I can confirm its a first edition
I saw one and only one on e-bay which was not in as good as a condition as mine for %A314.99.
Many Thanks.
Karl Simpson
-----------------------------------------
From: karl simpson
e-mail: k.simpson1@ntlworld.com
Date: Tue Jun 27 10:45:25 EST 2006
I have a very good condition book of Len Deighton's "XPD".
It is published by Hutchinson and Co and I believe it is a first edition.
The dust cover is in VGC and the book spine has gold lettering.
Does anyone know of its value,and how I can confirm its a first edition
I saw one and only one on e-bay which was not in as good as a condition as mine for %A314.99.
Many Thanks.
Karl Simpson
-----------------------------------------
From: Mr KKBB
e-mail: jmbri953@gmail.com
Date: Thu Jun 29 06:30:33 EST 2006
I recently purchased a copy of the Granada adaptation of Game, Set & Match on e-bay. The quality isn't great but it is watchable, the episodes seem to have been gathered from a number of sources.
It was a little disappointing at first as hardly any of the actors looked like my mental image from the books. However as i got into it, i really enjoyed it, i never expected it to be as good as the books & it wasn't, but it is still very much worth a watch. Having waited so long to see it, i could have been very diassapointed. In the end after all that waiting, what it reminded me was just how great those books are.
I am a big fan of Deighton, Le Carre & Fleming. When it comes to espionage fiction, i think the Brits do it best. Berlin Game, is in my opinion one of the stand out books of the genre (is that correct spelling? lol). This log shows just what a great writer Len is & how good his books are. In Harry Palmer & Bernard Samson Len gave us 2 characters that stand up against George Smiley & James Bond.
Anway enough of my waffle & thank god all that poker s**t has gone, though some porn stuff appeared now!
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From: sharon brown
e-mail: alberi@mindspring.com
Date: Tue Jul 11 08:49:16 EST 2006
re The Assassination of President Kennedy by Jonathan Cape, mentioned in your Odds and ends. I recently bought a book by Tony Cape about the Cambridge spies. It deals at length with the assassination. Interesting...
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From: Mike Rogers
e-mail: flying_concrete_cowboy@hotmail.com
Date: Tue Jul 18 14:57:04 EST 2006
I am an avid Len Dieghton fan, what has become of him and will there ever be anothe book? Thanks.
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From: Stewart
e-mail: stewartog@ntlworld.com
Date: Mon Jul 24 04:51:22 EST 2006
What's Len up to nowadays?
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From: Jim Keener
e-mail: jlkeener@yahoo.com
Date: Wed Jul 26 07:56:49 EST 2006
Cuts No Ice
Deighton uses the phrase "cuts no ice" in various forms to mean something like, "has no influence" in several books. Patrick O'Brian has Stephen Maturin discuss the origins of the phrase in "Fortune of War" or "The Surgeon's Mate", suggesting it came from an American Indian source. I haven't come across the phrase anywhere except in reading O'Brian and Deighton.
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From: Craig Tepper
e-mail: Craigtepper@verizon.net
Date: Tue Aug 1 01:55:48 EST 2006
I'm curious about Mr. Deighton's "witnessing" the arrest of Anna Wolkoff (a spy) at the age of 11. Could anyone direct me to where he has written about this real-life biographical episode?
Or to someone who, in turn, could direct me to where, if anywhere, he has written about it, or where someone else has written about it.
Thank you all in advance for any help in this matter.
Best,
Craig Tepper
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From: Rebecca Silva
e-mail: Rrsilva77@aol.com
Date: Wed Aug 23 05:33:13 EST 2006
I just read that Len Deighton lives in Portugal. I have a house in Portugal and am going to be moving back within the next 2 years. I was just curious as to what area of Portugal he lives in, if in fact he still lives there!
Thanks.
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From: Hilda Ornitz
e-mail: hwornitz@sbcglobal.net
Date: Mon Aug 28 14:54:54 EST 2006
I just finished reading the 9 Bernard Sampson and the Winter books. I noticed some discrepancies but what a great read. I think I would like to know Bernard Sampson. Thanks for a all the detail and great research.
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From: Doug White
e-mail: dwhite@northcountry.com
Date: Wed Aug 30 07:54:43 EST 2006
If you like LD, LeCarre, et al, you shoudl take a quick read of the works of Charles McCarry, particularly 'The Tears of Autumn' and 'The Secret Lovers'. His Paul Christopher character has a bit of LD's 'spy with no name' character, and maybe a bit of Bernard thrown in as well... While he isn't nearly as prolific as LD, the novels he wrote are prety good...
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From: Doug White
e-mail: dwhite@northcountry.com
Date: Fri Sep 1 07:05:52 EST 2006
All,
I just purchased a set of the DVDs of the Game, Set and Match series, so if anyone is interested in a copy, please e-mail me and we'll see if we can set something up to Bit-Torrent it to you, or even make a copy of the DVDs if necessary. As mentioned above, it is an interesting take on the characters, particularly in the casting of Ian Holm as Bernard. Overall, I thought it was extremely well made (Granada rarely does anything that isn't...), and though I also had a picture of Bernard as a bigger, more physically imposing presence, (maybe Clive Owen...), I still recommend it to any LD fans who haven't yet stumbled across it in late night re-runs.
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From: Erich
e-mail: enquiries@photoaltering.co.uk
Date: Fri Oct 6 19:04:46 EST 2006
When best to read Winter?
I am re-reading the entire Samson series after a break of four or five years. Also, last time I read it, I did not have the Game Set and Match trilogy, so I'd never read those, but I did read the other six, and also read Winter.
But I discovered Winter later, so I read it at the end of the last six. I found it especially poignant to read Winter right at the end, because it beautifully colours in all the gaps from the past that were hinted at or sketched in, in the later books. However, now that I am reading the whole series again, I now have the luxurious option to choose to read Winter at any time. So when does the LD fandom consider is the most poignant time to read it? After Game Set and Match? Or sometime after or during the next six? Or right at the beginning, before Game Set and Match? (too late for that now anyway as I'm halfway through Set already) It all has to do with the science of storytelling you see, doesn't it? - Whether to enjoy a story in real-time, or in flashback.
And afterwards, I'm making a gift of all these books to a friend of mine who's never read LD, and I want to be able to advise them of the most satisfying order to read them in.
Also, I'm stuck n Italy and can't even actually get hold of Faith Hope and Charity - The last time I read them, they were borrowed, so that's really annoying.
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From: Herman Mock
e-mail: hermoc@hotmail.com
Date: Tue Dec 5 02:38:37 EST 2006
A curious chapter in Deighton's writings about WWII is the history of his German translations. I met the Deighton couple in 1972 when they were in Holland, and he told me about the devastating damage his German publisher Ullstein had done to his novel BOMBER (without consulting him or his agent), but also that he wouldn't dig into the details or do anything about it, since he hated to take any legal steps.
I compared the English and German texts myself and found that the Krauts had eliminated or rewritten at least TEN PERCENT of the original: all passages which, according to Ullstein's bosses, were too touchy, outspoken or painful for their German audience...
I wrote a detailed article in the biggest Dutch weekly about this scandalous censorship, and wedged in a similar story about the notorious David Irving, whose HITLER'S WAR had undergone the same kind of treatment by Ullstein, albeit for entirely different reasons, of course. The publishers never admitted their literary war crimes; Deighton just walked off to a reliable Swiss publisher, and Irving sued Ullstein until his own private hell was freezin' over...
Good luck with your site - and would you know if Deighton has an official site of his own?
HERMAN MOCK
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From: David Pan
e-mail: david.pan.dc@gmail.com
Date: Sat Dec 23 05:20:09 EST 2006
First question - is there an address where I can send a letter to Mr. Deighton?
I am currently rereading all the Bernard Samson books in sequence (with the exception of Winter, which I don't own, and probably will read once I'm done with Charity). Reading all the books in rapid succession has allowed me to retain much more from all the stories and see where certain critical passages have meaning for future events. Some of the books I have not read for more than 20 years, but I could recall their contents as if I'd just read them yesterday. I've been waiting to see if Mr. Deighton will ever publish another spy novel. I hope he is happy in his retirement.
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From: Tom Jerico
e-mail: tom_jerico@lycos.com
Date: Thu Jan 4 10:29:19 EST 2007
I just finished Faith, Hope & Charity, having read the other 2 trilogies in the late 80s, early 90s. I enjoyed them greatly but the ending of Charity was very abrupt and contrived, with Bret's hastily called meeting wrapping up every single dangling thread in a few pages. I wish he'd taken some time to do a proper ending, but I guess he just ran out of ideas. Enjoy the Samson character very much, and would like to see him in a non-Cold War context. But I guess he's retired in Portugal now, so not much chance of that.
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From: Meg
e-mail: megct2000@yahoo.com
Date: Sat Jan 13 01:01:11 EST 2007
Is he working on anything now? The Russian spy poisoning just cries out for a new LD book. I hope he's busy writing something good. It's been too long!
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From: sapphire
e-mail: sapphirerobb@yahoo.com.au
Date: Mon Jan 22 12:34:19 EST 2007
Hi, I'm a great Deighton fan and have enjoyed reading this site, but apalled to have to wade through the porn offers it is plastered with. I mean, what an insult to one's intelligence and where the hell did these neanderthals spring from?
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From: Bob Engesser
e-mail: ntbobkat@comcast.net
Date: Tue Jan 23 15:19:33 EST 2007
A new Len Deighton short story has recently been published in the anthology The Verdict of Us All, Stories by Detection Club to celebrate the eightieth birthday of HRF Keating edited by Peter Lovesey. Deighton's story is titled "Sherlock Holmes and the Titanic Swindle."
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From: John Tomlin - webmaster
e-mail:
Date: Tue Feb 27 18:20:39 EST 2007
Once again, my appologies for letting this log get filled with spam\porn\etc. I'm obviously going to have to find a longer term solution.
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OK. That's it.