The le Carré Cast

A podcast on the world of John le Carré

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Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway Explored Part One

In this episode we look at Nick Harkaway’s 2024 George Smiley novel, Karla’s Choice.

Steven Ritterman, le Carré expert and collector, joins me to talk through all of our thoughts on this Smiley continuation novel.

We talk reference Jurassic Park’s famous quote “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should,”

All that and much more in this episode.

We’ll be back in two weeks for part 2.

Steven’s episode on collecting John le Carré is here.

Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com

Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite

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One response to “Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway Explored Part One”

  1. kfmacmichael Avatar
    kfmacmichael

    I very rarely re-read books, and I almost never re-read books right away – but a combination of Karla’s Choice and discovering this podcast has resulted in my doing so.

    Coming from a background of “I think I read a Le Carre twenty years ago?” I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, and I think, regardless of whatever reservations already-existent Smiley fans might have (justified or not, and I have to say I’m also in general not enthusiastic about continuations), this book will succeed as a new entry point to Le Carre’s work for readers who might not be fans yet – from what I vaguely remember of whatever Le Carre I read way back when, Karla’s Choice does seem like a modernization, with (more women) a faster (and easier to follow) pace – and maybe that’s good, and maybe that’s bad, and maybe it’s just the way it is in the world we live in now.

    It might all be a cynical cash grab, and there is something about it all that does make my (often dysfunctional) spidey-senses tingle a bit, but it’s well done and entertaining, and maybe that’s all that ultimately matters.

    Thank you for posting these enjoyable discussions, as I am enjoying the rare re-read alongside listening!

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