Robert Ludlum

A CLASSIC TRILOGY IS BOURNE:

Robert Ludlum's trio of international suspense novels featuring Jason Bourne have become a standard of measure for all who have longed to attain Ludlum's status as an author. The overwhelming success and continuing popularity of all three novels --- THE BOURNE IDENTITY, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, and THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM is a remarkable feat seldom achieved by any author attempting to follow a bestseller with even a single sequel, let alone two. Although Ludlum penned a lengthy list of bestsellers throughout his career, (with many more yet to be published posthumously) it is the Bourne trilogy that became the coveted anchor in every fans' collection, elevating Ludlum's masterful saga into the enviable category of a twentieth century classic.

THE BOURNE IDENTITY
Bantam Books
ISBN: 0553260111

In the shadowy world of international conspiracies it's difficult to know who to trust --- who is your friend, who is the enemy. In Jason Bourne's world, things are vastly more complicated because he isn't even sure who he is. Pulled from the Mediterranean Sea, critically injured from gunshot wounds and with no memory of his past, there are few clues to help him sort out his identity. A microfilm surgically implanted beneath his skin contains the key to a Swiss Bank Account flush with funds; his facial features have been altered by plastic surgery. For Jason Bourne, his perilous struggle to outwit those who are trying to kill him, specifically the evil assassin Carlos, soon pales in comparison to his growing fear that he, too, may be an international terrorist on the run.

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
Bantam Books
ISBN: 0553263226

Jason Bourne has returned, creating a bloodbath in his wake, and the world trembles in fear of who's next on the legendary assassin's list. But the reality is that there are two Jason Bournes: the undercover operative who uses the fictitious name to infiltrate and dismantle the plans of international conspirators, and the unknown assassin who has stolen his identity. In this sequel to THE BOURNE IDENTITY, Bourne is drawn into a deadly game of intrigue as he races to find and expose the impostor before international detente is crippled beyond salvage.

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN: 0553287737

Carlos, the Jackal, is obsessed with eliminating his rival, the fictitious assassin Jason Bourne. And the man he stalks, who had resumed a life of normalcy, finds himself thrust back into the covert life and legendary guise of Jason Bourne to hunt down the notorious terrorist, Carlos. Their final confrontation was inevitable from the first explosive pages of THE BOURNE IDENTITY, and now Bourne must become the bait to draw the Jackal from his lair. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, knowing that when this trilogy comes to a close, only one assassin will emerge triumphant.

THE COVERT ONE SERIES:

Prior to his death in March of 2001, Robert Ludlum began a new series in collaboration with other well-known international suspense writers entitled The Covert One Series. The novels feature a top-secret team of political and technical experts who fight corruption and conspiracy on an international level. Col. Jonathan Smith and his fellow Covert-One operatives, MI5 agent Peter Howells and CIA agent Randi Russell, are the continuing characters of the three Covert One novels published to date:

THE HADES FACTOR
(With Gayle Lynds)
Griffin Trade Paperback
ISBN: 0312973055

THE CASSANDRA COMPACT
(With Philip Shelby)
St. Martins Press
ISBN: 0312981589

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THE PARIS OPTION
(With Gayle Lynds)
St. Martins Press
ISBN: 0312289871

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MORE REVIEWS AND EXCERPTS:

THE PROMETHEUS DECEPTION
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 031225346X

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THE SIGMA PROTOCOL
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312982518

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THE MATARESE COUNTDOWN
Bantam Books
ISBN: 0553579835

If you loved THE MATARESE CIRCLE, then Robert Ludlum's newest thriller is the sequel you've been waiting for. The Matarese dynasty is back with secret deals, mysterious money shifts, corruption --- all the stuff of the best espionage thrillers that have garnered Ludlum millions of fans. One man, a CIA case officer named Cameron Pryce, has enough knowledge to stop the secret Matarese. But he may not have enough time. The countdown has begun and Pryce has only one chance to stop it. Let yourself be drawn into Ludlum's top secret world of THE MATARESE COUNTDOWN.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

A complete bibliography for Robert Ludlum can be found at AuthorsOnTheWeb.com: Robert Ludlum Bibliography

A PREVIOUS INTERVIEW:

Bestselling author Robert Ludlum has earned his place in the annals of writing history with more than 210 million copies of his novels sold around the world, all 21 thrillers appearing on the New York Times bestseller list. At the time of this interview, he had just completed THE MATARESE COUNTDOWN, which revived the dynasty created in THE MATARESE CIRCLE and revered by Ludlum fans. Bookreporter.com was lucky enough to be able to send a few questions Ludlum's way. His answers were tightly woven --- just like his writing. Read on for a brief glimpse of the man who has kept readers on the edge of their seats for more than three decades.

TBR: Has the end of the Cold War changed your writing? How so?

LUDLUM: Outside of the obvious --- the struggle between two ideological enemies --- not really. I have always preferred conflict of individuals over the battle of extreme ideologies.

TBR: Your books have gotten more complex as you have progressed in your writing. Do you ever have the urge to write a simpler book?

LUDLUM: Life is extremely complicated, I try as best I can to enter the realm of nuances of human behavior and alternatives of that behavior.

TBR: What made you decide to return to the Matarese in THE MATARESE COUNTDOWN?

LUDLUM: With all the mega-mergers, national and transnational --- i.e. global --- if this continues to its illogically logical progression there will be fewer and fewer choices in this world.

TBR: What topics in the international world of politics concern you the most?

LUDLUM: All of the aforementioned because it means that greater economic power will be in the hands of too few.

TBR: What are the most important qualities of a villain for you?

LUDLUM: Basically two qualities: credibility and an interesting persona.

TBR: Your background is in theater. How does this help or hinder your fiction?

LUDLUM: Helps immensely, as characterization is integral to the theatrical experience. Add to this dialogue and the "architecture scenes" (a theater person should know what holds an audience and what does not).

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