Books like The Ringmaster

The Ringmaster, a political thriller set in post-Cold War Asia, is certainly one of West's best. Although unlike his Vatican trilogy in many respects, the characters in Ringmaster were so real I found myself completely drawn into the complex web of multinational and many layered relationships. The story centered on Gil Langton, a publisher, man of many languages and the mediator-in-chief of a major consortium involving one of his oldest friends, a wealthy Japanese businessman along with a small cast of unforgettable players from around the globe. A quote from a modern Zen master which appears nears the end of the book sums up the twists and turns of this little three ring circus, “When friends do business, there is no need of contracts. Unfortunately, there are no friends in business.” Morris West is one of those rare writers—both extremely wise and subtly entertaining. Thoroughly enjoyable book. ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><Although first published in 1991, this book is still eerily current. It's hard to believe it was being written as the Soviet Union was collapsing. Morris foresaw the shifting world balance including that most of America's future difficulties would stem from the Muslim world, ten years before 9/11.