Passage of Arms: A Suspense Thriller

More than other thrillers by the master Eric Ambler, PASSAGE OF ARMS shows how deeply we misunderstand other cultures. Here are an Indian clerk in Malay, a international family of Chinese crooks, a Communist warlord, and a reasonably-successful American everyman and his wife on vacation, all acting each according to his very-small partial view of the situation without having any idea of the others' motives, let alone the big picture. One of the other reviewers complained of the story's "simplicity". How is it less simple than say A COFFIN FOR DIMITRIOS? What it has is INEVITABILITY. Like many of Ambler's novels. The characters, and the vivid narration, are always more important than the plots anyway in Ambler, especially now that it's history. Like, well, Hitchcock. Or the movies made from Ramond Chandler's novels.

And by opposing end them. In many respects, Eric Ambler was to the modern British suspense novel what Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett were to the American detective novel. Ambler transformed the suspense novel from a simplistic black and white world of perfect good guys versus nefarious bad guys into a far more realistic world where sometimes the difference between good and evil is not all that great. In a series of books written before World War II Ambler would typically take an unassuming, unsuspecting civilian and immerse him in a world of mystery and intrigue in pre-war Europe. In those books the `hero' would find himself facing danger at the hands of the German or Italian villains. Once the war ended Ambler's plots reflected a change in the world's political situation. The typical Ambler protagonist now found themselves at odd with other totalitarian forces such as the Soviet bloc such as in his "Judgment at Deltchev". In addition, Ambler broadened his geographic horizons and set some of his books in post-war Asia. In these instances the plot usually found itself centered on the intrigue that settled around the newly emerging nations of Asia as the old Europe ended its lingering colonial presence. "Passage at Arms" takes the reader on a "mystery tour" of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Written in 1959, "Passage at Arms" is a fine example of Ambler's work. The unassuming naif in this case is Greg Nilsen. Greg is a quintessential American tourist circa 1960. He is a solidly middle class businessman, the owner of a small manufacturing concern, who has managed to save up enough time and money to go on a lengthy cruise (on a cargo ship) with his wife Dorothy. Through a curious series of events, set up admirably by Ambler, Greg volunteers to act as a front man for the transportation and sale of a shipment of arms from Malaysia to Indonesia via the free trade zone of Singapore. As one expects in any Ambler book things do not quite go according to plan. The book can be broken down into three distinct parts. In the opening third of the book, Ambler sets the scene. He introduces us to most of the characters (apart from the Nilsen's), introduces the reader to the book's locales, and traces the provenance of the arms that form the basis of the plot. In the second third, we see how Greg Nilsen is baited into taking part in the transaction. Finally, the last third of the book takes Nilsen to a rebel camp in Indonesia where he hopes to receive his payment. It is here that the plot boils over and events race to a typically (for Ambler) provocative conclusion. Two of Ambler's strong points are his ability to set a scene and the strength of his characterizations. For example, Ambler's portrayal of the Indian plantation clerk, Girija Krishnan, living in Malaysia is excellent. Krishnan is the person who `finds' the arms in question. For Krishnan, the ability to sell the arms will facilitate his dream of buying a bus and starting a tra

I thoroughly enjoyed Passage of Arms. This is the fifth novel that I have read by Eric Ambler and I now understand why Len Deighton, Graham Greene, and John LeCarre give so much credit to Ambler for creating the modern espionage novel. Passage of Arms begins in the port city Kuala Pangkalan in Malaya, moves to Singapore, and then to Sumatra. It is the late 1950s and arms smuggling is a dangerous, high risk business, especially when amateurs become involved. The plot is both interesting and unpredictable. The exotic setting, Southeast Asia in the 1950s, is more threatening than inviting. But perhaps what I actually recall most about Passage of Arms is a unique, intriguing character, Girija Krishnana, a delightfully clever and ambitious clerk of Indian heritage. Girija Krishnan is not the lead character, but he is nonetheless absolutely essential to the storyline in Passage to Arms. His obsessive desire to purchase a passenger bus results in unpredictable, explosive events. I will long remember the entrepreneurial Girija Krishnan. Passage of Arms is a great way to become acquainted with this master of espionage and suspense. Some other Ambler recommendations: Journey into Fear is the story of a Mr. Graham, a highly capable naval ordnance engineer, that becomes unexpectedly the target for assassination by German agents. Graham is no James Bond, and his desperate efforts to escape prove largely ineffective and amateurish. Arthur Abdel Simpson, as the protagonist in The Light of Day, is disagreeable, dishonest, and disreputable. He blames others for his failings, he cheats his clients, and he has served a short sentence for distributing pornographic material. Somehow, as Arthur becomes ensnared in one of his own schemes, I found myself increasingly concerned and sympathetic for his plight. Possibly Eric Ambler's most complex character is Michael Howell in The Levanter. He is a wily businessman intent on sheltering his family's third generation business in Syria from ongoing nationalization efforts by the Baathist Party. Much of the story is told in a first person narrative by Howell. The reader must decide how much of Howell's account is trustworthy.

A humble but enterprising Indian clerk with the dream of owning a bus company accidentally finds out about an abandoned terrorist weapons cache. He carefully and painstakingly sets up their sale through a businessman in Singapore. In the sale process, an American couple on vacation get drawn into the affair, and end up on the firing line between Sumatran factions. Ambler's characters are all beautifully drawn. They are presented, too, with a finely honed sense of humor, and deep understanding of human nature. The carefully constructed plot never ceases to turn, and each new episode is a fresh surprize and delight.I particularly enjoyed the character of Girija Krishnan, who so loved the buses. And General Iskaq, with his pondering of just how to best shock and annoy the British and American consuls. And the Tan family politics. Etc., etc., etc.This book was great fun, and beautifully well written.