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| Plot Summary of The Gold Swan |
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"
Simon & Schuster, Nov 2002, 25.00, 338 pp.
ISBN 0684862867
It has taken almost four years and millions of dollars but the 2,500 feet high building is only a few weeks away from completion. It is the tallest man-made structure on earth with the base of the building being a man made island in Victoria Bay. It serves as a symbol of the new China, strong, unique and majestic and is affectionately called THE GOLD SWAN because the structure is in the shape of the neck of a swan.
Ex-FBI agent Clay Williams, a senior security consultant for the Fifth Millennium China tower has come to love the one of a kind shaped building. When it becomes obvious to insiders that it is structurally flawed Beijing goes to extraordinary lengths to repair the damage and suppress the news. It is only thanks to a Chinese gangster that he has befriended that Clay and his co-worker Anne are not caught up in the ensuing madness of the ruling Chinese regime.
One of the trademarks of a James Thayer thriller is that it is totally unpredictable and predictably THE GOLD SWAN is no exception. Hong Kong under China's rule is an interesting mix of capitalism, political ideology, but especially pragmatism that would make William James envious. The protagonist is a likable character yet the unique star of this work is the GOLD SWAN, a totally unique edifice that captures the hearts of a nation.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Gold Swan |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
Spying/Terrorism Thriller
Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
- power struggle within govt between two factions
- political blackmail
- kidnap/rescue
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime plotlets:
- vigilante getting revenge
- escape/rescue from kidnappers
- escape/deal with prison
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Motive of antagonist
- power
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- China
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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