2025 Reading Challenge 07 Berlin Game
Not exactly hitting “The Wall” but Berling Game was a struggle, I’d envisioned a slightly more modern and action-packed version of The Human Factor, but it wasn’t to be…
My struggle was probably the pacing, which is perhaps my expectation more than anything else. Cold War thrillers are slower-paced and involve more human drama than action-orientated scenes.
There are elements of the British class system, that feel outdated, too many upper-class twits at the top of MI6, actually, maybe it’s not changed too much.
The main protagonist, Bernard Samson, is a fairly unlikeable character, bitter and cynical somewhat cruel and in a fairly unbelievable marriage.
There are positives, the description of spy terms and the goings on in Berlin are immersive and detailed. It is well plotted and tension builds up expertly in the final scenes, but a writing style I’ve not taken to combined with this genre was not enough for me to carry on reading the rest of the trilogy.
I rated it 6.0 out of 10.
TTRPG Thoughts:
I’ll put a shout-out to Handiwork Games Cold City Hot War which is coming to Kickstarter soon and is one of the most eagerly awaited RPGs on our Discord.
Plus the wonderful Cold War season that Graham Roewe put together on The Raspy Raven Discord.
Beyond that, the book has not inspired me much on the RPG front.
