Page 31 - aruba-today-20170309

A31
PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 9 March 2017

Spy novelists keeping an eye on Trump-Russia allegations

HILLEL ITALIE “I wake up every morning while we were increasingly
AP National Writer and I think, ‘Thank heav- bemused and concerned
NEW YORK (AP) — Jason ens for Vladimir Putin,’” by the Russian contacts of
Matthews is a retired CIA says Matthews, whose next Paul Manafort and Carter
officer who now writes spy book, “The Kremlin’s Can- Page, not to mention Flynn,
novels, focused on Rus- didate,” will center on the but it was a case of fiction
sia. He was working on a “tried and true” story of a becoming reality.”
book last year that ordinar- Russian asset in the CIA. David Downing, whose
ily would seem a little far- “He’s a great character novels include “Lenin’s
fetched, but which proved and his national goals are Roller Coaster” and “One
too close to current events. the stuff for spy novels: Man’s Flag,” said he finds
“The plot line was an Ameri- weaken NATO, dissolve the the Trump-Russia reports
can presidential candidate Atlantic alliance, break up more a political story than
who has a secret that’s so the European Union.” a spy story. But he did find
bad it would ensure his or Charles Cumming, known some details in common
her impeachment, and for such novels as “A Di- with his novel “Stettin Sta-
the only person who would vided Spy” and “A Colder tion,” about an American
know the secret is Vladimir War,” is working on a thriller businessman caught up
Putin,” says Matthews, a that touches upon Brexit with Nazi Germany during
prize-winning author best and Trump’s election, in- World War II.
known for his “Red Spar- cluding “the idea that col- “This is what you get for
row” thrillers. lusion could take place electing a self-defining
Matthews set the novel between the Russian and businessman/deal-maker
aside, but he’s in no dan- American intelligence ser- as president — someone
ger of running out of ideas. vices is no longer the stuff who can’t be relied on to
With law enforcement and of fiction.” put the national interest
Congress looking into pos- Michael R. Davidson, an- first, while, of course, loudly
sible ties between Trump other former CIA agent insisting that that’s exactly
advisers and Russians dur- who writes novels, also what he’s doing,” he said
ing the 2016 campaign, spy found the story of Trump of Trump.
novelists have been chal- and Russia overlapping Best-selling novelist Joseph
lenged, amused, angered with fiction. He and writ- Kanon, who has written ABOVE: In this March 2, 2017, photo, President Donald Trump
and inspired. The Cold ing partner Kseniya Kirillova the Cold War thrillers “Los gestures as he speaks to Navy and shipyard personnel aboard
War ended decades ago, had been working since Alamos” and “The Prodi- nuclear aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford at Newport News Ship-
building in Newport News, Va. BELOW: In this Feb. 2, 2017 file
but writers now see a new early 2016 on “Successor,” gal Spy,” says for now the photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking
wave of possible plot twists a thriller about the Russians Trump-Russia stories are during his and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban joint news
and plots to avoid, whether attempting to get a mole more like a Carl Hiassen conference at the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary.
the reported Russian con- in the White House who will farce than a John le Carre Associated Press
tacts of such former Trump push the Americans to lift drama. He notes some of he says. “The characters Felix Sater up to? Where has
campaign officials as Paul sanctions. the necessary elements for
Manafort and Carter Page, “We had it mostly complet- a spy novel: both sides are involved seem to come out the (British intelligence) MI6
of pulp novels, without any source gone to ground?
the Trump dossier compiled ed by late summer. But as doing it, espionage is seri-
by British intelligence or the Kseniya writes only in Rus- ous and ideology is the pri- of the gravitas a good spy So, yes, we may have the
novel would give them. Of elements for a good spy
firing of National Security sian, I had a lot of translat- mary motive.
Adviser Michael Flynn over ing and editing to do and “The current mess is really a course this may change as story but at the moment
we learn more. What was all we have is a national
phone conservations with did not finish until Novem- gangster story, part farce,
the Russian ambassador. ber,” Davidson said. “All the but ultimately dismaying,” (Trump business associate) disgrace.”q

Kristen Stewart explains why she

went public about love life

The Associated Press Live,” when she joked in a surrender a bit of what was
NEW YORK (AP) — Kristen swipe at Republican Presi- mine, to make even one
Stewart used to fight like dent Donald Trump, “I’m, other person feel good
heck to keep her private like, so gay, dude.” about themselves.”
life private, including her The idea, Stewart said in Coming out publicly, Stew-
relationship with her “Twi- reports on People and art said, “just seemed im-
light” co-star Robert Pat- elsewhere, was to spread portant and topical.”
tinson, but then she came acceptance, adding to Stewart said during a re-
to grips with her celebrity The Sunday Times of Lon- cent round of interviews
status. don: for her upcoming film “Per-
In July, she revealed for “Considering I had so sonal Shopper” that there
the first time that she had many eyes on me, I sud- was another motive be-
an on-again, off-again denly realized (my private hind her Trump-focused riff
girlfriend, followed most life) affects a greater num- last month on “SNL”: “We
recently by her first host- ber of people than just me. just wanted to make the In this Oct. 24, 2016, file photo, Kristen Stewart arrives at the 23rd
ing gig on “Saturday Night It was an opportunity to monologue funny.”q annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards at the Four Season
Hotel in Los Angeles.
Associated Press