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cover of episode What It's Like to Write a New John le Carré Novel

What It's Like to Write a New John le Carré Novel

2024/11/8
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The Book Review
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Gilbert Cruz
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Nick Harkaway
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Gilbert Cruz: 约翰·勒卡雷的作品是当代最受欢迎的惊悚小说之一，他的作品对读者影响深远。 Nick Harkaway: 我作为勒卡雷的儿子，创作新史迈利小说是一项艰巨的任务。我选择在《谍影重重》和《锅匠，裁缝，士兵，间谍》之间的时间段创作新故事，因为这段时间足够创作新的故事，新的情节，新的喜悦和悲伤，让故事融入丰富的世界观，而不是简单的填充。我父亲创作这些书时，并不是在创作一个系列，而是创作一本接一本的书，每一本都是他唯一关心的真相。在60年代，史迈利在英国情报局的职位不断上升，直到他和他的上司被撤职，新的领导班子到来。他刚刚完成了一次成功的行动，但付出了巨大的代价，这让他并不快乐，他希望重新确立自己的身份和行为准则。我父亲在创作《谍影重重》时，故意让其中的事件令人不安，而史迈利在这个故事中只是一个次要角色，他并没有考虑到史迈利在《谍影重重》中所扮演的角色。起初我拒绝了创作新小说的任务，但最终因为这是父亲的宇宙，是20世纪非凡的小说，代表着许多人的冷战记忆，而接受了这个挑战。我在2023年接手了这个任务，并花了2到3周的时间重读了所有史迈利小说，并尝试创作一些短小的文本，最终决定开始创作。我父亲临终前让我“传承他的火炬”，我当时不想谈论这个话题，因为这涉及到他的死亡，但后来我意识到这代表着我能够延续他的创作。为了创作这本书，我重读了早期的史迈利小说，包括《死亡的呼唤》、《高质量谋杀案》和《谍影重重》，以及史迈利三部曲，但跳过了《间谍的遗产》，因为那本书的时间线与其他作品不一致。我必须将《间谍的遗产》中的事件视为真实事件，但要调整时间框架，并遵循人物最初的设定，否则故事与《锅匠，裁缝，士兵，间谍》无法衔接。我认为我父亲会对“宇宙”这个词以及故事的连续性感到不屑一顾，但他创造的世界是自洽的，情感内容和冷战氛围贯穿始终。重读这些小说是为了保持故事的基调和风格，使写作史迈利成为一种本能而非认知的过程。我从小就听着父亲朗读史迈利的故事长大，因此在写作时，能够本能地捕捉到史迈利的语气和风格。史迈利与詹姆斯·邦德等角色形成鲜明对比，他代表着一种更加缓慢、深思熟虑、现实的间谍形象。史迈利是一个能够修复破碎世界的人，他能够理解并修复这个世界，这在当今这个充满裂痕的世界里仍然具有吸引力。史迈利是一个你可以信赖的人，他能够修复那些让你感到错误的事情，他也是一个空虚的人，你可以和他一起旅行，进入他的内心，他也是一个非常脆弱的人，情感上赤裸裸的。我父亲在看过阿莱克·吉尼斯饰演的史迈利后，一度难以创作史迈利这个角色，因为吉尼斯的表演影响了他的创作。我创作的史迈利是基于我父亲的创作、吉尼斯、迈克尔·贾斯顿、西蒙·拉塞尔·比尔、丹纳姆·埃利奥特和加里·奥德曼等人的演绎，是一个融合了各种版本的史迈利形象。创作间谍小说很有趣，但由于我没有当过间谍，我需要时刻提醒自己这一点，并避免编造一些不真实的间谍技巧。控制者是一个复杂的角色，他是一个“邪恶的好人”，他的动机总是令人怀疑，他可以是卑鄙的恼人的、刻薄的，但他也是故事中不可或缺的人物。史迈利的同事们知道控制者是一个怪物，但他们也知道，为了完成任务，他们必须追随这个必要的邪恶。《卡拉的选择》探讨了史迈利如何重新找到自己的中心，在他参与了一件他认为是错误的行动之后，他如何才能重置自己，找回自我意识以及在世界上的立足点。我父亲创作史迈利是为了创造一个他从未拥有过的理想父亲形象，而他父亲是一个道德和犯罪上都很复杂的人。我和父亲的关系并不紧张，他支持我的写作，我们之间没有未完成的事业。人们问我作为约翰·勒卡雷的儿子是什么感觉，我无法回答，因为我从未做过别人的儿子。父亲去世后，我感到世界应该停止运转，但事实并非如此，人们对他的去世感到悲伤，这让我在某种程度上得到了慰藉。我和我的家人负责管理勒卡雷的遗产，包括未来的书籍和电影改编。根据这本书的成功情况，我可能会创作另一本史迈利小说。我总是低估创作项目的难度。我曾在1995年的电影《黑客》中担任制作助理。我认为认真对待现代世界的虚构作品，就必须与科技互动，而不能忽视科技的影响。我计划在创作史迈利小说之余，继续创作我自己的科幻小说。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Nick Harkaway choose to set his new George Smiley novel between 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' and 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'?

Harkaway chose the 10-year gap between these two iconic novels because it provided enough narrative space to tell a new story with fresh arcs, joys, and sorrows. This period allowed him to create a standalone story within the Smiley continuity without merely filling in gaps or disrupting the established timeline.

What challenges did Nick Harkaway face in maintaining continuity with John le Carré's original Smiley novels?

Harkaway faced challenges due to the lack of strict continuity in le Carré's original works. Le Carré wrote each book as a standalone, often without aligning dates or details across the series. Harkaway had to reconcile inconsistencies, such as those introduced in 'Legacy of Spies,' while staying true to the original tone and emotional depth of the Smiley universe.

How does George Smiley differ from other iconic spies like James Bond or Jason Bourne?

George Smiley is portrayed as a thoughtful, deliberate, and often disillusioned spy, contrasting sharply with the fast-paced, action-oriented personas of James Bond or Jason Bourne. Smiley's character is defined by his ability to understand and repair a broken world, his emotional vulnerability, and his slow, methodical approach to espionage, making him more relatable and human.

What role does Control play in the Smiley novels, and how does Harkaway approach writing this character?

Control, the enigmatic leader of the Circus, is depicted as a morally ambiguous figure who does terrible things for what he believes are the right reasons. Harkaway describes him as a 'wicked good guy' who is inaccessible, imponderable, and often suspected of ulterior motives. Control's character is meant to cast a long shadow, appearing only briefly to maintain his mystique and authority.

How did Nick Harkaway's upbringing influence his ability to write in the voice of George Smiley?

Harkaway's early exposure to his father's writing process, including daily readings of Smiley's stories during breakfast, deeply influenced his ability to capture the character's tone. He describes Smiley's voice as instinctive rather than cognitive, rooted in his childhood immersion in the Smiley universe. This familiarity allowed him to authentically channel the character without imitating his father's style.

What does Nick Harkaway's new novel reveal about George Smiley's emotional state after 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold'?

In 'Carla's Choice,' Smiley is grappling with the emotional fallout of the events in 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,' particularly the death of Alec Leamas. He feels betrayed by the Circus and struggles to reconcile his actions with his moral compass. The novel explores Smiley's journey to rediscover his sense of self and purpose after a morally ambiguous operation.

How does Nick Harkaway view the concept of a 'Smiley universe' in the context of modern intellectual property expectations?

Harkaway believes his father, John le Carré, would have been skeptical of the modern concept of a 'Smiley universe,' as le Carré wrote each book as a standalone work without strict continuity. However, Harkaway acknowledges that the Smiley stories feel continuous due to their consistent tone and emotional depth, which he strives to preserve in his own writing.

What does Nick Harkaway's experience as a production assistant on the film 'Hackers' reveal about his creative process?

Harkaway's time as a production assistant on 'Hackers' was marked by long hours, caffeine-fueled work, and surreal experiences, such as seeing Richard Gere dressed as King Arthur. This early exposure to the chaotic world of filmmaking likely influenced his ability to navigate complex creative projects, including his ambitious Smiley novel, which he describes as a 'high wire act.'

Chapters
Nick Harkaway, son of John le Carré, inherited the daunting task of writing a new George Smiley novel. He chose to set the story in the 10-year gap between *The Spy Who Came in from the Cold* and *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*, a period ripe for new narratives. The decision to take on this challenge was influenced by both family discussions and a personal sense of responsibility.
  • Nick Harkaway, author of multiple science fiction novels, wrote a new George Smiley novel.
  • The novel is set between The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
  • The decision to write the novel was influenced by family discussions and a personal sense of responsibility.

Shownotes Transcript

The works of John le Carré, who died in 2020, are among the most beloved thrillers of all time. For some, books like "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," "A Perfect Spy" and "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" are simply among their favorite works of literature ever.

So it was a perilous task that author Nick Harkaway, one of le Carré sons, set out for himself. The author of multiple well-received science fiction novels, Harkaway picked up the torch from his father to write a new tale starring George Smiley, the Cold War spy who has appeared in more than a half dozen novels. According to Harkaway, it took some work to figure out the right period to set the book in.

"Smiley's career is a little bit tricky in terms of the continuity because my dad, when he was writing these books, wasn't writing a franchise," Harkaway said. "He was writing one book after another, and each one was the only truth that he cared about."

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