Rating: 
Summary: A brilliant account of an earlier "Cold War."
Review: This is a terrific book, a story of military strategy and intrigue that is complex yet remarkably easy to follow. Cold War buffs will learn that 1945-1989 was an echo of the Great Game. The book put a lot of the 20th century into context. The characters are richly defined, the research thorough. You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: How did he find out all this stuff...the guys a genius.
Review: This was not supposed to be my type of book at all and boy was I pleasantly surprised.It's gripping and enlightening and I cant beleive that it all actually happened...wow. This guy knows his stuff and it's beautifully written. Don't be put of by the subject matter...this book is dynamic.
Rating: 
Summary: True life adventures of British Indiana Joneses
Review: This narrative including the stories of British and Russian explorers and intelligence officers reads like an Ian Fleming novel. True life James Bonds and Indiana Joneses battle with Sultans, bandits, Russian spies and each other in exotic Asian lands. History alive: gripping and fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Indespesable for those doing business in Central Asia.
Review: If you are doing business in the southern tier of the Former Soviet Union or Central Asia you are crazy if you have not read this book and its companion volumes "Setting the East Ablaze" and "Like Hidden Fire". If you are still willing to do business in the area after reading thses books you must be completely mad.
Rating:
Summary: relevant and intriguing
Review: The Great Game combines rich historical accounts with adept political insights and presents them in a literary style that reads like fiction. The complications of today's world can be better understood by reading The Great Game.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary adventure in a world we left behind
Review: After reading this book, I went straight out and bought Peter Hopkirk's others. This is a fascinating tale from a different era, of the confident and audacious adventurers, mainly British or Russian, who sought to extend their empire and sometimes paid a heavy price. Hopkirk is neither jingoistic or condemnatory and he has unearthed some amazing stories of personal courage allied to a very British eccentricity. One footnote : if you enjoy this book, you'll probably also appreciate George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman books. Good reading!
Rating:
Summary: First Class Read, Interesting and Intriguing. still curent
Review: A first class book that encompasses an era of history that reflects current geopolitical problems in Central Asia and the Middle East. Hopkirk, sucks in the reader to a different time that uncanilly relates to, today. His lively charactorisation and extrodinary knowledge of the people, places and times develops an empathy with a lost eara and peoples.
Rating:
Summary: Should be mandatory reading !
Review: Besides being a book able to capture and hold your attention throughout, it also conveys vast amounts of knowledge to the reader. Hopkirk's narrative is a facinating account of one of the almost forgotten parts af history. It is the kind of book both in contents and structure that makes you long for more.
Rating: 
Summary: A riveting good tale of (mis)adventures and exploits.
Review: Loved it. For anyone with an interest in world, British, or Russian history, Hopkirk's book is superb. He deftly weaves the tales of adventure and high stakes that marked the Anglo-Russian rivalry in Central Asia. With this region growing more geopolitically important each day, Hopkirk's story is relevant today since those nations (unlike us) do not easily forget their treatment at foreign hands. It's also a story of bravery. Young British and Russian officers went into uncharted territory to win over tribal allegiances for the good of their respective Empires. Many naver came back. These tales should loom largely in the minds of those who think conducting Unconventional and Guerrilla Warfare is childs play.
Rating:
Summary: Anglo-centric but a pretty dang good read
Review: The main problem I have with this book is that the Royal Geographical Society, back when the English ruled the world, was so dang good at getting the information out about their explorers that they snowed under most of the other information and make almost any well-researched book a book about Englishmen abroad. I think Peter Hopkirk tried really hard to avoid it, but the stories about the Russians and the Pundits and all the other neat folk who were a part of the "Great Game," which are probably just as compelling, are secondary to the intrepid exploits of the English. But I'm nitpicking, this guy is a great writer and this book is one dang compelling read. After reading this, I just want to be some English guy conniving for his empire at the top of the world. Just read it you'll know what I mean.
| 
