The Nine Books that inspired me to write (3 of 9) #3_ Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson

Kolymsky Heights (1994)

The American poet, Kenneth Koch once said ,"You cannot not be influenced by great writing", and this book was one of those 'turning points' in my writing.

Steven Spielberg, before filming, always watches John Ford's The Searchers , when I start planning to write, I always read Kolymsky Heights. I think its the best thriller ever written.

Kolymsky Heights is the third book on my list of the 9 books that inspired me to write. It introduced me to Lionel Davidson, who only produced seven novels in his career, but each one an outstanding read. It was an introduction too, to his other works and I have read them all, but this book is by far his most accomplished. I borrowed it from the local library, read it twice cover to cover and decided I needed to have this to hand and bought it.

The plot revolves around a secret message smuggled out of a secret Russian laboratory in the far flung reaches of Siberia. It is addressed to Jonny Porter a Canadian from the Gitxan tribe who has excellent linguistic skills and because of his tribal heritage can pass for a inhabitant of the Russian steppes. He reluctantly agrees and embarks on a perilous voyage to undertake a rescue mission.

But also, its a quest; it is hard, an arduous journey by sea and land in extreme environments. It is a quest that is easy to understand; Porter has a mission and makes the fateful decision to undertake it. And lastly, a great deal rests on the success or failure of the mission.

Davidson's attention to detail is mesmeric and this allows the premise to appear real to the reader. Sixty-one chapters broken up into six parts keep a tight rein on the timeline and add to the propulsion of the narrative. Each character, including the lesser ones are fully realised and relevant to the story, there is no wastage. The prologue is an excellent example of an unreliable narrative - the story evolves from a letter allowing the reader from their POV to become involved in the plot and set up the reason for the mission.

What I love about this book is that it takes place pre-internet, pre-google. Secret messages are written on cigarette papers, there is a secret facility is involved in awful experiments on living test subjects. This is as far from James Bond as possible; there are no fortunate breaks, every step along the way is perillous for Porter. You are as much looking over his shoulder as he is. And this is supremely good writing.

I had completed the 4th of my Eva adventures, Hollow Point and was happy enough to leave it there, hanging on a possible return book pre-D-Day. I took a year off before even thinking of another novel.

But I did want to write one more, but make it post - WW2 and began plotting EAGLES HUNT WOLVES a year after VE Day in 1946. I wanted it taking place in Russia and post-war Berlin and set Eva on a quest of her own to hunt down a Nazi cell with a weapon capable of destroying the allies, fulfilling Hiter's Nero directive.

I re-read Kolymsky Heights and the extremely battered copy has pencil, pen and undelined passages. I love the maps on the pages to show Porter's journey, a healthy nod to Tolkien too. If you want a supreme example of character problem solving, I recommend Chapter 48 as Porter cobbles together a Bobik (an all terrain vehicle suitable for the frozen wastelands of Siberia) for the final stage of his mission.

If you haven't read it, I can recommed it for the night's drawing in. It is a masterclass from start to finish.