The Russia House

"You have to think like a hero merely to behave like a decent human being."

—The Russia House

1988. The Cold War is coming to an end.

MI 6 has come into possession of several Russian manuscripts detailing the highest level Soviet military research. The scientist and author of the manuscripts however, will only deal through a very unlikely intermediary. Barney Blair is a sometimes publisher, full time dreamer and drunk. Who is drawn into the world of espionage in order to help Katya Orlov, the beautiful former girlfriend of the author.

As the battle lines are drawn for a showdown between the CIA, MI 6 and their KGB rivals. Barney must make a choice: his love for Katya or the demands of his country.

Made into a Film in 1990 with Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Tropes used in The Russia House include:

Cold War
The Great Politics Mess-Up: Although written and set before the end, several characters allude and worry over the future if the cold war comes to an end. As one character puts it:

" How the fuck do you peddle an arms race when the only asshole you've got to race against is yourself!?"

Happily Ever After: For Niki Landau anyway For smuggling out the files, he gets £100,000 from MI 6 and opens up a very successful business with it. He remains happily unaware of all the espionage that follows
Make the Bear Angry Again: Or rather, carry on as if he is still in the game.
May-December Romance: Barley and Katya.
Not So Different: The crux of the story is that ordinary people of the USSR and the West are remarkable similar. The KGB are up to the same tricks as MI 6 and the CIA.
Paper Tiger. The manuscripts state the entire Soviet weapons programme is in a state of disarray. Truth in Television by 1990