Billion-Dollar Brain cover art

Billion-Dollar Brain

Penguin Modern Classics

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Billion-Dollar Brain

By: Len Deighton
Narrated by: James Lailey
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About this listen

Texan billionaire General Midwinter will stop at nothing to bring down the USSR - even if it puts the whole world at risk. The fourth and final novel featuring the cynical, insolent narrator of The IPCRESS File sees him sent from his shabby Soho office to bone-freezing Helsinki in order to penetrate Midwinter's vast anti-Communist network - and stop a deadly virus from wiping out the planet.

©1966 Len Deighton (P)2021 Penguin Audio Espionage Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense

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All stars
Most relevant
I found this a bit difficult to get into at first, only because it was the first of the early Deighton's I'd listened to ( as opposed to read) . I initially found James's interpretation of the main character slightly off putting. However I persisted, and his performance really grew on me. He really gets the dark humour across as well as the drama. Really pleased, thank you. I'm now listening to Funeral In Berlin (yes I know I'm going backwards) and it too is really good.

I knew it was good but this is better than I remem

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With apologies to Michael Caine in the Italian job! This is a wonderful story with themes that resonate today (sadly). I read the book many times and seen the film many times two – one of the best soundtracks ever. The one thing that I found distracting with the story though is the narrator reading with a Michael Caine accent. If this accent was put on then I think that’s a poor decision. If this is the actors real accent, I apologise.

You were only supposed to read the b****y story

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Great listen, love to compare the books to the movies .i have enjoyed all of the audiobook
And the narrator does a grand job of bringing Michael Caine’s Harry palmer to audio reality
I advise everyone to listen a touch slower on the settings for maximum effect

Harry palmer the working man’s bond

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So prophetic, and spectacularly detailed. I love the film and this is better (as you would expect)

"is it man's ultimate fate to be ruled by machines?"

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obviously well researched but not heavy handed, memorably drawn characters, good balance of action, drama and comedy.

excellent narrator

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