The Square Circle
Encyclopedia
The Square Circle is a novel by Daniel Carney
.
After the success of his first novel, The Thin White Line
, author Daniel Carney
was asked by producer Euan Lloyd to write a follow up novel. Lloyd had already turned the Thin White Line into the hit movie The Wild Geese and was constantly being asked to make a sequel. At first Carney refused as he just couldn't come up with a premise for the story, Lloyd wouldn't be put off and suggested the theme could be the rescue of Rudolf Hees from Spandau Prison in West Berlin.
, then being held for nearly 40 years since the end of the Second World War. Lakas, given the permission to employ a mercenary soldier to plan the rescue bid, hires Lebanese mercenary John Hadad. Hadad excepts the offer in part and travels to West Berlin
, in the heart of East Germany, to conduct a reconnaissance into the feasibility of the operation. While in West Berlin, Hadad, is kidnapped by a mysterious group of vicious Germans lead by an ill looking middle aged man. They already know who Hadad is and have guessed why he is in Berlin but they torture him all the same and leave him for dead. Hospitalised from the beating he took, Hadad is visited by British Army Major Reed-Henry who questions him on his activities. He shows Hadad photographs of the men who attacked him, revealing the leader as Karl Stroebling, a KGB
operative and terrorist group leader. Again Reed-Henry already suspects why Hadad is in Berlin, but leaves it at that.
Next day Hadad is joined by Kathy who is shocked by his injuries. Still unsure whether to accept the contract, Hadad realises he needs someone to watch his back and allow him to work without the threat of Stroebling. So Hadad travels to Paris, where he locates an old comrade Maroun who's been contracted to assassinate a Palestinian military leader. Maroun agrees to join up with Hadad after he's completed his current job and protect Hadad in Berlin from Stroebling and his terror group. While in Paris Hadad meets Kasthy's brother Michael, who's also a senior member of Kathy's group.
Hadad returns to West Berlin to continue with his reconnaissance while Kathy returns to the States, back there she learns her fellow committee members want to pull the plug on the project. Kathy strongly objects to their plan and decides to fund the rescue with her brother personally by selling a valuable family heirloom. Back in West Berlin, Hadad is approached by an American Army Major, Tom Dade. Dade an old friend of the Lakas' is keen to help and suggests that Hadad seek out Reed-Henry for assistance in rescuing Hess.
and
Daniel Carney
Daniel Carney was a white Zimbabwean novelist. Three of his novels have been made into films.-Biography:Daniel Carney was born in Beirut in 1944. In 1963 he settled in Rhodesia and joined the British South Africa Police, where he served for three and a half years...
.
After the success of his first novel, The Thin White Line
The Thin White Line (novel)
The Thin White Line is a novel by Rhodesian author Daniel Carney, it became better known when it was turned into the film The Wild Geese. At first Carney could not get his novel published, but for a chance meeting with film producer Euan Lloyd. Lloyd loved the story about Mercenaries in Africa on a...
, author Daniel Carney
Daniel Carney
Daniel Carney was a white Zimbabwean novelist. Three of his novels have been made into films.-Biography:Daniel Carney was born in Beirut in 1944. In 1963 he settled in Rhodesia and joined the British South Africa Police, where he served for three and a half years...
was asked by producer Euan Lloyd to write a follow up novel. Lloyd had already turned the Thin White Line into the hit movie The Wild Geese and was constantly being asked to make a sequel. At first Carney refused as he just couldn't come up with a premise for the story, Lloyd wouldn't be put off and suggested the theme could be the rescue of Rudolf Hees from Spandau Prison in West Berlin.
Plot
Harvard 1980, a radical human rights activist group are seeking a way to put their group into the public eye. Member Kathy Lakas suggests they organise the rescue of Rudolf HessRudolf Hess
Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was a prominent Nazi politician who was Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party during the 1930s and early 1940s...
, then being held for nearly 40 years since the end of the Second World War. Lakas, given the permission to employ a mercenary soldier to plan the rescue bid, hires Lebanese mercenary John Hadad. Hadad excepts the offer in part and travels to West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
, in the heart of East Germany, to conduct a reconnaissance into the feasibility of the operation. While in West Berlin, Hadad, is kidnapped by a mysterious group of vicious Germans lead by an ill looking middle aged man. They already know who Hadad is and have guessed why he is in Berlin but they torture him all the same and leave him for dead. Hospitalised from the beating he took, Hadad is visited by British Army Major Reed-Henry who questions him on his activities. He shows Hadad photographs of the men who attacked him, revealing the leader as Karl Stroebling, a KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
operative and terrorist group leader. Again Reed-Henry already suspects why Hadad is in Berlin, but leaves it at that.
Next day Hadad is joined by Kathy who is shocked by his injuries. Still unsure whether to accept the contract, Hadad realises he needs someone to watch his back and allow him to work without the threat of Stroebling. So Hadad travels to Paris, where he locates an old comrade Maroun who's been contracted to assassinate a Palestinian military leader. Maroun agrees to join up with Hadad after he's completed his current job and protect Hadad in Berlin from Stroebling and his terror group. While in Paris Hadad meets Kasthy's brother Michael, who's also a senior member of Kathy's group.
Hadad returns to West Berlin to continue with his reconnaissance while Kathy returns to the States, back there she learns her fellow committee members want to pull the plug on the project. Kathy strongly objects to their plan and decides to fund the rescue with her brother personally by selling a valuable family heirloom. Back in West Berlin, Hadad is approached by an American Army Major, Tom Dade. Dade an old friend of the Lakas' is keen to help and suggests that Hadad seek out Reed-Henry for assistance in rescuing Hess.
Characters
- John Hadad - Lebanese mercenary, veteran of the Lebanese Civil WarLebanese Civil WarThe Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
and wanted by Palestinian terrorists. - Kathy Lakas - leads an American human rights committee to force the release of political prisoners.
- Maroun - American born Lebanese mercenary, expert sniper who's become an assassin for whoever pays.
- Michael Lakas - senior member of the human rights committee and Kathy's brother.
- Karl Stroebling - East German terrorist leader working for the Soviets, formerly a right-wing terrorist before switching to the Soviets.
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Reed-Henry - a British Army Officer station in West Berlin who is also an undercover operative for the British secret services. - Pierre Helou - Lebanese racing driver and former comrade of Hadad, lives in West Berlin with his wife and son and daughter.
- Joseph and Jamil Koury - Lebanese brothers and mercenary comrades of Hadad.
- Patrick Hourigan - I.R.A.Irish Republican ArmyThe Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
terrorist currently working for Stroebling after becoming known in Northern Ireland. - Warrent Officer Cooksley - Hess's personal warder who helps Hadad on the bequest of Reed-Henry.
- Major Tom Dade - American Army officer serving in West Berlin who seems keen to help the Lakas'
and
- Rudolf HessRudolf HessRudolf Walter Richard Hess was a prominent Nazi politician who was Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party during the 1930s and early 1940s...
- Prisoner no.7 at Spandau Prison and the worlds most closely guarded man.