The Boys From Brazil: Introduction by Chelsea Cain

Judging from all the reviews I read before reading this book myself, I learned quickly that I had had much higher expectations for this book and author that were quickly dashed in the first few chapters. I found the action way too slow and the description in too much depth--almost appeared to be an attempt in lengthening the story and delaying the climax of the story.

Superb 1976 thriller that became famous for the idea behind it, the creation (or not) of a Fourth Reich by cloning and distributing 94 identical children stemming from one historical source. And at the age of fourteen and at predetermined dates, the clones must suffer the same kind of trauma as the original source at age 14. The scheme is the brainchild of the perfidious, never apprehended Auschwitz camp doctor Josef Mengele and supported by a worldwide network of ‘Alte Kameraden’ based in South America.
Yakov Liebermann, a Jewish Nazi hunter in Vienna--much like Simon Wiesenthal-- is phoned from Brazil by a young American who unsuccessfully applied for a job at his center a year ago (for lack of funds). The call is broken off suddenly. What he managed to say sounded crazy, frightening and improbable. However, Yakov follows up the few leads provided, at first tentatively, then with increasing determination and creativity.
This thriller takes a little time to gather momentum, but once Levin gets into his stride he is unstoppable and relentless. Stephen King commented, “Levin is the Swiss watchmaker of the thriller genre”, meaning combining impeccable research with total precision in production. Sudden fright moments and plot surprises increase in number, leaving readers (m/f) with no respite except reading on until the end. This thriller was, most importantly, also written from the heart. Reading it 40 years after it was first published, Levin’s brief final chapter, a warning really, cannot be entirely dismissed with today’s populist politicians gaining ground on both sides of the Atlantic.
[Found the 1978 film version on YouTube. Ira Levin also wrote the book inspiring the movie “Rosemary’s Baby”. Finally, another seminal thriller from this vintage year is William Goldman’s “Marathon Man”, which was made into an even more successful film. YouTube shows a few trailers].

This is a justly famous classic thriller about a plot by Josef Mengele and other surviving Nazis to revive their evil empire, published in 1976 and also set in the mid-seventies.

It begins when a young man manages, to the world's good fortune and his own misfortune, to learn what is said at a meeting where Josef Mengele sends out a hit squad of half a dozen ex-SS assassins to murder nearly a hundred 65-year old gentlemen who are living in a dozen different countries, on or close to a specific range of dates. Some of the people to be killed seem plausible targets for the nazis, but most of them are not.

In fact some, but by no means all, of the men singled out for assassination are themselves former SS officers or other stalwarts of HItler's regime. (The author builds in some highly ironic moments of extreme poetic justice into the book in respect of these characters.) Mengele does not care exactly how the victims die and encourages his killers to make most of the assassinations look like accidents.

The young man passes to a famous nazi hunter, Yakov Liebermann (a character obviously based on Simon Wiesenthal) the information he has heard, but disappears before it can be confirmed. Liebermann decides to investigate.

First he has to find out whether the call was a hoax or whether these murders are really taking place. And if they are, why has the "Angel of Death" marked these men for murder and how does he plan to restore Nazi power?

You'll have to read the book to find out.

What I will say is that it is exciting and brilliantly written.

This book was made into a 1978 film starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and James Mason. (Link: The Boys From Brazil [DVD]).

in which they have revitalized yet another milestone in composer Jerry Goldsmith's career by releasing in complete form (finally!) his complete music from the 1978 thriller THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL. It also helps complete a collection of complete score releases of those projects the composer collaborated on with director Franklin J. Schaffner. They worked on seven films together and they always marked a turning point for Goldsmith who admitted that every time he worked with Schaffner marked his growth as a composer. This score is certainly no exception.
Initially released on LP by A&M Records with the film's release it made for a very cohesive listening experience as
the composer selected various cues from the score to fashion an uninterrupted suite lasting nearly twenty minutes with the second side of the record featuring a song and two extra tracks from the score. As much as I enjoyed the album it suffered from the omission of many choice musical moments which Intrada has corrected on this excellent (yet limited) release which sold out nearly a year after its release in 2008.
What really stands out in this music is the composer's amazing facility to immerse himself in the differing styles of such classical masters as Strauss and Wagner. The film's main theme is an amalgamation of the lilting Viennese waltz he devised and the brutal seven note motif for tuba/trombone. Goldsmith's harmonic language here is one of his most accessible and enjoyable and was generously displayed on the original album but here his harder edged action writing for the Nazis is also given a large amount of exposition here. One of the most outstanding moments of the score is the first previously unreleased track, "The Killers Arrive" in which the composer allows the Nazi motif to make its first appearance and dominate by way of the immense brass section of the National Philharmonic Orchestra. It is well over five minutes and gradually builds to a lush treatment of the waltz theme (the Strauss influence with the Nazi motif obviously his take on the Teutonic heaviness of Wagner's music).
For those out there who are die hard fans of this particular composer this is definitely one of his best works that should be in any collection. Like other releases of Goldsmith's music from that label THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL is
presented on two discs: the first presents the complete score (including pieces that never made it into the finished film) as heard in the film in chronological order and the second presents the original soundtrack album digitally remastered and includes several bonus features including source music and alternate versions of "The Hospital" and "The Killers Arrive." I was lucky enough to snap up a copy when they were first released (and will never part with it) and was overjoyed to finally hear all the music after thirty years of hearing it in my head. The booklet is excellent and full of interesting information. Their most recent releases in this two-disc format are PATTON and FIRST BLOOD and I can't wait to get those. Like their other two Goldsmith releases in this format (THE WIND AND THE LION and ALIEN) those two are regular releases and not limited editions and worth having as well.
But THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL is one of Goldsmith's aggressively best works of the 1970s---hell, his whole career---and if you can snap up a copy then do so, its a great score.

In September 1974, a secret meeting of the Kameradenwerk (German for "Comrades Organization") is called to order in Sao Paolo, Brazil with these words, "Lasst uns jetzt Geschaft reden, meine Jungens." ("Let's get down to business now, boys.") Spoken by the Nazi Angel of Death, Dr. Joseph Mengele, they immediately bring quiet to the room. Mengele outlines a plan to his cohorts, all ex-Nazis: over the next two years, they are to travel the globe, arranging the deaths of ninety-four men in their mid sixties. Mengele assures them that their efforts will fulfill the destiny of the Aryan race.

Unknown to the participants, their meeting has been clandestinely recorded by Barry Koehler, a young American seeking to ingratiate himself with legendary but aging Nazi hunter, Yakov Liebermann. After fleeing the premises with the tape, Barry reviews its contents, then calls a confused Liebermann in Vienna (it's early morning there) to alert him. At first skeptical, alarm bells start jangling in Liebermann's mind when Barry's call is cut short after someone breaks into his hotel room. Concerned about the now missing boy's fate, and by the troubling news he delivered about Mengele's activities, Liebermann investigates, slowly uncovering the sordid details of the Kameradenwerk operation.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this famous book's plot, it would be unfair to reveal additional details--half the fun of the novel lies in Levin's slow reveal of the insidious Nazi scheme. That's not to say those familiar with the book's premise will enjoy it any less, as the other half lies in watching a master at work--only Ira Levin could squeeze so much tension out of what amounts to a battle of wits between two sexagenarians.

The Boys From Brazil is a breathtaking work of suspense, a classic thriller exhibiting two key traits of the best of Levin's novels, a fascinating premise and exemplary pacing. A master at snaring and retaining his audience's attention, Levin draws readers into his carefully constructed web, sparingly doling out information in service of his story. Because readers must struggle alongside Liebermann to put the puzzle pieces together, realizing the full import of Mengele's plan at the same time the Nazi hunter does, it's almost as if they are first hand participants in the unfolding action.

There are scenes in this book which you'll find yourself thinking about weeks after you finish--these memorable set pieces, together with Levin's subtle consideration of the morality of those on both sides of the conflict, make The Boys From Brazil "unputdownable" and unforgettable.

The Boys from Brazil is a speedy, smooth thriller for two or three lengthy and compulsive reading sessions. Despite shallow character development and several major plot-holes - in a plot that's somewhat contrived and ludicrous to begin with - the whole thing holds together quite well and makes for an effective read that draws the reader in quite easily and makes it easy to miss its flaws. It's clearly genre literature, the kind that fails to transcend literary genre or time; but it's good enough as to appeal not only to avid fans of that genre, and though it's hardly serious fiction - or serious science fiction, for that matter; the science of the novel is highly far-fetched and contrived - and many will scoff at it, it's a thriller that does its job well and is hard to ignore. It won't last in your mind more than a day, but during the reading time itself it's haunting.

As major Nazi conspiracies go, The Boys from Brazil isn't quite as convincingly scary as William Goldman's brilliant Marathon Man, neither novel nor film. Both characters, Nazi and Jew, are ultimately stereotypical caricatures - though Levin did his best to give Dr. Mengele a couple of redeeming human moments, these come off as sarcastic and laughable rather then authentically human. And the message of the novel, though it's certainly there, and comes over clearly - perhaps a bit too clearly - feels forced upon the reader, time and time again over the two hundred pages.

And yet, The Boys from Brazil is entirely entertaining, frighteningly involving, and continually thrilling, and even though at times you might consciously laugh at the naïve, simplistic, dated ideas and messages, you'll have a tough time putting it down. And when all's said and done, that's just what it should do. It's certainly not a major classic, and far from essential, but it's still a bloody good read that, in it's own way, still works.

This is one of my top five conspiracy-thriller books. Ira Levin is a master in this genre and this is one of his best books. It is a masterful book about famed Nazi hunter Yakov Liebermann and the bumbling efforts of a 'wanna-be' Nazi criminal hunter, Barry Koehler who stumbles upon a fiendish Nazi plot. Led by Auschwitz's "Angel of Death" Josef Mengele, the new Nazi group wants to bring another 'Hitler' to power by cloning the original and re-creating his environment. What ensues is a cat-and-mouse between the two elderly enemies. This is a stellar read with colorful characters who have a rich back history. This is a thrill ride for adults and lovers of WWII conspiracies.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable thriller. Despite knowing the plot I still really liked this.

It is very fast paced, well written and even amusing at times.
It does require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief but it is so well done that I didn't really notice any of the possible lack of realism.
The central character, Leibermann is really well portrayed and makes a welcome change from the usual hero of thrillers.

****SLIGHT SPOILER*****
With the benefit of hindsight it probably gives too much credit in portraying some of the Nazis who fled to South America as evil geniuses. Josef Mengele seems to have been a psychotic killer rather than a serious scientist and his time in South America was somewhat seedy.

Normally, I like reviews that give a short outline of the plot of a book or movie, because without that, you don't know whether you'd like to spend the time. However, unless you're really wavering, I would strongly advise that you to read the book before looking at the reviews below -- Ira Levin is THE MASTER of suspense -- like Stephen King says, his plots work like intricate timepieces -- and for maximum enjoyment you should know as little as possible about the book before you start.
Odds are, however, that you already know it's about cloning and Nazis, so I'll go ahead and say this: I put off reading the book for years because I wasn't interested in either of those subjects. But "The Boys" is not what you'd expect at all, and superlatives can't describe Levin's skill. "Couldn't put it down" doesn't touch it.
Plus, any gore or references to sex and violence are only what is necessary for the sake of the plot, which is important as far as I'm concerned.
And, just like with his other books, this is more than just a roller coaster ride that you walk off of and forget. There's satisfying poetic justice, interesting moral contrast, and important ethical questions raised -- not just the usual pronouncements about weren't-the-Nazis-terrible or isn't-cloning-awfully-dangerous, either. It's one of those books you love to discuss with a friend.

This thriller is set in 1974 as the fictional Ezra Lieberman, a Nazi hunter based loosely on Simon Wiesenthal, is contacted by a U.S. reporter on the job in Brazil who just heard of a plan by Josef Mengele, infamously called the "Angel of Death," to activate ODESSA (former SS members on the loose in South America) in order to kill 94 men. The only link among the men who have thus far been killed is they were murdered just after reaching age 65; otherwise, they seem to share no common traits.

The chilling novel tracks Lieberman as he desperately tries to determine the link among the targeted men before more are killed (why does Mengele want these seemingly harmless men dead?) and attempts to track down Mengele.

While some parts of the novel are dated (mainly because most any SS officer in the Third Reich, if alive, would be near 100 or older), the genetic engineering premise is much more likely than it was in 1976 upon the novel's publication.

A hearty recommendation for a change from the glutted market and often overlapping scenery of recently-published mystery/suspense novels.

The Boys From Brazil does seem a little dated well more than a quarter century after it s publication. But the book remains a tightly constructed and fast-paced story, interesting without being complicated. Basically, classic pulp fiction.
Admittedly, advances in cloning in recent years make the characters who never heard of the subject seem a bit dim by modern standards. And the old-fashioned communications methods (e.g., having an operator call you back in order to place an international call, or misunderstanding things because connections are so bad) seem almost contrived. Even the Cold War-type mentality can at first seem cartoonish. But remember that this is taking place in 1974-75 ... that's the way it was.
I first read the book around 20 years ago and I remembered enjoying it well enough. Recently, I picked it up again when I wanted something easy to read on train journey, and it was just what I needed: absorbing without the thought that would require me to resent the porter when he came by to check my ticket. In the end, I read it in two long reading sessions.
If you are looking for something along those lines, then I'll say you can do a lot worse than The Boys From Brazil.

The Boys From Brazil is probably better known by its late 1970s screen adaptation than the novel by Ira ("Rosemary's Baby") Levin. Since I hadn't seen the movie I thought I'd give the book a try. And I was pleasently surprised.
The story is about elderly Nazis in Brazil, led by the ingenius yet wicked Mengele, seeking to clone Hitler. In fact they had done this some years back, cloning 94 genetic equivalents of bad ol' Adolph. Now in the mid-1970s they need to embark on a murderous rampage to fulfill their objectives (..no spoilers here). Bring in an aged Nazi hunter from Vienna and we have a tight, compulsively readable little thriller.
Of course we know really that the story deep down is very contrived, even for when it was written (1970s). So I recommend not taking the story too seriously. It is well-written, and there are a couple of most memorable scenes.
Bottom line: bio-terrorism and Nazis. Turn off your brain and enjoy.

Some reviewers complained this title lacked the excitement of modern thrillers. Who cares? Levin presents a compelling conspiracy more logical than most modern action media. And, no, I am not going to tell you what happens. But, most readers will be paranoid enough to accept the what-if hypothesis and occasionally look over their shoulder. And, while you're at it, watch out for Rosemary's baby. A fun, worthwhile, and even thoughtful read.

This book opened marvelously, but it quickly went downhill after the main character's visit to the icecream castle to find the significance of the 94 men's deaths. I can accept the Mr. Liebermann has a great deal of intuition, but his conclusions here are beyond unrealistic. My favorite part was definetly when our hero chained the dreaded Mengele to a tree and emptied the can of spray-on moose pheromones onto the villain's back. You really redeemed yourself here, Ira!

In the area of World War Two, Hitler historical fiction this is an interesting story. The author created a plot that is getting close to possible with today's technology. A lot of the historical facts introduced in the book are accurate and the author uses these facts to build a complete story. From a wiring point of view the book is above average, but not an edge of your seat thriller. The story is complete, the plot is a good one and there is adequate character development. It is a good book that is worth investing the time.

Boys from Brazil begins disturbingly, with of group of three men in South American plotting to kill 94 men with civil servant-type jobs. These men are to be killed at specific dates but no mention is given of why. Thus the book continues, slowly building to an unpredictable climax of repeated history that must be stopped.
Even though I already knew the ending to this book it was still a wonderful read, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who knows their ABC's

Like a fictionalized "Sacred Blood," this is a disturbingly fanciful mystery about what could have happened if the evil Dr. Mengele's bizarre experiments had worked out to the Third Reich's advantage. Simply told, it is reminiscent of his storytelling in THE STEPFORD WIVES and is an enjoyable read, especially if you haven't yet seen the movie version.

Ira Levin wrote this great novel about some surviving Nazis hatching a new plot in South America. The film version with Steve Guttenberg (in a serious role) isn't quite as good.

Buy this novel!

The Boys From Brazil is 12th grade reading with a 5th grade concept. It begins with big, bad Josef Mengele and the "boys from brazil" planning the 4th Reich. It's been done. I also thought the central concept (cloning) was a bit simplistic. Ditto for the idea of ex-Nazis camping out in South America making s'mores. At the time it was written, the concept was science fiction. However, by today's standards, the concept itself, is almost a cliche. That's not to say that I blame Mr. Levin for this weakness. At the time it must have been a thoroughly provocative concept. However, Levin does do a good job backing it up with the genetics vs. environment debate which probably was not as self-evident then as it seems today. I will also say that Levin's choice of a protagonist is refreshing compared to the heros that end up being played by Mel Willis or Bruce Gibson after the screenplay machine whorks a conversion onto the silver sceen. The ending is also interesting and humorous in political terms.
All that aside, I did enjoy the "entertainment" the book provided so I'll give it a "paperback" reccomendation.

If you intend to take breaks while reading a book, don't read this one! It takes your breath away and wont give it back until your totaly through. Mr. Levin knows how to write a good book. This is the only book that I have actually sat down and read it all the way through.

This book is wildly implausible but irresistably fun. Levin adds the gravity of human responsibility to his nutty mad-scientist story to keep it from flying off into camp. The suspensefull ending is particularly satisfying.

A simply chilling work from start to finish which builds on the atrocities committed by Mengele during ww2 by merging them with concerns about cloning in contemporary society with an aside to the ongoing nature/nurture debate.