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tu..jy fabruary 28, 1976
daily nebraskan
page 9
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Imagination not one of Buokley's multiple talents
By Bill Roberts
Saving the Queen, by William F. Buckley,
Jr Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden
J: . vt vt 7 0;
William F. Buckley has done so many
things successfully. He is the editor of The
National, Review, host of the television
show Firing Line, author of several books,
and a nationally known champion of con
servative causes. He should be able to write
a novel, too. Right?
Wrong. Saving the Queen is to novel
writing as paint-by-number sets are to art.
The books consist of a simple CIA adven
ture plot embellished with oodles of sup
posedly charming detail in hopes that the
groping reader will think something is
going on.
The time is the early 1950s. Blackford
Oakes, former World War II fighter pilot
and magna cum laude graduate of Yale,
joins the CIA. This is no easy thing. It
takes the first half of the book to explain
all the difficulties that slinking into that
super-secret society entails
But he does join the CIA, and his first
assignment is to discover how the Soviets
are getting information on the American
development of the hydrogen bomb.
Oakes trail leads to the court of the
Queen of England. Buckley invents a
wonderful young woman, Caroline,-for
that role. She is the bright spot in the
book, unquestionably worth saving.
The informer is discovered finally, and
the Queen saved, in a suspenseful episode
involving Oakes rejuvenated mastery of jet
planes.
The gut appeal of Saving the Queen is
adventure, not mystery.
The characters, again except for the
eccentric Queen Caroline, are flat, boring
and nearly indistinguishable. It is accept
able that CIA agents are dedicated. But
surely something besides patriotism and
ideology motivates even those death
defiers. Buckley does try to develop his main
character.
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Following his "How to Write a Novel"
directions, the author gives a psychological
twist to Oakes. I lis dilemma is that he sub
consciously hates England, because of a
schoolboy incident, and yet he loves and
respects the Queen.
The incident, a simple and common
whipping, is silly. The resolution of the
dilemma is sophomoric. And the psych
ological "insight" into the character is
embarrassing.
But Buckley, is an honorable man.
He wouldn't send the publisher a simply
told story full of simple characters; He
equips them for their trip to print with his,
uniquely profuse prose style.
The clogged writing style, intended to
be impressive and charming, must account
for Saving the Queen's best-selling status.
This style makes the-book unique, but only
superficially.
Conservative . to the core, Buckley
obeyed the rules of writing a novel. Un
fortunately, those rules d? i not specify
how to come by the imagination needed to
tell a really good story.
from New York City
An exciting new musical
The Ifobber Bridegioom
March 18, 19&22 8 p.m.
A fairy tale fantasy set in the
happy land of the Mississippi
Delta. Some persons may find a
segment of this production of
fensive. Parental discretion ad
vised. TrieWyoftheNXfoHd
March 20, 2 &8 p.m.
By William Congreve
A subtle comical examination of
ideal love and marriage.
, Tickets:
Kimball Box Office
113 Music Bldg., 11 &R
Hospe's, Gateway
Brandeis, Downtown
UNL Students:
1 play-2.50, Both plays- 4.00
Regular:
1 play-4.00, Both plays- 7.00
KIMBALL
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tickets available at:
In Omaha
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MILLER & PAINE Downtown & Gateway BEN SIMONS
BEN SIMONS HOMERS Old Market, Bel-Air Plaza
THE DAISY .
DIRT CHEAP "
UNION South Desk .
PRODUCED BY: FRONTIER
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