Q Clearance

by Peter Benchley

Book Overview

Multi-million copy #1 bestselling author, Peter Benchley puts as much bite into Q Clearance as he did in his novels Jaws and The Deep. An anxiety-ridden presidential speechwriter is suddenly given Q... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394553608
• ISBN13: 9780394553603
• Release Date: May 1986
• Publisher: Random House
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Different type of Monster!

It's not a shark, or a giant squid, or a Nazi man-shark, or even a cruel big brother (as in the other Benchley Books). No, this monster is worse than all of them -it's the Federal government! Nothing can destroy more lives, ruin the planet, or make waiting on hold utterly gut wrenching the way the Government can. Thankfully we have Timothy Burnham, a presidential speech writer to keep us all safe from this behemoth. This book has it all - a bungling president, Russian spies, traitors, and the excitement of bureaucracy in action. This tale tells us how Tim rises from lowly speechwriter to the confidant of the president just in time to save us all. Benchley's prose and comedic timing is on top of his game here, and this book is a definite read of political satirists and monster lovers alike! Thanks Mr. Benchley!

A side of Benchley we should see more often.

Peter Benchley draws upon his years as a Washington speech writer to satirize the Civil Servant life. The result is amicable poke in the ribs that is hard to dislike. Highly recommended.

Very, very funny

If you have ever been a civil servant (and I was, for 3 1/2 years), this book will make you laugh out loud.Benchley, in a humorous and engaging style, manages to poke fun at the Executive Branch of the Government, the whole "espionage" genre of action/mystery literature, and the idiocies of our nation's capital -- from the perspective of someone from the inside.Unfortunately, one must have had some experience working for the government in order to appreciate some of the humor, which probably accounts for the book going out of print.Read it anyway -- you won't regret the time spent.

Funny, clever, and engaging

If "Jaws" was not your cup of tea (and it isn't mine), try a taste of this. Delightful!

Very good, very witty

Q Clearance reminded me early on of an American version of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. Benchly is very very good at setting up characters and poking fun at peoples perceptions of their own importance and the assumptions they make about other powerful people. This book was a great satire about Washington life in the heart of the White House.