This is an excellent spy thriller filled with international intrigue and double-dealing characters. It leaves one wondering just who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. While it sometimes seems a little dated in parts, the book will not fail to capture the imagination of the reader with its intricate plot, clever characters, and humor. Written in a straightforward, cogent style, this book was made into a major motion picture that starred Dustin Hoffman and was a big hit in its day.

Thomas Babington Levy, known as "Babe" to his family, is a Rhodes Scholar, a graduate student historian at Columbia University, and an amateur marathon runner. He has a wealthy older brother, Henry David Levy, whom he affectionately calls "Doc" and believes to be a successful business man.

When Babe meets a beautiful blonde named Elsa Opel, he is in seventh heaven, believing that he has met the woman of his dreams. When he introduces his brother to Elsa, Babe shortly thereafter finds himself enmeshed in international intrigue. It seems that all is not as it has seemed. There is someone out there that believes that Babe has valuable information, and this person will stop at nothing to get that which he most desires.

This is a quick, page turning read that those who like international spy thrillers, replete with old-fashion skullduggery, a Nazi war criminal, multiple murders, and a fortune in diamonds, will enjoy.

Not a fan. For a thriller, I would say this is too overblown, and it is not quite far enough to the other type of writing to get a good horror book, either. The bad guy being a killer dentist is close to that end of the spectrum, it would seem. Then there is a bit much of the whole running, running, running, theme throughout.

If you haven't seen the movie, stop reading reviews and just go read the book. The surprises are more fun that way.

I loved the book, but hadn't seen the movie, so it couldn't spoil the book for me. I usually find thrillers too scary for comfort, but Goldman's more interested in setting up good characters than creepy moods, although the book certainly doesn't lack for suspense and excitement. You begin with two protagonists--a powerful trained assassin, and a gawky, naive, socially awkward graduate student. How could these two characters possibly intersect? I found the twists completely unexpected--rare in this day and age.

Goldman's goal is too be a storyteller, so while there are small tangents (consistent with the characters), there's no long descriptive passages. Goldman's a show-er, not a tell-er. The book's also very tightly plotted, something that cannot be properly appreciated until one finishes reading. Overall, a really wonderful read.

I read this book after seeing the movie, which may have been my first mistake, but nevertheless I was disappointed with the book, considering how much I enjoyed the film.

I had a huge problem with William Goldman's style of prose. His technique is that he writes the prose as though it were the rambling thoughts of the characters that are the focus of whatever section of the book he's writing. So while it may give you a better insight into those characters and their way of thinking, it is very uncomfortable to read because he tends to ramble in long, disjointed sentences that end up driving you crazy by the book's end. I'm a firm believer in good, flowing prose that makes it easy for the reader to continue reading.

Another problem with the prose is that it fails in its intention to put the reader into the minds of the characters. The reason for this is that by the time you're halfway through the book, you realize that Goldman makes no particular effort to differentiate the thoughts and viewpoints of each character. You'll find that Babe, Doc, and Szell all have the same cynical worldview and make the same mental comments to themselves.

To conclude, don't miss out on the movie version with Dustin Hoffman as Babe and a mind-blowing and memorable performance from the late, great Sir Laurence Olivier as the sadistic Szell. Leave the book in the past where it belongs.

I read this book after seeing the movie, which may have been my first mistake, but nevertheless I was disappointed with the book, considering how much I enjoyed the film.

I had a huge problem with William Goldman's style of prose. His technique is that he writes the prose as though it were the rambling thoughts of the characters that are the focus of whatever section of the book he's writing. So while it may give you a better insight into those characters and their way of thinking, it is very uncomfortable to read because he tends to ramble in long, disjointed sentences that end up driving you crazy by the book's end. I'm a firm believer in good, flowing prose that makes it easy for the reader to continue reading.

Another problem with the prose is that it fails in its intention to put the reader into the minds of the characters. The reason for this is that by the time you're halfway through the book, you realize that Goldman makes no particular effort to differentiate the thoughts and viewpoints of each character. You'll find that Babe, Doc, and Szell all have the same cynical worldview and make the same mental comments to themselves.

To conclude, don't miss out on the movie version with Dustin Hoffman as Babe and a mind-blowing and memorable performance from the late, great Sir Laurence Olivier as the sadistic Szell. Leave the book in the past where it belongs.

Ever wonder where all the Nazis that escaped Allied Justice, the ones that weren't allowed to escape that is. Most went to Latin America, which is here Szell "The White Angel," spirited off to alfter the Third Riech fell, Paraguay to be exact. There he stays until the man, his father, who is the man intrusted with Szell's vast wealth of diamonds dies. So Szell needs those diamonds to live. Doc, our hero's big bro. is a spy, but apparently spies need some extra cash now and then so he worked as a courier for delivering the diamonds to wherever they needed to go.
The White Angel thinks Babe (the main character) knows whether or not its safe to get the diamonds, torture of Babe insues. The old Nazi is a dentist so you can imagine how he tortures.

Though I wasn't too impressed with the story itself, already having seen the movie, and they are pretty much just alike, Goldman's prose on the other hand was outstanding, a fast paced well written little book. His dialogue was to die for, quick and witty, giving the characters a 1930's noir aura.

Really if just want to skip the novel and watch the book, feel free. Or if you have seen the movie and want experience the book, you really don't need to. They are nearly identical. Which makes since of course because Goldman wrote the sceenplay, so you'd think he'd stay true to his own work.

Ever wonder where all the Nazis that escaped Allied Justice, the ones that weren't allowed to escape that is. Most went to Latin America, which is here Szell "The White Angel," spirited off to alfter the Third Riech fell, Paraguay to be exact. There he stays until the man, his father, who is the man intrusted with Szell's vast wealth of diamonds dies. So Szell needs those diamonds to live. Doc, our hero's big bro. is a spy, but apparently spies need some extra cash now and then so he worked as a courier for delivering the diamonds to wherever they needed to go.
The White Angel thinks Babe (the main character) knows whether or not its safe to get the diamonds, torture of Babe insues. The old Nazi is a dentist so you can imagine how he tortures.

Though I wasn't too impressed with the story itself, already having seen the movie, and they are pretty much just alike, Goldman's prose on the other hand was outstanding, a fast paced well written little book. His dialogue was to die for, quick and witty, giving the characters a 1930's noir aura.

Really if just want to skip the novel and watch the book, feel free. Or if you have seen the movie and want experience the book, you really don't need to. They are nearly identical. Which makes since of course because Goldman wrote the sceenplay, so you'd think he'd stay true to his own work.

A well crafted thriller with interesting, complex characters. It is one that I did not want to put down. I only wish there were more pages to it with more background of the characters and more details. It is one that I did not want to end but couldn't wait to get through it to get the whole story.

This is a spy classic. It hasn't lost its edge over time at all. It is some of the best suspense, action writing I have read--skillful and artistic not like some of the packaged, thesaraus writing milled out by some of today's writers.

Go for it; you will be pleased I think.

This is a must read for fans of the spy genre. Goldman brilliantly gives us Scylla, a deadly spy who dodges death at every turn with action scenes that literally hold you on the edge with suspense. Scylla's character is the strongest asset to this book, however his demise leads us into the life of his brother, an unsuspecting marathon runner that will find himself the target of betrayal. Full of twists and brilliant characters this book is very good and holds a special spot in my library. Fans of the movie starring Dennis Hoffman and Sir Lawrence Olivier will find the book much stronger than the screenplay with a different ending than the big-screen version.

(...)

Marathon Man, by William Goldman, is an epic thriller, that which simply begs to be read over and over again. The initially mysterious characters and their odd lives that begin to intertwine and show themselves later on are enthralling, and the book is impossible to put down. Marathon Man attracts an audience of virtually anyone who can enjoy the typical fast-paced action-packed spy novel, and yet sense and enjoy the clever wit woven into the text by the author.
(...) When confronted with the question of "How good was this book?" I can only answer one way: Fantastic. The book sets the pace in the beginning with a cryptic car crash, the necessity of this being explained later on in a sort of "light-bulb over your head" moment. To read the book is to be frequently interrupted by your own intermittent cries of, "So that's who he was!" and "Oh! I get it! How amazing!". The narrator pelts with you sarcasm and charm throughout the book, making light of the most dire situations and adding a touch of surrealism to the whole situation in the protagonist's point of view. Every event in the book has some sort of logical place in the story. Nothing is insignificant. It's a puzzle, and the pieces gradually begin falling together as more and more is found out. You begin to crave to know more, to understand more, and you form your own ideas, predictions, and suspicions, until another puzzle piece falls into place and totally spins you around in bewilderment.
The only criticisms that could be genuinely made on the book are that the situation is almost fantasy and unreal. How many siblings do you have that are connected to Nazi scientists from Auschwitz? Personally, I didn't give a damn that the whole plot was full of sheer implausibility; I was enjoying myself far too much to actually give in to a few minor errors that didn't make any difference whatsoever.
Overall, the book is of exponential distinction and acclaim. It grabs you with the first scene, and plunges you into a thrilling and intoxicating world of scandal, mystery, and terror. To put down the book and become occupied with some random, irksome task is ridiculous and highly unlikely for any reader. Marathon Man is a thrill ride, but lucky you, you don't even have to leave your bedroom!

This is the worst book that i ever read!
Besides the foul language that is constant, the plot is not even good. And many loose ends that is not resolved. I keep reading to the end, hoping to find out the reason why his brother DOC, came to see him before he died, but yet never found out nor explained. Very frustrated and unpleasant read.

Goldman's Marathon Man gallops to the finish line, never slowing, never giving away too much too soon, keeping on a steady pace to the end of the race. Thrillers don't get better than this -- simple yet complex, easy-going but quickly moving, funny yet chilling. The perfect subway read.

I'm not a big fan of suspenseful "page-turners," but this one's as good as it gets. Goldman is definitely a cut or two above the Grishams and Clancys of the world. His writing isn't always top-notch (the scenes with Babe as an awkward student are pretty bad, especially the dialogue---a poor imitation of J.D. Salinger), and Goldman is obviously no scholar (amusingly, one of his characters, a "brilliant historian," alludes to the Keats sonnet where Cortez discovers the Pacific, unaware that Keats had Cortez confused with Balboa).

But the book has many strengths: the early spy scenes are excellent, the glimpses of the international underworld are skillfully done and believeable, and the psychological struggle in Babe's head (peaking when he eludes his captors on foot) rings true. The spectacle of the Nazi monster in the Diamond District is terrific. And best of all are the "stoop kids," well-rendered, perfectly true to life, almost worthy of Dickens. This is not your average modern thriller.

William Goldman has a gift for creating three dimensional characters and larger than life situations that actually seem possible. Besides this his prose is entertaining with tight plotting.

Of his fiction Marathon Man is a perfect example of all the features of Goldman's skills. I remember starting to read this a few hours before a really hot date. I became so engrossed in the plot, the twists and turns and tension growing within Marathon Man which initiated a first for me. I called and ended up cancelling the date just to finish the last 100 pages.

It is a rare book that motivates me to drop everything else and read it from page to page. Marathon Man was the first and one of very few.

You feel for the protagonist and visualize his experiences in your minds eye. You feel the terror, the racing heartbeat and surprise with each page. Goldman had a run where he was the master of the thriller novel. Getting freaked out in a literate fashion is truly a unique experience, one you should experience if you have not yet read Marathon Man.

In the end I made up for my faux pas of cancelling the date in part by giving this book to the woman I cancelled on. She confirmed she couldn't put it down either, chances are neither will you.

Highest recommendations...

This is a page-turner...you won't want to stop reading it. Goldman is a master story-teller and his words flow throughout the book. This book has it all: action, adventure, the girl, and plenty of twists and turns that make you want to keep reading. I highly recommend this novel.

I am only in 8th grade but I stayed up reading so late that I couldn't keep my eyes open because it was such a good book. It has suspense, love, and a kick a$$ plot. Babe is so oblivios to what his brother does, it is kind of scary. One question I'm sure I never ever want to hear is "Is it safe?". Sure I could tell you more about the book, but then why would you want to read it if you know what happens? In the famous words of Reading Rainbow, Don't take my word for it, try it yourself!!

I saw the movie before I read the book, and realized that dentist scene was going to attain the status of a classic. Let's just say the scene is worse in the book. Poor Babe--he literally is a nerd, and has no idea what his older brother does for a living. You could say he cleans things up, and those things are always people. If you like sadistic dentists, and even more
sadistic Nazis, vengeance, and understated violence (no overkill here) with some humor, then Goldman's novel is for you.

Though he's best known as a screenwriter, William Goldman has also written quite a few novels of note. His best probably remains the thriller Marathon Man. With a nicely complex but hardly difficult plot and amazingly strong characterization from the major players to the minor placeholders, this is a thrilling, at times harrowing book that also manages to provide a great deal of humor and a strong subtext of lost dreams. With his villians, Goldman truly manages to capture the outright banality of some of the world's greatest evil. And as for his hero -- I would defy anyone not to root for poor, awkward Babe Levy from the first minute they meet him. In recent years, its become strangely unfasionable to run the risk of injecting anything resembling humor or humanity into thrillers and instead, those qualities have too often been replaced with meaningless violence and a smirking sadism. Read Marathon Man and see how great a good thriller can truly be.

This is one of those rare books which juggles character and plot. You are led to care for these people, and feel real empathy for them. I am not ashamed to admit that it brought tears to my eyes. What makes this story singularly fantastic, is the laugh-out loud moments, amazing revelations, strong characters, and great plot. It keeps you guessing towards the end. The first chapter may be a bit confusing, and puts you off, but is completely necessary. Hang on. You will not be disappointed. If you like reading about secret agents and down-to-earth people (sounds oxymoronic, I know!), then I highly recommend this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Marathon Man is tightly woven tale of espionage which involves a protagonist who is drawn into the action completely against his will, and in an extraordinarily short period of time. This is a tough book to review without giving away how the seemingly disparate characters interrelate, but suffice it to say the way in which they do is both clever and clearly well designed. Though there is clearly a rich history to the main character (and his family) which is alluded to often, it never truly gets developed, and the actual action sequences take place over a 36 hour or so span.

Nevertheless, the pace, dialog, and conflict are all realistic, and artfully enough crafted so as not to seem rushed, and there are some interesting spices added to the mix which seem incongruous, including marathon running, dentistry, and Nazism. Lastly, there is a chilling torture scene and enough revenge exacted to reward you for rooting for the good guys.

I thought this novel totally reeked of awesomeness!! Though it wasn't as good as the sequel "brothers" it was still very enjoyable. The whole book was action packed, with some very good suspence. The novel had its occasional good humor. THe beginning was kind of slow, when it first mentioned the story of Tom Levy, i found it quite boring at first, when they just talked about how he was doing in school, but every chapter that mentioned Scylla was very interesting and quite suspenceful. He was a spy, and all the fights, and encounters he went thru were very well described. At first u don't see what Scylla has to do with Thomas, but later u see it, and it's pretty smart. Eventually when the villains go after Thomas, it works really well, with great action sequences, and it's good to see how Thomas out smarts everyone, and how one guy he thought was helping him, was actually not. It has its nice surprises, and though it's quite unrealistic in quite a few parts, that doesn't really take away from it. After reading this, i rented the movie and that movie also reeked of total aweomeness.

I highly reccommend this book, it's a great action/suspence, with a good plot and some smart twists.

This book is in my top three. It along with Fight Club and of course the Godfather is one of my favorite books of all time. It has a great story and is action backed. I loved it and recommend it to anyone interested in a good book.

Marathon Man is about Thomas Levy, who dreams of becoming a great athelete/runner, and is now running for his life for a mistake his brother had made, including a "Division" agent, his own girlfriend, and worst of all a Nazi. Possibly the most grusome torture scene on a piece of typing paper. READ IT!!!!!!!!!

William Goldman's "Marathon Man" is my favorite novel of all time. I have probably reread it 20 times. It can act as a virtual textbook on the creation of suspense and terror. Goldman has a firm grasp of what frightens people. He juxtaposes different points of view very effectively and creates characters which you cannot help but care about. It contains what is probably the most famous (and infamous) torture sequence ever commited to paper. The novel is violent but doesn't glorify violence which is a very delicate line to walk on. Goldman is wordsmith without peer. His prose sparkles and is memorable. He lately has been concentrating on screenplays and has not written a novel since 1986 (which coincidentally was a sequel to this novel called "Brothers".) I can only hope that he finds the time to produce a few more novels. Thirteen years has been too long to wait for another Goldman novel. Read all of his novels, you won't be disappointed.