With the release of his latest thriller, Allan Topol, takes readers on a virtual trip to Argentina. For this interview, the bestselling author discussed why he loves writing geopolitical thrillers such as “The Argentine Triangle” in which he can entertain readers while causing them to think. He said, “I want to stimulate readers to think about these and influence how they approach them.”
Topol’s strategy is simple, yet challenging to implement. He said, “My goal in writing all of my ten novels has been to write a fast moving page turner in the thriller genre, but at the same time to address one or two important current geopolitical issues. Hopefully, the reader will race through the story and at the end realize that in addition to being entertained, the reader has learned something about these issues. It is critical that this broader issue remains as background and not slow down the pace of the story.”
At the heart of “The Argentine Triangle” are concerns stemming from Argentina’s fragile past, which included a period known as the Dirty War, the last time a military dictatorship ruled the country. “The danger to Argentina,” said Topol, “is that a military figure like my fictional General Estrada could again seize power and end democracy in the country. This has happened repeatedly in Argentina’s history when the economy does poorly as it is doing now. ‘The Argentine Triangle’ is a wakeup call or a warning that this could occur again.”
During the Dirty War, said Topol,” Thousands of Argentineans disappeared. Among the other horrible events from that period: babies were kidnapped and given to friends of the ruling military. Pregnant women were imprisoned, their babies taken after they were born, and the mothers murdered. I recount some of this history in The Argentine Triangle, because it is critical to the story. I warn that with another coup, a General like my fictional Estrada, may seize control of the government in these troubled economic times.”
“In The Argentine Triangle, I am dealing with two issues. The first is the enigma of exotic Argentina. In 1914, Argentina had the fourth largest economy in the world. Its GDP was higher than in Germany, France, and Italy. In contrast, recently, Colombia passed Argentina as the third largest economy in Latin America after Mexico and Brazil; tiny Uruguay is now exporting more beef than Argentina.
“Despite Argentina’s many talented people and its extensive natural resources, the country’s economy is a mess. Inflation is running at 30 percent or more; and poverty levels are sharply rising. I want the reader to understand this country which is in our backyard—not half a world away. Also, to understand some of its history.”
The other issue Topol addresses in “The Argentine Triangle” is based on our own political system. He said, “We elect a president and members of congress. Most other top officials must be confirmed by the Senate. However, every president has one as a couple of close advisors, usually Washington lawyers, who are neither elected nor confirmed. What if one of these advisors decides to use his unparalleled access to the president for personal gain as Edward Bryce does in ‘The Argentine Triangle?’”
The idea for “The Argentine Triangle” came to Topol in 2002 when he and his wife vacationed in Argentina. He described how this book transitioned from a tourist’s interest to a writer’s passion. “We were celebrating the success of Spy Dance, my third novel, which had made some national best seller lists and now at long last has a real chance of becoming a movie. I had no intention of writing a book about Argentina.
“However, on this trip I became captivated by this exciting, vibrant place and many of the fascinating people we met. The glamorous world of the wealthy elite in Buenos Aires and Mendoza contrast with poverty elsewhere. Bariloche and Iguazu were breathtaking in their beauty. The country’s politics were becoming increasingly dysfunctional. When I wanted to talk about the country’s recent history during the Dirty War of the late 1970’s, many people turned away and were unwilling to discuss it. All these factors persuaded me that Argentina would be the perfect setting for a novel.”
Topol said he didn’t act on the idea until several years later, after having done extensive research on the country’s current political and economic situation as well as its history. When Topol decided to write “The Argentine Triangle,” his wife, who he calls his “first reader and sounding board,” suggested he write the novel as a Craig Page thriller. Topol wrote the novel using Craig Page, but kept it as a standalone so readers do not need to read the other novels in the series to appreciate the book.
“I want readers to know that I care deeply about my writing,” said Topol. “I do extensive research on all the foreign locales and their history in an effort to make the details accurate. Also, I have a passion for world history and current events. I want to share that passion with my readers—while providing them with a story that will keep them up at night turning pages.”
Topol practiced the same geopolitical-thriller strategy in his three previous novels. He said, “In ‘The China Gambit,’the issue was the amazing growth of China’s military power and what it means for the United States. In ‘The Spanish Revenge,’it was the conflict between Christians and Muslims now taking place in Western Europe. In The ‘Russian Endgame,’I hypothesized that a new Russian President, similar to Putin, would have aspiration of returning Russia to prominence on the world stage and would join with China to inflict harm on the United States.”
The passion topol feels for writing has been with him since his days as a student at Carnegie Institute of Technology, where he was a chemistry major. He said, “The college didn’t offer a course in creative writing. So I twisted the arm of an English professor who had taught creative writing at his prior teaching position to give me a private tutorial, not for credit of course. And that got me started.”
After Carnegie, Topol went to law school. Later, when he became a practicing attorney, he wrote nonfiction articles at night. Even after he’d had articles published, Topol realized that fiction, and the thriller genre, would allow him more flexibility and the opportunity to reach a larger audience. It also meant that, unlike nonfiction, where extensive research should show, it must not for a novel to read well.
“I always try to visit the settings for my novels and in Argentina that meant getting as close as possible to the falls in Iguazu, which are much more incredible than Niagara Falls. We did that in a pontoon boat that went under the falls and we were getting soaked with spray as the boat captain made several passes under the falls. All of us in the boat were shouting, “More…More…More.” Based on the positive reviews of the book, readers will likely be saying the same after reading “The Argentine Triangle.”
More information
Learn more about Allan Topol and his writing at allantopol.com.
