About ten days ago, I ran into a high school classmate I hadn't seen since 1977. We weren't particularly close, but we were both in the school's music group and had performed together at public events outside of school.
Feeling awkward at the sudden meeting, I stumbled through some small talk until my friend suddenly said, "I remember coming to your house once in 1976 or 1977. You were reading The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth. A few of us asked what it was about, you summarized the story, and you even read two pages aloud." He was spot on. By 1976, I was a voracious Forsyth fan, having read his four published books by then multiple times.
Forsyth, who passed away in England this week at the age of 86, was the single most important literary influence in my life. A master of the geopolitical thriller, he sold more than 75 million books, many of which were turned into movies. Through his intricately plotted novels, he taught me about journalism, geopolitics, and world history. He wrote historical fiction grounded in real political figures and events, weaving them into tightly crafted narratives drawn from his experience as a journalist. Unlike the more psychological style of John le Carré, Forsyth leaned on deep research and real-world plausibility to build suspense. Growing up in the 1970s, I often believed his stories had actually happened—they felt that real.
At the time, India was in the midst of its first—and only—national Emergency, declared by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The atmosphere was repressive. Civil liberties were suspended, the press was censored, and even high school students risked arrest for protesting. I still remember The Indian Express publishing a powerful editorial in protest—an entire page left blank to show the suffocating grip of government control.
Yet in the quieter corners of Bangalore, away from the scrutiny of censors, private circulating libraries flourished. These humble storefronts dotted neighborhoods, offering access to a different kind of freedom—through books. While the government tightened its hold on national newspapers, it left these little libraries untouched. That's how I first discovered Frederick Forsyth.
I read The Day of the Jackal, a book so gripping I couldn't put it down. Growing up in India, we were never taught about the Holocaust. But The Odessa File brought it vividly to life as a young reporter, Peter Miller, tracks down a hidden SS officer living in post-war Germany. This was my first real understanding of Nazi atrocities—told not through textbooks but through gripping fiction.
I own all 24 Forsyth books, replacing lost copies over the years when forgetful borrowers didn't return them. I sometimes feel quietly proud knowing that, indirectly, I've helped spread Forsyth's brand and influence—one loaned book at a time. Perhaps if Forsyth knew about me, he would sign one of his books in my collection.
Interestingly, Forsyth never went to college. He joined the Royal Air Force as a young man and became a fighter pilot, although he was never deployed in combat. His upbringing also shaped his worldview. His father, a storekeeper in southern England, had a progressive vision—sending young Frederick to live with a French family for a summer immersion experience, a family that spoke no English. The following summer, he was sent to stay with a German family. To paraphrase another British novelist, Alistair MacLean, who wrote of a character in The Guns of Navarone, Forsyth could "speak German like a German, French like a Frenchman, and Spanish like a Spaniard." Forsyth remained fluent in all three languages until the end, using them to understand the world better by exploring the back streets where life happens.
Among his many iconic novels was Icon, written more than 25 years after The Day of the Jackal. Set in Moscow, it eerily foreshadowed the modern Russian state. Its main antagonist bears an uncanny resemblance to Vladimir Putin—even though the book was published before Putin had stepped onto the international stage. In The Fourth Protocol (1984), Forsyth explores the clandestine operations between the West and Moscow. The plot involves a plan to detonate a Russian nuclear device near a U.S. Air Force base in the UK. The hope was that liberal media would wrongly blame the West, triggering a demand for unilateral disarmament. Forsyth's genius was in crafting fiction that felt so plausible that readers assumed much of it was true. And often, it was.
The Fist of God, Forsyth's first Middle East–set novel, introduced Mike Martin, a British special forces officer who operates as a deep undercover agent in Saddam Hussein's inner circle. Disguised as a gardener in a Soviet official's compound in Baghdad, he uses traditional espionage methods—dead drops, surveillance, coded messages—to feed intelligence back to British command. Martin would reappear in later novels like The Afghan (2006), where Forsyth warned that al-Qaeda was bent on bringing large-scale destruction to the West. Much of the novel is set in the lawless areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Osama Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011.
Forsyth began his career as a journalist with Reuters and later the BBC. But he soon realized that fiction gave him a better platform to explore the world. His fans learned about the brutal legacy of French colonialism in West Africa, especially Algeria, and the bloody history of British rule in Nigeria, including the Biafran War. He was known to spend six months or more researching every book, often traveling to the various places he featured in his work, describing the scenes in elegant detail. His nearly 4-page description in the Fist of God, of a dog fight between an F-15 Eagle and a MiG 29, lasting 1 minute 25 seconds, is one of the best in modern literature. While others in the thriller genre, like Lee Child, have tried to emulate his style, no one has ever matched his depth, discipline, or precision.
I never wanted Frederick Forsyth to die—even though he stopped writing in 2018. Just knowing he was still around, 5,000 miles away, even if frail, brought me comfort. That sense is now gone. Without him, I feel like I've lost one of my last reliable guides to understanding the chaos of the modern world, a mentor's training I rely on each time I write a professional opinion piece or editorial.
But not entirely. Forsyth still sits an arm's length away—on my bookshelf, ready to take me back into the shadows of espionage and the heart of world affairs anytime I wish. Rest in Peace, my friend.
Rajkamal Rao is a columnist and a member of the tippinsights editorial board. He is an American entrepreneur and wrote the WorldView column for the Hindu BusinessLine, India's second-largest financial newspaper, on the economy, politics, immigration, foreign affairs, and sports.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Russia, Ukraine Complete Second Round Of Prisoner Exchange - AFP
Russia and Ukraine said they had exchanged captured soldiers, the second stage of an agreement struck at peace talks last week for each side to free more than 1,000 prisoners.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday’s exchange saw “the return of our injured and severely wounded warriors from Russian captivity.” Neither side said how many soldiers had been freed in the swap – the second in as many days following another exchange on Monday.
2. Damaged North Korea Warship Now In Drydock Near Russian Border - RFA
An image from Maxar Technologies taken on Sunday shows the 5,000 ton naval destroyer at the dock in Raijin, which lies in a special economic zone in the northeastern tip of the country.
After the warship fell sideways into the sea during its launch, North Korea managed not only to right the warship last week, but haul it 45 miles up the coast to Rajin, also known as Rason. Experts will examine the hull for the next stage of restorations, to be carried out at Rajin Dockyard for 7-10 days, a report by the State-run Korean Central News Agency said.
3. China's Xi Calls For Stronger Ties With South Korea - D.W.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae-myung, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral ties and promoting regional stability, according to China's state media.
During the call, Xi called for China and South Korea to "jointly safeguard multilateralism" and uphold free trade, state news agency Xinhua reported. Xi also urged the two countries to "inject more certainty into regional and international situations” and to elevate their "strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level."
4. Two Chinese Aircraft Carriers Seen In Pacific For First Time - TIPP Insights
Japan's defense ministry said two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted conducting simultaneous operations in the western Pacific for the first time.
5. Taiwan's Exports Tilt Toward U.S. As China Ratio Drops To 24-Year Low - Nikkei Asia
The latest data highlights that Taiwan's export focus has shifted toward the U.S. and away from China, as the Asian semiconductor power appears to be trading one set of risks for another.
Shipments to the U.S. reached 26.8% of Taiwan's total exports in the January-May period, while those to China, still the largest destination, declined to 28.1%. This marked the first time in 24 years that the China-bound figure for the same period was below 30%, the Ministry of Finance's data shows.
6. Chinese National In U.S. Pleads Guilty To Shipping Arms To North Korea - UPI
Shengua Wen - a Chinese citizen living in the United States - pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for illegally exporting firearms, ammunition, and other military items to North Korea, the U.S. Justice Department said.
The U.S. Justice Department said Wen acted under the instructions of North Korean government officials and was paid approximately $2 million for his efforts. Wen, who was living in Ontario, Calif., without permanent legal status, concealed the goods inside shipping containers that departed from the Port of Long Beach, prosecutors said.
7. Greta Thunberg Deported, Israel Says, After Gaza Aid Boat Intercepted - BBC
Israel says it has deported Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, a day after the Gaza-bound aid boat she and 11 other people were on was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean.
Thunberg departed Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning on a flight to France after she agreed to be deported, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Upon arriving at an airport in Paris, Thunberg accused Israel of illegally kidnapping her and other activists on the boat while they were in international waters.
8. U.S. Holds Deep Doubts About Palestinian State, Washington’s Envoy To Israel Says - Bloomberg
“Unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, there’s no room for it,” Mike Huckabee, Washington’s ambassador to Israel, said in an interview with Bloomberg. Those probably won’t happen “in our lifetime,” he added.
When asked if a Palestinian state remains a goal of U.S. policy, as it has been for the past two decades, he said: “I don’t think so.” Regarding location, Huckabee suggested a piece of land could be carved out of a Muslim country rather than asking Israel to make room.
9. UK Sanctions Far-Right Israeli Ministers For 'Inciting Violence' Against Palestinians - BBC
The UK has sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers over "repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities" in the occupied West Bank.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will both be banned from entering the UK and will have any assets in the UK frozen as part of the measures announced by David Lammy, the foreign secretary. In response, Israel said: "It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures."
10. Iran Lawmakers Accuse U.S. And Israel Of Planning Nuclear Talks Trap - Reuters
The United States and Israel are seeking to turn nuclear talks into a “strategic trap” for Iran, Iranian lawmakers said in a statement, days before a planned sixth round of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks.
“The U.S. is not serious in negotiations at all. It has set the goal of talks as imposing its demands and has adopted offensive positions that are diametrically opposed to Iranians’ inalienable rights,” the statement from parliamentarians said.
11. Hundreds Of Biden Documents Signed By Machine, Report Finds - TIPP Insights
A new report from the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project has revealed that former President Joe Biden used an autopen to sign hundreds of official documents. Investigators identified three distinct mechanical signatures across his presidency.
Kyle Brosnan, the project’s lead investigator, told Fox News that proclamations from the National Archives confirmed use of the autopen as early as 2021. The team concluded the consistent, flawless nature of the signatures pointed to mechanical reproduction.
12. Rolls-Royce To Build U.K.'s First Small Modular Reactors - UPI
Rolls-Royce was selected to partner with Great British Energy to build the country's first small modular reactors.
The British government made the announcement as part of its strategy to revive Britain's industrial background. The government is committing over $3 billion for the modular reactor program and the project is expected to create up to 3,000 jobs and give 3 million homes power. It also announced plans to build a large Sizewell C power station in eastern England with an investment of $19 billion.
13. U.N. Study: 'Lack Of Choice' Contributing To 'fertility Crisis' - UPI
The United Nations Population Fund, or UNFPA, announced that while some may worry about a population decline and how it could impact a country's survival, the bigger crisis is that people are not having children when they want, or when they're truly ready.
According to a press release from UNFPA, a survey it conducted across 14 countries and involving 14,000 people found that about one in five respondents said they wouldn't be able to have the number of children they would like.
14. Honda To Invest In Japanese Chipmaker Rapidus - Nikkei Asia
Nikkei has learned that Honda Motor is preparing to invest in Japanese chipmaker Rapidus to procure semiconductors for next-generation automobiles domestically.
Rapidus already has Toyota Motor as its main shareholder. By backing the company established in August 2022, the two major Japanese automakers will secure sources of chips made in the country, which will also help Rapidus begin mass production of cutting-edge products and find customers.
15. Bitcoin Winter Not Coming Back, Says Strategy’s Saylor - Investing.com
Responding to legendary short seller Jim Chanos’s short call on MicroStrategy shares, MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor stated, "I don’t think he understands what our business model is. We are the largest issuer of Bitcoin back credit instruments in the world."
On Bitcoin’s future price trajectory, Saylor was bullish: "Winter is not coming back. We are past that phase. Bitcoin is not going to zero it’s going to $1 million." He cited political support, including from "the President of the United States," the cabinet, and financial figures like Scott Bessent and Paul Atkins.
16. TikTok Beauty Advice Can Lead To Skin Damage In Teens - HealthDay News
Popular TikTok videos featuring teens' personal skin care routine frequently feature products that carry a high risk of skin irritation and allergy, researchers reported in the journal Pediatrics.
The top-viewed videos contained an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients, researchers found. These could cause a higher risk of skin irritation, sun sensitivity, and a full-blown allergic reaction, researchers said.
17. BowFlex Adjustable Dumbbells Recalled After Injury Reports - UPI Health
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Johnson Health Tech Trading is recalling nearly four million units of Bowflex adjustable dumbbells because the weight plates can dislodge and injure users.
In a notice, CPSC urged owners to stop using the dumbbells immediately and seek a refund. According to Consumer Reports, the recalled dumbbells have been on the market since at least 2004.
