It should be noted from the start that The Penetration, while fictional in content and character, is loosely based upon a real premise: that "...it is both conceivable and possible that Communist China, Russia, and other foreign powers were and are successful in recruiting Americans; including those individuals who, indeed, may have attained lofty positions of power and influence in the American society."
The puzzle lies in exactly how such citizens become operatives. This is the subject of a compelling story in The Penetration, which follows an ordinary American's recruitment and rise to power in a dangerous game.
Kim Kingston is a student who is a perfect target for becoming a mole. A liberal arts college attendee, Kim is interested in politics, languages, and foreign affairs. While his intellectual knowledge would seem to belay the possibility of conversion, Kim in fact holds the skills sets and intelligence that lend to falling prey to Soviet influences.
Exactly how he does so is revealed in a compelling series of encounters that links Kim's personal skills and interests to the bigger picture of a mole's gradual indoctrination and development. His desire to prove himself eventually justifies actions he takes and the choices he makes that get him deeper into international espionage to work against his nation of birth: "At the age of thirty-two, Kim felt as though he was on the verge of a most successful and rewarding life. In particular, Kim thought that his experiences in Prague had clearly shown his ability "to handle things." And they had!"
As he marries, faces infidelity, and discovers a deeper danger to his wife's savvy knowledge of his secret life, Kim faces even deadlier choices in his reactions and values: "Jim is the only man I have ever loved. I married you for your family name and wealth. I took advantage of you, and you took advantage of me; it was an even 'swap.' All you ever wanted in a wife was a 'prop' for your career. I know that you never loved me, in the real sense, that is." Kim could not contest Cora's statements; they were true. So he turned his back on her and started to leave. "Just a minute, Kim. There is something else I want to say to you. I meant it when I said that there would be no divorce. Would you like to know why? Well, your 'other life' has not escaped my attention." His connections to the KGB and his successful infiltration of American society lead to further conundrums as he faces a threat to the President, his wife, and all other elements of his world.
Thomas E. Sawyer excels at taking the realities of espionage and moles and injecting them into a story where the main hero is not the good guy, but one who has crossed over to the other side. His choices and efforts are supported by psychological, social, and political inspections which span the globe as Kim traverses an increasingly dangerous course with new KGB arrangements that pair personal ambition with political decisions to infiltrate and take over America.
With its sharp edge of reality-based events, The Penetration is more than just another thriller. It's an astute examination of a society under siege and an individual's motivations, choices, and the consequences of actions which contribute to a greater game plan. All these facets come alive in fictional format, making for thoroughly engrossing reading that's hard to put down.
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