BOOK REVIEW by Carl Portman

THE BERLIN DEFENCE

by ANDY MACK

Andy Mack

Pages: 291

Published by: Elk and Ruby Publishing House   

2020 Softcover

From the Publisher

‘That afternoon, Lothar sat down opposite Lev Ivanov, and with a furrowed brow, determinedly pushed his King’s pawn forward two squares, punching down the clock as he did so. When Ivanov ventured a Sicilian Defence, Lothar sacrificed first a Knight and then a Rook for a raging attack.

Lothar Hartmann dreams of reaching the big time in chess. Overcoming the mind-games of his opponents at the chessboard is a challenge in itself, but how will he cope when he comes face to face with the political manipulation and oppression of his own corrupt government? A tale told with dark humour of love and loss, hopes dashed and regained, it is a window into a world of tactics, psychological warfare and the balance of fate and opportunity, while asking fundamental questions about life’s purpose and moral choices. As Lothar begins to realise that his world is not simply black and white, and that the chess players themselves are pieces, moved across a board to further the reach of East German propaganda, he hatches a plan that defies all expectations.’

 

Contents

 

·         Prologue – None is completely on your side

·         Part One – The Opening

·         Part Two – The Middlegame

·         Part Three – The Endgame

·         Epilogue – Ich Bin Ein Berliner

 

My thoughts and comments

The first chess novel I ever read was ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ by Walter Tevis. That was back in 1983 and of course it finally became a blockbuster on Netflix this year.  As a chess player, I am always keen to read a novel with chess as the central theme and I was looking forward very much to reading this one, especially at this time of year as the winter nights draw in.

 

It captured my interest immediately, focusing on East Berlin in 1967 and all that was happening with the Cold War and the Stasi (Ministry for State Security) in the German Democratic Republic. That organisation was formed in 1950 on the same date (not year) as my birthday on 8th February. Their methods were initially crude (physical torture) but later more sophisticated with the idea of ‘Zersetsung’ (Undermining and decomposition of a character) being employed. Having lived and worked in Germany myself, I am familiar with a good deal of its history and East v West tensions still bubble under the surface in some areas even today.

 

In the book, Lothar, the main character finds that chess is the guiding influence of his life in his formative and later years, despite all of the madness going on around him with people ‘disappearing’ and living in fear of the state, especially the dreaded knock on the door from the Stasi.

 

The novel takes us on the roller-coaster ride that is Lothar’s life both at and away from the chessboard. He not only has the social and political problems to deal with, but the battles at the chessboard and his constant desire to improve. How far can he go? How far does he want to go? If we throw love into the mix (as the author does) then we have a tale of joy and despair. Of hope, failure and success.

 

I thought I would be able to predict how this went chapter by chapter but I was delighted to be surprised at several turns including at the very end, which was the scenario that I had been mentally begging for throughout. The author finally put me out of my misery and it was bliss. Chess occasionally takes Lothar out of East Germany (for tournaments accompanied by his Stasi guards) and it introduces him to many people, but which ones are friends and who has the knife in their hand? Power, coercion and control - who can live under those conditions? Welcome to East Germany.

 

I found it easy when reading this to put myself in the position of the central character. What would I do? What choices would I make and why? There are plenty of twists and turns and moral dilemmas. It is also ineffably sad in some places, especially where love is concerned. How many of us have felt the pain of unrequited love? Mack introduces loving relationships in a very human way without ever being crude. As Lothar gets older, he can appreciate what he had, but also acknowledges the opportunities spurned. Is that not the case for us all?

 

The book is well presented with a clever art cover, nice page and text quality and I found it highly readable, but then I have an interest in the subject matter. I am certain that both chess players – and non-chess players – will enjoy it. I would give it to anyone as a gift and they wouldn’t be confused if they didn’t play the game. 

 

There is a nice play on character names, as they are clearly taken from actual chess players throughout history and changed to identify the people in this story. I had tremendous fun working out who was who and if you know your chess history, it will enhance the reading experience for sure. Clearly the author has taken his own knowledge and experience of the game and woven it into the story line in a very subtle way. Like all good writers, he always seems to leave you wanting a little bit more - therefore you feel duty bound to keep turning pages.

 

I was further intrigued about his knowledge of the East German culture. Did he live there? He says that his favourite European city is Berlin, and I am with him on that. It’s a remarkable place, totally cosmopolitan, soaked in history. It remains a city where a punk rocker with a rainbow Mohawk can stand next to a businessman in a sharp pin-striped suit and neither bats an eyelid. I wonder why Mack chose this part of the world at that time. What gave him the idea? I imagine living in those dark times, and thank my lucky stars that I don’t, but this book above all, illustrated the power of chess and what it can do to transform and influence lives in a positive way. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done Andy Mack, and to Elk and Ruby Publishing for supporting such a venture. Prost!

 

Who is the author?

Andy Mack was born in 1970, in Bromley, South-East England. A keen chess player from an early age, he has competed three times in the British Chess Championships and achieved the title of FIDE Master. He also plays poker to a high standard, and has written a book entitled Omaha 8 or Better – Winning at Hi-Low Poker. In his professional life, Andy qualified as a Chartered Accountant and is a Director in a large accounting firm. Andy continues to live in South-East England. His favourite European city is Berlin, and The Berlin Defence is his first novel.