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Tower of Secrets is a thriller, filled with spycraft and intelligence techniques never before
revealed, a true story that is more spellbinding than any work of fiction could ever be.
revealed, a true story that is more spellbinding than any work of fiction could ever be.
By Diane Barney (djbarney@global2000.net) (Albany, New York) - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Tower
of Secrets: A Real Life Spy Thriller (Hardcover)
The author is a scientist/engineer with a true literary gift; Sheymov has taken a real-life experience and related
it with the excitement of a Blackford Oakes adventure. This is the story of a man who - in the words of Milovan
Djilas - "thought his way out of communism", which is made even more amazing given his privledged
upbringing and lack of access to anything to which to compare communism. Sheymov risked everything
(family, friends, career, life-style, life) in the belief that whatever was out there had to be better for his family.
One can only hope that our government is still listening to his astute insight into the workings of the Russian
political mind. He predicted that when the communistic system collapsed, Russia would flirt with democracy
but then make a sharp reversal and return to Stalinism. The first part of the prediction has come true;
hopefully, Sheymov can contribute to our country's foriegn policy to try to prevent the latter.
Tons of information that is still relevant!, August 1, 2002
By John Farrar (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) This review is from: Tower of Secrets: A Real Life Spy Thriller (Hardcover)
Tower of Secrets is a great book. It is written by a former KGB officer who became disillusioned
with communism and defected to the United States with his family. The author is at his best when
discussing his area of specialty, which were electronic countermeasures. First published in 1993, it
provides the first glimpse I have found in mass-market literature of the technology known as
TEMPEST which is the ability to pick up and read transient electro-magnetic emissions from
electronic devices. It sheds a lot of light on the subject of secure communications. One of the
author's points of emphasis is that Humans are always the weakest link in any security system.
I enjoyed his revelations on the techniques and tactics of the Chinese Intelligence services. Their
abilities appear to be underrated by the West. His pointers on surveillance and counter
surveillance are outstanding and should be read by anyone concerned with these fields. My only
criticisms are in the amount of detail he provided on how he became disillusioned with the
communist party. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in intelligence matters.
By John Farrar (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) This review is from: Tower of Secrets: A Real Life Spy Thriller (Hardcover)
Tower of Secrets is a great book. It is written by a former KGB officer who became disillusioned
with communism and defected to the United States with his family. The author is at his best when
discussing his area of specialty, which were electronic countermeasures. First published in 1993, it
provides the first glimpse I have found in mass-market literature of the technology known as
TEMPEST which is the ability to pick up and read transient electro-magnetic emissions from
electronic devices. It sheds a lot of light on the subject of secure communications. One of the
author's points of emphasis is that Humans are always the weakest link in any security system.
I enjoyed his revelations on the techniques and tactics of the Chinese Intelligence services. Their
abilities appear to be underrated by the West. His pointers on surveillance and counter
surveillance are outstanding and should be read by anyone concerned with these fields. My only
criticisms are in the amount of detail he provided on how he became disillusioned with the
communist party. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in intelligence matters.