Sleeper thought

[Sean Whitmore]

I really enjoyed Sleeper, but the whole time I was reading it, there was something I just couldn't wrap my head around.

The point of an undercover operation, I'd always thought, was two-fold: 1) to ferret out the head of the criminal organization, and 2) to gather enough evidence to put him away.

But in Sleeper, it was known from the beginning that Tao ran things. That was the whole reason for Lynch's involvement, to get Tao. And as for gathering evidence...this is I/O we're talking about. What the hell do they care about evidence or a trial? Why wasn't Holden's orders to shoot Tao in the head the first moment they were ever in a room together (or, y'know, a variation of that)? Or even just, "tell us where Tao is and we'll send every government spook and super hero in the WSU after him"?

All the time Holden was commiting crimes and killing innocents (under Lynch's orders, naturally not counting the time he was in the coma), what exactly was his end goal?


SEAN

[Johhny Blame]

He was supposed to find out what Tao's goal was, and in the end probably shoot him. I don't think Lynch thought Holden could actually take Tao out though, well he knew he couldn't. I think the main goal was to find out what they were doing rather than stopping them.

[Leon Thomas]

Why wasn't Holden's orders to shoot Tao in the head the first moment they were ever in a room together (or, y'know, a variation of that)?

In Point Blank, if I'm remembering this correctly, Grifter was in the same room with Tao. He tried to kill him but Tao used his mojo to stop him. The point is that Tao is so powerful that a search and assassinate mission would both have a bad chance of success but would also tip off Tao that IO was able to get in the same room with him and force Tao further into hiding. I can only assume that is why Agent Carver's orders were typical spy methods (recon and whatnot) and not black ops killing. IO didn't know exactly what Tao was planning. They needed Carver to figure that out. By the time he did, with all that "secret society that is ruling the world" deal, he couldn't tell Lynch.

I think that's it.

[Stellar]

agreed. plus, this is Tao we're talking about. that mofo ALWAYS has a back up plan. you shoot him in the head, there are probably ten people he trained to take his place.

[hex111]

I always figured that the goal was to get close and gain his trust... find out just HOW far their reach extended and exactly what their goals and methods were to achieving those goals... and once you had a good mental picture of what the organization's structure and goals looked like, Carver would be pulled out when I.O. went in to take out TAO and his top lieutenants and cut off the other arms of the organization...

[Stellar]

exactly. taking out tao would just be taking out tao, not his organization

[-Sven-]

As for Sleeper, is there any previous knowledge required?

I know it is set in the wildstorm universe, but this would be my first Brubaker book, so is it necessary to read some of his other books first?

[Expletive Deleted]

As for Sleeper, is there any previous knowledge required?

Nah, it stands pretty well on its own. You might want to pick up Ed's POINT BLANK trade, since that is pretty much a direct lead-in to SLEEPER, but it's not required.

[Strannik]

As for Sleeper, is there any previous knowledge required?

I know it is set in the wildstorm universe, but this would be my first Brubaker book, so is it necessary to read some of his other books first?

As Expletive Deleted said, no prior knowledge is required. That said, reading Point Blank, Alan Moore's run of WildC.A.T.s and the original Team 7 might enhance your appreciation of the story. Think of it as supplemental reading.

[ultramandingo]

As for Sleeper, is there any previous knowledge required?

I know it is set in the wildstorm universe, but this would be my first Brubaker book, so is it necessary to read some of his other books first?

......if you want more brubaker and philips, and who dont, check out "criminal" - its got nothing to do with sleeper - xcept amazing write'n and art'n

[Pól Rua]

All the time Holden was commiting crimes and killing innocents (under Lynch's orders, naturally not counting the time he was in the coma), what exactly was his end goal?

SEAN

Seriously, do you REALLY think TAO's plans could've been spoiled by simply killing him?
Who knows what that'd unleash. He's the sort to have back-up plans and contingencies out the wahzoo, and his organization is massive, cellular, and pervasive.
It's one situation where you CAN'T simply 'cut of the head and kill the body'.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Carver would be pulled out when I.O. went in to take out TAO and his top lieutenants and cut off the other arms of the organization...

All true, except I'm not that sure how high priority getting Carver out would have been if Lynch was still alive.