609:: Commander of the Cuban expeditionary forces on the African continent. Vega successfully prevents the fall of Namibia early in the novel and later masterminds the Cuban invasion of South Africa, but is left short of his goal when a combined U.S.-British force arrest Vorster and ally themselves with a provisional government that OK's massive air strikes that lead Vega to concede defeat. During the humiliating Cuban force retreat, Vega and all of his senior staff are killed when a disgruntled MK operative sets off a remote-control bomb that obliterates them immediately.
603:: South Africa's Director of Military Intelligence. He is blackmailed into exposing Vorster's role in Haymans's assassination by Sherfield when it's revealed he is a pederast who arranges for sexual encounters with young black prisoners. He sets up Sam Knowles to be killed via a remote-control bomb, but Sam's foresight leads to him being exposed anyway, and Vorster's thuggish supporters torture and kill him for being gay and having sex with black youngsters.
282:
576:: Daughter of the South African Minister for Law and Order and a journalist for a liberal, English language newspaper in Johannesburg. She falls in love with Sherfield and plays an instrumental role in his investigation of Vorster. Her father eventually commits suicide-by-cop when he aims a gun at Henrik Kruger (who was going to arrest him) and is shot to death by an American soldier in the aftermath of Vorster's overthrow.
477:
into the
Transvaal. Having concentrated on the potential of a future Cuban attack on the Namibian front, South African intelligence agencies are taken by surprise. The SADF is also slow to mount an effective resistance because it is preoccupied with various revolts and a disproportionate amount of manpower and supplies are already committed to a major operation in Namibia.
619:, favoured by Vorster for carrying out clandestine operations. Bekker has a key role in most of the novel's major plot developments, including the initial raid on MK bases in Zimbabwe, the invasion of Namibia, tracking down the MK cadre responsible for killing President Haymans, and the attempted destruction of Henrik Kruger's mutinous battalion.
651:: Ian Sherfield's cameraman and technical assistant. He is assassinated by South African intelligence during Sherfield's initial attempt at blackmailing Erik Muller, but he left information "in case the creep cheats" that lead to the full exposure of Vorster's treachery, and also leads to the deserved death of Muller.
540:
victory in South Africa, a humiliated Soviet leadership vows never to be involved in the continent again. Apartheid is formally abolished in the months after the fall of
Vorster's government and a conglomerate of various political parties are brought to the table for establishing a multiracial federal republic with
476:
Taking note of these internal crises, General
Antonio Vega, commander of the Cuban military mission in Namibia, proposes an invasion of South Africa itself. Bolstered by new shipments of Soviet arms, and troops from several other socialist African nations, Vega duly sends three tactical battle groups
404:
Sensing an opportunity to seize power himself with the current leadership eliminated, Vorster excuses himself from the Blue Train and eliminates the ANC courier assigned to transmit the abort signal to MK forces. The oblivious guerrillas carry out the attack as planned, killing
Haymans and his entire
596:
battalion. Kruger mutinies against
Vorster and hides Ian Sherfield and Emily van der Heijden from his regime. Kruger becomes the new chief of staff of the South African Defence Force after Vorster's capture. Former lover of Emily van der Heijden, and he helps her and Sherfield because he still cares
539:
The remaining Cuban tactical groups are halted by U.S. air strikes just short of
Pretoria; conceding defeat, Vega begins withdrawing his troops from the country. During the retreat, he and most of his general staff are killed by a disgruntled MK cadre. Because Vega sold them on an ultimate communist
34:
507:
The war in South Africa triggers a global market crisis as the prices of precious metals spiral upward. Remaining
Western support for Vorster's government evaporates shortly after a U.S. journalist, Ian Sherfield, leaks the truth about Broken Covenant to the international press. The
657:: Chief of staff of the South African Defence Force. De Wet is depicted as utterly incompetent and negligent, although Vorster favors him for political reasons. His decision to micromanage the campaign in Namibia leads to a catastrophic South African defeat at
570:: An American television journalist originally demoted to correspondent for South Africa by his network for his tactless treatment of a senior anchor. Sherfield's opposition to Vorster and independent investigation of his crimes leads to the latter's downfall.
413:
free rein to crack down on anti-apartheid movements. Diplomatic relations with the rest of the world quickly sour, and thousands of those suspected of being affiliated with the ANC are executed or moved to remote internment facilities. Vorster also orders the
635:: General Vega's chief of intelligence and second in command during the Cuban campaign in South Africa. He sees Vega and the other Cuban military leaders killed in a remote-control bomb and reluctantly takes over as the leader of the Cuban withdrawal.
564:. His dubious seizure of power and subsequent invasion of Namibia set into the motion the key events of the storyline. Ends the story being denied martyrdom, as he is sentenced to life imprisonment by a South African court with no chance of parole.
698:
said the novel is an "extrapolation" of South Africa's political climate at the time it was published. The U.S. deployment into South Africa was highlighted as a potential example of future operations in locations it is not familiar with.
675:, and becomes the most-respected American official during the crisis for his brilliant analysis and accurate predictions. Assigned as the U.S. representative to the new South African government-building process after Vorster's fall.
500:; appalled by the carnage affecting innocent civilians, the ANC—which had previously embraced the Cubans as liberators—breaks off its alliance with Vega. Havana then authorises the use of
437:
Meanwhile, conditions in South Africa begin to worsen in response to
Vorster's heavy-handed attempts at silencing domestic opposition. His use of lethal force against white dissenters and other
516:
subsequently undertake direct military intervention in South Africa to depose
Vorster and prevent Cuba or the Soviet Union from gaining control over the country's valuable mineral resources.
401:
for the parliament's summer recess. This incident comes at a time when negotiations between
Haymans and the ANC are approaching a major breakthrough, so MK decides to abort the attack.
385:
sympathiser—is roundly criticised by President Haymans and his reformist Cabinet for his actions. However, the paratroopers succeed in recovering valuable intelligence on
492:
drops a nuclear weapon on Vega's third tactical group, killing about three thousand Cuban and Libyan soldiers. The invasion force retaliates by bombarding SADF defenders with
586:
legislation and opening a dialogue with black political movements. At the beginning of the novel, Vorster knowingly permits his assassination so he can assume power.
257:. The plot unfolds through a series of intertwining accounts narrated through several characters. It was a commercial success, receiving generally positive reviews.
787:
524:
with the intention of capturing all remaining South African nuclear weapons, while other allied forces make amphibious landings in Cape Town and
299:
661:, and likewise his dismissal of intelligence reports on Cuban troop movements allows General Vega's invasion of South Africa to nearly succeed.
338:
485:
422:
under the pretext of targeting MK training camps. At the behest of the Namibian government, thousands of Cuban troops redeploy from their
797:
782:
353:(ANC). However, beneath the surface tensions remain high, with both parties facing immense pressure from their radical wings and
772:
626:
822:
616:
374:
629:. He leads the U.S. raid on Pelindaba to seize the nuclear weapons stored there, and later assists in Vorster's capture.
361:, which forms the crux of the ANC's demands, while for its part the ANC refuses to cease planning guerrilla operations.
837:
812:
802:
668:
321:
167:
159:
807:
354:
692:'s Operation Desert Storm. It noted that the political scenes were "broad-brushed" compared to the battle scenes.
832:
346:
827:
777:
303:
792:
767:
342:
246:
582:
Vorster's predecessor and State President of South Africa. Haymans is responsible for loosening much of the
561:
423:
382:
190:
740:"Fiction Book Review: Vortex by Larry Bond, Author Warner Books Inc $ 21.95 (670p) ISBN 978-0-446-51566-5"
415:
369:
Despite strict instructions to avoid provoking unnecessary confrontations with the ANC's armed wing, the
517:
446:
20:
817:
672:
398:
350:
250:
228:
51:
292:
717:
532:
with nuclear waste material, American, British, and mutinous South African forces attack the
450:
410:
373:(MK), Karl Vorster, the South African Minister of Law and Order, authorises a raid by the
8:
593:
358:
489:
442:
406:
688:
stated that the book will satisfy readers disappointed by the quick resolution of the
544:
as its new capital. Vorster himself is later meted life imprisonment for his crimes.
431:
370:
175:
163:
154:
739:
341:
in South Africa during the early 1990s. Despite conservative opposition, the ruling
201:
79:
69:
533:
513:
462:
761:
529:
509:
497:
265:
127:
93:
473:
also mutiny and intervene to protect civilians after several mass killings.
642:
541:
501:
481:
238:
97:
458:
405:
Cabinet. A triumphant Vorster then assumes the presidency and declares a
182:
658:
438:
306: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
224:
47:
556:: State President of South Africa. Vorster is a hardline proponent of
521:
493:
470:
394:
254:
233:
220:
138:
83:
281:
689:
427:
390:
378:
33:
389:, a proposed MK operation to assassinate Haymans as he travels to
454:
419:
525:
466:
349:
Frederick Haymans secretly discuss options for reform with the
441:
in particular leads to militant secessionist movements in the
176:
592:
Commanding officer of the 20th Cape Rifles, a South African
357:
escalating. The National Party is unwilling to consider a
202:
268:, was released via Simon Schuster Audio in August 1991.
253:, as well as a subsequent seizure of power by far-right
528:. When Vorster threatens to irradiate the mines on the
434:, with neither side being able to gain the upper hand.
504:
to discourage further South African nuclear strikes.
480:As General Vega's forces advance eastwards towards
381:. Vorster—a hardline conservative and secret
457:, which results in a violent insurgency waged by
759:
788:Novels set during the South African Border War
536:and arrest him before the order can be given.
560:as well as a senior figure in the far-right
16:1991 novel by Larry Bond and Patrick Larkin
449:. The fledgling regime also alienates the
32:
322:Learn how and when to remove this message
245:follows the assassination of a reformist
339:bilateral negotiations to end apartheid
760:
426:to halt the SADF's offensive south of
715:
304:adding citations to reliable sources
275:
21:Vortex (disambiguation) § Books
684:The novel earned positive reviews.
625:: Acting commanding officer of the
484:, Vorster orders the deployment of
418:(SADF) to invade newly independent
13:
742:. Publishersweekly.com. 1991-06-03
627:1st United States Ranger Battalion
520:launch an airborne assault on the
488:to save the city. A South African
61:Peter Thorpe (design/illustration)
14:
849:
798:American alternate history novels
249:president and his cabinet by the
355:internal resistance to apartheid
280:
231:. Set during the final years of
162:(first edition, hardback) &
291:needs additional citations for
783:Novels set during the Cold War
732:
709:
645:driver and a police informant.
615:: A captain in South Africa's
486:South Africa's nuclear arsenal
1:
702:
547:
465:and an urban insurrection in
773:Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
679:
562:Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
430:. This leads to a prolonged
383:Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
7:
416:South African Defence Force
111:; 33 years ago
10:
854:
823:Novels set in South Africa
716:Bond, Larry (1991-06-03).
453:and nominally independent
271:
149:909 pp (paperback edition)
18:
838:American political novels
813:Political thriller novels
673:Bureau of African Affairs
377:on suspected MK bases in
351:African National Congress
251:African National Congress
200:
188:
174:
153:
145:
133:
123:
103:
89:
75:
65:
57:
43:
31:
803:American thriller novels
337:is initially set during
264:audiobook, presented by
808:Novels set in the 1990s
671:diplomat who heads the
364:
833:Novels set in Zimbabwe
718:"VORTEX by Larry Bond"
19:For other novels, see
828:Novels set in Namibia
778:Books about apartheid
574:Emily van der Heijden
451:Inkatha Freedom Party
208:PS3552.O59725 V6 1991
793:Novels set in Africa
768:1991 American novels
617:44 Parachute Brigade
411:South African Police
375:44 Parachute Brigade
300:improve this article
594:mechanized infantry
359:universal franchise
170:(Paperback edition)
38:First edition cover
28:
641:: Ian Sherfield's
580:Frederick Haymans:
407:state of emergency
345:and newly elected
26:
696:Publishers Weekly
518:U.S. Army Rangers
447:Orange Free State
387:"Broken Covenant"
371:Umkhonto we Sizwe
332:
331:
324:
212:
211:
124:Publication place
58:Cover artist
845:
818:Apartheid novels
752:
751:
749:
747:
736:
730:
729:
727:
725:
720:. Kirkus Reviews
713:
690:Persian Gulf War
669:State Department
623:Robert O'Connell
469:. SADF units in
461:radicals across
432:war of attrition
327:
320:
316:
313:
307:
284:
276:
204:
178:
119:
117:
112:
105:Publication date
36:
29:
25:
853:
852:
848:
847:
846:
844:
843:
842:
758:
757:
756:
755:
745:
743:
738:
737:
733:
723:
721:
714:
710:
705:
682:
550:
534:Union Buildings
424:bases in Angola
367:
347:State President
328:
317:
311:
308:
297:
285:
274:
193:
134:Media type
115:
113:
110:
106:
39:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
851:
841:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
800:
795:
790:
785:
780:
775:
770:
754:
753:
731:
707:
706:
704:
701:
686:Kirkus Reviews
681:
678:
677:
676:
662:
655:Adriaan de Wet
652:
646:
639:Matthew Sibena
636:
630:
620:
610:
604:
598:
590:Henrik Kruger:
587:
577:
571:
565:
549:
546:
514:United Kingdom
366:
363:
343:National Party
330:
329:
312:September 2020
288:
286:
279:
273:
270:
247:National Party
229:Patrick Larkin
210:
209:
206:
198:
197:
194:
189:
186:
185:
180:
172:
171:
157:
151:
150:
147:
143:
142:
135:
131:
130:
125:
121:
120:
109:June 1991
107:
104:
101:
100:
91:
87:
86:
77:
73:
72:
67:
63:
62:
59:
55:
54:
52:Patrick Larkin
45:
41:
40:
37:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
850:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
766:
765:
763:
741:
735:
719:
712:
708:
700:
697:
693:
691:
687:
674:
670:
667:: High-level
666:
665:Edward Hurley
663:
660:
656:
653:
650:
647:
644:
640:
637:
634:
633:Jaume Vasquez
631:
628:
624:
621:
618:
614:
611:
608:
605:
602:
599:
595:
591:
588:
585:
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
568:Ian Sherfield
566:
563:
559:
555:
552:
551:
545:
543:
537:
535:
531:
530:Witwatersrand
527:
523:
519:
515:
511:
510:United States
505:
503:
502:human shields
499:
498:Potgietersrus
495:
491:
487:
483:
478:
474:
472:
468:
464:
460:
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
435:
433:
429:
425:
421:
417:
412:
409:, giving the
408:
402:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
372:
362:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
326:
323:
315:
305:
301:
295:
294:
289:This section
287:
283:
278:
277:
269:
267:
266:David Purdham
263:
258:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
235:
230:
226:
222:
218:
217:
207:
205:
203:LC Class
199:
195:
192:
191:Dewey Decimal
187:
184:
181:
179:
173:
169:
168:0-446-36304-9
165:
161:
160:0-446-51566-3
158:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
129:
128:United States
126:
122:
108:
102:
99:
95:
94:Little, Brown
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
68:
64:
60:
56:
53:
49:
46:
42:
35:
30:
22:
744:. Retrieved
734:
722:. Retrieved
711:
695:
694:
685:
683:
664:
654:
648:
638:
632:
622:
612:
607:Antonio Vega
606:
600:
589:
583:
579:
573:
567:
557:
554:Karl Vorster
553:
542:Johannesburg
538:
506:
482:Johannesburg
479:
475:
436:
403:
386:
368:
334:
333:
318:
309:
298:Please help
293:verification
290:
261:
259:
242:
239:South Africa
232:
215:
214:
213:
98:Warner Books
649:Sam Knowles
613:Rolf Bekker
601:Erik Muller
490:Mirage F1CZ
397:aboard the
762:Categories
703:References
659:Walvis Bay
597:about her.
548:Characters
439:Afrikaners
399:Blue Train
255:Afrikaners
225:Larry Bond
219:is a 1991
196:813/.54 20
48:Larry Bond
680:Reception
584:apartheid
558:apartheid
522:Pelindaba
494:sarin gas
471:Cape Town
443:Transvaal
395:Cape Town
234:apartheid
221:war novel
139:Paperback
90:Publisher
84:war novel
428:Windhoek
391:Pretoria
379:Zimbabwe
183:23286496
80:Thriller
66:Language
746:21 June
724:21 June
455:KwaZulu
420:Namibia
272:Setting
137:Print (
116:1991-06
114: (
70:English
27:Vortex
526:Durban
467:Durban
335:Vortex
262:Vortex
243:Vortex
216:Vortex
166:
44:Author
643:Xhosa
463:Natal
393:from
146:Pages
76:Genre
748:2018
726:2018
512:and
459:Zulu
445:and
365:Plot
227:and
177:OCLC
164:ISBN
155:ISBN
96:and
496:at
302:by
237:in
223:by
764::
260:A
241:,
82:,
50:,
750:.
728:.
325:)
319:(
314:)
310:(
296:.
141:)
118:)
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.