THE HIMALAYAN CONCERTO

In 1979 Rodney Bateman, composer of The Ganges Symphony, comes to Kashmir to research his Himalayan concerto--and to keep his hand in as a spy for India while he's out notating tunes in the hills. Axe the Chinese building up in the mountains to invade Nepal? Or Kashmir? Or still another province? The secret invasion reverberates along the Himalayas with themes for Rodney's concerto. Soon he is mixed up in a four-way pull with double agents for Russia, China, Kashmir and India, his spirit torn with themes and loyalties. Should he stay with Ayesha, who is screwing him for India? or with Kit Sanders, who strips for her own hidden purposes? Chandra Gupta, an Indian journalist, claims Rodney as his Gemini twin (they were born at the same hour in the same town)--has Chandra sold out India for China? Masters' new Indian novel is as adventure-loaded as ever, with even more complex secondary characters as divided in their purposes as Rodney. One could wish that his considerable skill and insight produced something more than entertainment.