Editing Robert Ludlum (section)

==Writing analysis==
Ludlum's novels typically feature one heroic man, or a small group of crusading individuals, in a struggle against powerful adversaries whose intentions and motivations are evil and who are capable of using political and economic mechanisms in frightening ways. The world in his writings is one where global corporations, shadowy military forces and government organizations all conspired to preserve (if it was evil) or undermine (if it was law-abiding) the status quo.

Ludlum's novels were often inspired by [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], both historical and contemporary. He wrote that ''[[The Matarese Circle]]'' was inspired by rumors about the [[Trilateral Commission]], and it was published only a few years after the commission was founded. His depictions of terrorism in books such as ''[[The Holcroft Covenant]]'' and ''The Matarese Circle'' reflected the theory that terrorists, rather than being merely isolated bands of ideologically or politically motivated extremists, are actually pawns of governments or private organizations who are using them to facilitate the establishment of authoritarian rule.