Nick Harkaway, the youngest son of renowned author John le Carré, has continued his father’s literary legacy by expanding the world of the iconic spy George Smiley. In 2024, Harkaway published *Karla’s Choice*, set within the familiar milieu of le Carré’s fictional Circus, which was met with positive reviews. This Thursday, his new novel *The Taper Man* will be released, marking the first Smiley story to take place primarily in the Soviet Union and the United States. Harkaway describes this work as deeply influenced by his father’s style but with a sharper and wittier edge.

Born in 1972, Harkaway grew up immersed in the universe created by le Carré, real name David Cornwell, whose Smiley novels were a constant presence in their household. His mother, Jane, who also served as le Carré’s editor, became an integral part of this family creative enterprise. Following le Carré’s death in December 2020 and Jane’s passing weeks later, Harkaway inherited the responsibility of sustaining the family’s literary heritage. His wife, Clare, an intellectual property lawyer, now manages the le Carré literary estate, while Harkaway himself was encouraged by his brother Simon to author new stories within the Smiley universe, a prospect he initially found daunting given the cultural significance of the original works.

Despite this legacy, Harkaway’s own background as a writer has largely centered on science fiction and fantasy. His debut novel *The Gone-Away World* (2008) and the critically acclaimed *Gnomon* (2017) delve into speculative fiction, and his 2023 novel *The Price You Pay* was adapted into the Amazon series *Killing Jackie*. He embraces his status as a “geek” and expresses enthusiasm for genre projects, including interest in writing a *Star Wars* movie.

Harkaway’s approach to continuing the Smiley series involved a careful study of his father’s work, as well as meticulous management of the complex timeline and narrative threads of the Smileyverse. Using software tools, he tracks characters and events to preserve coherence while exploring new story possibilities. He acknowledges the composite influence on the character of Smiley—from Alec Guinness’s portrayal in the 1979 BBC adaptation to Gary Oldman’s and other interpretations—embracing rather than excluding these impressions.

Le Carré’s life was marked by personal complexities, including a turbulent childhood and a complicated family dynamic. His father, Ronnie Cornwell, was a conman and a figure of considerable dysfunction; this history shaped le Carré’s often critical view of the British establishment. Nick Harkaway describes his own upbringing in Hampstead and Cornwall as largely idyllic but acknowledges the shadow cast by his father’s intense focus on his craft. Le Carré was known to write by hand in a physically demanding process, often isolating himself behind a closed office door, which Harkaway believes was as much about managing his own focus as it was about setting boundaries.

While le Carré’s private life included numerous affairs, which have been documented in recent biographical works, Harkaway is clear that these revelations did not alter his understanding of his parents’ relationship, which he characterizes as a fiercely fought but deeply connected union. He recalls his father as a man capable of both joy and profound melancholy, someone who found fulfillment and love in his later years despite ongoing emotional complexities.

With *The Taper Man*, Nick Harkaway has taken on the challenge of stewarding one of modern literature’s most revered espionage worlds, blending respect for tradition with his own literary voice as he looks ahead to further explorations of characters such as Control, Smiley’s mysterious and cynical superior. The continuation of the Smiley saga under Harkaway’s pen ensures the longevity of the universe that has captivated readers for decades.