Brothers

At one point in Goldman's new book, the main character peruses the movie listings and complains about the inadequacy of most sequels. Sadly, he might have added this novel to the list. Resurrecting Scylla, the agent from Marathon Man who is the brother of Babe Levy, hero of that earlier book, Goldman offers an unbelievable story that lacks the plot cohesion and tenacious suspense of its predecessor. Believed dead, Scylla has in fact been hidden away, his face altered, his voice changed, making him the perfect killing machine. His assassin's skills honed to perfection, he is brought back into action by ""Division,'' the mysterious agency for which he works, as part of a plan to permanently alter the balance of world nuclear power. The author spices the plot by introducing a host of super-secret weapons, among them a drug that forces compliance, a liquid that induces suicide, and an almost superhuman killer simply known as The Blonde. Goldman (Magic, Heat, Boys and Girls Together, etc.) is best at depicting nonstop action, and there is plenty to spare here, much of it wildly imaginative. But it is all window dressing, as the book's basic premise fails to hold together. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild dual main selection. (February 11)