@ark_press author of The Pickle Factory: A Tall Tale of the CIA (the story of a naive NOC)

Joined March 2026
Someone looking to set up a properly functioning CIA NOC program could do worse than start by reading this 1961 GRU analysis of pitfalls of civilian cover — some things are universal. @JMichaelWaller @NewshamGrant @leahfiles @zachsdorfman @wstrobel @ark_press cia.gov/resources/csi/studie…
3
10
62
3,862
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
Late October reading
2
9
294
The difference is that Mick Herron’s Slow Horses have been banished to Slough House — my losers have senior jobs inside CIA Headquarters, at the very heart of the beast. @ark_press @Heminator #SlowHorses
“By all rights, this mash-up should not work—but the result is both a provocative commentary on America’s out-of-control intelligence services and a laugh riot that makes Mick Herron’s Slow Horses look like the very model of competence.” —Mark Hemingway The Pickle Factory by Sam R. Oyken. Your next intelligence failure could at least be entertaining. Get The Pickle Factory! ark.press/products/the-pickl…
1
2
13
1,790
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
Big news. This opens our books and authors up to much larger audience. Really excited to be a part of this. @BlazeTV
We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Blaze Media to carry our books in their web store. The Blaze and Passage Publishing both believe in supporting independent voices. This partnership allows us to introduce more people to innovative thinkers, new fiction, and history that is too important to forget. Read more about the partnership here: theblaze.com/news/blaze-medi…
25
27
452
21,756
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
“The Pickle Factory is the CIA novel the Agency has always deserved and never wanted.” —James C. Lawler Some workplaces make you question your career choices. This one makes you question national security. The Pickle Factory: A Tall Tale of the CIA by Sam R. Oyken. Get The Pickle Factory! ark.press/products/the-pickl…
1
1
5
288
Here's what the book looks like naked — feel free to doff your jacket and have a peek. @ark_press
1
19
497
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
The Pentagon is thinking expansively about conducting “economic warfare,” particularly against China. Now, it’s mulling a new or expanded deep-cover spying capability as part of that mission. NEW from me and @wstrobel: washingtonpost.com/national-…
30
81
14
251
40,099
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
Excellent review of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 in the 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘯. Money: "Those in the agency should view 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 as an urgent wake-up call. Everyone else should see it as a sharp and scabrous romp." We couldn't agree more. @PaperbackRighta @FreeBeacon
1
1
1
248
Please join me as I stick the knife in, won’t you?
2
4
24
955
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
The Cipher Brief (@thecipherbrief) on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: “There are certainly parts of the novel that will strike home with former Agency officers.” @paperbackrighta
1
1
3
303
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
...any secret hidden messages.
1
1
1
47
Sam R OYKEN retweeted
The Cipher Brief (@thecipherbrief) on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: “[Oyken] hits the nail on the head: ‘Once in a while someone who wants to improve things gives upper management a try, but eventually the bureaucracy either co-opts or crushes them.’” @paperbackrighta
1
1
5
265
Number 1 on Amazon in New Releases for Absurdist Fiction. Wait … “Absurdist” — is that a good thing? @ark_press
3
2
1
16
974