'Hard Line' (1992), a political thriller novel by Richard Perle published by Random House, reflecting the author's hawkish views on arms control and national security. The plot centers on protagonist Michael Waterman, an Assistant Secretary of Defense modeled on Perle himself, who uncovers a conspiracy by Soviet agents to undermine U.S. defense through deceptive negotiations. Drawing from Perle's tenure as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs under Reagan, the book critiques dovish approaches to the Cold War and offers an insider perspective on Washington policy circles. It peaked at No. 13 on the New York Times Best Seller list for fiction and was criticized by some for promoting neoconservative ideology and blurring lines between fiction and advocacy.