The CARDINAL OF THE KREMLIN

Rating:
Summary: unfortunately, this is the weakest of all his books
Review: While I enjoyed the entire body of this author's work, this book is clearly the weakest of the lot. There are several character development problems in this novel. In particular, I suppose heterosexuals may be naive enough to believe an intelligent woman, involved in espionage, is so foolish as to try a seduction of another woman in the way Clancy writes Bea's "pass" at Candy. It is simply NOT believable. This character, Bea, is a very intelligent woman as Clancy writes her. If she is that smart and that closeted, she is NOT dumb enough to take such a high risk upon so little evidence the "pass" will succeed. Clancy is a good author but OUT OF HIS DEPTH when writing about lesbian characters. He should stick with straights and the military where he does well, or do his homework! This GLARINGLY flawed characterization RUINS a rather nice effort.

Rating:
Summary: Hollywood hasn't ruined this book yet.
Review: This is Tom Clancy's first look at SDI. It's about the American SDI program code-named Tea Clipper, and the Soviet program, code-named Bright Star. The head of the American program is a civilian scientist named Candice Long. Her fiance` is an Air Force officer who's kidnapped by the KGB. This is the last book in which Marko Ramius and the Red October appear. The head of the KGB is implicated in an attempt to overthrow President Narmonov, who's Mikhail Gorbachev, and the enigmatic Mr. Clark helps him and his family defect. The U.S. submarine Dallas is used to affect their escape. Mikhail Filitov, a war hero and the CIA's highest ranking mole in the Kremlin, is code-named The Cardinal. He's run by his control officers, the husband- and-wife team of Ed and Mary Patricia Foley. Mary Pat's grandfather had been the riding instructor to the Czar before the Revolution. After the Revolution, he escaped to Finland and then to the United States. Filitov, who has a bad heart, is arrested by the KGB and taken to a Soviet prison where he's tortured until he dies. He's buried secretly near the Antietem Battlefield.

Rating:
Summary: Buy it.
Review: My favorite Clancy novel, and one of my all-time favorite novels, period. Clancy creates an intriguing espionage story, with rich, textured characters... The story itself is excellent, but the motives driving the characters--even the minor ones--are what lift this book from a good espionage story to a superior novel. If you only read one Clancy novel, read this one.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!!
Review: I must say this book is better everytime you read it! One of the best spy/espionage novels I've ever read. A must read for every Clancy Fan

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!! arguably Clancy best book!!!!!!
Review: Jack Ryan the ultimate heroe who unwittingly saved the united States time and time again,now it's about the russian stars wars defense system and it threat to all of the united states The cardinal of the kremlin gets a- review the only fault is there to be more military action then espionage ,otherwise fantastic!!!

Rating:
Summary: Tom Clancy at his best...
Review: ...and the best of Tom Clancy. This book rocked. The Best suspense novel I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: The best review of this book possible...
Review: Hello... In order to read this book, you don't have to be a Cold War veteran, or a Government employee. All you have to have is an open mind, and an ability to piece three plots together, and keep each one open. I have never read a book with as much detail as this book, but still as intense and dramatic as some of his other works. You may have read other reviews of this book, but all of them, including this one, do NOT do it justice. This book is totally unbelievable. This book can NOT be put down, and you don't want to. This book is better than Must-See TV!!

Rating:
Summary: top notch Clancy
Review: excellent spy novel. As usual Clancy leaves you wondering how much is fiction and how much is truth. Gives interesting insights into the similarities and differences of the American/Russian mind set.

Rating:
Summary: Great Spy Novel From The Eighties!!!!
Review: You'll forgive me if my review is kinda vague, but I read the novel three years ago. But, Cardinal of the Kremlin, even though it's not as action-packed as Clancy's others, was still very absorbing (and as close to a spy novel, instead of a technothriller, as Clancy has written) and has a very intricate plot. Toward the end there WAS action and some very strong writing to supplant the spy aspect. VERY essential reading if you're a Clancy fan and intend to read his other works

Rating:
Summary: Not as exciting as I would have hoped.
Review: I recently read this book, and found it to be actually rather boring
(of course after reading the Rogue Warrior series, everything is boring!).
It had an interesting enough storyline, but didn't really run at the break-neck speed I like my action books at.
I liked the details about the espionage processes and all, but still think it wasn't as action packed as the jacket promised.
I gave this book a 7 because, like I said before, if there was any action in it, I really missed out on it!