Rating: 
Summary: Is this the same Tom Clancy???
Review: Is this the same Tom Clancy as the one who wrote such great books as "Cardinal of the Kremlin", "Clear and Present Danger" and "Debt of Honor"? I don't think so. I was very disappointed in this, even more disappointed than I was with "Rainbow Six". I wonder about a Pen Writer on this and the last. Come on, Tom, give us back the old Jack Ryan!
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Summary: Typical Tom Clancy
Review: What can I say. I love Tom Clancy's novels. I particularly like the way he keeps introducing his old characters, from the Navy puke who was on the Red October (and is now CINCPAC), to, of course Jack Ryan, who is now POTUS. Tom, as always, gets a bit wordy and off the track when I prefer to read about the action. But, as always, he is ahead of his time in writing about politics, the international situation, and our military technology. Well, perhaps he goes a bit overboard on how good and flawless we are (I'm a retired Army Colonel), but I want to believe it and I enjoy reading about it. And he continues to keep me on the edge of my reading chair. Thanks, Tom, for keeping my interest, and keep writing about Jack Ryan and his team.
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Summary: Not a Clancy Book
Review: I am a big Tom Clancy fan. I have read all his books and have enjoyed everyone of them until now. The first 800 pages ramble and the final 200 are plain silly. It was a big disappointment after such books as The Sum of All Fears and Rainbow Six. Come on Tom, if you are not ready to write a good book then don't write anything. We are spoiled.
Rating:
Summary: Epic scale & riveting conclusion, but hampered by slow pace
Review: I own every book in Jack Ryan series, and have read each book at lease twice. I bought this book the moment it came out, but actually had to struggle to finish it. That's a first.The story is global in its scale as expected, with a ton of different sub-plots that makes you ask "what's the point of this?", yet come together nicely at the end, the subplots merging together in an explosive climax. This is all expected of Tom Clancy novels. I expect to read through a few hundred pages of plot development, and I'm used to it, but this book really pushed the limit. Too many times I was asking "can something substantial PLEASE happen???" Wanting to find out about the on-going plot of the Jack Ryan world, in continuation of the previous novels, kept me going. But a book should not make the reader "work" to stay interested. In the end, the conclusion DID live up to previous novels, but again, it just took too much work to get there... Beginning with Executive Orders, the books take an almost "first person" perspective of the Jack Ryan character. Readers are exposed to the very thought process of Jack Ryan, as opposed to implied character development through seeing the actions of the character in previous novels. Nothing wrong there, except the same info is repeated over and over again. I'm not sure if was ok for the readers who are new to Tom Clancy, but having read previous work, the information got old read quick. I'm absolutely sick of exchanges between Jack and Arnie that goes like - JR :"I hate this job. I didn't ask for it." AVD:"You didn't have to take the job, remember? You could have run away, but you didn't. So suck it up!" It seems many readers were offended by the coarse language, explicit sexuality, apparent racism in picking on Asians as enemies, and blatant political preachings. The amount of cursing and sex has increased in TC's novels and I thought it went beyond what was necessary in this book... I hope this isn't a trend. In regards to perceived racism, I had no problem with it. TC likes to keep the potential threats in the book mirror the ongoing world events. With the demise of USSR, the potential threat has shifted to hostile Middle East and the Pacific rim. I think TC adapted well to the ongoing changes. And since the books portray US at war with this nations, its only natural for the characters to speak unfavorably about them. As for blatant political views, it is a natual result of character development and this book's "first person view". I don't understand people who have a problem with that. Jack Ryan is an extension of Tom Clancy's views. If Tom Clancy was NOT writing about things he believes in with passion, what's the point of reading that book? How can a book written not to offend anybody be worth reading? Anyway, in conclusion, its a Tom Clancy novel. It has a great ending. But be prepared to work through it.
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Summary: Possible Clancy's Best Work Ever!
Review: Tom Clancy displays his international crisis and probabal causes for war yarn spinning abilities in full force with his latest novel. This book was execellent, and classic Clancy. Wheter you are die hard Clancy fan, or a first timer, this book is for you. It's believeble and keeps you on the edge of your seat always waiting to see what was on the next page. Tom Clancy's book, The Bear and the Dragon is a definite must read.
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Summary: Spammed by Author
Review: I will not read this novel under any circumstances. I got spammmed by this author. i did not ask for any e-mails from this person. I think the author ought to look at other ways of commericaially adveritising.
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Summary: Don't Bother
Review: Clancy has reached his bottom in this book, which he uses merely as a pulpit for his political/saocial preachings. The plot is thin and not plausible, the characters are stiff and unreal, and the language is stilted and meaningless in many places. He uses his word of the day several times in a few pages, then it disappears. Don't bother. I read 200 pages, then quit!
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Summary: BOOOOOORRRRRIIIINNNNNGGGGGG
Review: Wish I could give it less than one star. I took this book to Hawaii and tried to read it on the plane. Then I tried to read it on the beach. 150 pages into it and it was still going nowhere. I left it at the condo for the next poor unsuspecting sap to pick up and try to read. Clancy has gone seriously downhill since Red Storm Rising.
Rating: 
Summary: Please get this man an editor!
Review: Clancy is a good story teller desperately in need of a competent editor! What would be a terrific page turner at 500 pages just seems too long and dragged out at over 1,000 pages. We don't need all the technical details, Mr. Clancy. Please just move your story along!
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Summary: Finally, the Saga Continues
Review: After a diversion into various paperback series, Tom Clancy returns to his Jack Ryan saga. This story continues the growing conflict between forces within the PRC and the US. The storyline is well crafted and slowly pulls the reader into the Ryan world. The later half of the book captures the reader becoming a "can't put it down" book. The only drawback is the ending. The end had a "magic bullet" feel and tainted an otherwise well crafted book. Mr. Clancy writes a good story and really adds to the Ryan world with Bear and Dragon. However, as the story develops, some of the plot is predictable, showing that Mr. Clancy may have fallen into a formula/rut for his Ryan storyline. Nevertheless, for all Clancy fans this is a great story and for new readers, it shows why Mr. Clancy is such a successful story-teller.
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