Rating: 
Summary: Good grief!
Review: We're (my husband and I) the sort of Clancy fans that register months ahead of time for the next Jack Ryan novel. We're pretty disappointed with this one, for most of the same reasons listed by other readers. Ryan is a little too whiny and way too crude. Many of the details are off kilter. Most of all, the Nomuri/Ming/sausage business is REALLY beneath what we've come to expect from Mr. Clancy and left us both sickened. I'd like to know what happened to better sensibilities of his agent and the editors?
Rating:
Summary: VERBOSE and opinionated
Review: Tom Clancy has been reading too much of his own press. He still can write a good story but now he has to add his irrelevant opinion wherever possible. "Tree huggers" and clinton references abound. This book is much too long and should have been about half the size.
Rating: 
Summary: Clancy offers up an insight into diplomatic relations
Review: Tom Clancy takes us once again into the lives of President Jack Ryan and his related cast of characters. This time a minor event in China that gets caught on American video cameras during trade talks becomes the catalyst for a showdown between China and the United States and Russia. The novel does take a while to pull all of the pieces of the puzzle together, but it should help the reader appreciate how a series of events can come together to set off a major world crisis. Also it shows us the importance of diplomatic meetings between countries and the impact they carry.Unlike some of the other reviewers, I did not find this book to be too preachy or outrageous in its language. While there is some cursing, I appreciate the fact that the book does not have two-dimensional characters that make sure everything they say is politically correct. Clancy's books are for a mature audience that can handle controversial subject matter and accept that the President and those around him are bound to have an opinion and it might not always be the one they want to hear. Jack Ryan has conservative views and when he is talking with his inner circle the reader should expect him to express an opinion. One criticism of the book is its length. In addition to reading The Bear and the Dragon I also listened to a friend's audiobook version and the abridged version cut out enough of the book to make it more fast paced and enjoyable to a first time Clancy reader. I appreciate the deep background that Clancy provides, but more editing should be done to only include essential dialogue. His books are always better when the good guys (Jack Ryan and the gang) have to overcome serious odds. This book does not present us which such a situation and as a result the overall enjoyment of the book suffers. The book could have been more interesting if Clancy would have parted with one of his beloved characters (Golovko) to further the plot. It would have been interesting to see how Russia would have handled that particular situation.
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining read, but merely mediocre
Review: Although not one of Clancy's better novels, this novel was quite entertaining (if only at a shallow level). The plot isn't too stunning; its standard thriller far- Chinese intrigues, missile attacks. Clancy's trademark style is apparent through the book, which is the primary quality distinguishing it from other run-of-the-mill action novels. Another good point about the book is that its a Jack Ryan book, which satisfied me, a long-time Ryan fan. If you liked Clancy you'll probably like the book. But if you're not a fan of shallow action novels don't expect to be enthralled.
Rating:
Summary: Bloated
Review: What a sad slide from The Hunt for Red October. Crisp narrative has devolved into opinionated blather. I had to buy the Audio version to bridge me through the middle 400 pages until the battle sequence. Editor needed!
Rating:
Summary: 2 out of 5. Must try harder, Tom!
Review: I am a big fan of Clancy, Clear and Present Danger is awesome, but with The Bear and The Dragon Clancy appears to have stopped trying. Compared to his previous novels this plot is predictable and lacking in his usual cunning twists. I found myself waiting for something unexpected to happen but it never did. I know Tom is a patriot but I don't think one American soldier died in the entire book! He repeated himself far too often. Yes Jack I know you hate this job, it's the fifth time you have told me. I understand! At one point Clancy says that even scratching an American warship is tantamount to war. That's funny. Someone blew a hole in one the other day without retribution. I think there is a bit too much of how Clancy would like America to be as opposed to how it, and the world, really is. Still, if you like Clancy it's worth a read. I just hope this is only a smudge on an otherwise fantastic career.
Rating: 
Summary: A cheap Jerry Furland imitation
Review: I have the upmost respect for Mr. Clancy's literary genius. I probably would not be a pawn shop owner if it were not for "Cardinal of the Kremlin". However, I have been compelled (out of respect for Mr. Jerry Furland, the author of the novel "Transfer") to offer my first ever negative critique of a Clancy novel. Mr. Clancy displayed a complete lack of scruples in stealing the story line from Transfer. It appears that Mr. Clancy's well has dried up and that he has lost his creative edge. Sad as this may be, I cannot condone, and will not stomach, the rape of Mr. Furland's novel.
Rating:
Summary: Where was Congress during all of this?
Review: So the tenth out of ten missiles hits the ICBM that's about to plug D.C., and what does JR do? He invites the crew of the missile cruiser to his house for a party. What a great denoument! Clancy has always been a fun read (except for the execrable Patriots) and he managed to pull me through all 1000+ pages of this one, but mostly out of curiosity over whether ANY of our new weapons systems would fail. I could overlook the right-wing hyperbole on almost every page and the repeated wisecracks; the profanity was a pain in the neck, but I've seen worse. But, having had several PRC students in my classes, I really wonder about the irresponsible characterization of these people that underpins the whole plot. Chinese political leadership may not be as enlightened as we would hope, but they are not as stupid as Clancy portrays them. We would be stupid to think so...
Rating:
Summary: Hard to get into the first half
Review: I have also read all of his books but it took what seemed like days to get through the first half. Once it heated up it was very good. Think it should have been 500 pages even though I LOVE long books. But they have to hold my interest. Really do enjoy all the old characters coming into play again. I will continue to read Mr. Clancy's books.
Rating:
Summary: Preachy
Review: Being a long-time great fan of Clancy, this was my very first disappointment. I agree with much of Mr. Clancy's politics but for a techno-thriller, this has too much. I don't read these books to be preached at, but for entertainment. It is certainly his right to sound off, and I will read the next Ryan novel, but hopefully most of the pontificating is now done for a few books. And if Jack Ryan whines about being President one more time I'm going to send him some fortune cookies with little notes that tell him to grow up. Flawed characters are fine but this beats a dead horse a few times too many. This is the first Ryan book I had to struggle with to complete. The last 200 pages got my attention, but those feel rushed. The book's pacing is uneven. On the use of course language, that is OK but after reading so many Ryan novels, it was a little surprising. Well, that's enough complaining and fussing on this end...I'm starting to sound like Jack Ryan, and without his measly $200+ salary.
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