Rating: 
Summary: ROFLMAO! What a joke!
Review: Oh, this was a waste of my money. I normally find Clancy's books to be, at the very least, DECENT, but this one was downright HORRID. It could not have been more trite! Of course, the US folks are ALL bright and brilliant Harvard grads, there's no such thing as a dumb American, (the closest being that Cliffy guy), according to this book. And all Chinese are stupid Commie morons. It's all so contrived... I mean, "Japanese sausage?!" ROFLMAO!! There's definitely a theme going on there... every American's got a surgeon for a wife, is decorated, or something. And the ethnic slurs, oh my goodness. While, I don't doubt that, if we were really involved in a war, slurs would be the norm, I think he carries it off VERY badly in this book, and so, it's just plain bad taste. And poor Jack Ryan. RESIGN, if you hate your job so much! To Mr. Clancy - better luck with your next book. At this rate, you'll need it :(
Rating:
Summary: I Just Can't Take Anymore
Review: I'm sorry. I've bought and read every one of Clancy's books since his first, the Hunt for Red October. But the more years that pass, the less I like his work. Even Executive Orders was a chore. I was in a bookstore recently and compared his books to War and Peace, and his are longer. I mean seriously, can't it be done better? His stories are pretty good. But his way of telling them has become tedious and now, for me, unendurable. Way too long, way too jerky (from one story line to another, many of which just don't matter), and ultimately dark and humorless. I'm done. No more Clancy for me.
Rating:
Summary: I will never finish this book
Review: I was disappointed when the publication date of this long awaited book was delayed. I am now sorry that I ever bought it. I have read all of Tom Clancy's books but this one. I have had it for over a month and am on page 100. It is filled with rambling drival. Jack Ryan shouldn't have run for reelection. I do not think that I will ever buy a hardback of a new Clancy again. Paperbacks will have to come from the half price store. This appears to be the sad end of a brilliant writing career.
Rating:
Summary: This is what happens when you tell your editor to ¿stuff it¿
Review: Clancy has obviously reached the point in his career that he can tell them to publish whatever he writes without any input from an editor. The book should have been hundreds and hundreds of pages thinner. It became embarrassing to read all of the 'Ryan as Clancy's mouthpiece' regarding various 'morality issues' that had little or nothing to add to the storyline. Even then, the same things were said, over and over again. Does he think his readers are so stupid that he has to drill his thoughts into their heads? The only way to get through the entire book is to skim the pages and pages of text that has nothing to do with the story. If someone actually reads every page, I would have to say that they to much time on their hands. I wish I had read a review before I purchased the hardback edition. Otherwise I would have waited for the paperback edition. I could only recommend this to diehard Clancy fans that feel the need to read everything he has ever written. I hope the reviews sink in. I really enjoyed his previous work. Maybe he can return to that level of quality in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: This would make for a nice movie
Review: As a fan of Clancy, i looked forward to the book...it didn't let me down..the espionage drew me in..the relationship of Ryan with his VP..the CIA couple...the inside of the Chinese Politburo...the leftover Russians from the old days...Rainbow Six...All Clancy fans could see it all coming in this saga...New Clancy readers will learn all of this as they read along...What struck me the most was the selfishness of the Chinese government..the people had their say in the end..The US secret weapons were really entertaining...If you like Clancy this is a must..try it out you won't regret it...
Rating: 
Summary: The Possible
Review: The book was scary in some places as it illustrates what could happen; international politics have big consequences. The plot unfolded very well, although not as many plot twists as Clancy usually inserts. This is neither good nor bad - just a choice of method. It was an enjoyable as well as a believable read. Most of the subplots are very well thought out and lead directly to the main climax. The events concern American and Russians in conflict with the barbarian politicians of Red China. I have read every one of Clancy's novels and this one, although not my favorite, still satisfies. It is a good illustration of international issues as they are right now. Some of the reviews that I read here are just unbelievable. I read the book along with Clanccy's others. Reviewers using the word "racism" to describe some of the dialog are simply mouthing off a useless term with little or no meaning. I really cannot believe people still use that worn-out, illiterate term. I suppose popular culture has broadcast the words like "racism" and "sexism" so much that people really feel like the sentences containing these words are somehow meaningful. Pitiful - just pitiful - especially in a review where one expects more. Anyway, this is a good book. It requires a little bit of reflecting, it has some political ideas, but it is a integrated work of art nonetheless. In summary, read the book and not the reviews herein (except for this one)...
Rating:
Summary: Classic Clancy
Review: Yes, it is long; written from an extremely conservative point of view and politically incorrect. In other words, just like all Clancy novels. If you are looking for a book that provides equal time to different points of view you should not be reading Clancy. The good guys win and the bad guys get blown away. I found the book to be very entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: the bear and the dragon
Review: I have read most of what clancy has written and in this case, feel he has out done himself in delaying the action in order to provide himself with a forum for his conservative views.Of the 1024 odd pages, the action didn't start until I had fought my way through at least 720 pages of really boring dialogue dealing with issues such as Jack Ryan's views on Roe V Wade. To me ,everything has a place and clancy's views on that subject do not belong in an adventure novel, fiction at that. Whether I agree with clancy's views or not I bought the book for pleasure not to listen to his political opinions. Once the action started , I don't feel he was writing at the level of "A RED STORM RISING" OR "RED OCTOBER". Those stories had you right in the action racing to the next page.it didn't happen here.
Rating:
Summary: Losing It
Review: Sadly, this latest effort is well below the standard of the Jack Ryan series. Briefly.... - It is overlong but then has a rushed conclusion. - Clancy has taken to using characters as little more than mouthpieces for his own political opinions. Come on Tom, if that's what you think then have the guts to say it yourself. A Clancy book on his opinions of modern american politics may offend many readers but at least it would be more honest than doing things this way. - If you are going to refer to the British PM as 'Tony' then don't have him speak like some member of the aristocracy...."I say, old chap, time we sorted out those damn Chinease." - I'm intrigued...having read all the Ryan novels I dont recall one of his predecessors getting up to the alleged horizontal activities to which Ryan frequently refers; did i miss book somewhere or is someone opinionising again??? - And finally, unless i am totally stupid the Euro does not exist as a tangible currency in Europe yet. There are no Euro notes or coins and won't be until next year. Someone should tell all those Russians who seem to be spending it quite happily.
Rating:
Summary: Good, not great, but still to Clancy's high standards
Review: Not as technical or as in depth as his previous novels, this book still kept me entranced and I couldn't put it down. The action is fast-paced (mostly), but as is usual for a Clancy book, it takes a while to get going. However, the first pages that other reviewers found could be tossed really build up the story. Not everything can be canned into quick and short bites. Sometimes things take a while to develop. In this case, one seemingly small event keeps snowballing into bigger and more serious problems and I feel Clancy does this well. Jack Ryan is the President (or Prime Minister) that every country should have - a real person, and not a politician who has never worked a real day in his life. Bravo to Clancy for creating a leader that real people can identify with. Keep 'em coming Tom! Eventually, Jack is going to have to retire - who's the next big character?
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