Rating: 
Summary: Looking for a reason to continue reading
Review: I consider Tom Clancy's novels to be among the most enjoyable fiction I've read over the past several years. I even enjoy reading many authors who make there living trying to duplicate the "Clancy feel" - imitation being one of the highest forms of praise. I purchased this book on first sight expecting to be thoroughly entertained and wishing it had two thousand pages by the time I'd finished.But, I came here to read the reviews because I'm four hundred pages into this novel and looking for a reason to continue. I have been waiting to become engaged in the story, but its just not happening. I kept thinking it was me because I've become so shallow that I need a big plane crash or lots of killing at the beginning to make it interesting, but in reading the other reviews I see I'm not the only disappointed fan. Oh well, so I'm not going to finish this one. Everyone is entitled to occasional sub-par performances, especially someone as great as Tom Clancy.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Research
Review: I was disappointed with Clancy for his lack of research. In the first few chapters he mentions people being paid with euros for a job and the Vice President giving a speech at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The euro was introduced in January 1999, the LB Naval Shipyard was closed in September 1997 and was mostly leveled by the time the euro was introduced.
Rating: 
Summary: Back to the future
Review: Clancy always tells a good story and this one does, too. "Red October," "Red Storm Rising," and "Patriot Games" (minus the lace-curtain Irish adoration of the British royal family, which, wisely, Hollywood edited out of the movie) were great action yarns. Since then, the books have grown too large, they've been unedited (a chronic problem in the book publishing business these days, particularly w/ mega-star authors like Clancy), and too focused on Ryan as world moralist, statesman, and mouthpiece for Clancy's own politics. BUT, this new one, despite all of the afore-mentioned defects in spades (especially the almost insufferable length), is a darn good story. It's Red Storm Rising all over again, except this time it's the Red Chinese and it's us and the Russians taking them on in Siberia. It's a vastly better book than the last two or three. But, come on, can't someone -- anyone! -- edit these books? Scribners' Max Perkins knew how to edit Hemingway and Faulkner. Can't someone tell Tom when he's redundant, extraneous, silly, or just plain dumb?
Rating:
Summary: A Little Long, But a lot of Fun!
Review: Clancy's new novel, 'The Bear and the Dragon' is proof once more of the author's amazing story-telling abilities. This time out President Jack Ryan, (newly-elected,) has his hands full with Russia, China, and his own staff. In Russia Ryan's friend and head of the Russian Security Service, Golovko, is targeted by unknown assassins. The good news for the Ivans is that huge gold and oil deposits are located in their backyard- Siberia. This unexpected wealth draws the interest, (and jealousy,) of their neighbors the Chinese. When ecomonic factors in the US and around the world threaten China's prosperity the Politburo makes a horrifying desicion: War with Russia and her new ally, the USA. Though this book ranks with the many other great Clancy novels it is, perhaps, a little too long. At well over a thousand pages the story does seem a little stretched sometimes. Also, Ryan seems to do more whinning in this book than ever before- Something you'd never expect from the hero of 'Red October' and 'Sum of All Fears.' These points aside 'The Bear and the Dragon' is a thrilling ride with a trademark Clancy climax that will leave you breathless!
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Summary: Flawed, but Good 800 page Tom Clancy novel
Review: I agree with several of the other reviewers that there is a great Clancy novel here, with a couple of hundred too many pages in the actual released version. There were repeated sentences exactly in different parts of the book, and things that should have been caught in editing process. I also agree the anti-clinton meanderings were totally unnecessary, and not connected to the Ryan storyline at all. Some of the best sub-plots were not resolved in the end, which I thought was unusual for Clancy, (as I own almost every fiction book he has written). The ending seemed rushed, and or cut to just finish it and get it out. I believe most of this blame should lie with the editorial staff. Towards the last half of the book, there were large sections of that familiar Clancy feel, and tension, and I was caught in the "Tom Clancy" web again, and for this genre, that is as good as it gets.
Rating: 
Summary: enough is enough
Review: i had to express my opinion on this one .to me it seems that clancy writes to get the approval of those who make his life easier.this bs with clark and chavez is a joke . im sorry but the conservative ideals he champions just make you pray that clancy's political ambitions match his pro sports acheivements thanks jhg
Rating: 
Summary: Clancy comes through once again
Review: I've been disappointed with some of the more recent offerings that Clancy has come up with, but the Bear and the Dragon was NOT a disappointment. I was immersed in the book from the moment I started reading. Unlike his most recent writings, the book didn't lag very much in the middle. Introducing us to CIA agent Nomuri brought back that element of spy intrigue that was missing from many of Clancy's books as of late. The book was long. But, all the reading was worth it for the smash bang ending that leaves you with your mouth hanging open and your eyes glued to every word. I just finished reading this book, and I wish there were another 500 pages to read. When you feel like that, that's a very good sign that the book you read was an excellent and well written book.
Rating:
Summary: better than recent past
Review: Clearly better than Rainbow Six. Not nearly as crisp as the earlier works. None the less, still better than most books of this type.
Rating: 
Summary: Too much boring pretentious verbose, and shallow characters
Review: I used to be a big Tom Clancy fan. I devoured all his books up to The Sum Of All Fears. I read The Hunt For Red October and Red Storm Rising twice. Then I started to find the characters too simple, shallow, static and predictable book after book. But the plot of The Bear And The Dragon was appealing, so I decided to give Mr Clancy another chance. Well, my opinion hasn't changed. The characters ARE simple, predictable, and shallow--to the point of being boring and even annoying in the case of Jack Ryan. How many times do we have to read that he hates being president, that he is just a simple, humble, non-political man of the people, no smarter than his fellow countrymen, who just tries his best to live up to the responsibilities bestowed upon him by the American people? How many times do we have to read that he was put in the oval office by a tragic accident, and that the only reason why he sought re-election was to serve his country unselfishly? Is there anything more to Jack Ryan? Imagine a simple, strong, perfectly balanced, tough but sensitive and compassionate, all-american family man, who was a star football player in college and would like nothing more than stay at home to play with the kids and watch a game on TV, but who--like Jack Ryan--feels compelled to dedicate his life to protecting his country and freedom against barbarians. Tom Clancy's good guys all seem to come out of this mold, with only a few variations from one character to the other. These guys have no dark side, no vice, no lustful temptations. Jack Ryan's worst--and, apparently, only--weakness is that he enjoys a cigarette once in a while, when the burden of the Presidency becomes too heavy for the simple man he is (by the way, does he inhale?). The only exceptions are Chet and Ming. These are the only two characters I find truly human and attaching. On top of that, and although we're told about a thousand times that Jack Ryan is different from the Washington crowd and non-political, this is probably the most political of Tom Clancy's books. I sometimes wonder whether The Bear And The Dragon is part political essay, and whether Tom Clancy is testing the waters and preparing the ground for a political career. I've been buying Tom Clancy's books to be entertained, not to read his opinions about abortion, gun control, the political and constitutional process, or economics--whatever they may be. Tom Clancy may be a successful author, but I wouldn't trust him with economic policy just yet. To crown it all, some of Mr Clancy's "good guys" are clearly and vulgarly racist--towards Chinese people in this particular book. They're not expressing mere cultural differences and misunderstandings, or even circumstancial antagonism, but plain racism. The fact that the good camp includes a latino, a japanese-american, and a black guy doesn't make doesn't make the anti-chinese racism easier to swallow. In conclusion, Mr Clancy should go back to the recipe he used for Red October, Red Storm Rising, and The Cardinal Of The Kremlin--all highly entertaining, well plotted, and UNPRETENTIOUS techno-military thrillers. I'm tired of reading "The World According To Tom Clancy". Jean
Rating:
Summary: A thriller that you'll enjoy
Review: But, you'll surely start asking why some of the characters act as they do. Perhaps I don't understand the chinese 'psych', but I really, really was wondering about some of the characters actions in the book. I recommend purchasing this book, as I really did enjoy many aspects of the book. However, often times during the read, I was asking myself if I really beleived some of the actions that were happening.
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