Rating: 
Summary: worse and worse
Review: Seems like each book that TC comes out with becomes more and more of an op ed piece for him than a novel for readers to enjoy. If you're a real TC fan, you'll probably want to go out and buy this book right away. Let me make a suggestion - wait for the paperback edition so you'll save some money. And, on the off chance you might spend some time at your local bookstore reading parts of this book, ask yourself, "Do I even want to buy this when it comes out on paperback?"
Rating:
Summary: Junk
Review: This book reveals Clancy's complete ignorance of any country's military abilities or geopolitical strategy. The only thing he seems to know is a smattering of facts about US force details and hardware. Not reccomended for anyone looking for any realism
Rating: 
Summary: Page Turner
Review: This was one of Clancy's better efforts. All of the old cast of characters is back -- Robby, Clark, Ding, the Foleys, the O'Days. As you might expect, the U.S. gets into the midst of a squabble between Russia and China.Clancy keeps a couple of dozen subplots going throughout the book, and they all participate in the ending. Much of the writing involves the characters' internal dialogue; and they are all grist for Clancy's personal moral and political philosphy. Typically, he pulls it all together in the last 25 pages. All in all, a good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best
Review: Like most Clancy fans, I anxiously awaited his new book. Needless to say, it was pretty disappointing. The juvenile language between the Foley characters was sickening and it was difficult to try and connect any of the bazillion subplots. I got through nearly 400 pages but I think I'm going to put this one down for awhile. Lloyd Bentsen told Dan Quayle that he was no John Kennedy. "The Bear and the Dragon" is no "Executive Orders." Hopefully, the next Ryan book will be better!.
Rating:
Summary: Very Sad Effort
Review: I have read all of Mr. Clancy's books and like others have become disappointed with the quality of writing not to mention the disjointed story line. How his editors allowed this novel to be published is beyond my comprehension. It seemed the same phrases were used time and time again to the detriment of the book. Finally I think its high time Mr. Clancy retired Jack Ryan. I have never, ever, been a fan of Ryan, reading the books more for the other characters Mr. Clancy created. If I have to read one more time about Ryan's character I will gag. Personally, every time the book reverted to the White House where Ryan was wrestling with some dilemma I breezed through the segment hoping to read something more interesting then Mr. Clancy moralizing to us through Jack Ryan's character. Do us all a favor Mr. Clancy, if you are unable to write to your previous high standards, just stop and run for office since it appears you think you have all the answers.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable, but not Substantial
Review: Clancy's newest book is going to be a long read; if you take the plunge be prepared. THE GOOD: The latest Jack Ryan thriller is an exciting read, Clancy delivers the usual techno-espionage, world war, and threat of nuclear annihilation along with the complexity of plot and character that we have all come to expect. Plus it is always nice to read another adventure with Jack Ryan outsmarting the Communists- even if they aren't Russian anymore. THE BAD: I can remember reading his books when they were much closer to reality- before the world leaders had personalized names and agendas that differed from the news headlines of the day. It seems each new book Clancy writes takes us another step away from the real world. This is something that bothered me about _Bear and Dragon_: you know that it will Never happen. In this sense _Clear and Present Danger_ is more relevant to modern America than another Jack Ryan story. Thinking that his stories 'just might' happen was always the biggest draw for Clancy.
Rating:
Summary: The Return to Clancy
Review: As a returnreader to the Clancy books (I was in grad school for six years and stored the new Clancy books as they came out), I thought this was a GREAT read. I see a lot of complaining reviews about this book and its predictable plots etc. but I must say this was the most entertaining book I've read in years. It took about 300 pages to really drag me in, but after that, I had a hard time putting it down and the last 200 pages were really wild. If you expect a Clancy novel to be deep and thought-provoking--forget it. Go read some Richard Feynman instead. Maybe my expectations aren't as high as other readers and for that reason I was highly entertained. And everyone (which means fellow science-geeks) who I know that reads Tom Clancy had pretty much the same impression!!
Rating:
Summary: Job posting - Editor
Review: I suppose my main issues with the book is to use James Bond as an example. I see the Bond movies to see how the secret agent handles problems. I am not interested in seeing how James Bond would do if he were promoted to M or PM. I don't care about his politics, nor do I care to read about them. I want to read about Jack Ryan the spy, not President Ryan complaining about domestic policy. The book needed editing - there were many cases of the same off hand remark being made by different people in different locations three pages apart - the JFK assasination comment was one. The love scenes were horrible. Offensive on many levels, and particularly for the writing. No harm no foul, on the missile strike on Washington, DC? Clancy has problems ending his books. Sending a jet into Congress, eating Japanese sausage(!), some sort of conclusion would be nice. Having Clancy write black and white sermons was a very scary exercise, and would be best practiced in college. And for goodness sake, get off the Clinton comments. They have no place in your timeline. Besides, I think you have no business moralizing on that issue.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Bravado
Review: I have read all of the Clancy novels. This was by far the most offensive, as far as language, that I have read. He traded plot and characterization for vulgarity and insensitivity. For example, until now, choirboy Jack Ryan describes child rape by Chairman Mao as " ...Mao liked Virgins, the younger the better. Maybe he liked to see the fear in their cute little virginal eyes--- that's what one of our pshrink consultants thought, kinda like rape, not so much sex as power. Well, I guess it could have been worse-- at least they were girls." In effect Clancy has his hero stating that rape of little girls is less criminal and vile than the rape of little boys. Now Jack Ryan is supposed to have a daughter, what kind of father, would find this less offensive? Clancey I have enjoyed all of your novels up to now, but you falter in trying to make your characters too macho. Jack Ryan's strength comes from his intelligence and dedication too family. He falters on both accounts with language like this.
Rating:
Summary: Been there, wrote that
Review: Clancy's last few books have been increasingly difficult to wade through, and his latest confirms the downward spiral. I noted from one of the other reviewers that Clancy claims that he was in some ways inspired by Robert Heinlein; he apparently intends to follow Heinlein's career trajectory as well. Heinlein started out as a writer of entertaining science fiction, intricately plotted and well-populated by interesting characters. As the years wore on, he became progressively more enamored of his political views (which, like Clancy's, were jingoistic and reactionary)and therefore spent most of his time hectoring the reader with his political sentiments. Such is the case here. The "scenes" in Pres. Ryan's office are the worst kind of didactic, right-wing gasbaggery. Pres. Ryan spends all of his time moaning about being forced (against his will) to run the country. His President loves secrecy, hates the press, the Congress, and (if he were to admit it) those cattle whom he has been elected to serve. According to Clancy, the business of government should be handed over to the wealthy, because they are too rich to need to steal anything. Apparently Mr. Clancy has never met a wealthy man who was ambitious, and never read the newspapers when Michael Milken was going down. Clancy's racism is no longer veiled by even the slightest artifice. The descriptions of the Chinese characters are appallingly bigoted and simplistic. In the end, Clancy prefers the Russians not because they are no longer Communist, but simply because they are not yellow, and their eyes are round. If someone can slog from one end of the narrative to the other, an entertaining drinking game might be created by having one consume a shot whenever one encounters Clancy's favorite testosterone-laced cliches (been there and done that, etc.). This would necessarily be followed by a trip to Betty Ford. Clancy is no longer a writer, he is a "brand." And this brand is ready for the 99 cent store.
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