Rating: 
Summary: Sorry, Mr Clancy.....this just ain't good enough.
Review: As with all TC's books, the moment I saw it on a book shelf in Singapore, I just grab it, paid for it and rush home to consume it....and also to hell with any dates or appointments for the next couple of days or so. However I was very disappointed with this one. I have been a fan of TC since Red Storm Rising back when I was 11 years old. In fact without exposure to his books, I would not have been where I am right now. His books started my interest in reading. Trying to read his books makes me learn more English during a time when I was losing interest in learning. After his book I graduated to other non-fiction works by many other superb writers. As a indirect result of his magnificent 2nd book (Red Storm), I become a better, more productive person in my country. The book reads like an ethnic Chinese bashing book and I wonder if TC has ever been to China or even Asia. No doubt some things in the book are probably true but a lot of the facts just don't stand up correct. I mean, Singapore taking up slack in textile manufacturing? Huh? That seems like the economy here 10 years ago... And now after reading books like "Fall from Glory" by Mr. Gregory L. Vistica I begin to wonder how good are his facts are now. The Bear and the Dragon is definitely below par compare to his other books. And I just want to finish it off quick so I can start with Lee Kuan Yew's Third World to First.
Rating: 
Summary: swill
Review: this is the end of the road for my reading this man's work. it was to long filled with stuffer and unintresting. the continued use of four or five names for ryan all on the same page sometimes not only felt backward but disjointed. somepages required rereading just to figure out who was being writen about potus, ryan ,jack, president ryan, swordsman as far as i can tell all these descriptions for the same character make the reading difficult. not to mention unenjoyable, as i have enjoyed all the other books (they are slowing down with the last couple)dull dull dull
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!
Rating:
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.
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