Rating: 
Summary: Read it yourself!
Review: Okay, not Clancy's finest, but far from being the terrible work most reviewers claim it is. I found this book very interesting, far from being the boring repetitive work a lot of people say it is. Quiet, yes, with no gun shots until the end, but does a book really need combat and killing and nuclear bombs every other chapter to be good? (Answer that for yourself.) I thought the book was a very insightful look at the intelligence service and the mechanics of a defection. I was captivated after I read the first few chapters, and I felt compelled to continue reading whenever I had the opportunity. Quite a satisfying read. I am annoyed that many readers seem to think that Clancy books should all read like Rambo. I am also irritated by those pointing out that some of the information in the book is incorrect, or anachronistic. I didn't pick this book up in the history section of the bookstore. Maybe these folks should read the disclaimer on the title page - the one that says "This is a work of fiction." To each his own.
Rating: 
Summary: OK, Who REALLY wrote this book?
Review: Slow is an understatement for this novel.
If it didn't have Clancy's name on the cover I would never have believed it was his work.
Because I already knew the outcome of the book from history, I expected the story to have more intrigue.
Well, the intrigue was there, but it was spread thin through a lot of filler. Normally, I have difficulty putting a Clancy novel down. Not with this book. Don't try to read this one when you're tired or you will be asleep in short order. It does not require a lot analysis to follow the story.
This Clancy novel has far more profanity than his previous works. Many will not find it objectionable, but it was more than I prefer and detracted from the story. This is the second Clancy book that I wish I had waited for the paperbook to purchase. I think I won't buy his next in hardback until I have reviewed a library copy.
Rating:
Summary: Read the Book Before You Write a Review
Review: I am shocked at the number of people who wrote a review of this fine prequel without actually reading the book! This book was quieter than Clancy's other Jack Ryan novels, but you learn so much more about what made that particular era tick. And the background on the Foleys was spectacular. Really explains why they ended up running the CIA in Executive Orders and The Bear and the Dragon--they really did give the Soviet Union an ulcer.
Actually the financial stuff was known (Why do you guys think Communism failed so miserably?) Could this be Clancy's clandestine way of giving kudos to the real Field Intelligence Officers who helped win the Cold war? Can we now have a book set in the seventies about John Clark's early CIA adventures?
(Particularly the ones alluded to in Executive Orders, Debt of Honor, and Rainbow Six. Also some of his training of Mary Pat and Ed would be nice!) Why four stars? Coz I couldn't give it 4 1/2!
Rating:
Summary: A Quiet Thriller that Was a Joy to Read
Review: I really don't know what book the naysayers read--they sure didn't read "Red Rabbit." This book explains Jack Ryan's phenominal rise through the Agency, and Mary Pat and Ed Foley's incredible service reputation and phenaminal record. It's about time Clancy gave the Foley's the backstory they so richly deserve. Now can we get one for Dan Murray?
Rating: 
Summary: YAWN!!!
Review: Let me begin by stating that Tom Clancy was one of my favorite novelists, however he remains a casulty of the breakup of the Soviet Union. He hasn't really written a decent book since and this is a pathetic attempt to regain some of the past glory of his brilliant stories before the collapse of the Soviet Union. This book contains no suspense at all. The characters do not encounter any difficulties with anything they attempt, which would remain a problem even if this book was a third the length. And you could easily chop two thirds of this novel by freeing us from having to endure endless and repetitive information regarding the saintly qualities of all of the lead characters. Did I mention the repetitive nature of this information? Did I mention the repetitive nature of this information? Did I mention the repetitive nature of this information? By far the worst Tom Clancy novel ever and right up there as one of the worst novels ever written. Signed,
A very disappointed fan
Rating:
Summary: YAWN!!!
Review: Let me begin by stating that Tom Clancy was one of my favorite novelists, however he remains a casulty of the breakup of the Soviet Union. He hasn't really written a decent book since and this is a [bad] attempt to regain some of the past glory of his brilliant stories before the collapse of the Soviet Union. This book contains no suspense at all. The characters do not encounter any difficulties with anything they attempt, which would remain a problem even if this book was a third the length. And you could easily chop two thirds of this novel by freeing us from having to endure endless and repetitive information regarding the saintly qualities of all of the lead characters. Did I mention the repetitive nature of this information? Did I mention the repetitive nature of this information? Did I mention the repetitive nature of this information? By far the worst Tom Clancy novel ever and right up there as one of the worst novels ever written. Signed,
A very disappointed fan
Rating:
Summary: Penance before redemption
Review: When you know the ultimate answer, did the pope survive an assassination attempt, before you begin, the writer needs to keep our attention. "The Day of the Jackal" accomplished this many years ago. This book isn't even close. Do we really need the personal political philosophies of every major character? Or the benefits of single faucet sinks? The last 100 pages is rewarding but not worth the effort of the first 500.
Rating:
Summary: Russophobic junk
Review: I am not Russian. I am a Ukrainian. Yet I can not stand the fact that Tom Clancy always relives the Cold War in his books. This guy must have a deep hatred for Russians. He always romanticizes and depicts the CIA in a heroic light. This is the CIA that is responsible for the deaths of millions of innocents of the world. He idolizes Reagan, the same man who supported fascist dictatorships in Central-South America and Asia. The same man who provided fuel for the Islamic extremism that propagated the demon known as bin Laden. And I should not even get started on Margaret Thatcher. Oh, by the way, this book is damn boring!
Rating:
Summary: A Poor Effort for a Great Author
Review: This book took almost half of it's length getting started. It was good when it finally got started but way too much of the book was quite dry. Unusual for Clancy. It's like Clancy was just trying to fill most of the pages. Glad I read it but it was not the book you'd expect from Clancy and I don't recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Red-Eyed from Crying
Review: Here's the thing. I love Clancy. Red October, Clear and Present, Sum, Remorse, you name 'em, I love 'em. Sure, they've gotten a bit weaker over the years, the last few actually melting into each other for me (though that may be because I'm getting older over the years). But this... Boring. Slow. Repetitive. Inane inner thoughts and conversations. The dialog has gone well into sappy soap-opera, with ridiculous and repetitive "pal's" and "man's" and "babe's" terminating nearly every quote. It makes me wince. I hope Clancy doesn't actually talk like this with his friends. Pal. There is also a suspension of disbelief that Clancy sufficiently maintained (in fact, this is his strong suit) in each of his previous novels... Here, the melding of fact with fiction, ultimately placing Ryan at the assasination attempt of the Pope in '81 (hoo boy -- took 600 pages for us to get to where I knew we were going!), just blows the whole deal. Slow. Boring. If you've read his other books, you've already gathered all of the interesting insights into the Politburo and the Russian mindset, the KGB, CIA... If Clancy didn't write this book, it would've been on the scrap heap.
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