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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
The main thing I remember about reading this book is the following convo:
Me: I mean, it's good, but I keep getting bogged down in the technical submarine stuff.
Ryan: Oh, I just skipped that.
I thought to myself, "You can do that? You can skip parts of the book that don't interest you? Is that allowed?" I mean, I was specifically told I could skip "The Custom House" at the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, but I read it anyway because I figured I owed it to Hawthorne.
Happy to report that lo these many years later, I will skip things. Life is short and its syllabus is LONG.
Me: I mean, it's good, but I keep getting bogged down in the technical submarine stuff.
Ryan: Oh, I just skipped that.
I thought to myself, "You can do that? You can skip parts of the book that don't interest you? Is that allowed?" I mean, I was specifically told I could skip "The Custom House" at the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, but I read it anyway because I figured I owed it to Hawthorne.
Happy to report that lo these many years later, I will skip things. Life is short and its syllabus is LONG.
I enjoyed this, but I wouldn't say it's a good book. This has a strong interplay between technology, strategy and geopolitics, but it's held back by an unnecessarily sprawling cast, and, for some reason, a constant need to trash-talk the Soviet Union - which is not only feels annoying and unprofessional, but also undercuts the antagonists. It is a first novel: not all the way to a finished draft, and needing better characters.
Troppo lungo, troppo complicato, troppo descrittivo in alcuni punti e troppo superficiale in altri. Dovrebbe essere un crescendo di tensione e invece si è rivelato un piattume con pochi bassi picchi di interesse.
Ho faticato a finirlo.
Decisamente molto meglio il film.
Ho faticato a finirlo.
Decisamente molto meglio il film.
Update: after sleeping on it, I think 3 stars is a better fit than the overly generous 4 I had. Clearly well-researched if a bit overly technical at times, I think in retrospect the research winds up being kind of workman and shallow. He can cite technical terminology at the right times, but I’m not convinced he did more than cursory research to give the veneer of authenticity. He once says a sailor “has the high score in Zork” which really doesn’t make sense. Zork has scoring but it doesn’t lend itself to high score chasing like the quote suggested. I suspect the military tech stuff is similarly misinterpreted.
About 150 pages too long, a few too many pieces on the chessboard to follow clearly at times. Too impressed with the concept of "American exceptionalism" but also willing to lightly (very lightly!) question what price freedom is worth.
Is there a meeting scene WITHOUT coffee in the book? It almost felt like Clancy was turning that into a kind of running joke, if everyone wasn't such starched shirt straight arrows. He does love himself some crisp military precision! But he does a good job of using location changes to build increasing tension, so just as it's starting to feel overly jingoistic we get into fast-paced adventure and the sense of predator vs prey in the hunt. Those scenarios were quite gripping.
I was compelled to check out submarine simulators for the PC as a result, so it clearly got its hooks in me to some extent. But I also don’t feel any need to read more from Clancy, so 3 stars is enough.
About 150 pages too long, a few too many pieces on the chessboard to follow clearly at times. Too impressed with the concept of "American exceptionalism" but also willing to lightly (very lightly!) question what price freedom is worth.
Is there a meeting scene WITHOUT coffee in the book? It almost felt like Clancy was turning that into a kind of running joke, if everyone wasn't such starched shirt straight arrows. He does love himself some crisp military precision! But he does a good job of using location changes to build increasing tension, so just as it's starting to feel overly jingoistic we get into fast-paced adventure and the sense of predator vs prey in the hunt. Those scenarios were quite gripping.
I was compelled to check out submarine simulators for the PC as a result, so it clearly got its hooks in me to some extent. But I also don’t feel any need to read more from Clancy, so 3 stars is enough.
This was the first full novel I ever read—in the sixth grade no less.
I remember being blown away by all the technical jargon. It just seemed real to me at the time. However, on this second reading I’ve come to appreciate the literary skills on display.
Early Clancy did an exceptional job of imbuing character in just a few sentences or paragraphs. He even did this for individuals who really only got a few pages of time. Only the scenes in Moscow are where he might falter a bit.
Of course, one would ask, “Which is better, the movie or the book?” The answer is both. The movie makes the book a taught thriller and the book makes the movie a more complex political strategy—with, ironically, a little bit more action thrown in.
I remember being blown away by all the technical jargon. It just seemed real to me at the time. However, on this second reading I’ve come to appreciate the literary skills on display.
Early Clancy did an exceptional job of imbuing character in just a few sentences or paragraphs. He even did this for individuals who really only got a few pages of time. Only the scenes in Moscow are where he might falter a bit.
Of course, one would ask, “Which is better, the movie or the book?” The answer is both. The movie makes the book a taught thriller and the book makes the movie a more complex political strategy—with, ironically, a little bit more action thrown in.
While possibly being the most technically brilliant book I’ve ever read, the book was a tad too long and dragged a bit over the middle parts, despite the story itself taking place only over 18 days.
That said, Clancy’s knowledge of government bureaucracy and American/Soviet subs was staggering. A must-read for any fans of Cold War thrillers.
That said, Clancy’s knowledge of government bureaucracy and American/Soviet subs was staggering. A must-read for any fans of Cold War thrillers.
Well, this is me dipping into a genre I've not spent much time in before. Namely, Dad-lit (and for context, this is my first Clancy book and I've never seen any of the film/tv adaptations of Jack Ryan). Surprisingly (?worryingly) I enjoyed it a lot.
Clancy manages to turn an awful lot of technical jargon and detail plus a large cast of characters into a visceral and thrilling tale that had me eager to find out how it all resolved (albeit one that got a bit exhausting at times). The audiobook was narrated well though I cringed somewhat at the 'English' accents.
I'm not sure I'd read more in the Jack Ryan series though. It works well as a standalone thriller for me and I never really connected enough with the Ryan character to make me want to read about more of his exploits. Even to figure out how he eventually becomes President.
Clancy manages to turn an awful lot of technical jargon and detail plus a large cast of characters into a visceral and thrilling tale that had me eager to find out how it all resolved (albeit one that got a bit exhausting at times). The audiobook was narrated well though I cringed somewhat at the 'English' accents.
I'm not sure I'd read more in the Jack Ryan series though. It works well as a standalone thriller for me and I never really connected enough with the Ryan character to make me want to read about more of his exploits. Even to figure out how he eventually becomes President.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This is one of my two favorite Tom Clancy novels (the other is Red Storm Rising. I like this one and the movie adaptation, but the book is much better in my opinion. Even a 2+ hour movie can't provide all the detail and background of a novel. The only problem I have is that I now hear Captain Ramius' voice as Sean Connery's. Not the case when I first read the book years ago.
A rogue captain in a state of the art boat. A race against the whole russian military. A single person understands what is going on. Is this a ruse or is world war 3 about to begin. There are secrets and people in high places.
This was a thrilling read and the book was way better than the movie. As a former submariner I was impressed with depiction of the life under water and the duty of the military.
This was a thrilling read and the book was way better than the movie. As a former submariner I was impressed with depiction of the life under water and the duty of the military.
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE THIRD PARAGRAPH ONWARDS.
The action is really well-written. I enjoyed very much how real everything felt. The book's layout was also great - I loved having the chapters divided by days, all the action following perfectly sequentially, changing location as needed. Fantastic framing for the story and really heightened the tension.
I found it odd, but really loved how a'every character with more than a background role to play is fully and thoroughly introduced, with a full backstory and history. It made every single person feel real, in a way many other novels totally fail to do. It was very explicit where many authors try to be more implicit, flying the readers in slowly to why a person acts and feels the way they do. Tom decided to just let us know. It's refreshing and doesn't detract at all!
It was a very, very well-written novel, with a lot of hints before the reveals, making educated guesswork a good way to read. I did love how some questions were never answered, such as Cardinal's true identity (although I'm pretty sure I know).
I have a few niggles, which are why I've given four stars instead of five.
Before that, I have a gripe with the publishers of my copy. Tom Clancy has a conceit in his writing where he will let the characters know something, but hide it from the readers. In this way he heightens the tension and draws you further into the book, trying to find out what the characters already know. One of these was what Marko was trying to do with the sub. He killed the Zampolitik, he had a cabal of men, he's dissatisfied with the Soviets, and he's changed the course of the sub... What will he do? What is his plan? The answer is danced around in this way, alluded to but not stated out loud until almost a quarter of the way into the book. And the publishers put it on the effing cover! "... Going to the USA to defect!" Thanks guys. I didn't want to find that out by reading the book.
So, first gripe with the book itself. It's that conceit. It's used twice, for two major plot points. The first time. It's great. Really ramps up the tension. Pulls you through the book! The second time it's wearing a bit thin.
Second gripe. Constant use of military style acronyms and jargon. They're explained once at their first use, then never again. That's okay for a few words (I mostly read fantasy novels, so I can handle some weird words) but there were just so many! Unless you're already in the know, or you want to keep a guide handy as you read, you're just going to miss most of them.
Third gripe. It's a cold war thriller at full throttle. The Americans are friendly and helpful and all absolute geniuses. The Russians are all cold and calculating and just not as clever as the Americans. There are no exceptions. The stereotypes are strong.
But that's it. I really enjoyed the novel. I recommend you read it.
The action is really well-written. I enjoyed very much how real everything felt. The book's layout was also great - I loved having the chapters divided by days, all the action following perfectly sequentially, changing location as needed. Fantastic framing for the story and really heightened the tension.
I found it odd, but really loved how a'every character with more than a background role to play is fully and thoroughly introduced, with a full backstory and history. It made every single person feel real, in a way many other novels totally fail to do. It was very explicit where many authors try to be more implicit, flying the readers in slowly to why a person acts and feels the way they do. Tom decided to just let us know. It's refreshing and doesn't detract at all!
It was a very, very well-written novel, with a lot of hints before the reveals, making educated guesswork a good way to read. I did love how some questions were never answered, such as Cardinal's true identity (although I'm pretty sure I know).
I have a few niggles, which are why I've given four stars instead of five.
Before that, I have a gripe with the publishers of my copy. Tom Clancy has a conceit in his writing where he will let the characters know something, but hide it from the readers. In this way he heightens the tension and draws you further into the book, trying to find out what the characters already know. One of these was what Marko was trying to do with the sub. He killed the Zampolitik, he had a cabal of men, he's dissatisfied with the Soviets, and he's changed the course of the sub... What will he do? What is his plan? The answer is danced around in this way, alluded to but not stated out loud until almost a quarter of the way into the book. And the publishers put it on the effing cover! "... Going to the USA to defect!" Thanks guys. I didn't want to find that out by reading the book.
So, first gripe with the book itself. It's that conceit. It's used twice, for two major plot points. The first time. It's great. Really ramps up the tension. Pulls you through the book! The second time it's wearing a bit thin.
Second gripe. Constant use of military style acronyms and jargon. They're explained once at their first use, then never again. That's okay for a few words (I mostly read fantasy novels, so I can handle some weird words) but there were just so many! Unless you're already in the know, or you want to keep a guide handy as you read, you're just going to miss most of them.
Third gripe. It's a cold war thriller at full throttle. The Americans are friendly and helpful and all absolute geniuses. The Russians are all cold and calculating and just not as clever as the Americans. There are no exceptions. The stereotypes are strong.
But that's it. I really enjoyed the novel. I recommend you read it.