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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
A novel of a war that might have been. Clancy's take on WWIII is probably the most optimistic made, which also makes it likely to be one of the least realistic in terms of the big picture, but still a mostly good read if you like techno-thriller style fiction.
The focus is mostly on the war for the North Atlantic, rather than the land war, which sets it apart from other works in the field. Not that it ignores the land war, just that it doesn't focus on it.
The Wikipedia page for the book lists 24 characters, and those are just the main ones. There are a host of supporting characters with just a line or two. The main point of view characters are mostly officers on both sides of the conflict, ranging from an US Army Sergeant, to the Soviet General in charge of the Western Front. We also get a good look at the Politburo on the Soviet side, but interestingly, no equivalent look at NATO civilian decision making.
Out of probably around 100 total characters, exactly three are female. One of those is a Navy wife with only a couple of lines near the beginning of the book. One is an Air Force pilot banned from front line combat because of her gender, but who still manages to participate. One is raped for the purposes of a male character's character development, to introduce a romance subplot, and to remind us that the Russians are the bad guys. Yeah, not exactly great representation of women in this book. Something I could overlook in a book written in the 80s about a military conflict set in the 80s if it weren't for that last example.
Leave that aside, and we are left with a competent techno-thriller/war story with some interesting ideas about how WWIII might have gone. As a gamer, I appreciate that the author claims to have gamed out a lot of the naval battles using a wargame to determine the likely course and outcomes.
The focus is mostly on the war for the North Atlantic, rather than the land war, which sets it apart from other works in the field. Not that it ignores the land war, just that it doesn't focus on it.
The Wikipedia page for the book lists 24 characters, and those are just the main ones. There are a host of supporting characters with just a line or two. The main point of view characters are mostly officers on both sides of the conflict, ranging from an US Army Sergeant, to the Soviet General in charge of the Western Front. We also get a good look at the Politburo on the Soviet side, but interestingly, no equivalent look at NATO civilian decision making.
Out of probably around 100 total characters, exactly three are female. One of those is a Navy wife with only a couple of lines near the beginning of the book. One is an Air Force pilot banned from front line combat because of her gender, but who still manages to participate. One is raped for the purposes of a male character's character development, to introduce a romance subplot, and to remind us that the Russians are the bad guys. Yeah, not exactly great representation of women in this book. Something I could overlook in a book written in the 80s about a military conflict set in the 80s if it weren't for that last example.
Leave that aside, and we are left with a competent techno-thriller/war story with some interesting ideas about how WWIII might have gone. As a gamer, I appreciate that the author claims to have gamed out a lot of the naval battles using a wargame to determine the likely course and outcomes.
Peak military fiction. There's a touch of hero-fantasy in the Iceland plot, but nothing that detracts from this epic alternate history where WWIII breaks out (but never really leaves Germany and the North Atlantic)
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
The romance trope is frankly insulting! Knocks down the rest of the novel, which is great otherwise.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Clancy is always a little misogynistic so the love story in it should generally be ignored. However, the description of tactics and strategies that both side used is engaging and gripping. Clancy shows that he is able to write compelling action sequences that take place at the individual's level and at battalion / division level.
The war in Ukraine has spoiled the book a bit since the actual competency of the Russian military has been exposed to be far below what is presented in the book. However, it is still a fun and engaging read if you treat it all as part of the Tom Clancy Universe where Russian hardware actually works.
The war in Ukraine has spoiled the book a bit since the actual competency of the Russian military has been exposed to be far below what is presented in the book. However, it is still a fun and engaging read if you treat it all as part of the Tom Clancy Universe where Russian hardware actually works.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Probably my favorite book I have ever read. It was like being inside of WWIII from all sides. You were part of the decision making and the battles. They could never make this into a movie, it is too big. Lastly, this book is credible, as in it was written many years ago and here we are watching it begin to play out in present day Ukraine.
Re-reading yet again, in honor of Mr. Clancy. RIP.