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liliya_a's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lfro2013's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.0
This was a slog. I'm sure people who really love the nitty gritty of espionage operations will be enthralled, but I like a bit of action, and that was something SERIOUSLY lacking in this book. 636 pages, and it was all talk for the entire thing except about 15 pages at the end. Tom Clancy is NOT for me.
kennethjohnston9's review against another edition
1.0
This had about 400 pages of filler and some of the worst pacing I've ever seen. There's a mildly interesting plot in there, but you have to sit through endless meandering geopolitical discussions by Soviet leadership and CIA leadership and whoever else. But those sections are far better than the internal reflections on the historical moment by every single character, from Jack Ryan to Soviet cipher clerks. And writing about the 1980's in 2002 leads to unbearable lines like how that Cal Ripken kid might end up as a good baseball player and that Starbuck joint out in Seattle might be onto something. Don't worry, if you miss those devilishly clever lines they will be repeated a couple more times. Cannot recommend unless you need every Jack Ryan story.
clintonfitch's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
One of Clancy’s best. Well done with great character development.
hawkeyegough's review
2.0
This book did not age well. The dust jacket says it was published in 2003, but it takes place in the early '80s and feels as though it was written in the 1500s at times. A mediocre spy thriller layered with racism and some over the top rah-rah politicism that really didn't feel as though it belonged. And finally It really felt like a tacked-on awkward attack on centralized healthcare that had nothing to do with the rest of the book. I wish Clancy had focused more on espionage and less on some BS political agenda that doesn't even have any internal logic, much less relevance to the plot he's crafted. A rare miss for a master of political intrigue.
Spoiler
what was the purpose of all the "British surgeons get drunk at work during surgery!" angle?tamaralgage1's review
5.0
This was a good story that kept me in suspense. I love the splash of history, politics and personalities that are introduced throughout the story. Of course, there is the many of reference to history I remember. Excellent sequel to the Patriot Games.