My version: Paperback
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Books
First published: 2000
ISBN: 978-1-405-91548-9
Pages: 1137
Bought
From the back cover:
President Jack Ryan faces an international crisis that threatens the security of the whole world.
Newly elected in his own right, Jack Ryan has found that being President has gotten no easier: domestic pitfalls await him at every turn; the Asian economy is going down the tubes; and now, in Moscow, someone may have tried to take out the chairman of the SVR – the former KGB – with a rocket-propelled grenade.
Things are unstable enough in Russia without high-level assassination, but even more disturbing may be the identities of the potential assassins. Were they political enemies, the Russian Mafia, disaffected former KGB? Or, Ryan wonders, is something far more dangerous at work here?
Ryan is right to wonder. For even while Russian investigators pursue the case, and some of his most trusted eyes and ears, including antiterrorism specialist John Clark, head to Moscow, forces in China are moving forward with a plan of truly audacious proportions. Tired of what they view as the presumption of the West, eager to fulfil their destiny, they are taking matters into their own hands. If they succeed, the world as we know it will never look the same. If they fail…the consequences may be unspeakable.
Long winded. Very long winded. Way too many pages for what the story actually is. Way too much wholly unnecessary detail. Irrelevant detail too. All the sexual stuff, trying to seduce a Chinese secretary to use as an informant, pages of it, not needed. One page, max. Then on to the results.
Of course the this happened, then that happened, which resulted in that happening, constantly falls nicely into place. The book would be twice as long (sheesh!) if he had to consider variables, or human nature. The whole Russians shake off Communism, scales fall from eyes, are our (read American) friends now is a little far-fetched.
But, China is obviously the ‘new’ enemy in American thriller writer’s eyes. Along with the various (Muslim) lands in the Middle East of course, but that pretty much goes without saying. So sticking it to the Chinese is always, I presume, gonna sell.
But…that said, it is enjoyable. It doesn’t quite thrill, as I would term it, but it is a nice, if long, read. A good way to pass a few hours. Not a struggle at all (apart from some excessive verbiage here and there. Jack Ryan struggles to be relevant, being President of course. In the world of this time, he can’t go running around solving the problems on his own, he hasto direct things from his office. And we are still operating in a world here where the U.S. President is still a decent cove, worthy of the ‘world leader’ epithet. Rather than a corrupt, senile, shit for brains, insecure narcicist (“a person who shows an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a deep need for constant admiration, and a lack of empathy for others,” according to Google’s six-fingered plagiarism robot), who shits himself while asleep in the Oval office… So you do need to keep reminding yourself to keep in mind when the novel is set. Stuff coming in by fax, and all.
And at least there aren’t any recipies. IYKYK.
You probaby should hesitate a little before buying The Bear And The Dragon by Tom Clancy from Amazon
Couldn't I Just Tell You 