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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: branch37 on January 08, 2015, 12:21:00 PM

Title: Tom Clancy
Post by: branch37 on January 08, 2015, 12:21:00 PM
Ok I figure many people on this board have read his books, so I figured it would be a good place to ask this question. I have read rainbow six and the hunt for red October. I want to read another clancy book but i do not know which one. Any suggestions.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Ack-Ack on January 08, 2015, 12:23:42 PM
Ok I figure many people on this board have read his books, so I figured it would be a good place to ask this question. I have read rainbow six and the hunt for red October. I want to read another clancy book but i do not know which one. Any suggestions.

Red Storm Rising.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Gman on January 08, 2015, 12:44:17 PM
+1 for Red Storm Rising.

It's one of his first books, co written with another author, Larry Bond.  Outside the Jack Ryan universe, but still his best book, even though it's a collaboration, IMO.  One of the best cold war/WW3 fiction novels out there, still.

If you want to stay in RyanVerse, I would say Without Remorse is the next best book to read, set mostly in the time of the Vietnam War, fantastic book. 

Or, you could always start at the beginning - read Red Storm, then since you've read Hunt for Red October, read Patriot Games next, then just go down the line of the Jack Ryan series, skipping or re-reading Rainbow 6. 

I prefer his earlier works, from Hunt to around Bear/Dragon, after that, not so much.  I remember as a kid, touring about the world with my Pipe Band, in every airport or plane cabin during the 80s and early 90s, it seemed as though every 2nd person was reading a Tom Clancy paperback.  The year Patriot Games came out, I swear there was nothing but that blue colored book on board a long flight or two that summer.

I think after his divorce he became disinterested with writing, and had a lot of ghost written series, and even his "main" line of books were often co-written with little participation from Clancy, and it showed in the writting.  Post 2000 or so after the Bear and the Dragon = sharp decline in quality, at least IMO.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Oldman731 on January 08, 2015, 12:49:30 PM
+1 for Red Storm Rising.

It's one of his first books, co written with another author, Larry Bond.  Outside the Jack Ryan universe, but still his best book, even though it's a collaboration, IMO.  One of the best cold war/WW3 fiction novels out there, still.

If you want to stay in RyanVerse, I would say Without Remorse is the next best book to read


Agreed on both points.  Oddly, neither one is a "Jack Ryan" story.

Of the Ryan books, "Patriot Games" was my favorite.

- oldman
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Rob52240 on January 08, 2015, 01:01:27 PM
Red Storm Rising was a fantastic book.

My favorite Clancy Book, by far was Without Remorse.   It's Clark's back story and it is a great back story.

Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on January 08, 2015, 01:01:50 PM
I remember reading without remorse outside in one sitting one warm summer day. We have 24 hours of light during summer. By the time I was finished the color had worn off the covers :)

It was my first Clancy book and still my favourite.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Rob52240 on January 08, 2015, 01:08:07 PM
I remember reading without remorse outside in one sitting one warm summer day. We have 24 hours of light during summer. By the time I was finished the color had worn off the covers :)

It was my first Clancy book and still my favourite.

It's the only book besides Forrest Gump that I've ever read in less than 3 sittings.  I would definitely suggest reading Forrest Gump as well.  I've you've seen the movie you'll notice that the movie only covered a handful of the things he did and didn't give away anything as far as spoiling the book. 
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Tinkles on January 08, 2015, 01:12:47 PM
Red Storm Rising.
:aok
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: wpeters on January 08, 2015, 01:51:46 PM
Ok I figure many people on this board have read his books, so I figured it would be a good place to ask this question. I have read rainbow six and the hunt for red October. I want to read another clancy book but i do not know which one. Any suggestions.
Cardinal of the Kremlin
Debt of Honor  following read Executive Orders
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: shotgunneeley on January 08, 2015, 01:53:23 PM
I was about to head out for a 9 hour car ride to Atlanta with either "I-Boat Captain" by Zenji Orita or "Money: Master the Game" by Tony Robins. Thanks to you guys I'll be reading "Without Remorse".  :aok

I've read Cardinal of the Kremlin, Red Storm Rising, Red Rabbit, Rainbow Six, SSN, and several of his later collaborations. Been several years since I last read a Clancy, I'll have to get back into it.

Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Devil 505 on January 08, 2015, 01:54:12 PM
You've got all the great Clancy novels covered here already - but I'll add emphasis to Without Remorse. Since you also read Rainbow Six I'll also recommend Clear and Present Danger so you can see the origin of Ding Chavez. The book itself I think is just OK, too much political "bla-blah" even though it's the whole point of the book.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: branch37 on January 08, 2015, 03:06:32 PM
Another question I had was about John Clark. Who exactly is he?  It talked a bit about his story in rainbow six, but reading the book descriptions has me confused. I assume Clark is his code name that stuck after the events of Without Remorse, and he is the John Clark in Rainbow Six?
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: pipz on January 08, 2015, 03:29:22 PM
Red Storm Rising.

I just read that one a few months ago. Pretty neat stuff.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Gman on January 08, 2015, 03:31:43 PM
Yes, same John Clark in RB6.

His original name was John Kelly IRRC, he was with the UDT/SEAL team units that operated in Vietnam, and worked with the Phoenix program, or a unit in Clancy/fiction representing Phoenix at least, same sort of deal.  I won't spoil the rest of his story, it's mainly covered in Without Remorse, but he obviously ends up working with the CIA for many years, then instructing at the CIA's various schools, and then on to RB6, which you've read and know the story from there.

I'd also say don't forget about the non fiction series co written with John Gresham - some interesting, although dated in most cases books.  SSN is another fiction novel I forgot about that isn't in the RyanVerse.  If you like sub novels, it's pretty decent, a little mechanical, but still a good sampling of sub stuff versus the Chinese Navy, which turned out to be fairly prophetic, like many other Clancy ideas (using airliners as a poor man's strategic weapon and so on).

Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: eagl on January 08, 2015, 05:51:42 PM
Red Storm Rising.

This.

His later stuff gets a little wonky, and I have found his spin-off books titled "Tom Clancy's whatever" written by other authors to be largely garbage.  The sum of all fears and Debt of Honor are ok, and with debt of honor you get to read his somewhat prescient vision of what 9/11 would have looked like if they hit DC first or chose a large political gathering instead of the twin towers as the symbol of the western great satan.

Without remorse was pretty good too.

I had the old PC game red storm rising, and it was super fun.  I wish it would run on current PCs but it talked directly to the video card so I couldn't even find emulators that would run it.  Then I lost the floppies :(



Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Ack-Ack on January 08, 2015, 06:06:38 PM
Isn't Debt of Honor the one in which we go to war with the Japanese again and a JAL pilot crashes into the Capitol Building?
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Dichotomy on January 08, 2015, 08:40:02 PM
yes..
 
I'm currently working my way through all of his works in time period order.  He does tend to get a bit wordy at times but they're all still a good read in my mind.  I think Patriot Games is my favorite Jack Ryan book but Red Storm is my favorite of all time
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Rob52240 on January 08, 2015, 11:43:21 PM
Isn't Debt of Honor the one in which we go to war with the Japanese again and a JAL pilot crashes into the Capitol Building?

Yes.  I found that book extremely boring and regretted finishing it.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: wpeters on January 09, 2015, 08:14:37 AM
Audible is great if you don't want to read. 
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on January 09, 2015, 03:23:37 PM
Audible is great if you don't want to read. 

But its not the same. You get maybe 50% of the experience.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: wpeters on January 09, 2015, 03:26:38 PM
But its not the same. You get maybe 50% of the experience.
Personally I disagree due to the fact That I like to speed read.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on January 09, 2015, 03:29:25 PM
Personally I disagree due to the fact That I like to speed read.

I tried audio books and they're distracting because the readers interpretation of the text is annoying. If a machine would read it emotionless it would be better. But even then you can't go back and re-read a spot if you want to rethink and visualize whats written. So audible is a compromise. Not as bad as watching a movie based on the book but a lot worse than reading by yourself.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Gman on January 09, 2015, 05:01:01 PM
Eagl - I think it's abondonia or one of the other old game sites that has RSR avaiable, and runs fine on DosBox.  It's been a few years, but I had it working well on a Win7 notebook.  Pew Pew Pew!

(http://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/r/red-storm-rising-qz/red-storm-rising_11.gif)

(http://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/r/red-storm-rising-qz/red-storm-rising_12.gif)


A bit of O/T sorta, George RR Martin, the much covered and interviewed writer of the Game of Thrones series, listed the top 10 battle sequences in novels he has read on his blog on his georgerrmartin.com site.  He listed the battle of Alfeld from Red Storm Rising in his top 10, I found that curious, and interesting. 

Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Dichotomy on January 09, 2015, 07:17:59 PM
Personally I disagree due to the fact That I like to speed read.

I like to listen to books while I'm doing mindless work.  As long as you get the unabridged version it's cool. 
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Zerstorer on January 09, 2015, 07:42:24 PM
Eagl - I think it's abondonia or one of the other old game sites that has RSR avaiable, and runs fine on DosBox.  It's been a few years, but I had it working well on a Win7 notebook.  Pew Pew Pew!

(http://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/r/red-storm-rising-qz/red-storm-rising_11.gif)

(http://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/r/red-storm-rising-qz/red-storm-rising_12.gif)


A bit of O/T sorta, George RR Martin, the much covered and interviewed writer of the Game of Thrones series, listed the top 10 battle sequences in novels he has read on his blog on his georgerrmartin.com site.  He listed the battle of Alfeld from Red Storm Rising in his top 10, I found that curious, and interesting. 



Awesome game....spent way too much time playing this as well.

Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: eagl on January 09, 2015, 10:45:15 PM
Eagl - I think it's abondonia or one of the other old game sites that has RSR avaiable, and runs fine on DosBox.  It's been a few years, but I had it working well on a Win7 notebook.  Pew Pew Pew!

I'll have to give that a shot, thx.  It's been a long time since I last played with dosbox, couldn't get a few games (like global conquest) running last time I tried so I sort of stopped using it.  Sounds like I have a good reason to try again.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on January 10, 2015, 06:15:34 AM
Awesome game....spent way too much time playing this as well.



I played RSR on Amiga a lot too.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: branch37 on January 12, 2015, 06:56:56 AM
Yes, same John Clark in RB6.

His original name was John Kelly IRRC, he was with the UDT/SEAL team units that operated in Vietnam, and worked with the Phoenix program, or a unit in Clancy/fiction representing Phoenix at least, same sort of deal.  I won't spoil the rest of his story, it's mainly covered in Without Remorse, but he obviously ends up working with the CIA for many years, then instructing at the CIA's various schools, and then on to RB6, which you've read and know the story from there.




Ok that is exactly what I thought.  Reading the book descriptions, they keep calling Kelly "the dark side of Jack Ryan", making it sound like Ryan has a multiple personality disorder or something.   :rofl  Stupid Itunes.

Anyway, yall were right.  I started Without Remorse, and havent been able to put the damn thing down.  I knew Clark was kind of dealt a crappy hand but damn.  I didnt know it went that far.  FYI I'm only about half way through the book so dont spoil it.   :D
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Dichotomy on January 13, 2015, 08:05:40 PM
I found all of his books much better than most of the drivel that's put out now days.  Chronologically I believe that Patriot Games is next sir. 
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: branch37 on January 14, 2015, 10:06:03 PM
Why didn't anyone tell me that Without Remorse is probably the most depressing book ever written?   :cry
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: FLOOB on January 14, 2015, 11:29:34 PM
Without Remorse is my favorite of Tom Clancy.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Oldman731 on January 15, 2015, 08:27:24 AM
Why didn't anyone tell me that Without Remorse is probably the most depressing book ever written? 


....why....because you didn't ask, and because it isn't!

Far More Depressing:

365 Days (Glasser)
Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck)
A Soldier's Story (the Guy Sajer version, not Omar Bradley's)

There are probably more.  Should be a separate thread.

- oldman
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: branch37 on January 16, 2015, 06:33:11 AM
Well I finished Without Remorse.  Very good book, and thanks for the recommendation.  Knowing his back story now, it is very surprising that he didn't go into a PTSD episode and snap during the hospital episode in Rainbow Six.  But then again, he is a very cool customer.   

Now I want to finish the rest of the Clark story.  Which books finish out his story? 
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on January 16, 2015, 09:02:51 AM
Well I finished Without Remorse.  Very good book, and thanks for the recommendation.  Knowing his back story now, it is very surprising that he didn't go into a PTSD episode and snap during the hospital episode in Rainbow Six.  But then again, he is a very cool customer.   

Whow, whow settle down buddy. You do remember it's a fictional character, right? :D
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: branch37 on January 16, 2015, 12:19:54 PM
Lol yeah. Just got into this book a little more than others  :joystick:
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: bcadoo on January 16, 2015, 02:14:18 PM
This.

His later stuff gets a little wonky, and I have found his spin-off books titled "Tom Clancy's whatever" written by other authors to be largely garbage.  The sum of all fears and Debt of Honor are ok, and with debt of honor you get to read his somewhat prescient vision of what 9/11 would have looked like if they hit DC first or chose a large political gathering instead of the twin towers as the symbol of the western great satan.

Without remorse was pretty good too.

I had the old PC game red storm rising, and it was super fun.  I wish it would run on current PCs but it talked directly to the video card so I couldn't even find emulators that would run it.  Then I lost the floppies :(

I've got it running in Windows 7 using dosbox


Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Dichotomy on January 16, 2015, 07:41:25 PM
Well I finished Without Remorse.  Very good book, and thanks for the recommendation.  Knowing his back story now, it is very surprising that he didn't go into a PTSD episode and snap during the hospital episode in Rainbow Six.  But then again, he is a very cool customer.   

Now I want to finish the rest of the Clark story.  Which books finish out his story? 

he's in them off and on until the end of the series. 
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: 800nate800 on January 17, 2015, 11:01:14 AM
Read All of his End War Series. Some Great Books.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Mano on January 17, 2015, 09:42:35 PM
Red storm rising. +1

Read almost all of his books.

Clear and Present Danger was good but,

The Hunt for Red October was my favorite


 :salute
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: branch37 on January 17, 2015, 10:26:00 PM
So far I've read Rainbow Six, The Hunt For Red October, and Without Remorse. I think RB6 is my favorite so far. Just ordered Patriot Games, Cardinal of the Kremlin, Clear andPresent Danger and Red Rabbit.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: xbrit on January 21, 2015, 09:29:59 AM
I first picked up a copy of Red storm rising during the early 90's and was hooked on Clancy after that.
Another book I really enjoyed by a different author was "Eagle in the sky" by Wilbur Smith, it's got a bit of everything
between the covers.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: Gman on January 21, 2015, 09:37:18 AM
Wow, Xbrit, I thought I was the few who has read that book, it was my father's favorite, Eagle in the Sky, he read it when I was 1 year old, and gave that copy to me when I was first into Clancy and Red Storm Rising at 13 or so.  It's one of my favorite books, both the content and the sentimental value.  Apparently in its day it was hugely popular, but few folks today have heard of it, at least among those readers I know.
Title: Re: Tom Clancy
Post by: xbrit on January 21, 2015, 02:10:27 PM
I did have quite a collection of Wilbur Smith books.