How many of you are really into his books? I saw a few of his titles for sale, but wasn't sure if they were any good.

The Hunt For Red October, good movie too

Executive Orders
Debt of Honor
Rainbow Six
The Sum of All Fears, and the film is really crap... they should have followed the book more

And all but the newest Op-center

all in dutch translation except for red october

The books listed - I like.  I can't stand the latest : OP-Center" series.

The movies -  liked "Red October", "Patriot Games", but although Clear and Present Danger" was a good action film, and captured the character, Ryan, decently, the rest of the "facts"were off.  Because of that, I haven't brought myself to (now rent and) see "Sum of All Fears".

  I read several of his earlier books, and 'Red storm rising' was my favorite, I think I still have that one around here somewhere because I thought I would read it again someday.

I would agree with you - to a point.  The Clancy books very much focus on individuals working within an environment.  However, while "as a general rule" the military is presented as a noble profession, his books to not leave out the morally corrupt people that are present in any organization/endeavor.

However, I do like his style and technical details.



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I like Clancy's work as well.  Ryan started off being a great bloke but has turned into a bit of an over moralised tit.  Best book ever is the Sum of all Fears, (Edit: I meant to type Red Storm Rising but I am a fool.   Sum of all fears is good but he bottles out.  It should have worked then it would really have been as the title suggests.) one of the few modern American authors who would have the guts to deal the USN such a kicking (Nimitz Group).  My only sore point is the comment at the end by the US general where he talks about "Sorting out two European conflicts already this century" this single statement exemplifies precisely what many europeans (at least the one's I know) dislike about America.

Any way, that was not meant as a dig against my american friends on the forum, just a statement.  Clancy is honest enough to not have to try and make friends with what he writes, and the statement I have (poorly) quoted above is exactly the sort of thing that the character in question would say.

In answer to your question Andrew, I would definately reccomend buying Hunt for Red October and starting there.  It is a fantastic Novel that is way better than the film and the film is simply brilliant alone.  The casting was spot on with Sean Connery playing Ramius.  Try if possible to read the books in the order of publication as failure to do so will ruin earlier plot lines.  I dare anyone to have a dry eye during the final pages of "Cardinal".

Will

enjoy all of tom clancy's books, video games and movies