Don’t Miss the Original Series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Starring John Krasinski!The #1 New York Times bestseller that launched the phenomenal career of Tom Clancy—a gripping military thriller that introduced the world to his unforgettable hero, Jack Ryan—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. Somewhere under the freezing Atlantic, a Soviet sub commander … Somewhere under the freezing Atlantic, a Soviet sub commander has just made a fateful decision. The Red October is heading west. The Americans want her. The Russians want her back. The chase for the highly advanced nuclear submarine is on—and there’s only one man who can find her…
Brilliant CIA analyst Jack Ryan has little interest in fieldwork, but when covert photographs of Red October land on his desk, Ryan soon finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek played by two world powers—a game that could end in all-out war.
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This was the classic Clancy. The first work of fiction ever published by Naval Institute Press, which is interesting as they were previously known for only nonfiction on naval matters.
Clancy was an insurance salesman living in Annapolis; which is where the Naval Academy is located. And also adjacent to Washington DC and the Pentagon. One wonders how much access he got to classified information as there was concern after the book was published.
It was based on a classified real event– a mutiny on board a Russian missile cruiser, not a sub.
I do feel his books went down hill after this; he started buying into all the propaganda the Pentagon fed him. He also had no military background and I do wince at some of his army scenes.
Nevertheless, this launched him and he deserved it.
The Hunt for Red October has been around for several years. It, along with the rest of the Jack Ryan series is a great book. It is full of action/suspense, and keeps the pages turning. It is a series that is very well worth reading.
Tom Clancy’s starting point for Jack Ryan. For those who enjoy a military bent, this is a must. Have to admit, it seems a little strange seeing “Jim” from the Office on the cover. Still a good book. You might also check out the movie with Sean Connery, the Russian Captain with a Scottish accent!
It has been a long time since I last read this book, but it was still as gripping a tale as ever. The idea of a Soviet submarine crew defecting to the US and taking their sub along with them was an intriguing idea. Staring the story from Captain Ramius’s point of view was an excellent way to set the hook. I loved getting a glimpse of what motivated him to do such a thing and an idea of what he was up against.
Next up was the addition of the American side of things. First, the American submarines tasked with keeping an eye on the Russian subs, tracking them and noting their capabilities. The first inkling of the difficulties tracing this sub comes when the Russian sub “disappears” from their scopes. The questions continue as Jack Ryan travels to CIA headquarters with clandestine photos taken of the Red October and a plan to get some answers. The intensity ramps up when the CIA receives word that Ramius is trying to defect, and the whole Russian navy is out to stop him.
The cat and mouse game kept me glued to the pages in spite of the fact I knew how it turns out. Each time I read it, I seem to pick up something new or am reminded of something I forgot. Jack’s discomfort with being a “field agent” is evident, but he is determined to succeed. I loved seeing how his mind worked as he tried to anticipate Ramius’s moves. Ramius’s determination to avoid detection by both Russian and American subs kept everyone on their toes. My favorite parts are the ones with the sonarman, Jonesy, from the sub Dallas. I love his humor, his intensity, and his dogged determination.
The tension ramped up as all the moving parts came together to hide the defection of the Red October. But just when it looked like all was well, an unexpected player entered the game. The intensity of this part, with the difficulties posed by rules of engagement and the need to not start a war, had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over.
One of my favorite things about this book was after Ryan and the men from the Dallas joined Ramius on the Red October. Seeing these men, who had been enemies for so long learn about each other and see the similarities is a lesson that everyone should pay attention to. I especially liked seeing Jonesy and his Russian counterpart.
The author has an incredible talent for description that frequently made me feel as though I were right in the middle of the action. The descriptions of life onboard a submarine were especially vivid and often made me very happy I could look out a window while I was reading.
When you read Tom Clancy you will not be disappointed in his works, and this was the case of The Hunt for Red October. This book is set at the height of the Cold War and the Soviet Union newest boat is put out to sea on its maiden voyager under Marco Ramius, who has a secret. Yet Jack Ryan coming back from England with red hot intelligence figures out what the secret is and sets a plan in motion to help the elusive Ramius. This book takes you inside the politics of the Soviet Union to high stakes game of underwater hide and seek with billions of dollars of equipment. You will not be able to set it down.
I believe it is one of the best that Tom Clancy wrote. Even my sons, who don’t like to read, enjoyed it. It is action packed, and is realistic. This book could happen at any time. How would you escape Russia? The movie was good as well.
One of Tom Clancy’s best original early books. The style is fantastic, pure Tom Clancy. This is not the case with other books “by Tom Clancy” written by host writers.
This is an awesome book. Most people will remember when it was made into a movie. I personally prefer the book. It makes you stop and think about the world we live in and where we would be if these scenes were carried out today. Some of the scenes have been carried which makes it even more scary. Everyone should read this one!
The author, Tom Clancy, who died four years ago at the age of 66, has a fascinating life story. To the best of my knowledge, this is an insurance agent from the State of Maryland who himself did not serve in the army. In the early 1980s, he wrote a thriller called “Red Storm Rising” and suddenly burst into consciousness. It is a unique style of writing a scenario of war in which the reader moves quickly from place to place and watches events in real time. Apart from the beautiful scenes, Clancy specialized in describing possible weapons and scenarios during the Cold War. After his first book, he was hired by the US Department of Defense as a consultant for situations, and he has written many books, some of which work for successful films.
The current story, probably two of his books, concerns a Russian submarine of nuclear missiles that its captain decides to desert and bring as a gift to the Americans. The book describes the race between the Soviet Navy, which is trying to capture the submarine on the way, and the US Navy working to ensure its arrival. On the way, we introduced to the advanced technologies used by the armies. A fascinating thriller despite the time that has elapsed.
One of the author’s first books remains one of his best
If anyone had told me I would love a book about a submarine I would have laughed. Loved this, could not put it down. Great story, great characters.
Considering it wasn’t as action packed as some of his other novels, Clancy made up for that with the suspense. The intensity of “what will happen next” makes the reader HAVE to turn the page. Great characters set within the Cold War. This is the first of the Jack Ryan stories.
Any Clancy book I have ever read is not only a great story, but an education. He awakens curiosity about people, places and things with his writing.
just about a perfect read
All time classic, a true must read.
Outstanding
Better than the movie
On of my 10 preferred story. I enjoyed all the early Tom Clancy books.
One of Clancy’s best books (and movies)
This is the original Jack Ryan. And Tom Clancy.
This story ages well. I first read this when it came out all those years ago and on rereading it I found it to be just as fun.