Contents
Questions & Answers B1: Abbreviations & Acronyms B2: List of Tom Clancy's books, and publication/storyline order B3: In what order should I read Clancy's books? B4: What is Clancy's best book? B5: What other authors write books like Clancy's? B6: Where did Jack Ryan *really* go to college? B7: What is Bug Juice? B8: When will the next book be published? B9: Why isn't Op-Center up to Clancy's normal standards? B11: Op Center: why don't the book and the movie match? B11: What happened to "Reality Check"? B12: Was Ryan really confirmed at the end of DOH? B13: What did the final question in EO mean? B14: Time conflicts in the books B15: Ryan's Intelligence Stars B16: Did Trent and Fellows survive DoH? B17: What is the next book? Will Jack Ryan be back? Publishing Record Plot Summaries Characters
Questions & Answers
B1 -- What do all these letters mean? What is all this stuff with acronyms? The letters are acronyms for the titles of the books written by Tom Clancy. They are used to avoid typing the name of a book zillions of times during a discussion. Most of them are made up of the first letters of the words in the title. Case is important, but not critical. They are: RSR Red Storm Rising WR Without Remorse PG Patriot Games HFRO or HfRO The Hunt for Red October COTK or CoTK The Cardinal of the Kremlin CAPD or CaPD Clear and Present Danger SOAF or SoAF The Sum of All Fears DOH or DoH Debt of Honor EO Executive Orders OC Op-Center OC:MI Op-Center:Mirror Image FW Fighter Wing (nonfiction) B2 -- What books has Tom Clancy written? In what order were they written? In what order do they take place? The list of Tom Clancy's books in order of publication is: 1. The Hunt for Red October 2. Red Storm Rising 3. Patriot Games 4. The Cardinal of the Kremlin 5. Clear and Present Danger 6. The Sum of All Fears 7. Without Remorse 8. Submarine 9. Debt of Honor 10. Armored Cav 11. Tom Clancy's Op-Center 12. Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Mirror Image 13. Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Games of State 14. Fighter Wing 15. Executive Orders 16. Marine 17. SSN [Not exactly sure of the order for these final few] Red Storm Rising is not related to any of the other books. The storyline, characters, etc. from Red Storm Rising to not carry over into other books. Submarine, Armored Cav, Fighter Wing and Marine are non-fiction books. The Op-Center series was not actually written by Tom Clancy; the books in that series are independent of all Clancy's other works. SSN is a fiction book based on a computer game. The remainder of the books make up the Jack Ryan storyline. He appears in all of them, although sometimes in a minor role. The storyline order of these books is NOT the same as the publication order. The Jack Ryan storyline and publication orders are as follows: Published order Storyline order --------------------------- --------------------------- The Hunt for Red October Without Remorse Patriot Games Patriot Games The Cardinal of the Kremlin The Hunt for Red October Clear and Present Danger The Cardinal of the Kremlin The Sum of All Fears Clear and Present Danger Without Remorse The Sum of All Fears Debt of Honor Debt of Honor Executive Orders Executive Orders Further, the storyline order of the movies is different from both of the above. See the movies chapter. Clancy has stated that his books have been published in the order of their completion. The Hunt for Red October was the first Tom Clancy book published. He started Without Remorse and Patriot Games first, but didn't complete them. After Red Storm Rising was published he went back and completed Patriot Games. After The Sum of All Fears he apparently went back and reworked and finished Without Remorse. B3 -- In what order should I read Tom Clancy's books? So far, there is no consensus in the group of the correct order to read Clancy's novels. My suggestion is to read the books in the order they were published, and *not* the order of the Jack Ryan storyline. This applies to the Jack Ryan storyline novels only. You can read Red Storm Rising, Submarine, Armored Cav, Fighter Wing and Marine anytime. This is just a suggestion. It is not *necessary* to read the books in any particular order to enjoy them. B4 -- What is Clancy's best book? This question is debated constantly. These has been no answer so far, and there never will be. "Best" depends entirely upon what _you_ like to see in a book. B5 -- I've read all of Tom Clancy's books. What other authors write books like him? Names mentioned in newsgroup discussions are: Richard Aellen Ted Albury Mark Berent Larry Bond Dale Brown Larry Collins Stephen Coonts Harold Coyle Clive Cussler Len Deighton Ken Follett Frederick Forsythe W.E.B. Griffin Marshall Harrison Payne Harrison Richard Herman Stephen Hunter John LeCarre Robert Ludlum Harrison Marshall David Poyer Craig Thomas Barrett Tillman Duane Unkefer No assertion is made whether you will like or dislike any of these authors. These authors have been mentioned in various discussions in the newsgroup. B6 -- Where did Jack Ryan really go to college? I remember the Admiral in The Hunt for Red October mentioning that Jack Ryan attended the Academy. He must have meant Annapolis. But the history here says he didn't. Where did he go to college? You're confusing the movie version of HFRO with the book. In the book storyline, Jack Ryan did *not* attend or graduate from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. He *did* teach history there. See the Jack Ryan entry under Characters in this chapter. The movie scene with Admiral Painter and Captain Davenport is *not* from the book. B7 -- What is bug juice? Bug juice is a US Navy name for a fruit flavored drink served on board vessels of the US Navy. It is an alternative to coffee and water. It comes in several flavors and colors. The colors have no relationship to flavor. Those in the know prefer the red variety. In a historical context, the term bug juice was sometimes used to refer to bootleg alcohol during WWII made from the fuel used to power US torpedoes. It was also referred to as "gilly" juice. One reference has it that extremely strong coffee was sometimes also referred to as bug juice. B8 -- When will the next Jack Ryan story be published? When will Clancy's next book be published? Who knows? Nobody, probably not even Tom himself. Executive Orders was just published in August 1996, and Marine not long after, so the next book is probably well in the future. B9 -- Why doesn't Tom Clancy's Op-Center seem to be up to his usual quality of writing? This is what Tom Clancy wrote: ==================== Clancy on the origin of Op Center. This is public information. Steve Pieczenik MD and I were at my home waiting for a friend to appear for a business meeting when I started talking about a moribund TV project I'd worked on mainly as a joke. Steve, it turned out, had a similar project behind him, and it turned out that his project and mine both had an element which the other lacked. So, we blended the ideas into what was actually his title "Op Center," and approached Brandon Tartikoff to work with us on it. ==================== The books are "spin-offs" from the TV mini-series. Clancy and Peiczenik created the original idea, characters, and situations. The manuscripts are written by other authors. The Op-Center book manuscripts are credited in the acknowledgments sections to Jeff Rovin. Short answer, because Clancy didn't write the books. B10 -- Op-Center: Why don't the book and the movie match? I read the book and saw the movie. The two didn't even have the same story line. One was a conflict in Korea. And the movie was about missing warheads in the Soviet Union. (Russia). What's going on? The following answer provided by Douglas Adams (dadams@falcon.cc.ukans.edu): ========================= Op Center was designed as a focal point for stories and books to be written around. All it involves is the Op Center itself and the cast of characters, which can be used over and over in a variety of situations. The book and the TV movie used the Op Center core with different stories. This kind of thing has gone on for a long time in s.f. and fantasy (For example: Thieve's World, by Robert Lynn Asprin and the Berserker series, by Fred Saberhagen), where a well known author creates a world/situation for other authors to use. Why can't people accept that here? ====================== B11 -- Clancy was supposed to be publishing a collection of political essays by the end of 1995. What happened to them? Tom Clancy writes: "Reality Check" is on hiatus. Why? The political landscape changed too fast. B12 -- Was Ryan really confirmed at the end of DOH? Clancy intended that Ryan should be confirmed, but he made a mistake under pressure to meet his publisher's deadline. Jack Ryan's nomination for the Vice Presidency was perfectly legal. The 25th Amendment to the Constitution provides that "Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President..." This part was followed. The remainder of the Amendment reads "...who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress." Clancy made the mistake of saying Ryan only had to be confirmed by the **Senate**, not the full Congress. Clancy has stated that this mistake was made under deadline pressure and should be ignored. Further books in the series will pretend the mistake never happened. The remainder of the procedure, i.e. the confirmation by voice vote, is correct. The fact that Ryan was never sworn as Vice President is irrelevant, because the Amendment states that he shall take office "upon confirmation by a majority vote...". Also, he was already under oath from his CIA and USMC days. B13 -- What did the final question in EO mean? At the end of the final press conference in Executive Orders, Ryan answers "Yes, I will" to an implied question. The question is "Will you run for election?" (Re-election is not an issue, since he was never elected to the office he now holds). B14 -- Time conflicts in the books Hey! The dates in this book don't work out! What's going on here? Yes, there are time/date conflicts in the books. It is fiction, folks, so not everything has to match the "real world" perfectly. Clancy has stated that there are three irreconcilable time conflicts in Without Remorse alone. That's likely to happen in fiction. B15 -- Ryan's Intelligence Stars In the first chapter of Sum of All Fears, the National Security Advisor remarks that Ryan has "Two Intelligence Stars, the submarine business... and the thing with Gerasimov." The text then says "Jack actually had three. But the decoration for the third was locked away in a very safe place, and was something so secret that even the new President didn't and wouldn't ever know." It is often wondered what the third star is for. The first is obviously for bringing in Red October in HFRO. The second is for arranging Gerasimov's defection in COTK. The third, most secret one, is for Ryan's rescue of the US troops in Colombia during CAPD. B16: Did Trent and Fellows survive DoH? Many people think Congressmen Trent Fellows died in the catastrophe at the end of Debt of Honor. This is simply not true, as can be seen by reading the book. Trent and Fellows were with Ryan and his family at the time of the explosion. Ryan survived; the Congressmen survived. Quoting from Debt of Honor: "'Let's go!' Andrea Price screamed before anyone else, and with that, the agents lifted every member of the family, carrying- dragging them back to the Longworth Building, leaving the two House members to catch up on their own." This *clearly* shows the Congressmen were alive after the explosion. Quoting further: "'What the hell was that?' Sam Fellows gasped..." "Trent and Fellows just watched, waving the others on their way." Furthermore, in Executive Orders, during the funeral scene in EO (page 95), the news commentators say the following: "What do we really know about Mr. Ryan?" "Not much," the commentator admitted. "His government service has been almost exclusively in CIA. He has the respect of Congress, on both sides of the aisle. He's worked with Al Trent and Sam Fellows for years - that's one of the reasons both members are still alive. ..." Trent and Fellows survived. There can be no argument on this point. B17: What is the next book? Will Jack Ryan be back? As of February 1997 Tom Clancy stated that he had not yet started writing the next book, but he had four "ideas on his computer" and was getting "itchy" to start writing. He also stated "We have not seen the last of Jack Ryan."
Publishing Record
Listed here in publishing order are the books authored by Tom Clancy. The name of the publisher, the date of first release and the copyright owner are included for both hardcover and paperback editions. Thanks to the following people: Michael Sensor, Bob Inskeep, Joe O'Connell, Mike Patterson, Tim Klevar, Robert Keller, J.D. Frankland, Cath Aiken, Ian Heywood, Nicolas Weeger, Peter Zaadstra and Lars Dierich. The Hunt for Red October - HFRO - HfRO US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-87021-285-0 (acid free) Naval Institute Press October 1984, 387 pp. Copyright (c) 1984 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-13351-6 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group October 1985, 469 pp. Copyright (c) 1984 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: London: Collins [month?] 1985, 479 pp. Copyright 1984 Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-617276-8 Fontana, An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers - London Special overseas edition 1985, 479 pp. Copyright 1984 Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. French Translation: Translated by Marianne Veron with the help of Jean Sabbagh, submariner. Copyright Editions Albin Michel, S.A., 1986 for French translation. Dutch Translation (De jacht op de Red October): ISBN: 90-229-5468-4 Translated by: Thomas Mass and Rein van Essen A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1988, 316 pp. Copyright 1984 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. German Translation paperback (Jagd auf Roter Oktober): ISBN: 3-442-09122-5 Published by Goldmann Red Storm Rising - RSR (with Larry Bond) US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-399-13149-3 G. P. Putnam's Sons August 1986, 652 pp. Copyright (c) 1986 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. and Larry Bond US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-10107-X Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group August 1987, 725 pp. Copyright (c) 1986 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. and Larry Bond UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: London: Collins [month?] 1987, 652 pp. Copyright 1986 Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd. and Larry Bond UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-617362-4 Fontana/William Collins & Sons Co., Ltd. - Glasgow 1987, 830 pp. Copyright 1986 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. And Larry Bond French Translation: Translated by France-Marie Watkins, with the help of Jean Sabbagh, submariner. Copyright Editions Albin Michel, S.A., 1987 for French translation. Dutch Translation (Operatie Rode Storm): ISBN: 90-229-7728-5 Translated by: Jan Smit A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1987, 423 pp. Copyright 1986 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. And Larry Bond German Translation (Im Sturm): Hardcover: ISBN: 3-7645-0681-4 Published 12/94 by Blanvalet Paperback: ISBN: 3-442-09824-6 Published 05/96 by Goldmann Patriot Games - PG US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-399-13241-4 G. P. Putnam's Sons August 1987, 540 pp. Copyright (c) 1987 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-10972-0 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group August 1988, 503 pp. Copyright (c) 1987 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: London: Collins /* Month? */ 1987, 616 pp. Copyright 1987 Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-617455-8 Fontana, an imprint of HarperCollins publishers - London Special overseas edition 1988, 616 pp. Copyright 1987 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. French Translation: Translated by France-Marie Watkins. Copyright Editions Albin Michel, S.A., 1988 for French translation. Dutch Translation (Ongelijke strijd): ISBN: 90-229-8069-3 A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1988, 378 pp. Copyright 1987 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. German Translation paperback (Die Stunde der Patrioten) ISBN:3-442-09804-1 Published by Goldmann The Cardinal of the Kremlin - COTK - CoTK US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-399-13345-3 G. P. Putnam's Sons July 1988, 543 pp. Copyright (c) 1988 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-11684-0 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group August 1989, 547 pp. Copyright (c) 1988 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: London: William Collins Sons and CO Ltd [month?] 1989, 816 pp. Copyright 1988 Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-617454-X Fontana, An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers - London Special overseas edition 1989, 626 pp. Copyright 1988 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. French Translation: Translated by France-Marie Watkins. Copyright Editions Albin Michel, S.A., 1989 for French translation. Dutch Translation (Kardinaal van het Kremlin): ISBN: 90-229-7815-X Translated by: Jan Smit A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht/Antwerpen 1988, 396 pp. Copyright 1988 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. German Translation paperback (Der Kardinal im Kreml): ISBN: 3-442-09866-1 Published by Goldmann Clear and Present Danger - CAPD - CaPD US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-399-13440-9 G. P. Putnam's Sons August 1989, 656 pp. Copyright (c) 1989 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-14437-2 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group August 1990, 688 pp. Copyright (c) 1989 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: Guild Publishing London, by arrangement with William Collins Sons and CO Ltd [month?] 1989, 626 pp. Copyright 1989 Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-617730-1 Fontana - Imprint of HarperCollins - London Special overseas edition printed in Glasgow, Scotland 1990, 816 pp Copyright 1989 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. French Translation: Translated by Evelyne Chatelain and Serge Quadruppani. Copyright Editions Albin Michel, S.A., 1990 for French translation. Dutch Translation (De Columbia connectie): ISBN: 90-229-8193-2 Translated: by Jan Smit A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1989, 472 pp. Copyright 1989 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. German Translation (Der Schattenkrieg): Hardcover: ISBN: 3-502-10123-X Published 1990 by Scherz Paperback: ISBN 3-442-09880-7 Published by Goldmann Paperback with pictures from movie: ISBN: 3-442-42942-0 Published by Goldmann The Sum of All Fears - SOAF - SoAF US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-399-13615-0 (acid free), 0-399-13631-2 (limited ed.) G. P. Putnam's Sons August 1991, 798 pp. Copyright (c) 1991 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-13354-0 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group August 1992 Copyright (c) 1991 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 802 pp. Copyright Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd 1991 UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-647116-1 Fontana - HarperCollins - London Special overseas edition printed in Glasgow, Scotland 1992, 1030 pp Copyright 1991 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd Dutch Translation (Golf van ontzetting): ISBN: 90-229-7998-9 Translated by: Jan Kroesen A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1992, 783 pp. Copyright 1991 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. German Translation (Das Echo aller Furcht): Hardcover: ISBN: 3-7645-1045-5 Published 1992 by Blanvalet Paperback: ISBN: 3-442-42608-1 Published by Goldmann Without Remorse - WR US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-399-13825-0 (acid free) 0-399-13840-4 (limited ed.) G. P. Putnam's Sons August 1993, 639 pp. Copyright (c) 1993 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-143332-5 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group August 1994 Copyright (c) 1993 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: BCA by arrangement with HarperCollins Ltd 1993, 639 pp. Copyright Jack Ryan Limited Partnership 1993 UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-647641-4 HarperCollins - London Special overseas edition printed by Griffin in Aus. 1994, 768 pp Copyright 1993 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd Dutch Translation (De meedogenlozen): ISBN: 90-229-8114-2 Translated by: Jan Smit A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1994, 583 pp. Copyright 1993 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. German Translation (Gnadenlos): Hardcover: ISBN: 3-455-00855-0 Published 02/95 by Hoffmann & Campe Paperback: ISBN: 3-453-09952-4 Published 06/96 by Heyne Submarine, A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship US Hardcover: G. P. Putnam's Sons October 1993 Copyright (c) 1993 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-13873-9 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group November 1993, 328 pp. Copyright (c) 1993 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group November 1993, 328 pp. Copyright (c) 1993 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. German Translation hardcover (Atom U-Boot): ISBN: 3-453-09093-4 Translated 08/95 by Heyne Debt of Honor - DOH - DoH US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-399-13954-0 (acid free), 0-399-13960-5 (limited ed.) G. P. Putnam's Sons August 1994, 766 pp. Copyright (c) 1994 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-14758-4 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group August 1995, 990 pp. Copyright (c) 1993 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd. UK/AUS/NZ Hardcover: ( as Debt of Honour ) HarperCollins Publishers 1994, 766 pp. Copyright Jack Ryan Limited Partnership 1994 UK/AUS/NZ Paperback (as Debt of Honour): ISBN: 0-00-647974-X HarperCollins Publishers Special overseas edition 1995, 900 pp. Copyright 1994 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership Dutch Translation (Ereschuld): ISBN: 90-229-8216-5 Translated by: Jan Smit A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1995, 703 pp. Copyright 1994 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership German Translation hardcover (Ehrenschuld): ISBN: 3-455-00855-0 Published 01/96 by Hoffmann & Campe Armored Cav - A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment US Hardcover: G. P. Putnam's Sons December 1994 Copyright (c) 1994 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-15836-5 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group November 1994, 325 pp. Copyright (c) 1994 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership UK/AUS/NZ Paperback (Armoured Warfare): ISBN: 0002555255 Harper Collins 1996, 325 pp. Tom Clancy's Op-Center US Hardcover: Not published in hardcover. U.S. Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-14736-3 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group February 1995, 387 pp. Copyright (c) 1995 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership and S&R Literary, Inc. UK/AUS/NZ Paperback: ISBN: 0-00-649658-X HarperCollins - London Special overseas edition printed in Glasgow, Scotland 1995, 387 pp Copyright 1995 by Jack Ryan Enterprises, Ltd Dutch translation (idem): ISBN: 90-229-8249-1 A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht Translated by: Rogier van Kappel 1995, ? pages Jack Ryan Limited Partnership and S&R Literary, Inc., 1995 Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Mirror Image US Hardcover: Not published in hardcover. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-15014-3 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group November 1995, 436 pp. Copyright (c) 1995 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership and S&R Literary, Inc. German Translation paperback (OP-Center): ISBN: 3-453-09240-6 Published 1996 by Heyne Dutch Translation (Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Contra-Commando) ISBN: 90-229-8269-6 A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht Translated by: Jan Smit 1996, ? pages Jack Ryan Limited Partnership and S&R Literary, Inc., 1995 Fighter Wing - A Guided Tour of an Air Force Combat Wing US Hardcover: Not published in hardcover. US Paperback: ISBN: 0-425-14957-9 Berkley Books, The Berkley Publishing Group November 1995, 331 pp. Copyright (c) 1995 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership German Translation: (Eine Reise in die Welt der modernen Kampfflugzeuge) published by Heyne Verlag GmbH ISBN: 3-453-11520-1 Copyright 1996 Executive Orders - EO US Hardcover: ISBN: 0-339-14218-5 G. P. Putnam's Sons August, 1996, 874 pp. Copyright (c) 1996 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership Dutch Translation (Uitstel van Executie) ISBN: 90-229-8308-0 Translated by Hugo and Nienke Kuipers & Peter de Rijk A.W. Bruna Uitgevers B.V. - Utrecht 1997, 1032 pp. Copyright 1996 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership
Plot Summaries
The following are summaries of the main plots of the books. These summaries are, by no means, complete, nor do they give away any endings, resolutions, or other surprises. They are provided as a service for potential readers to determine which books to read, or re-read, next. Anyone wishing to write a plot summary for any of Tom Clancy's books should contact the FAQ maintainer. The Hunt for Red October - HFRO - HfRO The Krazny Oktyabr (Red October), the Soviet Union's newest Typhoon class missile submarine has set sail. In command is Marko Ramius, the Lithuanian born "test pilot of submarines." With the death of the Red October's political officer the disenchanted Ramius and his hand picked cadre of officers begin their own mission. A mysterious letter posted by Ramius to the chief political officer of the Soviet Navy initiates unprecedented Soviet Naval activities in the North Atlantic ocean. Red October disappears as Soviet ships and submarines race towards the North American coast. CIA analyst Jack Ryan believes the sub possesses an unusual, nearly silent propulsion system which renders it practically undetectable by sonar. Ryan also believes that Ramius is attempting to defect to the west -- partially because intelligence sources have revealed the Soviet fleet has orders to find and sink Krazny Oktyabr! Finding the sub and determining Ramius' true intentions draws both the Soviet and combined US/UK Navies into the hunt for Red October. Both sides engage in an intricate game of chess played out on, under, and over the North Atlantic as fleets of ships, subs, and aircraft face off against each other while searching for the "lost" Red October. Weapons are fired in anger, and blood drawn on both sides as Red October battles to complete Ramius' mission. Summary by Phil Staite. Red Storm Rising - RSR (with Larry Bond) When a major Soviet oil refinery at Nizhnevartovsk is destroyed by Islamic fundamentalist fanatics, the Soviet oil supply becomes critical. Winter is coming and shortages will get worse. The Politburo, the rulers of the Soviet Union, decide they have no choice but to seize the oil fields and refineries in the Persian Gulf to make up the shortfall and assure their own survival. But NATO will not sit idly by and allow them to conquer the Gulf without opposition. Many NATO nations depend on Gulf oil as well. So the Politburo decides that NATO must be neutralized before the Red Army can conquer the Gulf. They institute a deception plan to keep NATO off guard while they prepare for the invasion of Germany. The invasion plan is code name Red Storm. When the invasion begins, World War III is on. The key to NATO's successful defense of Germany is the supply line across the Atlantic. As the NATO allies desperately try to keep the Atlantic supply line open, Soviet forces just as desperately try to close it. The battle of the Atlantic, fought between two Navies with the most modern equipment, is just as deadly as the battle of Germany fought between two armies with the most modern equipment. From the halls of the Kremlin in Moscow to the East Coast of the United States there is a Red Storm Rising. Patriot Games - PG Jack Ryan and his wife and daughter are in London on a vacation. Ryan is a professor of history at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and a former Marine officer and Wall Street stockbroker. He is taking advantage of the London vacation to research British signals from WW II for a book he is writing. He meets his wife Cathy, an opthamological surgeon at Johns Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute, and his daughter Sally at St. James Park. While they are discussing where to go for dinner that evening there is an explosion behind them. Getting his family under cover, Ryan moves around to get a better view. Three men are attacking a Rolls Royce right in front of him. Realizing he is in a perfect position to interfere with the plans of the terrorists, for that's what they must be, Ryan charges in and stops the attack, killing one man and wounding another. Dr. John Patrick Ryan, history teacher and former US Marine officer has ruined an operation of the Ulster Liberation Army (ULA), an ultra-violent offshoot of the violent Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army (PIRA). The British are grateful for Ryan's intervention as the occupants of the car were members of the Royal Family. The ULA, headed by Kevin O'Donnell, is upset with Jack's interference. Sean Miller, the man who planned the "perfect" operation and was wounded and captured, is furious at Ryan's meddling. The PIRA is angry with O'Donnell for attacking the Royal Family. Admiral James Greer, of the Central Intelligence Agency, sees this as a perfect opportunity to recruit Jack into the Agency. Under the guise of patriotism, various organizations use the incident to forward their own agendas. In an effort to protect his family from the wrath of the terrorists, Ryan is drawn further and further into a web of international terrorism, intelligence and covert operations. But he is plagued by the question of whether what he is doing is right or wrong. Is he defending his family and serving his country, or is he, too, starting to play Patriot Games? The Cardinal of the Kremlin - COTK - CoTK Cardinal of the Kremlin shows how the CIA works with their field agents in retrieving information. Mary Pat Foley and Tom Foley are introduced as the joint heads of the Moscow operation. The main plot is the race between the two superpowers in developing a ground based anti-missile weapon. Summary by Jon Fanter. When the Soviets develop a laser projector capable of destroying a satellite in orbit or an airplane anywhere in the world, the United States is alarmed. The Soviets seem to be far ahead of US efforts. In an attempt to determine the details of the Soviet achievement the CIA asks its top agent in Moscow, code name CARDINAL, to find out the specifics of the Soviet laser. CARDINAL has been the top US agent in Moscow for over 20 years and Soviet counterintelligence never even suspected his existence. Now, the KGB has gotten its first sniff that CARDINAL exists and won't give up until they catch him. The American laser project has also come to the KGB's attention and they begin an operation to discover how far the US has gotten. In the midst of nuclear missile reduction talks, both superpowers are developing technologies that could unravel the negotiations. From the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of New Mexico, from the backrooms of Washington, DC. to the halls of the Kremlin, world peace may rest in the hands of the Cardinal of the Kremlin.
Summary by Bob Marek.
Clear and Present Danger - CAPD - CaPD
When a US Coast Guard cutter intercepts a private yacht in the Gulf of
Mexico, the crew discovers that the owner and his family have been
brutally murdered. They also discover a quantity of cocaine. The US
has been preparing to interdict aerial drug shipments in the Gulf by
gathering intelligence in Columbia with specially trained US Army troops
and using the information to intercept the inbound drugs. The murder
catalyzes the administration into accelerating the operation, named
SHOWBOAT, and increasing its effectiveness by allowing a greater freedom
of action by the intercepting officers. In the meantime, Admiral James
Greer has become ill with cancer and Jack Ryan has assumed the
responsibilities of the Deputy Director of Intelligence as acting DDI.
Among Ryan's new duties is the job of briefing the Congressional
Intelligence Oversight Committee about any operations in the field.
Because Ryan is new at the job, and because Bob Ritter doesn't trust him,
Jack is not informed about operation SHOWBOAT. Between the increased
interdiction efforts and the discovery of some incredible information from
the murder investigation, the Medellin Cartel headed by Ernesto Escobedo
is badly hurt. The Cartel retaliates, which causes the President to make
a secret finding that the Cartel is a Clear and Present Danger to US
National Security interests. Operation SHOWBOAT is cancelled and
Operation RECIPROCITY begins. And Jack Ryan still knows nothing about it.
The United States has become engaged in what could be an unsupported
covert war in a foreign country and Congress has not been informed. From
the opulent haciendas in Medellin Columbia to the backrooms of Washington,
DC, power politics is played with vicious treachery. From the mountains
of Columbia to the Gulf of Mexico to the southern shores of the United
States the drug war increases in tempo and violence. There is a Clear and
Present Danger, but for whom?
The Sum of All Fears - SOAF - SoAF
Jack Ryan masterminds a Middle East peace-plan based on religion which
promises world peace based on religious understanding. This allows rapid
settlement of problems in the Middle East, the one remaining trouble-spot.
Although Jack goes unrecognized for his efforts (due to personality
differences with some in the Fowler administration), he continues his hard
work at the CIA - to the detriment of his health. Meanwhile, as world
leaders become complacent about security, a group of fringe terrorists
discover something in a field which has the potential to shatter the newly
acquired peace, and test the competence of President Fowler.
Summary by Cath Aiken.
Without Remorse - WR
John Terence Kelly, former US Navy Seal, Vietnam veteran, civilian
underwater demolition expert and diving instructor is emotionally lost
after the death of his pregnant wife in a car accident. Six months
afterwards he picks up a hitchhiker with an unsavory past and falls in
love with her and she with him. But her past associates catch up with her
and punish her for running away from them. She knows too much about their
drug smuggling operations which they are about to expand dramatically.
Kelly is injured in the kidnapping and, after finding out what they did to
her, vows revenge. In the meantime, the Pentagon has discovered that
certain US POWs who have been reported as killed in action are in fact
being vigorously interrogated at a secret camp in North Vietnam.
Obviously, when the interrogations are complete, they will be disposed of,
having already been officially declared KIA. They want those prisoners
back, and the only person who knows the area around the camp is Kelly from
a previous mission into the area. The government recalls Kelly to
service, under the name of Clark, and gives him the mission to rescue the
POWs. John Kelly has to balance his personal mission, hunt down and
destroy the drug pushers, with his official mission, rescue the prisoners
from the secret North Vietnamese interrogation camp. And stay one step
ahead of the police who are taking an interest in his personal form of
justice. Failure of either mission could cause the failure of the other
as well, besides cost Kelly his life. He must be fully professional in
both endeavors or fail, he must execute both missions Without Remorse.
Submarine, A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship
Fact filled book about nuclear submarines. All of the writing is geared
toward giving the reader a feel for what it is like to be in a nuclear
submarine and the uses to which they can be put. It is aimed at the
layman and doesn't overwhelm the reader with technical specifications or
techspeak, though both are present. The book starts with a short history
of the Silent Service up to the present. It goes on to discuss crew
training and how the boats are built. You are taken on a walking tour of
a US fast attack nuclear submarine, the USS MIAMI, SSN-755, a 688 (Los
Angeles) class fast attack boat. The boat, its equipment, and how the
crew inhabit and use it are shown with words and illustrations. Then a
walking tour of a British Royal Navy fast attack nuclear submarine is
given the same treatment. The HMS TRIUMPH, S-93, a Trafalgar class fast
attack nuclear submarine is contrasted with the MIAMI. Commander and crew
differences and the very different officer training of the Royal Navy is
shown. Under the chapter of Roles and Missions, several fictional, but
quite real scenarios for submarine operations are shown. Then the future
of the submarine forces is discussed; what it looks like, what it could
be. Finally, identifications and some specifications are given for
submarines in service with other countries, including the first public
look at former USSR submarine classes, and some interesting facts about
other submarines around the world. The book finishes with a glossary and
submarine bibliography. Lots of pictures and illustrations.
Debt of Honor - DOH - DoH
After two years of retirement from government service, the president has
asked Jack Ryan to come back. Not into the CIA, but as the National
Security Advisor. With the end of world communism and the cold war, peace
has not broken out all over. The president's foreign policy has failed to
rise to the challenge and the president turns to Jack to help him get his
foreign policy house in order. But Ryan is a little lost as well, the old
rules of international intrigue no longer apply and Jack has to learn the
new ones. Meanwhile three unlikely allies prepare a blow against the
United States. Instigated by a Japanese businessman, Mr. Yamata, who
hates the US because his family committed suicide on the island of Saipan
during World War II rather than be captured by US Marines, the three
allies are adding financial weapons to a military surprise. Yamata feels
he owes a Debt of Honor to his family and to his country. An unusual auto
accident in America adds the final pressure to initiate the plan. Between
the economic and military attack, the US may not be able to counter a
chilling threat to world peace. But from Washington, DC to Tokyo, Japan
there are many more Debts of Honor to be paid than Yamata realizes.
Armored Cav - A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fact book about the history, men, weapons, tactic, missions, and equipment of an
Armored Cavalry Regiment. The Introduction discusses the Cavalry arm of an army.
A primer on armored warfare, history, armor and ordinance is next. The
concepts of armor, and defeating armor are shown. Then an interview with
General Frederick Franks, commanding officer of the US Army's Training and
Doctrine Command, headquartered at Fort Monroe Virginia, and the former
commanding officer of VII Corps in Iraq, discusses the changes of Armored
Cavalry from Vietnam through the Gulf war. Including detailed
reminiscences of the battle against the Iraqi Republican Guards Divisions
north of Kuwait. Current US Army armored vehicles, tanks, personnel
carriers, jeeps and support vehicles are described in detail, with
illustrations. Near future armor developments are next. Followed by US
Army Artillery systems, Aviation systems (helicopters), and individual
soldier's equipment. Next is a detailed look at the organization of a
modern armored cavalry regiment, the 3rd Armored Cavalry, the "Brave
Rifles". Clancy next takes us on a full training mission with the "Brave
Rifles" to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin. The various
training scenarios are shown and the 3rd's performance is explained.
Next, Captain H.R. McMaster Jr. is interviewed about his experiences in
the armored cavalry in general and about his role as the commander of E
troop of the 2nd Armored Cav in Iraq that was one of the three troops that
smashed through the lines of the Iraqi Republican Guards Tawakalna
Division, virtually destroying it in 20 minutes at the Battle of 73
Easting. In Roles and Missions several fictional but realistic scenarios
for the use of the future armored cavalry force are played out. Then the
future of armored cavalry is discussed and the book closes with a glossary
of terms and a bibliography.
Tom Clancy's Op-Center
A terrorist bomb explodes during a South Korean celebration of the
anniversary of the election of its first President. Alarms are raised in
Washington. No one is claiming responsibility. The first suspect is North
Korea. Could they be making a power play against South Korea and
unification? If so, how would the U.S. respond? The job of finding out
the answer to these questions is left to Paul Hood, Director of the Op-
Center. The Op-Center, _a largely autonomous new agency_, is only six
months old. It has never been given a foreign crisis until now. Hood's
team, which includes: A General, a former ambassador, a psychologist, and
a computer specialist, try to find solutions, only to discover something
that could change the new world-order.
Summary by M. Goyal.
Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Mirror Image
Continuing the Op-Center series. Elements in the new Russian Republic
long for a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union. These elements
gain control of the new Russian Intelligence Center, which is very much
like the NSMC in resources, in order to implement a coup de tat. Their
plan is to destabilize Eastern Europe and take it back. Op-Center becomes
aware of the beginnings of this plan when several American and British
agents are eliminated by Russian Intelligence in a return of cold war like
tactics. Paul Hood and his team at Op-Center must try to stop the Russian
coup before the Eastern Europe lights up in flames.
Characters
This section gives some information about the major characters in each
book. If a character appears in more than one book s/he probably appears
here. If a character appears in only one book, but is a major character
in that book (villains for example) s/he is probably in this list. If you
disagree with the inclusion/exclusion of a character, start a discussion
on the newsgroup.
These backgrounds are very sketchy. They are intended to collect
principle biographical information in one place. For details of a
particular character, read the book(s). These are just rough outlines.
Information about what some character did in some book is deliberately
left out to avoid spoilers.
Chavez, Domingo "Ding", Staff Sergeant, USA
CAPD, SOAF, DOH, EO
From Los Angeles. Was a Hispanic gang member. Entered the Army and
discovered he liked it. Decided to make the Army his career. Outstanding
Light Infantryman. Served with the 7th Light Infantry Division out of
Fort Ord, California. Recruited into CIA by John Clark.
Clagget, Walter Martin "Dutch", Lieutenant Commander, USN
SOAF, DOH
Graduate of Annapolis. Submarine officer. Twice divorced.
Clark, John Terence
John Terence Kelly
COTK, CAPD, SOAF, WR, DOH, EO
Field operative and training officer of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Clark, Sandra Burns "Sandy"
Maiden name Sandra Burns
CAPD, SOAF, WR, DOH
Married to John Clark. Registered Nurse. Two daughters. Formerly
married to Lt. O'Toole, USA, KIA, Vietnam.
Durling, Roger
SOAF, DOH
Former Governor of California. Vice Presidential candidate with J. Robert
Fowler. Served as Lieutenant in US Army in Vietnam. Married. Two
children.
Elliot, Elizabeth, PhD
CAPD, SOAF
Advisor to J. Robert Fowler. Degree in Political Science from Bennington.
Foreign policy views are extremely leftist. Unmarried.
Fowler, Jonathan Robert
aka J. Robert Fowler and Bob Fowler
CAPD, SOAF, DOH
Former Governor of Ohio. Presidential candidate. Widower. Wife died of
multiple sclerosis. Dislikes name Jonathan. Prefers to be called Bob.
Greer, James, Rear Admiral, USN, DDI
HFRO, PG, COTK, CAPD, WR
Deputy Director for Intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Recruited Jack Ryan into the CIA. Widower. One son, Killed in Action,
Vietnam.
Murray, Daniel E., FBI
PG, COTK, CAPD, SOAF, DOH, EO
Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Specialization in
counterterrorism. Married. At least two children. Wife's name Liz.
Ramius, Marko Alexandrovich, Captain First Rank
HFRO, COTK
Senior submarine commander of the Red Fleet. Teacher of the best Soviet
submarine commanders. Commanding Officer of the Red October. Married to
daughter of Chief Political officer of Soviet Red Fleet. Widower. No
children. Lithuanian by birth. Raised by maternal grandfather.
Ritter, Robert, DDO
HFRO, COTK, CAPD, WR
Deputy Director of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency.
In earlier days, as a field officer, Ritter risked his life to save the
life of one of his agents in Budapest. This made him somewhat of a
celebrity in the international intelligence community.
Ryan, Caroline Muller, MD, FACS
Maiden name Caroline Muller
HFRO, PG, COTK, CAPD, SOAF, DOH, EO
Surgeon specializing in opthamalogical surgery. Married to Jack Ryan.
Trained at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Teaches,
researches, and performs surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine. Mother of 3. Daughter of senior
VP of a Wall Street investment firm.
Ryan, John Patrick, PhD, KCVO
HFRO, PG, COTK, CAPD, SOAF, DOH, WR, EO
Main protagonist (hero) in the above books. Works for CIA in various
capacities. During earlier books exhibited a pathological fear of flying
caused by severe injuries he sustained in a helicopter crash, magnified by
the loss of his parents in an airplane crash.
The following was written by Tom Clancy:
===============
Clancy delivers the FINAL and DEFINITIVE word on John Patrick Ryan's
education.
1. Son of a police lieutenant, and graduate of Loyola High School,
Towson, MD, Jack attended Boston College, graduating with a B.S. (or
B.A., I never decided) in Economics (strong minor in History) and a
commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps (via
NROTC), and while waiting for the Corps to assign him somewhere, passed
the CPA exam.
2. After finishing the Basic Officers' Course at Quantico, VA, he
deployed to a line unit as a platoon commander. Soon thereafter as part
of the Atlantic Fleet Fleet Marine Force (FMF), he was gravely injured in
a helicopter crash on the island of Crete. The Navy surgeons at Bethesda
Naval Medical Center did an incomplete job of fixing his back.
3. This occasioned a lengthy recovery process (he was nearly addicted to
narcotics as a result) after which, complete with a permanent disability,
he left the USMC, passing his stock-broker's exam and taking a position
with the Baltimore office of Merrill-Lynch.
4. Jack did so well there (also investing his own money and making about
$6M) that a senior VP of the firm, Joe Muller, came to Baltimore to have
dinner with Jack, with the objective of inviting Jack to the NYC
headquarters. Also present was Joe's daughter, Caroline Muller, then a
senior medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Jack and Caroline (nickname Cathy) immediately fell in love. Along the
way, while having dinner with his fiancee, Jack had his back blow up.
Cathy took him directly to Hopkins, where the Professor of Neurosurgery
fixed his back in relatively short order. Jack subsequently went nuts
persuading the government to terminate his disability checks.
5. Having made all the money he wanted, Jack left the firm, enrolling at
Georgetown University for his doctorate courses in history. Jack did a
brief stint at the (then) Georgetown University Center for Strategic and
International Studies, then accepted a teaching position at the U.S.
Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.
6. Father Tim Riley, S.J., dropped Jack's name on a CIA contact,
resulting in a brief consulting job at Langley, where he wrote a white
paper called "Agents and Agencies," and also invented the Canary Trap,
both of which came to the attention of Admiral James Greer, DDI/CIA.
7. The rest is history.
===========
Shaw, William Connor, FBI
PG, COTK, CAPD, SOAF, DOH
Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Specialization in
counterterrorism. Married. At least one daughter. Son Ken serves in
missile subs. (SoaF, DoH)