A friend recommended Tom Clancy's Patriot Games and I wasn't disappointed. Plenty of excitement and suspense. Can't wait to read my next Jack Ryan series.
"Patriot Games" is a fast-paced book about the world of international terrorism. Terrorists try to strike targets in the states. This was unheard of when this book was first published. "Patriot Games" is worth reading today because even 20 plus years after the fact this book has something to say about the true nature of terrorism and how they win by stealing away our small freedoms
An excellent thriller featuring Jack Ryan, one of Clancy's best characters.
From England to Ireland to America, an explosive wave of violence sweeps a CIA analyst and his family into the deadliest game of their time: international terrorism. An ultra-left=wing faction of the IRA has targeted the CIA man for his action of salvation in an assassination attempt. And now he must pay...with his life.
A really good book, Clancy at his best.
Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy's hero kills a IRA? or was he assassin to protect English Royals. The evil doe not remain suppreessed, it follows Jack & his family back home in a story that will draw you into a deeper and deeper thriller ... great climatic ending...
This was a reread of a book I read when it first came out and several times since then. It starts with a bang as Jack, on a working vacation in London with his family, witnesses a kidnapping attempt on the royal family. His instinctive reaction stopped the attack and put him in the bullseye of revenge.
One of the things I enjoy most every time I read this book is the deft mixture of action, darkness, and humor. The opening attack sucked me into the story and kept me on the edge of my seat as Jack rushed into action. Clancy's descriptions are vivid enough that I can picture the events as they happen. The confusion at the scene felt realistic, and I could feel Jack's worry that he'd end up "stuck like a pig" when the good guys showed up. I always laugh at the scenes in the hospital as Jack deals with the doctors (including his wife) and other medical personnel. The scenes with various law enforcement personnel show Jack what he inadvertently got involved in and reveal his razor-sharp mind as he processes what he learns. The scenes with multiple royal family members are good, but my favorite is when he helps the prince work through his feelings about what happened. Though not particularly realistic, it is still a great scene.
As the book continues, we get the viewpoints of both the bad guys and the good guys. Jack and his family return home, secure in the knowledge that the bad guy is in jail and terrorists have never attacked on American soil. But the tension ramps up as the bad guy escapes and assorted good guys get a bad feeling about what might happen. Jack is lured into the CIA's sphere as he tries to get a handle on the group behind the attack. Their fears are realized when Jack's wife and daughter are nearly killed in an attack, and only luck prevents Jack from being attacked too. I ached for Jack as he dealt with his feelings of guilt and fear by getting more involved in the case. Jack goes through a lot of self-examination as he tries to reconcile his need for justice with the anger and desire for revenge that he also feels.
The tension builds as the book follows the terrorists as they make plans for their next attack. The attention to detail and insights into the various players' motivations were intriguing. At the same time, we see the good guys trying to assemble the puzzle pieces in time to stop whatever is planned.
The final confrontation was a nail-biter. It started easy, with the royal visit and some amusing banter between Jack, Robby, and the prince. The chaos of the attack was described so vividly that I felt as though I was there. The escape by boat was exciting, and their arrival at the Academy was tense but also had a few lighter moments. The pursuit of the last of the bad guys had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. Jack faced a crossroads in his life, and it was interesting to see how he handled it. I loved the ending.
One of my favorite lines is as the Superintendent asks Robby who is aboard the ship: "Chief Znamirowski and the duty boat section, Captain Peters and some Marines, Doctor Ryan, and, uh, Captain Wales, sir, of the Royal Navy" "Is that where he is?..."
One of the things I enjoy most every time I read this book is the deft mixture of action, darkness, and humor. The opening attack sucked me into the story and kept me on the edge of my seat as Jack rushed into action. Clancy's descriptions are vivid enough that I can picture the events as they happen. The confusion at the scene felt realistic, and I could feel Jack's worry that he'd end up "stuck like a pig" when the good guys showed up. I always laugh at the scenes in the hospital as Jack deals with the doctors (including his wife) and other medical personnel. The scenes with various law enforcement personnel show Jack what he inadvertently got involved in and reveal his razor-sharp mind as he processes what he learns. The scenes with multiple royal family members are good, but my favorite is when he helps the prince work through his feelings about what happened. Though not particularly realistic, it is still a great scene.
As the book continues, we get the viewpoints of both the bad guys and the good guys. Jack and his family return home, secure in the knowledge that the bad guy is in jail and terrorists have never attacked on American soil. But the tension ramps up as the bad guy escapes and assorted good guys get a bad feeling about what might happen. Jack is lured into the CIA's sphere as he tries to get a handle on the group behind the attack. Their fears are realized when Jack's wife and daughter are nearly killed in an attack, and only luck prevents Jack from being attacked too. I ached for Jack as he dealt with his feelings of guilt and fear by getting more involved in the case. Jack goes through a lot of self-examination as he tries to reconcile his need for justice with the anger and desire for revenge that he also feels.
The tension builds as the book follows the terrorists as they make plans for their next attack. The attention to detail and insights into the various players' motivations were intriguing. At the same time, we see the good guys trying to assemble the puzzle pieces in time to stop whatever is planned.
The final confrontation was a nail-biter. It started easy, with the royal visit and some amusing banter between Jack, Robby, and the prince. The chaos of the attack was described so vividly that I felt as though I was there. The escape by boat was exciting, and their arrival at the Academy was tense but also had a few lighter moments. The pursuit of the last of the bad guys had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. Jack faced a crossroads in his life, and it was interesting to see how he handled it. I loved the ending.
One of my favorite lines is as the Superintendent asks Robby who is aboard the ship: "Chief Znamirowski and the duty boat section, Captain Peters and some Marines, Doctor Ryan, and, uh, Captain Wales, sir, of the Royal Navy" "Is that where he is?..."
A professor of history at the U.S. Naval Academy and a former Marine, Jack Ryan is in London with his family researching a book. While dining in a restaurant, the Ryans find themselves in the middle of an assassination attempt by the ULA, a violent Irish terrorist group. Jack's old instincts kick in, and he manages to thwart the criminals and save their intended targets: the British Royal family. Lauded by the British and the Americans, Jack is invited to join the CIA. Meanwhile, the ULA have sworn vengeance against him.
