Terry D. (tmdaviss) - , reviewed on 9/8/2014 + 72 more book reviews

Jack Ryan was always a man of the people. In The Bear and The Dragon, Jack is working through his 1st elected term as President of the United States, and he isn't sure he likes the job. He is trying to steer the country in straightforward ways. However, the policies the U.S. find to be fair are yet another reason for Minister Zhang, of the Peoples Republic of China to begin a war in an attempt to wrest Siberia from the Russians.

Published in 2000, this book is showing a small amount of age, as it cannot foresee the world events we have lived through in the past decade or so. It is, however, reflective of how China still does business with the U.S. The country that seems out of step in this book is a Russia without Mr. Putin trying to re-establish the glory days of the USSR. Otherwise, strategies and intrigues still ring true here; while technology has begun to lag.

This is a classic Clancy styled book, not coauthored, and with never-ending paragraphs, repetitious review of character's thoughts, and dialog out of the 1970's. Tom Clancy always had a well planned outline but took twice as long as necessary to bring you from one step to the next.

Clancy fans will still enjoy this story, but it will never be a classic. Out of his many books I believe Patriot Games will remain the best story he published.

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