Tom Clancy

Years ago I would have rated Clancy a lot higher, but I've grown tired of his style. His storylines in the Jack Ryan series were great, but like Irish mentioned, they seemed to become more and more books about military technology and less about the fiction. I enjoyed some of the books in the Tom Clancy line, back when he was still trying to pass them off as his own work. However, once those brands started coming out so quickly, it became hard to keep up with them. Clancy hasn't written a novel of his own in over five years, and appears content to let his brand name earn him money rather than produce his own original work. His thrillers from the 80's and 90's are still great, and some day I may take the time to re-read the series.

I like Tom Clancy, but for fiction books that I'm reading strictly for entertainment, his material reads a little too slowly, there is a bit too much military jargon, and the books tend to be a little too long for the story they end up telling. He's a good author, but I wouldn't want to read two of his books in a row. But I'm sure I'll be reading plenty of them eventually, because even though my local library is quite new in a very nice building, it's selection of books sucks, except that they apparently have every Tom Clancy book for some reason.

Started strong, and is a good writer, but has lost more than a few steps since he became Tom Clancy INC. He has too much of a tendency to get bogged down in minutae, particularly in descriptions of weapons technology.

His books are such page-turners. I can't believe he never served in the military. His detail on military matters are so plausible - he must have done a lot of research.

Sorry, I tried reading one of his books (the title of it escapes me now), but had to give up after a chapter or 2. Not because he's necessarily a bad writer, per se, but because he spent those 2 chapters describing some sort of military hard-ware or weaponry in such obsessive, loving, fetishistic detail. Every nut, every screw, every bolt, every crank-shaft, every bullet, every drop of oil...Look, if I want to fall asleep, I'll pop a Unisom. Only 2 chapters in, and the rest of the book stretched out drearily before me,  thick enough to be a combination of the Bible and "War and Peace". I almost never stop reading a book once I start it, no matter how bad it is, but I had to in this particular instance. It's not that I have some aversion to novels dealing with the military- I've read "The Dirty Dozen", "From Here To Eternity", "The Young Lions". But I couldn't take Clancy. Maybe in the 7th or 8th chapter things became interesting. But, somehow, I doubt it.

I loved the Clancy's but I bogged down on the last one or two and need to get going on them again. I haven't got by the "Bear and the Dragon," and I need to pick it up again and start over as it has been two or three years since I started and put it down. He is remarkable for the predictions of events that occur in his novels.

It's been awhile since I have read anything new by TC. His early books really grabbed you, good plots, lots of action, plenty of exciting techno speak. But then as his books were scorching the charts they also started getting more and more bloated with these technical descriptions. Page after page after page. (Somebody said to me, "He is getting paid by the word!) I don't know the truth of the matter but I can tell you that TC has fallen so far off my radar that I couldn't even tell you if he is still writing. Check out his earlier books.

very definitive, expresive and specific on his story-telling. readers who prefer someone who narrate briefly will be mislead, but those who are very innate with the particulars will fall in love with his books ;)

Tom's books always seem realistic and well researched, but lately they feel a little recycled to me. I really enjoyed Hunt for Red October and Clear and Present Danger.

Used to be one of my favorite authors, but now he has deteriorated. His books seem to be built to be made into movies now, I would read the earlier novels.

tom clancy has a great narrative skill, with the right scholar realsitic approach and writing stile that suits his novels so good. i think that as a writer, sinse he writes to his own age with a massive success he should be respected cus it's much harder than trying to please teens for exemple (nothing wrong with teens of course, i'm one myself, but you can't say that there isn't a diffrence between teens and adoults).

Tom Clancy is the best author i have ever read. I have read all of his books. I am always at the edge of my seat at the end of his books. They start off with what seems to be no point at all, but they always pick up real quick. I started reading his books about a year ago and have finished them all and am waiting for the new one. I can not wait for "The Sum of All Fears" to come out at the theaters with Ben Affleck. I would prefer to have Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, but I will take what I can get.

Read all of his Jack Ryan novels, and also 'Red Storm Rising' (which is very good). A few years ago I would've probably given Clancy 5 stars, but he's starting to get a bit stale, or at least his characters are. His plots are excellent and are the main reason why I read his books, but with his last few novels I've found it harder to empathise with the protagonists, and the way he wraps up the story has a rushed, almost contrived feel which spoils my enjoyment. However, that said, I heartily recommend his novels from 'The Hunt for Red October' to 'The Sum Of All Fears', including 'Without Remorse' (although some of the characters in 'Patriot Games' are a bit cheesey). These are all believable, entertaining, and very well crafted novels.

intelligent, but extremely wishy-washy !

Jack Ryan character is one of best.

Tom Clancy continually provides believable scenarios in terms of government military and political response to international events. His knowledge of military technology is unparalleled and adds to the realism of his books.

Great plots and techno information is always accurate.

I think that Tom Clancy is a great writer. His plots are very complicated and thrilling.