Product Description
Jack Ryan confronts terrorists in the Middle East in Tom Clancy's spectacular sixth novel -- another Sunday Times No 1 bestseller -- now reissued with a new cover.As those in power around the globe face up to the challenges of a new world order, in Washington CIA Deputy Director Jack Ryan is putting everything into a plan that could finally bring peace to a Middle East still suffering from the ravages of war. But too many groups have invested too much blood to allow the plan to succeed -- the terrorists have one final desperate card to play. With one terrible act the world is plunged into nuclear crisis.His dreams of peace shattered, Ryan is confronted with a situation he has never dared to imagine: with the world standing on the brink of war, what do you do if the US President is incompetent to deal with the greatest crisis of all?Amazon.com Review
Once again, Tom Clancy manages to add new twists to thealternate U.S. history he initiated in The Hunt for RedOctober. In The Sum of All Fears, the center ofconflict is the perpetual hot spot the Mideast, where a nuclear weaponfalls into the hands of terrorists just as peace seemspossible. Clancy realistically paints an almost unthinkablescenario--the bomb is planted on American soil in the midst of anescalation in tension with the Soviet Union; the terrorists hope torekindle cold war animosity and prevent reconciliation betweenIsraelis and Palestinians.

Despite such a dramatic story line, Clancy doesn't neglect theindividuals who drive his tale. Jack Ryan's problems are as muchdomestic as they are part of the international crisis that is theostensible narrative: National Security Director Elizabeth Elliot hasthe president's ear, and she has convinced him that Ryan's ethics arequestionable. She hints at marital infidelity and an insider-tradingscandal. Of course, both accusations are false, but her arguments haveenough evidence behind them (e.g. some photographs of an innocentembrace with a friend) to cause a strain in the Ryans' marriage and aflurry of media attention. While "Mr. Clark" tracks theterrorists, he also provides some needed intelligence to heal the Ryanfamily.

The Sum of All Fears is the stuff of nightmares but containsenough verisimilitude to terrify sober minds. Ryan has matured into acomplex protagonist as Clancy's writing, too, has matured. Ryan isplagued by stress and self-doubts that test even his dauntless moralcompass and make him a more interesting subject for readers'attention. Those fascinated by military hardware, from nuclearsubmarines to atomic weapons, will find almost enough here to starttheir own army. And Clancy's understanding of international politicsseems chillingly correct. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (202)

The ending falls off the table
First, I am a Tom Clancy--Jack Ryan fan; SOAF was my 7th book of theirs I've read.This one has its flaws, though.Way, way too much technical info on making the nuclear device.Who are we trying to impress here?More frustrating:after developing the character of Liz Elliot throughout the book, she just drops off the table once the final crisis hits.I recall only that she was "under sedation."So what happens after that to her?Likewise the President.Once Ryan commandeers the microphone & tells everyone that the President has lost it, we hear nothing at all about him.Most ludicrous: within 6 days, the President is apparently replaced by the VP (with no details on this whatsoever), all important heads of state gather in Saudi Arabia for a conference, the terrorists are executed & the world is at peace once again.Amazing!

My most unusual review
I picked up the hard copy edition which was more than two inches thick containing 798 pages and wondered if I really wanted to read such a large book. Since I had read seven of Clancy's books and "Search for Red October" was one of my favorite movies, I decided to give it a try.

Soon after starting the book, I knew it was going to be a thriller that I would like but realized that there was no way I could finish it in one reading so I found a low ebb and stopping reading at page 203. Started the next day and did not want to stop until I finished at 6:15am the next morning with strained eyes.

There were several areas that were sub-par where details/history were not needed and only added pages to the book. For example the details of exactly how the bomb was built and again how the bomb exploded microsecond by microsecond was so boring that I skip-read pages at a time.

Whenever the location, time, etc. shifted the paragraphs were separated only by an extra line so it was difficult to know what sub-plot the text was continuing. It would have been a much easier read if orientation headings were used like in al-Qaeda Strikes Again.

There was a love story included that had tears running down my face several times. Damn it was great reading. An excellent book that draws you into the middle of the action, no matter where it was taking place. You are there. You see it. You feel it.

Only about twenty-five percent of my reviews warrant five stars and this thriller was that good even with the above faults.

Author of al-Qaeda Strikes Again

Terrorists Set Off Nuclear Device In Denver at Super Bowl
This was, I must say, my first Tom Clancy read. The plot was quite good involving a missing nuclear device from Israel;Terrorists of Arab and German extraction as well as a Native American accomplice. Many side plots including a duel between a U.S. and Soviet submarines. The book definitely shows how a real War could escalate out of control due to much confusion. Alot of good spy activity between the major players. The characters were well developed.The hero was CIA Deputy Director Jack Ryan. For my taste, though others may disagree, I found him to be a bit too much of a good guy and superhuman to be believable.I liked the book and found it to be a good -but even with the fine plot, at 914 pages- it was a ponderous read.

Excellent story, overly complicated technology
The movie with the same does not follow Clancy's original plot however the movie is also worth seeing.

The Sum of All Fears is one of Clancy's best stories. A plot based onthe loss of a tactical nuclear bomb, an event that could occur in the fog of war. A somewhat similar event occurred recently involving a B-52 ferrying six supposedly unarmed cruise missiles that had nuclear warheads installed.

My only criticism is Clancy's description of how the terrorist rebuilt the old nuclear warhead. He went off the deep end describing very complicated technology. That said, I have read the book twice and a copy resides on my bookcase.

Can a terrorist really place a nuclear device in a city. The answers is yes, they can. But the device will probably be a gun-type, not an implosion device. My first novel introduces the reader to gun-type nuclear weapons technology in a realistic, accurate manner. Implosion weapons are also explained.

Scary and realistic political thriller
Don't let the massive size of this book deter you from reading it (it is 912 pages in the paperback version).This is one incredible book, very detailed and a very good political suspense thriller that was fascinating to read.

There were a few negatives about the book I'll get through right now.The book has little action in the majority of the book.The action, the "thriller", doesn't appear until page 713 or 714.The book is told from several perspectives, Jack Ryan's character being one of them (the main character of the story), and all of the viewpoints do tie into the story (there's one from the Russians, a few from military officers one aboard a missile submarine), but it got tedious at times trying to read through scenes with little action.For instance, one side story being told is from the terrorist perspective, and just trying to read through pages of how the terrorists made a hydrogen bomb got very boring, technical, and I felt my eyes glazing over.Some might find detailed descriptions on how to make an H-bomb exciting, but it was all I could do to keep reading during these parts.

Other than that negative, the book was still a good read.I will say one good thing about the very slow build-up of tension and anticipation ("What's around the corner?") is it keeps you reading for more to see what happens. I also think the portrayal of politicians, government officials, and the military, and the interaction between various players was intriguing to read about.The inner-workings of the government and military was described in very accurate detail, not to mention the geographical area (being a resident that lives outside the Beltway I got a laugh out of reading about DC during the winter, like Clancy writes, the city and surrounding area screeches to a dead halt when snow hits the ground, no one can drive here in snow).

Anyways, this book was frightening in that the disaster depicted in this book (a terrorist detonating a nuclear device in a U.S. city) is something that could happen in the real world.Great read, Clancy is known for the technical accuracy and realism in his fictional books, and I recommend it for any fan of political/military thrillers. ... Read more

Product Description
A New World Order.

A New GlobalThreat.

Beyond the Point of No Return.

#5 in series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Mega-drug gives Super Human Strength
Tom Clancy remains one of my favorite authors and Point of Impact is another installment of the Netforce (Number 5) series. Previously I have listened to the audio book version of several of the Netforce books. Unfortunately, I listened to them out-of-order that Clancy had intended. Well, a few months ago, I sorted the books into the order intended and have been listening to them again. I'm about half way thru the series. Since the Netforce characters continue thru the whole series, it makes alot more sense when you listen to them in order!

Point of Impact follows Netforce's investigation of who is creating a new mega-drug. This drug gives the taker super-human strength for a brief period of time followed by a several day "crash". The only problem is that once created the large purple pills become inert in 48 hours after mixing the final components.

Interesting idea for the book. Well written as always and fun to read (listen to). Soon, I will tackle the next in the Netforce series. I can always recommend the Netforce series and this installment is a must read. I do recommend you follow the series though!

Tom Clancy
A great listen to CD in a car.I love the Net Force Series, listened to them all.Great entertainment

Nothing spectacular, just OK.
I have read a lot of Clancy books, among them several in the many that are actually written by other authors. This is my third Net Force book. That said, I have read worse books with Clancy's name on them, but this book just wasn't very interesting to me. Part of that is because I have lately started wondering why I even read these books, because they are all rather similar; the good guys always win and usually by killing the bad guys; the only good guys to get killed are minor characters while the more major characters might get injured; etc. The only major diferences is how the story is developed. This book actually increased my questioning as to why I read these books. This is mainly because this book seems to put across the message that the main purpose in life is to have sex. This book is absolutely packed to references about sex, mentioning people having sex, or such references as two people taking a shower together. That gets really tiring after a while. Other books in the series do mention such things a lot, but not as much as this book.
This book has most of the characters returning from previous books, but there are two that are noticably gone. There are only two quick references to Tyrone Howard, and they are about him being away on a school trip. These references remind you of the importand role he played in the last few books. Also, there is no reference to Tyrone's boomerang-throwing friend (can't remember her name).
As for the good parts? The noticable, worth-mentioning ones are few. This book does have a few surprising twists in the story, such as the rogue government agents, which help keep it from becoming too plain. Also, this book does not have very much bad language, which is surprising. It does have some bad language, but I have read books that were much worse in that respect.

Even so, 3 stars is the most I can give this book. It is just not very interesting, and there are other books that I can read and enjoy much more than any of Clancy's. I cannot truthfully recommend this book, although if you are reading through the series, this would be a necessary inclusion.

Too much day to day stuff
This book was my least favorite book in the net force series (yes i have read all of them up to springboard)because it has too much useless day to day stuff that is boring. Toni keeps complaining about how shes fat and is on and off with the scrimshaw stuff.

Most net force books take me 2 weeks to read...but this one took me a month!Also, what does net force have to do with controlling drugs?

The other novels that came after this were pretty much a chore to read, especially state of war. They always just start out with a death (or many),and go through the introduction. Then they just go for days or even weeks without any leads at all. Then a personal event happens, and they get a lead. This is where most of the books start to pick up their pace. This is when its hard to put the book down. But thats changing with every new novel. However when springboard came out in January, it renewed my interest in Net Force.

Tom Clancy at his Best!
There is an illegal drug being sold on the Net that makes you Superman.The FDA calls on Net Force and the NSA to stop the seller.
I liked the action and the descriptions Clancy uses to describe what's going on.Every thing is described with great detail.
I would recommend this book to adults that like violence, action and details about guns.
... Read more

Product Description
As part of a top-secret initiative called Third Echelon, National Security Agency special operative Sam Fisher has been given license to spy, steal, destroy, and assassinate to protect America. And he does... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

I love the t.c books this one as well but ther is one thing...
well lets list the pros and cons.
pros.
alot of good parts in the book incloding when the so called benzenaitir if i got the spelling correct. hires a assason know by the name pylep or some thing like that... to kill are favrote 47 year old super hero like star that was one of in my oppinun best parts

cons.
to much sex for my likeings but that is my own openun

I give the book a 4 outta 5

Lots of Recycling; Predictable; Copy-and-Paste
In the last five days, I've read the first and now the second book in the Splinter Cell series.

While I did enjoy reading the book and am a fan of the games, I found way too much carried over from the first in the series. In fact, I'd go so far as to say you can anticipate all of the major plot twists (minus one which comes out of nowhere, which delightfully took me by surprise) long before they happen if you've read the first book.

[MINOR SPOILERS]
The plot development seems to follow almost exactly the same pattern: The first chapters open with a mission, then the cast is introduced and scenes are described by the same text from the first book (a literal copy and paste, no joke), then some personal tragedy involving Sam, then some grandiose mission near the end which requires some suspension of belief, then capture, and then the good guys come in to save the day.
[END SPOILERS]

The book wasn't bad, it was just book one again in a new setting. Side by side with book one, it was much too cookie-cutter for me and I expect better from the next book which I will start shortly.

Uneven writing
While the plotting of this book is reasonably strong, the writing doesn't keep pace. Michaels employs the device of having some chapters written in first person and others in third person. The first-person chapters are definitely weaker as far as the writing goes. At times, the verb tense changes between sentences. Some say that these type books are written for the adventure and to expect quality writing is to place a burden on them they should not have to bear. The only problem is that Clancy, Larry Bond and Dale Brown have all proven that one need not have to make a choice. So, all in all it's not bad, but it could have been much, much better.

Great Book
This book is great. You will be hooked from the beginning. also i recomend the first book in the Splinter Cell series Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Didn't convince me to keep reading the series
The first Splinter Cell book was decent enough for me to give this second one a shot. I doubt I'll read any more, however. I found Operation Barracuda pretty unengaging. There were too many convenient developments at key moments and predictable plot lines. It was an improvement that this book remained almost totally in the first person, where the first book bounce back and forth between first and third. That wasn't enough to keep me enthused about reading it, though. Even for being just a commute read this book didn't do it for me. ... Read more

Product Description
They are floating cities with crews of thousands. They are the linchpins of any military strategy, for they provide what has become the key to every battle fought since World War I:air superiority. The mere presence of a U.S. naval carrier in a region is an automatic display of strength that sends a message no potential enemy can ignore. Now, Tom Clancy welcomes you aboard for a detailed look at how these floating behemoths function. With his trademark style and eye for detail, Clancy brings you naval combat strategy like no one else can.Carrier includes:* Takeoffs and landings: flying into the danger zone
* The aircraft onboard: their range, their power, their weaponry
* The role of the carrier in modern naval warfare
* Exclusive photographs, illustrations and diagrams
Plus: An interview with the U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jay Johnson
... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Good but outdated
Good but outlines the carrier forces of 1997.Much has happened since then to change the face of warfare in the world.Esp. 9/11

One of the best of the series
This is one of the best of Clancy's Guided Tour series. Like all of them, the book is very informative, but this one doesn't get so bogged down in plane specs as to become unreadable as some have. Of course, technology has moved on in the last decade and the book hasn't, but the book can't be blamed for that. You just have to realize what it is, and accept it for what it is. The only drawback of the book is that while it is very detailed about the ships and especially the planes, little is said of the daily life of the sailors on a carrier. This may be because there are so many sailors with so many varied duties that an overall picture of one would not be representative of the whole, but I would have liked a bit more of picture of the human element. Still a good, informative book.

A book needed for research
This book was needed for research my husband is doing for a book he is writing. It is nothing like it but he neede the terms used in it and since the terms are not readily available on the web I ordered the book for him. Boy did it come in handy. I am really grateful to Amazon.com for having it.

Hard to beat Clancy
As always, Tom Clancy's research into a subject is beyond reproach.As a veteran of 28 years involved in Naval air (and the son of a Naval officer with the same tenure), it's good to be brought up to date by someone I respect in this arena.Clancy does a great job of getting one through the "An Officer and a Gentleman" Pensacola experience, and into the ready room.

A primer on modern naval air warfare....
Carrier, the sixth book in Tom Clancy's Guided Tour non-fiction series about America's armed forces, is a detailed look at the Navy's grande dame, the aircraft carrier and associated battle group (CVBG).Even 63 years after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor ended the reign of the big-gun battleship and despite the lethality of nuclear attack submarines, the carrier, with its 70+ plane air wing and assorted escorts, is still the most powerful, versatile, and visible symbol of American sea power.

Once again, Clancy and series collaborator John D. Gresham take the reader where no ordinary civilian can easily go.From the Pentagon office of Admiral Jay Johnson (who at the time was Chief of Naval Operations) to the bustling -- and dangerous -- flight deck of the Nimitz-class USS Harry S Truman, the authors explain the role of the modern carrier group in today's world, as well as describing each ship -- from carrier to guided missile escorts -- and aircraft that makes the CVBG the "big stick" of American foreign policy.

At the time of publication (2000), the Navy was still in the midst of the transition from large 90 aircraft carrier air wings (CAW), and strike pilots were completing the handover of air-to-ground attack missions from the venerable A-6 Intruder to the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet.Other changes discussed by Clancy and Gresham are the eventual phasing out of the F-14 Tomcat, the long-range interceptor made famous by Tom Cruise's 1986 mega-hit Top Gun. Although still a formidable aircraft, the Tomcat -- which has never fired its prime long range missile, the Phoenix, in combat -- is now a 32-year-old design and due to be replaced by late generation F/A-18 Hornet variants and the new Joint Strike Fighter now in development.

As in all the Guided Tour books, there are chapters devoted to all the elements that make a CVBG such a valuable fleet asset.Much of the book focuses on the Nimitz-class carrier's design, construction, power plant (or at least as much as the Navy will allow the authors to divulge for security reasons), and the embarked air wing.However, Clancy emphasizes the human element and describes the training and daily lives of the sailors and airmen that operate the various ships and aircraft of the CVBG.

Clancy also continues the tradition of ending his Guided Tour books with a short but entertaining fictional account of a unit in action.In this case, the author looks forward at the world in 2016, pitting the United States in a short but fierce confrontation with India after "the world's largest democracy" has a nuclear exchange with its Muslim neighbor Pakistan and becomes erratic in its foreign policy.

Although Clancy is hardly objective when writing about the military -- he clearly loves the services -- he does provide the public valuable insights into what the Navy does and the tasks our men and women in uniform perform daily in times of war and peace.Carrier, therefore, is an informative and entertaining primer on today's Navy...and tells the reader exactly why every President since World War II has asked, in times of crisis, "where are the carriers?" ... Read more

Product Description
A new phenomenon begins.

Created by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Clancy

Based on the bestselling video game, this new series will take readers onto the battlefields of World War III with the technical savvy and explosive action that Clancy fans have come to expect. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Horrible read
I bought this book at the airport because it had Tom Clancy's name on the cover.It is in fact written by David Michaels.

It is a horrible book.The politics of the story are not only implausible, but also stupid and superficial.The strategy is non-sensical:the Russians invade Canada with a relatively miniscule force, but the Canadian forces, enormously bigger, are nowhere to be scene.The technology of the weapons systems are outright fictitious:a kinetic weapon that produces as much energy as a small nuke? Do the energy balance equation on that one and you would need billions of pounds of rocket full to get it up to speed.

WHAT A PIECE OF HORSE DUNGS THIS ONE IS.Tom Clancy is nowhere near this book.What a lie.

book of action
This was a good book but it has little story and a hole lot of action. The action dosnt seen to stop not evan till the end. thats why this book is a 4 and not a 5. there is no definet ending and it is open to another book... or dos it lead in to the video game. any way it is a farly fast read it took me about 30min a chapter and i did the book in a month.

Loved this book!
I loved this book! It read very well, it was suspenseful and had a great plot. During the action it was described so perfectly and you had no problem fast-reading through the action due to suspense. Book is left open for a sequel, and I would love to see one.

Overall, a great book, definitely worth the $10 I paid. Check it out if you are into the military.

Media Spanning Story
So I will start off by saying that this book isn't Shakspere, nor is it really Tom Clancy, but it is printed under the Tom Clancy names which means I gave it the benifit of the doubt. What this book is, is a guilt pleasure, its an interesting read and a great way to kill time when flying or whatnot.

Don't get me wrong this isn't a bad book and I enjoyed my read through. It is well paced and the story isn't too bad,as long as you are able to suspend some elements of reality. This story focuses heavy on military technology, from new fighter place to elements of the Land Warrior project. You will see the war through a few different points of view from the very top to the guy in the trench.

The pace is pretty fast, and while it slows in parts, it doesn't drag down the story. If you are a fan of the Clancyverse, the books, movies or video games it might be worth picking up for you.

end's war book
the book came on time, and it was exactly in the condition they said it was. ... Read more

Product Description

In the year 2010, computers are the new superpowers. Those who control them control the world. To enforce the Net Laws, Congress creates the ultimate computer security agency within the FBI: the Net Force.

Customer Reviews (40)

Net Force
A great listen to CD in a car.I love the Net Force Series, listened to them all.Great entertainment

Disappointment
This is the very first Clancy novel I've tried and I wasn't much impressed. Basically a Sidney Sheldon melodrama with some science fiction tacked on. Also there were some unnecessary subplots that were weak and irrelevant (the colonel's son, the agent's love triangle, the female monk...). These took the edge away from what I thought was going to be a to-the-point, intense SciFi-thriller. Not a complete waste of time, but not time well spent.

diction and dialect
Diction, different ways of speaking a language, and dialect, the author's word choice, all affect this novel extremely.Because of the fact that it has a dual setting in both England, and Quantico, Virginia, make the author's word choice one of the only ways that the reader can discern between the two settings.
In this passage, the diction used implies that we are in the U.S."You're in the Neuro Ward at the base hospital.You had a CVA, a cerebrovascular accident.A stroke."Compare that to a different passage a little bit farther along."Not much, my boy.I was ringing you up to see about that, ah . . .small matter we discussed recently over supper."What a difference!Just by reading the two quotes, one can immediately distinguish that the first was set in an Army Base, in America.The second set in a castle in England.The use of the words my boy, ringing, and supper insinuate that the reader is now in a different place, where people speak with different drawl.
The dialect used in this novel also helps us distinguish from the settings, but it also allows the reader to discern between the upper and lower classes.For example: "Oh, and Applewhite?Se if you can't drum up major Peel.If you should happen across him, tell him his lord wishes to dine with him."Compare that to this quote."Come on ya blimey old codger!Give us your money afore we beat your bloody coat red!"This almost automatically allows the reader to tell that the first was the higher class, and the second, the lower.
Diction and dialect were two dreadfully important literary devices in this novel.Had the author not used these devices, the readers mind would be a jumble of places, and people.

not his best
I've read some of his other books that have been better.The story was a little disjointed.He had some characters like Mikhaly Ruzhyo, and a few others that had great potential, but he got too many things going at the same time and too little time for each of them to develop properly.I did like the way he portrayed Lord Coswell, the English billionaire.He figured he was a law unto himself and seems to have gotten away with murder (kinda like what's happening here in the United States).I enjoyed the book but it wasn't his best.

Skip it
Not up to Clancy standards. The main premise is compelling- What might happen if a technological advancement were developed which could quickly break large prime number encryption, upon which the security of the world depends?A real theoretical possibility... This premise kept me reading right to the anti-climactic end. Some of the characters are interesting, like the Russian fellow who had a great subplot going, but even his ending is a letdown. The 2 main love stories are tiresome, detract from the main plot, and take up way too much ink. The virtual reality subplot is a leap of faith.
Not worth reading.
Currently reading Without Remorse, which is much better so far. ... Read more

Product Description
Only the author of The Hunt for Red October could capture the reality of life aboard a nuclear submarine. Only a writer of Mr. Clancy's magnitude could obtain security clearance for information, diagrams, and photographs never before available to the public. Now, every civilian can enter this top secret world...the weapons, the procedures, the people themselves...the startling facts behind the fiction that made Tom Clancy a #1 bestselling author.Amazon.com Review
Never before seen by the general public: a rare glimpse inside a Los Angeles-class (SSN-688) nuclear submarine ... with Tom Clancy as your guide. Only the author of The Hunt for RedOctober could capture the reality of life aboard a nuclear submarine. Only a writer of Mr. Clancy's magnitude could obtain security clearance for information, diagrams, and photographs never before available to the public. Now, for the first time, every civilian can enter this top secret world and experience the drama and excitement of this stunning technological achievement.... the weapons, the procedures, the people themselves... the startling facts behind the fiction that made Tom Clancy a #1 bestseller.

Submarine includes:

• Exclusive photographs, illustration, and diagrams
• Mock war scenarios and weapons launch procedures
• An inside look at life on board, from captain to crew, from training exercises to operations
• The fascinating history and evolution of submarines

Customer Reviews (25)

SUBMARINE FACTS
In my opinion anybody who reads submarine fiction or nonfiction should have a copy of Tom Clancy's SUBMARINE: A Guided Tour a Nuclear Warship. Not only is it a great source of information about everything related to submarines and submarine warfare, it's also an easy read. In typical Tom Clancy style you get the feeling that you are right there aboard one of the navy's most powerful undersea weapons platforms. This book is a great one-volume encyclopedia for submarines and their on board crews and equipment.

Of particular interest to me was the last few chapters where the author discusses a variety of submarine battle tactics. Submarine Rescue, Mine Warfare Intelligence Gathering, Reconnoitering an Enemy Harbor, Execution of a TLAM-C Strike on an Enemy Airfield and Precision Strike: Tomahawk Attacks, are only a few of the tactics included in this revealing and interesting book.

Don't be fooled because this book was published in 1993. Its contents are still applicable to most of the fictional submarine thrillers on the market today.I give the book my highest recommendation.

Submarine 101
Just reading about the technology of a fifty year old submarine explains alot why our government never talkes about them.

Navy Stories...
As a vet, I love the brilliance of this author. I served aboard and the facts are right - on...

my favorite book about subs
just like his book on the marine expeditionary unit or the rangers, tom clancey gives you every bit of information you wanted to know about a subject.

interesting
interesting tour inside a nuclear submarine, with great histories,the perisher course is a big history. you can't loss the book ... Read more

Product Description
Driven by greed, a group of U.N. peacekeeping soldiers called "Keepers" devises a shocking scheme to get the world's attention after their tour of duty ends. Op-Center head Paul Hood has to put retirement on hold because the Keepers have taken over the U.N., where his daughter is performing for ambassadors at a gala function. This time the Keepers have made it personal, and the Op-Center forces will strike with deadly vengeance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (48)

Oh dear, what happened to TC
The Op Centre series is going from bad to worse, I have brought all Tom Clancy's books (all the earlier ones from Red October to my last Red Rabbit) but after I happen to read the first Op Centre book I stopped buying them and just got them from the library, hoping that they would get better and that they would be worth buying again, unfortunately that didn't happen.
This last one is so bad that it is the last one I will get from the library and just stop reading Tom Clancy's books all together.
Always very sad to see a successful author run out of ideas and continue for the money. I would wager that in the long run you will loose money Tom as people will just stop reading your novels.

The Truth About Pacifism
Even though this is not the best Op-Center work, This book portrays an excellent look at a serious problem in our world today. That problem is the idea of total Pacifism. This book sets an outstanding contrast between those who favor war and those who oppose it at all costs. State of Seige shows the frustrations of Pacifists and the frustrations of those dealing with them. As a Navy Seal once said, "No one wants to fight, but someone ought to know how." State of Seige is a must read for students war or pacifism.

The first and best Op-Center I've ever read!
Clancy has done great in ditching those sometimes boring political plots and went into the action theme. The story is excellent and here is a summary: Paul Hood has retired as the Regional Op-Center director and now wishes to be with his wife and kids more. Sharon was a TV cooking show personality and his daughter Harleigh was an excellent violinist for her teenage age. His son, Alexander Hood (I hope I got the name right) enjoys video games and challenge. When Paul Hood finnaly retires, there is a sub-plot of emotional issues between him and Sharon but when they go to see Harleigh perform at a special diplomatic concert in New York for ambassadors and senators, greedy terrorists with a grandiose plan to get the world's attention and recieve a high ransom invade the United Nations building where the teenagers will perform and take the children and government people hostage. It is a race against time as hostages are killed on an hourly bases and while Secretary-General Chatterjee complains about giving diplomacy when Mike Rodgers wants to send in the Striker team. This has a good plot and lots of adventure that will "dazzle all readers!" (Me!)

Oh Dear
I am apparently in a minority of one but I am beginning to find Mr Clancy et al right-wing polemics a little alarming.From strong beginnings with Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and particularly Sum of all Fears, his novels (including his mainstream as well as Op Center novels) have deteriorated in paranoid, simplistic visions of a Pax Americana who owes nothing to the rest of the world and is justified using any means to achieve any ends it sees fit.

I am aware that none of these novels reflect 'reality', but their continued popularity may reveal dangerous tendencies on the part of their fans to believe this is the way the world could/should be.The US represents the greatest civilisation that the world has ever seen... if these books represent the views of its population,is in danger of going the same way as its predecessors

This is such a good book!
When I read Clancy's books for my first time, it sparked my attention. These books are great for reading on free time and when you have homework or nothing to do. Clancy expresses the urgency of the book greatly when terrorists attack the UN H.Q. If you keep reading clear through to dinner time, you never want to put it down and eat anything. I hope that Clancy will make more books so i can read them. ... Read more

Product Description
It's not just a game anymore-read the explosive new book series based on the video game Splinter Cell(tm).

In response to the growing use of sophisticated digital encryption to conceal potential threats to the United States, the National Security Agency has ushered forth the new dawn of intelligence-gathering techniques. The top-secret initiative is dubbed Third Echelon.

Its existence denied by the US government, Third Echelon deploys a lone field operative. He is sharp, invisible, and deadly. He has the right to spy, steal, destroy, and assassinate to protect American freedoms. His name is Sam Fisher. He is a Splinter Cell(tm). Sam Fisher works alone. But fights for us all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (113)

great series
The splinter cell series are extremely good and very easy to follow and get in to, ive read every single book and can't wait for another to come out. I was literally on the edge of my seat the action and espionage is amazing I loved every page and couldn't put the book down.

fast and in perfect condition
The book has arrived before the due delivery date and it was shipped in perfect condition to Brazil!

Just as promised
I ordered a couple of books to complete my "Splinter Cell" reading. They arrived on time, and in very good condition, even though they were used.

If you like Covert Ops
Clear and right to the point!If you like the games you will like the books.Although I must admit the story is told from the first person "I", but isnt that how your best friend tells you about the "Fill-blank" he/she saw or did that day.I must say also that the books arent for all young adults, but then again what really is this days!

Entertaining, but Not What I Expected
I enjoyed the book and found it entertaining enough to finish within two days, so that should say a lot.

However, Sam's character isn't exactly what I would have expected - the author chose to include a large amount of first person dialogue that helps the reader better understand the protagonist, and this dialogue reveals much about his fears and desires, his passions, and other emotions that make the brutal, relentlessly focused spy I remember from the video games much more human. I found myself invested in the book in ways I didn't expect be.

What I disliked the most was the small amount of suspension of disbelief required for me to enjoy reading the book that I didn't anticipate from a Tom Clancy novel (basic Hollywoodized bullet misses and the like).

Don't expect anything fancy here, as the book is straightforward and to my knowledge doesn't seem to try anything new. Nonetheless, the book was written well enough and I am happy with my purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
They are sent to the world's hot spots-on covert missionsfraught with danger. They are called on to perform at the peak oftheir physical and mental capabilities, primed for combat andsurveillance, yet ready to pitch in with disaster reliefoperations. They are the Army's Special Forces Groups. Now follow TomClancy as he delves into the training and tools, missions and mindsetof these elite operatives.

Special Forcesincludes:

• The making of Special Forces personnel:recruitment and training
• A rare look at actual Special ForcesGroup deployment exercises
• Tools of the trade: weapons,communications and sensor equipment, survival gear
• Roles andmissions: a mini-novel illustrates a probable scenario of SpecialForces intervention
• Exclusive photographs, illustrations anddiagrams

Plus: an interview with General Hugh Shelton, USA,Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and the formerCommander-in-Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command-USSOCOM)Amazon.com Review
The seventh in a series of books by Tom Clancy offering in-depth "tours" of the U.S. military, Special Forces surveys the soldiers who "are perhaps America's most professional and capable warriors." Who are they? They are the men--and only men, for women are not allowed to become SF soldiers--who are "specially selected, specially trained, specially equipped, and given special missions and support." The Army Special Forces--known to much of the public as Green Berets--are often the first troops on the scene in a crisis. They're also incredibly versatile: "If you're looking for a Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger, don't expect to find them in today's Army Special Forces." That's because specialized missions--involving anything from psychological operations meant to undermine enemy morale to guerilla warfare in remote jungles--require flexibility. "Specialized missions (paradoxically) require a broad range of general capabilities and skills," which means SF soldiers, "while physically fit, tend to be more balanced (like triathletes) than specialized (like marathoners and weightlifters)."

Clancy and his coauthor, John Gresham, describe how SF soldiers are recruited, trained, and assigned. There are plenty of interesting notes about SF culture: They don't especially like being called "Green Berets," for instance, even though most units carry a copy of the John Wayne movie The Green Berets in their traveling video libraries. They are typically in their 30s, divorced and remarried, intelligent, interested in the news, and able to speak more than one language. There are also lots of details on weaponry, chronicles of training missions, and plenty of maps and pictures. The book ends with a fictionalized account of an SF mission in 2005 and 2006.

Special Forces is replete with Clancy's tough-guy prose: "The overall media presentation of the Army Special Forces has generally been one of contrived crap." And the book is essentially a celebration of a premier fighting force, rather than a critical treatment of it. But this is not necessarily a weakness. Special Forces will appeal to anybody interested in the modern military, and it may bring civilians closer than they'll ever come to these important troops. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

From someone who was granted an unprecedentedtour of the Special Forces and who is an excellent writer a real dissapointment
This book is a major dissapointment for two reasons. The first is that, despite the fact that the author was granted an offical unprecedented tour of the Special Forces by the Defense Dept., he really has nothing new to say that has not been already said in many books on the Special Forces. In addition, many of the things that the author writes are hard bo believe. On the first page of the book, for example, he writes that the Special Forces have a special affinity for John Wayne. Considering the fact that he was a draft dodger and that many who served in Vietnam had quite a negative view (including nearly eveyone who served in Vietnam I know) this is difficult to believe. Considering this slightly questionable view, how many other problematic statements are there in the book? Clancy also interviews, in a very extensive interview, a General Shelton on his career path. Clancy, however, does not in any way describe this path and background relative to those in the Special Path. Is this a typical? Atypical? The reader is left wondering.

Another problem with the book is its rather dry writing. This book is just as dry, if not more so, than many books published by Special Forces by academics. One would think that this would not be a problem as Clancy is major fiction writer. In some areas of the book, for example the "mini-novel" included in the book, the writing seems so cardboard that one can almost see Clancy leaning over his computer, as he was writing it, asking his publisher when he will be paid. Clancy also does not elaborate on whether this mini-novel typifies the type of mission Special Forces would be engaged in.

All and all a very disapointing book, espcially considering how much the Dept. of Defense gave him in terms of access to the Special Forces and his writing skills in most of his previous novels.

Maybe not even three-star material
I feel pretty certain Gresham is the one writing these books, not Clancy. Not only is Gresham given all the photo credits, but in one instance, a story is related where one of the SF soldiers calls Gresham by name and Clancy is not mentioned. Also, a photograph of SF soldier doodles draws a caricature of Gresham and again Clancy is not mentioned. Also, the "mini-novel" that concludes the novel is weaker than weak. There is still some good information here, but it is deeply buried in minutia. The only reason I gave it three stars is that the photos are marginally better than some others in this series.

Typical Clancy
Very dry, almost boring.Typical Clancy writing.Irealize it is not a novel but I have read other books on SF and they are much more interesting although not as in depth as Clancy's.This book is a little outdated now.You can probably find more up to date information on SF.

Beyond the Beret: Clancy's book dispels myths about SF....
Special Forces, the seventh and final entry in Tom Clancy's nonfiction Guided Tour series about America's armed forces, sets its sights on the shadowy -- and often misunderstood -- roles and missions of the men the author calls "the quiet professionals" of the Army's Special Forces command.

Although the public image of the Special Forces stems from such movies as John Wayne's 1968 cornball classic The Green Berets and the Rambo trilogy (Stallone's John Rambo is a former SF veteran who served in Vietnam) and Sgt. Barry Sadler's once-popular "Ballad of the Green Berets," Clancy and his co-author John D. Gresham point out that far from being hell-for-leather, shoot-first-ask-questions-later killing machines, SF soldiers are actually among the best troops in the U.S. Army.They have to be, because their missions -- ranging from blowing up a bridge or weapons factory far behind enemy lines to organizing, training, advising, and assisting foreign armies and police forces of "host" countries "to protect their societies or free them from subversion, lawlessness, insurgency, and terrorism."This means that in addition to their combat roles in Afghanistan and Iraq, SF teams are among the busiest of America's soldiers.

One of the more interesting insights I got from reading Special Forces is related to the role played by SF deployments in El Salvador during the darkest days of that Central American nation's long-running civil war.The Reagan Administration, knowing that any major American military intervention would be very unpopular at home and abroad (a Vietnam II in our own back yard, to put it bluntly), was caught in a decision-making dilemma.Clearly they did not wish El Salvador to "go Red" as Cuba and Nicaragua had in the past, yet they knew the ruling class -- derived from the wealthy class of landowners and other top honchos -- was also very indifferent about the conditions of the Salvadoran poor, particularly those in the countryside.Using the army and national guard -- themselves derived from El Salvador's small middle class -- in repressive and counterproductive ways, El Salvador's government just made matters worse, using indiscriminate tactics and the infamous death squads. Surely, Washington couldn't be too closely linked to a small group of wealthy "patrones" whose only interest was to maintain their lock on power and to ignore the people's legitimate demands for justice and social reform.

The solution? To use Special Forces to gradually change the mindset of the Salvadoran army.It took time, and quite a few of the SF advisers lost their lives in the crossfire between leftist forces and the army.Nevertheless, the Salvadoran officers and soldiers were "re-educated" and, as Clancy writes, "the Salvadoran Army tried acting in other than brutal and repressive ways toward their fellow countrymen, they began to halt activities of their death squads and to actually show respect for basic human rights.

As a result, the rebels lost a lot of support, the Army started winning hearts, minds, and territory, and "by the end of the Cold War [a] peace treaty was a done deal, the civil war had ended, and today there is a coalition government...." Granted, the SF deployments alone were not responsible for this achievement, but they had a major effect in getting the Salvadoran people to see that the way things were being handled by both the government and the rebels were just leading to more bloodshed and chaos.

As in all the Guided Tour series, which are being updated to reflect changes in technology, doctrine, and world realities, Special Forces gives the general reading audience a look at the equipment, training, organization, and the soldiers themselves.There is an interview with Gen. Henry H. Shelton USA (Ret) former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and an experienced Special Operations veteran who served with the Special Forces and also commanded Special Operations Command from 1996 to 1998.There are also overviews of the larger Special Operations Command and, finally, a short fictional account of SF personnel in action.

(Oh, and while the Special Forces troops are proud of their famous headgear, they really don't like to be called "Green Berets." As one of them told the authors, "We are NOT hats!")

A Weak Showing from the 'Master of the Techno Thriller'
I should have known when I noticed in the store that this book lacked an index, that I should have put it back on the shelf. The omission of an index in what is purportedly an information resource is generally a bad omen, as illustrated by this book.

The book feels rushed and half-hearted. The information included, whether on weapons systems or unit history is spotty, at best, and missing or incorrect at worst. Delta, which admittedly is not officially operational, rates only a single, offhanded mention.There is a definite biased slant towards Army Special Forces at the expense of other branches, and while it would be expected if this were written by an USASOC denizen, it is inappropriate and unprofessionial in this context.

The photos are grainy and rather oddly chosen and the use of black and white printing, presumably to save money, shows a sincere lack of attention when the book shows different SF unit badges as uniformly gray patches.

This book pales when compared to earlier efforts like Marine or Carrier and comes across as a quickly produced reaction to growing interest in U.S. Special Operations. ... Read more

Product Description

It's a mission that only Striker -- the military arm of Op-Center -- can handle: capture an Islamic cleric who is stirring up a rebellion against the Indian government. But when the border between India and Pakistan erupts, the Striker team gets caught in the crossfire. Now America's most proficient covert team is trapped in a full-fledged war. Their fate rests in the hands of a devious double agent whose own agenda is unknown -- a man who could just as easily sell them out as set them free....

A powerful profile of America's defense, intelligence, and crisis management technology, Tom Clancy's Op-Center is the creation of Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik -- inspiring this and other gripping audiobooks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Well Written, Edge-of-your-Seat Action
Despite being the 8th Op-Center, "Line of Control" lives up to the high standards the previous novels set. The book's focus is a terrorist plot in the Kashmir/Jammu region of the Indian Sub-Continent that may lead to nuclear brinkmanship. The story line will take you through twists and turns and leave you wanting more. The characters are are deep, interesting and leave you feeling as if you know them. An excellent of a military action/adventure novel.

WARNING: If you have not finished the previous seven Op-Centers, reading this book out of order will make the plot arbitrary.

The book's surprises are comparable to that of the plot of Fox's "24." Just make sure you read the Op-Center series in order!

Fictional thriller
I may be one of the lone proponents of this book, but I have been a fan of the Op-Center series and wanted to defend it. None of the Op-Center books are written by Tom Clancy, but by Jeff Rovin, and I agree it is misleading to have TC's name in large bold letters on the cover. I call these books Tom Clancy "lite" because they are quick reads and do not get so bogged down with military strategy and techno-jargon. (There have been times I have fallen asleep as Tom Clancy goes on & on about some piece of military equipment). True military affectionados will probably not like these books.

The main characters of Paul Hood, Mike Rodgers, Bob Herbert, and Brett August have developed over the series. I think it would be difficult to appreciate their reactions/emotions, etc. without the benefit of knowing what they have experienced together in the previous 7 books in the series. The tragic loss of so many of the Strikers in Line of Control is more meaningful if you were familiar with their parts in other crisis situations from the other books. That being said, a better author would be able to weave a compelling story without the reader having to be familiar with the whole series.

Some of the reviewers commented on the inaccuracies in this book and that may very well be the case. I am not very familiar with the geo-political situation between Pakistan and India and did not consider this to be a textbook or a documentary. Most likely, a real Tom Clancy book would have been better researched and more accurate.

In my opinion, it was a chilling fictional story set in the Himalayans that passed the time on a hot Summer day. In case anyone would like to read the Op-Center series in order, they are as follows:

Op-Center
Mirror Image
Games of State
Acts of War
Balance of Power
State of Siege
Divide and Conquer
Line of Control

Worst book ever!!
I only borrowed this book because it said Tom Clancy on it and I was shocked to see that he had actually not written this book.

This is the most inaccurate Tom Clancy book I have ever read:

- Srinagar is not 25 miles away from the Line of Control
- India has a 'no first use' policy meaning that it will not be the first one to use nuclear weapons (this means the 'SFF' had no excuse to blow up anything)
- There is nothing like the 'naga naga' snake in India
- Cell phones do not work in Kargil or any city in Kashmir except Srinagar

Tom Clancy's Sap-center
The first problem is the story itself. The plot is simple, linear, very lacking in credibility and has a few major holes. (I will elaborate later, not to spoil).
There is a very long, uninteresting, and frankly juvenile sequence of events at the Kashmir border, spanning about the second half of the book. There is no thrill, and a lot of Washington-Kashmir Chit-chat that goes nowhere fast- "thank you, your'e welcome, good luck, whatever."

The second problem is how this book is marketed- bordering on fraud. It says on the cover- Tom Clancy's op-center, line of control, "created" by Tom Clancy. Only at the bottom it is revealed in small letters that the actual writer is a one Jeff Rovin.
If this is so, Shouldn't the writer be credited as the "Creator"?
And what in the devil is a "New York Times #1 best-selling phenomenon"? Since when are phenomena being sold?This statement is nonsense- Again, clever and cynical marketing, taking advantage of readers.

The major holes I found in the plot- Why bother trekking across the glacier for hours on hours just to make an audio recording of Nanda's confession?! Why not just use the communication devices? Why does anyone on CNN or India care about this anonymous woman's confession? It is unlikely that a nuclear war would start over a few terror acts (A sadly regular event in that area of the world. And if so- why hasn't it started yet? Also much of the Indian's actions have little sense.

In conclusion- If you like this genre, I can only suggest a different book.

A very exciting finish
This book was an excellent thriller by Tom Clancy.It is in the series Op-Center and if you have read any of these you know that they are very good books.It is about the border between India and Pakistan called teh Line of Control, and when Pakistan begins building nuclear missile silos turmoil begins to build up between the nations.The U.S. Striker team (a division of Op-Center) is called to paradrop into the Himalayas in search for these silos but when India and Pakistan learn about American involvement they quickly deploy their armys.Soon the American team find themselves trapped in an all out battle for survival stuck between these two armys.The finish to this book is amazing, so to find out what happens to the Striker team read Tom Clancy's: Line of Control. ... Read more

Product Description
A radical Islamic leader who dreams of the past will do anything in his power to ensure that the future is destroyed-by hitting the technological world where it hurts: oil. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Splinter Cell - Fallout
It's a shame that the first author of the 1st two books decided to stop writing the series and Clancy turned to another author.While I understand each author has their way of writing style, I would have hoped Grant Blackwood would have continued where Raymond Benson left off.I wish he would have even kept some of the continuity between Checkmate and Fallout.
Why would you stop using a subdermal receiver and go to a satellite phone and bluetooth headset.That is like stepping backwards.I didn't mind switching characters assisting Fisher from a female to Redding, but then he played a lesser role in Fallout by staying behind at third echleon instead of in the plane with Bird and Sandy (hmm a female?)Still worked, but not as smooth as it could have been.Still 2 books to go, so we will see if these bumps are smoothed out

A Poor Tedious Work From An Author Who Can Do Better
The first Splinter Cell book was really great,with a clear plot and fast understandable action.
This book and the other Splinter Cell books have been a great disappointment. I bought all of them and began reading them in order. Except for the first one,the rest had Splinter Cell teams going in many different directions with no clear goal. It became so tedious that I lost interest and would not recommend them to anyone. I wish I could getarefund from Amazon.

Love these books
I love the Splinter Cell book series.I would also like to see this in a movie format.

Um...where is the story for the plot line?
I just don't understand.The three books leading up to this sequel were fast pace but with good diverse story detail, such as Fisher's personal life, etc., and that made it feel like a good spy novel.This book felt like reading about someone playing the video game.There was so much description about Fisher putting on his gear, sneaking through enemy territory, but there was almost nothing else.The plot, climax, and conclusion were summarized in about three pages.Eh.. I hope the next one's better.

An Alright Action Story
The book was an interesting action story with a very interesting if theoretical plot but several typos were somewhat annoying. Fortunately, the book was not in the first person present again. Very high intensity but otherwise blends together with the rest of the Splinter Cell books and leaves little lasting impression. ... Read more

Product Description
The #1 New York Times bestselling master of the military genre puts readers right in the cockpit.

Tom Clancy's explorations of America's armed forces reveal exclusive, never-before-seen information on the people and technology that protect our nation. Here, the acclaimed author takes to the skies with the U.S. Air Force's elite: the Fighter Wing.

With his compelling style and unerring eye for detail, Clancy captures the thrill of takeoff, the drama of the dogfight, and the relentless dangers our fighter pilots face every day of their lives- showing readers what it really means to be the best of the best. This is the ultimate insider's look at an Air Force combat wing-the planes, the technology, and the people...with Tom Clancy behind the stick.Amazon.com Review
Now, for the first time, an insider's look at an Air Force combat wing--the planes, the technology, and the people--with Tom Clancy asyour guide. Tom Clancy's previous explorations of America's armedforces, Submarine and Armored Cav, revealed exclusive,never-before-seen information an the people and technology thatprotect our nation. Now, the acclaimed author of takes to the skies with theU.S. Air Force's elite: the Fighter Wing.

With hiscompelling style and unerring eye for detail, Clancy captures thethrill of takeoff, the drama of the dogfight, and the relentlessdangers our fighter pilots face every day of their lives, showingreaders what it really means to be the best of the best.

Fighter Wing includes:

• Detailed analyses of the Air Force's premier fighter planes, including the F-15 Eagle
• Exclusive photographs, illustrations, and diagrams
• An insider's look at the people behind the planes and weapons
• Combat strategies and training techniques used by the U.S. Air Force

Customer Reviews (25)

Too complicated
I've read several of Clancy's inside looks into the various military branches and have found most of them informative and pleasant to read. This one, however, gets caught up in minutia and especially numbers. I found it taxing and not near the pleasure to read that the subject matter would seem to lend itself to.

good seller, rapid delivery
accurate description of the book's quality, good price, fast delivery. I would certainly recommend buying from this seller. thanks.

Fiction is good, but Non-fiction is better
well, i havent finished it yet, but from what i've read its very good.It provides an understanding of the military comprehensible to civilians.Kudos to Clancy.

Fighter Wing by Tom Clancy
This is an excellent in-depth view of how our USAF is run. The capabilities of our aircraft. If you enjoy military non-fiction then you'll love this book.

Great Tour
Loved the way this book was written.You really get a sense of what being in that FW is really like.Im already in the Air Force, but for me it was a nice look from the outside in, and getting to know the history of the unit, what action they have seen, and where the Air Force is heading.Great information and a great tour!! ... Read more

Product Description
Spain is a nation poised to suffer its worst internal strife in centuries. Certain well-placed Spanish diplomats sense it. Op-Center intelligence corroborates it. All the United States and Spain have to do is find a way to avert it. Before they can, an Op-Center representative is assassinated in Madrid on her way to a top secret meeting. Now all fears are confirmed. Someone very powerful wants another Spanish civil war--no matter what the cost.Amazon.com Review
Another in the popular series of Op-Center thrillers,Balance of Power sets the stage in Spain, as tensions betweenvarious ethnic factions are pushing the country to the brink ofdisaster.

This audio version is narrated by Jay O. Sanders(JFK, Kiss the Girls) in a rich basso profundo, but theusual Clancyesque intelligence jargon, technospeak, and geopoliticalshorthand prove to be more than a mouthful. Sanders does his best tokeep pace with the considerable action, but it's a tall order,especially with the added complications of Spanish names, places, anddialogue, which, for him, are obviously in a foreign language.

Asthe story unfolds, high-level diplomatic and intelligence teams areworking overtime to diffuse the crisis when their efforts are shotdown by an assassin's bullet. That's when the real trouble begins: "Asintelligence chief Bob Herbert had put it before Martha had leftWashington, 'This will make the Spanish Civil War look like abrawl.'"

The story features a broad cast of characters, some ofwhich may flirt with stereotype. Despite this drawback, it'sinteresting to find these relatively obscure politics brought frontand center. While this may not be the very best that Op-Center canproduce, for die-hard Clancy fans it's another chance to enter thefray. (Running time: 4 hours, 4 cassettes) --George Laney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Couldn't give it zero
I can see why the Spainards hate this book. I have never been to Spain and besides Medieval history and Franco of course I don't know much about the nation beyond the norm. However, the idea of Spain turning into genocidal Balkans is just silly to me. Yes it happened in the 1930's but many things happened in the 1930's a time of insanity and hate.

Also the pyschobabble was just plain annoying to me. "She was there when Martha was killed, the guilt is going to put her into shock and paralize her!" Right and that is why whole armies stop fighting when they lose comrades. Stupid and not even close to human reality and just plain annoying to read.

I will stay away from Clancy and the techno-thriller crap. Bring back some good old cold war novels those were his master pieces. This sucks will not bother picking anymore up when I see them.

Not Free SF Reader
Spanish politics and shooting.

The Op-Center is a semi-independent agency that gets to do some dirty, dangerous work.

This time it involves getting mixed up in Spanish politics, virus, and terrorism, leading to a stressful time for all, as it doesn't take long for an assassination to happen.

Just an ok thriller type book is all.

Not a clever story teller
This is the first TC's book I read and maybe I'll give him a second chance. But someone can tell me where's the plot? Spain is willing to have an upheaval, so what? Nobody there want the CIA involved so they make some kind of gore war. I've had read awfully better books than this one.

Query: Did the CIA thwarted a revolution in Spain?

Not good, but not necessarily bad either
I have read one previous Tom Clancy book, Red Storm Rising, and I was impressed.Well written and well detailed book.This is not the case with Balance of Power.The blame, then, must be with the other author, Steve Pieczenik.From the beginning when I saw another author I wondered if Clancy played more of a role than his name, and I don't think that he did.This is yet another case of a book that was written to capitalize on Clancy's name.

The book is shallow and not too deep.One chapter will present a situation, and the next chapter is the "enemy" or opposing force figuring out what just happened.Powerful men seek to overthrow the government with force and economic pressure.Break.The next chapter Op Center comes to the same conclusion that the previous chapter revealed.So there is no development, no discovery for the reader.

On the flip side it was fast paced and it kept me reading.I won't be like the other Spanish reviewers and claim how badly Clancy missed the Spanish situation.It is a work of fiction!Of course he is going to miss the true picture of the climate of Spain if he is to make the book do as he wants.So, no, I don't rate this off of that.

So that leaves the merit of the book.Fast paced fun read, albeit not too deep or complexly intertwined.It was good to imagine the undercover Striker team and their effectiveness.But, alas, this is nothing more than another author capitalizing on Clancy's name.Perhaps Clancy was consulted, or the whole series is his idea, but he doesn't seem to have written this one.In fact, other Op Center books are written by Pieczenik and when you search them they come up under his name and not Clancy.That doesn't make him a bad author, just not the complex author that we have come to respect in Clancy.

2.75 stars.

Tom Clancy shows no knowledge or respect for Spain
I was astonished how a well-reputed researcher as Tom Clancy could just mess up so bad when talking about the character of the Spaniards and political scene of Spain. It is a so respectless towards any Spanish speaking person, not only Spaniards. Plus, it shows no knowledge or interest at all on our country. American novelists should create fantastic countries that fit their misconcepts and desires, like Banania, Antiamerica or whatever. Check out "Digital fortress" by Dan Brown or the movie "Mission : Impossible 2" by John Woo. Exactly the same disdain. ... Read more

Product Description
Third Echlon operative Same Fisher knows that several disastrous missions have depleted the ranks of the Splinter Cells. What he doesn't know is that a stunning piece of evidence has been uncovered that points to the mole who sold out his government...

... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Finally finished it !
Bad, confusing storyline and characters. I forced my self to finish it and not sure why. I can't believe that time and energy was put into publishing, purhcasing and reading this. I would suggest to other not to.

Companion to "Conviction" spoiler...
You have to read "Conviction" if you're to understand this one. I wish Michaels could have used another device to keep the series alive.

Books
Excellent product , the book is also great and the way it is delivered is very simple ... 5 stars

It's the same story folks - buyer beware
I saw some of the review's weren't great when I briefly looked at purchasing it once before. I thought, "oh how can it be that bad". Well, it is. It's the same damn story, not a continuation like I and probably everyone else had expected. There are a few good moments here and there, but otherwise it's just a big letdown. I read it in two days because I could barely focus enough to do anything but skim paragraphs here and there.

If you read Conviction you read Endgame
I would have probably been fine if I had started reading knowing that I was reading a different point-of-view of Conviction. I would have still bought the book and even if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't have felt quite as duped as I do. Everything on the back of the book (and even the front of the book for that matter) and in synopsis online led me to believe I was reading a continuation of Conviction. That is not the case. If you really liked the two-dimensional characterization of Hansen in Conviction then you will love Hansen on every page of Endgame. This is lazy writing. I am a big fan of Splinter Cell but I am going to wait for reviews on the next one. If it is told from Grim's point-of-view then the shark has truly been jumped and I am done with the series. ... Read more

Product Description
The virtual Dominion of Sarxos is the most popular wargame on the Net. But something sinister is going on. Some players' computers are destroyed by burglars. Another player is attacked and beaten. One thing is certain--someone in the Dominion of Sarxos is taking the game very seriously. Net Force Explorers Megan O'Malley and Leif Anderson are asked to investigate. They play the game and know the world. But nothing can prepare them for the danger when the real game begins.Amazon.com Review
Computer savvy teens, a war game gone awry, and goodold-fashioned intrigue are the elements of The Deadliest Game,a high-octane episode in Tom Clancy's wildly popular teen series NetForce. Clancy and co-author Steve Pieczenik envision a futuristicsociety where people enliven their dull lives with intense virtualexperiences. One of the most favored of these virtual realities is amedieval war game called Sarxos. Players leave their physical bodiesat home while an implant in their head carries them through theircomputer to the virtual Dominion of Sarxos, a land where they may beanyone-- from a reigning warlord to a practicing hedge-wizard. Butwhen players who are winning too many battles in Sarxos start gettingstalked and attacked in the real world, it becomes clear that oneplayer has begun taking the game far too seriously.

Enter teen cyber-sleuths Meg and Leif, experienced Sarxos players. Asmembers of the Net Force Explorers, a teen auxiliary of thecyber-crime-stopping Net Force, Meg and Leif start questioningcharacters in the alternate reality. Even when their boss instructsthem to stop, they stay hot on the trail of the online Sarxian playerwho is "bouncing" any threatening opponent out of the game. But timeis running out in the search for the online criminal, and Meg and Leifmay find themselves the next bouncees!

In Net Force, Tom Clancy has created a cyber-thrilling series thatwill transition into the next millennium with ease. The breathlessaction and abrupt plot transitions between the real world and virtualreality will fascinate teen computer fiends and young video gamersalike. (Ages 13 and older) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

The Deadliest game - A incredible book.
Tom Clancy's The Deadliest Game was a wonderful book. Comparing his book with his last book, Virtual Vandals, This was somewhat more than expected. I enjoyed this book even more because of the huge amounts of suspension. I admit the book was very slow to begin and i thought that there was excessive amount of description and detail in the book and not enough dialect. I really think Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik did a wonderful job on the book. The story of mystery holds all the aspects a good mystery should. All and all this book would have 5 stars if there was more dialect.

Weak attempt at fantasy writing
Millions of people participate in the virtual reality game of Sarxos. At any time participants can enter, by logging into a pc via an implanted connection device, the wonderful world of Sarxos, where you can eat, drink, sleep and above all fight with opponents. Sarxos is the ideal escape from the daily troubles. But for some people this escape has become quite addictive. But suddenly strange things are happening: active players are being assaulted during their daily non-Sarxos life. Megan O'Malley, a joyful teenager, is asked by the Net Force agency to check things out. Because she is a frequent player no-one will notice that she has another mission at hand, at least that is was she thinks.

If you drop the name of Tom Clancy you automatically thing of high profile techno-thrillers, so when Clancy and Steve Pieczenik are pulled together to write a book for adolescents some clear expectations are raised. Sadly enough the techno-thriller aspect is kept to a minimum in The Deadliest Game. Indeed it concerns a virtual reality game, but most of the plot is being build inside the game without using too much using the concept of virtual reality. It is as if the players are being ported into a game and that game becomes a story on its own. Nothing wrong with that, was is not for the fact that that story quickly becomes tedious and boring. It is an attempt at a fantasy story, but does not succeed to exploit the power of fantasy. To say it boldly: if ever that game became commercially available, I would certainly not think about buying it.

The Deadliest Game is a missed opportunity. I do hope that the other episodes of the Net Force series have more spirit.

Take a break
Control your armys, crush your foes, and strike fear in the eyes of those who oppose you.Then log off, brush your teeth, take a break then lunge back into the world of Sarxos.Tom Clancy really grasps the world of science fiction in his Net Force book The Deadliest Game.I would recomend this book for one and all.The mystery lover, to the action seeker, all readers can love this book many times over.

dont read it
Tom Clancy's Net Force is a very boring book. Tom Clancy can do way better. He has written way better books than this. I suggest you don't buy this one. This book is about a virtual game called the dominion of Sarxos. People play this virtual game a lot and it is the biggest virtual game in the world. But people have been taking the game too seriously and are trashing people's apartments, and ruining their computers and hurting them. They hire a girl to figure out who's been doing this and some interesting things happen but I won't tell you. This book is okay but don't buy it. Just check it out from a library because it's not worth buying.

The Deadliest Gameis a deadly game
when i read this book i went through many stages excitment sadness climax denoument i fell in love with this book i recommed this book to everyone and now im hooked to the series and cant stop reading ... Read more

Product Description
TOM CLANCY'S POWERPLAYS When an anonymous e-mail alerts UpLink Technology's operatives to suspicious activity on an exclusive island resort, Pete Nimec goes undercover to investigate. Located off the coast of Trinidad, Rayos del Sol is not just a playground for the world's richest and most powerful people - it's also the headquarters for a joint fiber optic and oil refinery project run by UpLink and Sedco Oil. What Nimec discovers is a plot to drain oil from the United State's strategic petroleum reserve and sell it to outlaw nations. And when the island's highly trained security force is sent to take Nimec out - heaven on earth erupts into hell ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Worst "Clancy" book I have read
Although I have read only a few of the "Clancy" knock-offs, I have to say this is the worst.I cannot believe Tom Clancy allowed his name to be associated with this book.It was plain boring.

Not a good Clancy - Wild Card
Unfortunately, a badly written story.Not one that I would recommend. I read everything that comes out from Tom Clancy, and I am generally happy - from satisfied to delighted.This time, not, even though the plot was quite interesting.

Hubby's opinion
My husband finished this book last night and said it "sucked".

Hope this helps.

A VERY BIG STEP UP
This book blows away that other piece of junk that carried the POWER PLAYS name. This was a well thought out book.I enjoyed it a lot.What might happen with Roger Gordians daughter and Tom Ricci, maybe nothing but maybe something.It just might be there to show he's coming around, I hope so I like the character.The only bad thing about this book, no Rollie Tibadeau (sp), but you know who I mean. This is definately a improvement.

One of the worst books I've read in years.
This is just another of the low quality books put out under the "Tom Clancy" name.

The book is written by Jerome Preisler and is by far one of the worst books I've read in some time.

The plot is very poorly defined, and is so poorly followed that 1/2 the time you are left trying to figure out how a chapter fit into the rest of the book.

Character development was minimal at best, and completely missing at worst.

There were two main plot lines that had virtually nothing to do with each other, and trying to follow them simply made the book unreadable.

My advice is that you don't waste your time on this sell out of a "Tom Clancy" novel. ... Read more

Product Description

Shadowy elements within the State Department secretly cause tensions to flare between Iran and the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. They hope to start a shooting war to increase their own power and profit.

At the same time, the conspirators decide to up the ante -- by deposing the President of the United States. In a treacherous scheme, they convince the President that he is mentally unstable, and a silent coup d'etat is within their reach.

Now, Paul Hood and the members of Op-Center are pitted against the clock to prevent the outbreak of war, save the honor of the President -- and expose the traitors within...

A powerful profile of America's defense, intelligence, and crisis management technology, Tom Clancy's Op-Center is the creation of Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik -- inspiring this and other gripping audiobooks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Good book, Great Service
I liked the book, but I really liked the quick service.The vendor was great.

Pulp fiction for the new millennium
First of all let me say how glad I am that Tom Clancy finally gave Jeff Rovin cover credit for this novel and how great an idea it was to turn this series over to this writer.Mr. Rovin's tight journalistic style is perfect for this series. With all that said this book is a solid addition to a series that consistently suprises me with its intelligence and depth of characters. I call this the new pulp fiction with the highest regard as this series entertains and educates at the same time.

The premise of this novel has a conspiracy of government officials attempting to usurp the power of the presidency in order to alter world policy to their beliefs.The main focus of their coup is by trying to convince the president that he is becoming mentally unstable.In an era where perception is reality this is not as hard for them to do as the reader would believe.By contrasting the president's struggles with his sanity with Paul Hood's (the head of Op-Center)private tribulations, Jeff Rovin has done an admirable job of making this an exciting and emotional thriller. Combined with the intricate details and knowledge of Washington and international politics make this fast-paced and entertaining read and a solid addition to this series.

Hmmmmmm.........
I am not too sure about what to say about this book. It was okay, but it could have been much better. It was interesting in places, but there was constantly dry, boring content thrown in. Every once in a while, it would get off into an unneeded description or explanation that really did not help the plot. It was interesting how they put in enough scenes of the "bad guys" to give you the hints to figure out a happening; usually just before the "good guys" figured it out.
Overall? It was a good book with plenty of action, but it had it's faults, like all books. It was better than some Clancy books that I have read, but there has been a few better than it.
I would still recommend, especially if you have been following the Op-Center series. It was surprising how much it could stand alone, yet it also continued what happened in earlier books.

A decent story but not up the Op-Center standards
A good thriller but missing something.This was not up to the normal Op-Center books, in my opinion.While it has a good story line it seemed to be off.

in this story Paul Hood ends up seeking help from is Op-Center counterpart in Russia to help hunt down the notorious assassin the "Harpooner".At the same time it seems that all of the issues in the Caspian Sea seem to be tied back to the US president who may be having a mental break down, or is he.His wife thinks that something is wrong and calls in his old friend Paul Hood who is being stonewalled by members of the president's cabinet.While the story is plausible it still bothered me.If you normally like this type of story you will probably enjoy the book but not be thrilled by it.

One of the greatest books I ever read
Tom Clancy has been one of my long time favorite authors with books like Bear and The Dragon, State of Siege, and Line of Control. It displays that everyone can have their own agenda and that those agendas are not necessarily for the common good. Putting all that aside, Tom Clancy and Steve Piecznik along with Jeff Rovin, do a great job of bringing the details of Military Intelligence to the common people. Excellent book for those who like War, Intel, and thirllers. I would recommend it in a heart beat. ... Read more

Product Description
Read by Kerry Shale
Three Cassettes, 4 hours

In the year 2010, computers are the new superpower.Those who control them control the world.To enforce the New Laws, Congress creates the ultimate computer security agency with the FBI: the Net Force.

Instructions on how to make a bomb...a list of every U.S. spy in the Euro-Asian theater...Someone with access to classified information is posting it on the Internet-and it's costing lives.Net Force Commander Alex Michaels is in the hot seat.Now, before a hostile Senate committee, he must justify the very existence of the Net Force.

Meanwhile, a virus is unleashed that throws the federal financial systems into chaos.And the Net Force operatives must hunt the wily hacker through the twists and turns of cyberspace-down a path that leads them dangerously close to home... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (51)

Net Force
A great listen to CD in a car.I love the Net Force Series, listened to them all.Great entertainment

Not Free SF Reader
Internet police save the day.


Or something along those lines.While the whole premise of Clancy's Net Force Agency is rather silly, the people in it, both geeks and grunts come off as interesting enough to make this book readable, even more so probably if you are one of those people that likes silly computing and tactical reloads.

Not a writer with a deep grasp of the non-military technology by any stretch but this is fun enough.

HATED IT!!
As a computer and security professional I was hoping that this would be a Clancy-esque IT Thriller.The research and veracity I've come to expect from a Clancy novel was totally missing.Some of the forensic methods were completely wrong and the use of VR for following a hacker's trail was just stupid.I couldn't wait for this book to end and was tempted again and again to just quit wasting my time and burn the book so no one else would get hooked into reading it because of the Clancy Stamp.

Almost a companion book to Net Force 1
This book is as great as the first one. The outline story is much more weaker but the personal stories of all characters (Alex, Toni, Tyrone) finish in this book (althrough they continue in next books:-)). If you (again) don't expect Clancy-class story, you've got (again) a very good book.

Disappointing
Hmmmm...not quite what I expected.While the plot line provided some excitement and a surprise or two, this just wasn't as satisfying as some of the other series created by Clancy.The near future setting and the use of virtual reality both felt somewhat contrived.I'm not sure how the use of virtual reality scenarios improves the investigative abilities of the forensic computer analysts.I found the passages describing these scenarios to be distracting from the main plot line.Also, while I have no problem with character development, why do we need to have TWO love story subplots?It felt like overkill.Overall, this wasn't a terrible light read, but its far from the best thriller I've ever read. ... Read more

Product Description
Several disastrous missions have depleted the ranks of the Splinter Cells. Third Echelon is training new recruits when a stunning piece of evidence is uncovered. Evidence that points to the mole who sold out his government...Sam Fisher, Splinter Cell(r) operative.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

You'll like this book if you liked the others in the series. Note: This book has NOTHING to do with the game of the same name.
I enjoyed reading this book once a got about 1/4 the way through. The beginning went a bit slowly for me, but as it got deeper into it I got wrapped up in it as I did the previous four books. As someone who loves playing the games, it's nice to be able to sit back and read about Sam Fisher's adventures and not worry have to worry about whether or not I have enough sticky shockers to make it through a game level.

I read another review where someone mentioned a large amount of product placements...agreed. I think the story would have rolled out just as well if they just said "phone" instead of "iphone" and "maps" instead of "Google Maps". It got excessive after a while.

All in all I liked it and I'm about to start reading End Game.

The weakest Splinter Cell anything. Terrible.
I love Splinter Cell and I love Sam Fisher. I have played every Splinter Cell game available including the newest with the same title as this book. The game Splinter Cell: Conviction is outstanding and in my opinion, the best of the whole series. But this book is just terrible. First off, other than Sam Fisher, it has NOTHING in common with the game of the same name. It is a boring and tedious read. The author doesn't appear to have much knowledge of the Splinter Cell world. In this book, Sam seems to be running away from several pursuers almost 95% of the time. Some chases, on foot or in cars last 25 pages or more. These chases seem extra long but without purpose. Sam very rarely uses any of his Third Echelon skills and only occasionally uses his gadgets. Loving Sam the way I do, I was excited to start reading this book since I was also playing the game each night. By the hundred page mark, I felt that this was NOT the Same Fisher I knew but a weak, counterfeit Sam, trying to fake me out by acting like Sam. I usually pass on my paperbacks to my son who has a common interest in Splinter Cell, but this book didn't make the cut and ended up in the trash instead. The game is still amazingly fun ... the book had nothing redeeming about it. Buy the game and don't be scammed by the book. zero stars.

This is the worst Splinter Cell anything.
I love Splinter Cell and I love Sam Fisher.I have played every Splinter Cell game available including the newest with the same title as this book. The game Splinter Cell: Conviction is outstanding and in my opinion, the best of the whole series. But this book is just terrible.First off, other than Sam Fisher, it has NOTHING in common with the game of the same name. It is a boring and tedious read. The author doesn't appear to have much knowledge of the Splinter Cell world. In this book, Sam seems to be running away from several pursuers almost 95% of the time. Some chases, on foot or in cars last 25 pages or more. These chases seem extra long but without purpose. Sam very rarely uses any of his Third Echelon skills and only occasionally uses his gadgets. Loving Sam the way I do, I was excited to start reading this book since I was also playing the game each night. By the hundred page mark, I felt that this was NOT the Same Fisher I knew but a weak, counterfeit Sam, trying to fake me out by acting like Sam. I usually pass on my paperbacks to my son who has a common interest in Splinter Cell, but this book didn't make the cut and ended up in the trash instead. The game is still amazingly fun ... the book had nothing redeeming about it. Buy the game and don't be scammed by the book. zero stars.

great buy.
I would recommend anyone to buy this book. It's really great, besides that shipping was good too. The condition of the book is exactly as described.

This has nothing to do whatsoever with the game, Splinter Cell Conviction
This book is a lie. It is a ridiculous plot featuring Sam fisher that neither takes place in the same CONTINENT (America in the game, Europe in the book) or involves even trivially the same characters. Hell, in some cases MAJOR CHARACTERS such as Major Lambert are dead wherein in the game they are alive.

This is just a random Splinter Cell story with the Conviction name slapped onto it, and it isn't even that good of a story. Good action, bad story. Save your money and buy the game. ... Read more