The Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy

Red October is probably one of Clancy's best novels, and if you have seen the film, you should know the plot by now, but a Russian commander is planning to defect with the Russian Navy's coexistent nuclear submarine. Russia mounts a massive 'scrutiny', in order to destroy the submarine, America thinks Russia is trying to start World War 3 and only Jack Ryan believes that apostasy is the real cause. There is all the exciting action of the film here, with a lot more characterisation and atmosphere packed in. There are exuberant amounts of technical detail that serves to mesmerizing enhance the realism of the action, without ever causing the book to ...

Now don't misunderstand me: this is a very entertaining book and, like a lot of thrillers, is better than the film because it goes into more detail. Alas it also comes across a bit too much as anti-Russian propaganda with virtually no opportunity spared to have a dig at them. More of this later, for now the basic plot Captain Ramius (played by Sean Connery in the film if you've seen it) is a top Russian Submarine Captain who is extremely miffed with his country after the death of his wife. He thus most of his officers that they should defect and take his submarine 'The Red October' with them as a present for the USA. When the Russians discover ...

~ ~ “The Hunt for Red October” was the first novel from master story teller Tom Clancy, published in 1984. It seems incredible that it is now seventeen years since we were introduced to the character of Jack Ryan, now played so well in the films of the books by actor Harrison Ford. Clancy is one of those authors who everyone professes to hate, and yet who continues to top the best seller lists with almost everything he writes. I have no such hang-ups, and admit openly to avidly devouring everything that this American writes, even his lesser-known works. He has been accused of over zealousness in his patriotism towards America and all things ...