Dead or Alive

A Jack Ryan Novel

By: Tom Clancy, Grant Blackwood

Narrated by: Lou Diamond Phillips

Length: 20 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Don't Miss the Original Series Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Starring John Krasinski!

Tom Clancy delivers a #1 New York Times bestselling Jack Ryan novel that will remind readers why he is the acknowledged master of international intrigue and nonstop military action.

It is The Campus. Secretly created under the administration of President Jack Ryan, its sole purpose is to eliminate terrorists and those who protect them. Officially, it has no connection to the American government - a necessity in a time when those in power consider themselves above such arcane ideals as loyalty, justice, and right or wrong.

Now covert intelligence expert Jack Ryan Jr. and his compatriots at The Campus - joined by black ops warriors John Clark and “Ding” Chavez - have come up against their greatest foe: a sadistic killer known as the Emir. Mastermind of countless horrific attacks, the Emir has eluded capture by every law enforcement agency in the world. But his greatest devastation is yet to be unleashed as he plans a monumental strike at the heart of America.

On the trail of the Emir, Jack Ryan Jr. will find himself following in his legendary father’s footsteps on a manhunt that will take him and his allies across the globe, into the shadowy arenas of political gamesmanship, and back onto U.S. soil in a race to prevent the possible fall of the West....

Take another thrill ride with Jack Ryan.

©2010 by Rubicon, Inc. (P)2010 by Brilliance Audio, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Heart-stopping action...entertaining and eminently topical.” (The Washington Post)

“The best characters from all of Clancy’s previous novels are on the case.... For fans of the genre, Dead or Alive is likely to provide a long weekend’s pleasure.” (Los Angeles Times)

“Clancy is back at the top of his game.... In-depth research, continuous suspense, and scores of fascinating characters.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review))

A Pleasant Stroll Down Tom Clancy-Memory Lane

If you loved Clancy back when he was still writing his own books--and was creative--you'll enjoy this reboot of his franchise characters. He brings them back (the Ryan family and their house on Peregrine Bluff, John Clark and Ding Chavez), even using some the same descriptive phrases (as if copy/pasting from his old Word files). The plot is classic Clancy, down to all the stylistic ticks, just reset in a hunt for Osama (who's just not called that).

It should feel tired, but it doesn't, in the same way that seeing a classic rock band reuniting after 20 years and going back on tour doesn't: you remember why you liked them in the first place, and the nostalgia makes it rewarding.

But like that old-time rock band, I'm not sure it's sustainable after the reunion tour. The world has moved on, and Clancy's characters really haven't. It's clear from the ending that he's trying to tee the ball for another run with these characters. If so, then he needs to bring something fresh to the new franchise, and dropping them and his style essentially unchanged into 2011 won't work (in my opinion).

Speaking of old-timers, I had no idea that Lou Diamon Phillips was doing narration work now. He was outstanding in this audiobook. He carried the novel with his delivery. Very fun and addicting to listen to.

Piece Of Work

This is why Tom Clancy is so popular. Multiple engaging parallel plot lines, sufficiently evil bad guys, sophisticated legal, political, and military details, but the piece de resistance is Lou Diamond Phillips’ brilliant narration.

good story

good reading. keeps you wanting to listen flow of story is good believable story line

Jack Ryan Jr follows in father’s footsteps

Jack Ryan Jr., like his father, is a brilliant intelligence officer not satisfied with only doing analysis. Instead of working for a federal intelligence agency, he is a member of the Campus, a shadow organization operating without Congressional oversight. President Ryan set up the Campus before he left office, and signed blank Presidential pardons to be used when needed. Jack is joined by Clark, Chavez, and Mary Pat from earlier Jack Ryan books.

Jack and the Campus are in a race to get the Emir (mastermind of 911). Like most Clancy action stories, the plot is full of action and suspense. The Emir has already set in motion another multi-pronged attack against the West. Ryan, Clark, Chavez, and other Campus agents track leads around the world to stop the attacks.

Clancy’s strong relationship with the Defense Department, and depth of knowledge are in evidence in his detailed description of weapons and tactics. Nevertheless, it is extremely unlike that a quasi-governmental organization like the Campus could long remain undiscovered.

I was disappointed that the book claims that torture, including water boarding, is seldom effective, but has Campus members use it a number of times.

The ending relied on too much luck in reducing effects of the Emir’s attacks.

10 years ago, before Osama bin Laden was killed, the was a more timely book. Still, this book reminds one that there are still jihadists out there trying to punish the U. S.

I really enjoyed the book

I especially liked the reality of their raids. I have no experience with these types of activities , but it felt as though I was right there with them.

Seat of the pants thriller, but a little too heavy on the Democrat bashing.

If you are to believe Tom Clancy, you’d think the dems were in direct cahoots with the terrorists. Tom... listen. It’s okay to tell a good story without bashing your readers with some short sighted political view point. The story works just as well without it.

Primary author doesn't know Ryanverse

The story was good but was filled with references to stuff that happened in the real world and missing references to stuff that happened in the Ryanverse. War with China, Japan, Iran, the nuking of Denver and the terrorist biowarfare attacks. The new primary authors of this series need to either bone up on what has happened in previous books of the universe or just bite the bullet and do a hard reset.

Jack Jr is joining the family business for real

What's not to love? Flawless execution of trade craft with no holds barred when stopping terrorists bent on destroying America and our security. The Jacks Ryan, Jr and Sr, and Campus team, living the embodiment of national service and sacrifice are inspiring. I didn’t want to wait for the page to turn, I had to know what would happen next-would America be spared from another 9/11/2001? Would those who live for terrorizing innocents win again? Start it on a long weekend right after work. You'll be glad you did. Don't miss this one.

Worth a purchase

Have you listened to any of Lou Diamond Phillips’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time I have listened to Lou Diamond Phillips. I feel that his narrative made the story. His accents are smooth and easy to listen to. He "pushes" the right amount of drama to keep the story flowing. I would definitely listen to more of his performances.

Any additional comments?

Some of the actual story feels canned/cookie cutter and simplistic, but for Clancy fans it is worth a read to keep the Ryan story and timeline in mind and in focus.

Fantastic

Lou Diamond Phillips’s reading was flawless. In my humble opinion he was able to take the words of one of this worlds best writers and paint vivid characters, aroma, touch, and heart. Loved it.