The Sum of All Fears

Jack Ryan, Book 6

By: Tom Clancy

Narrated by: John MacDonald

Length: 33 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

A major motion picture starring Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Alan Bates and Michael Byrne!

Peace may finally be at hand in the Middle East - as Deputy Director of the CIA Jack Ryan lays the groundwork for a peace plan that could end centuries of conflict. But ruthless terrorists have a final, desperate card to play: They have their hands on a nuclear weapon and have placed it on American soil in the midst of an escalation in tension with the Soviet Union. The terrorists hope to rekindle cold war animosity and prevent reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. With one terrible act, distrust mounts, forces collide, and the floundering U.S. president seems unable to cope with the crisis. With the world on the verge of nuclear disaster, Ryan must frantically seek a solution - before the chiefs of state lose control of themselves and the world.

©1991 Jack Ryan Enterprises Ltd. (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"He constantly taps the current world situation for its imminent dangers and spins them into an engrossing tale." ( The New York Times Book Review)

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

Lots of details for the "fans"

What did you love best about The Sum of All Fears?

I love the way Clancy always acknowledges his readers are intelligent enough to manage several "back" stories. He doesn't have to step you through the characters, they are so well written you don't need reminders or prompts. The Sum of All Fears is just such a story.. Clever, well proportioned and credible characters.

What other book might you compare The Sum of All Fears to and why?

Matthew Reilly gives the reader the same impression of deep research. and having done same wants to share every morsel with the reader. I feel I'm not just being entertained I am learning... Very satisfying experience

What does John MacDonald bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nice to hear someone who can read without taking breathes and gasps midsentence (like Lou Diamond Philips) this destroys the story. I have sought out and listened to more McDonald and he is good.. Wish he could re-read all the ones Phillips has mutilated..

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Ryan saves the world (again) .....

Almost as good as Patriot Games

As with a lot of Tom Clancy it takes a while to wind up and has some very slow portions but that's the price you pay for a well developed story. Well worth it. Best Narrator so far on the Jack Ryan series.

A book of nuclear proportions

Where does The Sum of All Fears rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It rates as one my favourite audiobooks, not because of the narrator, but because Tom Clancy was on of my favourite authors.

What did you like best about this story?

The fact that Tom Clancy was brave enough to let the bomb explode.

Which scene was your favorite?

The terrorists, drug cartel and Cutter getting their comeuppance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The sheer length of Tom Clancy's books prevents reading in one sitting.

Give it a miss. Bolinda buggers it up again

One of the worst narrator's I've heard, sounds like a robot, almost no variance in his voice. obviously the recording wasn't checked as in the first chapter they reference the KBG, not the KGB.
last time I buy a book from the Bolinda group which is a shame as they seem to have the rights to a number of Clancy's books in Australia