Threat Vector

This was the most intriguing Clancy novel in a long time. The very real threat of the Chinese, (see yesterday's headlines of Japan and China) and cyber warfare is as fascinating as it is threatening. No one researches better than Clancy and few know military operations and capabilities more than him.

Better still, the suspense in this novel is top rate, on the same level as his earlier novels. Lou Diamond Phillips is the perfect choice for this work. His characterizations are spot on.

In his recent works, Clancy has been criticized for his politics. This is not the case with this book at all.

Great story - Lousy Narration as he kept doing rapid LOUD breaths during his reading that were very annoying. It was like he was playing a musical instrument. Back away from the mic or take normal breaths or do editing after the fact or hit a cough button to remove it.

Typical Clancy Action

He needs to learn how to breath and talk correctly. He has a really annoying way of taking fast quick LOUD breaths during the reading. This is the first Audible reader I have heard this from and it was so bad this is my first ever Audible Review.

This book is packed with suspense and action including sea, land and air battles. The major part of the book is based on cyber warfare. Even though this is fiction it should act as a warning of what could happen. Lou Diamond Phillips did a great job narrating this story. Jack Ryan Sr is back as President and Jack Jr is off chasing the cyber spy "center". His girlfriend is spying on him for the FBI. War heats up in the South China Sea as China tries to increase it's territory. Great air battles--felt like I was in the plane with the pilot. Clancy sure can write a good suspense military story. Looking forward to his next one.

Absolutely, Lou Diamond Philips is a masterful narrator, his performances never disappoint. The material within these pages is so action packed and the stakes are so high that listening to the story from someone with directed intention elevates the material to an amazing height.

This is a silly question, Jack Jr. Is the perfect American hero. He is a perfect melding of Jack Ryan, Mitch Rap, and the Gray Man (Mark Greaney's breakout action character). He is a selfless hero that is willing to risk everything in order to protect his country and he doesn't leave men behind.

Everything, LDP is an amazing actor (See Southland for a recent role) and he is able to turn his skill into amazing narration.

This book is adrenaline pumping, I felt excited! I finished this book 12/5/12, 24hrs after it was released. I couldn't put it down!

If you are on the fence about this book, let me explain my tastes so that you can gauge if we share common literary tastes for this genre.

I love:
Mitch Rap (Vince Flynn)
Dewey Andreas (Ben Coes)
Court Gentry (Mark Greaney)
Jack Reacher (Lee Child)
Tommy Carmellini (Stephen Coonts)
Carlos Guillermo Castillo (W. E. B. Griffin)

Ok, so those are some of my favorite action series that are in this similar espionage action genre. I found this book in particular to really mirror some of W. E. B. Griffin's early work melded with Flynn. That said, there is the signature Clancy storytelling in this book that jumps between several stories. I do not particularly enjoy the earlier Clancy novels that pertain to the elder Ryan, I found them amazingly slow and complicated with relatively low reward. This book mimics the same storytelling style but doesn't pull any punches when it comes to action.

I found myself wanting to spend more time with particular portions of the story and characters but the pacing was well thought out and I was never disappointed when prospective shifted. I have detected some of the Stephen Coont's syndrome, the seeming inability to set aside older characters and allow new ones to flourish but I think that Greaney's influence on this new series is helping breathe valuable life into the Clancy novels.

Jack Jr. is an amazing character, more lovable that Mitch Rapp and far more whole than Greaney's earlier two dimensional characters. This new younger Ryan is deposited brilliantly in a deep and rich fiction that creates a vivid backdrop.

I would strongly recommend that you start this cycle of the Jack Ryan Junior novels at their beginning, this story moves at a swift pace and you will love all of the returning characters so much more for your previous experiences with them!

On a side note, I want to tell you that I try to consume media that is character driven, not story driven! This particular genre has a tenancy to be heavily story driven but I think that this novel and series does a wonderful job of focusing on the characters! If you are looking for a quick action read this can satisfy you but it it is heavily enriched by knowledge of the characters. For example, if you aren't familiar with Tom Clancy's earlier "The Teeth of the Tiger" you might not have the richest or fullest appreciation for Haney and Associates and its remaining founders. Not a major issue but one that clearly supports a rich character development that honors faithful readers.

This is one of the good ones, they are few and far between and you should not hesitate to read this book immediately, or place it in your wishlist for your next credit!

Lou Diamond Phillips is getting better with each book he nararates. He does an excellent job with this one. It must have been quite difficult, especially with all the Chinese names and voices. He did it very well. The story was very believable and scary, because I think what Clancy portrays, is Very close to how this scenario would actually play out. It is not as complicated with multiple stories as most Clancy novels. If you like espionage and clancy novels, you will love this one.

There is a new war taking place China has decided to declare a cyber war on the USA. They are doing it by proxy using an unofficial off the books agency that officially does not exist. This agency uses computer exploits to infiltrate corporate and governmental agencies in combination with human assets that they have compromised and are black mailing into rendering aid.

Jack Ryan is once again in the oval office and is doing everything in his power to stop a full-fledged shooting war. But he has to deal with President Wei Zhen Lin who has lost control of his country to General Su Ke Quiang.

We also see Jack Ryan Jr. storyline progress and he is quickly gaining valuable in field abilities.

This book reminded me of Tom Clancy’s earlier work Net Force but I found the book enjoyable and Lou Diamond Phillips did a great job narrating.

Yes, this book is easily recommended for any of Clancy's fans. I have enjoyed the next chapter in the Jack Ryan and Jack Ryan Jr. books. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who doesn't know any of Clancy's previous book, but instead would recommend they start with either the book just before this or at least with "No Remorse" or "Rainbow Six" in order to know some of the back story.

I like the way Clancy has taken some of the recent history of our nation and still been able to create a other universe in which his characters can blossom without running into issue of political or historical events. By creating a slightly altered universe allows Clancy to bring important events into the story without the story following along with history, ie readers already knowing the outcome of what has or will happen in the story because they know what has happened alreay in real life.

I love Lou Diamond Phillips narratoring books. I have listened to several and I think he rocks as a narrator. I will pick up and listen to any book in a normally read genre of mine that he narrators because he brings so much to the story beyond the words being spoken.

Too many areas to remember - Clancy does a great job of putting in laughter in the middle of his suspense related story.

yes

In the bar in China...the first gun battle

the different pitch of his mono-tone voice great

wise I could have....you know other things to do like grands to school....pick-up after school

when will the movie come out?

Lately, I have to read Clancy books twice to be able to follow it. This book had fewer characters to try to follow.

While this book didn't have the magic of his earlier books, it was still an interesting book.

...this book gave me a thrill just like his earlier works. Lots of action. Highly recommended!