The Bear and the Dragon

This is a very good Clancy story. Lots of intriguing inside baseball detail about the inner workings of the CIA. However, the narration made it almost unlistenable. It sounds like every sentence in the book - no, every phrase - was recorded seperately and spliced together. It is so disjointed and emotionless that it took me the entire first part to get used to it. It is comically bad, especially when compared to the Clancy stuff done by Lou Diamond Phillps. I don't regret buying it because it is a good story, but it is painful to listen to...Buyer beware...

Michael Pritchard has the wrong voice for audiobooks, looking forward to Lou Diamond Philips in Dead or Alive.

I have been listening to audio books, in one medium or another, since 1990, and I can say that this narrator should retire.

I seen other reviews for other books where people have said the narrator was horrible. But I still got the book because I liked the author. But although the narrator was bad, I was able to muddle through.

But Michael Prichard is 10 times worse. I'm not trying to be mean, but it's like he doesn't even care. He just reads the words so he can get his paycheck.

If you don't believe me or think I'm just being cruel, just look at the reviews for some of the other Clancy books that Prichard does. I'm not the only one that finds Prichard unbearable.

And to the publisher, if you are wondering why repeat sales of the Clancy books are so low, this is why. Please find a new narrator to redo the Clancy books. I love Clancy, but I'm not sitting through another book read by Prichard.

No, just more convenient.

Yes, though I feel

Since he reads slower than others (an advantage to me !): better focus on the story.

There are humorous moments and even a sense of irony !

I find Tom Clancy espionage and political stories enjoyable, though I feel more inclined towards Robert Littell, Frederick Forsyth, and John le Carre.
Contrary to several opinions expressed here, I find Michael Pritchard read good. Others, like Scott Brick may read faster and, perhaps, involve themselves more into the story, but I personally am satisfied with Michael's narration. There is enough voice modulation and intonation to provide for an enjoyable listening experience. Pronouncing foreign (non-English) names (different accent !) is not often easy for English readers, but Michael's effort is commendable.

I have read every Tom Clancy novel multiple times. I always come back to Rainbow Six and The Bear and The Dragon. With such a complicated story, for our complicated world, I can't help but wonder what would happen if our political leaders read this story and tried to apply some of the wonderful concepts.

Tom Clancy is a master at starting multiple stories and bringing them all together as a wonderful climax. This book is no different.

The narrator does a great job and I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes a good political/military novel.

Intriguing read of "what if" post cold war Russia, China, and the U.S.accidentally moved into a sudden war. I loved all the detailed plot development into leadership decisions behind the public awareness. The narrator is monotone and takes away from the story enjoyment; however, the story was so strong I managed to love this novel. Sadly, I will never purchase another audio book narrated by Michael Prichard. It is just too difficult a listen. Nonetheless, I loved Tom Clancy's story. It was fantastic.

As is evidenced by my other reviews, I'm hardly a book critic or a literary connoisseur, but I sure do love me some Jack Ryan. The plot arc that starts in Sum of Fears finds ends well in The Bear and the Dragon.

It appears that several of these Jack Ryan books are available in duplicate versions, ones read by Scott Brick and one by Michael Pritchard. I enjoy both authors, but suggest that as much as you can, stick to one narrator or the other; it does greatly help with the flow.

Largely good mindless entertainment, though it takes an attentive brain to track the multiple plot lines that you KNOW will "coincidentally" come together. Plot gets a bit convoluted and is rather predictable but if international spy/military action is your mood, then the predictability works. Narrator does a better job with this one than the previous novel in the series -- more modulation of the voice. This one is less about Ryan in role and character development. Includes pretty strong pro-life politics along with trashing Chinese communist leadership. For the digital world in which we now live, the computer and communications is a bit quaint, but adds to the plot and action really well. I got tired of the continual stereotyped racial name calling and labels, and it seemed more liberally dotted with 4 letter words and sexually oriented expletives etc. Ok Ok boys will be boys, but it got pretty juvenile. All this said, it was a fun listen and kept me well engaged.

Love Clancy's books, but I can't get through this one...the narrator SUCKS. He stops mid-sentence and then starts then after pause finishes. Monotone, no excitement or inflection. I have never gotten into the habit of listening before purchasing, and this book makes me seriously wish I had. There is humor in Clancy in parts, and this guy just rolls right over it without any difference in tone or feeling. Don't waste your time listening, unless your goal is sleep. I have been an audiobook listener for years now, and this has to be THE worst ever.

NO clue, they all sound the same!

No.

If Scott Brick was a choice, I didn't see it.

Audible would do well to let us all know when you select a book if there are ones that you should have heard first. I got the series out of order which was confusing. That being said, a great book and a long listen