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Red Storm Rising  By  cover art

Red Storm Rising

By: Tom Clancy
Narrated by: Michael Prichard
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Publisher's summary

When Muslim fundamentalists blow up a key Soviet oil complex, making an already critical oil shortage calamitous, the Russians figure they are going to have to take things into their own hands. They plan to seize the Persian Gulf, and more ambitiously, to neutralize NATO. Thus begins Red Storm, an audacious gamble that uses diplomatic maneuver to cloak a crash military build-up. When Soviet tanks begin to roll, the West is caught off guard. What looks like a thrust turns into an all-out shooting war, possibly the climactic battle for control of the globe.

©1987 Tom Clancy (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

“Exciting...fast and furious.” (USA Today)

“A rattling good yarn...lots of action.” (The New York Times)

What listeners say about Red Storm Rising

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Story, Good Narrative, Good Book!

This book is about a time period that has always fascinated me, as are a few of the Tom Clancy books. The tensions between the United States and the USSR have made for quite a few good stories and this one is no different.

The events leading up to the hostilities between NATO and the USSR are described in a completely believable manner and set the stage for an overall good book. I was especially entertained by the tension that Mr. Clancy was able to convey during the many submarine battles that seem to make up a good portion of the story. I listen to my audiobooks in the car during the ride to and from work and several times didn't want to leave the car once I arrived due to these battles!

The ground war was told more through the eyes of a few people, generals and their staffs mainly, which is a stark contrast to the detail of the previously mentioned sub battles. But the details that were given provided enough incite to the strategies used that you still got a pretty good picture of how the war was being fought.

Also, I have to say, that on numerous occasions I ran for the computer as soon as I got home to look up the equipment, ships, subs, jets..., etc that were being described and had a blast seeing if my expectations met reality. Often times they did, sometimes they didn't...

The only part that left me puzzled was a rather weak, sparse love interest that seemed totally out of place. But since it wasn't touched on enough to make an interesting side story, it wasn't too much of a distraction either.

Mr. Prichard's narration was more than adequate. I found the reader very entertaining and he set an excellent tone for this type of story.

Although this book is dated, it's an overall good read / listen, I highly recommend it.

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A stand alone master piece

I'm not sure how long ago it was that I first read this book, but I loved it. Since then I've reread it numerous times and have thoroughly enjoyed it each and every time. When I saw that Audible had added Red Storm Rising as an unabridged selection I was delighted.
When I listened to this selection I once again enjoyed an excellent story told with skill. Some people might not care for the detail that Tom Clancy goes into but as far as I'm concerned the more detail the better.
More unabridged Clancy please.

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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Dated Material, Solid Storytelling

The Soviet Union is no more. There is one Germany, not two. The Air Force went with the F-117 instead of the F-119. Nevermind. The basic premise of this story still works: How would the major economic powers respond to a crippling oil shortage? Clancy also asked the question, "What would the Battle of the North Atlantic look like in the 1980s instead of the 1940s?" If you are a fan of geopolitical intrigue stories, submarine warfare, naval surface warfare, resistance warfare or even tank and air warfare, there is something here for you. Well written and well narrated. Well worth the credit.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book. So so narrating performance

This was my first "non-school" book I read in 1990 or so. I was then hooked on Tom Clancy books. Anyway this book is also the one book which i have re-read the most times over the years I thought the audiobook would be just as awesome experience to listen to as I used to get from reading it. Unfortunately the reader is very dull. He barely changes his voice for different characters. Hardly adds enthusiasm to parts that call for it. If it wasn't that I just love this book, story, and amount of detail given regarding 1980s Cold War era warfare, I would have been bored by the reader

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Th Best Clancy Book Ever Written

Would you listen to Red Storm Rising again? Why?

I love this story. I have read the book at least 3 times over the last several years and love the audible book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Red Storm Rising?

Was when Lt. Michael save Vigdis from the Soviet Troops

Which character – as performed by Michael Prichard – was your favorite?

McCafferty

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Intense

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read

What did you love best about Red Storm Rising?

Did anyone find themselves cheering for the Russians. This was by far one of the best Tom Clancy novels I have ever read. And I have been catching up on the Jack Ryan universe. The writing was amazing and flowed as if this story really happened. You won't be disappointed.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic! Love the naval combat chapters!!

One of the very first "adult" books that I read when I was in my late teens (25 years ago). Listened to it this past week and was really happy to rediscover my old friend. I particularly like the naval combat chapters. You can really feel the tension of the sailors. Prichard is great with his performance. I'm a big fan of his (see all of Rex Stout's Nero Wolf mysteries).

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

If you could sum up Red Storm Rising in three words, what would they be?

Thrilling, realistic, taught

What was one of the most memorable moments of Red Storm Rising?

The beginning of the story.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Prichard?

Almost anyone. Prichard, seems to talk like a computer–monotone. His voice is grating. I just got into audiobooks, but this has been true of the two I've listened to. (So, don't take what I say as true.)

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A First Row Seat for the Biggest War Ever

This book is written for those who amazed by the capabilities of more glamorous machines of war, nuclear subs, battleships, tanks, jet fighters and the strategies of their commanders. (The grunt work of real foot soldiers is neatly avoided.) Back in the post "energy crisis" days (the 80's for you young'ns) a war for oil seemed an very possible scenario. Here's how that war, fought on all the major fronts, underwater, on the sea and on land, and in the air, could develop. It's a good book. I bought it only because I've read it before and only stuck through it's an exciting story. BEWARE - this is one of the blandest narrators I've ever heard. The editing is competent enough (i.e. no distracting sounds) but this guy hardly ever shifts his inflections. He almost never bothers with an accent for any Russian characters. Those who complain they don't like their books "performed" will LOVE this guy. Me, I expect to hear the feeling that the author intended. Half the fun of hearing a book read aloud is sharing the excitement of the narrator. This guy could be reading the phone book, not relating the nerve wracking suspense of dodging enemy torpedoes. I doubt I will buy anything by this narrator which is a shame. Long ago, I got on audio cassette, a version of the "Cardinal & the Kremlin" narrated by Kelsey Grammar who "performed" that book aloud so well that one passage still resonates in my mind 20 years later. I doubt I'll buy anymore Michael Prichard narrations. In updating to the digital version they ruined their shot at making some real classics worth buying. Long well written books with good narrators are worth every penny. It's a shame they went with this guy. I'd have bought every one if they'd hired a reader with a pulse.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Cold (not so cold) War story

Good narration and reading. A good and long listen. very well detailed story line but not overly repetitive. Clancy gave you a fair and easy detail of a complex operation, process, or whatevere once so you understood but didn't repeat the same boring stuff over and over. it a very good fictional story covering many point of veiws. I read this book years ago and the only negative side to the audio book is that some technical stuff is easier read than heard. like grid information, and data used in some comments, but it really doesn't take away from anything if you don't care what they mean.

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6 people found this helpful