Tom Clancy's new book "Locked In"

[Canoerebel]

Anybody read Tom Clancy's new novel, Locked In?

Clancy's first works were excellent, but then began to tail off dramatically, so I wouldn't consider buying any book he authored unless it got a big thumbs up from gents (and ladies) I respect.

I'm always on the lookout for something good to read, so I'm hoping Clancy might have been chagrined by his most recent efforts, repented, and resumed his early ways.

P.S. I didn't post this in the General forum because I wouldn't know many of those who replied, while I can rely on the information I'll get in the AE forum.

[JeffroK]

Yeah, I think Clancy put out the "contractual obligation" book previously, sad because I'd rather see fewer better books.

Dont wait on an Aussie to reply with a review, half of our bookshops closed when Borders fell over!

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Anybody read Tom Clancy's new novel, Locked In?

Clancy's first works were excellent, but then began to tail off dramatically, so I wouldn't consider buying any book he authored unless it got a big thumbs up from gents (and ladies) I respect.

I'm always on the lookout for something good to read, so I'm hoping Clancy might have been chagrined by his most recent efforts, repented, and resumed his early ways.

P.S. I didn't post this in the General forum because I wouldn't know many of those who replied, while I can rely on the information I'll get in the AE forum.

Do you mean "Locked On" his newest book ? I don't believe its released until Dec 13th so if you want to check it out I would suggest a local library - they usually have a bunch of Clancy books and will have it on release day. Check it out, read it and if you like it buy it.. If not, just return it and no money spent - just a little time.

Xargun

[JeffroK]

A Library getting a book on release day??

I live in the wrong world!!

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I'm always on the lookout for something good to read, so I'm hoping Clancy might have been chagrined by his most recent efforts, repented, and resumed his early ways.

I can recco something very similar to Clancy, and it'll only cost you $.99.

But you have to have an e-book reader. [:)]

[Chickenboy]

I know I'll get pilloried by some of the more prolific readers, but...meh...

His "OP Force" co-written / ghost-written novels are all crap.

After reading Red Storm Rising, Hunt for Red October, Cardinal and the Kremlin-all very engaging reads, I was somewhat put off by the likes of Red Rabbit. Rainbow Six was a good read, in my opinion. Never read Teeth of the Tiger or Against all Enemies, but I don't miss 'em (and I didn't hear any breathless reviews of 'em either).

The latest Clancy novel I read was a library e-book loaner of Dead or Alive. It was OK, but nothing great.

I will probably read Locked On from a library loan too. If you can wait a year after release, your odds of getting it increase.

[bigred]

I noted some of his newer books are now co-written by unknown assistants...

[chesmart]

All his new books are co written, the only difference is now he hides the the ghost writer he uses in very small letters or on the second page. The last good book he wrote was rainbow 6 the ones after are crap

[John 3rd]

I believe that Executive orders is one of the best books I've read. It had a long, complicated plot that really paid off nicely I think. Loved how he would 'rebuild' the government. Interesting political science lesson...

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I believe that Executive orders is one of the best books I've read. It had a long, complicated plot that really paid off nicely I think. Loved how he would 'rebuild' the government. Interesting political science lesson...

I'm afraid to ask, but can you give a summary?

[John 3rd]

At the end of Debt of Honor, the President and 90% of Congress is wiped out by a Japanese 747 plowing into the Capitol Building. Jack becomes President--with no Political experience--and has to rebuild the government. Iran takesover Iraq (hmm...) and decides to invade Saudi Arabia. To cover this they cultivate Ebola to be released as a biological attack within the US while at the same time the Terrorists make an attempt to take Jack's youngest child from her daycare (GREAT Chapter about the Secret Service protecting her). Needless to say that all this takes about 600+ pages before the Invasion of Saudi commences. The fighting there is well written and something to read...

Is that enough?

[jmalter]

that i've bought & read most of Clancy's stuff, & have enjoyed a lot of his descriptions of various tactical-level fights (that often appear to be well-informed),

he just gets up my nose too much as a conservative schmoe, w/ a partisan axe to grind. all the gays are spies & traitors, all the rapists are enemy soldiers, & Jack Ryan's wife worries that her tits are too small. as a reader, i just feel embarrased by Clancy's inability to get past his '50s-era sexuality.

Clancy had a bit of skill as a novelist, now that he's farming it out to ghost-writers, ntm copywriting the junk illustrations, it's like he's the dude making a buck from worthless Nancy Drew mysteries. nice work if you've got an audience to buy your shite, bad pookah if you're trying to write readable fiction.

[Gunner98]

Most of the tactical level stuff - at least the Naval bits in his earlier books was written by Larry Bond of Harpoon fame.

I agree that the earlier ones were great but I think he lost the plot about half way through Rainbow Six. If I recall correctly, from the point where the baddies attacked the day care the book became a flop - half the plot lines disappeared, everything was US, where prior to that point there was a good sprinkling of Brit and German SF - but they dropped out the bottom. It was like he put the book down for a couple months and when he started writing again it was just to pump out a product. Have not truly enjoyed any of his stuff since.

The 'Op Force' books are pure garbage

The non-fiction books are OK (Submarine etc..) but I don't think he does much of the writing.

Not holding out a lot of hope for his latest.

My $0.02 worth

B

[LoBaron]

Tom Clancy dropped steeply after Red Storm Rising and Hunt for Red October IMHO.

I like his non fiction work, but the Rainbow Six, OpForce stuff and beyond is boring after you know how
he sets up the plot.
Cannot share any impression about Locked On, but to be honest I am getting a bit tired of that Jack Ryan stuff.


What I recently re-read, and probably will re-read again is "The Sixth Battle" by Barrett Tillman, if you don´t know
it, give it a try.

[witpqs]

Taking his initial series, the later books were not as good as the earlier but not so bad as some are saying.

I read Teeth of the Tiger and I thought it was lame. He was trying to re-write earlier books with new characters. I haven't bothered with his fiction after that.

His non-fiction is OK, but I noticed that he is heavily, heavily formula based on the service centered books.

Haven't bought any of his stuff in years and don't plan to.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

At the end of Debt of Honor, the President and 90% of Congress is wiped out by a Japanese 747 plowing into the Capitol Building. Jack becomes President--with no Political experience--and has to rebuild the government. Iran takesover Iraq (hmm...) and decides to invade Saudi Arabia. To cover this they cultivate Ebola to be released as a biological attack within the US while at the same time the Terrorists make an attempt to take Jack's youngest child from her daycare (GREAT Chapter about the Secret Service protecting her). Needless to say that all this takes about 600+ pages before the Invasion of Saudi commences. The fighting there is well written and something to read...

Is that enough?

John,

Wasn't the Ebola plot in 'Sum of All Fears'?

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

At the end of Debt of Honor, the President and 90% of Congress is wiped out by a Japanese 747 plowing into the Capitol Building. Jack becomes President--with no Political experience--and has to rebuild the government. Iran takesover Iraq (hmm...) and decides to invade Saudi Arabia. To cover this they cultivate Ebola to be released as a biological attack within the US while at the same time the Terrorists make an attempt to take Jack's youngest child from her daycare (GREAT Chapter about the Secret Service protecting her). Needless to say that all this takes about 600+ pages before the Invasion of Saudi commences. The fighting there is well written and something to read...

Is that enough?

John,

Wasn't the Ebola plot in 'Sum of All Fears'?

Nah, Sum of All Fears was a terrorist nuke attack at the Super Bowl, combined with other attemtps to get the US and USSR to attack each other.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: USS America

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

At the end of Debt of Honor, the President and 90% of Congress is wiped out by a Japanese 747 plowing into the Capitol Building. Jack becomes President--with no Political experience--and has to rebuild the government. Iran takesover Iraq (hmm...) and decides to invade Saudi Arabia. To cover this they cultivate Ebola to be released as a biological attack within the US while at the same time the Terrorists make an attempt to take Jack's youngest child from her daycare (GREAT Chapter about the Secret Service protecting her). Needless to say that all this takes about 600+ pages before the Invasion of Saudi commences. The fighting there is well written and something to read...

Is that enough?

John,

Wasn't the Ebola plot in 'Sum of All Fears'?

Nah, Sum of All Fears was a terrorist nuke attack at the Super Bowl, combined with other attemtps to get the US and USSR to attack each other.

Clearly getting my world terrorism plots confused! [:D]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: jmalter

that i've bought & read most of Clancy's stuff, & have enjoyed a lot of his descriptions of various tactical-level fights (that often appear to be well-informed),

he just gets up my nose too much as a conservative schmoe, w/ a partisan axe to grind. all the gays are spies & traitors, all the rapists are enemy soldiers, & Jack Ryan's wife worries that her tits are too small. as a reader, i just feel embarrased by Clancy's inability to get past his '50s-era sexuality.

Clancy had a bit of skill as a novelist, now that he's farming it out to ghost-writers, ntm copywriting the junk illustrations, it's like he's the dude making a buck from worthless Nancy Drew mysteries. nice work if you've got an audience to buy your shite, bad pookah if you're trying to write readable fiction.

I think you are WAAAAAY beyond left field here. You are dead wrong in summary and points.

If you actually pay attention to the books, Jack's closest allie in Congress is gay. It is him and a conservative friend that convince the President to nominate Jack for the short-termed VP position to finish off his political life. Because of this his two sponsors survive the Kamikaze impacting the Capital Building during the Joint Session at the end of Debt of Honor.

Caroline Ryan is not superficial either. She is a 'liberated' (small 'F' feminist) woman pursuing her own career independent from her husband. Jack supports her continuing to work and admits that she makes more then HIM and loves it.

Doesn't sound very 50s to me...

[Dadekster]

I actually have the war games The Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising...you can even play them side by side. It's really light stuff but it can have its moments. I've read the usual stuff from Clancy myself, (even have Armoured Cav, which is hopeless outdated now lol) with the last book I read being the Bear and the Dragon. I have to admit I found the book an engaging read especially since I read it just as the economy began its nose dive.