Clear and Present Danger - Tom Clancy > Reviews > Special Ops and Politicism

Author's product rating:   

Would you listen to it again?	Absolutely
Story	Outstanding
Characters	Good
Listenability	Once you start it, you won't be able to switch it off!
How does it compare to audio works by the same author?	Excellent

Advantages:	Great action, description, technical data, storyline, political action
Disadvantages:	Some small things a repetitive and annoying, a bit complicated

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have just re-read this book for about the 8th time - why? Well it's a great book! You definitely won't pick everything up on the first go unless you have a great deal of knowledge about both tactical infantry operations and also political happenings, as well as a fair amount of American Law.

Here is the blurb from the back cover:
"Colombian drug lords, tired of being harassed by US law enforcement agents, have assassinated the American Ambassador and the visiting head of the FBI. Their message is clear: leave us alone.
But they have pushed too far. The decision is made to send undercover teams into Colombia. Back in the USA, men armed with the most sophisticated tools their country can devise prepare to take the fight to the enemy. But does anyone know who the real enemy is?
Jack Ryan and CIA field officer John CLark must find the answer. They expect danger from without - yet the greatest danger of all may come from within..."

The book, like many of Clancy's other books, starts off with a couple of different storylines which inevitably end up all mixed together at the climax.

The first is the American President, his National Security Advisor Vice Admiral James Cutter, USN, FBI Director Jacobs, CIA Directors Judge Moore, Bob Ritter and acting Deputy Director of Intelligence, Jack Ryan.
These are the people on the political scene. Someone has broken the law, yet does the law exist in this case? A 'Clear And Present Danger' invocation by the President involves all sorts of special laws, none of which any are entirely sure about. The result is confusion in the rear echelons, which have drastic effects on the front line...

...which are a group of highly trained lightfighters, from the US Army's lightfighter divisions. They are the 'best of the best', and include Staff Sergeant Domingo 'Ding' Chavez, Julio Vega, and Captain Ramirez. They undertake special (perhaps illegal) operations in Colombia to indict the drug trade.

The Colombian Drug Lords are the third major party. They include Ernesto Escobedo, arguably one of the most important, and his aide, Colonol Felix Cortez, formerly of the DGI (Cuban KGB, and triained at the same academy).

Smaller parts are played by CIA officer John Clark and Larson, a pilot, a USN Captain Robby Jackson and an FBI Secretary Moira.

Well those are the main characters. As the operations escalate, they all move closer together, and reach the finale almost as one single group where every action by one has a direct effect on the others.

The book is written in stunning detail, the hallmark of Tom Clancy. No details, however small or complicated are left out, and this adds greatly to the authenticity of the book, if making it harder to understand. As a result it's an intriguing read to those interested in the subjects dealt with. Some political and operations jargon is used, such as acronyms ('TDY' is used a fair amount without explanation - I still don't know what it means!) and again this adds to the realism. The action is exciting, if slightly repetitive. The plot is deep and varied, and has real content to keep you deeply involved.

Some things are annoying, like the seemingly out of place 'Ninja' phrases so loved by Chavez. It pops up at odd intervals and is quickly forgotten again, making it seem out of place. Also the only lightfighters introduced are Vega and Chavez. Dozens of other soldiers are barely mentioned, which seems to indicate that they barely exist! Although bringing them all into the story may have made it complicated and boring, it is irritating to go to the other extreme.

This is a great book, great action, political action, and the characters involved are consistent and have depth of character. Descriptions are superb, and terminology is well utilised.
May I say that I have seen the second half of the film - as with so many films, it would have been FANTASTIC if it was actually based more tightly on the book!

Just another reminder to those who have read my other Clancy reviews, and a new reminder to those who have not - make sure you read the books in order! They lead on from each other, and although they are great books on their own, even more satisfaction can be found in reading them in order.