Advantages: Competently written
Disadvantages: The author's world view impinges onto every character

...Tom Clancy is the world's top selling thriller writer, selling millions of copies of his novels in dozens of countries. So close to reality are his descriptions of espionage in the United States that questions were asked in Congress about who was leaking him information. His latest novel, The Bear and the Dragon, is 1036 pages of small print long. Having just finished the final page (and the preceding ones too, of course) I can tell you that I have learned the following vital facts: 1. Chairman Mao Zedung was a paedophile with a taste for 12 year olds. 2. American stuff is better than foreign stuff. 3. Abortion is very, very wrong. 4. Tony Blair says "old boy" and "chaps" when talking in private. 5. In order to convince a high-level Chinese secretary to betray her country to the Americans, buy her some Victoria's Secret... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Addictive
Disadvantages: Short

...Tom Clancy has made many games in the past and this being one of his newest releases well to be frank it isn’t very good. Obviously he doesn’t create the games but you all no what I mean :P This being the actual 3rd game in the series of rainbow six it lives up to its expectations from its graphics, game play and its other key features such as the weapons and tactics need to play. We see the same scenarios though contained in the other rainbow six’s like kill all terrorists save the hostages etc. To be honest they aren’t all that great but do look decent the surroundings do look rather detailed from a far but up close there rather disappointing such as walls and pictures. Also the graphics for the player well you is very poor no were near as good as what they could with especially with to days hardware however not everyone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: None I can think of. Clancy trades on his past reputation.
Disadvantages: Far, far too long. Boring!

...~ ~ American author Tom Clancy couldn’t have wished for a more loyal reader than the mad cabbie. I would wait in eager anticipation for any new novels to make their appearance in the bookshops, and immediately part with my hard-earned spondoolicks (money) to buy them as soon as they did. You might notice that I used the past tense when referring to my passion for the writing of Clancy in my opening paragraph. That’s because after reading his recent novel, “Red Rabbit”, I have now been cured of my addiction, and will no longer be one of the first in the queue to buy any new novels he may write. ~ ~ So what has changed with Clancy’s style of writing that has turned me from a fan into a critic? Simple enough really. He has turned from an exciting writer who would have you reading late into the wee small hours to finish one of his... Read review

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Advantages: Contains all 4 films based on Tom Clancy books
Disadvantages: Fans of the books may be disappointed with accuracy

...Tom Clancy was one of the best selling authors of the 80's and 90's with his political thrillers topping the charts. Indeed, Clear and Present Danger was the best selling novel of the 1980's and he was only one of three authors to sell over 2million copies on a first printing in the 1990's. However good his books, this review is instead on the DVD boxset, which includes all four Clancy books currently made into films. These are: The Hunt for Red October (1990), Patriot Games (1992), Clear and Present Danger (1994) and The Sum of All Fears (2002). The boxset includes all four DVDs in a hard cardboard case and is sold as a certificate 15. The cheapest that I found it on the internet was for about £17 when p+p is considered. THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER The first Jack Ryan film was released in 1990 starring Alec Baldwin and Sean... Read review

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Advantages: another fine techno spy thriller
Disadvantages: none really

...This is just another in the long line of fine Tom Clancy novels. This is one of those books that you just absolutely don't want to put down. You have to love Clancy for giving us books like the Net Force series. In this fast paced spy thriller you encounter computers, assassins, and virtual reality. What more can you ask for? I applaud Clancy and his co-author Steve Pieczenik for their great effort in this book and look forward to picking up the next one in the series. These guys really know how to collaborate well and write a very good book for the sci-fi and/or spy fan in all of us. You will be totally caught up in every single person's individual plights. If you have never read a Tom Clancy novel before and you like the spy/thriller genre - you could do worse than start here... Read review

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Advantages: None really
Disadvantages: No characters, no storyline, repeated phrases, repetetive

...Just seeing the name Tom Clancy on the front of a book guarantees me a good read. Which was why I was disappointed with this offering from the king of technothrillers - it just does not live up to anywhere near the high standards I have come to expect from Clancy. One obvious cause of this lacklustre book is that it is based on a GAME - a certain recipe for disaster. Anyway, I will give you a general overview on the book before I criticise it any further. First, here is the blurb from the back cover: "China has invaded the oil-rich Spratly Islands. The American response has been swift - and deadly. And the Third World War has begun... Captain Bartholomew Mackey is the skipper of the USS Cheyenne, a nuclear submarine dispatched to the Spratlys to protect a carrier group. But in a few moments, the Cheyenne's mission - and the world... Read review

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Advantages: 2player co-op,online, extra challenges,multiple difficu