The Sum of All Fears

One of Clancy's best stories. A plot that could occur in the fog of war. One of the few novels that presents a realistic picture of how terrorists can attack us with a nuclear device. An excellent story, even if his description of how the warhead was modified went off the deep end. That said, I have read it at least twice. The book is much more realistic than the movie.

I was re-reading this book for the second time, sitting in the customer lounge while my car was being serviced on the morning of 09/11/01. When I saw the news, I thought immediately of "Debt Of Honor" and "Executive Orders". I pray that whomever is responsible for security at some of our bigger sporting events which are coming up, will take heed to some of the "implausible" events that take place in these novels. As we've so tragically seen, maybe they're not so implausible after all.I truly love Mr. Clancy's novels, having read all of the "Jack Ryan" novels at least once. But they certainly seem to take on new light now. Perhaps those I've seen in previous, more critical (sometimes downright ugly) reviews of Mr. Clancy's work here will think twice before writing him off as a right wing fanatic. Mr. Clancy seems to have been all too aware of the threats that our country faces. Sadly, now so are we...

This is an incredible book containing multiple story lines all based on one main plot. It is a very suspenseful book that will keep you reading. There are many issues involving modern world affairs. The main characters are life-like and believeable. When reading it, you feel like you are a part of the action. It also involves all aspects of the millitary, the intellegence community, and government.

Believe me, the earlier ones lead up to this ("The Hunt For Red October", "Patriot Games", "Cardinal Of the Kremlin" and "Clear and Present Danger"), and the last two ("Debt Of Honor" and "Executive Orders") are downhill. Through the earlier books, Ryan was developing from an obscure CIA academic into the hero we know. After this, he falls into the Presidency and becomes the target of political enemies. But "Sum Of All Fears" is where he's at his best. He prevails against terrorists led by a leader who's dying of cancer and has nothing to lose. With the help of his beautiful brilliant physician wife (though conservative, Clancy seems determined to avoid sexism), he prevails against a Murphy Brown clone in the Cabinet who tries to torpedo both his career and his family life. Maybe it's a bit overblown when he also saves the world from an escalating nuclear crisis and a panicky president because he's personal friends with a Kremlin higher-up, but hell, he prevails there too. If you like Jack Ryan as a Yankee James Bond who uses his mind a lot and a gun hardly ever, read this book, then press .

This is an amazing book. It has a lot of detail (almost to much). If you do not like long books, or never finish them, do not read this book, other wise, be my guest.