Posted on 01/26/2012 10:46:13 AM PST by ken5050
Tom Clancy's latest thriller, "Locked On" is, as always, a really good read. Many FReepers, like myself, have been fans ever since "The Hunt for Red October." There is one thing however, that is suprisingly different in his newest novel.
Those who came of age with Alan Drury's superb "Washington" series of novels, beginning with "Advise and Consent" are aware of this. Drury drew his characters from contemporary politicians, and most were readily identifiable, though I could never quite figure out which far left-wing radical peace Democrat was the prototype for Fred van Ackerman. Possibly it was a composite.
Clancy's novels are more of the technothriller genre, though there are definitive political and moral themes running through all of them.
Indeed, "Executive Orders (1996)" is dedicated to
"RONALD WILSON REAGAN: FORTIETH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES - THE MAN WHO WON THE WAR"
Clancy was forced to "put aside" his Jack Ryan character for a few books, because of his long, and acrimonious divorce. In a nutshell, until the divorce was finalized, any royalties he earned from the "Jack Ryan" character, including future novels, would be part of the settlement.
So Ryan "disappeared"...but now he's back, and with a vengenance.
This is NOT a review of the book, though I heartily recommend it. And I don't want to reveal any plot details. But Clancy has become far more overtly political.
For the first time, we learn that Jack Ryan is a Republican. Party designations were never stated before..just assumed.
And in "Locked On" we're introduced to two new bad guys.."Paul Laska," who is George Soros' doppelganger, and "Judith Cochrane" who is Lynne Stewart's spitting image.
For those who may not recall, Stewart was convicted for helping the Blind Sheil pass messages to other tgerrorists while she was his lawyer. Inded, in the book, Judith Cochrane" is a radical attorney defending a terrorist, "the Emir" and she helps him smuggle information out of a SuperMax prison. She's also "short, squat, and ugly"...HELLO!!!! I mean..like DOH!!! REALLY??If they ever make this into a movie, Stewart could "play" herself...
Anyone who reads Clancy's descriptions, both physical and biographical, of these two characters, will recognize Soros and Stewart in a nanosecond. Obviously, Clancy's lawyers have vetted this...he's not afraid of libel....both are overtly depicted as enemies of America.
Clancy is striking out in a bold new direction. He has a story, and a message to tell, and obviously feels compelled to tell it.
And good news for Clancy fans. The final denouement for Soros/Laska is reserved for at least one more novel.
I was given The Hunt for Red October on the night that Doug Flutie threw the Hail Mary Pass. What a Thanksgiving weekend!
I was given The Hunt for Red October on the night that Doug Flutie threw the Hail Mary Pass. What a Thanksgiving weekend!
I too have followed Clancy’s work since “Red October” and “Red Storm Rising”. I devoured “Executive Orders” and think of it as a cautionary tale.
Clancy recognized the enemy then, and he sees the enemy now.
Good grief!
YES, as is obvious from the commentary.
and then there’s google.com
type in
Tom Clancy “Locked On”
thanks
That's my question, too. And, it looks like Mark Greaney wrote this one. Clancy hasn't written anything since Rainbow Six in 2004.
Tom Clancy passed away some years ago. Oddly enough, he seems to have written more books since his passing than before.
Read the reviews on Amazon...they are a pretty good indicator. Book is not up to older, Clancy authored books, but better than some of the recent co-authored books.
I'll probably get the ebook and give it a chance.
The same has happened to Clive Cussler. His Dirt Pitt novels were awesome. Now, not so much.
Nice gig, if you can get one.
He got awful bad about that co-writing or introducing thing....so bad, in fact, I stopped buying books with his name on them.
I read all of the Dirk Pitt novels up to “Atlantis Found”.
Once Pitt discovered his long-lost twin children, who both happened to be oceanographers, just like him, I decided that the series had jumped the shark.
Now he writes them with his son, and they aren’t very good.
But Cussler had a great run there. Recently, he signed off on the Dirk Pitt movie “Sahara” with Matthew McConaughney, then sued them when the film didn’t turn out the way he wanted it. He lost, and had to pay $13M to the film company. The movie lost $60M. It wasn’t a bad film, but McConaughney is far from Dirk Pitt.
Clancy is very much alive. It’s Robert Ludlum who keeps writing from the grave.
He needs a “Maurice Strong” villain, too; a evil NGO/UN official...
Agreed. In fact, I suspect his son does all the writing & Clive just adds his name to the cover.
Those first novels were fantastic.....I mean,Clive writing himself into the stories was awesome.
Detected Soros/Laska and the Stewart/Cochrane match ups.
He probably won’t be selling this one to Hollywood. Harrison Ford will never play Jack Ryan as a Republican and Soros will demand the main character be refashioned into a Jack Abramoff, pro-GOP lobbyist.
The president in Red October and Clear and present danger were Reagan doppelgangers. And Edward kealty is a doppelganger for Ted Kennedy.
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