Rating: 
Summary: Highly Addictive
Review: RO (Red October) is the first TC novel I've read. Since then, I've read Red Storm Rising, Cardinal of the Kremlin, and Politika. God, what an intro to Clancy's amazing authorship. I had always loved subs and the navy before, but this basically told me everything about a nuclear sub. The story of the defecting Russian, Cap. Ramius, who tells no one of his betrayal but Russian Admiral Yuri, is a gripping tale. The work of CIA analyst Jack Ryan and his mentor, Adm. Greer, was highly suspensful. The climax was the most exciting I've read in a book. Absolutely mind-blowing.
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Summary: Taut, engaging, classic Tom Clancy debut
Review: If you want to know why Tom Clancy can get away with pushing off bloated, jingoistic right wing propaganda like "The Bear and the Dragon" off on the public, look no further than "The Hunt for Red October," Clancy's smashing debut. It was this novel that made Clancy a must-read.Whereas some of Clancy's latest works feel fat, flabby, and opinionated, "Red October" is a lean, mean thrill machine that goes heavy on the action (and the techo-details that would become a Clancy standard), and light on the right wing drum beating. Yes, Clancy comes down pretty hard on the Soviet system, but he doesn't beat us about the head and face with it (as he does with the Chinese in later novels). You all probably know the plot (who hasn't read this book or seen the excellent film adaptation?), but if anything, the concept of a rogue nuclear sub commander seems far more relevant after the death of the Soviet Union than it did during the depths of the Cold War, when this book was published. Along with "The Sum of All Fears," this book is my favorite Clancy novel. I only wish he'd go back to this brand of lean, exciting storytelling and give up the Limbaugh-wannabee schmaltz that characterizes his later novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Start for Clancy
Review: Tom Clancy is now a household name because of his writings, but lately he has lost his touch. This is evident in The Bear and The Dragon, in which is out of his element. However, this book has perhaps the best plot and characters in any of Clancy's other books. This book has a different kind of suspense from the film, where you knew Ramius's intentions from the beginning and were wondering how he would accomplish it. In the book you don't know until near the end, and it keeps you guessing. The ending is better than that of the movie, in my opinion, and many of the characters that eventually become bigshots, like Jack Ryan, Robby Jackson, and Bart Mancuso, are in this book and are more interesting than when they become bigshots. This book is almost perfect. I would recommend it to anybody.
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Summary: Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October" is truly a classic!
Review: Tom Clancy does a fantastic job in "The Hunt for Red October" of portraying a real life situation. He has created geniuses in the characters of Marko Ramius and Jack Ryan. Ramius is a Captain who will never give up, and Ryan is determined to find out why the Entire Soviet Naval fleet is cruising the American Coast. You cannot put down this thriller after you start reading it! One of the best written books i have read that has a fantastic climax. A must read for all Tom Clancy lovers and action book lovers as well!
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Summary: A page-turner from the start, one of Tom Clancy's best
Review: There are numerous good reviews on the site about the book and story about Red October so I will not repeat that. I have read all of Tom Clancy's novels in this series and this is probably one of his best works. If you can only read one or two of his novels, be sure to include this on your short list. Mr. Clancy has sprinkled in just enough Russian phrases to make the book come to life and you feel you are secretly hearing the Russians as they speak. A great story, read it.
Rating:
Summary: Red October
Review: I believe that Tom Clancy's book, The Hunt for Red October, is a wonderful book about a defecting Soviet submarine. The book tells the tale of the Red Navy's desperate attempt to find and sink the Red October and the U.S. Navy's quest to see the Red October arrive safely in an American Naval base. The book is superbly written and well researched, occasionally there are times when Clancy goes into ten page long descriptions of military hardware that can get a little bearing but are essential to the detail of the book, which is one of its best qualities. One of The Hunt for Red October's most appealing aspects is its realism and believability, the descriptions of military hardware are accurate enough to have come from the Department of Defense, and the plot is convincing enough to make you wonder it the book really was fiction. One of the greatest things about The Hunt for Red October, and all other Tom Clancy books, is their attention to detail. The detail gives you such a picture perfect image of the surroundings that you could almost smell the smoke from one of the character's cigarettes. Another strength of this book is that the characters are very believable, the bad guys are not the evil super-villains that are in most books, they have reasons for doing what they do unlike most villains who are just totally irrational. Pretty much the only problem with this book is that it can get a little tedious with page after page of descriptions. While the accuracy of this detail is astounding it can still get a bit annoying after reading how some reactor or propulsion system works. While Clancy may go a bit overboard with some of these details, without them many events in this book would not make any sense. This book is by far one of the best books that I have ever read. It is a magnificent combination of detail, spycraft and action. I would recommend that anyone who is remotely interested in politics, the military or the navy read this book. I would not, however, recommend this book to a person who has to have some type of tremendous explosion or gunfight every five minutes, because they would get bogged down in all of the detail of this book. I believe though that the majority of people though would enjoy this book.
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Summary: Cold War Drama Borught To A New Height
Review: With believable characters and suspense that will keep the reader awake all night, The Hunt For Red October is one of Tom Clancy's best offerings ever. Using great cut and chase chaptering and writing just techincal enough to engross, but not to be overbearing, this thriller will take the reader through every emotion from fear to joy as they move through the pages. Whether you are a naval warfare aficiando or just looking for some excitement, this novel is sure to please. Out stripping the over-edited and over-acted motion picture by miles, this is a book for anyone. Clancy writes with fine attention to detail and created characters the reader will no only come to love or hate, but come to know as personally as their own family. I first read this book in 1992 and I still know the main character's names by heart. It is that moving. Read it today.
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Summary: Impossible to put down ! Intense cat and mouse game !
Review:
When this book came out, the Kremlin ordered 500 copies! The idea of a Soviet sub commander deciding to defect to the United States with his submarine was their deepest, darkest fear! The U.S. Navy and FBI also were very unhappy - they wanted to know who had been talking to Clancy - they couldn't believe that someone could find out all this by doing research. They were convinced that several people with Top Secret clearances had been talking to Clancy.
The storyline is this: Marko Ramius is the Russian Navy's most experienced and highly decorated submarine commander, who has become disillusioned with the Communist Party. After seeing the plans for the newest Russian submarine - "The Red October". A sub that is almost completely silent - a submarine with one purpose - "to start a nuclear war". Ramius decides to steal the submarine with the help of the officers of his crew after he is assigned the command of The Red October. Before leaving port on it's madien run, Marius mails a letter to the Secretary of the Navy telling him of his intent to steal the sub. The letter arrives 2 days after the Red October sails from port. The Soviets in a panic, send their entire fleet in the region after it trying to find and sink the Red October. The Soviets approach the United States telling them that Marius sent a letter to the Secratary of the Navy explaining his intent to launch a nuclear attack against the United States, and ask for help in hunting the sub down and destroying it.
Jack Ryan, currently a CIA analyst, who has written several books on naval warfare strategy, and who has met Marius at a diplomatic party, is asked to consult the President of the United States and the Chiefs of Staff at an emergency meeting. Jack mentions the possibility that the sub may be trying to defect. No one at the meeting believes it, but the President gives Jack permission to join up with an American sub on patrol and to attemp to make contact with the Red October to find out what Marius intentions are.
This book really opened my eyes up to what our capabilities are with submarines - I had no idea how advanced they are. This story is very fast paced and intense. It really makes you wonder how the U.S. would respond under these circumstances.
Great read!
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Summary: The lure that pulled in generations of readers!
Review: After a very disappointing experience with Tom Clancy's latest effort, "The Bear and the Dragon," I went back to "The Hunt for Red October" and "Red Storm Rising" to remember why it was that I started reading Tom Clancy's books in the first place... "Red October" is Clancy's shortest book, but it's probably one of his best. The character development, layered story-telling, and attention to detail make it an extremely interesting read. I've read this book at least three times now, and I have enjoyed each reading as much as I did the first time through, nearly 15 years ago now. Come along and join in the action as an unlikely hero, Jack Ryan get swept up by international politics and situations. Definitely 5 stars. If you enjoy this book, there's a good chance that you'll also enjoy "Red Storm Rising," "Debt of Honor," and "Executive Decision." Those all take on action of global proportions! Good luck out there! Alan Holyoak
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read
Review: This is one of the best books that I've ever read. It was full of action and I couldn't put it down. Clancy develops a plot through the novel and was very well written. I read this book about 2 months ago, and now I've been through most of the rest of his books.
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