Rating: Summary: Not Clancy's strength Review: Tom Clancy's strength has been writing the techno-thriller. The weak points in his books have been characterizations and dialog, especially casual conversation. All of his characters have been one dimensional, wooden stereotypes. Trying to expand more on wooden characters is one of the reasons his Executive Orders is so bad (one of many reasons).Without Remorse is a basic action/revenge novel. It is set in the low tech drug world. It relies much more on character and emotions. Some interest, dimension, and character development is given to the hero by evolving him into a revenge machine without remorse. But, that is the only interesting aspect of the hero and Clancy ends up cheapening it by later glorifying it in this book and Executive Orders. The other characters in the book aren't very interesting. Clancy is very awkard with the love stories and emotions and some of it is just embarrassing. But Clancy isn't the only action writer that has problems with character development (Ludlum is only mildly better). What's really important, is the book exciting? The ending is pretty good and there are a few good action sequences in the middle. But, there are long boring stretches while Clancy tries in vain to develop the characters. This book is about the origins of Kelly, the CIA agent who appears in most of the Jack Ryan books. I started reading Debt of Honor, but stopped when I heard about this book. I switched to Without Remorse because I thought that there might be important insights in this book that lead up to the later books. It turned out that there were no important revelations here and it really has no impact on the later stories. For someone who continues to follow the Jack Ryan series, this book might be a must read. But, I may have given up on Clancy after the horrible Executive Orders and there are many writers who do this type of story better.
Rating: Summary: TOM CLANCY's BEST WORK EVER! Review: My favorite Tom Clancy book, and I've read them all (except the Net Force Series...too Hardy Boysish looking) The technical stuff gets a bit boring...this one has none...it moves quickly a cross between "Deathwish" and "The Rogue Warrior" Definitely one of those books you can't put down!
Rating: Summary: Without Remorse Review: This could be Clancy's best. Finally, Jack Ryan takes a backseat to the real hero.
Rating: Summary: 10 STARS! Review: This book is incredible. A real detachment from Clancys normal style of writing. This book had a great degree of emotion. It is a prequel to all his books and i think a running tie for #1 no techno stuff to bog you down. It really put you in the mind of John Terrance Kelly; one of the first navy SEALs. It explains Kellys tranformation into Mr. Clark. A MUST READ!
Rating: Summary: Clancy's darkest, and most provocative novel to date Review: This is definitely Clancy's darkest novel. The insight it gives you on John Kelly (Clark)almost makes you shudder. This is a novel about revenge, with a little bit of Vietnam mixed in between. Even though Kelly committs many accounts of murder, they all seem to be justified by Clancy. This novel makes you respect not only Clancy as an author, but also the character John Clark.
Rating: Summary: Superman returns! Review: The John Clark series is exhilerating, One of the best books I have ever read. Clancy puts you right inside the head of a covert genius and his self-determined behavior to avenge his lover's death. But if you are a Tom Clancy fan you already knew this. Overall very captivating, before you start reading it you better put aside some time, because you won't be putting this book down anytime soon.
Rating: Summary: It was just...so, so... Review: Okay, first of all, before you read this book, dont get your hopes up and await a book about constant military garble. This book is unlike any Tom Clancy book I've read-it is a moralistic thriller. If you are interested in books about the salvation of prositutes, and a man destined to avenge the death of his girlfriend, read this book. But, if your looking for a book about Jack Ryan, espionage, huge military conflicts and other "vintage Clancy" literature; I doubt this book is for you. I hope that Tom's next book- " The Bear and the Dragon" is better than this...
Rating: Summary: An interesting character just got better... Review: Without Remorse is just what the doctor ordered in regards to filling in some of the mystery behind special agent John Clark. I found Clancy's characterization of Clark to be deep and well thought-out; a good man forced by fate/circumstance to do some not so good things. I found the ending to be a little too convenient, after so much detail on the part of Clancy... But then again, isn't that how most of Clancy's novels are structured? Regardless, this is an enjoyable read, full of suspense and action... It makes me wish we could take the law into our own hands sometimes. Note: The small cameo of a young Jack Ryan was a nice touch too :)
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Excellent Review: Without Remorse, is clearly one of Clancy's best novels yet. Clark is an excellent character and Clancy always develops characters is a very believeable way. I can't wait for the movie, I hear it's been in the works for years. Maybe it will get off the ground one day.
Rating: Summary: Stripless Cartoon Review: Reading a book by Clancy is like reading a cartoon without drawings. Indeed, books by Clancy are written cartoons. The good guys are honest, decent, virtuous, respectable, straight, and rightful; the bad guys are vicious, evil, wicked, wretched, despicable, perverted, and wrongful. Good guys marry doctors (Ryan and Rosen, first-class characters) or nurses (Clark and Chavez, second-class characters). Bad guys take lives while doctors and nurses save and give lives. Good guys kill bad guys to stop their taking innocent lives. A few lucky bad guys get just wounded and heal in good guys' wives' colleagues hands. Good guys are so good they never envy one another and bad guys are so bad they keep coveting another's good. Yet, in spite of all that nonsense and even though it has nothing to do with actual life, reading Clancy is always fun. Of course, this is not Literature. But, never mind, Tom, keep on writing stories... I must confess I love them.
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