Rating: Summary: Not too shabby... Review: This book is a triumph from near to the beginning to the harrowing ending. Like many Clancy books in recent years, it is a slow start with a classic, semmingly "much-a-do-about-nothing," but any eader of Clancy will know that the majority of his subplots tie in together while a slim few are just there to let the reader know of an outside world. I picked this book up after purchasing Executive Orders (though I did not read that book until after this one) so, from the summary from Executive Orders, I knew the ending, but not the reasons why. This book is astounding in it's scenarios and and story-telling. It is nice to get away from a mainly-Russian storyline (Sum of All Fears looke dthat way until you hit the last few hundred pages). Clancy has finally tried to pull himself out of a pit that made him a "Cold Warrior." As with the majority of Clancy's fiction, Jack Ryan is the man in charge of the novel, and he now takes the role of Presdient Durling's newly appointed National Security Advisor who figures everything out to save the day. It is the same old Ryan line, which is why I took a star from the rating. My favorite character in this book, as with all others, is John Clark, the dark figure of the stories. He seems to always be lurking in the backround, doing one thing or another to save the country. Also with clark, Ding Chavez -- the quirky sidekick we have come to know and love since Clear and Present danger. Further tying Clark and Chavez together -- the budding relationship between Clark's daughter and his partner. This book has everything for the Clancy fan, and more if you have read all of the books that came in the chronological order of the Jack Ryan/John Clark series. A must read, especially if you want to go further along with the series (because Executive Orders and the Bear and the Dragon, though both longwinded, will not make a great deal of sense as to why they are where they are without this book). I enjoyed it, especially the ending, and I hope Clancy returns to this form of writing, if not earlier (The Cardinal of the Kremlin was by far his best work).
Rating: Summary: "Debt of Honor" requires a "Debt of Gratitude" to its author Review: This book is a must read for all Clancy fans!! You'll find yourself chuckling out loud at the cleverness of some of its characters as the events unfold and the tide begins to turn. Those of you on Wall street or playing the stock market will especially appreciate the twist Clancy spins on the unsuspecting and fascinating martet place. You'll wonder just how plausible a real life scenario as this could possibly occurr. The Asian spin, which may be to some a little unflattering, will strike to the core of your patriotism and how international conflicts tend to shape some of our biases and beliefs. The story is supurb! the writing sensational! read it and don't skip a word!
Rating: Summary: In reference to all post-9/11 reviews... Review: It is amazing to me to read all of these reviews of this book by people who read it after the 9/11 disaster. What a difference an actual event will have on the opinions of those who read the book because of that word-of-mouth rather than those who read it before that terrible day. I read "Debt of Honor" not too long after it came out in paperback, well before the events of 9/11/2001. It had a much different impact on me than on the others I refer to above. I was blown away by the ending. It was one of those Clancy moments in which I think afterwards that I just can't believe he had the courage to go through with such a huge plot twist. That part alone forced me to go back and read all of Clancy's previous novels in the order he published them (with the exception of "Without Remorse," which is the first Clancy book I read), leading up to "Executive Orders," his best book, in my opinion. My advice to those curious to read this book just because of the similarities to the events of 9/11....be prepared. This is a long book. The key moment does not happen until the last few pages, and it is less a part of this book than it is a bridge and a set-up for Clancy's next Jack Ryan adventure, "Executive Orders." I loved this book, but then again I was completely unprepared for the ending, so I wasn't just trudging through a long novel to get to a few pages of action.
Rating: Summary: Debt of Honor Rings True Review: Debt of Honor has the political and military insider knowledge that other authors can't compare too. Tom Clancy goes inside the system and explains everything in layman's terms. His personal knowledge of the military makes the novel accurate, but his writing style doesn't let you put the book down until the last page is finished. With this combination of knowledge and writing, Debt of Honor proves itself to stand beside Clancy's other novels, Rainbow Six and The Hunt for Red October. The has familiar characters such as Jack Ryan, a character starring in previous novels, along with John Clark and Domingo Chavez. The book follows the story of Jack Ryan, the president's National Security Advisor, as he attempts to stop a war with Japan due to a single auto accident. The clever writing and suspenseful action combines to create very entertaining reading. Though Clancy won't stun the world with a literary "classic," he will deliver one of the most compelling novels of today. Everything in Debt of Honor will strike you as eerily plausible, from an attack on the American economy to Japan's secret nuclear weapons program. Debt of Honor should not be mistaken as a book selling off the Tom Clancy name, such as the Op-Center series. Besides global warfare, the ideas are original and exhilarating. The novel was actually written entirely by Tom Clancy, which makes it a definite read. This book is recommended for any Clancy or action fan.
Rating: Summary: Another big BIG book by Tom "kitchen sink" Clancy Review: Tom must have the editors completely buffaloed at his publishing house. This book could have been shortened by half and not lose any of the impact. Debt of Honor presents countless characters, most of them two-dimensional and souless, half of whom were superflous. His glorification of the military and the intelligence community rings somewhat hollow. If Clancy had actually served in the military he might have produced a better book- "wanna be" is written all over it with every military figure idealized. I enjoy detailed books, and here Clancy excels. Contrary to other opinions I have read, Clancy's analysis of the US/World financial underpinnings was coherant and helpful. His military "expertise" is somewhat strained- as if the detail is used to mask a basic lack of understanding. Here again, a strong editor would have helped. If I had a dime for every sonar or radar tech who yelled out the position of some signal return in this book, I'd be rich. Also, most of the family-type interactions fall flat. The good parts are when the politians machinate. And it's always fun to read about White House infighting and behind the scenes stuff. Clancy handles it well. The plot is mostly preposterous, of course, and Clancey doesn't quite make it believable. So this book was a chore to plow through, but I did want to get the entire set-up instead of just reading the 9-11 type ending, which is why I picked up the book in the first place.
Rating: Summary: Clancy ponders the Japanese threat Review: "Debt of Honor" is classic Clancy fare. The plot moves rapidly, skipping from place to place as our old friend Jack Ryan frets over a bevy of global crises. This time the threat comes from Japan, where a jingoistic industrialist plots to bring America to its knees, both economically and militarily. "Debt of Honor" is enjoyable enough to read. The action moves fast and the chapters are sliced into convenient, bite-sized portions. The book's weakness, perhaps, is that the plot--and many of the sub-plots--seem a little far-fetched. E.g., Japan's invasion of Guam and Saipan goes undiscovered by the US press for several days, until an enterprising weatherman from Idaho unearths the shocking news. But Clancy's knack for explaining the technical aspects of airplanes, submarines, aircraft carriers, et al, is as good as ever. This marriage of fact with fiction is always a highlight of a Clancy novel. "Debt of Honor" may not be for everyone, but those who enjoy this genre will likely be satisfied
Rating: Summary: Read a used copy Review: This book was prescient about some weaknesses in American economic infrastructure, but I do not support Mr. Clancy's portrayal of Japanese in this book. The premise of this book plays upon American society's lingering suspicion of Japanese following WWII and during the recession of the 1980's. Books like this may seem patriotic, but instead they encourage a simplistic view of the world.
Rating: Summary: Don't miss this one Review: War with Japan.. I'm not ruining anything... Chapter 1 stuff. Only its 1996, and Jack Ryan is running the CIA right after Clear and present danger. Greer is dead. Clark and domingo are his go to guys. The only problem with this book will be your sleepless nights! DO NOT READ THE LAST CHAPTER in advance. You will ruin everything. If you get through this book, I will wager that you will buy Executive orders (his next book in sequence) within 24 hours.
Rating: Summary: One of Clancy's best Review: War with Japan again...you won't believe the way Clancy makes this story realistic. I believe war with anyone can happen with any country because of Clancy does that make me paranoid??? ...The way Clancy strings together a story makes any situation sound like it could happen. I look forward to many more Clancy books and hopefully more Clancy movies as well. You are now free to buy this book.
Rating: Summary: Lack of Honor Review: Zoinks! This is by far the worst book by Mr. Clancy. It's even more boring than Red Storm Rising. It actually made me SKIP PAGES. Clancy showed his unique talent for writing a lot and saying little. This book shouldn't have been longer than 400 pages. Or maybe even less - there's not much happening here! Oh well...
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