Rating: 
Summary: Very well written.
Review: Net Force: Hidden Agendas was great. I read the original and it was excellent. Everyone knows that sequels are usually worse than originals, not in Hidden Agendas. It's about time Alex Michaels and Toni Fieorella expressed their true feelings for each other!
Rating: 
Summary: the weakest of the power play, op center, net force books
Review: Of the six Op-Center, two power play and two net force novels (i have not read the junior net force novels), this is the weakest by far. The vague descriptions of the use of period virtual reality settings to perform system tasks is almost laughable; what were they thinking. i will probably read one more of this series before giving up...
Rating: 
Summary: What the heck was this?
Review: If you expected an action-packed techno-thriller, forget it. "Hidden Agendas" turns out to be a weak soap-opera sort of novel, with a smidge of predictable plot thrown in as an afterthought. To save you from wasting your time and money, here's a hint: read the first few chapters in the bookstore. That way you can drop-kick it away when you realize how bad it is.
Rating:
Summary: Who was that masked writer???
Review: I've always enjoyed Clancy's *novels*. Unfortunately, I do not consider the Op-Center and Net Force books to be novels. Furthermore, I doubt that they are even *Clancy*. These books are more akin to cannon fodder used to bide time between releases of more worthy titles. Pretty soon, though, readers (like myself) will become so disgusted that they will not even buy the real Tom Clancy novels when they are available.Anyway, with regard to Net Force: Hidden Agenda, I can only say that the feeble attempt at science fiction (I use the term loosely) was a complete failure. After having just read Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, Clancy was no comparison. The whole VR metaphor was terrible and Clancy's vision of future technology was almost cliché ("SonySega", anyone?). Also, the romantic subplots and use of slang was poorly done and generally unbearable. Finally, anyone who has read Clancy's earlier work will remember how intensely descriptive and exciting Clancy could be when describing a combat scene or even a sonar operator listening on his headset, trying to identify another sub. There is not a single paragraph of Hidden Agenda that aspires to this older work. Anyone who actually enjoys Hidden Agenda should definitely try one of Clancy's older novels to see what they have been missing. However, you will never again be satisfied by any of these "Created by..." titles.
Rating:
Summary: No "wounded souls" among the good guys...
Review: ...and the bad guys are satisfyingly nasty rather than "dysfunctional individuals". You've got a top Senate aide who's using his connections to facilitate cyber-ripoffs as well as buying a piece of a Third World country, and a racist thug as combination gofer and muscle. This series is proving to be a lot more gratifying than this pair's "Op-Center" series. The idea of the criminal as "victim of society" is anachronistic and simply has got to go. As for heroes, remember that poor guy in the "Op-Center" books who was in mourning for the death of his Korean-born wife who'd been killed in the first book? Evidently, the lady had been the type of partner who married people mean when they use the expression "my better half" to describe their spouses. Don't get me wrong--who wouldn't want to identify with a dude who had an old lady like her? The problem was, it had to have jammed up Our Hero's ability to perform some really critical duties. You wound up pitying the guy when you're supposed to be rooting for him. None of the "anti-hero" type in this series, though. They're all strong people who are definitely up to the job. Rule NetForce!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Night Moves Prequel Improved But Predictable
Review: As a Clancy fan, and having panned "Night Moves" in an earlier review, I felt obligated to give another of his Net Force books a read. "Hidden Agendas" is, chronologically, the prequel to Clancy's earlier work. He might have done well to release it first. The characters in this book are better developed and the plot an improvement over his earlier effort. However, as inferred by another Amazon reviewer, this is the stuff of a movie script perhaps more than popular literature. In "Hidden Agendas" the Net Force battles a computer wiz nee: body-building street thug and his employer, an apparently legitimate U.S. Congressional official with secrets to share. A "cloak 'n dagger" chase" traces its way across the U.S. and Europe before settling in an "OK Corral" confrontation that simultaneously brings all of the principals together in an obscure African nation. Clancy does a nicer job here of developing his characters. He provides the origin of the relationship between Alex Michaels and Toni Fiorella as well as the unlikely match between Sergeant Fernandez and goddess-genius Joanna Winthrop. Even Jay Gridley's VR (virual reality) computer scenarios are less excentric. Col. John Howard is perhaps the most believable character (if you ignore the tree falling on him during a wilderness exercise in Washington). And we're less distracted by the wanderings Howard's son, Tyron, than in the earlier release. Clancy doesn't let the intermittent romantic steam rust his proficiency for detail on weaponry and military tactics. However the motive of the key antagonist, Thomas Hughes, is never made completely clear. Despite a skeptical start, I enjoyed this volume better than "Night Moves."
Rating:
Summary: Almost a companion book to Net Force 1
Review: This book is as great as the first one. The outline story is much more weaker but the personal stories of all characters (Alex, Toni, Tyrone) finish in this book (althrough they continue in next books:-)). If you (again) don't expect Clancy-class story, you've got (again) a very good book.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Hmmmm...not quite what I expected. While the plot line provided some excitement and a surprise or two, this just wasn't as satisfying as some of the other series created by Clancy. The near future setting and the use of virtual reality both felt somewhat contrived. I'm not sure how the use of virtual reality scenarios improves the investigative abilities of the forensic computer analysts. I found the passages describing these scenarios to be distracting from the main plot line. Also, while I have no problem with character development, why do we need to have TWO love story subplots? It felt like overkill. Overall, this wasn't a terrible light read, but its far from the best thriller I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining book.
Review: The year is 2010 and Net Force's Jay Gridley is cruising along in his viper, looking for clues. He's in a race with fellow computer geek, Joanna Winthorp, a tall and beautiful woman, to find out who is behind this latest adventure. This Tom Clancy created (not written) novel continues the series with a new adventure for the gang at Net Force. From budding office romances, to armed assualts, you'll tag along with them as they search for clues to who is leaking classified and potentially deadly information on the internet. All in all this is an enjoyable book and and easy read.
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