The Hunt for Red October (A Jack Ryan Novel) Mass Market Paperback – September 7, 2010

Amazing. A must read if you enjoy suspense, action and the good guys. It's what America was when we were kings.

Full of technical detail. Fast paced, but unavoidably hard to follow in places for those not well versed in naval or undersea terminology. Worth the effort.

It took me a few tries to read this book, as it's written in a different fashion to what I'm accustomed: namely, Clancy threads his narrative through multiple POV characters with clear third person omniscient narration. While expecting this to be a "Jack Ryan novel," as was advertised, here Ryan is simply one of many significant characters. With the expectation that I'd be reading something hero-centric, like Jack Reacher, I was disappointed, which threw me off initially. Another challenge is Clancy's flair for didactic writing, often devoting huge sections to explaining the technical working of some machine. This is educational indeed, and I commend Clancy's knowledge, but if I'm not in the mood for this kind of writing it can make the book rather dry.I finally developed the momentum to read the book all the way through, and it is intricately plotted with very well-developed characters. The scale of Clancy's story is immense, and he creates a compelling geopolitical drama that feels as realistic as a season of 24 (a compliment, mind you). From the confines of a Russian submarine to intrigue in the oval office, Clancy effectively evokes all of these diverse environments with skill and authority, as if he were actually a participant in all of the places he uses as his settings (and I'm sure he hasn't been in all of them).The result is a book that exudes authority. Clancy is a wise narrator with keen insight into the nature of men and states, and it's he who is truly the star of the book, rather than Jack Ryan. In that way it's a "Tom Clancy novel." Upon finishing this one I immediately ordered the next.A book is only as good as its author, and Clancy seems to know his stuff. Now that I'm used to his style of writing, I confess that I like it, and eagerly look forward to reading Red Storm Rising.

I bought this hard cover book to add to my collection. I have every book he has his name on. This was my favorite. Read it 40 years ago in paperback and have been hooked since. Miss your work Tom Clancy but you’d be pleased to know other writers are keeping your characters alive and doing very good stories.

I grew up watching the movie multiple times and loving it. It's a shame I waited so long to finally read it, now as an ex-Navy surface sailor. Clancy's style and attention to detail are impeccable. This is a novel that deserves to be made as a mini series to capture the intricacies of the plot. I will still always thoroughly enjoy the movie, however. As the kids say these days, it's a vibe.

I have read every Jack Ryan novel Tom Clancy ever wrote. At least I thought I had until I decided to re-read The Hunt for Red October. It turns out I had confused the movie with the book, so my re-read turned into a first read.In the story, a Russian nuclear submarine—the titular Red October—goes missing, the motive of Marko Ramius (its captain) unclear. The Soviet Navy launches every ship it has in its Atlantic feet, on the surface or under it, with orders to find and destroy the sub. But why?That massive deployment catches the attention of Washington DC, for the Soviet boats are headed toward American coastal waters. CIA analyst Jack Ryan thinks he knows the reason why. Together with his bosses, he sets up an audacious plan to intervene and … well, if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, I don’t want to give away the ending.As is almost always the case, the book is better than the movie. Like later Clancy novels, the plot is labyrinthine. It is told by an omniscient narrator who jumps in and out scenes, unfolding the mystery one turn at a time. No wonder the movie simplified some of the plot lines, characters, and actions.The Hunt for Red October established Clancy’s reputation as a master of the suspense drama. His novels combine large-scale global forces as the background for individual heroic action. I may not have read Clancy’s first novel back in the day, but looking through his catalogue, I know I read all the others. Clancy’s reputation—not to mention Alec Baldwin’s brilliant performance in the movie—gave me good reasons to do so.This book is long, but it is nevertheless a page turner, which is my first rule of thumb when evaluating a suspense or mystery novel. Also, it didn’t push the limits of my willing suspension of disbelief, which is my second rule. Despite the wheels-within-wheels plotlines, the book’s main action felt plausible. (If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you’ll know what I mean when you read it.)So, five stars to The Hunt for Red October, which celebrates its 37th anniversary this year. It’s a great read, and a fantastic start to a series of novels well worth reading, for a second or third time … or even the first!