Debt Of Honor

From the Publisher

In a world at peace, Jack Ryan is the President's National Security Advisor-but the wages of peace are as complex-and devastating-as war itself.

Features -

Debt of Honor

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Biography

By the time you are finished reading this, it is likely that Tom Clancy will have written yet another bestseller. One of our most prolific writers is also one of the most celebrated and well-known in America -- so much so that his thrillers have won fans in the White House and he is often asked his opinion of political and military matters. Having written an astounding 26 books in 20 years -- each one a bestseller -- Clancy shows no signs of slowing down or pulling punches when it comes to his own stance on the kind of contemporary issues he has been addressing in his books for two decades.

Ever since Clancy's first novel, The Hunt For Red October, rocked the publishing world upon its publication in 1984, winning a fan in President Ronald Reagan, Clancy has proved himself to be an indomitable literary force. While Clancy is best known for the techno-thriller genre he is credited with creating and the hard-boiled adventures of President Jack Ryan, he has also penned several works of non-fiction examining various aspects of the U.S. military, such as Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship, Armored CAV: A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment, and Airborne: A Guided Tour of an Airborne Task Force.

Clancy has also co-written several of his studies with military personnel. These entries in his "Commander" series include Into the Storm: A Study in Command, written with armor and infantry General Fred Franks, and Every Man a Tiger with Air Force General Chuck Horner. The most recent installment in the series is a collaboration with Major General Tom Zinni, who served as former Secretary of State Colin Powell's special envoy to the Middle East before his opinions about the Iraqi War lead to his early resignation. In Battle Ready, Clancy tracks Zinni's long and prestigious military career, from his stint in Vietnam to his days directing strikes against Iraq and Al Qaeda. Clancy spins Zinni's tale into a masterful blend of biography, military history, and compelling narrative, with a particular focus on an often-unexamined aspect of our military leaders. "In the movies, military leaders are all drunken Nazis," Clancy told the Associated Press of Battle Ready, "In fact, these are very bright people who regard the soldiers and Marines under them as their own kids. I thought the people needed to know that. These are good guys, smart guys."

Battle Ready makes some inroads in presenting the more human side of the military leaders who are so often illustrated as callous war mongers in the media. Zinni's unflinching and often inflammatory criticisms of U.S. foreign policy provide the book with its powerful moral center, inspiring George Cohen of Booklist to assert, "...this is a book that demands our attention."

As for Clancy's own stance on U.S. involvement in Iraq, he is somewhat less rabble-rousing than Zinni, but no less candid. And on one occasion, Clancy claims he almost came to blows with former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle on the matter. "He was saying how Colin Powell was being a wuss because he was overly concerned with the lives of the troops," Clancy explained, "And I said, Look -- he's supposed to think that way!' And Perle didn't agree with me on that. People like that worry me."

As for what the ever-prolific Tom Clancy has in the works next, he would only say, when asked what his Jack Ryan would have to say about the war, "I don't like to comment on works in progress." With a new book slotted for a 2006 release, Clancy's provocative comment may suggest that the controversy has only just begun to brew.

Good To Know

Tom Clancy's world is not all serious political intrigue -- it is occasionally fun and games. Clancy founded Red Storm Entertainment, a video game company responsible for such titles as "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon" and "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six." Clancy recently sold the company for a whopping $45 million.

While Tom Clancy is widely considered to be an authority on all things military, he has never actually served in the military. His failure to pass the eye exam kept him out of action.

Clancy's government connections are not limited to his politically-charged stories; his wife Alexandra is the niece of former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Features -

Debt of Honor

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Editorial Reviews -

Debt of Honor

From the Publisher

In a world at peace, Jack Ryan is the President's National Security Advisor-but the wages of peace are as complex-and devastating-as war itself.

Publishers Weekly

Jack Ryan, now the President's National Security Adviser, finds himself embroiled in the buildup to a new world war-one in which the stock market and national economic policy are as critical as advanced weaponry. A power-hungry Japanese financier, still blaming America for his parents' deaths in WWII, plans to use his immense wealth to purchase his revenge. A fatal auto accident in the U.S., caused by faulty gas tanks in two Japanese cars, leads to the breakdown of U.S.-Japanese trade agreements. Spies track each other; nuclear weapons are built and hidden; Ryan and an assortment of his old colleagues maneuver ships, planes and spies into harm's way. As always, the author of Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger spins out story threads in a rich but bewildering tangle of plot and setting, then vigorously weaves them together. Here, the heart-stopping climax is unexpected, but oddly appropriate. As always, Clancy instructs (sometimes didactically) as he entertains, teaching us about currency trading, Asian business etiquette and the daily life of an American politician. Without taking up Japan-bashing, as Michael Crichton did in Rising Sun, or partisan politics, Clancy warns that recent downsizing in the defense establishment has so depleted our military resources that the country is vulnerable to aggression that can arise anywhere, anytime. 2 million first printing; BOMC selection. (Aug.)

Library Journal

As top gun of a genre with drooping sales figures, Clancy seems poised to give the technothriller a much-needed shot in the arm with this story featuring his most popular creation, Jack Ryan. A BOMC main selection.

School Library Journal

YA-Teens patient enough to allow the multiple plot strands to develop will be treated to nonstop action in this novel of political intrigue. The fiery deaths of five Americans, caused by faulty gas tanks in two new, wildly popular Japanese cars, result in the breakdown of trade relations between the two countries. Jack Ryan, National Security Advisor, is a key player in this and the concurrent complications-the collapse of the stock market and the Japanese military takeover of the Marianas. The details that make the story seem real also provide insight into the Japanese and American business/political cultures and bring into sharp focus the danger of a downsized military. Clancy gives government students a front-seat view of world politics, English students an excellent lesson in point of view, and general readers a thought-provoking and entertaining ride.-Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax, VA

The Washington Times - Patrick Buchanan

Debt of Honor is a premonition of crises that may be over the horizon for an America that has come to believe that foreign crises are the stuff of yesterday. Worth reflecting on; besides, it is another crackling good read.

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Meet the Writer -

Debt of Honor

Fact File

Name: Tom Clancy

Current Home: Huntingtown, Maryland

Date of Birth: April 12, 1947

Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland

Education: Loyola High School in Towson, Maryland, 1965; B.A. in English, Loyola College, 1969

Biography

By the time you are finished reading this, it is likely that Tom Clancy will have written yet another bestseller. One of our most prolific writers is also one of the most celebrated and well-known in America -- so much so that his thrillers have won fans in the White House and he is often asked his opinion of political and military matters. Having written an astounding 26 books in 20 years -- each one a bestseller -- Clancy shows no signs of slowing down or pulling punches when it comes to his own stance on the kind of contemporary issues he has been addressing in his books for two decades.

Ever since Clancy's first novel, The Hunt For Red October, rocked the publishing world upon its publication in 1984, winning a fan in President Ronald Reagan, Clancy has proved himself to be an indomitable literary force. While Clancy is best known for the techno-thriller genre he is credited with creating and the hard-boiled adventures of President Jack Ryan, he has also penned several works of non-fiction examining various aspects of the U.S. military, such as Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship, Armored CAV: A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment, and Airborne: A Guided Tour of an Airborne Task Force.

Clancy has also co-written several of his studies with military personnel. These entries in his "Commander" series include Into the Storm: A Study in Command, written with armor and infantry General Fred Franks, and Every Man a Tiger with Air Force General Chuck Horner. The most recent installment in the series is a collaboration with Major General Tom Zinni, who served as former Secretary of State Colin Powell's special envoy to the Middle East before his opinions about the Iraqi War lead to his early resignation. In Battle Ready, Clancy tracks Zinni's long and prestigious military career, from his stint in Vietnam to his days directing strikes against Iraq and Al Qaeda. Clancy spins Zinni's tale into a masterful blend of biography, military history, and compelling narrative, with a particular focus on an often-unexamined aspect of our military leaders. "In the movies, military leaders are all drunken Nazis," Clancy told the Associated Press of Battle Ready, "In fact, these are very bright people who regard the soldiers and Marines under them as their own kids. I thought the people needed to know that. These are good guys, smart guys."

Battle Ready makes some inroads in presenting the more human side of the military leaders who are so often illustrated as callous war mongers in the media. Zinni's unflinching and often inflammatory criticisms of U.S. foreign policy provide the book with its powerful moral center, inspiring George Cohen of Booklist to assert, "...this is a book that demands our attention."

As for Clancy's own stance on U.S. involvement in Iraq, he is somewhat less rabble-rousing than Zinni, but no less candid. And on one occasion, Clancy claims he almost came to blows with former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle on the matter. "He was saying how Colin Powell was being a wuss because he was overly concerned with the lives of the troops," Clancy explained, "And I said, Look -- he's supposed to think that way!' And Perle didn't agree with me on that. People like that worry me."

As for what the ever-prolific Tom Clancy has in the works next, he would only say, when asked what his Jack Ryan would have to say about the war, "I don't like to comment on works in progress." With a new book slotted for a 2006 release, Clancy's provocative comment may suggest that the controversy has only just begun to brew.

Good To Know

Tom Clancy's world is not all serious political intrigue -- it is occasionally fun and games. Clancy founded Red Storm Entertainment, a video game company responsible for such titles as "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon" and "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six." Clancy recently sold the company for a whopping $45 million.

While Tom Clancy is widely considered to be an authority on all things military, he has never actually served in the military. His failure to pass the eye exam kept him out of action.

Clancy's government connections are not limited to his politically-charged stories; his wife Alexandra is the niece of former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Features -

Debt of Honor

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Library Journal

As top gun of a genre with drooping sales figures, Clancy seems poised to give the technothriller a much-needed shot in the arm with this story featuring his most popular creation, Jack Ryan. A BOMC main selection.

School Library Journal

YA-Teens patient enough to allow the multiple plot strands to develop will be treated to nonstop action in this novel of political intrigue. The fiery deaths of five Americans, caused by faulty gas tanks in two new, wildly popular Japanese cars, result in the breakdown of trade relations between the two countries. Jack Ryan, National Security Advisor, is a key player in this and the concurrent complications-the collapse of the stock market and the Japanese military takeover of the Marianas. The details that make the story seem real also provide insight into the Japanese and American business/political cultures and bring into sharp focus the danger of a downsized military. Clancy gives government students a front-seat view of world politics, English students an excellent lesson in point of view, and general readers a thought-provoking and entertaining ride.-Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax, VA

The Washington Times - Patrick Buchanan

Debt of Honor is a premonition of crises that may be over the horizon for an America that has come to believe that foreign crises are the stuff of yesterday. Worth reflecting on; besides, it is another crackling good read.

Loading...

Meet the Writer -

Debt of Honor

Fact File

Name: Tom Clancy

Current Home: Huntingtown, Maryland

Date of Birth: April 12, 1947

Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland

Education: Loyola High School in Towson, Maryland, 1965; B.A. in English, Loyola College, 1969

Biography

By the time you are finished reading this, it is likely that Tom Clancy will have written yet another bestseller. One of our most prolific writers is also one of the most celebrated and well-known in America -- so much so that his thrillers have won fans in the White House and he is often asked his opinion of political and military matters. Having written an astounding 26 books in 20 years -- each one a bestseller -- Clancy shows no signs of slowing down or pulling punches when it comes to his own stance on the kind of contemporary issues he has been addressing in his books for two decades.

Ever since Clancy's first novel, The Hunt For Red October, rocked the publishing world upon its publication in 1984, winning a fan in President Ronald Reagan, Clancy has proved himself to be an indomitable literary force. While Clancy is best known for the techno-thriller genre he is credited with creating and the hard-boiled adventures of President Jack Ryan, he has also penned several works of non-fiction examining various aspects of the U.S. military, such as Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship, Armored CAV: A Guided Tour of an Armored Cavalry Regiment, and Airborne: A Guided Tour of an Airborne Task Force.

Clancy has also co-written several of his studies with military personnel. These entries in his "Commander" series include Into the Storm: A Study in Command, written with armor and infantry General Fred Franks, and Every Man a Tiger with Air Force General Chuck Horner. The most recent installment in the series is a collaboration with Major General Tom Zinni, who served as former Secretary of State Colin Powell's special envoy to the Middle East before his opinions about the Iraqi War lead to his early resignation. In Battle Ready, Clancy tracks Zinni's long and prestigious military career, from his stint in Vietnam to his days directing strikes against Iraq and Al Qaeda. Clancy spins Zinni's tale into a masterful blend of biography, military history, and compelling narrative, with a particular focus on an often-unexamined aspect of our military leaders. "In the movies, military leaders are all drunken Nazis," Clancy told the Associated Press of Battle Ready, "In fact, these are very bright people who regard the soldiers and Marines under them as their own kids. I thought the people needed to know that. These are good guys, smart guys."

Battle Ready makes some inroads in presenting the more human side of the military leaders who are so often illustrated as callous war mongers in the media. Zinni's unflinching and often inflammatory criticisms of U.S. foreign policy provide the book with its powerful moral center, inspiring George Cohen of Booklist to assert, "...this is a book that demands our attention."

As for Clancy's own stance on U.S. involvement in Iraq, he is somewhat less rabble-rousing than Zinni, but no less candid. And on one occasion, Clancy claims he almost came to blows with former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle on the matter. "He was saying how Colin Powell was being a wuss because he was overly concerned with the lives of the troops," Clancy explained, "And I said, Look -- he's supposed to think that way!' And Perle didn't agree with me on that. People like that worry me."

As for what the ever-prolific Tom Clancy has in the works next, he would only say, when asked what his Jack Ryan would have to say about the war, "I don't like to comment on works in progress." With a new book slotted for a 2006 release, Clancy's provocative comment may suggest that the controversy has only just begun to brew.

Good To Know

Tom Clancy's world is not all serious political intrigue -- it is occasionally fun and games. Clancy founded Red Storm Entertainment, a video game company responsible for such titles as "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon" and "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six." Clancy recently sold the company for a whopping $45 million.

While Tom Clancy is widely considered to be an authority on all things military, he has never actually served in the military. His failure to pass the eye exam kept him out of action.

Clancy's government connections are not limited to his politically-charged stories; his wife Alexandra is the niece of former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Features -

Debt of Honor

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Clancy plunges hero Jack Ryan into nonstop high adventure, as two seemingly unrelated occurrences being a chain of events that will stun the world.