Ratings113
Average rating4
One of the early novels of the modern techno-thriller genre, the book tracks the efforts of a disgruntled Soviet submarine captain to defect, with his Typhoon-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine "Red October," to the United States. Aside from the ICBM she carries, the ship has a new propulsion system that sounds like normal underwater seismic noise, essentially impossible to detect using normal submarine sonar systems optimized for mechanical noises and transient sounds. Jack Ryan, Clancy's hero, here performing as a CIA systems analyst, begins pulling the thread on the "Red October" when he is assigned to analyze a photograph of the ship under construction in it's dry dock that exhibits an unusual shape built into the hull. The pace and action continue to build through the book to a surprising climax.
Series
15 primary books16 released booksJack Ryan is a 16-book series with 15 primary works first released in 1977 with contributions by Tom Clancy, Marc Cameron, and 2 others.
Series
30 primary booksJack Ryan Universe is a 30-book series with 30 primary works first released in 1984 with contributions by Tom Clancy, Michael Baumann, and 6 others.
Series
31 primary booksJack Ryan Universe (Publication Order) is a 31-book series with 31 primary works first released in 1984 with contributions by Tom Clancy, Michael Baumann, and 5 others.
Reviews with the most likes.
The best Clancy novel. Also his first. He never again manage to equal the suspense in this book in his subsequent books. It's all downhill from here, folks.