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Jack Ryan Universe (Publication Order) #1-6
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Books 1-6
The first six Jack Ryan novels from #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Clancy.THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBERPATRIOT GAMESTHE CARDINAL OF THE KREMLINCLEAR AND PRESENT DANGERTHE SUM OF ALL FEARSWITHOUT REMORSE
4419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2010
70 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Tom Clancy
977 books9,061 followersThomas Leo Clancy Jr. was an American novelist and military-political thriller pioneer. Raised in a middle-class Irish-American family, he developed an early fascination with military history. Despite initially studying physics at Loyola College, he switched to English literature, graduating in 1969 with a modest GPA. His aspirations of serving in the military were dashed due to severe myopia, leading him instead to a career in the insurance business.
While working at a small insurance agency, Clancy spent his spare time writing what would become The Hunt for Red October (1984). Published by the Naval Institute Press for an advance of $5,000, the book received an unexpected boost when President Ronald Reagan praised it as “the best yarn.” This propelled Clancy to national fame, selling millions of copies and establishing his reputation for technical accuracy in military and intelligence matters. His meticulous research and storytelling ability granted him access to high-ranking U.S. military officials, further enriching his novels.
Clancy’s works often featured heroic protagonists such as Jack Ryan and John Clark, emphasizing themes of patriotism, military expertise, and political intrigue. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he became one of the best-selling authors in America, with titles like Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987), Clear and Present Danger (1989), and The Sum of All Fears (1991) dominating bestseller lists. Several of these were adapted into commercially successful films.
In addition to novels, Clancy co-authored nonfiction works on military topics and lent his name to numerous book series and video game franchises, including Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. His influence extended beyond literature, as he became a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and was involved in various business ventures, including a failed attempt to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.
Politically, Clancy was a staunch conservative, often weaving his views into his books and publicly criticizing left-leaning policies. He gained further attention after the September 11 attacks, discussing intelligence failures and counterterrorism strategies on news platforms.
Clancy’s financial success was immense. By the late 1990s, his publishing deals were worth tens of millions of dollars. He lived on an expansive Maryland estate featuring a World War II Sherman tank and later purchased a luxury penthouse in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
He was married twice, first to Wanda Thomas King, with whom he had four children, and later to journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn, with whom he had one daughter.
Tom Clancy passed away on October 1, 2013, at the age of 66 due to heart failure. His legacy endures through his novels, their adaptations, and the continuation of the Jack Ryan series by other writers.
While working at a small insurance agency, Clancy spent his spare time writing what would become The Hunt for Red October (1984). Published by the Naval Institute Press for an advance of $5,000, the book received an unexpected boost when President Ronald Reagan praised it as “the best yarn.” This propelled Clancy to national fame, selling millions of copies and establishing his reputation for technical accuracy in military and intelligence matters. His meticulous research and storytelling ability granted him access to high-ranking U.S. military officials, further enriching his novels.
Clancy’s works often featured heroic protagonists such as Jack Ryan and John Clark, emphasizing themes of patriotism, military expertise, and political intrigue. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he became one of the best-selling authors in America, with titles like Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987), Clear and Present Danger (1989), and The Sum of All Fears (1991) dominating bestseller lists. Several of these were adapted into commercially successful films.
In addition to novels, Clancy co-authored nonfiction works on military topics and lent his name to numerous book series and video game franchises, including Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. His influence extended beyond literature, as he became a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and was involved in various business ventures, including a failed attempt to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.
Politically, Clancy was a staunch conservative, often weaving his views into his books and publicly criticizing left-leaning policies. He gained further attention after the September 11 attacks, discussing intelligence failures and counterterrorism strategies on news platforms.
Clancy’s financial success was immense. By the late 1990s, his publishing deals were worth tens of millions of dollars. He lived on an expansive Maryland estate featuring a World War II Sherman tank and later purchased a luxury penthouse in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
He was married twice, first to Wanda Thomas King, with whom he had four children, and later to journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn, with whom he had one daughter.
Tom Clancy passed away on October 1, 2013, at the age of 66 due to heart failure. His legacy endures through his novels, their adaptations, and the continuation of the Jack Ryan series by other writers.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 7, 2018
Tom Clancy books were a familiar fixture in our household when I was growing up, and as I grew older and went looking for more ‘interesting’ things to read, Mr. Clancy was amongst the first ‘adult’ reads that I gravitated to. I read everything he had written up to that point, and then through the years I kept up with each new release. It has been many years since I last read the series as a whole, but over the past few months have found myself exploring them again.
My mother has been in and out of hospital over the past 6 months- and being an avid reader, I gave her a Kindle so she would have something to read while she was recuperating. Mum loves Tom Clancy, he’s among her favourite authors, so I suggested reading this series as a buddy read- but, on the days she isn’t well enough to read for herself, I read them to her. We love to discuss the details of the books after each read and even though we’ve both read the series before, it has been just as enjoyable this time around. It’s also been a great bonding experience for us, and we have really enjoyed revisiting Mr. Clancy’s work.
Jack Ryan is an analyst for the CIA and even though he isn’t the typical James Bond type action hero, he’s just as successful. Jack is more the outsmart/out think the enemy type of hero and the situations he finds himself in are quite compelling to read. I love all the different Jack Ryan stories- they all manage to keep me interested in what is going on and completely invested in the outcome. There is always intrigue, suspense, a little mystery, drama, interesting and fully realised characters, a complex and well-developed plot with clever twists- which all blend together to produce a memorable read.
I can always count on Mr. Clancy and Jack Ryan to take me on an adventure that never gets old, no matter the situations or how many times I’ve read these books.
My mother has been in and out of hospital over the past 6 months- and being an avid reader, I gave her a Kindle so she would have something to read while she was recuperating. Mum loves Tom Clancy, he’s among her favourite authors, so I suggested reading this series as a buddy read- but, on the days she isn’t well enough to read for herself, I read them to her. We love to discuss the details of the books after each read and even though we’ve both read the series before, it has been just as enjoyable this time around. It’s also been a great bonding experience for us, and we have really enjoyed revisiting Mr. Clancy’s work.
Jack Ryan is an analyst for the CIA and even though he isn’t the typical James Bond type action hero, he’s just as successful. Jack is more the outsmart/out think the enemy type of hero and the situations he finds himself in are quite compelling to read. I love all the different Jack Ryan stories- they all manage to keep me interested in what is going on and completely invested in the outcome. There is always intrigue, suspense, a little mystery, drama, interesting and fully realised characters, a complex and well-developed plot with clever twists- which all blend together to produce a memorable read.
I can always count on Mr. Clancy and Jack Ryan to take me on an adventure that never gets old, no matter the situations or how many times I’ve read these books.
February 2, 2023
Jack Ryan is, on paper, an unlikely hero. An historian and a covert CIA analyst, most of his work should conspire to put him behind a desk. However, when he interferes in a terrorist attack on the Prince and Princess of Wales and fatally injures a terrorist, he finds himself the target of the Ulster Liberation Army and must embrace the killer 8naude himself.
Later events pull Ryan ever further into the murky world of espionage and his ascent through the ranks of the Agency is guaranteed after his insight into Marko Ramius allows the US Navy to capture the 'Red October' and avert an escalation of the Cold War before helping in the extraction of a high ranking spy from Mosciw.
Tom Clancy had a very clear image of Jack Ryan when he began writing his collection of thrillers. Playing easily on the paranoia of the Cold War era, Clancy's techno thrillers needed an everyman like Ryan to make the novels relatable. Very densely written, this collection of six novels feels overwhelming and readers may need to break off after each novel to decompress. This also has the advantage of allowing the internal inconsistencies between novels to be minimised.
Later events pull Ryan ever further into the murky world of espionage and his ascent through the ranks of the Agency is guaranteed after his insight into Marko Ramius allows the US Navy to capture the 'Red October' and avert an escalation of the Cold War before helping in the extraction of a high ranking spy from Mosciw.
Tom Clancy had a very clear image of Jack Ryan when he began writing his collection of thrillers. Playing easily on the paranoia of the Cold War era, Clancy's techno thrillers needed an everyman like Ryan to make the novels relatable. Very densely written, this collection of six novels feels overwhelming and readers may need to break off after each novel to decompress. This also has the advantage of allowing the internal inconsistencies between novels to be minimised.
November 1, 2015
A long read of six books, some of Clancy's best material. Only the sixth is somewhat different and resulted in me taking some time to read that particular one but it does pick up after the middle.
December 24, 2022
I started reading these when I was a kid and getting bored with whatever chapter books I had finished. Not a likely choice for an elementary/middle schooler, but my dad has them lying around and we had watched the movie, “Hunt for Red October,” so I was curious. I remember feeling lost with the military/technical jargon, but I pushed through. I’d say these along with some other influences during my formative years fostered an interest in military history.
August 12, 2025
Overall,these are exceptionally well written stories, that can keep you in real suspense through and through. The only thing I can complaint about is reading them "in chain", one after the other, a) because you think these aregreat books (which they are) or b) you don't leaving things halfway so you go ALL the way.
In my case, I stared feeling bored around after continuous reading the same characters but I still made it to the end.
In my case, I stared feeling bored around after continuous reading the same characters but I still made it to the end.
September 20, 2017
The book near the end I woud liked finish Redding it.
Liked it . If could can we go to to end of book so I can finish read the book.
Liked it . If could can we go to to end of book so I can finish read the book.
July 19, 2022
Love the way things are set up. and love the stories. To be honest i have read every single book by tom Clancy just wanted to say thank u tom Clancy for such good books
July 18, 2018
Stupid but entertaining if you turn off your inner critic.
The Greaney, Jack Ryan jr. books are far superior. This was exciting but the underlying plot makes no sense. The following is a spoiler alert: The dual purpose of Henley Associates does make sense and is a good foundation for jack jr.'s adventures. However, the book begins with hostage rescue from an oil derrick. Of all the special force operators available to U.S. agencies, Henley associates wouldn't ever be necessary for such a hostage rescue. Second, private equity firms never hire other private equity (eg., Henley) firms for in depth due diligence or forensic accounting on an acquisition target. In fact, it would probably breach their fiduciary responsibilities to their own investors. There are many specialized and independent firms that provide those services on behalf of private equity clients. Third, if one wanted to install malware on a stock exchange, there are countless more practical, and easier ways to achieve that than by trying to install the software on technologically advanced, defense-related company with the highest grade IT security available. Please bring Greaney back.
The Greaney, Jack Ryan jr. books are far superior. This was exciting but the underlying plot makes no sense. The following is a spoiler alert: The dual purpose of Henley Associates does make sense and is a good foundation for jack jr.'s adventures. However, the book begins with hostage rescue from an oil derrick. Of all the special force operators available to U.S. agencies, Henley associates wouldn't ever be necessary for such a hostage rescue. Second, private equity firms never hire other private equity (eg., Henley) firms for in depth due diligence or forensic accounting on an acquisition target. In fact, it would probably breach their fiduciary responsibilities to their own investors. There are many specialized and independent firms that provide those services on behalf of private equity clients. Third, if one wanted to install malware on a stock exchange, there are countless more practical, and easier ways to achieve that than by trying to install the software on technologically advanced, defense-related company with the highest grade IT security available. Please bring Greaney back.
June 8, 2012
Let's just say you can't sit down and read this in one sitting. It has been fun though.
December 2, 2013
Want to read all of them--only read last 3 in the series. Really great!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews