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Command Authority
Listening Length: 17 hours and 53 minutes
There's a new strong man in Russia but his rise to power is based on a dark secret hidden decades in the past. The solution to that mystery lies with a most unexpected source, President Jack Ryan.
There's a new strong man in Russia but his rise to power is based on a dark secret hidden decades in the past. The solution to that mystery lies with a most unexpected source, President Jack Ryan.
18 pages, Audiobook
First published December 3, 2013
1779 people are currently reading
1586 people want to read
About the author
Tom Clancy
947 books8,990 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 - 30 of 201 reviews
January 10, 2014
What is it about spy stories that captures our fancy? From all indications, the reality of spyhood is one of boring inactivity, anonymity and numbing loneliness. And yet, writers keep writing about them, and readers devour these books.
For sure, there's a certain degree of spy romanticization, and in Command Authority such is liberally lathered. Thirty years before he became US president, Jack Ryan, as a CIA analyst and liaison with the British MI6, was on the trail of a Soviet assassin codenamed Zenith. In the course of his investigation, he found himself in the thick of the action in Walled Berlin and would not have survived if not for the help of a mysterious British spy, codename Bedrock. Ryan's son, Jack Jr., in present day London (by the reckoning of this Clancy created timeline), as a financial analyst, gets on the track of Bedrock as he investigates the Soviet nationalization of a billion dollar oil exploration company. And with these two parallel story threads, 30 years apart, the narrative takes readers on a contemporary, escapist trip filled with flash-bang hits from numerous hand-to-hand and field battles, distracting us from our disbelief until the final revelations on the identity of Zenith. There is no cliff-hanger ending here, just a neatly tied story with cameos from other Clancy book characters such as John Clark and Ding Chavez.
In terms of universe timelines, the present day sections of Command Authority follow directly from the events of 2012's Threat Vector but it's more intriguing flashback parts take readers to the time of The Hunt for Red October, and perhaps a reminder of early Clancy and how he first caught our fancy. If this turns out to be the last book written by Tom Clancy (who sadly passed away in October 2013), it is fittingly nostalgic and reminiscent. For three decades, we gamboled in Clancy's playground.
Notwithstanding the "you're kidding me" parts of the tale, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am glad to add a 5-star rating to a Clancy book after the recent disappointments. Be warned that there's a lot of testosterone in this book and clearly needs a credible female character. Other than that, enjoy! Some others may continue this series, such as co-author Mark Greaney, but it may not be the same without Clancy's mug on the inside back cover.
For sure, there's a certain degree of spy romanticization, and in Command Authority such is liberally lathered. Thirty years before he became US president, Jack Ryan, as a CIA analyst and liaison with the British MI6, was on the trail of a Soviet assassin codenamed Zenith. In the course of his investigation, he found himself in the thick of the action in Walled Berlin and would not have survived if not for the help of a mysterious British spy, codename Bedrock. Ryan's son, Jack Jr., in present day London (by the reckoning of this Clancy created timeline), as a financial analyst, gets on the track of Bedrock as he investigates the Soviet nationalization of a billion dollar oil exploration company. And with these two parallel story threads, 30 years apart, the narrative takes readers on a contemporary, escapist trip filled with flash-bang hits from numerous hand-to-hand and field battles, distracting us from our disbelief until the final revelations on the identity of Zenith. There is no cliff-hanger ending here, just a neatly tied story with cameos from other Clancy book characters such as John Clark and Ding Chavez.
In terms of universe timelines, the present day sections of Command Authority follow directly from the events of 2012's Threat Vector but it's more intriguing flashback parts take readers to the time of The Hunt for Red October, and perhaps a reminder of early Clancy and how he first caught our fancy. If this turns out to be the last book written by Tom Clancy (who sadly passed away in October 2013), it is fittingly nostalgic and reminiscent. For three decades, we gamboled in Clancy's playground.
Notwithstanding the "you're kidding me" parts of the tale, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am glad to add a 5-star rating to a Clancy book after the recent disappointments. Be warned that there's a lot of testosterone in this book and clearly needs a credible female character. Other than that, enjoy! Some others may continue this series, such as co-author Mark Greaney, but it may not be the same without Clancy's mug on the inside back cover.
February 3, 2014
This is in my view the best Tom Clancy book of the last 10 years ( although to be honest I suspect Mark Greaney has a lot to say with that as the Clancy books have started to get better since he became involved).
The reason this book is so much better is that for once it is rooted in every day fact and in this case the events of the last decade in Russia and in Ukraine.
The duo of authors paint a scenario that is believable and the story benefits highly from it. ( going back to the old East-West opposition scenario which produced some of the best Jack Ryan book isn't such a bad idea) As in the previous two Clancy books however the issue at stake gets resolved too fast at the end. In this case however one wonders if it wasn't in anticipation of the a next book that would pick things where they were left one in this book.
The death of Tom Clancy might however change things but it isn't a given as one wonder how much work Tom Clancy really put in his last books so it is probably more a question of what Tom Clancy's estate will want to do going forward and what Mark Greaney has planned...
The reason this book is so much better is that for once it is rooted in every day fact and in this case the events of the last decade in Russia and in Ukraine.
The duo of authors paint a scenario that is believable and the story benefits highly from it. ( going back to the old East-West opposition scenario which produced some of the best Jack Ryan book isn't such a bad idea) As in the previous two Clancy books however the issue at stake gets resolved too fast at the end. In this case however one wonders if it wasn't in anticipation of the a next book that would pick things where they were left one in this book.
The death of Tom Clancy might however change things but it isn't a given as one wonder how much work Tom Clancy really put in his last books so it is probably more a question of what Tom Clancy's estate will want to do going forward and what Mark Greaney has planned...
March 29, 2014
I had delayed reading this book after the death of Tom Clancy, sort of, postponing the end of the Clancy era. When I read the first few chapter's I said Wow! This is right out of the headlines of today’s news. This is not the first time Clancy’s has a seemingly far out part of one of his stories has come to be seen in the headlines, I am thinking of his having terrorist seizing airliners and flying them into buildings long before nine eleven. The story opens up with military action in Estonia as Russian tanks and troops invade this small country; the Russians are repelled by a NATO force stationed in the area. Russian then roles into Crimea Ukraine. Russian President Valeri Volodin’s justification for trying to seize Ukraine is “It is the home of the Black Sea Fleet, our oil and gas pipelines to Europe go through Ukraine, and we need to protect Russian citizens in the area”. In the story Volodin as ex KGB man and his main enforcer Roman Talanov as young men saw the coming of the collapse of the Soviet Union. They stole money from the KGB and hid it in numbered accounts in Switzerland. They past the money through various dummy corporations and account and bought companies in Russia to become wealthy. Volodin becomes President of Russia with the goal of establishing Russian dominance over the former satellite states. Clancy has Jack junior tracking the monies from 30 years earlier trying to find the current owners of certain companies. The story goes into a typical Clancy cloak and dagger spy adventure, high tech military action, all triggered by the poisoning via plutonium of Ryan’s friend Sergey Golovko who dies at a lunch with President Ryan and his family in the White House. I enjoyed the book more now than if I had read in at the end of last year when it came out, because of what is happening right now in the Ukraine. I wonder does Clancy’s death spell the end of the Jack Ryan Saga or will Mark Greaney carry it on? I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Lou diamond Phillips does a good job narrating the story.
October 14, 2024
Десь читав жарт, що, на жаль, найкращим футурологом виявився Том Кленсі. Попри деякі наївні стереотипи, або незнання ситуації, все доволі непогано передано. Дуже класна динаміка книги, ні на митт не набридає.
August 27, 2025
Flat, clunky, explainy.
April 17, 2024
Always enjoyable - never disappointing
December 31, 2013
Na (asi) poslední díl Ryanverse jsem se docela těšil, a i když není úplně špatný, už to nějak není ono. Sice je to dobře řemeslně zpracované, je v tom pár slušných překvapení a hezky to odráží i některé nedávné události, ale bohužel to také dost násilně staví na zvratu ve směřování Ruska zpět k obnově SSSR a k iracionálnímu nepřátelství vůči Západu, což do vývoje Ryanverse moc nezapadá.
Chápu, že Clancy potřeboval velkého nepřítele, kterého by mohl opět porazit, ale příběh je trochu moc i na moji představivost, zvlášť když v Ryanverse následuje po čínsko-ruské válce o Sibiř, ve které se Rusko stalo členem NATO a s americkou pomocí Číňanům natrhlo prdel.
Trochu rušivě také působí neustálé přeskakování mezi 30 let starými událostmi a současností, jehož hlavním cílem zřejmě bylo aspoň na chvíli znovu dostat do knihy Ryana Sr. v akci.
Nerad bych, aby to vyznělo příliš kriticky; rozhodně jsem se nenudil a pro fandu Ryanverse to rozhodně stojí za přečtení, jen narozdíl od několika prvních dílů, které pro mě v mládí byly velkým zážitkem, se k téhle knize asi už podruhé nevrátím.
Chápu, že Clancy potřeboval velkého nepřítele, kterého by mohl opět porazit, ale příběh je trochu moc i na moji představivost, zvlášť když v Ryanverse následuje po čínsko-ruské válce o Sibiř, ve které se Rusko stalo členem NATO a s americkou pomocí Číňanům natrhlo prdel.
Trochu rušivě také působí neustálé přeskakování mezi 30 let starými událostmi a současností, jehož hlavním cílem zřejmě bylo aspoň na chvíli znovu dostat do knihy Ryana Sr. v akci.
Nerad bych, aby to vyznělo příliš kriticky; rozhodně jsem se nenudil a pro fandu Ryanverse to rozhodně stojí za přečtení, jen narozdíl od několika prvních dílů, které pro mě v mládí byly velkým zážitkem, se k téhle knize asi už podruhé nevrátím.
June 21, 2015
Poslední ryanovka před Clancyho smrtí. Tentokrát o Ukrajině a Putinovi, ktrý se tu jmenuje Valerij Volodin. Kromě aktuálního vojensko-politického dění obsahuje i prostřihy do 80. let, kdy Ryan pátrá po tajemném kágébáckém vrahovi, který stojí za divnými událostmi kolem jedné švýcarské banky - oboje spolu pochopitelně souvisí. Vzhledem k tomu, že to vyšlo v roce 2013, je samozřejmě docela zajímavé srovnávat, jak se to vyvinulo a nevyvinulo:
Co Clancy trefil:
- invazi formou zabrání Krymu a postupu na Doněck, Luhansk a Mariupol
- černé operace FSB na Ukrajině s využitím proruských kriminálníků
- výhledově asi i znovuvztyčení sochy Džeržinského
- využití proruských demonstrantů, rozdávání pasů (známé nicméně už z Gruzie) apod.
Co bylo jinak:
- nedošlo k "testovacímu" útoku na Estonsko
- Clancyho Volodin víc používá přímou invazi vydávanou za protiteroristickou operaci namísto zelených mužíků a proxy republik
- Clancy nijak zásadně kromě ruských televizích kanálů nezmiňuje pestrou kremeskou propagandu, kremlobot a jiná zvěrstva
- na ukrajinské straně bojuje ukrajinská armáda podporovaná americkými speciálními jednotkami, nezmiňuje třeba různé dobrovolnické prapory
Co Clancy trefil:
- invazi formou zabrání Krymu a postupu na Doněck, Luhansk a Mariupol
- černé operace FSB na Ukrajině s využitím proruských kriminálníků
- výhledově asi i znovuvztyčení sochy Džeržinského
- využití proruských demonstrantů, rozdávání pasů (známé nicméně už z Gruzie) apod.
Co bylo jinak:
- nedošlo k "testovacímu" útoku na Estonsko
- Clancyho Volodin víc používá přímou invazi vydávanou za protiteroristickou operaci namísto zelených mužíků a proxy republik
- Clancy nijak zásadně kromě ruských televizích kanálů nezmiňuje pestrou kremeskou propagandu, kremlobot a jiná zvěrstva
- na ukrajinské straně bojuje ukrajinská armáda podporovaná americkými speciálními jednotkami, nezmiňuje třeba různé dobrovolnické prapory
March 14, 2024
Spy thriller right out of the headlines even though it was published in 2013.
February 17, 2024
I really love Jack Ryan as a hero, a protagonist. Tom Clancy sure painted him good enough to portray a man whose flaws always turn to be his big advantages. The fact that he managed to give him a family, is probably his greatest vulnerability. Now, I'm not going to give any spoilers, but I overly enjoyed this sense of continuity from the Ryan family. Jack Ryan the president has the help of Jack Ryan junior in this book.
To any aspiring movie makers: what is wrong with you? Just take all the man's books and release them in the big screen!
To any aspiring movie makers: what is wrong with you? Just take all the man's books and release them in the big screen!
February 23, 2018
Непоганий шпигунський роман. Події відбуваються у багатьох місцях, однак основні в Україні. Автори у багато чому передбачили прикрі події, які трапилися в Україні, проте реальної військової підтримки НАТО не мало місця у минулому. Хай там як, вражає як автори прогадали дії російських спецслужб та президента. Висновок: в США є люди, які розуміють складність ситуації в Україні та як північний сусід використовує слабкості нашої держави.
February 26, 2022
Funny how I read this novel as Russia invades Ukraine again and this novel deals with the first time. It’s a action thriller, but Let me tell you despite the clean 30 years ago titles. No author should tell a story like this with Ryan jr and Ryan Senior. Way too confusing at times? And for that I will have to remove a star.
June 5, 2016
In sintesi, Jack Ryan al quadrato, ovvero una vicenda in cui sono molto presenti padre e figlio. Pur non eccellendo si tratta di un buon capitolo della saga detto Ryan.
Finalmente sono tornati i russi, che nel ruolo dei cattivi sono meglio di cinesi o islamici
Finalmente sono tornati i russi, che nel ruolo dei cattivi sono meglio di cinesi o islamici
May 12, 2019
I liked the timely plot of this book, and loved the fantastic narration by Lou Diamond Phillips. As is typical of Clancy books, the characters are fairly wooden but the military tactics and weapons are accurate and interesting.
February 11, 2024
This is a blue print for the invasion of Ukraine 6 years before it happened.
In 2013 this book foreshadowed Russia's invasion of Crimea and eventually the invasion of Ukraine. Why didn't our intelligence services read this book?
In 2013 this book foreshadowed Russia's invasion of Crimea and eventually the invasion of Ukraine. Why didn't our intelligence services read this book?
January 12, 2017
Great read with Jack Junior continuing on in his father's footsteps in a more literal sense in this book.
June 25, 2023
Interesting read, and it reminded me of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
September 25, 2023
Pretty good, lots of action, well paced. But 3 plots. A plot from 30 years ago, Jack Ryan Jr. in England, the campus in Ukraine. I found this confusing and distracting.
November 11, 2024
Positively astonishing how good writers flock to this cast of characters and carve plots out of today's headlines! Jack Jr. is once again on the trail - a dangerous one that worries his parents back in the white house no end. John Clark along with Ding, Dom and a similar cast from the Hendley Associates group are in Ukraine hunting a Cold War villain as yet to be identified but clearly a Russian mob leader involved in murders in Switzerland, one of whom is a new British MI5 friend of Ryan's.
The plot is straightforward with flashes to the past when Jack Sr. was a CIA analyst also prone to find danger here and there, also following the money, Russians and crime bosses. An unusual plot approach but effective and I was always able to sort out who what and when.
Of course, they'll get the bad guys and stop the Russians. What else?
The plot is straightforward with flashes to the past when Jack Sr. was a CIA analyst also prone to find danger here and there, also following the money, Russians and crime bosses. An unusual plot approach but effective and I was always able to sort out who what and when.
Of course, they'll get the bad guys and stop the Russians. What else?
March 24, 2024
Am Anfang ist es vielleicht etwas zäh, aber nach und nach ergeben die verschiedenen Handlungs- und Zeitstränge eine stimmige und spannende Geschichte. Das Ende ist dabei, wie meist bei Tom Clancy, absolut furios.
Leider ist die Geschichte aktueller den je, und es wird viel vorweg genommen, was nun leider traurige Realität ist.
Leider ist die Geschichte aktueller den je, und es wird viel vorweg genommen, was nun leider traurige Realität ist.
August 27, 2024
Command Authority
I liked this book, with plenty of action. I had trouble pronouncing Russian words and names, and trying to keep characters straight from now, to 30 years ago. I liked that Jack Ryan, the President , and his son were both in it,
I liked this book, with plenty of action. I had trouble pronouncing Russian words and names, and trying to keep characters straight from now, to 30 years ago. I liked that Jack Ryan, the President , and his son were both in it,
March 18, 2025
Another Jack Ryan Sr and Jack Ryan Jr Russian spy thriller involving The Campus. Not as good as prior books in the series and I found the frequent 30 year flashback annoying.
Hoping for better in next one.
Hoping for better in next one.
May 4, 2024
Enjoyed it. Good pace.
June 19, 2024
excellent
July 24, 2024
classic Clancy
Another great telling in precise detail. Always engrossing
Keeps you engaged the whole read and brings all elements together to connect the dots
Another great telling in precise detail. Always engrossing
Keeps you engaged the whole read and brings all elements together to connect the dots
September 6, 2024
My favorite Jack Ray so far. I enjoy the 30 years back and forth. Exciting but believable.
December 14, 2024
This was just as verbose as all the previous books of the series, gotta max out the word count regardless of redundancies. I did not care for the constant switching between past and present.
January 1, 2025
stories from the past
A wonderful tale. Filled with history and stories from the pasts of our famous characters. And excitement around every corner
A wonderful tale. Filled with history and stories from the pasts of our famous characters. And excitement around every corner
February 22, 2025
The story is typical Clancy miracle, but the writing is really disappointing when used to his early books
March 2, 2025
Good Tom Clancy fare. Not great but strangely prescient given everything going on at the moment. The ending is perhaps slightly anti-climactic but a decent plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews