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Jack Ryan #1
Patriot Games
Tom Clancy's Patriot Games is filled with the exceptional realism and authenticity that distinguished the author's two previous bestsellers, Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising. Patriot Games puts us on the cutting edge of another type of war — the international battle of terrorism.
It is fall. Years before the defection of a Soviet submarine will send him hurtling into confrontation with the Soviets, historian, ex-Marine and CIA analyst Jack Ryan is vacationing in London with his wife and young daughter, when a terrorist attack takes place before his eyes. Instinctively, he dives forward to break it up, and is shot. It is not until he wakes up in the hospital that he learns whose lives he has saved -- the Prince and Princess of Wales and their new young son -- and which enemies he has made -- the Ulster Liberation Army, an ultra-left-wing splinter of the IRA.
It is fall. Years before the defection of a Soviet submarine will send him hurtling into confrontation with the Soviets, historian, ex-Marine and CIA analyst Jack Ryan is vacationing in London with his wife and young daughter, when a terrorist attack takes place before his eyes. Instinctively, he dives forward to break it up, and is shot. It is not until he wakes up in the hospital that he learns whose lives he has saved -- the Prince and Princess of Wales and their new young son -- and which enemies he has made -- the Ulster Liberation Army, an ultra-left-wing splinter of the IRA.
By his impulsive act, he has gained both the gratitude of a nation and then enmity of hits most dangerous men -- men who do not sit on their hate. And in the weeks and months to come, it is Jack Ryan, and his family, who will become the targets of that hate.
503 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 4, 1987
About the author
Tom Clancy
1,034 books9,337 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 2,148 reviews
June 15, 2013
Somehow, people like this book. Other people complain about the slow plot, or the level of detail, or the lack of action. I was perfectly fine with all of this, and in fact, I quite liked the idea that injuries were taken seriously and meant that people were out of action for a long time. The thing that makes this book truly bad is the lack of development of any of the characters, particularly Jack Ryan. He is possibly the worst Mary-Sue character I've read in such a widely published book.
He is perfect in every way: he is incredibly smart, women find him attractive (but he's humble and doesn't think he's handsome), everybody loves him (but he feels uncomfortable around too many people and prefers just a few close friends). He is a tough ex-marine with great combat sense, reflexes, and a sense of honor to match, but he is also a history professor and a legitimate academic. All his students universally love him, even though he's a really hard teacher. He is super rich and has a beautiful house in a secluded location. He loves his perfect family. The Queen of England is his biggest fan. He manages to win the friendship of Prince Charles by telling him off. I could go on with so many more examples.
None of his problems are internal, derive from personal flaws, or are even all that troubling. He's like that guy at a job interview who, when asked what his biggest weakness is, says something like "I guess I'm just too hard a worker," or something equally uninformative and boring. Everything he is challenged with in this story is external, and though clearly dangerous, it is only superficially so.
One particularly bad section of the novel centers on Jack's plane flight home from England. Clancy waxes lyrical about the tragic events of Ryan's past having made him afraid of airplanes and flying. Many pages are devoted to this description, but we learn nothing fundamental about Jack, only some details about his history. This scene unfortunately draws a direct comparison with a particular James Bond novel (Live and Let Die, I believe) when Bond is flying from the United States to Jamaica and his plane is caught in a bad thunderstorm. With only a few short paragraphs of inner monologue, we see Bond, who we just saw handle himself calmly and cooly in multiple situations of extreme peril, become terrified of death in an airplane crash. He becomes almost insensible until the danger passes, and we learn that what Bond is truly afraid of is his own powerlessness in this situation. It speaks volumes about the character. Jack Ryan has no such moment, nor anything close. He is entirely content, unperturbed, and unmotivated. Jack Ryan is the very image of self-satisfied rich white American culture from the mid-1980s, and while that itself does not necessarily make him a bad character, the superficial way in which it is handled does.
I will sum-up by saying that this book essentially reads like a bad British Monarchy fanfiction with an incredibly transparent main character.
He is perfect in every way: he is incredibly smart, women find him attractive (but he's humble and doesn't think he's handsome), everybody loves him (but he feels uncomfortable around too many people and prefers just a few close friends). He is a tough ex-marine with great combat sense, reflexes, and a sense of honor to match, but he is also a history professor and a legitimate academic. All his students universally love him, even though he's a really hard teacher. He is super rich and has a beautiful house in a secluded location. He loves his perfect family. The Queen of England is his biggest fan. He manages to win the friendship of Prince Charles by telling him off. I could go on with so many more examples.
None of his problems are internal, derive from personal flaws, or are even all that troubling. He's like that guy at a job interview who, when asked what his biggest weakness is, says something like "I guess I'm just too hard a worker," or something equally uninformative and boring. Everything he is challenged with in this story is external, and though clearly dangerous, it is only superficially so.
One particularly bad section of the novel centers on Jack's plane flight home from England. Clancy waxes lyrical about the tragic events of Ryan's past having made him afraid of airplanes and flying. Many pages are devoted to this description, but we learn nothing fundamental about Jack, only some details about his history. This scene unfortunately draws a direct comparison with a particular James Bond novel (Live and Let Die, I believe) when Bond is flying from the United States to Jamaica and his plane is caught in a bad thunderstorm. With only a few short paragraphs of inner monologue, we see Bond, who we just saw handle himself calmly and cooly in multiple situations of extreme peril, become terrified of death in an airplane crash. He becomes almost insensible until the danger passes, and we learn that what Bond is truly afraid of is his own powerlessness in this situation. It speaks volumes about the character. Jack Ryan has no such moment, nor anything close. He is entirely content, unperturbed, and unmotivated. Jack Ryan is the very image of self-satisfied rich white American culture from the mid-1980s, and while that itself does not necessarily make him a bad character, the superficial way in which it is handled does.
I will sum-up by saying that this book essentially reads like a bad British Monarchy fanfiction with an incredibly transparent main character.
December 23, 2008
I'll do the same review for all Clancy's novels because they're all pretty much the same. Very long, very detailed, and after a while, very repetitive. If you stop after just a few of his books you'd probably give them 4 or 5 stars, but beyond that they start to grate. Especially where Jack Ryan is involved. I mean, Clancy spends hundreds of pages getting his details just right, the settings perfect etc., then he has Ryan dodging more bullets than James Bond! I finally threw my hands up and surrendered when Ryan becomes President. I can't remember what piece of crap that was in.
I've given three stars as a compromise between my reactions when reading my first Clancy (brilliant) and last Clancy (doorstop).
I've given three stars as a compromise between my reactions when reading my first Clancy (brilliant) and last Clancy (doorstop).
January 1, 2020
This early Jack Ryan prequel certainly evokes the 1980’s setting from whence it was written, though in a great way!
Whilst on holiday in London, Jack inadvertently prevents an assassination attempt on members of the royal family by a faction group of the IRA.
The fact that it was the Prince and Princess of Wales alongside their son (who I decided was William) instantly rooted the story to the early part of the decade.
Jacks heroics soon makes him a target for the group and they’re desperate for him to pay, even his family are now targets...
It’s easy to see why the Ryan franchise continues to be successful as the main character is so likeable, first and foremost he cares about his family - while also believing in the right and proper way.
I definitely think Clancy really captures the political climate of the time too and thankfully we’ve seen an end to the troubles, this also felt a timely read with both Brexit and the Irish Backstop.
A great macho 80’s adventure!
Whilst on holiday in London, Jack inadvertently prevents an assassination attempt on members of the royal family by a faction group of the IRA.
The fact that it was the Prince and Princess of Wales alongside their son (who I decided was William) instantly rooted the story to the early part of the decade.
Jacks heroics soon makes him a target for the group and they’re desperate for him to pay, even his family are now targets...
It’s easy to see why the Ryan franchise continues to be successful as the main character is so likeable, first and foremost he cares about his family - while also believing in the right and proper way.
I definitely think Clancy really captures the political climate of the time too and thankfully we’ve seen an end to the troubles, this also felt a timely read with both Brexit and the Irish Backstop.
A great macho 80’s adventure!
December 16, 2010
Dude books. I call them "palette cleansers" because sometimes I just get tired of reading about FEELINGS and EMOTIONS and THOUGHTS.
This book didn't have any of those other things.
It had intrigue, machismo, swearing, guns, and violence. Pretty much pg-13 level, nothing too too much.
But it also had bravery, mystery, and for reals: the main guy likes his wife and kid. And he doesn't cheat on her. Two thumbs up.
So, in all, a bit more insight than the movie version, but pretty much the gist of it.
And now my palette has been cleansed. On to girl books once more.
This book didn't have any of those other things.
It had intrigue, machismo, swearing, guns, and violence. Pretty much pg-13 level, nothing too too much.
But it also had bravery, mystery, and for reals: the main guy likes his wife and kid. And he doesn't cheat on her. Two thumbs up.
So, in all, a bit more insight than the movie version, but pretty much the gist of it.
And now my palette has been cleansed. On to girl books once more.
November 5, 2025
2.5/5
-I really tried. I promise.
-Patriot Games starts strong: an attack, spies, chaos… you know? A terrorist attack but also attempt in England, guy jumps out to save the day, and now these people want to get some revenge on him and also his family? I thought, “Okay, this could be good.”
-But then Tom Clancy shows up with his “how to turn every scene into a CIA report” energy.
-There are good moments, I’m fully aware. And trust me, I’ve read some other books with similar themes but in here I felt like they’re so short-lived that before you blink, you’re knee-deep in weapon specs and political jargon.
-The main character, Jack Ryan, is basically a Mary Sue in a suit… I’m sorry. But his main and only flaw is “oh my gosh I’m so intelligent… but I’m so worried! I’m so so worried!” Like can you give me more details about him? I kinda want to know my main character well enough, you know?
-And of course, everyone loves him. Respectfully, I don’t need 500 pages of how perfect this man’s life is… and trust me, I get that this is the phase where it isn’t going that way but in a way it also is. Dude, just look at the way EVERY single person treats him. I get that EVERY single person loves your daughter and how adorable she is and I get that your wife is the most beautiful woman ever. Move on.
-Sometimes it actually hooks you, right when things get tense… Clancy remembers he wants to lecture you on geopolitics.
-It’s easy to get lost, or at least for me. It’s just.. so many acronyms, names, and details it feels like prepping for a history exam. And I’m aware there’s novels with LOTS of names but then their refer to the characters with their names but then their middle names but then their nicknames but then their professions? Dude, I’m not gonna memorize everything if the character shows up for like 2 pages and yet you keep changing the way you word the character’s description.
-The action scenes? Genuinely good. They have real tension. But everything around them feels like wading through an encyclopedia with footnotes.
The emotional connection just isn’t there for me. Like, it’s all info, no pulse.
-I admire the effort, but I didn’t care about the flag, the family, or the firearms, not entirely.
-I finished it mostly out of commitment, not excitement.
-Sigh… what could’ve been but wasn’t.
-“A conscience is the price of morality, and morality is the price of civilization.”
-I really tried. I promise.
-Patriot Games starts strong: an attack, spies, chaos… you know? A terrorist attack but also attempt in England, guy jumps out to save the day, and now these people want to get some revenge on him and also his family? I thought, “Okay, this could be good.”
-But then Tom Clancy shows up with his “how to turn every scene into a CIA report” energy.
-There are good moments, I’m fully aware. And trust me, I’ve read some other books with similar themes but in here I felt like they’re so short-lived that before you blink, you’re knee-deep in weapon specs and political jargon.
-The main character, Jack Ryan, is basically a Mary Sue in a suit… I’m sorry. But his main and only flaw is “oh my gosh I’m so intelligent… but I’m so worried! I’m so so worried!” Like can you give me more details about him? I kinda want to know my main character well enough, you know?
-And of course, everyone loves him. Respectfully, I don’t need 500 pages of how perfect this man’s life is… and trust me, I get that this is the phase where it isn’t going that way but in a way it also is. Dude, just look at the way EVERY single person treats him. I get that EVERY single person loves your daughter and how adorable she is and I get that your wife is the most beautiful woman ever. Move on.
-Sometimes it actually hooks you, right when things get tense… Clancy remembers he wants to lecture you on geopolitics.
-It’s easy to get lost, or at least for me. It’s just.. so many acronyms, names, and details it feels like prepping for a history exam. And I’m aware there’s novels with LOTS of names but then their refer to the characters with their names but then their middle names but then their nicknames but then their professions? Dude, I’m not gonna memorize everything if the character shows up for like 2 pages and yet you keep changing the way you word the character’s description.
-The action scenes? Genuinely good. They have real tension. But everything around them feels like wading through an encyclopedia with footnotes.
The emotional connection just isn’t there for me. Like, it’s all info, no pulse.
-I admire the effort, but I didn’t care about the flag, the family, or the firearms, not entirely.
-I finished it mostly out of commitment, not excitement.
-Sigh… what could’ve been but wasn’t.
-“A conscience is the price of morality, and morality is the price of civilization.”
April 2, 2017
I heard that Tom Clancy hated the movie this book inspired. Having read it, i can understand why. Nobody likes it when someone takes your idea and makes it enjoyable.
This is another one of Tom Clancy's political statements disguised as a novel, with the IRA representing communism. The Pacing is dull, the story unbelievable and at times hilarious.
I suppose though my biggest problem is with Clancy's notion that Ryan is somehow able or even capable of doing half of what he undergos, just because he's a former marine with a career of 3 months and who'd never seen combat. Especially as in HFRO, he can barely keep his cool when being shot at by a cook. In reality, Ryan would have been struck dumb by it all like everyone else, and even if he hadn't, if he had gone head to head with an IRA gunman, they would have eaten him for breakfast.
I know that to Clancy's mind the rest of the world is small and inferior compared to anyone born in the states but the IRA are tough bastards, not the sort a history teacher would knock out with one tackle.
Also, why does Clancy always refer to the royal family with their titles?
This is another one of Tom Clancy's political statements disguised as a novel, with the IRA representing communism. The Pacing is dull, the story unbelievable and at times hilarious.
I suppose though my biggest problem is with Clancy's notion that Ryan is somehow able or even capable of doing half of what he undergos, just because he's a former marine with a career of 3 months and who'd never seen combat. Especially as in HFRO, he can barely keep his cool when being shot at by a cook. In reality, Ryan would have been struck dumb by it all like everyone else, and even if he hadn't, if he had gone head to head with an IRA gunman, they would have eaten him for breakfast.
I know that to Clancy's mind the rest of the world is small and inferior compared to anyone born in the states but the IRA are tough bastards, not the sort a history teacher would knock out with one tackle.
Also, why does Clancy always refer to the royal family with their titles?
December 6, 2018
5 star
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2021
Good solid story in my opinion. Some elements of the story are dated but nonetheless it was entertaining. Recommended if you like The Hunt for Red October.
October 4, 2019
This was a reread of a book I read when it first came out, and several times since then. It starts with a bang as Jack, on a working vacation in London with his family, witnesses a kidnapping attempt on the royal family. His instinctive reaction stopped the attack and put him in the bullseye of revenge.
One of the things I enjoy most every time I read this book is the deft mixture of action, darkness, and humor. The opening attack sucks me into the story immediately, on the edge of my seat as Jack rushes into action. Clancy's descriptions are vivid enough that I can picture the events as they happen. The confusion at the scene felt realistic, and I could feel Jack's worry that he'd end up "stuck like a pig" when the good guys showed up. I always laugh at the scenes in the hospital as Jack deals with the doctors (including his wife) and other medical personnel. The scenes with various law enforcement personnel show Jack what he inadvertently got involved in and reveal his razor-sharp mind as he processes what he learns. The scenes with multiple members of the royal family are good, but my favorite is when he helps the prince work through his feelings about what happened. Though not particularly realistic, it is still a great scene.
As the book continues we get the viewpoints of both the bad guys and the good guys. Jack and his family return home, secure in the knowledge that the bad guy is in jail and terrorists have never attacked on American soil. But the tension ramps up as the bad guy escapes and assorted good guys get a bad feeling about what might happen. Jack is lured into the CIA's sphere as he tries to get a handle on the group behind the attack. Their fears are realized when Jack's wife and daughter are nearly killed in an attack, and only luck prevents Jack from being attacked too. I ached for Jack as he dealt with his feelings of guilt and fear by getting more involved in the case. Jack goes through a lot of self-examination as he tries to reconcile his need for justice with the anger and desire for revenge that he also feels.
The tension continues to build as the book follows the terrorists as they make plans for their next attack. The attention to detail was intriguing and as were the insights into the various players' motivations. At the same time we see the good guys as they try to assemble the pieces of the puzzle in time to stop whatever is planned.
The final confrontation was a nail-biter. It started easy, with the royal visit and some amusing banter between Jack, Robby, and the prince. The chaos of the attack was described so vividly that I felt as though I was there. The escape by boat was exciting, and their arrival at the Academy was tense but also had a few lighter moments. The pursuit of the last of the bad guys had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. Jack faced a crossroads in his life, and it was interesting to see how he handled it. I loved the ending.
One of my favorite lines is as the Superintendent asks Robby who is aboard the ship: "Chief Znamirowski and the duty boat section, Captain Peters and some Marines, Doctor Ryan, and, uh, Captain Wales, sir, of the Royal Navy" "Is that where he is?..."
One of the things I enjoy most every time I read this book is the deft mixture of action, darkness, and humor. The opening attack sucks me into the story immediately, on the edge of my seat as Jack rushes into action. Clancy's descriptions are vivid enough that I can picture the events as they happen. The confusion at the scene felt realistic, and I could feel Jack's worry that he'd end up "stuck like a pig" when the good guys showed up. I always laugh at the scenes in the hospital as Jack deals with the doctors (including his wife) and other medical personnel. The scenes with various law enforcement personnel show Jack what he inadvertently got involved in and reveal his razor-sharp mind as he processes what he learns. The scenes with multiple members of the royal family are good, but my favorite is when he helps the prince work through his feelings about what happened. Though not particularly realistic, it is still a great scene.
As the book continues we get the viewpoints of both the bad guys and the good guys. Jack and his family return home, secure in the knowledge that the bad guy is in jail and terrorists have never attacked on American soil. But the tension ramps up as the bad guy escapes and assorted good guys get a bad feeling about what might happen. Jack is lured into the CIA's sphere as he tries to get a handle on the group behind the attack. Their fears are realized when Jack's wife and daughter are nearly killed in an attack, and only luck prevents Jack from being attacked too. I ached for Jack as he dealt with his feelings of guilt and fear by getting more involved in the case. Jack goes through a lot of self-examination as he tries to reconcile his need for justice with the anger and desire for revenge that he also feels.
The tension continues to build as the book follows the terrorists as they make plans for their next attack. The attention to detail was intriguing and as were the insights into the various players' motivations. At the same time we see the good guys as they try to assemble the pieces of the puzzle in time to stop whatever is planned.
The final confrontation was a nail-biter. It started easy, with the royal visit and some amusing banter between Jack, Robby, and the prince. The chaos of the attack was described so vividly that I felt as though I was there. The escape by boat was exciting, and their arrival at the Academy was tense but also had a few lighter moments. The pursuit of the last of the bad guys had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. Jack faced a crossroads in his life, and it was interesting to see how he handled it. I loved the ending.
One of my favorite lines is as the Superintendent asks Robby who is aboard the ship: "Chief Znamirowski and the duty boat section, Captain Peters and some Marines, Doctor Ryan, and, uh, Captain Wales, sir, of the Royal Navy" "Is that where he is?..."
October 5, 2025
Written in 1987, Tom Clancy's novel "Patriot Games" was an intense thriller about something that Americans didn't have to worry about for another decade: terrorism.
Not that terrorism wasn't a major international issue at the time. America, however, was miraculously one of the few countries that hadn't suffered a major terrorist attack on its soil. (It wouldn't be until 1996 when terrorists set off a bomb in the North Tower parking garage, killing six people and injuring hundreds.)
I remember reading this shortly after it came out. I would have probably been in eighth grade. The extent of my knowledge of current events was that I knew Ronald Reagan was president and there was this scary place called "The Middle East" in which lots of horrible things happened. I occasionally caught glimpses of it, in between episodes of "Happy Days" and "Laverne & Shirley". What I saw of the news, I didn't like. It made me anxious. (Strangely enough, I'm 52 and I still don't watch the news for the same reason.)
Anyway, "Patriot Games" was one of those Books and Authors That I Loved But Haven't Read in a While and Need to Revisit. I remember reading this book multiple times, mainly because Clancy could write some of the most intense and exciting action scenes. He was also great at building suspense over long periods of time involving multiple actors. Very few contemporary authors have emulated this quality of Clancy's. (Vince Flynn comes the closest.)
I remember liking the inevitable movie with Harrison Ford, but it honestly couldn't hold a candle to Clancy's book.
Not that terrorism wasn't a major international issue at the time. America, however, was miraculously one of the few countries that hadn't suffered a major terrorist attack on its soil. (It wouldn't be until 1996 when terrorists set off a bomb in the North Tower parking garage, killing six people and injuring hundreds.)
I remember reading this shortly after it came out. I would have probably been in eighth grade. The extent of my knowledge of current events was that I knew Ronald Reagan was president and there was this scary place called "The Middle East" in which lots of horrible things happened. I occasionally caught glimpses of it, in between episodes of "Happy Days" and "Laverne & Shirley". What I saw of the news, I didn't like. It made me anxious. (Strangely enough, I'm 52 and I still don't watch the news for the same reason.)
Anyway, "Patriot Games" was one of those Books and Authors That I Loved But Haven't Read in a While and Need to Revisit. I remember reading this book multiple times, mainly because Clancy could write some of the most intense and exciting action scenes. He was also great at building suspense over long periods of time involving multiple actors. Very few contemporary authors have emulated this quality of Clancy's. (Vince Flynn comes the closest.)
I remember liking the inevitable movie with Harrison Ford, but it honestly couldn't hold a candle to Clancy's book.
June 7, 2010
3.5 to 4.0 stars. Third Jack Ryan book published but first in terms of internal chronology as the events take place before those in The Hunt for Red October. While I enjoyed some of the later Ryan novels more (especially those in which John Clark and his crew played a major part), this is still a quality thriller and certainly worth a read. A pretty good Clancy novel is still much better than a lot of the junk that is out there.
June 16, 2026
Plan to re-read down the road.
July 22, 2025
All the months of planning, the painstakingly gathered intelligence, the rehearsals carried out right under the Brit noses, the three escape routes, the radiomen--all for nothing because this bloody meddler. He examined the photo on the front page. (PG 44)
Sooo long, sooo repetitive, soooo detailed. My first Clancy novel. Not sure what I was expecting.
I've watched the movies with John Krasinski and thought they were just okay, not James Bond here, but just EH. The book is the same. Not sure if I should continue but my neighbor got these gifted from a dead friend and just gave me a big ass book bag with this series. Maybe I'll skim to be respectful and have a nice conversation with him....
I think Clancy wrote a fictional book series about himself. Ryan seemed very much a twinsy to Tommy here. I did look him up and appreciate he was a Catholic and never remarried out of love and respect for his deceased wife. Respect homie.
Sooo long, sooo repetitive, soooo detailed. My first Clancy novel. Not sure what I was expecting.
I've watched the movies with John Krasinski and thought they were just okay, not James Bond here, but just EH. The book is the same. Not sure if I should continue but my neighbor got these gifted from a dead friend and just gave me a big ass book bag with this series. Maybe I'll skim to be respectful and have a nice conversation with him....
I think Clancy wrote a fictional book series about himself. Ryan seemed very much a twinsy to Tommy here. I did look him up and appreciate he was a Catholic and never remarried out of love and respect for his deceased wife. Respect homie.
February 3, 2015
Executive Summary: After enjoying The Hunt for Red October, I had high hopes for this book, and found myself a bit disappointed.
Audio book: I've listened to one or two books read by Scott Brick. He's a decent reader, but nothing special. He does a passable English and Irish accent here, but not in anyway to make the characters of similar accents distinguishable from one another. He does a better job of that with his American voices, but still not great.
I'd happily listen to another book read by him, but wouldn't rank him among my favorite readers.
Full Review
I've seen every Jack Ryan movie they've made (and enjoyed most of them), including this one, but this is only my 3rd book in the series I've read. This is one of the few cases where I think the movie is better though.
I rather enjoyed The Hunt for Red October, which I think had a slightly better reader plus a bunch of sound effects that really added to the experience.
The real core of my disappointment here was the pacing. The book starts out great and ends pretty well, but really got bogged down inbetween. After a pretty exciting start the next quarter or so seemed to just drag on.
See Jack Ryan, budding Analyst and he recovers in a hospital! Contain your excitement as he tours old castles along the English Country side. Watch your anticipation grow and you wonder: Will Jack be able to put together his daughter's Christmas presents while recovering from his wounds?
Eventually though things started to pick back and up and I thought I was over a rough patch. Unfortunately things slowed back down again for awhile before a pretty enjoyable finish.
Mr. Clancy offers a variety of POVs to give the reader the details from both the terrorists and those trying to catch them. I like this idea, though the execution was lacking in my opinion.
If the goal was to accurately portray the tedium and frustration of a CIA analyst, then this book succeeds. However if the goal was to mix in reality with fiction to tell an exciting spy thriller, this book fell short for me.
I think for me this was best contrasted by the book I was reading while listening to this. The Deaths of Tao is a spy thriller with a sci-fi setting, where aliens secretly run the world. Wesley Chu is far less known/successful than Tom Clancy yet I found his book far more exciting.
While I found this book disappointing, it hasn't completely put me off of the series or Tom Clancy. I may switch to try our his John Clark books instead though. I mostly likely won't be buying my next Clancy book though, and will borrow it from the library instead.
Audio book: I've listened to one or two books read by Scott Brick. He's a decent reader, but nothing special. He does a passable English and Irish accent here, but not in anyway to make the characters of similar accents distinguishable from one another. He does a better job of that with his American voices, but still not great.
I'd happily listen to another book read by him, but wouldn't rank him among my favorite readers.
Full Review
I've seen every Jack Ryan movie they've made (and enjoyed most of them), including this one, but this is only my 3rd book in the series I've read. This is one of the few cases where I think the movie is better though.
I rather enjoyed The Hunt for Red October, which I think had a slightly better reader plus a bunch of sound effects that really added to the experience.
The real core of my disappointment here was the pacing. The book starts out great and ends pretty well, but really got bogged down inbetween. After a pretty exciting start the next quarter or so seemed to just drag on.
See Jack Ryan, budding Analyst and he recovers in a hospital! Contain your excitement as he tours old castles along the English Country side. Watch your anticipation grow and you wonder: Will Jack be able to put together his daughter's Christmas presents while recovering from his wounds?
Eventually though things started to pick back and up and I thought I was over a rough patch. Unfortunately things slowed back down again for awhile before a pretty enjoyable finish.
Mr. Clancy offers a variety of POVs to give the reader the details from both the terrorists and those trying to catch them. I like this idea, though the execution was lacking in my opinion.
If the goal was to accurately portray the tedium and frustration of a CIA analyst, then this book succeeds. However if the goal was to mix in reality with fiction to tell an exciting spy thriller, this book fell short for me.
I think for me this was best contrasted by the book I was reading while listening to this. The Deaths of Tao is a spy thriller with a sci-fi setting, where aliens secretly run the world. Wesley Chu is far less known/successful than Tom Clancy yet I found his book far more exciting.
While I found this book disappointing, it hasn't completely put me off of the series or Tom Clancy. I may switch to try our his John Clark books instead though. I mostly likely won't be buying my next Clancy book though, and will borrow it from the library instead.
January 24, 2016
I still can't understand how, after 787 pages, Tom Clancy was unable to develop even the slightest hint of personality in any of the 30+ characters in this novel. Jack Ryan is one of the most boring, one-dimensional characters I've ever encountered. I'm sure Clancy did plenty of research on the military, procedures, guns, planes, ships, ranks, etc. This would explain the pages and pages and pages of pointless blathering about types of automatic weapons, ammunition, tomcat planes, boats, Concorde flights, and SargeantMajorLieutenantCaptain chatter. Add to that the god-awful dialogue, the cringeworthy awkwardness of the 'sex' scenes, and the breathtakingly and unforgivably stupid yelling-at-the-crown-prince (who later wields an Uzi in a boat chase) scene, and it's probably one of the most painful 800 pages I've ever read. So awful.
February 18, 2010
Jack and his family are in England, can things be expected to go smoothly? Well, not if we want a novel.
I read this years ago. Have you seen the movie? Try the book. For one thing while it is a fantastic read and the proverbial thrill ride, it is undoubtedly dated. The "victims" Jack saves are Prince Charles and Princess Diana, still happily married.
Still, failed fantasies aside, the story is exciting, well written, and a good base for the novels that follow.
I read this years ago. Have you seen the movie? Try the book. For one thing while it is a fantastic read and the proverbial thrill ride, it is undoubtedly dated. The "victims" Jack saves are Prince Charles and Princess Diana, still happily married.
Still, failed fantasies aside, the story is exciting, well written, and a good base for the novels that follow.
June 4, 2025
I read Patriot Games a long time ago. I kinda forget the story. But looking at it, I wish I have more books where the hero is the main characters instead of heroine. Jack Ryan series is that perfect example for that.
I like Mr Clancy writing style. It is engaging and putting me on my seat.
4 stars
I like Mr Clancy writing style. It is engaging and putting me on my seat.
4 stars
August 8, 2022
This would've been a decent three stars, but the pacing is so bad that I have to knock down a star. Also the length when barely anything happens. Maybe I should give the movies a try?
October 29, 2021
*image review: https://lenaleigh.blogspot.com/2021/1...
If there’s anything better than classic Clancy I have yet to find it. Damn but this was good, a perfect balance of action, intrigue, and investigation. Listed as the first Jack Ryan adventure, the old girl holds up well.
If there’s anything better than classic Clancy I have yet to find it. Damn but this was good, a perfect balance of action, intrigue, and investigation. Listed as the first Jack Ryan adventure, the old girl holds up well.
August 31, 2021
Jack Ryan gets in the way of an IRA terrorist act, starting a chain of events which threaten the lives of his family and cause him to take extreme measures to protect them. Unlike other Clancy novels, this first of the series is not built around top-secret military weaponry. Instead, it is an introduction to the series' primary character, Jack Ryan, a naval historian who, after a little arm twisting, becomes a CIA analyst. It also explores the mindset of Irish terrorist factions.
Clancy novels are thrill rides which launch from their very first page and don't stop until the last. No warm up or foreplay. Just buckle up and hang on. Patriot Games is no exception.
Clancy novels are thrill rides which launch from their very first page and don't stop until the last. No warm up or foreplay. Just buckle up and hang on. Patriot Games is no exception.
April 12, 2017
I have a theory that this is actually the first novel that Tom Clancy wrote, simply because it seems to me to be a wish-fulfillment fantasy. "Wouldn't it be great if I saved the royal family of England and was knighted by the queen." Great daydream and he turned it into a novel.
Anyway, I liked it anyway. Good page-turner. It is probably a 4.5 stars read, but I rounded up.
Anyway, I liked it anyway. Good page-turner. It is probably a 4.5 stars read, but I rounded up.
July 14, 2021
Great writing and excellent plot timing. Harrison Ford should have read this book. It would have made the film much more believable.
October 29, 2023
Primo libro di Jack Ryan che leggo, non mi è affatto dispiaciuto.
Chiaramente personaggio irreale (super intelligente, addestramento da marine, grande grosso e forte, simpatico e bello e umile, con la famiglia perfetta (a parte il suocero, inimicato per via del suo grande senso etico e morale), bravo in tutto...) ma la cosa è nota e penso sia abbastanza scontata per storie di questo tipo e di quel tempo.
Quindi mi sono solo goduto questo antipasto di Jack Ryan (per ora ho solo visto la serie e un paio di film), sorridendo nel ritrovare nomi noti, stupendomi per la descrizione dei reali inglesi, intrigandomi con le varie agenzie e apprezzando mio malgrado l'arguzia del nemico.
Alcuni passaggi, riletti adesso, fanno un po' di tristezza rievocando tempi più calmi (per modo di dire) pre 11/9...
Chiaramente personaggio irreale (super intelligente, addestramento da marine, grande grosso e forte, simpatico e bello e umile, con la famiglia perfetta (a parte il suocero, inimicato per via del suo grande senso etico e morale), bravo in tutto...) ma la cosa è nota e penso sia abbastanza scontata per storie di questo tipo e di quel tempo.
Quindi mi sono solo goduto questo antipasto di Jack Ryan (per ora ho solo visto la serie e un paio di film), sorridendo nel ritrovare nomi noti, stupendomi per la descrizione dei reali inglesi, intrigandomi con le varie agenzie e apprezzando mio malgrado l'arguzia del nemico.
Alcuni passaggi, riletti adesso, fanno un po' di tristezza rievocando tempi più calmi (per modo di dire) pre 11/9...
July 5, 2014
Clancy's second Jack Ryan book is a prequel, which is perhaps why some suggest new readers should read them in the order the events took place rather than in the order they were written. Some of the suspense is muted because you know how the big picture will work out. This story is about Ryan's actions in England when, as an innocent bystander, tries to stop a terrorist (IRA-like group) action and what happens as a result in England and then back home in Annapolis. It also tells of how he gets roped into the CIA. The event was referenced multiple times in "Red October"
The story, despite knowing how it will turn out (from reading it once before, seeing the movie multiple times, and having read "Red October"), is exciting and fun. Clancy does have a knack for keeping the pedal to the metal when he's in the middle of action sequences.
Scott Brick narrated the audiobook, which made it feel a bit like a science fiction story at first (he has done a lot of them), but I got over that quickly. I like his narration, though he pronounces "Annapolis" funny.
The story, despite knowing how it will turn out (from reading it once before, seeing the movie multiple times, and having read "Red October"), is exciting and fun. Clancy does have a knack for keeping the pedal to the metal when he's in the middle of action sequences.
Scott Brick narrated the audiobook, which made it feel a bit like a science fiction story at first (he has done a lot of them), but I got over that quickly. I like his narration, though he pronounces "Annapolis" funny.
September 6, 2007
Although an old novel, but this is a classic novel about Jack Ryan, a former US marines who was on a work/vacation to the UK. A day after his arrival, he finds himself in a gun battle with 3 terrorists attacking the prince of Wales, his wife and few months old baby.
They survived the attack, thanks to Jack who sustains an injury but got the Knighthood for his bravery.
After that comes trouble from... Hey! go read it yourself to find out what happened in the end.
I really like the plot. It's a classic like from a master plotter (mario Puzo).
Have fun reading.
They survived the attack, thanks to Jack who sustains an injury but got the Knighthood for his bravery.
After that comes trouble from... Hey! go read it yourself to find out what happened in the end.
I really like the plot. It's a classic like from a master plotter (mario Puzo).
Have fun reading.
March 30, 2020
3/30/2020 Notes: Rating Raised from 3 Stars to 5 Stars
I read this book a long time ago and remembered that I enjoyed reading it. Re-reading by audio was great! Scott Brick is one of the best narrators and the story held more details/romance than I remembered. A nice mix of action & relay of connected consequences.
I read this book a long time ago and remembered that I enjoyed reading it. Re-reading by audio was great! Scott Brick is one of the best narrators and the story held more details/romance than I remembered. A nice mix of action & relay of connected consequences.
January 1, 2018
Irish bashing aside, a solid thriller. Can't deny I had a good time with the sun, not in the sun. Too much fun. Not that you need to know any of that. Details are all mine.
April 6, 2018
Read it many moons ago. I don't think it would hold up today.
April 1, 2020
Sheer boredom. That's all you need to read of my review to get my point. I guess Clancy may just not be for me. (I've read Rainbow Six which was decent and the Sum of All Fears, which sucked). I'll eventually get back and try to read through his classics, but this book along with the Sum of All Fears has made me decide to make that happen over the course of the next decade.
The biggest problem with this book, and it is a huge problem, is that Clancy went with a very literal portrayal of the boredom and tedium that Jack Ryan puts up with through the plot. There were parts of the book, I remember a scene in particular where he is being given instructions at the gun range, where it feels like I actually had to sit through the entire thing in real time. If it is integral to the plot, this is great. If it is pointless, this is a disaster. Stuff like that is the majority of the book. This book would probably make a nice short story or short novel if you took out 80% of it. Enormous sections of this book could be erased, and you wouldn't tell a difference in terms of plot. I can remember the exact moment when I realized this book would take me forever to read: It was when we start getting the background, thoughts, and POV of some random doctor that works on one of the main characters. We don't need to know this person. We don't need to know his thoughts or the details of his childhood.
As a prequel, the point of this book is to introduce and setup Jack Ryan. I would say it failed masterfully. His character is a mary sue for sure. He literally has no faults. Everybody loves him and wants him. He repeatedly sees things that nobody else does, even trained professionals. .
Along the same lines, Ryan has a moral breakdown over whether or not it is ethical. This leads to most likely literally 20 minutes of justification for his actions. It was unbearable. I absolutely despise the, "if we do that, we are just as bad as they are" nonsensical argument.
The other major annoyance in this book is the dialogue. Clancy uses the word "sir" just about 3 times a sentence. It is insufferable and I just about started yelling "shut up!" at my stereo on numerous occasions.
The beginning and end of the book are decent. That's the best I can say about Patriot Games.
My final complaint:
The biggest problem with this book, and it is a huge problem, is that Clancy went with a very literal portrayal of the boredom and tedium that Jack Ryan puts up with through the plot. There were parts of the book, I remember a scene in particular where he is being given instructions at the gun range, where it feels like I actually had to sit through the entire thing in real time. If it is integral to the plot, this is great. If it is pointless, this is a disaster. Stuff like that is the majority of the book. This book would probably make a nice short story or short novel if you took out 80% of it. Enormous sections of this book could be erased, and you wouldn't tell a difference in terms of plot. I can remember the exact moment when I realized this book would take me forever to read: It was when we start getting the background, thoughts, and POV of some random doctor that works on one of the main characters. We don't need to know this person. We don't need to know his thoughts or the details of his childhood.
As a prequel, the point of this book is to introduce and setup Jack Ryan. I would say it failed masterfully. His character is a mary sue for sure. He literally has no faults. Everybody loves him and wants him. He repeatedly sees things that nobody else does, even trained professionals. .
Along the same lines, Ryan has a moral breakdown over whether or not it is ethical. This leads to most likely literally 20 minutes of justification for his actions. It was unbearable. I absolutely despise the, "if we do that, we are just as bad as they are" nonsensical argument.
The other major annoyance in this book is the dialogue. Clancy uses the word "sir" just about 3 times a sentence. It is insufferable and I just about started yelling "shut up!" at my stereo on numerous occasions.
The beginning and end of the book are decent. That's the best I can say about Patriot Games.
My final complaint:
October 19, 2019
After losing my Dad recently, I watched the entire Jack Ryan series on Amazon all the way through over about 36 hours. Sleepless nights and such. But it was so good that I ended up watching it again with my husband. Then I went out and grabbed this book. (FYI, the show is not based on any particular book according to the show creators, so I don't feel like I spoiled anything by watching first.)
I love Jack Ryan. I love how he loves his wife and daughter. He has this feral-like need to protect them, and he isn't interested or tempted by other women. (I hope it stays like that throughout the series.) Jack Ryan is an ex-marine who ends up working for the CIA in a very roundabout way. I love the beginning of the book, how Jack is vacationing in London with his family when he finds himself thwarting an attack on the Prince of Wales and his family. Ryan finds himself a hero with the Royal family and the rest of the country, but when his injuries heal and he returns to America, he brings trouble to the US, out for revenge.
What I didn't really enjoy is the trouble that he brought back. I just couldn't muster enough interest in the bad guys. There are so many of them, their part of the plot is so complicated, and they even involve outside terrorist agencies in what they are doing. Just so much terrorism-speak, it got muddy and boring.
It seemed like Tom Clancy really disliked the bad guys. I noticed that he gave them no redeeming qualities or sympathies whatsoever. They do not have anything to identify with at all. They don't speak fondly their wives or their mothers or their children. They don't hesitate for even a second or have second thoughts. They are just flat-out bad guys with no redeeming qualities. Even the way they dialogue with one another is very stilted and almost harsh. Very interesting. (This was a definite contrast from the show, because they gave the bad guys at least some humanity with their perspectives.)
So I liked this one, but I didn't love it. There were parts that were exciting and heart-pounding, but that feeling certainly didn't carry throughout the entire length of the book. I'll read/listen to more from Clancy and Jack Ryan, but I'm not in a huge hurry to do so.
Audiobook Notes: Scott Brick is one of my favorite narrators, but I don't feel like this is one of my favorites from his audio collection. Maybe it was because of the accents that he used for the Irish and British characters? Or maybe it was because I just didn't feel his enthusiasm with this story like I have with some of his other work. It was good, but just not a favorite.
This is a good introduction to Jack Ryan's character and still totally worth the use of a credit. My husband is now reading the book without the audiobook and it is taking him forever to get through it. I'm glad that I listened to it, but I'm not completely sure that the Clancy series is a re-listen series for me.
Title: Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
Series: Jack Ryan #1
Narrated by: Scott Brick
Publisher: Random House Audio
Length: 22 hours, 2 minutes, Unabridged
I love Jack Ryan. I love how he loves his wife and daughter. He has this feral-like need to protect them, and he isn't interested or tempted by other women. (I hope it stays like that throughout the series.) Jack Ryan is an ex-marine who ends up working for the CIA in a very roundabout way. I love the beginning of the book, how Jack is vacationing in London with his family when he finds himself thwarting an attack on the Prince of Wales and his family. Ryan finds himself a hero with the Royal family and the rest of the country, but when his injuries heal and he returns to America, he brings trouble to the US, out for revenge.
What I didn't really enjoy is the trouble that he brought back. I just couldn't muster enough interest in the bad guys. There are so many of them, their part of the plot is so complicated, and they even involve outside terrorist agencies in what they are doing. Just so much terrorism-speak, it got muddy and boring.
It seemed like Tom Clancy really disliked the bad guys. I noticed that he gave them no redeeming qualities or sympathies whatsoever. They do not have anything to identify with at all. They don't speak fondly their wives or their mothers or their children. They don't hesitate for even a second or have second thoughts. They are just flat-out bad guys with no redeeming qualities. Even the way they dialogue with one another is very stilted and almost harsh. Very interesting. (This was a definite contrast from the show, because they gave the bad guys at least some humanity with their perspectives.)
So I liked this one, but I didn't love it. There were parts that were exciting and heart-pounding, but that feeling certainly didn't carry throughout the entire length of the book. I'll read/listen to more from Clancy and Jack Ryan, but I'm not in a huge hurry to do so.
Audiobook Notes: Scott Brick is one of my favorite narrators, but I don't feel like this is one of my favorites from his audio collection. Maybe it was because of the accents that he used for the Irish and British characters? Or maybe it was because I just didn't feel his enthusiasm with this story like I have with some of his other work. It was good, but just not a favorite.
This is a good introduction to Jack Ryan's character and still totally worth the use of a credit. My husband is now reading the book without the audiobook and it is taking him forever to get through it. I'm glad that I listened to it, but I'm not completely sure that the Clancy series is a re-listen series for me.
Title: Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
Series: Jack Ryan #1
Narrated by: Scott Brick
Publisher: Random House Audio
Length: 22 hours, 2 minutes, Unabridged
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