This is a very long book (900+ pages), weaving together a large number of converging storylines which culminate in a terrorist nuclear attack in the US. There is a good deal of technical detail, which will suit some readers more than others. Some of the Washington politics seems a little unrealistic, at least to an outsider, and the lead character Jack Ryan is perhaps rather irritating at times, more than in some other books. The opening scenario of a peace plan for the mid-east seems particularly fantastical. The submarine sequences are a little dull, surprisingly from the author of ‘Hunt for Red October’. The best storylines in my view are those dealing directly with the terrorists and the build-up to the ‘event’ despite the fact that these are the most technical. But as usual with a Clancy book the story does in due course achieve that ‘can’t put down’ quality, which in my case paradoxically makes me deliberately stop reading occasionally so I don’t totally overload. ( )

Next to Hunt for Red October, this is my favorite of all of the Jack Ryan novels. It was frightening the first time I read it and it only become more so after 9/11. Clancy's attention to detail is once again evident, but unlike some reviewers, I didn't find it to be too much detail. Unfortunately, I feel that this book also signaled the highpoint of the Ryan character arc. Beyond this book, it became more and more cliched. It's not great art by any means, but it is intense storytelling and nobody works the details better than the technothriller master himself. More than any other book, I always wanted to see this one made into a movie - until the poor excuse for a movie was actually made. Now I wish my only memories were of the book. ( )

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). ( )

Okay, what's there not to like? This is my second-most favorite book by Clancy. Unusual for this author, the plot goes all over the place. Clancy is typically more focused than he was here. Regardless, read this book for the science - especially the science of building a nuke. The technology is the attraction here, at least as far as I'm concerned. My father worked on the Manhattan Project so I come by the interest in nukes honestly.

As a professional nerd, doing the science right is a big deal for me. Clancy has never let me down in this regard. There's very good character and plot development too. If you're a Jack Ryan fan, the Ryan family subplot is as good as it gets. The scene with Dr. Mrs. Ryan and the national security adviser is probably my favorite "Ryan moment" out of all the Jack Ryan books. Clancy nails Dr. Ryan's inner conversation over boob size, a thought train that is uniquely feminine. I'm floored that a guy could get inside a woman's head so well. It demonstrates just how good Clancy is as a writer. After all, most of his books are really just grown-up-boy adventures; I never expected him to go beyond the genre.

The whole Roman Catholic church sub-plot is a hoot - especially the bit about encrypted messages from Georgetown University to the Vatican. Jesuits with spy craft...it's the one place I had problems with the believability of the story line. Everything else is classic Clancy. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were relatable and the action intense. I don't consider myself a Tom Clancy "fan" but this book could easily make me one! ( )