Executive Orders (1996)

I remember I liked this book, but it is too long ago to write a proper review. Will re-read and add thoughts later.

This was my introduction to Tom Clancy. I was hooked and have read all of his books. ( )

An interesting insight into the life of the President but as a common man. No major plot holes that I could see although some times it was hard to understand who we were reading about. ( )

This is one of the better Clancy/Jack Ryan novels, concerned with his coming to grips with an Iran-inspired attack in various forms on America, after he has inadvertently become President. Although there's a lot of improbabilities, it also contains a good deal of fascinating detail about plausible scenarios on bio-warfare and terrorism. As ever the cliff-hanging structure is well arranged and the multiple plot lines handled beautifully (except one, see below). I did skip some of the land/air battle detail in the last 100 or so pages, but others may find that interesting. One noticeable flaw is the backwoodsmen bomb plot which seems to just peter out rather than being an integrated part of the story. The book also totally ignores the contribution which America would probably seek, in the circumstances outlined, from NATO allies. But nonetheless an enjoyable book. The opening part would be more comprehensible to anyone who had read Debt of Honor first as the books are closely linked, more so than others in the Ryan series. ( )

JACK RYAN