Locked On

The Clancy brand brings recognisable elements to all its books: unnecessarily detailed descriptions of military/intelligence components (people, places, equipment) not designed to move the story forwards, but to let you know how 'in' the brand is with this world; lots of dead people, most killed in horrible ways and circumstances; the primacy of Americans in bravery, analysis, action and choice of weapons.

This book has them all and enjoyable it is in a mindless beach-hammock, cocktail-drinking sort of way.

Una nueva novela de Clancy, la tercera sobre las andanzas de Jack Ryan Jr. En esta ocasión hay amenaza de guerra nuclear, daguestaníes islámicos armados, una caza de la CIA contra sus propios agentes y unas cuantas historias paralelas más. Las novelas de Toma Clancy son buenas para lo que son buenas: pasar un rato muy entretenido y ver cómo hace Clancy (y su adlátere de turno) desfilar el mundo paralelo ante nuestros ojos. De vez en cuando, en sus novelas, Clancy hace paradas y detalla de manera bastante técnica técnicas de espionaje y policiales. En esta novela hay muchas páginas detalladas sobre cómo es un seguimiento en coche o sobre cómo se colocan cámaras espía en una casa. Para los que tenemos cierto interés, están show more muy bien.

Por supuesto, Clancy ofrece su habitual sobredosis de barras y estrellas forevah, hay que tolerárselo porque si no no escribiría estas novelas. Hoy mismo, 4 de diciembre, sale publicada la siguiente de la serie: China invade Taiwán. Promete. Esta ha sido muy entretenida. show less

I enjoy Tom Clancy thrillers. This book, "Locked On," had a "with Mark Greaney" credit. Sometimes I thought it may have actually been "with Rush Limbaugh." The liberals are evil/corrupt while conservatives are good/pure theme comes off as comical. Jack Ryan's new girlfriend is an interesting character: someone who thinks the Campus may not be all that, and she has a redeeming character. Everyone else who would have that attitude would not be portrayed in a good light.
1,529 members, 3.72 average rating, 1/26/2026

I have read other books by Tom Clancy and enjoyed his story telling but I found this book really annoying. This book is a political bully pulpit. Tom uses this book to paint his right wing, conservative, hawkish opinions as the only appropriate government. If you are of this political stance you will probably like this book, otherwise avoid this propaganda.

OK. I'll admit it. I still like Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels (or Jack Ryan, Jr. novels, as the case may be). I'm not sure how much of the writing is done by Greaney and how much by Clancy, but I guess it doesn't really matter. The stories feel timely, topical, and exciting (in the same way that previous Clancy novels have been exciting). With all that said, there were a few real head scratching moments or times when I went "huh?" not understanding why something was or wasn't done or why it was done in a particular way. Unfortunately, one of those moments was critical to the climax of the novel, but it wasn't enough to put me off or ruin the fun. The biggest problem that Clancy has created for himself, and one which requires a massive show more suspension of disbelief, is the notion that the son of the Presidential candidate could engage in the sorts of things that Jack Ryan does in this book. No way. Nope. And Clancy tries, sometimes, to remember that. If that sort of problem will bother you too much, then stay away; if you can shut that incovnient plot element into a small closet in your brain, then read on. show less

Clancy and Greaney wrote a blockbuster (in the Hollywood sense), with voicing delivered with utmost gravity by Lou Diamond Phillips. High violence, impactful storytelling that is a far cry from the pensive thriller, [b:The Hunt for Red October|19691|The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #4)|Tom Clancy|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1281995542s/19691.jpg|1112006]. Entertaining for sure, but so many things happen it's hard to focus on any particular sequence. So perhaps in a week the only memory would be the boom, kapow and ping of all the action.
What's left is figuring out which actors will play which roles ... Harrison Ford is a lock for Jack Ryan Sr ... maybe Ryan Gosling or Shia Lebeouf for Jr ... Scarlett J for Jr's love interest, show more maybe someone younger and more angular?
The book has a decidedly right leaning world view. And the authors eschew all pretense of character development and focus on bringing each violent action segment to full glorious gore. Clearly, a book for a particular segment of the reading population. And I must admit, I was hooked for the first half of the ride until I realized that the second half would be more of the same, then it was slog to the end. Still, it's perhaps the best of the three Ryan Jr books so far. show less

This is the story of Jack Ryan Jr's exploits out in the field as he transitions from analyst--a story we've heard before. This was an OK book. It isn't as good as the vintage Clancy; some say that the ghost writing and editor meddling have caused quality decrease. I'd say that what ever it is, this one is not as good as the Clancy classics. The most silly plot point, no one is going to recognize Jack Ryan, Jr. out in the field, when daddy's running for President, right? The detailed descriptions of military/intelligence components, in the true style of Clancy, leave little room for character development if the book is to be less thick than Exodus. And, read the 10 hour version, vice the 18 hour one. If this country's politicians are show more really as one-dimensional as Kealty, we're in trouble. It's a good blend of politics and action with a few familiar faces.The book brings back many familiar faces for another round and makes some money for an outsourced ghost writer and a meddling editor in NYC. show less