The Hunt for Red October

I was a huge fan of this movie when it came out but had never read a Tom Clancy book. It seemed like a good time to do so. The adaptation from book to screen was expertly done....the book is so long and has a ton of characters, with the main characters from the movie disappearing in the book for long chunks of time. There are entire characters and sections of the book (including the final action scene) that weren't in the movie. I always enjoy those kind of adaptations because they provide two distinct and enjoyable experiences.

It shocks me that Tom Clancy was not in the military and the amount of research he must have done is staggering. If the book occasionally bogs down in technical jargon, that also fuels the feeling of realism show more that the book has. I also like that our hero, Jack Ryan, isn't invulnerable or omniscient...no character in this book is. It's a good, exciting read and if it's perhaps a little jingoistic, I'm willing to let it slide as its not offensively so. show less

It has been a long time since I last read this book, but it was still as gripping a tale as ever. The idea of a Soviet submarine crew defecting to the US and taking their sub along with them was an intriguing idea. Staring the story from Captain Ramius's point of view was an excellent way to set the hook. I loved getting a glimpse of what motivated him to do such a thing and an idea of what he was up against.

Next up was the addition of the American side of things. First, the American submarines tasked with keeping an eye on the Russian subs, tracking them and noting their capabilities. The first inkling of the difficulties tracing this sub comes when the Russian sub "disappears" from their scopes. The questions continue as Jack Ryan show more travels to CIA headquarters with clandestine photos taken of the Red October and a plan to get some answers. The intensity ramps up when the CIA receives word that Ramius is trying to defect, and the whole Russian navy is out to stop him.

The cat and mouse game kept me glued to the pages in spite of the fact I knew how it turns out. Each time I read it, I seem to pick up something new or am reminded of something I forgot. Jack's discomfort with being a "field agent" is evident, but he is determined to succeed. I loved seeing how his mind worked as he tried to anticipate Ramius's moves. Ramius's determination to avoid detection by both Russian and American subs kept everyone on their toes. My favorite parts are the ones with the sonarman, Jonesy, from the sub Dallas. I love his humor, his intensity, and his dogged determination.

The tension ramped up as all the moving parts came together to hide the defection of the Red October. But just when it looked like all was well, an unexpected player entered the game. The intensity of this part, with the difficulties posed by rules of engagement and the need to not start a war, had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

One of my favorite things about this book was after Ryan and the men from the Dallas joined Ramius on the Red October. Seeing these men, who had been enemies for so long learn about each other and see the similarities is a lesson that everyone should pay attention to. I especially liked seeing Jonesy and his Russian counterpart.

The author has an incredible talent for description that frequently made me feel as though I were right in the middle of the action. The descriptions of life onboard a submarine were especially vivid and often made me very happy I could look out a window while I was reading. show less

This was a fun read. It is the first time I have ever picked up a Tom Clancy book to read. I have played video games that bear his name but never read one of his books. I actually came across this copy of The Hunt for Red October in my library's free book bin. I look through that bin every time I am at the library and occasionally come across a classic like this one. I put it on my shelf and it has sat there for probably close to a year. Well, with all the quarantine craziness going on in the world and with my local library closed I had to go to the Ethan J. West Study Library. I went through my books and came up with a small stack of books that I would probably like to read. I chose Red October first and was not disappointed. It was a show more little hard to follow all the technical information but once I got into the book the reading became easier. It does get a little slow in the middle but then it picks up and finishes fast. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the outdated computer technology. You would think that reading about old room sized computers would be boring but it was actually kind of fun. Especially when I thought that the iPhone in my pocket can process more that those computers could. It's crazy to think of. Anyway, this one is a good one. I don't know if I will pick up any more Tom Clancy novels but even if I don't I really do have a lot of respect for him and the detail he has in his writing. show less

When I joined the U.S. Navy this was the first book that I read when I completed Bootcamp. As a result of reading Hunt for Red October, I signed up for submarine duty. It is not an understatement for me to say that this story changed my life. I have never regretted the decision to join subs.

As for the story, it follows the Soviet submarine Red October as it leaves port and tries to travel the distance from the north Atlantic to the U.S. coast undetected. The Captain is a senior and seasoned professional that knows the methods of both the Soviets and the U.S. What he hasn't planned for is the submarine USS Dallas and her extraordinary crew who discover how to track the un-trackable sub.

This story also introduces Jack Ryan, who is a main show more character for Tom Clancy. In this story Ryan is a analyst for the CIA and he figures out what the Red October is unto and is key to helping execute the final plan. Without giving any spoilers, it is enough to say that this the Clancy thriller that started it all for Jack Ryan and even Clancy.

Recommend this story to all Clancy fans! show less

In an ever-ongoing mission to clear my library shelves, I decided to reread Clancy and see if his books warranted inclusion on the permanent library - they don't.

Let's be clear, I like Jack Ryan as a character, and the idea of an analyst moving up the ladder in the CIA because of his square-peg in the field antics. But it turns out I overlooked Clancy's incessant use of technical jargon and prose, which ultimately makes the book more of a slog. I first read all of these back in my military days, and just allowed for Clancy's penchant for the technical to fill out the story. And I'm sure there are those readers who like the inclusions for an air of credibility, even if the rest of it is wholly incredible. It's not a bad book, but I don't show more need these tech manuals clogging up my shelves,. The only one I saved is [Without Remorse] because I like John Kelly as a character even better than Ryan - only wish he'd spent as much time on Kelly.

3 bones!!! show less

Tom Clancy is a fingernail biting storyteller with a bad habit. He loves his technology. Nevertheless, this book left me breathless. Sheer moxy sparking between political factions raises the hair on my arms as the plot comes to a close, shall we say, nearly missing disaster.

Captain Marko Ramius, the most brilliant commander of the Soviet Navy has made a fateful decision: he orders the Red October, the largest and most powerful submarine in the world with the power to wipe out hundreds of cities at once before silently submerging beneath the water without a trace, on a course towards the United States. Soviets insist that Ramius is mentally insane and attempts to fire his nuclear warheads on the United States, but maverick CIA agent Jack Ryan is convinced that Ramius is attempting to defect.

This book is excellent at capturing the threat of nuclear armageddon that cast a dark shadow on Americans and Soviets alike throughout the latter half of the 20th century. I recommend this novel to anyone who is show more interested in the Cold War. The in-depth analysis of of the US Navy, CIA, and submarine technology of the US and Soviet fleets might bore some readers, but you will be hardpressed to find any novel that captures these more realistically. The Pentagon itself has commended Tom Clancy for his accurate depiction of the US Navy, and has agreed to help research every novel Clancy has written since.

Captain Marko Ramius is arguably the novel's main character as well as it's most interesting character. He is the person who is at the center of every plot twist the novel takes, and it is his actions that dictate the pace of the story. Captain Bart Mancuso, the no-nonsense yet likeable commanding officer of the USS Dallas, a US attack submarine, makes for a worthy foe for Ramius in the novel, as Jack Ryan, the lone CIA agent convinced of his idea, acts as the go-between the reader and the other characters. Despite him being surrounded constantly by the upper echelons of the US Government, he is never seems to fit in, which makes him more relatable in the eye of the reader.

The action is unique, and Clancy succeeds in creating great tension in an ultimate clash of submarines at the climax of the novel, a feat that is very difficult to accomplish. show less