Red Storm Rising
by Tom Clancy, Larry Bond
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Fiction. Mystery. Thriller. When Muslim fundamentalists blow up a key Soviet oil complex, making an already critical oil shortage calamitous, the Russians figure they are going to have to take things into their own hands. They plan to seize the Persian Gulf, and more ambitiously, to neutralize NATO. Thus begins Red Storm, an audacious gamble that uses diplomatic maneuver to cloak a crash military build-up. When Soviet tanks begin to roll, the West is caught off guard. What looks like a show more thrust turns into an all-out shooting war, possibly the climactic battle for control of the globe. show lessTags
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anonymous user Published in the same period as "Red Storm Rising", "Red Army" depicts a Warsaw Pact invasion of Western Germany seen entirely from the viewpoint of the Soviet soldiers. A riveting and insightful story written by an US Intelligence officer.
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Apparently, I read this book back in 1990 or something, but I swear, I don't remember the last 2/3rds, so this was like reading it for the first time. Good book. Clancy did a nice job of picking 4 or 5 main characters, both American and Soviet, and was able to make me root for all of them. No easy task, especially in such a big, wide-ranging story.
I first read Red Storm Rising 35 years ago, after being blown away by Hunt for Red October. I eagerly consumed each subsequent Tom Clancy novel until he pretty much ran out of things to write about, though, like Larry McMurtry, it didn’t stop him from churning out substandard offerings.
Having pretty much run through my reading list, I elected to go back and reread the early Clancy novels, to see if they were as good as I remembered. I skipped Hunt for Red October, because I’ve seen the movie a dozen times and began with Red Storm Rising.
Set in the 1980s Cold War, a domestic terrorist has destroyed the Soviet’s largest refinery and put its largest oil field out of production for many months, with potentially disastrous effects show more for the Soviet economy. Faced with this existential crisis, the Politburo elects to seize Middle Eastern oil fields, but first must destabilize NATO.
The novel follows the military and political machinations that follow. As everyone concedes, Clancy is extremely well educated and conversant on military systems and equipment. His scenarios are well presented and believable. If anything, Clancy becomes so technical and verbose in his explanation of military engagements, that the action itself tends to take a back seat.
I think that I originally gave this novel 5 stars. Upon reflection I would downgrade to 4 1/2 stars. A very good piece of work, but not the equal of a few of his others, in my opinion. show less
Having pretty much run through my reading list, I elected to go back and reread the early Clancy novels, to see if they were as good as I remembered. I skipped Hunt for Red October, because I’ve seen the movie a dozen times and began with Red Storm Rising.
Set in the 1980s Cold War, a domestic terrorist has destroyed the Soviet’s largest refinery and put its largest oil field out of production for many months, with potentially disastrous effects show more for the Soviet economy. Faced with this existential crisis, the Politburo elects to seize Middle Eastern oil fields, but first must destabilize NATO.
The novel follows the military and political machinations that follow. As everyone concedes, Clancy is extremely well educated and conversant on military systems and equipment. His scenarios are well presented and believable. If anything, Clancy becomes so technical and verbose in his explanation of military engagements, that the action itself tends to take a back seat.
I think that I originally gave this novel 5 stars. Upon reflection I would downgrade to 4 1/2 stars. A very good piece of work, but not the equal of a few of his others, in my opinion. show less
The last reviewer is incorrect, “Red Storm Rising” is not a Jack Ryan novel. It is a novel of World War III and is chilling in how a global conflagration can come out of a room full of scared and paranoid old men.
“Red Storm Rising” is the ultimate cold war novel. Because of a terrorist attack, the Soviet Union faces a severe domestic oil crisis. Instead of reaching out to the world, the Politburo believes the rest of the world will see them as weak and vulnerable. So, in a fit of paranoia and overconfidence, they go to war to seize the Persian Gulf.
“Red Storm Rising” should be required reading for all contemporary leaders. In between all of the gut-churning action and heartbreaking loss of life is a message about the horrors show more of war, the fallacy of ‘first-strike’ effectiveness, the absolute fallacy of the concept of ‘preemptive strike’ and the true cost of war in blood and treasure.
As Winston Churchill is credited as saying, “To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.”
A message our leaders need to hear loud and clear. The surrender scene in the book is excellent. The American commander concedes to his Russian counterpart just how close the conflict had been.
Why readers should read this book: A huge, grand, epic novel of war on land, sea and air. A techno-thriller, written with Clancy’s unequaled mastery of technical and military language. There is a romance, for those who like that sort of thing, but it occurs in the harsh reality of hiding from the Russian Army in Iceland. Also a refreshing break from the Jack Ryan series. This is one of the best war novels ever written.
Why writers should read this book: If you want to write a techno-thriller or war novel, pay close attention to how Clancy handles the technical language. He can put you inside the tank, inside the sub, on the deck of the carrier, and behind the stick in the warplane. It never sounds fake or forced. Even the uncharacteristic romance is gritty and realistic. Simply superb. show less
“Red Storm Rising” is the ultimate cold war novel. Because of a terrorist attack, the Soviet Union faces a severe domestic oil crisis. Instead of reaching out to the world, the Politburo believes the rest of the world will see them as weak and vulnerable. So, in a fit of paranoia and overconfidence, they go to war to seize the Persian Gulf.
“Red Storm Rising” should be required reading for all contemporary leaders. In between all of the gut-churning action and heartbreaking loss of life is a message about the horrors show more of war, the fallacy of ‘first-strike’ effectiveness, the absolute fallacy of the concept of ‘preemptive strike’ and the true cost of war in blood and treasure.
As Winston Churchill is credited as saying, “To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.”
A message our leaders need to hear loud and clear. The surrender scene in the book is excellent. The American commander concedes to his Russian counterpart just how close the conflict had been.
Why readers should read this book: A huge, grand, epic novel of war on land, sea and air. A techno-thriller, written with Clancy’s unequaled mastery of technical and military language. There is a romance, for those who like that sort of thing, but it occurs in the harsh reality of hiding from the Russian Army in Iceland. Also a refreshing break from the Jack Ryan series. This is one of the best war novels ever written.
Why writers should read this book: If you want to write a techno-thriller or war novel, pay close attention to how Clancy handles the technical language. He can put you inside the tank, inside the sub, on the deck of the carrier, and behind the stick in the warplane. It never sounds fake or forced. Even the uncharacteristic romance is gritty and realistic. Simply superb. show less
First Clancy novel I read. Very interesting story - and if I may say so, very believable because universal society rule says -> if you are in social trouble go to war, because in that case you have 50:50 chances (or better if your military might is [vastly] superior to your opponent ) to calm down your folk and proceed on (I think recent events are more then proof for this).[return][return]Only thing that annoys me is that we-win-no-matter-what-they-do. Although I can understand this I think this scenario is least likely than all. More realistic scenario can be found in "Third World War" by Humphrey Hawksley - when major powers collide population survivability is extremely low for all sides in conflict (and those caught in the show more middle).[return][return]Beside that good novel with lots of interesting military hardware info (Clancy's trademark :) ) show less
This is one of the best single-volume war novels I have ever read. The action is tense and non-stop once the shooting starts. It's a large novel, but reads quickly.
The novel spans the cause, buildup, commencement, execution and completion of a short WWIII between NATO and Soviet conventional forces. Using the then-state-of-the-art in technology, arms, and doctrine, Clancy and Bond weave a very taut tale imagining how these different technologies and tactics might interact once unleashed. Some promising technologies are brought low, others are used in unintended ways by the inventive minds in the field and staff, thereby shifting battlefield advantages.
Red Storm Rising's primary story is the action. As such the different theaters (air, show more sea, land, intel), many characters, geopolitics, and other facets are subservient to driving the action. You may see reviews which critique Clancy's handling of this or that (no strong characterization, wish there was more focus on this or that theater, the politics wasn't as fleshed out as desired...) but the reviewers miss the point that the action is the story. Readers unfamiliar with the techno-military jargon will be able to sort through the zoo of Bears, Badgers, Tomcats, Hornets, Eagles, Falcons, Aardvarks, Sea Stallions,... and the numerous alphanumeric designators. You'll get the concepts from the contexts.
This is a great book I could not put down. No obvious typos or other editorial sloppiness show less
The novel spans the cause, buildup, commencement, execution and completion of a short WWIII between NATO and Soviet conventional forces. Using the then-state-of-the-art in technology, arms, and doctrine, Clancy and Bond weave a very taut tale imagining how these different technologies and tactics might interact once unleashed. Some promising technologies are brought low, others are used in unintended ways by the inventive minds in the field and staff, thereby shifting battlefield advantages.
Red Storm Rising's primary story is the action. As such the different theaters (air, show more sea, land, intel), many characters, geopolitics, and other facets are subservient to driving the action. You may see reviews which critique Clancy's handling of this or that (no strong characterization, wish there was more focus on this or that theater, the politics wasn't as fleshed out as desired...) but the reviewers miss the point that the action is the story. Readers unfamiliar with the techno-military jargon will be able to sort through the zoo of Bears, Badgers, Tomcats, Hornets, Eagles, Falcons, Aardvarks, Sea Stallions,... and the numerous alphanumeric designators. You'll get the concepts from the contexts.
This is a great book I could not put down. No obvious typos or other editorial sloppiness show less
I first read this book in 1988 when the Iron Curtain was firmly in place and thoughts of a war between the USSR and the USA seemed like a possibility. To add interest, I read it while living in Germany and my father had just returned from a deployment in Iceland where he flew a P3 Orion (the planes that hunted the subs in the book). In thought it would be boring... All that war stuff. But Mr Clancy has a way of making technology interesting Anna humanizing both the good guys abs the bad guys. Reading it more than thirty years later I still found it griping, though the technology is woefully outdated. The basis for the crisis seems every bit as likely today as it did thirty years ago.
I finished my second Tom Clancy novel in three weeks. And I've become a fan.
I enjoyed "Red Storm Rising" more than "Clear and Present Danger". "Red Storm Rising" was Clancy's second novel and doesn't include either of the characters that make up much of the core of his fabulously popular high-tech military thrillers: Jack Ryan and John Clark. Clancy builds credible motives for the Russian-fueld World War III, and the plot drives all 600+ pages of this novel that bounces between perspectives of characters ranging from military leaders, to intelligence officers, to the most engaging of all, an Air Force weatherman thrust to the fore of the international battle.
I'm not a military guy and I've not read much around a modern military (though show more I've read my fair share of ancient Roman Legion battles), but I became hooked on Clancy's details surrounding the tactics of all branches of the military and the somewhat less fulfilling political machinations that drove the bigger picture war efforts. Clancy's mostly able to differentiate a multitude of battles, though seemed to struggle a bit with an ongoing series of submarine engagements.
There's no character depth here, and quite frankly, I was perfectly happy to let the detailed plot drive the story. "Red Storm Rising" is an exciting and engaging read. It's not great, but it's a whole lot of fun. show less
I enjoyed "Red Storm Rising" more than "Clear and Present Danger". "Red Storm Rising" was Clancy's second novel and doesn't include either of the characters that make up much of the core of his fabulously popular high-tech military thrillers: Jack Ryan and John Clark. Clancy builds credible motives for the Russian-fueld World War III, and the plot drives all 600+ pages of this novel that bounces between perspectives of characters ranging from military leaders, to intelligence officers, to the most engaging of all, an Air Force weatherman thrust to the fore of the international battle.
I'm not a military guy and I've not read much around a modern military (though show more I've read my fair share of ancient Roman Legion battles), but I became hooked on Clancy's details surrounding the tactics of all branches of the military and the somewhat less fulfilling political machinations that drove the bigger picture war efforts. Clancy's mostly able to differentiate a multitude of battles, though seemed to struggle a bit with an ongoing series of submarine engagements.
There's no character depth here, and quite frankly, I was perfectly happy to let the detailed plot drive the story. "Red Storm Rising" is an exciting and engaging read. It's not great, but it's a whole lot of fun. show less
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ThingScore 75
Although the writing is unduly prolix, especially in its loving treatment of submarine warfare, the story is well told. The many readers of Mr. Clancy's first book will enjoy ''Red Storm Rising.'' His is an oddly comforting version of World War III.
added by stephmo
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Author Information
180+ Works 121,991 Members
Tom Clancy was born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 12, 1947. He graduated with a degree in English from Loyola College in 1969, became an insurance agent, and in 1973 became the owner of an insurance agency. It was not until 1980 that he started writing novels. His works include Red Storm Rising, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, The Sum of All Fears, show more Rainbow Six, Dead or Alive, and Threat Vector. His books The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger were adapted into major motion pictures. He also wrote nonfiction books including Into the Storm: A Study in Command, Submarine, Armored Cav, Fighter Wing, Airborne, and Reality Check: What's Going on Out There? He died on October 2, 2013 at the age of 66. His last book, Command Authority, co-authored with Mark Greaney, was published posthumously in December 2013 and made the New York Times bestseller list. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
73+ Works 11,953 Members
Larry Bond is a writer and game designer. He graduated from St. Thomas College in 1973 with a degree in quantitative methods. Bond worked as a computer programmer before entering The U.S. Navy Officers Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated in 1976 and served in the Navy for six years. Bond spent two years with the Navy Reserve show more Intelligence Program and then worked as a naval analyst for consulting firms in Washington, D.C. Bond also designs games. His Harpoon gaming system was published in 1980 and has won the H.G. Wells Award as the best miniature game of the year in 1981, 1987, and 1997. A computer version of the game was created in 1990 and won the Wargame of the Year award from Computer Gaming World. Bond began his writing career by collaborating with Tom Clancy on the bestseller Red Storm Rising. His own novels include Red Phoenix, The Enemy Within, and Day of Wrath. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Red Storm Rising
- Original title
- Red Storm Rising
- Original publication date
- 1986-08
- People/Characters
- Bob Toland; Ed Morris; Mikhail Sergetov; Pasha Alekseyev; Mike Edwards; Dan McCafferty (show all 8); Amy Nakamura; Jerry O'Malley
- Important places
- USSR; Iceland; Germany; Atlantic Ocean; North Atlantic Ocean
- Important events
- Cold War; World War III
- Epigraph
- From time immemorial, the purpose of a navy has been to influence, and sometimes decide, issues on land. This was so with the Greeks of antiquity; Romans, who created a navy to defeat Carthage; the Spanish, whose armada tried... (show all) and failed to conquer England; and, most eminently, in the Atlantic and Pacific during two world wars. The sea has always given man in expensive transport and ease of communication over long distances. It has also provided concealment, because being over the horizon meant being out of sight and effectively beyond reach. The sea has supplied mobility, capability, and support throughout Western history, and those failing in the sea-power test -notably Alexander, Napoleon and Hitler - also failed the longevity one. - Edward L. Beach, in Keepers of the Sea
- First words
- They moved swiftly, silently, with purpose, under a crystalline, star-filled night in western Siberia.
- Quotations
- The Badger pilots were a little too relaxed, now that the most dangerous part of their mission was behind them. They didn’t spot the four American fighters until they were less than a mile away, their robin’s-egg-blue pai... (show all)nt blending them in perfectly with the clear morning sky. Buns selected her cannon for the first pass and triggered two hundred rounds into the cockpit of a Badger. The twin –engine bomber went instantly out of control and rolled over like a dead whale. One. The major howled with delight, pulled the Eagle up into a five-g loop, then over to dive on the next target. The Soviets were alerted now, and the second Badger attempted to dive away. It had not the slightest chance. Nakamura fired her Sidewinder from a range of less than a mile and watched the missile trace all the way into the Badger’s left –side engine, and blast the wing right off the airplane. Two. Another
Badger was three miles ahead. Patience, she told herself. You have a big speed advantage. She nearly forgot that the Russian bomber had tail guns. A Soviet sergeant reminded her of it, missing, but scaring the hell out of her. The Eagle jerked in a six-g turn to the left and closed on a parallel course before turning in. the next burst from her cannon exploded the Badger in midair, and she had to dive to avoid the wreckage. The engagement lasted all of ninety seconds, and she was wringing wet with perspiration. “Butch, where are you?” “I got one! Buns, I got one!” The Eagle pulled up alongside. Nakamura looked around. Suddenly the sky was clear. Where had they all gone? “Navy Hawk-One, this is Golf, do you read, over?” “Roger, Golf.” “Okay, Navy.
We just smoked four, repeat four, Badgers for you.” “Make that five, Buns!” the other element leader called in. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Mooring."
- Original language*
- Anglais (Etats-Unis) (Etats-Unis)
- Disambiguation notice
- Although Larry's (Bond) name does not appear on the title page, this book is as much his as mine. We never did figure out the division of labor, but what Larry and I accomplished was to complete a book as co-authors when our ... (show all)only contract was a handshake-and have a whole lot of fun doing it! It is for the reader to decide how successful we have been.--Author's Note. Bond is co-holder of the 1986 copyright.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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