JACK RYAN

Jack Ryan is an agent with the CIA.

At least he is at the beginning of the series. There are a few series where the main character enjoys promotion. Stephen Coonts' Jake Grafton rises from Lieutenant to Admiral. John LeCarre's George Smiley moves from a junior agent to the head of the agency. None, however, has such an advance as Jack Ryan.

From an analyst at the CIA to Deputy Director of Intelligence. On then to National Security Advisor, Vice-President, and finally President.

It is one helluva journey, told by a master.

Ryan was born and raised in Baltimore. He earned a degree from Boston College, attending NROTC at the time to earn a commission. As a marine, Jack Ryan served his country and earned credit under the G.I. Bill to return to college. Having graduated from college with a doctorate in History, Jack Ryan spent time as a stock broker, betting his own money on 'high-risk issues and scoring big'. Leaving this profession due mostly to boredom, he turned to writing and his big love, history. He taught for a time at the Naval Acadmy and it was there that he really became noticed and was finally approached by the Agency. At the beginning of the series, Ryan had worked for three years, on his own time, on a biography of Admiral Halsey.

Ryan's involvement with the CIA came as a result of his knighthood. While as a tourist in London, he 'unknowingly prevented the assassination of two very prominent figures' by terrorists. This earned him an honorary title and brought him in touch with many important people who would be valuable later in his life.

Having made these contacts and earning a reputation as an excellent researcher, Ryan is approached by the CIA where he quickly comes under the tutelage of Admiral Greer, who found in Ryan an excellent analytical mind. Ryan quickly moved up in the ranks until, at the start of the series, he is Greer's chief analyst.

Ryan is married to a highly successful surgeon named Caroline but called Cathy. They have four children. Since the series covers such a wide period of time, the children grow up and go out on their own. His son, Jack jr., eventually takes a job much like his father.

The majority of the activity in the series is before Ryan's days as President. Once he takes office, his actions are obviously quite a bit different than before but cloak and dagger features prominently nevertheless.

Tom Clancy created, for all intents and purposes, an entire genre of fiction, namely the techno-thriller. There are not many authors living that can claim such a momentous event.

While I have read many reviews that have belittled his writing, his characters, his convoluted plots, and his 'god-knows-what-else', I have to chalk most of it up to jealousy and the natural urge to topple the great. I am a huge Tom Clancy fan, as you can undoubtedly tell. I have some reservations of his other 'series', written by others under his care, but the Jack Ryan books are fantastic. The character is a strong leader, caring family man, brilliant analyst and strategist, and a not-shabby action hero.

The last few books in the series have paled compared to the rest. I wonder if they were written by Mr. Clancy or someone else. They lack the snap that the other had and I had to push and pull myself through to the end.

But the first nine books in the series should be on the MUST READ list of any fan of spy-fi. They are the work of a true master and deserve every iota of praise they get.

Thank you, Mr. Clancy, for your awesome work.

And thank you for also being kind to an awe-struck fan. While working with a game company, MicroProse, back in the 80's, I had the fun of attending during a convention a party to celebrate the release of their game "Red Storm Rising", based on Mr. Clancy's second novel. I had not worked on the game but I was invited because I had worked on other MicroProse games and I was a huge Tom Clancy fan.

It was obvious that the noted author was there because of contractual obligations but he quickly became friendly and outgoing to myself and two other fans. He spoke with us for over an hour; 60 minutes I fondly remember and which he no doubt has forgotten.

What I came away from the meeting with was that the knowledge in Mr. Clancy's head about Soviet plans and abilities was every bit as good as mine (probably better!) and I had been a Soviet military analyst for nearly a decade.

And the man could WRITE!