JACK RYAN

Full Name:	Dr. John Patrick Ryan
Nationality:	American
Organization:	CIA
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	Tom Clancy
Time Span:	1984 - 2024

ABOUT THE SERIES

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.

BOOKS

Number of Books:	23
First Appearance:	1984
Last Appearance:	2024


1			Hunt For Red October Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1984 Captain Ramius is the best sub captain the Soviet navy has to offer so it is natural to select Ramius to head the sea trials on their newest submarine. Then he decides to defect and the Soviets are after him and the only American who believes it is a simple CIA analyst named Jack Ryan.

2			Patriot Games Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1987 Though second in the series, it is a prequel. A young Jack Ryan, on vacation in London, halts an assassination attempt, resulting in the death of a terrorist. The remaining terrorist, brother to the first, makes a vow of vengeance against Ryan and the actions to bring about this retribution take him to Ireland and then to the United States.

3			The Cardinal Of The Kremlin Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1988 The Cardinal is the codename for the highest-placed American agent in the Soviet Union, a man who knows the truth about the Soviet missile defense system and the plans the Iron Curtain nation has for it. He is marked for elimination by the KGB. Jack Ryan is the CIA agent in charge of getting him out alive.

4			Clear And Present Danger Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1989 When a friend of the President is murdered on his yacht in the Caribbean along with his family, the President is incensed. He vows vengeance on the drug cartels that ordered the hit. Jack Ryan is ordered to plan the main attack but soon must find a way to save his own men when they are abandoned by the administration.

5			The Sum Of All Fears Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1991 Much of Denver is destroyed in an atomic attack, taking the world to the edge of war as blame for the deaths of so many Americans seem to can lay fully at the feet of the Russian President. Jack Ryan, now Deputy Director of Intelligence at the CIA, has his doubts but no one is willing to listen.

5.5			Without Remorse Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1993 Related Book - For most of the series based around Jack Ryan, the figure of John Clark is there to carry out many of the secret missions necessary to keep the nation going. This book gets into the history of the man, showing the strange and frightening events that shaped the career of a remarkable character.

6			Debt Of Honor Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1994 Jack Ryan is now National Security Adviser to the President facing a power-crazed Japanese billionaire begins a campaign of conquest, using as fuel the blame he has assigned to the U.S. for the suicides of his parents fifty years before. The book's ending is truly stunning and horribly chilling in the wake of 9-11 years later.

7			Executive Orders Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1996 Newly sworn in President Jack Ryan must face the daunting task of rebuilding the government. Using the infrastructure that is still in place, he must ensure that the nation moves on even as it heals. The Iranians are not obliging and have an Ebola threat.

7.5			Rainbow Six Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 1998 Related Book - Responding to the success of a terrific computer action game of the same name, created and published by Red Storm Entertainment, this book details the creation of the Rainbow project by John Clark, a program designed to respond instantly to the many and varied terrorist attacks around the world.

8			The Bear And The Dragon Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 2000 Jack Ryan's job as President keeps getting harder. Not making things easier is the attempted murder of the head of the Russian KGB, an act that has dangerous ramifications. No President can take the hands-on investigation but Ryan comes close.

9			Red Rabbit Written by Tom Clancy Copyright: 2002 A tale from the early days of Jack Ryan, before he fully joined the CIA. Ryan is in London doing research when he is asked to help interrogate a Soviet defector with an amazing tale of a Russian plot to assassinate the Pope.

10			Command Authority Written by Mark Greaney Copyright: 2013 The Russian President is determined to resume control over the former Soviet republics and to stop NATO expansion. Newly re-elected President Jack Ryan has to deal with a whole new version of the Cold War.

11			Full Force And Effect Written by Mark Greaney Copyright: 2014 To prove he deserves to be running North Korea after the death of his father, the current dictator has an audacious plan to make his name known around the world - killing the President of the U.S.

12			Commander-In-Chief Written by Mark Greaney Copyright: 2015 The President of Russia is desperate to bring his nation back to the glory and position it held as the Soviet Union and he will bring the rest of the word to the brink of war to do so. U.S. President Jack Ryan is determined to stop him.

13			The War on Terror Written by Roby Kent Copyright: 2016 This book is being marketed as a Promo E-Book. The plot is unknown but it tells an adventure Jack Ryan had as an agent with the CIA.

14			True Faith And Allegiance Written by Mark Greaney Copyright: 2016 Someone is leaking odd secrets to various people and it is causing death and destruction. Investigation into it reveals a greater threat, one that can affect the world and the only man who can stop it is the President, Jack Ryan.

15			Power And Empire Written by Marc Cameron Copyright: 2017 "Jack Ryan is dealing with an aggressive challenge from the Chinese government. Pawns are being moved around a global chessboard: an attack on an oil platform in Africa, a terrorist strike on an American destroyer and a storm tossed American spy ship that may fall into Chinese hands. It seems that President Zhao is determined to limit Ryan's choices in the upcoming G20 negotiations. But there are hints that there's even more going on behind the scenes. A routine traffic stop in rural Texas leads to a shocking discovery—a link to a Chinese spy who may have intelligence that lays bare an unexpected revelation. John Clark and the members of the Campus are in close pursuit, but can they get the information in time?

16			Oath of Office Written by Marc Cameron Copyright: 2018 "Freedom may have finally arrived in Iran. As protests break out across the country, the media rejoices over the so-called Persian Spring. Western leaders are ecstatic. Members of Congress and the Cabinet clamor to back the rebels. Only President Jack Ryan remains wary. Meanwhile, he has plenty to handle at home. A deadly strain of flu is ravaging the United States as spring floods decimate the Southeast. An unethical senator wants to bring down the Ryan presidency and is willing to lean on fabricated bot-planted stories to do it. But the scariest story is the most closely guarded one. Two Russian nuclear missiles have been hijacked. The Campus gets their first break when Jack Junior connects with a rogue Russian intelligence officer in Afghanistan–only to be abducted soon after arriving. John Clark and the rest of the Campus team race to track the missiles and rescue their colleague."

17			Code of Honor Written by Marc Cameron Copyright: 2019 "Father Pat West, S.J. was a buddy of the young Jack Ryan when they were both undergraduates at Loyola University. Father West left a comfortable job in the philosophy department at Georgetown to work with the poor in Indonesia. Now he's been arrested and accused of blasphemy against Islam. President Ryan is desperate to rescue his old friend, but he can't move officially against the Indonesians. Instead he relies on the Campus team to find out who is framing the priest. There's one other twist to the story. President Ryan discovers a voicemail on his private cell phone from the priest warning about a coming attack against America...

18			Shadow of the Dragon Written by Marc Cameron Copyright: 2020 "Aboard an icebreaker in the Arctic Ocean a sonar operator hears an unusual noise coming from the ocean floor. She can't isolate it and chalks the event up to an anomaly in a newly installed system. Meanwhile, operatives with the Chinese Ministry of State Security are dealing with their own mystery--the disappearance of brilliant but eccentric scientist, Liu Wangshu. They're desperate to keep his crucial knowledge of aerospace and naval technology out of their rivals' hands. Finding Liu is too great an opportunity for any intelligence service to pass up, but there's one more problem. A high-level Chinese mole, codenamed Surveyor, has managed to infiltrate American Intelligence. President Jack Ryan has only one choice: send John Clark and his Campus team deep into China to find an old graduate student of the professor's who may hold the key to his whereabouts. It's a dangerous gamble, but with John Clark holding the cards, Jack Ryan is all in."

19			Chain of Command Written by Marc Cameron Copyright: 2021 "A shadowy billionaire uses his fortune to further his corrupt ambitions. Along the way, he’s toppled democratically elected governments and exacerbated divisions within stable nations. The competitors he’s destroyed, the people he’s hurt, they’re all just marks on a ledger. Now, he’s ready to implement his most ambitious plan of all. There’s only one force standing in his way—President Jack Ryan. How do you compel a man like Jack Ryan to bend? He’s personally faced down everything from the Russian navy to cartel killers. It will take more than political headwinds or media disfavor to cause him to turn from his duty to the American people, but every man has an Achilles heel. Jack Ryan’s is his family."

20			Red Winter Written by Marc Cameron Copyright: 2022 This is a prequel adventure taking place in 1985. "A top secret F117 aircraft crashes into the Nevada desert. The Nighthawk is the most advanced fighting machine in the world and the Soviets will do anything to get their hands on its secrets. In East Berlin, a mysterious figure contacts the CIA with an incredible offer—invaluable details of his government’s espionage plans in return for asylum. It’s an offer they can’t pass up…if it’s genuine, but the risks are too great to blindly stumble into a deal. With the East German secret police closing in, someone will have to go to behind the Berlin Wall to investigate the potential defector. It’s a job Deputy Director James Greer can only trust to one man--Jack Ryan."

21			Command And Control Written by Marc Cameron Copyright: 2023 "For a century, the Panama Canal has served as the path between the seas. Control of this vital waterway is the difference between free trade and chaos in world markets. So when Panamanian President Rafael Botero asks for a show of support against the socialist opposition, his old friend President Jack Ryan can’t turn down an invitation to visit the country, but what seems like an ordinary opportunity to preach the values of democracy quickly turns into a nightmare when a full-blown coup d’état erupts. President Ryan and his Secret Service team are cut off and out of communication. In Washington, the Vice President is coordinating a military response, but there's still one more obstacle. One of the main forces behind the coup is the ruthless criminal organization known as the Camarilla."

22			Act Of Defiance Written by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson Copyright: 2024 "US intelligence is reporting turmoil in the Russian navy. Their deadliest submarine, the Belgorod, has unexpectedly launched, and taken along with it a long list of questions. Who authorized the departure? What mission is it on? And, most disturbing of all, what weapons do the giant doors on the sub’s bow hide? It's been four decades since a similar incident with the Soviet sub, Red October, ended happily, thanks to a young CIA analyst named Jack Ryan. Now, President Jack Ryan finds himself with fleets of ships, squadrons of jets, and teams of SEALs at his command, but what he doesn’t have is insight into the plans of the Belgorod’s commander. It falls to a younger generation of Ryans to do the dangerous work that will reveal that information."

23			Defense Protocol Written by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson Copyright: 2024 "For decades, Taiwan has been a thorn in the side of the Chinese government. An independent nation to the rest of the world, it is considered a rogue province by the PRC. Previous governments have tried to conquer the island using economic force and diplomatic pressure, but new Chinese President Li Jian Jun is done fooling around. He’s devised a secret military operation to take the island. Only one man knows how to stop Li’s mad and bloody plan for reunification and that’s Minister of Defense Qin Haiyu. Fearing for his life and the safety of his family, Qin covertly makes contact with the CIA in Beijing and signals his desire to defect to the West. To get Qin out, John Clark creates an international task force reminiscent of Rainbow Six and goes undercover in mainland China. Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Katie Ryan is deployed to the tip of the spear on the destroyer USS Jason Dunham to defend Taiwan. Threatened by an encircling Chinese armada, she’s under pressure to find a flaw in the invaders’ plan for her father to exploit."

MOVIES

Number of Movies:	5
First Appearance:	1990
Last Appearance:	2013


1			The Hunt For Red October Director: John McTiernan Writers: Larry Ferguson, Donald Stewart, Tom Clancy Actors: Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan, Sean Connery as Marko Ramius, Sam Neill as Vasili Borodin, Scott Glenn as Bart Mancuso, James Earl Jones as Admiral Greet, Richard ordan as Jeffrey Pelt Released: 1990 During the early 80s with the Cold War still going strong, a Soviet nuclear sub commander and a few of his officers want to defect and take the lastest sub with them. The Soviets try to make everyone believe it is a rogue attack in the making.

2			Patriot Games Director: Phillip Noyce Writers: W. Peter Iliff, Donald Stewart, Tom Clancy Actors: Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, Anne ARcher as Cathy Ryan, Patrick Bergin as Kevin O'Donnell, Sean Bean as Sean Miller Released: 1992 Jack Ryan is in London when a faction of the IRA makes an attack on the royalty. Ryan steps in and stops them, killing one of the attackers. His brother is now out for revenge.

3			Clear And Present Danger Director: Phillip Noyce Writers: Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, John Milius, Tom Clancy Actors: Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, Willem Dafoe as John Clark, Anne Archer as Cathy Ryan, Joaquim de Almeida as Felix Cortez, Miguel Sandoval as Ernesto Escobedo Released: 1994 The President orders an illegal war against the drug cartel and Ryan is sucked into it. He is smart enough to see his situation and fights to clear his name and save lives.

4			The Sum Of All Fears Director: Phil Alden Robinson Writers: Paul Attanasio, Daniel Pyne, Tom Clancy Actors: Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan, Morgan Freeman as DCI Cabot, James Cromwell as President Fowler, Bruce McGill as NSA Revell Released: 2002 A terrorist group wants to force a division between the US and the newly elected Russian government and is planning a nuclear attack on American soil to do it. CIA analyst Jack Ryan is determined to stop them.

5			Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Director: Kenneth Branagh Writers: Adam Cozad, David Koepp Actors: Chris Pine as Jack Ryan, Kevin Costner as Thomas Harper, Keira Knightley as Cathy Muller, Kenneth Branagh as Victor Cherevin Released: 2013 A young CIA analyst, Jack Ryan discovers a group of Russians are out to destroy the American economy with a terrorist attack. This is a reboot of the Jack Ryan series.

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	8
First Appearance:	2018
Last Appearance:	2018
Network:	Amazon

REGULAR CAST
John Krasinski	Jack Ryan [ 1 ]
Abbie Cornish	Cathy Mueller [ 1 ]
Wendell Pierce	James Greer [ ]

Note: The plots marked in quotes are from Amazon's descriptions.


1	Pilot Episode 1-1, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Morten Tyldum Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "In the series premiere, CIA analyst Jack Ryan uncovers a series of suspicious transactions that take him and his boss James Greer out from behind their desks into the field to hunt down a powerful new threat to the world. Hanin begins to question her husband's affairs after he brings a mysterious outsider into their home."

2	French Connection Episode 1-2, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Daniel Sackheim Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "Jack and Greer decode a fresh piece of intel that takes them to Paris and one step closer to the elusive Suleiman. Hanin's husband returns home with a renewed fervor for his secretive mission, leaving her unsure of their family's future."

3	Black 22 Episode 1-3, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Patricia Riggen Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "Drone pilot Victor struggles with the immense responsibility attached to his job. Jack and Greer join French Intelligence officers on a mission to track down Suleiman's brother. Hanin is forced to make a dangerous decision for the sake of their children."

4	The Wolf Episode 1-4, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Daniel Sackheim Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "As Jack and Cathy grow closer, Jack's double-life is put to the test. A show of force from Suleiman adds to his ranks and brings him one step closer to his next attack."

5	End of Honor Episode 1-5, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Patricia Riggen Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "After the horrific Paris church attack, Jack and Greer discover a deeper strategy behind Suleiman's actions, forcing Jack to suggest an unusual trap for him. Hanin faces new challenges in her quest for freedom."

6	Source and Methods Episode 1-6, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Carlton Cuse Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "Jack's moral code is tested when he and Greer use a Turkish criminal to help them track down a high-value target who may be able to lead them to Suleiman. Hanin tries to evade her pursuers and keep her daughters safe. Cathy investigates an outbreak of a virulent form of Ebola that may point to something more ominous."

7	The Boy Episode 1-7, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Patricia Riggen Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "Jack and Greer try to convince their superiors to lead a covert ground assault to capture Suleiman. Jack's double life costs him an important relationship."

8	Inshallah Episode 1-8, first aired 08/30/2018 Director: Daniel Sackheim Writers: Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland "Jack and Greer fear Suleiman's next attack could be on U.S. soil. They must figure out how to stop him or risk enormous costs."

PARODIES, SATIRES, AND PASTICHES

Number of Entries:	2
First Appearance:	1990
Last Appearance:	1993


1			Hunt For Last October Published by Mad Magazine Contributors: Stan Hart (writer), Angelo Torres (artist) Copyright: 1990 Printed in Mad Magazine #297, September 1990, and from "A Show of Defection Dept." A real send-up of the movie The Hunt For Red October with Bush referring to his Thousand Point of Light! Click here to read the story.

2			Patridiotic Games Published by Mad Magazine Contributors: Dick DeBartolo (writer), Angelo Torres (artist) Copyright: 1993 Printed in Mad Magazine #316, January 1993, and from "When Irish Spies Are Smiling Dept." Joke Riot (Jack Ryan) must stop terrorists from killing royals and his family in this spoof send-up of the Harrison Ford movie Patriot Games*. Now, wait a moment! Did Andy Capp pass by, was one of those terrorists Darth Vadar, and did Joke's wife have an Alien? Click here to read the story.

MY COMMENTS

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!

GRADE

My Grade: A

Your Average Grade: A+

YOUR OPINIONS

C.G. Faulkner	A+	2020-02-02	I''ve enjoyed CIA analyst Jack Ryan''s adventures since I saw The Hunt For Red October at the theater. A few years later, I began reading the Clancy books, and the continuation books by Mark Greaney and others. Techno-thrillers at their best.

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