The Sum Of All Fears : [Paperback]

Once again, Tom Clancy manages to add new twists to the alternate U.S. history he initiated in The Hunt for Red October. In The Sum of All Fears, the centre of conflict is that perpetual hot spot, the Middle East, where a nuclear weapon falls into the hands of terrorists just as peace finally seems possible. Clancy realistically paints an almost unthinkable scenario--the bomb is planted on American soil in the midst of an escalation in tension with the Soviet Union; the terrorists hope to rekindle cold war animosity and prevent reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Despite such a dramatic story line, Clancy doesn't neglect the individuals who drive his tale. Jack Ryan's problems are as much domestic as they are part of the international crisis that is the ostensible narrative: National Security Director Elizabeth Elliot has the president's ear, and she has convinced him that Ryan's ethics are questionable. She hints at marital infidelity and an insider-trading scandal. Of course, both accusations are false, but her arguments have enough evidence behind them (some photographs of an innocent embrace with a friend for example) to cause a strain in the Ryans' marriage and a flurry of media attention. While "Mr Clark" tracks the terrorists, he also provides some needed intelligence to heal the Ryan family.

The Sum of All Fears is the stuff of nightmares but contains enough verisimilitude to terrify sober minds. Ryan has developed into a complex protagonist, just as Clancy's writing has matured. Ryan is plagued by stress and self-doubts that test even his dauntless moral compass and make him a more interesting subject for readers' attention. Those fascinated by military hardware, from nuclear submarines to atomic weapons, will find almost enough here to start their own army. And Clancy's understanding of international politics seems chillingly correct. --Patrick O'Kelley

From the reviews of The Sum of All Fears:

‘Another classic Clancy. His most successful book… assures his place at the forefront of modern thriller writers.’
Sunday Times

‘Clancy’s best book since The Hunt for Red October – a whiz-bang page-turner.’
New York Times

"Classic Clancy... accurate and chilling, his most successful book... assures his place at the forefront of modern thriller writers" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Jack Ryan confronts terrorists in the Middle East in Tom Clancy’s spectacular sixth novel – another Sunday Times No 1 bestseller – now reissued with a new cover.

As those in power around the globe face up to the challenges of a new world order, in Washington CIA Deputy Director Jack Ryan is putting everything into a plan that could finally bring peace to a Middle East still suffering from the ravages of war. But too many groups have invested too much blood to allow the plan to succeed – the terrorists have one final desperate card to play. With one terrible act the world is plunged into nuclear crisis.

His dreams of peace shattered, Ryan is confronted with a situation he has never dared to imagine: with the world standing on the brink of war, what do you do if the US President is incompetent to deal with the greatest crisis of all?

The disappearance of an Israeli nuclear weapon threatens the balance of power in the Middle East – and the world, in Tom Clancy's explosive international #1 bestseller.

As those in power around the globe face up to the challenges of a new world order, in Washington CIA Deputy Director Jack Ryan is putting everything into a plan that could finally bring peace to a Middle East still suffering from the ravages of war. But too many groups have invested too much blood to allow the plan to succeed – the terrorists have one final, desperate card to play. With one terrible act the world is plunged into nuclear crisis.

His dreams of peace shattered, Ryan is confronted with a situation he has never dared to imagine: with the world standing on the brink of war, what do you do if the US President is incompetent to deal with the greatest crisis of all?

"Tom Clancy's best book since 'The Hunt for Red October'. A treasure trove of geopolitical terrors…bulges with technological verisimilitude…a whiz-bang page-turner."
NEW YORK TIMES

"Another classic Clancy…accurate and chilling…assures his place at the forefront of modern thriller writers."
SUNDAY TIMES

Since the publication of The Hunt for Red October, Tom Clancy has established an unrivalled position as the world’s leading thriller writer, with a string of million-selling novels and three major Hollywood films to his name. He is also the author of SSN and the non-fiction books Submarine, Armoured Warfare, Fighter Wing and Marine.