The Bear and the Dragon: INSPIRATION FOR THE THRILLING AMAZON PRIME SERIES JACK RYAN

Crackerjack of a novel. Lives up to the usual Tom Clancy's high standards of writing high voltage novels filled with drama, suspense and action.A must read novel, particularly if you are a Tom Clancy fan.

I like all the stories of this author, the book was delivered on time. Good quality paperback

Another Great book by Tom Clancy.

Brilliant PLOT & Pacy . On top category in Jack Ryan series. Tom Clancy has the uncanny ability to weave international thriller of the highest political & military order.

Like many people who have written reviews here, I am a huge Tom Clancy fan, and he is the only author that I make the effort to buy hardbacks for. Sadly though, his last three novels (all since Debt of Honour) have gradually seen Clancy fall from his peak, and The Bear And The Dragon is frankly just not good enough.The move to install Jack Ryan as President has always been shaky, and is at its absolute worst now. It seems like a mouthpiece for Clancy's political views, and the constant droning on about how great the United States are, and how their way is the best way, is very tiring. To be fair, maybe the American audience being written for here lap it up, but it's certainly laid on thick. The racism and frequent bad language are off-putting too, I really don't see how liberally inserting swearing in the novel helps matters.From the title of the book you can guess the subject matter, and after the first couple of chapters you know exactly what is going to happen. But for some reason, Clancy labours through 700 pages of excruciatingly slow plotting before launching into a whirlwind final 300 pages where so much happens that none of it is covered satisfactorily. A number of times up to this point I almost gave up on the book, so tedious was it.Jack Ryan has been turned into a whining, indecisive character who you don't feel like routing for anymore. I know Mr Clancy can do better, he has written some of the best novels I have read, and I hope he does. But I can definitely say I will wait for the paperback of the next 'thrilling' instalment.

For me this book shows the best and the worst of Tom Clancy...The best - the story's a page turner, massive story - world war involving America, Russia, China, some nukes, a James Bond character saving the day, the planet being saved at the end by Harrison Ford (sorry, Jack Ryan... but for me they're the same person).The worst - it's written in Clancyworld where America sets the moral, technical and commercial direction for the world and anyone who doesn't listen is wrong and clearly stupid. Also, there's the usual overload of technical verbage regarding weaponry which can easily be skipped over.I've previously spoken positively and negatively for Clancy books... for me this one sits a bit in the middle, Clancy fans will probably like it but perhaps it's a story too far for Ryan and Clark. Not sure I'm going to read many more Clancy books I have to admit.

I have read this book before and let it go. I just wanted to read it again as it was so good. It takes a while to set the scene but it is worth the wait. It is a very good read.thoroughly recommend this book.

again Clancy reaches the heights with detail and plausibility an excellent book

For me one of Clancy's best books. It's long but well written as well as being a well constructed story. Prehaps the 'jumping' from event to event will not be to everyone's taste but I found this excellent and it (a paperback) replaced my original Hardback copy which fell to pieces due to over reading.