Patriot Games, by the bestselling author Tom Clancy, is a thrill ride of excitement, to really sum it up in just a few words. It’s an action packed novel, full of just what Mr. Clancy is famous for, nearly civilized violence and government relations. This is the first of a long list of the "Jack Ryan" series, and truly kicks it off in phenomenal fashion. This particular book is, in short, about how Jack Ryan (one of Mr. Clancy’s central characters of many books) becomes involved with the CIA, and sets the rest of the series up.
Jack Ryan, at the start, is a naval history teacher at Annapolis, the US Naval Academy. His marriage is a good one with Cathy Ryan, and they have produced a daughter, little Sally Ryan. Cathy is a doctor at Hopkins specializing in the field of ophthalmology, an eye doctor. Sally is only about four years old and simply loves to be just the little darling daughter.
The story begins with the Ryan family vacationing in London, England, where Jack is studying for his next book, and Cathy taking a well needed vacation from her ophthalmology work. While in London, Jack becomes involved in foiling a terrorist’s plot to assassinate or kidnap the prince of Whales. After wounding a man and killing another, Jack is hospitalized for a gunshot wound from the ordeal.
While Jack Ryan recovers and begins his teachings again at Annapolis, the terrorist organization that’s plans were denied of a proper result, the Ulster Liberation Army (ULA), were once again plotting a way to get their radical political views voiced. This time it would be an attack on sacred soil, America. This was for both revenge on Jack Ryan for ruining their previous mission, and an attempt at making the PIRA, or more simply “provos,” look bad.
Quite soon on his return, Ryan begins to be badgered by the CIA to join their ranks for his brilliant, analytical mind. He surrenders to them, but only slightly, working part time to assist in gathering information on the ULA. This was, in his eyes, the best way to protect his family in times such as these.
Without going into detail, these blood thirsty and extremely intelligent terrorists make even more attacks on the liberties of democracy to promote their more radical views. These attacks will endanger and end many lives, most of which being innocent civilians and brave law enforcement officials.
The moral sides of the characters in these books are clear cut and simple, just as Mr. Clancy likes to make evident in most of his novels, without revealing the true nature of the bad guy’s intentions until it really hits the fan. For the most part, the bad guys are Irish terrorists, trying to free Ireland of the “corrupt hands of the British.” There is also an American radical group, consisting of American blacks, that is small, and eventually operates with the ULA in their operations.
The book is told in the third-person aspect, allowing Mr. Clancy to showcase the thoughts and actions of all characters of the book, without limiting himself to geographic or social areas. You were always just on the outside of what everyone’s exact thoughts were. And when you think you might have it figured out with a character, the story line shifts to a separate set of characters and keeps you guessing, forcing you to read more and more.
I would recommend this book to anyone of the teenage age range and above that is interested in a compelling and often violent story line of international terrorism and top secret, government programs. Due to the graphic nature, language, and style of writing, I would not recommend this book to anyone younger than a teenager or at least a partial education on these scenarios.
In closing, I would rate this book a 10 out of 10, for an extremely engaging storyline, extreme detail of characters, and an engrossing style of writing.
|
|
