The Sum of All Fears - Hardcover

Clancy, Tom

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002238594 ISBN 13: 9780002238595

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1991

Synopsis

VG condition book with dust jacket. DJ is clean with slight tone to spine and has little wear to edges. Book has clean and bright contents.

About this title

Review:

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

Review:

A whiz-bang page-turner! The New York Times Book Review

The Sum of All Fears delivers! People

Explosive. Detroit Free Press

A nonstop roller coaster ride to a nail-biting climax ingenious. Publishers Weekly

Tom Clancy at his best This is a book not to be missed. Dallas Morning News

Extraordinary suspense. Kansas City Star

Clancy delivers with deadly accuracy and power a spectacularly violent climax. Playboy

Truly chilling harrowing. Chicago Tribune

Clancy knows how to build a thriller stirring and vivid. Boston Globe

Hair-raising This is quite a rouser. Kirkus Reviews

"

"A whiz-bang page-turner!"--The New York Times Book Review

"The Sum of All Fears delivers!"--People

"Explosive."--Detroit Free Press

"A nonstop roller coaster ride to a nail-biting climax...ingenious."--Publishers Weekly

"Tom Clancy at his best...This is a book not to be missed."--Dallas Morning News

"Extraordinary suspense."--Kansas City Star

"Clancy delivers with deadly accuracy and power...a spectacularly violent climax."--Playboy

"Truly chilling...harrowing."--Chicago Tribune

"Clancy knows how to build a thriller...stirring and vivid."--Boston Globe

"Hair-raising...This is quite a rouser."--Kirkus Reviews

-A whiz-bang page-turner!---The New York Times Book Review

-The Sum of All Fears delivers!---People

-Explosive.---Detroit Free Press

-A nonstop roller coaster ride to a nail-biting climax...ingenious.---Publishers Weekly

-Tom Clancy at his best...This is a book not to be missed.---Dallas Morning News

-Extraordinary suspense.---Kansas City Star

-Clancy delivers with deadly accuracy and power...a spectacularly violent climax.---Playboy

-Truly chilling...harrowing.---Chicago Tribune

-Clancy knows how to build a thriller...stirring and vivid.---Boston Globe

-Hair-raising...This is quite a rouser.---Kirkus Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0002238594
• ISBN 13: 9780002238595
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 640